Chapter Text
It all begins with an innocent little lie.
It's the middle of summer vacation and the days have been so mind-numbingly hot and humid that when the AC unit in their tiny two-bedroom apartment decides to up and die on them, it feels like they have been plunged into the depths of hell.
The landlord dismisses the problem easily, letting them know he will get to it by the end of the week. There are apparently several units with the same issue and theirs was one of the last ones to have their AC fail.
Meanwhile, the heat is persistent enough to force Yuuji to start leaving her bedroom door open all day, even during her scheduled streams, just to get some airflow.
It's not something she has ever done in the past, but her PC doesn't exactly help with the buildup of heat inside, and she doesn't want to disrupt her streaming schedule now that her audience is finally beginning to grow; likely thanks in part to the sweltering temperatures outside; everyone who has AC at home would rather be indoors.
Besides, if she wasn't streaming she'd just be suffering through the miserable heat alone, at least while streaming she could complain to her mods and random people on the internet.
On that fateful day Yuuji didn't really feel like playing any games, not when her brain felt like it was melting out of her ears, and Instead settled for watching and reacting to random videos with her chat. All in all, despite the annoying heat it was a pretty quiet and relaxing evening of being at home
At least until, unbeknownst to her, Choso just happened to walk by her open bedroom door. In the same predicament as her, and doing his best to beat the heat by walking around their apartment in the bare minimum amount of clothes required to be decent.
She didn't see it happen on screen, but she knew the moment it happened because her chat suddenly exploded into a flood of emojis.
Yuuji’s audience is not as large as other streamers, she is still new, and her content is fairly niche. Consisting mostly of things she likes to do, random talk about movies, and games, and the occult, but her audience is still large enough that the chat scroll quickly becomes somewhat overwhelming.
It takes her a moment to get everyone to calm down, and that's when the actual questions start coming, about who the hot guy in her apartment is.
For all that Yuuji shares with strangers about her interest, she doesn’t really like to talk about her personal life. Her chat doesn't know she doesn’t live alone, or that she’s still in highschool, though she is sure they suspect it. Or that the hot guy who just walked by the open door is her long lost half brother who gained custody of her after her grandpa passed away a bit over a year ago.
The fact that people in her chat are talking about him as if he’s some tasty piece of meat makes Yuuji feel some kind of way, the same way she often feels on days when Choso is free and spends time with her outside of their home, only to have their time together soured by men and women alike who stare at her brother for a little too long with clear interest in their eyes, flirting with him in front of her as if she’s not sitting with him or standing beside him.
She gets it, Choso is good looking, her eldest brother works at a mixed martial arts studio, one he hopes to own someday. Which means his body is definitely something to look at, and he can be oh so sweet to the people he cares about; currently those people consist only of herself and her two other older siblings, Ezo, and Kechizu; who do not live with them but come visit when they can a few times a month.
It’s really hard not to fall in love with someone like him.
Choso is also painfully single, and oblivious to people’s advances on him. Yuuji somewhat dreads the day he will inevitably become aware of the flirting and find someone to shower with the same kind of love and attention he gives Yuuji and their other siblings on a regular basis.
She’s even managed to somewhat convince herself that the painful twist she always feels inside her ribcage at the thought of sharing his love with someone else comes from the fact that she just met him and she doesn’t want to have to give up or even share his laserlike focus love and attention with more people, let alone a stranger, just yet.
At least she can convince herself that this is the case until moments like these happen, when she feels that little jealous monster within her rear its ugly head and makes her say and do things she will sometimes regret.
“Guys please stop! That’s just my boyfriend…”
Things exactly like that. She does it because she is in love with her brother and maybe pretending satisfies some dark, needy thing within her. She’s in love with Choso because he puts love in everything he does for her, and it makes her sick to know that he will never see her in the same way she sees him.
She’s so scared he will someday find out about her feelings for him and be disgusted with her, or try to pull away from her to spare her.
Would he send her somewhere else? Would he stop caring about her?
Yuuji is in love with Choso and he can never know. So she swallows her feelings, buries them deep inside her heart and hopes that things will remain the same until she is ready to go to university and won't have to watch him replace her by dating some random person with unknown motives.
It's hard not to hate the very thought of it, even when she knows Choso deserves to find love and be happy, knows he’d make an amazing boyfriend for anyone lucky enough to catch his attention, and hates how much she wants to tear her hair out at the thought of it.
The conversation in the chat changes tone immediately; strangers congratulate her and cheer her on, asking for more information about him, and just more of her boyfriend in general, while she forces herself to laugh and deflect by saying he doesn’t like being put on the spot like that and is not great with talking to strangers. Both not necessarily lies, the second one is actually very true.
The inappropriate requests for their OnlyFans timed out and deleted by her mods, but being able to see them still makes her blush and sends a thrill down her spine at the thought.
Eventually things settle down once more and chat moves on to other topics, mainly the videos they’re watching, but Yuuji can’t help but feel like she has made a mistake.
She should have told them the truth about Choso, but she can’t possibly tell them now. What is she supposed to say? Haha, hey guys, Remember that guy who I said was my boyfriend? Well he is actually my half-brother. No, that's absolutely insane and out of the question.
She’ll just let them forget all about Choso and make excuses as to why she can't introduce him to chat in the meantime until it becomes a tiny blip in her streaming history.
—--
It doesn’t become a tiny blip in her streaming history, by her next session someone has decided to make a tiny Choso emote for her chat, asking for a better picture so they can make it more accurate. The fairly faithful depiction of her older brother in miniature form was created with the use of a blurry capture taken from the moment he walked through and turned slightly to check up on her.
She of course plays it off, laughing and thanking the creator of it profusely before adding it to her collection of subscriber emotes, the AC is still out and she can just blame her nervous sweating on the fact that its hot and move on.
Of course, life has other plans.
Sometime mid stream, Choso knocks on her door frame and peeks in with a bowl full of fruit in hand, apologizing for interrupting her before she rushes to take it and thank him shyly, she is definitely beginning to regret her whole life.
The people in her chat are going wild for his voice when she returns with the thoughtful snack in hand, teasing her about how cute she sounds when she talks to him as opposed to when she talks to them, and telling her she's definitely the type that goes from a tiger to a kitten when her boyfriend is around, continuing to tease her about it until her face is completely red and the mods have to step in to get things under control.
Her mods, Fushiguro and Kugisaki, who she met while playing online around the time of her grandfather’s passing, when the last thing she really wanted to do was socialize, probably know more about her than anyone else. Yet they still seem a little mad at her when they each send dms asking her about Choso, who she hasn’t mentioned before, becoming the second group of people she has to lie to about her brother.
Fushiguro is of the opinion that she needs to talk to Choso so he doesn’t show up unprompted during her streams, it's disruptive. Preferably before he accidentally starts his own fandom within the community. Kugisaki, on the other hand, tells Yuuji to convince Choso to stream with her and feed into the valuable demographic of thirsty chatters, she even goes as far as suggesting claimable point rewards in the form of paying for her boyfriend to be summoned into the room.
In the end she promises both of them she will talk things over with Choso for his input, without having any real intention to do so, ignoring the way that she begins to enjoy the fantasy.
By the time their AC is fixed they have no less than five Choso emotes chatters can use when subscribed to her channel, one of them even has a little fruit bowl in its tiny hands. She can’t help but love it.
Her harmless little lie has come to harm exactly no one and she can’t help but love talking about her feelings for Choso, whenever he comes up, in a way she has not been able to talk about him to anyone before.
Perhaps that’s what emboldens her to ask for the first picture together during one of Choso’s days off. When he insists they go outside despite the heat, though thankfully they do not have to go out til the evening.
Their destination is an open-air concert offering free food and dancing held at the park, an event organized by one of Choso’s longtime friends, Yuki. Choso must think Yuuji is interested in because he takes her there with an indulgent smile on his face.
And Yuuji will admit that once they are there she can't help but enjoy the atmosphere. The warm summer breeze, the many strings of lights casting a warm glow around them, the music and the sounds of people of all ages enjoying themselves.
Not to mention, she gets to walk around with Choso, clinging to his offered arm without reservation and leading him from stall to stall to sample all sorts of food and sweets.
Their evening is going perfectly until they wander into the dance floor and quickly realize that neither of them know how to dance. It is a blessing in disguise that Choso is seemingly unafraid to make a fool out of himself for Yuuji’s amusement. Taking her hand in his own and spinning her around while she tries to imitate other people’s steps, culminating in absolute failure as she steps on an uneven bit of pavement and twists her ankle.
What comes after is a back and forth of Choso’s apologies and her assurance that she is fine. Of course, her older brother won't have it, scooping her up into his arms and taking her to a nearby bench where he can inspect the damage.
There is a little bit of a struggle when he insists on removing her sneaker and sock so he can take a look, always going the extra mile into the territory of overbearing, leaving Yuuji flustered at how much she loves him for it, while he touches over the skin of her ankle with sure, calloused fingers, which are remarkably delicate in their ministration.
“I don't feel any swelling, we should still keep you off it for a while”
Yuuji sighs at how cautious he's being, especially after knowing how resilient she is from first hand experience with the myriad of light injuries she's acquired in the rare times she has convinced him to reward her with a playful spar between them.
For all his gentleness, Choso can be a little clumsy when the two grapple together.
“I'm fine, I promise”
The last thing she wants is to ruin their time together by making him worry. Of course, their time is ruined regardless, at least on her end, when the person who invited them to the event suddenly stops by.
“Is everything ok?”
It's hard for Yuuji to dislike Yuki when she's so genuine, looking at her with such concern that it makes Yuuji feel guilty for resenting her presence. She forces herself to swallow back the feeling and smile, speaking in a casual and happy tone
“I'm fine, I just twisted my ankle while trying to dance. It'll be fine after a little rest”
Yuki nods, a relieved smile on her face which morphs when she turns to Choso, clear amusement tinting her expression
“Your terrible dancing could have killed her, you should definitely come to my studio and get some practice. I'll even offer you a free lesson right now. A once in a lifetime opportunity, in the name of sparing your poor little sister any future injuries”
Choso frowns at her, though there is no real heat behind the look. The two have known each other for longer than Yuuji has known Choso.
It was Yuki who had first accompanied her brother on his drive to their very first meeting, coming along to offer moral support, and doing an incredible job at breaking the tension she'd felt at meeting a complete stranger she was suddenly supposed to live with.
Yuuji had taken an immediate liking to her, even wished she'd grown up with an older sister like her. The feelings of jealousy and resentment did not begin to rear their ugly head until later, when her romantic affection and attraction for Choso had started to grow.
In the end it makes no real difference, all Yuuji knows is that if Yuki sets her mind on making her brother do something, he will eventually concede.
“You don't mind if I steal him for a bit do you?”
Yuki's voice snaps her back to reality, the thought that she definitely minds at the forefront.
However, she could never be that rude to one of Choso's rare friends, shaking her head and looking at Choso's shocked expression with what she hopes is a sly smile and not the bitter jealousy she feels bubbling up inside as she watches Yuki grab onto her brother's arm and drag him away.
Looking at their retreating figures Yuuji can't help but think about how good they look together, even when it makes her feel like her throat is closing up, and makes her chest ache and feel hollowed out and cold.
It is an unpleasant reminder that even if Choso wasn't her brother and she was just some dumb high school kid with a crush, he'd still be miles out of her league. Why would Choso even look at someone like her, who is awkward, immature and lacking grace, when he has a woman like Yuki in his life already?
The small smile she can see spread on Choso's lips while Yuki talks to him and helps him through basic steps on the edge of the dancing area, leaves Yuuji with little desire to keep watching. ClearlyRegardless, she knows better than to look away. Not when she knows Choso will inevitably turn to look towards her, and when he does, the gentle look he directs her way is enough to warm her from her head to her toes, completely irresistible to return.
She waves shily at him, and receives a wave in return while the musicians on stage move from one song to the next.
—--
By the end of the evening, as they make their way home through the still bustling streets leading to their apartment, Yuuji is feeling a little gloomy, clinging tightly onto Choso while being carried on his back. The smell of his cologne and the warm summer breeze comforting her after a somewhat trying evening.
They almost manage to dispel most of her unpleasant thoughts and feelings…At least until she catches the sweet notes of Yukis's perfume mixed in with Choso's cologne.
Irrational jealousy welling up in Yuuji, making her body tense up subconsciously, the shift immediately alerting Choso to her change in mood.
“Is everything ok?”
She can't bring herself to speak, and even if she could, what is she supposed to say? You left me alone to go dance with your girlfriend?
It's a stupid thought, and not even one that is remotely true. Yuuji knows Choso is single, knows because he spends almost every waking moment he is not at work with her at home. So she stays quiet and lets him worry, finding a small amount of sadistic satisfaction in the thought of him fretting over her.
It's hard not to feel childish and ashamed at how much of a brat she's become, acting up just to get Choso’s attention.
“Are you in pain?”
Yuuji shakes her head against his back, refusing to speak for fear of what she might sound like or say while under the control of her jealousy.
“Did I do something to make you mad?”
She doesn't acknowledge or deny it, but despite knowing her for only a year, Choso is annoyingly in tune with her moods and thoughts in a way that can be a little scary when considering her predicament.
“I thought you wanted me to go learn how to dance, so we could dance together next time. I'm sorry I left you alone for so long”
Being caught sparks embarrassment within her and brings a blush to her face at being figured out so easily, a blush she hides against the back of his shoulder before uttering a small ok, letting Choso continue to smooth things over with her.
“...you don't have to be ashamed of wanting me to pay attention to you… I like it, I want to be with you as much as I can. Next time, make me stay”
Yuuji hates the way his words give her butterflies, the way they make her heart beat faster in excitement, making her act on impulse when she finally speaks
“Choso–”
She catches herself, wanting to be sweet and return his affection in the best way she knows how. She's still not used to using the word, especially not after being an only child for most of her life, but she knows it makes Choso happy when she does.
“...Nii-chan”
Yuuji can tell he likes that just from the way his arms tense almost imperceptibly around her legs as he stops in the middle of the empty street, continuing to hold her up, feeling pleased at doing something right. His happy mood reflected openly in his eager tone, making him sound as if he would do anything for her when he asks.
“Yes, Yuuji?”
She wishes asking wouldn't make her so nervous, but she still forces herself to push through it.
“Can I… take a picture of us?”
it's not a strange request, she knows that, but she still can’t help herself, knowing all too well exactly what she wants to do with the picture. She wants to use it to feed into her delusions.
Choso sounds so pleased when he answers her that it makes her feel even more guilty.
“Of course! Do you want to do it here? Or wait til we are home?”
She looks at their surroundings, they're still close to the main street, where lights decorate trees above benches and neon signs cast their colors around them.
“Let's do it here. Can you put me down please? My ankle feels ok, besides I-I want to hug you, in the picture”
Choso is quiet, but he crouches low enough to set her down gently, and when she's able to look at his face she can see the clear joy and excitement reflected in his serene expression. It's hard not to feel a little more guilty about taking advantage of her brother's affection for her own twisted little fantasies.
Ignoring the guilt, Yuuji leads him towards one of the benches asking him to sit as she sits beside him and leans in to hug him awkwardly while trying to position the camera to get the best picture she can until she becomes frustrated by being unable to get a good angle, resorting to looking at Choso with pleading eyes.
“Will you take it? You're bigger, I can't do it properly”
Her older brother chuckles goodnaturedly, taking the phone from her hands as she hugs him and positions herself against him, one of Choso’s arms encircling her waist, his large hand settling on her hip. The weight of it and warmth bleeding through the fabric of her pants is impossible to ignore, making heat rise to her face instantly.
The light blush immediately deepens when she looks at the image displayed on the screen, they look like a couple, but she can still make it more convincing, daring to rest her face against his chest as Choso takes the picture, surprising them both when they look at the still image of what looks like Yuuji trying to motorboat him.
Choso doesn't look pleased and it makes anxiety coil in her belly, until he says
“I can't see your face”
As if it is a grave mistake, one he finds the solution to easily.
“I'm taking another one. This time lay your head on my shoulder”
She nods, unable to deny him anything as she positions herself to his liking, having to kneel on the bench; because she can't even begin to imagine crawling into her brother's lap to achieve the proper height for the pose, and when the picture is taken, she can't help but stay close a little longer, watching him send both pictures to himself, phone chiming in his pocket to signal their arrival.
“If you want any more pictures, all you have to do is ask, as long as I get a copy of them too”
Yuuji laughs at his terms, her mood lifted completely by getting to be so close to him, and be allowed to have her way
“Even the ones I take of you?”
Its Choso's turn to laugh, returning her phone but making no effort disentangle himself from her arms or let her go
“No, you can keep those. I'm not that self centered”
She smiles, pulling away from him, aiming the phone towards him, and giving into the impulse to take a picture of just him sitting on the bench.
“Suit yourself, I'll just take them for me to have”
Her gloating interrupted by the clicking sound of a picture being taken, met with the sight of Choso's phone in his hand and a smile on her big brother's face.
“Turnabout is fairly play, if you want pictures of me I get pictures of you as well”
She can't help but playfully stick out her tongue at him, happy to agree to his terms and have this with him, waiting for him to stand up so she can cling to his arm and use her ankle as an excuse when needed while they make their way home.
—---
Choso's crisis starts when he overhears the words which shatter the perfect world he has meticulously built for his younger sister and himself.
“...That's just my boyfriend!”
The heat around him, which until that moment had made him feel as if he was being baked alive, is not nearly enough to combat the sudden chill that spears his chest and begins to spread outwards
Choso has half a mind to march to Yuuji's room and demand to know who she was talking about, telling himself the intensity of his anger is born from an older brother’s duty to make sure his younger siblings were not being led astray, and had nothing to do with the jealousy which immediately bloomed within his gut.
The thought of his younger sister being with some immature, undeserving asshole and being taken advantage of, more than enough to make his blood boil. However, he'd known then as he does now that his reaction was not something to give into so easily.
Not when, after a bit over a year of acclimating, Yuuji had finally begun to show some sort of affection for him. Her eyes and face often begging for her big brother's attention and affection wordlessly, shily, as if Choso would ever think to deny her anything and everything he could give her.
The thought of an outsider with ulterior motives coming into ruin things between them makes him see red; makes him frustrated enough to put his adult students through the ringer, using them to vent his frustration until his boss has to gently intervene.
Even now, a week later, he knew he'd have to be careful, debating with himself on how to handle the complicated matter.
Choso knows his feelings for Yuuji are a complex mix of things he would rather not examine or reflect on too deeply, but that does not mean they get any easier to deal with after her proclamation. If anything, knowing there's someone else worming his way into Yuuji's heart, someone who Choso refuses to acknowledge as competition, because that thought is clearly insane, makes the intensity of his feelings so much worse.
But as with any problem he sees no easy answer to, he chooses to ignore it and distract himself, training and working harder both in and out of their home to keep his mind occupied, and to burn off the undue charged energy he feels whenever he stays still, whenever he slips and thinks too long about his younger sister outside of what is appropriate.
Of course, like a moth drawn to a flame, Choso can't help himself.
It's why he spends so much time with Yuuji, regardless of how tightly he is forced to bundle his thoughts and emotions behind the locked doors of his mind.
It's also why the first thing he did the moment he learned she had a secret boyfriend was to take her out dancing in what he still tells himself was decidedly not a date, and definitely not a way to assert his place as a viable candidate for her romantic affections.
That night he was accidentally saved from his own weakness and impulsiveness by Yuki's presence.
His need to monopolize Yuuji's time is always burning hot and now his jealousy burns even hotter, almost as hot as his curiosity of just what Yuuji has been doing with this so-called boyfriend away from his watchful eyes.
Choso can only guess that this is a school romance, hoping that they've not taken it outside of places where their touches and distance Are forced to stay appropriate. But the thought of just how far his dear, sweet, innocent Yuuji has been forced to go by what can only be a horny teenage boy, keeps him up at night and haunts him during the day.
He doesn't know what to do, and just like any time he finds himself at a loss, the last being when deciding whether he'd be the most qualified to take Yuuji in, Choso decides to make a call to Tsukomo. All in the hopes that she can make some time to help him figure out how to deal with Yuuji having a boyfriend in a way that won't have him waiting outside of his little sister's school like a stalker and taking his time breaking every single bone in her boyfriend's body the moment he finds out who the kid is.
His jealousy, and every other feeling he doesn't want to acknowledge, safely tucked away in his chest as he pulls out his phone and gives his friend a call
—--
Yuuji can't stop staring at Choso, nor the way his clothes fit as he gets ready to go out on his date. Her love and attraction for him battling for dominance with the jealousy and the hollow ache she feels in her chest at what she knew was an inevitability. Snapped out of her thoughts when he turns around and asks.
“What do you think?”
For a moment Yuuji feels like she can't speak, choked up by the loss of something that never quite belonged to her, but eventually able to push through the feeling to offer a lukewarm response.
“You look good”
Her answer immediately makes her big brother's brow furrow with concern as he comes closer, leaning in to look at her
“Are you sure you'll be ok while I'm gone? You don't look like you're feeling well”
His concern always makes her feel incredibly guilty and unfair for the way she makes him worry, especially when she knows Choso would happily sacrifice anything for her. Yuuji can't make him sacrifice his happiness as well, putting on a brave front and faking the enthusiasm she doesn't feel when she looks at him and tries to settle his worries.
“I had a late stream last night, I'm just tired. You look great Choso-nii!”
Choso doesn't look fully convinced, but thankfully before he can continue to question her, they are interrupted by a familiarly rhythmic knock on the door.
There's a moment when Choso seems to have an internal debate with himself about whether he's ready to drop the issue or not, but ultimately he nods and pulls back to go open the door.
Behind it stands Yuki, looking both effortlessly comfortable and beautiful in a pair of tight denim jeans and a black off the shoulders top, her riding jacket draped over one of her arms.
“You always clean up nice”
Yuki laughs while looking at Choso, reaching out to adjust the still popped collar of his button up shirt, a shirt that accentuates the width of his shoulders so well Yuuji feels like it should be illegal, then turns to enthusiastically wave and say hi to Yuuji.
“I promise I'll have him home before ten, no funny business”
The joke falls flat for her, Yuuji is not in the mood to smile back, feeling like a chasm has opened up inside her which is beginning to swallow up everything good and warm in her life, all while knowing that it's not the end of the world and that out of anyone Choso could possibly want to share his love with, Yuki will be someone who can love his brother best. Someone who can be and has been a good friend for a long time, knowing him for who he is, and caring about him for it.
Choso turns to look at her, relaying her excuse to Yuki as if he believes it, and grabbing his jacket so they can head out.
“She's tired, we should let her get some rest”
Yuuji does not watch them after that, does not answer verbally when Choso tells her to call him if she needs him, nodding instead while keeping her eyes trained on his boots as she follows him to the door and locks it behind him.
She wishes she could wish him a good time on his date and tease him like any normal sibling would instead of feeling the way she does, peeking out the window that faces the street so she can watch them ride away on Yuki's bike, Choso's arms wound tightly around her waist.
—--
Tsukomo’s laughter interrupts the flow of casual conversation Inside the small restaurant she's chosen for their meeting spot while Choso shoots her an unimpressed look.
“If i knew you'd react like this I wouldn't have asked for your help”
She continues to laugh softly, covering her mouth as she watches him from across the table, mirth shining in her eyes long after she has gotten the laughter out of her system. It makes Choso a little self conscious, taking a sip of his drink and waiting for her to speak.
“You're worrying too much, onii-chan. The way you sounded on the phone when you asked to meet so we could discuss a problem made me wonder if Yuuji had gone and gotten herself knocked up”
Choso almost chokes, the words and thought of the possibilities shocking him and filling him with despair
“Oh, wow…You really need to calm down and stop thinking of the worst case scenario. I think it's cute, Yuuji is about that age right? Don't you remember your first crush or your first girlfriend?”
Choso makes a face at the easy dismissal of the risks his little sister faces now.
“It’s not the same”
Tsukomo scoffs, looking both amused and unimpressed.
“Why not? Girls and women can all have the same kinds of needs and desires men do. There will come a time when her relationships might not be so innocent, you'll have to prepare for it.
People can experiment with love and sexuality, so of course it's the same”
Choso should have known it was a bad idea to expect Tsukomo to know what to do about his predicament. Not this time, not when Choso's feelings are tangled up in the way of what would otherwise be the correct assessment.
He can't possibly bring up any of his objections without escaping what will most likely be a very awkward and possibly friendship ending conversation between them, so he lets out a long sigh and lets her talk to him about how he should just continue to be a supportive brother, how he should make sure Yuuji feels safe confiding in him, and about how he shouldn't push for answers until she is ready.
“She might talk to me if I ask. If it will help with your peace of mind I could take her out shopping and poke for some information. School is almost back in session, right? She might need some supplies”
Choso shakes his head, he has made up his mind that he will be the one to deal with things, somehow.
“No, I'll do as you said. I'll let her open up on her own”
It's a lie, but it seems to make Tsukomo happy.
The truth is, he would do anything to keep Yuuji from harm, and to figure out just how far things have gone between her and her mystery boyfriend.
Not knowing consumes him, drives him half insane when he thinks of it. He has to do something.
Choso can only hope that Yuuji will understand.
—--
Summer break is close to being over, and Yuuji almost finds herself excited for school again, not because she misses the learning, but because being around Choso these past few weeks has become so much more difficult.
Ever since the clear line she once tried to draw in her mind between her inappropriate feelings and what she should probably feel for someone who is her older brother has blurred so horribly, things have become just a little more awkward.
His random date with Yuki long forgiven and forgotten when nothing seemed to have come of it. Even when they'd both known there was nothing to forgive or explain, Choso had readily offered an explanation; Yuki had wanted to both catch up and use the opportunity to try out some food from a new place she'd heard good things about.
