The morning sun peeked through the window, casting golden light over Ren's cramped apartment. Lilia stretched with a yawn, her golden hair spilling across the futon she shared with Ren. He was curled up at the edge, trying his best to not fall off.
Lilia blinked sleepily at him. "You're seriously sleeping like you're avoiding me." "I am avoiding you," Ren muttered, eyes still shut. "You take up too much space." "You should be honored, sharing a bed with royalty," she teased, poking his cheek.
Ren groaned. This is my life now...
Later, at school, Kaito was unusually quiet. He kept glancing at Ren and Lilia, who still insisted on calling each other "siblings" in public. The photo he'd taken last night haunted him.
During lunch, Kaito sat with them. "You two sure are close... for siblings."
Ren stiffened. "We grew up together." "Oh? You never mentioned her before," Kaito said with a smirk. "And the way she fed you ramen... very familial."
Lilia, not missing a beat, leaned on Ren's shoulder. "Big brother doesn't talk about me much, but he adores me."
From a nearby table, Sayaka watched with narrowed eyes. She crushed her juice box silently.
After school, the chaos didn't stop. At home, Lilia insisted on cooking dinner. Ren stared at the mess she made in the kitchen — flour everywhere, a pot boiling over, and something burnt again. "Don't you have royal chefs back home?" he asked, pinching his nose. "I do," Lilia said proudly, "but I've always wanted to try cooking myself." "For who, your enemies?"
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. It was Kaito. "I brought snacks," he said. "Thought I'd check in on my new favorite sibling duo."
Ren and Lilia froze. The apartment looked like a warzone. "Well," Kaito said slowly, stepping over a pile of clothes, "this explains a lot."
That night, as Ren lay down again at the edge of the futon, Lilia turned to him and whispered, "Hey... thanks for letting me stay."
Ren turned his face away, but a soft smile appeared. "Just don't burn the house down."
She giggled. "Goodnight, big brother."
He sighed. I'm in trouble.