Chapter : 9 : Mortified!

Wrapped in each other's warmth, neither Kazuya nor Minami made any effort to move. The sunlight filtering through the curtains cast a golden glow over their entwined forms, illuminating the small space they shared beneath the blankets. They fit together so perfectly that even a single inch of distance between them would have felt unbearable.

Minami let out a soft, contented hum, her fingers absentmindedly tracing gentle patterns on Kazuya's back.

"Onii-chan…" she murmured sleepily, her voice barely above a whisper. "Have you ever thought about having a girlfriend?"

Kazuya raised an eyebrow, a smirk already forming on his lips. He pretended to think, tapping his chin dramatically.

"Hmmm… I wonder," he mused playfully.

Minami pouted at his teasing tone, nudging him lightly. "Don't just 'hmmm' me, answer seriously!"

Kazuya chuckled, loving the way she became flustered so easily. After a moment, he finally gave her a response—one that he knew would fluster her even more.

"Well," he said, tilting his head slightly, "I don't really need to think about it when I already have the perfect candidate."

Minami blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

Then, as realization hit her, her face turned a deep shade of red. She clutched his shirt in her hands and stammered, "W-Who…?"

Kazuya leaned in, his smirk growing. "You."

Minami's entire body went rigid.

"W-WHAT?!" she squeaked, her voice cracking.

Kazuya burst into laughter at her reaction. "Your face is so red," he teased, tapping her nose lightly.

Minami buried her face against his chest, groaning in embarrassment. "Onii-chan, stop teasing me like that! It's not funny!"

"It's not teasing if it's the truth," he said, his voice softer now, more genuine.

Minami peeked up at him from behind her hands, her expression uncertain. "…Why would you say that?" she muttered. "I'm not even pretty…"

Kazuya's expression darkened immediately.

His hand suddenly cupped her cheek, tilting her face up so she had no choice but to meet his gaze. His eyes, usually filled with playful mischief, were now serious.

"How many times do I have to tell you?" he scolded, his tone firm. "You're beautiful. I don't ever want to hear you say otherwise."

Minami's heart pounded at his words. He was looking at her so intently, so unwaveringly, as if she was the only thing that mattered in his world.

Before she could protest, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek.

A shiver ran down her spine.

She sucked in a sharp breath, her entire face burning as she gripped onto his shirt like it was the only thing keeping her grounded.

"…O-Onii-chan," she mumbled.

Kazuya smirked. "What?"

Minami didn't answer. She was too flustered.

Instead, she turned her face away, her voice barely above a whisper. "M-Maybe… if we weren't siblings… I would have fallen for you…"

Kazuya froze for a brief moment before a slow, mischievous grin spread across his lips.

"So what you're saying is," he drawled, leaning in until his lips were almost grazing her ear, "if we weren't related, you'd be my girlfriend?"

Minami jolted, her entire body going rigid again. "T-That's not what I—!"

Kazuya laughed at her reaction, clearly enjoying himself.

"I'm just saying," he continued, his voice teasing but undeniably warm, "I'm waiting for the day when you'll finally say you want to be my girlfriend."

Minami let out an exasperated whine, smacking his arm. "Onii-chan, stop it!"

Kazuya only chuckled in response, completely unfazed by her weak attempt at pushing him away.

Desperate to escape his relentless teasing, Minami finally tried to sit up.

But Kazuya wouldn't let her.

The moment she moved, his arms tightened around her, keeping her pressed firmly against him.

"Where do you think you're going?" he murmured.

Minami blinked. "Onii-chan?"

He held her even closer, his fingers lazily running up and down her back.

Minami's breath hitched.

Her hands pressed lightly against his chest as she looked up at him, confused but flustered. "Onii-chan, we should get up… I need to brush and freshen up, and you need to do the same. Plus, you have to cook—"

"Not yet," Kazuya interrupted, his voice low.

Minami shivered at the way his tone suddenly changed. "…Onii-chan, you're being weird," she murmured.

Kazuya smirked. "Do you not trust me?"

Minami immediately shook her head. "Of course, I trust you completely. But…"

She hesitated, her fingers curling slightly against his chest.

"…I-I feel kind of weird," she admitted shyly. "Like… if we stay like this any longer, I might lose my mind or something."

Kazuya's smirk deepened.

"Then do what you want," he whispered, his voice suddenly taking on a more seductive edge. "But I'm not letting you go."

Minami's breath hitched.

Her heart pounded violently against her ribs as she stared up at him, her face growing impossibly warmer.

His eyes… they were looking at her in a way that made her feel dizzy. Like she was being pulled into something she couldn't escape from.

She gulped.

Her mind was telling her to pull away. To scold him. To end this teasing once and for all.

But…

Her body wasn't listening.

Slowly… hesitantly… her gaze flickered to his lips.

Her hands trembled slightly as she tightened her grip on his shirt, and before she could stop herself—

She leaned in.

Her movements were slow, uncertain, but undeniable.

Kazuya's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he didn't move away.

Instead, he waited.

He let her make the choice.

And then—

Just as their lips were about to touch—

Minami suddenly realized what she was doing.

Her eyes widened in horror.

