A Wonderful Night

After playing a few more rounds of Dead Cells, Kotomi noticed that it was getting late—time for bed. While she wasn't someone who strictly followed early-to-bed routines, she still understood the importance of a good night's sleep.

Rubbing her eyes, she turned to her sister, who was sitting in her lap, and said, "Aimi, are you still playing? If not, go back to your room and sleep. I'm going to bed too."

There was no response.

Aimi had slumped against Kotomi's chest, her little head resting on her sister's right arm, fast asleep.

No wonder Kotomi had felt her sister suddenly go quiet, her right arm weighed down.

Looking at Aimi's peaceful sleeping face, Kotomi smiled softly. Was she really that comfortable sleeping in her arms? It reminded her of their childhood when Aimi always loved falling asleep in her lap.

Kotomi gently scooped Aimi into her arms. If she took her back to her own room now, she might wake her up, so instead, Kotomi laid her down on the bed, placing a pillow under her head.

After shutting down her game and exiting Steam, Kotomi switched off her computer and put the game controller away. She finished the last sip of her Pepsi and saw that Aimi had left half a can of Coca-Cola unfinished.

Even though Kotomi preferred Pepsi, it would be a waste to leave it, so she tilted her head back and finished the Coke.

She placed both the red and blue cans on her desk, planning to throw them in the trash the next morning.

With everything tidied up, Kotomi glanced at her sister, now fast asleep on her bed.

It wasn't a problem for the two of them to share the bed—it was, after all, a double bed, accidentally purchased in a size too large.

The only issue was that there was only one blanket. Sharing it might lead to a midnight battle over who got more of the covers.

And since the air conditioning was still on, sleeping without enough blanket might result in a cold by morning.

"Good thing there's a spare blanket and pillow in the closet."

Kotomi opened the closet, rummaging through it until she found a new blanket and pillow. After setting up her sleeping space, she turned off the lights and lay down next to Aimi.

It had been a long time since they had shared a bed like this.

"Onee-chan, do you think monsters come out at night?" Aimi once asked.

"Don't worry, your sister is so strong that all the monsters are afraid of me. They won't come out!"

"But…"

"Come here, I'll hold you while we sleep. That way, even the monsters will be scared of you."

"Mm! Onee-chan, you're the best! I love you the most! I'll protect you too!"

"And how do you plan on protecting me?"

"When I grow up, I'll make you my bride, and then I can always protect you!"

"Silly girl, you don't need to marry me to protect me."

"But I really want to…"

Kotomi couldn't help but smile as she recalled their childhood conversations. It all felt so familiar, as though she had truly lived through those memories, not just remembered them.

A sweet scent filled the air.

Goodnight.

"Marry me, Kotomi…"

Aimi, lost in a blissful dream, suddenly gasped for breath and jolted awake. Sitting up, she took deep breaths, a little stunned.

She had been so happy in her dream that she forgot to breathe! What was wrong with her? Aimi shook her head in disbelief.

The sky outside was still gray, and the sound of raindrops tapping against the windows and ground was clear in the early morning air.

She remembered last night's weather report—it said it would rain all day.

"Wait, this isn't my room… it's Kotomi's room!" Aimi's eyes adjusted to the dim light, and she suddenly realized where she was.

She became even more excited when she saw Kotomi sleeping next to her.

She recalled how she had fallen asleep in Kotomi's lap while watching her play games the night before.

"That means… I slept in the same bed as my sister! Yay!"

Aimi was both thrilled and a little regretful.

It was a rare chance to sleep in Kotomi's bed, and she had wasted the entire night doing nothing but sleeping!

Thinking back on the night, Aimi felt like she had missed a golden opportunity.

"Maybe I can do something now?" Aimi thought mischievously.

But seeing Kotomi's serene, sleeping face, she couldn't bear to wake her.

"Forget it… there's always tonight. I mean, I just want to make sure she hasn't kicked off the blanket," Aimi muttered softly to herself.

How could this be considered sneaky? It was simply her way of making sure Kotomi stayed warm!

Stretching lazily, Aimi noticed how comfortable she felt. Maybe it was because she was sleeping in Kotomi's bed, but not only had she had a wonderful dream, she also woke up feeling completely refreshed.

And when you feel this good, there's no harm in going back to sleep.

Aimi gently lifted a corner of the blanket and slipped into Kotomi's bed.

This was bliss.

The next time she woke up, it was already 8 a.m.

Kotomi woke up to find that Aimi had somehow migrated from her own blanket into Kotomi's, snuggling up close.

Aimi's familiar rose-scented perfume lingered in the air, and she had even claimed Kotomi's arm as her pillow.

And now… her arm had gone numb.

"My arm…"

Kotomi grimaced. Getting out of bed was going to be an ordeal.

"Aimi, wake up," she whispered in her sister's ear.

Kotomi, a self-proclaimed foodie who couldn't miss a single meal, knew there was no way she was going to skip breakfast.

Even if Aimi wanted to sleep in, Kotomi needed her arm free so she could go eat!

Luckily, Aimi shifted her head slightly, freeing Kotomi's arm.

Before Kotomi could celebrate, a wave of pins and needles hit her arm—hard.

"Ouch…"

The numbness was almost too much to bear.

But nothing could stop Kotomi from eating breakfast!

Determined, she sat up, slipped into her penguin pajamas that she had discarded the night before, and headed downstairs for breakfast.

"Good morning, Mom," Kotomi greeted as she entered the kitchen, where Izumi Akina had already prepared breakfast.

Sizzling Nürnberger sausages, bacon toast with fried eggs, and a salad.

"Would you like fruit salad or potato salad?" Akina asked.

"Potato salad," Kotomi answered without hesitation.

If there were savory Nürnberger sausages on the menu, then potato salad was the perfect companion!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon: 

Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven