A Daily Life With My 3 Stepsisters

Friday morning dawned with a deceptive calm. After last night's kitchen chaos—Reina's cookies, Aiko's teasing, Mina's mess—I thought I'd braced myself for anything. But school had a way of proving me wrong, and by the afternoon, I was neck-deep in a situation I hadn't signed up for.

It started with photography club again. Tanaka, the leader, announced a "special assignment"—shooting candids around school to "capture the essence of student life." Aiko, predictably, dragged me into it, claiming I was her "perfect assistant." I didn't argue—resistance was pointless by now.

We ended up near the gym after classes, where the sports clubs were wrapping up. Aiko had her camera out, snapping shots of the track team stretching, when she smirked at me.

"Need a better angle," she said, nodding toward the locker rooms. "Come on, Kaito. You're my lookout."

"Lookout?" I frowned, trailing after her. "For what?"

"Rules," she said, winking. "Girls' locker room's off-limits, but I'm quick. Just warn me if someone comes."

"You're insane," I said, but I followed anyway, hovering by the door as she slipped inside. The hall was quiet, the faint sound of showers running echoing from within. I leaned against the wall, phone in hand, pretending I wasn't part of this—until the door swung open again, and Aiko yanked me in.

"What the—" I started, stumbling as she pulled me into the steamy room.

"Shh," she hissed, grinning. "Someone's coming. Hide!"

"Hide where?" I whispered, panic rising. The locker room was a maze of benches and lockers, towels strewn around, and the air was thick with heat and soap.

"Here," she said, shoving me into a narrow gap between two lockers. She squeezed in after me, her body pressed tight against mine, her camera clutched to her chest.

"Aiko, this is—" I started, but her hand clapped over my mouth, her breath hot against my ear.

"Quiet," she murmured, her lips brushing my skin. "Unless you want us caught."

My heart slammed against my ribs, her closeness overwhelming—her chest against my back, her legs tangled with mine, her scent sharp and dizzying. I froze, too aware of every inch of her, the thin fabric of her uniform doing nothing to dull the heat.

Footsteps echoed outside, then faded. Aiko didn't move, her hand sliding down to my shoulder, her voice a low tease. "You're shaking, Kaito. Nervous?"

"No," I lied, my voice rough. "This is stupid."

"Stupid's fun," she said, shifting so her hip pressed harder against me. "Admit it—you like the thrill."

"Shut up," I muttered, but my face was burning, and she knew it.

The door creaked again, and voices spilled in—Mina's, loud and unmistakable. "Reina, hurry up! I wanna see Kaito's pictures!"

Aiko smirked, finally stepping back, but not far. "Guess we're busted. Move."

We slipped out of the gap just as Mina and Reina rounded the corner, both in gym clothes—shorts and tank tops, sweaty from whatever club they'd been in. Mina's eyes lit up when she saw us.

"Kaito! Aiko! What're you doing here?" she asked, bouncing over. Her tank top clung to her, and I looked away fast, my brain already overloaded.

"Working," Aiko said, holding up her camera. "Kaito's my assistant."

"Assistant?" Reina said, stepping closer. Her hair was damp, sticking to her neck, and her shorts showed off more leg than I was ready to handle. "Kaito-kun, you didn't say you were coming here."

"Didn't plan to," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "Aiko dragged me."

"Best decision I've made," Aiko said, snapping a quick shot of Mina posing dramatically—hands on hips, chest out. "You're a natural, kid."

"Take one of me and Kaito!" Mina said, grabbing my arm and pulling me close. Her side pressed into mine, warm and sticky, and I tensed, caught off guard.

"Mina, stop," Reina said, but she was smiling, stepping in to adjust Mina's pose. "Kaito-kun, you look… uncomfortable."

"Wonder why," I muttered, but I didn't pull away as Aiko clicked the shutter.

"Now Reina," Mina said, shoving me toward her. "You two look cute together!"

"Mina!" Reina blushed, but she didn't resist when I stepped closer, her arm brushing mine.

"Smile," Aiko said, her voice teasing as she aimed the camera. "Make it good, Kaito."

I managed a half-smile, Reina's warmth seeping into me, her shy glance up at me making my chest tighten. The shutter clicked, and Aiko grinned. "Perfect. Raw emotion, right there."

"Let me see!" Mina darted over, peering at the screen. "Ooh, Kaito's got heart eyes!"

"I do not," I snapped, but my face was on fire, and Aiko's laugh didn't help.

"You kinda do," she said, slinging the camera over her shoulder. "Come on, let's get out before we're really busted."

We escaped the locker room—barely—Mina chattering, Reina quiet but close, Aiko leading with that smirk. The walk home was loud, as usual, but my head was elsewhere. Aiko's body against mine, Mina's clinginess, Reina's soft presence—it was too much, piling up faster than I could process.

At the house, Mina bolted inside, Aiko tossed me a "See ya," and Reina lingered, her voice soft. "Thanks for today, Kaito-kun. It was… nice."

"Yeah," I said, meeting her eyes. "You too."

She smiled, heading in, and I stood there, the day replaying in my head. Day sixteen, and I wasn't just sinking anymore—I was drowning. Aiko's heat, Mina's chaos, Reina's pull—they were unraveling me, piece by piece. And the worst part? I didn't want to fight it anymore.

I stepped inside, the noise of the house washing over me, and realized something: this wasn't just a storm. It was a tide, pulling me under, and I was starting to let it.