Chapter 332: Humiliation

"I refuse."

Miko crossed her arms over her chest, her expression one of distaste. "How could I possibly sleep with you!" She seemed genuinely appalled. After all, even a self-proclaimed "slut" would have her limits! No. Absolutely not!

Amamiya sighed, his tone calm. "We've already slept together before. Have you forgotten?"

"When?" Miko looked skeptical, narrowing her eyes.

"That summer vacation, back when I was in my second year of junior high," Amamiya replied. "You came over one afternoon to hang out, it started raining, and we ended up napping together. Are you planning to just forget about it?"

"Pah~" Miko spat lightly, trying to recall. "Wait… I remember now. That was just a nap, wasn't it?"

"Doesn't matter. We still slept together, no denying that," Amamiya countered.

"Kyosuke was there too! That's completely different from this!"

"..."

"Fine," Amamiya said, raising his hand in mock surrender. "Here's the situation: there's only one quilt left in the house. If we don't share it, someone's going to be freezing tonight."

Miko bit her lip in frustration, her tone unhappy. "It's because you didn't check your messages in time."

"That's on me." Amamiya held up his phone. "But the temperature's only 20 degrees tonight. If you don't cover up, you'll catch a cold. And you don't want that, right?"

"I…" Miko hesitated, biting her lower lip.

Amamiya pressed on, his tone reasonable. "And as you know, colds are contagious. Your mother only recently recovered from being sick. You wouldn't want her to fall ill again, would you?"

"..." Miko remained silent, glaring at him.

"It's not as dramatic as you're making it sound," she finally muttered, folding her arms and plopping onto the sofa. She quickly tried to come up with a solution. "It's just a quilt. I'll go home and get one of mine."

"Isn't it troublesome to go back and forth?" Amamiya asked, tilting his head.

"It's just next door! How is that troublesome?" Miko shot back, covering her chest with her arms as if shielding herself from some unseen threat. The idea of sharing a quilt under the same roof with a boy was mortifying—and dangerous.

A single boy and girl, sleeping in the same room, sharing a quilt? What if something happened? Miko's thoughts spiraled. What if I get pregnant by accident?! I'm still in high school. That would be disastrous no matter how you think about it!

Miko clenched her fists, her resolve wavering. She didn't have much confidence in her ability to resist. If Amamiya really tried something… would she be able to say no? Maybe she'd just lie there quietly and let it happen. After all, she was a salted fish of a girl.

"Wait," Miko's eyes lit up suddenly, a spark of inspiration flashing across her face. "I have an idea."

"What is it?" Amamiya asked, curious.

"Come home with me," she declared, standing up with newfound determination.

"Huh?" Amamiya blinked, confused.

"Come to my room," Miko explained, walking toward the entrance. "You can sleep there tonight. There are spare quilts in my closet. I'll sleep on the bed, and you can take the floor. You can sneak back home at six in the morning."

"..."

So that was her grand solution—switching locations entirely.

Without waiting for his input, Miko had already made up her mind. It wasn't a negotiation; it was a unilateral decision. Amamiya had no veto power and could only sigh as he turned off the lights and followed her out.

The cold wind hit them as soon as they stepped outside.

Miko shivered, hugging her arms for warmth. "It's freezing."

"It's late, and it just rained," Amamiya replied, locking the door behind him.

The street was eerily quiet, bathed in the faint glow of a crescent moon. After the rain, the air smelled fresh, and the world seemed to pause. Aside from the two of them, not a single soul was in sight.

Without a word, Amamiya naturally took Miko's right hand in his, and together, they walked to the neighboring house under the moonlight. The silence between them wasn't awkward—it was oddly harmonious, as if the night itself had softened.

Unfortunately, the peaceful atmosphere didn't last long; her house was too close. Within moments, they reached her door.

"Let go," Miko muttered, her cheeks tinged with pink. She pulled her hand away and quickly fished out her key. Carefully, she unlocked the door and stepped inside.

The house was quiet. Miko's mother and younger sibling were fast asleep, and the only presence in the living room was her father—the ever-present earthbound spirit—sitting at the dining table, silently reading a perpetually outdated newspaper.

"Miko, welcome back," her father said, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. His voice carried an ethereal quality. "Why did you bring Amamiya home so late?"

"..."

Miko's cheeks flushed slightly at her father's question. Why did I bring him home? Well… to sleep together, of course.

Avoiding further scrutiny, Miko turned to Amamiya and whispered, "Hurry up and change into slippers."

"Yes," Amamiya replied. He wasn't new to visiting her home and quickly slipped into a pair of house slippers with practiced ease.

"Let's go to my room," Miko said, tiptoeing toward the stairs.

"Keep your voices down," her father called from the dining table. "Your mom's a light sleeper. Don't wake her."

Miko puffed out her cheeks in mild annoyance. It's just sleeping—why would that wake her up?

"Don't worry, Uncle," Amamiya said with a reassuring nod. "I promise I'll take good care of Miko."

"Don't talk!" Miko hissed, glaring at him before grabbing his arm and pulling him upstairs.

Not long after, the two made it to Miko's room without incident.