He had even gone as far as taking Yuuji to the same restaurant they'd gone to so she could try the food herself.
Pretending to be in a relationship with Choso for people online made it almost impossible for her not to see the whole thing as a date. Dressing up for him and preening at being the single focus of his attention while her feelings continue to intensify.
It has all resulted in making her extra clingy and extra guilty at just how visibly happy Choso looks about the sudden closeness. The closeness which probably reminds him of the way he grew up with their other siblings.
Yuuji knows that the relationship between Choso, Eso, and Kechizu is extremely important to her older brother. And perhaps that's why he suggests what they'll be doing today, it is the only plausible explanation Yuuji can come up with.
The thought of what's about to transpire brings an embarrassed blush to her face as she stares at herself in the mirror.
The modest two piece bikini she wears isn't very revealing, at least not when considering it's a two piece. She'd have gone with the one piece, but for what they're about to do she thinks the more skin she can work with the better.
Choso snaps her out of her thoughts when he knocks on the frame of her open bedroom door, wearing nothing but a pair of swim shorts.
“You ready?”
She tries her best not to stare at any single part of his body. Not the tattoos adorning it, nor the perfectly sculpted muscles beneath his pale skin, nodding when she can't force herself to speak as she joins him and lets herself be led, not to the swimming pool but their moderately sized wet room instead.
“Are you sure this is ok?”
Choso asks for the hundredth time when she enters and sits on one of the short wooden stools set up inside the tiled room, hoping she sounds more sure than she feels when she answers
“Y-yeah, I don't mind. I've just never had a bath with anyone before”
Not since she was a child at least, the most she can remember her grandpa doing was wash her hair before she jumped into to the tub as a kid
“I used to bathe with Eso and Kechizu, the three of us squished together into the tub until we couldn't fit anymore, and even then we'd sometimes take turns, two of us in the tub at a time while the other washed up, just so all three of us could be in the room together”
Her brother laughs then, the sound making her relax fractionally, reminding her that this is no different than any other time Choso has tried to be close to her to make up for the time and experiences they didn't have together when she was growing up.
It makes the shame she feels over how hot and wet she is with arousal amplify, specially when her big brother is being so sweet and considerate about his request
“I'm sorry if this is strange, I just wanted to do this with you. Even if it is just one time”
With that said, Choso settles in the stool behind her own, using the showerhead to spray warm water over her head to soak her hair, then setting it aside once he decides it is wet enough to work his shampoo into it with gentle fingers. The scent of it surprises her, unsure as to why he wouldn't use her shampoo instead of his own, and blushing when she realizes she'll smell like him by the time they're done
Choso hums softly behind her as he works a rich lather in her hair, being extra careful and thorough. The soothing sensation lets her lose herself and enjoy the feeling til she feels like she might just fall asleep.
The moment interrupted when Choso speaks, the quiet rumble of his voice dragging her back to wakefulness
“Tilt your head back and keep your eyes closed”
Having her hair rinsed off is just as relaxing and makes her finally realize why people like to go to the hair salon and have random people wash their hair, it feels incredible.
Yuuji is glad she gets to have this with Choso at least once, grabbing her scrub with plans to start washing the rest of her body before it is plucked away by Choso, who makes her lean forward and startles her when he unhooks the band of her top, her hands scrambling to reach for and hold the fabric close to her chest.
“Cho-nii!!!”
Choso laughs softly behind her, as if it's all some sort of innocent prank, almost managing to sound apologetic as he says
“It'll be easier to wash your back like this”
Then ruining the effect by untying the strings still holding her top around her neck before he begins to scrub gently at her back.
Regardless of the embarrassment, having him wash her feels nice, despite how hard her heart is pounding in her chest, and Yuuji has to admit that the smooth motions of his hands would have been interrupted by the straps as he scrubs gently at the skin then moves onto her shoulders and neck
Once he is finished he asks her to stand and she can't help but ask hesitantly
“...Nii-chan, can you please hook the band closed again?”
He should be able to reach it, the straps hanging freely at her sides, kept In place with how tight her arms are held around her chest
Choso gives a considering hum behind her, answering casually while he starts washing her legs
“I'm not done yet”
Yuuji can't even think to object, the feeling of her older brother’s hands brushing the bottom of her ass and her inner thighs effectively short circuiting her brain and making her body tingle. All while the space between her legs heats up and pulses with arousal when she feels the warmth radiating from his fingers against her most private places, so close to touching that she’s both thankful and disappointed when his hands pull away.
She's a little shaken by the experience, by the deep feelings of shame and want which makes her skin break out in goosebumps. Yuuji knows it'll be hard to hide any sort of reaction while being this close to her eldest brother, but it's not like she could have imagined how far he'd go with the task of washing her.
With any luck she'll be able to take her time scrubbing the rest of her body while Choso washes up, and possibly be able to face him and act like everything is ok when she's done reigning in her thoughts and her body's reactions.
Yuuji can hear the soft groan of the wooden stool as Choso lifts his weight from it to stand behind her, waiting to feel the pull of the band of her top when he hooks it back together, and only jumping slightly when Choso's begins to wash her sides instead, one arm slowly reaching around her to wash her stomach while she feels herself redden all over again.
“Nii-chan-”
She hates how telling her voice is of her emotional and physical state, feeling her body heat up further beneath his touch. Her heart beating rabbit fast in her chest, continuing to send blood rushing to the space between her legs, making her clit hard and extra sensitive, and her body absolutely soaking wet. She doesn't know how but she knows she has to stop Choso before she embarrasses herself.
“-I can finish washing the rest”
“No”
His answer, which leaves no room for question, makes it feel like she's struggling to draw breath.
“Yuuji, I want to do this for you”
Yuuji feels like her body is frozen, letting him pull her folded arms away from her chest and watching as her top falls to the floor, replaced by his hands moving over the yielding flesh of her bare breasts.
She distantly feels like she must be dreaming all of what is happening, despite the pressure and feel of her older brother’s touch.
“Lean back against me, it's ok. I'm just cleaning you up”
Too shaken to do anything but what she's told, Yuuji chokes back a sound when Choso's calloused fingers brush against her soapy, hardened nipples. Rolling over the sensitive skin before cupping her chest and kneading slowly, applying gentle pressure while whispering soft assurances.
“You're doing so well, just a little more and we'll be finished”
His voice somehow soothing her nerves enough to keep her still while his hands continues to give attention to her sensitive chest, only gasping in surprise when he tugs lightly at her nipples before his hands move down her body to push the bottom of her swimsuit down to mid thigh, sliding between her legs to rub between them and wash her slowly.
