A Daily Life With My 3 Stepsisters

I woke up to the sound of something crashing downstairs, followed by Mina's unmistakable giggle and Aiko's annoyed growl. For a blissful half-second, I thought it was all a dream—that my dad hadn't remarried, that I wasn't suddenly living with three stepsisters who seemed designed to drive me insane. But then reality hit me like a truck, and I groaned, burying my face in my pillow.

Day two. I wasn't sure I'd survive it.

The clock on my nightstand blinked 6:45 AM. Too early for chaos, but apparently not too early for them. I dragged myself out of bed, threw on a T-shirt and jeans, and stumbled toward the bathroom—only to freeze when the door swung open before I could knock.

Reina stood there, wrapped in nothing but a towel. Her auburn hair was damp, clinging to her shoulders, and droplets of water glistened on her collarbone. She blinked up at me, her cheeks flushing pink as she clutched the towel tighter.

"K-Kaito-kun?" she squeaked, her voice a mix of surprise and something else I couldn't quite place. "I didn't know you were up!"

"I—uh—sorry!" I spun around so fast I nearly tripped over my own feet, my face burning hotter than the sun. "I'll just—uh—wait!"

"It's fine!" she called after me, but there was a nervous laugh in her voice. "I'm done anyway. You can use it now."

I didn't dare turn back until I heard her footsteps retreat down the hall. When I finally peeked, she was gone, but the image of her standing there—soft curves barely hidden by that flimsy towel—was seared into my brain. Great. Five minutes into the day, and I was already a wreck.

The bathroom was still steamy when I stepped inside, the mirror fogged up and the air thick with the scent of her floral shampoo. I splashed cold water on my face, trying to snap out of it. "Get it together, Kaito," I muttered to my blurry reflection. "They're just your stepsisters. Nothing weird about this. Totally normal."

Yeah, right.

By the time I made it downstairs, the kitchen was a war zone. Mina was perched on the counter, swinging her legs and munching on a piece of toast. Aiko was wrestling with the coffee maker, muttering curses under her breath, and Reina—now fully dressed in a school uniform that somehow looked too good on her—was flipping pancakes at the stove. Hana and Dad were nowhere in sight, probably still asleep or off doing couple stuff.

"Morning, sleepyhead!" Mina chirped, waving her toast at me. A blob of jam fell onto the counter, and she didn't even blink. "You look like you saw a ghost."

"Maybe he did," Aiko said, smirking as she finally got the coffee maker to sputter to life. She leaned against the counter, her own uniform unbuttoned at the top in a way that was definitely not school-approved. "What's wrong, Kaito? Rough night?"

"I slept fine," I lied, grabbing a glass of water to avoid her gaze. "What's with all the noise earlier?"

"Oh, that was me!" Mina said proudly, hopping off the counter. "I dropped a pan. Aiko got mad 'cause it woke her up."

"You're a menace," Aiko shot back, but there was a flicker of a grin on her face. She poured herself a cup of coffee, then glanced at me. "Want some? You're gonna need it to keep up with us."

"I'm good," I said, though I wasn't sure that was true. My nerves were already fried, and the day had barely started.

"Here, Kaito-kun," Reina said softly, sliding a plate of pancakes toward me. They were golden and fluffy, topped with a drizzle of syrup and a pat of butter. "I made extra. You need energy for school, right?"

"Uh, thanks." I took the plate, my fingers brushing hers again—accidentally, I swear—and she smiled, her eyes lingering on me a little too long. Was she doing this on purpose? No, she couldn't be. She was too sweet for that… right?

"Wow, Reina, sucking up already?" Mina teased, snatching a pancake from the stack on the counter. "You're gonna spoil him."

"I'm not sucking up!" Reina huffed, turning back to the stove with a pout. "I just thought it'd be nice."

"Sure you did," Aiko said, sipping her coffee with a knowing look. "Careful, Kaito. She's got a knack for wrapping guys around her finger."

"I do not!" Reina protested, her face going red again.

I shoved a bite of pancake into my mouth to avoid answering. It was delicious—way better than the instant ramen I usually survived on—but the tension in the room made it hard to enjoy. These girls were a whirlwind, and I was stuck right in the middle.

Breakfast didn't get any less chaotic. Mina kept stealing bits of food off my plate, giggling every time I swatted her hand away. Aiko leaned over to grab the syrup, her arm brushing mine in a way that felt way too deliberate. And Reina kept hovering, asking if I wanted more like some kind of angelic hostess—except her uniform skirt kept catching my eye every time she turned around.

By the time we finished, I was ready to bolt. "I'll, uh, grab my stuff," I mumbled, pushing my chair back.

"Hold up," Aiko said, grabbing her bag. "We're all heading to school together. Same place, right?"

Oh, right. I'd forgotten—they were transferring to my high school. All three of them. My one safe haven, invaded.

"Great," I said weakly, slinging my backpack over my shoulder.

The walk to school was… an experience. Mina skipped ahead, humming some annoying pop song, while Aiko strode beside me, her long legs keeping pace effortlessly. Reina trailed a little behind, fiddling with her bag straps and sneaking glances at me every few steps.

"So," Aiko said, breaking the silence, "you're a senior, right? Same as me."

"Yeah," I nodded. "You?"

"Yep. Reina's a junior, and Mina's a freshman. Guess you're stuck with us at every level." She grinned, nudging me with her elbow. "Lucky you."

"Lucky," I echoed, though I wasn't sure that was the word I'd use.

"Don't worry, Kaito-kun," Reina said, catching up to us. "We won't embarrass you or anything. We just want to fit in."

"Speak for yourself," Mina called back, twirling around to face us. "I'm gonna be the queen of the freshmen. Everyone's gonna know my name!"

"Good luck with that," Aiko snorted. "Just don't drag us into your mess."

We reached the school gates just as the bell rang, and I felt a wave of relief. Maybe I could slip away, blend into the crowd, and pretend this was all normal for a few hours.

But then Mina grabbed my arm, tugging me toward the entrance. "Come on, big bro! Show us around!"

"I'm not your big bro," I grumbled, but she just laughed, dragging me along. Aiko and Reina followed, and I could feel eyes on us already—classmates staring, whispering, probably wondering who these three gorgeous girls were and why they were with a nobody like me.

Day two was off to a stellar start. I had a feeling things were only going to get crazier from here—and something told me I wasn't entirely ready for it.