"Phew…" Miko switched on her desk lamp, placed a hand over her chest, and let out a relieved sigh. "Finally back."

It was her own home, yet the nerve-wracking tension of sneaking around made it feel like a covert operation. Now, safe in her room, she could finally relax.

"Here." Miko walked to the closet, pulled out a folded quilt, and handed it to Amamiya. "Make your own bed."

"Got it." Amamiya nodded and began to lay out the quilt. Just as he unfolded it, a sudden knock sounded at the door.

"Hey, hey, hey?!" Miko froze, her eyes wide with panic. "Who's knocking?!"

"It's either your mom or Kyousuke," Amamiya guessed.

"I know that!" Miko hissed, dropping to her knees to hurriedly roll the quilt back up. Her voice lowered to a panicked whisper. "What if Mom found out? Hide under the bed. No—hide in the bed!"

"Got it." Amamiya didn't waste time. He slipped into her bed and pulled the covers over himself.

The faint scent of citrus greeted him—a pleasant, soft fragrance. While he'd often visited Miko's room in junior high, this was the first time he'd ever been in her bed.

Meanwhile, Miko shoved the quilt back into the closet, snatched a stuffed doll off the shelf, and pressed it over Amamiya's face. Only then did she approach the door, take a deep breath to steady herself, and open it slightly.

"...Kyousuke?"

Standing on the other side was her younger brother, a pillow tucked under his arm. Relief washed over Miko when she saw him instead of her mother.

"Sis, why did you take so long to open the door?" Kyousuke asked, tilting his head in confusion.

"I was asleep," Miko lied, feigning a yawn and rubbing her eyes. "What are you doing up so late?"

"I had a nightmare." Kyousuke clutched his pillow tighter. "I dreamed that you disappeared, and I couldn't find you no matter how hard I tried… Can I sleep with you tonight?"

"..."

Miko froze. Sleep together?

In the year their father had passed away, she'd often let Kyousuke sleep beside her to comfort him. But since he'd started elementary school, they'd grown out of the habit. Today, however, there was an entirely different problem—Amamiya is hiding in the bed.

"That's…" Miko hesitated, scrambling for an excuse.

But before she could stop him, Kyousuke brushed past her and made a beeline for the bed.

"Wait!" Miko cried out, her voice rising in alarm.

Kyousuke turned back, puzzled. "What's wrong, Sis?"

"It's… not convenient for us to sleep together today," Miko stammered, stepping between him and the bed. "Go back to your own room. We can sleep together tomorrow."

"Oh." Kyousuke's shoulders slumped, and his head drooped in disappointment as he slowly turned to leave.

Watching her brother's small, defeated figure, Miko bit her lower lip. An older sister is like a mother, she thought to herself. Ever since their father's passing, she had taken on the responsibility of caring for Kyousuke while their mother worked. Seeing him look so dejected tugged at her heartstrings.

As Kyousuke reached the doorway, Miko sighed and made her decision. "Wait."

Kyousuke stopped and turned around.

"Fine," Miko said, taking a deep breath. "Let's sleep together tonight."

"Really?" Kyousuke's face lit up instantly.

"..."

Having made the impulsive decision, Miko now faced the next challenge: How do I manage this without exposing Amamiya?

"Kyousuke," she said, gesturing to the bed, "you'll sleep on the left side tonight."

"Huh?" Kyousuke looked confused. "You always let me sleep on the right."

"That was then. This is now." Miko coughed lightly, trying to sound authoritative. "You're a boy now, and it's your job to protect your sister."

The bed wasn't very big, with one side pressed against the wall. If Kyousuke slept on the left, it would be harder for him to notice anything—or anyone—else in the bed.

In the past, Miko had always let her younger brother sleep on the right, next to the wall. Tonight, however, that arrangement wasn't an option. Amamiya is already there. If Kyousuke were to sleep inside, he'd inevitably discover the unexpected guest hidden under the covers.

Bringing a boy home in the middle of the night and sharing the same bed—even if it was innocent—would surely lead her little brother to draw all the wrong conclusions. No matter what, she couldn't let Kyousuke mistake her for an "adulterous sister."

The solution? Miko reasoned quickly: sleep in the middle, use her own body to separate the two, and once Kyousuke was sound asleep, sneak Amamiya out of the house. Yes, that would work!

"Then I'll sleep on the left!" Kyousuke agreed cheerfully, without the slightest suspicion.

"Hah..." Miko let out a quiet sigh of relief and climbed into bed, pulling the quilt over herself. Warmth enveloped her immediately, and she couldn't help but glance behind her. Despite lying down only moments ago, the quilt was already cozy.

Has Amamiya maxed out his bed-warming skill or something?

"Move in a little," Miko muttered, pushing lightly at Amamiya's side.

Amamiya blinked and gestured toward the wall. "I'm already against the wall."

The bed was a modest single-sized mattress, and there wasn't much space for three people.

"Sis, move in more," Kyousuke complained from the other side. "I'm going to fall off!"

"Ah… okay." With no other choice, Miko gritted her teeth and turned sideways, inching closer to Amamiya. The limited space meant her body inevitably pressed lightly against his.