Her Brother's arm is like an anchor, holding her tight against him, tight enough to hold her weight up when her legs buckle at the feel and pressure of his soapy skin sliding against her sensitive sex.
Yuuji is so overwhelmed that she doesn't realize that Choso is still speaking, trying to focus on his words instead of the steady movement of his hand between her legs.
“It's fine. I'm almost done…I just gotta make sure you're all clean, right?”
Her whole body is shaking, but she manages to nod and make a sound she hopes he understands as ascent, panting softly at the feeling of his hand applying pressure against the mound of her pussy while he washes between her legs. Almost disappointed when his hand pulls away after he deems the space clean enough. The warm water from the showerhead cool against her heated skin when he rinses off the soap.
She's still clinging to the arm wrapped around her body by the time the water runs clear, feeling embarrassingly bare and waiting to be let go so she can make sense of what just happened.
Why was Choso doing this? Was this normal for him? Whatever the answer, she only hopes she can be allowed to put her swimsuit back in place so she can begin to come up with a way to ask her questions. One which will leave no room for misinterpretation of what just happened.
Except Choso seems to have other plans in mind, the feel of his bare hand moving down her body and between her legs once more wipes every thought of an honest talk from her head, feeling the pads of his fingers brush against her sensitive clit when they part the folds of her sensitive sex on their way to slide and press against her messy slit.
The sensation making it impossible for her to keep quiet, finally breaking her self imposed silence, when she is no longer able to hold back a soft, shaky moan.
With that sound the moment is broken, triggering a sudden stop. It's like a switch has been flipped which makes Choso let go of her like he's been burned; leaving her to watch helpless and dazed as he steps back. His expression vulnerable and horrified while he mutters an apology and then rushes out of the room.
—--
By the time Yuuji is no longer stupefied and finally manages to get herself back together enough to exit the wet room wrapped in a towel, she comes to realize that her brother has left the apartment.
It is his free weekend, and neither of them have any pressing duties in the morning, which leads her to believe he might stay out late to try and get himself sorted out.
She can't blame him, Yuuji needs some time to herself as well, but more than that, she needs to talk to him. Willing to wait all night if necessary and hoping they can get through untangling whatever it is that happened between them in the bathroom.
Whatever it was, it is hard to not overthink it. Hard to ignore how hot and wet the space between her legs starts to feel the moment she thinks about what he did. She can't let herself hope for anything, not until they can talk about it.
When the night comes and goes, having passed out on the couch at some point and waking only when the sun is high enough to shine on her face through the balcony doors, Yuuji begins to worry. Finally texting Choso a short, are you ok? Which is answered almost immediately by her brother, telling her he's fine and is staying at Tsukomo’s.
She can't stifle the pang of jealousy and pain she feels at the knowledge, unsure how to deal with it at the moment, not after what happened between them the night prior.
Yuuji doesn't want to jump to conclusions, but that jealous little monster inside her refuses to shut up about the possibility of having somehow pushed him straight into the blonde woman's arms.
She refuses to think about it, forcing herself to stay busy as she prepares to cancel her scheduled weekend stream.
She is in no space of mind to act happy and cheerful for strangers on the internet.
—--
Choso doesn't know what he was thinking or why he thought it was a good idea to go about things the way he did.
He'd only really intended to have a look at Yuuji, inspect her for telling marks on her body under the pretense of bathing together as family.
He doesn't know what possessed him to take it so far–
-Or perhaps he just doesn't want to be truthful with himself, knowing all too well that what he did to Yuuji was selfish, born not out of concern or sound judgement but instead pure want.
It was a terrible idea. Even when in the end it managed to somewhat confirm she'd been untouched. Before he ruined that himself.
His cock begins to harden and pulse between his legs again at the memory of what it felt like to have his sweet Yuuji pressed against him. Fantasizing about what it would have been like to keep going. What her tight little cunt would have felt like squeezing around his fingers, the sweet sounds she would make for him as she unraveled from his touch.
It's all wrong. He doesn't deserve to think about it or enjoy it, and shouldn't crave more of it. Choso is convinced he is going insane, trying to will away his erection while taking up space on Tsukomo’s couch after making up an excuse about pushing Yuuji too hard about the boyfriend thing and wanting to give her some space.
He will go home tomorrow and pretend everything is fine between them, will bury all his deranged one-sided desires, will make excuses if needed and hope his sweet Yuuji will forgive him for going so far.
—--
When Choso finally does return, It is like nothing happened at all, like he never ran off and stayed away for two whole days.
It makes Yuuji feel awkward about bringing up any of the thoughts and questions that keep her awake late into the night.
So in the end she just doesn't.
Instead Choso resumes most of their routines; sharing in the cooking and cleaning of their apartment just like before. Making Yuuji lunch every morning after school finally starts and packing it away neatly before handing it to her with a smile. But now he is very careful about the distance he keeps between them.
Yuuji absolutely hates it.
The awkwardness only grows between them with each passing day, it makes school feel like an escape, just as she thought it might since the day when Choso ruined her chances of moving on from him.
It all leaves a bitter taste in her mouth even as she eats the expertly prepared lunch her big brother packed for her, before he left the apartment long before she was even awake, just like almost every day since what she has come to categorize as The Bath Incident.
The thought of how little she sees of Choso nowadays makes her feel like he's still trying to punish her.
Moisture gathers in her eyes from the helplessness she feels at the situation between them. She's been trying to ignore it, but she misses her big brother, misses the abundant amount of his love and attention she has become accustomed to over their time together, especially when now she has to scramble for crumbs of it.
The emotional drain leaves her with little desire to eat with her usual crowd, deciding to sit alone with the excuse of needing to take care of something.
It is not until a shadow falls over her that she notices she's not completely alone anymore
“Itadori”
The voice is familiar and even manages to stay perfectly pleasant, though she's never really been able to put much trust in its owner.
“Zennin”
“I'm surprised you're not hanging with your loser friends”
Yuuji knows better than to rise to Naoya's bait, not dignifying his remark with a response despite the irritation it makes her feel.
Naoya has always been a weird person to deal with, one she's known since she changed schools last year and who seems to have a weird on and off fixation with her group of friends, based on the fact that they used to hang out with his cousin, Maki, before the older girl graduated.
Maki had warned them all about what kind of person Naoya was, even when it has always been obvious something is not quite right with the way he acts. Yuuji is almost used to the mixed signals, insults one moment and uncomfortable remarks which edge on gross attempts at flirting the next.