She let out a panicked squeak and immediately shoved herself away from him—only for Kazuya to tighten his grip and pull her right back into his arms.

Minami was practically trembling, her face redder than ever. "O-Onii-chan!" she stammered.

Kazuya chuckled, his voice deep and amused. "What? You were the one leaning in."

Minami let out a strangled noise of embarrassment, burying her face in his chest to hide. "T-That was—! I-I wasn't—! I didn't mean to—!"

Kazuya grinned. "It's okay, Minami," he murmured, his voice dripping with mischief. "You can kiss me if you want."

Minami's entire body burned with mortification.

"YOU'RE THE WORST!" she wailed, smacking his chest repeatedly.

Kazuya just laughed, clearly enjoying every second of her flustered state.

Eventually, Minami sighed and gave up, letting herself melt back into his embrace.

"…You really won't let go?" she muttered.

Kazuya shook his head. "Nope."

Minami let out a soft, exasperated sigh but didn't resist any further. Instead, she relaxed against him, her fingers playing with the fabric of his shirt.

"…Onii-chan?"

"Hm?"

"…You're really annoying."

Kazuya chuckled, pressing another kiss to the top of her head. "I know."

Minami pouted but didn't pull away.

Because, despite all of his teasing…

She didn't actually mind staying in his arms a little longer.

---

Kazuya smirked, his fingers lightly tracing circles on Minami's back. His body was still pressed against hers, their warmth mingling beneath the blankets. He chuckled, his breath tickling her ear.

"You know," he mused, "I would've liked it if you had just kissed me."

Minami tensed instantly, her fingers curling into his shirt. Her entire body felt like it was on fire.

"Wh-Why would you say something like that?!" she squeaked, squirming in his arms.

Kazuya tightened his hold slightly, refusing to let her escape. His lips ghosted against the side of her head as he murmured, "Because I love you."

Minami's breath hitched.

Her heart pounded violently against her chest as she slowly lifted her gaze, searching his face for any sign of teasing. But his expression, though playful, held an undeniable sincerity that made her stomach twist into knots.

She swallowed hard, her voice coming out small and unsure.

"D-Do you mean that in a sibling way… or…?"

Kazuya smirked, tilting his head. "What do you think?"

Minami's fingers trembled against his chest. She didn't know how to respond—how to even process this. The air between them had grown thick with something she couldn't quite name.

And then…

Kazuya exhaled deeply, his voice dropping to a husky whisper.

"I feel weird too, you know."

Minami's heart skipped a beat.

Kazuya leaned in closer, his lips brushing against the shell of her ear as he murmured, "Stop me if you don't want this."

Minami's body tensed, her breath coming out in shallow, uneven gasps. She knew what was about to happen.

And yet… she didn't move away.

Slowly, Kazuya closed the distance between them.

Minami flinched slightly, her breath hitching in anticipation. Her fingers curled tightly into the fabric of his shirt, as if bracing herself for the inevitable.

And then—

His lips pressed against hers.

Minami's eyes widened.

The warmth of his mouth, the way his lips moved against hers—it was overwhelming. For a brief moment, her mind went blank, her entire body frozen in shock.

But then…

She melted.

A soft whimper escaped her lips as she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

Kazuya groaned against her mouth, his grip on her tightening as he deepened the kiss. His lips moved slowly, deliberately, savoring every second. And then—he parted them slightly, his tongue teasingly sliding along her bottom lip before slipping inside.

Minami shuddered, her entire body trembling from the sensation.

The kiss was wet, deep, and intoxicating.

Kazuya's hands roamed over her back, tracing the curve of her waist, pressing her even closer. He drank in every little sound she made, every gasp, every shiver.

Minami had never felt anything like this before.

She had always loved him—always longed for him in ways she could never admit. And now… now she had him.

Finally.

When they finally broke apart, they were both breathless, their foreheads resting against each other.

Kazuya panted softly, his lips still tingling from the kiss. And then, almost regretfully, he whispered, "I'm sorry."

Minami slowly opened her eyes, staring at him through her dazed, half-lidded gaze. Then, she lifted her hands and cupped his cheeks gently.

"Don't be," she murmured.

Kazuya's eyes widened.

Minami smiled softly, her thumbs brushing against his skin.

"We're not blood-related, are we?" she whispered.

Kazuya stiffened.

His mind reeled. "How do you know?"

Minami exhaled, her lips curling into a small, knowing smile.

"Well… we don't look anything alike," she murmured. "And you just confirmed it with your reaction."

Kazuya stared at her, completely dumbfounded.

And then, something in him snapped.

He crushed his lips against hers once more, his hands tangling into her hair as he pulled her impossibly close.

Minami moaned into his mouth, her fingers tightening around his shoulders.

This time, there was no hesitation.

No uncertainty.

Only raw, undeniable longing.

Kazuya's tongue slid against hers, teasing, claiming, possessing. His hands roamed over her body, caressing her skin through the fabric of her clothes.

Minami arched into him, letting herself drown in his touch, his warmth, his everything.

She had always wanted him.

Always.

And now, she was his.

Finally.

---

END OF CHAPTER : 9 : MORTIFIED!