A Daily Life With My 3 Stepsisters

After the cafeteria showdown, I thought I'd earned a breather. Tuesday night was quiet—almost too quiet. Dad and Hana were home, keeping the girls in check, and I managed to slip away to my room without any teasing or chaos. I even got a few hours of gaming in before crashing, thinking maybe, just maybe, I'd hit a turning point.

Then Wednesday hit, and the universe laughed in my face.

It started with rain. Not a light drizzle—full-on, torrential downpour, the kind that turns streets into rivers and soaks you to the bone in seconds. I'd forgotten my umbrella, naturally, and by the time I made it home from school, I was a dripping mess. Mina had bolted ahead with her "minions," Aiko had stayed late for some club thing, and Reina had caught a ride with a friend, leaving me to trudge through the storm alone.

I kicked off my soggy shoes at the door, shivering as water pooled on the floor. The house was empty—Dad and Hana at work, the girls still out. Perfect. A hot shower and dry clothes were all I needed to salvage the day.

The bathroom was steamy by the time I stepped out, towel around my waist, hair dripping onto my shoulders. I felt human again, the chill finally fading—until I opened the door and nearly collided with Reina.

"Kaito-kun!" she yelped, stumbling back. She was soaked too, her uniform clinging to her in ways that made my brain stall. Her hair was plastered to her face, and she clutched a towel to her chest like she'd been about to head in herself.

"Reina?" I blinked, gripping my own towel tighter. "I thought you were still out."

"I-I just got back," she said, her cheeks flushing as her eyes darted down, then back up. "Um… sorry! I didn't know you were…"

"It's fine!" I said, too fast, stepping aside. "I'm done. You can—uh—go ahead."

"Thanks," she mumbled, hurrying past me. Her shoulder brushed mine, and I caught a whiff of rain and that damn floral shampoo. The door clicked shut behind her, and I stood there, heart pounding, wondering how I'd survived that without dropping dead.

I made it to my room, threw on a hoodie and sweats, and flopped onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. Day nine, and I was still a mess around them—especially Reina. She wasn't even trying, and she had me tripping over myself.

The rain kept pounding outside, a steady drum against the windows. I was half-asleep when a knock jolted me upright.

"Kaito?" Reina's voice came through the door, soft and hesitant. "Can I come in?"

"Uh, yeah," I said, sitting up and running a hand through my damp hair.

She stepped inside, now in dry clothes—loose pajama pants and a T-shirt that hung off one shoulder. Her hair was still wet, curling slightly at the ends, and she carried two mugs of something steaming.

"I made hot chocolate," she said, offering me one. "Thought you might need it after the rain."

"Thanks," I said, taking it. Our fingers brushed—again—and I pretended it didn't send a spark up my arm. "You didn't have to."

"It's no trouble," she said, sitting on the edge of my bed. "You looked… cold earlier."

"Yeah, it was brutal out there," I said, sipping the drink. It was sweet, warm, perfect. "You got home okay, though?"

"Mm-hm. My friend dropped me off." She paused, cradling her mug. "I'm glad you're okay. Yesterday was… a lot."

"Tell me about it," I said, leaning back against the headboard. "I still can't believe Mina did that."

Reina giggled, the sound lightening the room. "She's crazy. But she cares about you. We all do."

I glanced at her, caught off guard. "Yeah?"

"Of course," she said, her eyes meeting mine. "You're… important to us."

For a moment, neither of us said anything. The rain filled the silence, and the air felt heavy—not bad heavy, just… charged. She was close, closer than she'd been all day, and I could see the faint flush on her cheeks, the way her lips parted slightly as she breathed.

Then the door burst open, and Mina stormed in, shattering the moment like a wrecking ball.

"Kaito! Reina! Why're you hogging the hot chocolate?" she whined, flopping onto the bed between us. She was in pajamas too—tiny shorts and a tank top—and her hair was a damp mess. "I'm freezing!"

"You could've made your own," I said, scooting over as she sprawled out, nearly spilling my drink.

"Too much work," she said, snatching Reina's mug and taking a sip. "Ooh, this is good! Reina, you're the best."

"Mina!" Reina laughed, trying to grab it back. "That's mine!"

"Sharing is caring," Mina said, dodging her. She grinned at me, wiggling closer. "Right, Kaito?"

"Whatever," I muttered, but I couldn't help a small smile. She was a menace, but she had a way of making everything lighter.

Aiko appeared in the doorway then, leaning against the frame with a towel over her shoulders. Her hair was wet, her tank top sticking to her in a way that made my throat dry. "What's this, a party without me?"

"You're late," Mina said, sticking out her tongue. "Kaito and Reina were getting cozy."

"We were not!" Reina said, her face red.

"Sure looked like it," Aiko said, smirking as she walked in. She dropped onto the bed too, stretching out so her legs brushed mine. "Guess I'll join the fun."

"There's no fun," I said, trapped between them now. "Just hot chocolate and rain."

"Sounds fun to me," Aiko said, her voice low and teasing. Her hand rested on my knee for a second—deliberate, I was sure—before she pulled it back, grinning.

The four of us ended up crammed on my bed, Mina stealing sips from everyone's mugs, Reina laughing at her antics, and Aiko throwing in sly comments that kept me on edge. The rain kept falling, the room warm and cluttered with their voices, and for once, I didn't mind the chaos.

Eventually, Mina yawned, curling up against Reina. "I'm staying here tonight," she mumbled, half-asleep already.

"You're not sleeping in my bed," I said, but she just snuggled closer, ignoring me.

"Let her," Reina said, brushing Mina's hair back. "She's out."

"Fine," I sighed, glancing at Aiko. "You staying too?"

"Nah," she said, standing up with a stretch that showed off way too much. "I'll leave you to your cuddle pile. Night, Kaito."

She winked and sauntered out, leaving me with Reina and a snoring Mina. Reina smiled, setting her empty mug on the nightstand. "I'll take her to her room. Sorry about this."

"It's okay," I said, softer than I meant to. "Thanks for the hot chocolate."

"Anytime," she said, her eyes lingering on mine before she gently shook Mina awake and guided her out.

I flopped back onto my bed, the rain still tapping the windows. Day nine, and I'd gone from drenched and miserable to… this. Warm, rattled, and maybe a little too comfortable with the madness.

Something told me I was in deeper than I'd ever admit.