Somewhere along the way the guy seems to have learned just what will and won't get him attention and despite knowing social conventions he still can't help but let his true personality shine through, to the misfortune of anyone unlucky enough to meet him.
“If you've finally decided to find better company, you can join me and the guys after school. We're grabbing a bite at this new place that just opened near the shopping district. My treat?”
Yuuji would rather eat a handful of nails than spend time with Naoya and his friends, and yet…a terrible, probably ill fated, idea begins to form in her head as her frustrations condense into ugly vengeful feelings inside her, and she answers with a casual
“Ok”
“Com…oh? ok”
Naoya clearly expected the usual rejection, she hopes Maki and the others can forgive her, but she wants to do something impulsive, maybe a little drastic and if things will end up the way she foresees them, Naoya is someone she doesn't mind seeing get hurt.
“Just give me time to drop my stuff off at home and then we'll head there, it's on the way anyway”
The smug smile on Naoya's face as he agrees doesn't spell anything good for her, but she knows there is no other way around what is going on in her life, and if her plan doesn't work then nothing will.
—--
When she arrives home Choso is there, greeting her and offering her food. Always making sure her needs are met before leaving for work again to avoid spending more than five minutes alone with her.
This time however she gathers her resolve and steadies her heart, breezing past him and his greeting on her way to her room, tossing her school bag on the bed and shutting the door behind her so she can do a quick change into something which will get her older brother to react.
It doesn't take long to put together a simple outfit, doing a quick turnaround in front of the mirror to appreciate her quick work. Deciding to wear the sleeveless turtleneck she once bought in hopes of getting Choso's attention, still embarrassed about trying to emulate Yuki, but particularly happy with the way it accentuates the size of her breasts.
She pairs the top with an above the knee ruffled skirt to try and do the same for her hips and legs. Deeming the look good enough to wear on a date, without giving Naoya too many ideas in case things backfire on her
When she exits the room Choso immediately tenses at the sight of her, looking both puzzled and surprised by the development. His obvious staring gives her time to explain before he can begin to question anything.
“I'm going out to eat with a guy from school”
The sound Choso makes would almost be comical if Yuuji wasn't so angry and frustrated with him, instead it only makes her temper flare even before he speaks
“You can't just go out with some random guy!”
Yuuji scoffs, a sound that would never be directed at her older brother under any other circumstance.
“Why not? You want me to stay home and eat alone while you keep ignoring me!?”
That shuts Choso up, the look of hurt and guilt which crosses his features almost vindicating. He's been hurting Yuuji for a while and she wants to hurt him right back, even when she knows it's unhealthy and seeing it happen makes her heart squeeze painfully, the anger behind her words and actions continue to fuel her.
“I think I'll pass. If you get to avoid me and spend all day outside then I get to do the same”
She almost slams the door when she leaves, but she figures she shouldn't disturb their neighbors over their troubles, she would rather not have any attention on them, casually closing the door instead before rushing off.
Whatever happens next, will be up to her big brother.
—---
Choso is quiet for a few beats after the door closes, staring at the spot vacated by his Yuuji.
The sense of shock slowly gave way to anger and frustration, not with Yuuji but with himself. The frustration within him simmering until his emotions explode in a violently childish way. Finding himself throwing the plate in his hand, which holds Yuuji’s dinner, at the wall.
“Fuck!”
He's never acted like that, it is a little satisfying, even when he immediately regrets it and feels horribly immature for it, leaving the mess behind as he grabs his jacket and rushes out the door after Yuuji.
Choso thought they were doing so well, they were happy weren't they? He might have seen Yuuji less than he used to, but that was for her own good. It was to keep her safely away from him while still making sure to provide for her and show that he still loved her despite the distance between them.
Yet from her outburst it seemed the only thing he managed to do was to hurt her and push her straight into the arms of the creep he knew her boyfriend would surely be.
It doesn't take long for Choso to catch up with her ,anger rising as he spots Yuuji talking to an older blonde haired teen who must be the aforementioned boyfriend. The way the blonde looks at his little sister makes his blood boil, even while the knowledge of how angry Yuuji will be with him if he makes a scene keeps him away and makes him trail after them from a safe distance.
His anger simmers within him as he watches every attempt the little jackass makes to get close to his Yuuji, only slightly vindicated by the way she seems to shy away from all of them. Always sure to keep some distance between them as they walk, holding a somewhat stilted conversation all the way to a small café.
Once there, Choso is forced to wait, Yuuji will definitely spot him as soon as he enters the slightly crowded business. Instead he enters random nearby stores and counts the moments until they exit while pretending to browse.
—--
Yuuji was right to be weary, the moment they enter the small café Naoya makes an excuse about his friends not showing up, one she nods along to despite knowing better.
The best part of the date is how easy it is for her not to participate while Naoya talks and talks about his family, their fortune and himself.
Politely nodding and responding while they wait for their food to be served, and doing such a good job of faking interest that by the time they are done eating the other seems to be in good enough of a mood to put a hand on her knee, causing her to move her leg away and shoot him a hard stare.
He ignores her irritation, making a show of paying for her meal and smiling as he offers to walk her home, which she readily agrees to.
“We can walk through the park to get to your house”
It's not really a question, more a statement to let her know what is going to happen. Naoya's tone is casual, even when the look in his eyes is anything but.
Still, despite the warning bells and unease, Yuuji agrees easily. Keeping his good mood intact as they walk out of the café and take a detour through the nearby park.
The walk starts relatively quiet, the weather has been hot, though not to the same degree as those hellish few weeks during summer break, and all the green around them provides a soothing background to offset Naoya's talking. At least until they enter a tunnel built for pedestrians to avoid the busy street above.
It is there that Naoya makes his move, grabbing onto her and crowding her against the nearby wall to keep her trapped in place while she tries to pry her arms free.
“What the hell!?”
“I bought you a nice meal, I think this is a good place for you to show a little gratitude”
“What are you talking about!?!”
He doesn't give Yuuji time to think, barely giving her time to turn away when Naoya leans forward to try and press his lips against her own, his free hand sneaking up her skirt ,squeezing her thigh before he is violently ripped away from her by a looming shadow.
Naoya yelps in surprise, high and indignant.
“What the fuck!?!”
Before he is tossed onto the ground and punched repeatedly. Naoya's pained grunts echoing in the small space with every hit, groaning pitifully after the figure pulls back from him to grab a shocked Yuuji by the arm and drag her out the other side of the tunnel.
When they are outside and her eyes adjust to the light once more, she is met by the sight of an enraged Choso. One who refuses to acknowledge her as he drags her towards their home.