"Sis, more," Kyousuke persisted.

"...Fine." Suppressing a groan, Miko bit her lip and shifted again, her back now fully against Amamiya.

Suddenly, she froze.

"I can feel it…"

Amamiya took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. And sign helplessness.

Miko's mind raced. The right thing to do was send Kyousuke back to his own room and deal with this later! But now it was too late. She'd committed to this awkward arrangement, and there was no turning back.

The situation spiraled further out of control as the faint, citrusy scent of Miko's shampoo filled the air. Her warmth, the soft touch of her body through her pajamas—everything felt far too vivid for Amamiya to ignore.

 This isn't good.

No amount of rational thinking could override basic biology. Like a reflex, his body began reacting on its own, betraying him completely.

"Uh—!" Miko's eyes widened in alarm, her face flushing red at an astonishing speed.

"Sis, what's wrong?" Kyousuke asked, looking up at her in confusion.

"I… I'm fine!" Miko forced herself to remain calm, struggling to steady her breathing.

She wasn't naïve—she knew exactly what was happening behind her. Embarrassment, anger, and panic swirled inside her. Kyousuke is right here! How could you... you...!

If her younger brother realized what was going on, she'd never be able to face him again.

Kyousuke frowned. "Your face is all red. Are you feeling sick?"

"N-no, I just feel a little hot," Miko stammered, her voice trembling slightly.

"But it's cold tonight. How can you be hot?"

"Don't ask so many questions!" Miko snapped, gritting her teeth. She reached out and turned off the desk lamp. "It's late. Let's just sleep!"

The room fell into darkness with a soft click.

"Sis, move in more."

Kyousuke's voice sounded plaintive in the quiet room. "I'm going to fall."

Miko hesitated. As the eldest sister, she couldn't refuse such a reasonable request.

"...Alright," she murmured reluctantly, shifting even closer to the wall—and consequently, to Amamiya.

"You better stop," she hissed under her breath, turning her head just enough to glare at him through the shadows. Her face burned with a mix of humiliation and fury.

"I'm really sorry," Amamiya whispered back, his tone one of genuine regret. "I can't control it."

His apology did little to soothe her rising irritation. But Amamiya is also helpless. Even a saint wouldn't remain completely composed in such close quarters—let alone him.

"Sis, please move in more," Kyousuke mumbled sleepily, oblivious to the tense exchange happening right next to him. He wriggled around, trying to find a comfortable position, and inadvertently pushed Miko even closer to Amamiya.

"!?"

Miko clenched her fists under the covers, wishing she could vanish into thin air. 

Miko was caught in an impossible situation, besieged on both sides. She wanted to cry but had no tears. Although deeply reluctant, there was no way to send her brother away now without raising suspicion. Left with no other option, she gritted her teeth and carefully adjusted her position, resigning herself to the sacrifice. For Kyousuke's sake...

"That's enough. Don't move," Amamiya murmured in a low, threatening tone, leaning close to her ear. "If you keep moving, I might lose control. You don't want your brother to notice anything, do you?"

Miko froze.

She had no choice but to turn her attention back to her little brother, masking her anxiety with casual small talk. Meanwhile, she endured the humiliating predicament, silently praying that Amamiya would calm down soon.

But as the moments dragged on, she realized her hopes were in vain. Instead of subsiding, the situation grew increasingly unbearable.

"You better control yourself!" Miko hissed under her breath, her face flushed with a mix of shame and anger. Reaching behind her, she pinched him sharply in retaliation.

Amamiya barely flinched. Instead, he caught her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers, his grip firm but restrained. "Stop moving," he said softly, his voice tinged with quiet urgency. "I'm trying to distract myself."

Miko clenched her jaw. "Kyousuke isn't asleep yet! If he finds out, you're dead meat!" she whispered furiously. It's bad enough dealing with this mess—how dare he make it worse in front of my brother!

"I'm sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me," Amamiya said, his apology immediate but unapologetically calm.

Miko glared ahead, suppressing the urge to scream.

It was past eleven at night. Kyousuke, still young and lacking energy to stay up late, soon began to nod off. Within minutes, his quiet, steady breathing filled the room, signaling that he had fallen into a deep sleep.

Miko seized the opportunity. She sat up quickly, her movements careful not to disturb her brother, and turned to face Amamiya. Her expression was a mix of anger and embarrassment, her cheeks burning red.

"Leave. Now," she ordered in a hushed but firm voice.

Amamiya sat up as well, glancing toward the sleeping Kyousuke. "Wait a moment," he whispered. "It's… not convenient right now."

Miko's gaze followed his, lowering instinctively. Though the dim light obscured the details, the implication was clear. The blush on her face deepened by several shades, her shame turning to exasperation.

"…You're disgusting!" she spat, her voice trembling with frustration.

"I'm disgusting. I'm shameless. I'm the worst," Amamiya replied, his tone unusually flat yet filled with self-deprecation. "But my biggest mistake? Letting you trick me into coming home with just a few sweet words."

Miko was left speechless, her anger simmering just beneath the surface as she glared at him.