A Daily Life With My 3 Stepsisters

Tuesday night crept up quietly, a rare break after the bake-off madness. School had been uneventful—Hiro kept his distance, the rumors had dulled to a hum, and I'd even survived photography club without Aiko's teasing breaking me. I thought I'd get through the evening unscathed, maybe catch up on some sleep. But my stepsisters had a knack for turning calm into chaos—or something else entirely.

I was sprawled on my bed, scrolling through my phone, when a soft knock pulled me out of my daze.

"Kaito-kun?" Reina's voice came through the door, tentative. "Are you awake?"

"Yeah," I said, sitting up. "Come in."

She slipped inside, closing the door behind her. She was in pajamas—soft shorts and a loose shirt that slipped off one shoulder—her hair down, framing her face in gentle waves. She held a small plate with a slice of leftover cake from the bake-off, her cheeks pink as she stepped closer.

"I couldn't sleep," she said, setting the plate on my nightstand. "Thought you might want this. It's still good."

"Thanks," I said, eyeing the cake. "You okay?"

"Mm-hm," she said, sitting on the edge of my bed. "Just… thinking. About yesterday. The bake-off was fun, wasn't it?"

"Yeah," I said, a small smile tugging at my lips. "You killed it. Mina didn't, but you did."

She giggled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "She tried. Sort of."

"Sort of's generous," I said, and she laughed again, the sound soft and warm.

For a moment, we sat in comfortable silence, the faint hum of the house around us. Then she shifted, her knee brushing mine, and spoke quieter. "Kaito-kun… do you ever miss how things were? Before us?"

I blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean?"

"Before we moved in," she said, her eyes dropping to her hands. "Your life was… simpler, right? Quieter. I just wonder if… if we're too much sometimes."

I leaned back, thinking. Simpler, sure—days of school, games, no one barging into my space. But quieter? Empty, maybe. "It was different," I said finally. "But I don't miss it. Not really."

Her head tilted, eyes meeting mine. "You don't?"

"Nah," I said, shrugging. "It's… better now. Louder, yeah. Crazy. But better."

Her smile returned, small but bright. "I'm glad. I was worried you hated it—all the noise."

"Sometimes I do," I admitted, grinning. "But not you guys."

She blushed, looking away, and the air shifted—thicker, warmer. She was close, her bare shoulder catching the light, and I couldn't help noticing the way her shirt clung to her, soft and thin.

Before I could say anything dumb, the door flew open, and Mina stumbled in, rubbing her eyes. She was in her usual tiny pajamas, hair a mess, looking half-asleep. "Kaito! Reina! Why're you having a party without me?"

"It's not a party," I said, exasperated. "She just brought cake."

"Cake?" Mina's eyes lit up, and she flopped onto the bed between us, grabbing the plate. "Mine now!"

"Mina!" Reina laughed, trying to pull it back. "That's for Kaito-kun!"

"Sharing is caring," Mina said, shoving a bite into her mouth. She leaned against me, her head on my shoulder, crumbs falling onto my shirt. "Mmm, so good. You're the best, Reina."

"Get off," I said, nudging her, but she just snuggled closer, her bare legs tangling with mine under the blanket.

"Nope," she mumbled, her voice muffled by cake. "Too comfy."

Reina giggled, scooting closer to keep Mina from sliding off. "She's hopeless."

"Tell me about it," I said, but I didn't push harder. Mina's warmth was… weirdly nice, even if she was a crumb-covered gremlin.

Then Aiko appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame with a smirk. She'd gone for a tank top and shorts, her hair loose, and the way she stood—hip cocked, arms crossed—made my throat dry. "What's this? Midnight snack club?"

"Mina stole my cake," I said, pointing at the culprit sprawled across me.

"Traitor," Aiko said, stepping in. She dropped onto the bed, stretching out so her legs draped over mine, her toes brushing my shin. "Guess I'll crash the party too."

"There's no party," I said, trapped under Mina and now Aiko's weight. "Just… this."

"Looks like a party to me," Aiko said, her smirk widening. Her hand rested on my knee, casual but deliberate, and my pulse kicked up. "You're not kicking us out, are you?"

"No point," I sighed, giving up. "You'd just come back."

"Smart boy," she teased, her fingers tapping my knee before pulling away.

Reina smiled, watching us. "It's nice, though. All of us here."

"Yeah!" Mina said, perking up despite her drooping eyes. "Family sleepover! Kaito's bed is big enough!"

"No, it's not," I said, but she was already curling up, her head back on my shoulder.

"Let her," Reina said, her voice gentle. "She'll fall asleep soon."

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

"Maybe," she said, stretching again—her tank top riding up, showing a flash of skin that made me look away fast. "Depends if you're worth it."

"Shut up," I said, my face burning, and she laughed, low and sharp.

The room settled, Mina's breathing evening out as she dozed off, Reina sitting quietly, Aiko lounging like she owned the place. The cake was gone—mostly thanks to Mina—and the air was warm, thick with their presence.

"Guess this is normal now," I said, half to myself.

"Get used to it," Aiko murmured, her eyes half-closed but still on me.

"I am," I said, softer, glancing at Reina. She smiled back, and something in my chest shifted—small, but real.

Day thirteen, and I wasn't just surviving anymore. I was here, with them, in the mess and the warmth and the chaos. And as Mina snored, Aiko smirked, and Reina's eyes lingered, I realized I didn't want to be anywhere else.