She can't let him see how pleased she is, forcing herself to scowl and keep quiet, ready to keep it up and say nothing until he does.
She glares at the ground silently all the way to their apartment, the act made difficult by the success of her half-assed plan which seems to have borne some results.
Once the door closes behind them Choso immediately pushes her against it, feeling it shake when he knocks his first against the wooden frame in anger and frustration, speaking in a low and dangerous tone.
“What the hell were you thinking!?”
The words imply Yuuji had something to do with what happened, it makes anger rise to the surface despite knowing she had planned and hoped for this exact scenario. Regardless, It's not something Choso should know and has no right to accuse her of.
“Get off me! Leave Me alone!”
She pushes against his bulk, despite wanting him to do the opposite of what she is saying, happy to see the anger behind his eyes when they meet the defiant look on her own. However, the moment only lasts until he opens his mouth again.
“Yuuji, are you that desperate for attention!? Desperate enough to let some random asshole fuck you to get it!?!”
His words are interrupted when her hand connects with his face, the slap ringing loudly in the apartment, leaving her hand stinging at the force of the impact, holding it against her chest to soothe the sting away.
Choso has never spoken to her like that, the near automatic reaction to it shocks them both, though not enough to quiet Yuuji's outrage.
“You don't get to be a coward and get mad when I try to move on with my life!”
The accusation shuts him up, seeming to cool his anger momentarily while they both stare each other down. It's clear Choso doesn't know that what was happening in the tunnel when he arrived wasn't consensual. It both thrills and scares her to think of what he might have done to Naoya if he realized it, knowing she shouldn't tell him for both their sakes.
“Yuuji…I'm sorry! I-I don't know why I said that. God I'm losing my mind”
With each passing moment Choso begins to sound and look more and more like the sweet older brother she knows, apologetic and guilty over his reactions. It's not at all what Yuuji wants from him, and it pushes her to be a little meaner that she ever wants to be with her sweet older brother, knowing she needs to get through his thick skull somehow.
“I'll do it again if you don't do something about it! Maybe next time I'll go home with someone and let them do what you won't”
That seems to push just the right buttons, reigniting the cooling anger behind Choso's eyes, and giving him the final push he needs to press against her with a growl of frustration, kissing her hard.
The thrill of the kiss, her first kiss, makes Yuuji's toes curl, whimpering softly while he keeps her trapped against the door and takes full advantage of her surprise to devour her lips.
Choso kisses like he's starving, like he's dying of thirst and she is the only thing to eat and drink for miles around. It leaves her with little option but to cling to the solid bulk of his body, pressed fully against her own until they are forced to break the kiss. Allowing him to whisper darkly against her lips.
“You are mine Yuuji, no one else but me is allowed to have you. Do you understand?”
Being claimed like this is all she wanted, letting out a shaky breath against his lips and daring to push one last time, needing to be sure he knows she won't let him cast her aside.
“Then stop ignoring me!”
Choso kisses her again, slow but just as hungry as the first. Giving her time to respond to the press and slide of his lips and tongue against her own as she clings tightly to his neck and lets him guide her through it.
“You've never done this before either, have you?”
She shakes her head shyly, ashamed of her glaring inexperience. Even when it seems to put a smile on her older brother’s face.
“Yuuji, I will ruin you–”
His words make her feel like she's five seconds from spontaneously combusting, not helped at all by the way he reaches out to brush the pad of his thumb across her kiss bruised lips.
“-but only if you'll let me”
He does not let her answer beyond furious nodding, catching her lips once more while his hands slide down her body squeezing and caressing down until they make it to her hips. Stopping there before breaking the kiss, to draw back and stare at her with jealousy and desire shining in his eyes, the combination sending a thrill down Yuuji's spine when he speaks.
“I want you to break up with your boyfriend. Don't do anything like this with anyone else but me”
Yuuji can practically hear the sound of the record scratch, carefully pushing him back when he leans back in and staring at Choso with a puzzled look on her face, answering automatically.
“I..don't have a boyfriend?”
It's Choso's turn to look confused and squint at her skeptically before seeming to come to a conclusion.
“It's ok Yuuji, you don't have to lie to me. I heard you talk about him during your stream”
If it was possible to choke on air, Yuuji would be doing it the moment her older brother casually brings up her shameful little secret of the past few weeks. The thought of it makes heat crawl up her face as she is forced to contend with the shame of knowing she'll have to come clean.
“Cho-nii…I–”
She can't possibly say it out loud, instead she pushes herself to look up and meet Choso's questioning gaze.
“-I want to show you something”
—--
The short walk to her room feels like what she imagines an inmate on death row feels when being led to the execution grounds, despite the fact that she is the one leading them there.
Choso's hand serves as a reassuring weight in her own as she leads him to her desk and makes him sit down in her chair. Carefully leaning over him to pull up one of the many social media accounts connected to her streaming namesake on one of her screens, letting him scroll through the posts which contain pictures of them.
The pictures themselves are mostly innocuous without the captions she's added to each, captions which mortify her as Choso scrolls slowly from one to the next
He's perfect! <3
My everything.
So hot! I'm lucky he's mine.
And so many more embarrassing declarations of her attraction, love, and delusion. Choso is quiet as he looks through the posts, all the way to the end; the very first picture she took of them the night she twisted her ankle.
I love him so much.
When he's finished the silence becomes near deafening until Choso's calls out to her
“Yuuji”
After the long bout of silence she can't help but jump at the sudden sound of his voice, startled. The tension that has built up in her body broken as her older brother turns and reaches out to take her hand in his own, coaxing her into his lap; his voice both giddy, hopeful when he asks.
“Am I your boyfriend?”
She still can't own up to the embarrassment of what she has been doing, at least not verbally, but she nods at the question, covering her face and the deepening blush on it. Until she can eventually find the courage to turn towards him just enough to peek at his expression.
She regrets it almost instantly when met with the soft, loving look on Choso's face which has her brain short circuiting and her heart racing in her chest.
And yet, even under such conditions, Yuuji still manages to force out an embarrassed and annoyed
“Don't make fun of me, unless you want to be my ex!”
It only makes Choso snort in amusement as he holds her close and leans in to kiss the side of her head.
“I've been doing a terrible job at being a good boyfriend so far, haven't I? I should start making up for it by doing things properly from now on”
He doesn't give her time to answer, reaching out to gently grip her face then leaning in to steal a kiss while her brain is still trying to reboot. Looking both giddy and indulgent when he pulls away.
“So…are you willing to give your boyfriend a chance to prove himself?”
Yuuji's body might just float away in happiness as she answers with a resounding and immediate
“Yes!”