A Daily Life With My 3 Stepsisters

The walk home felt like a victory march for my stepsisters and a slow funeral procession for my sanity. Mina was still buzzing with energy, recounting her "epic" first day like she'd single-handedly taken over the freshman class. Aiko strode beside me, her smirk firmly in place as she ignored the occasional stares from passing neighbors. Reina stayed quiet, her bag clutched to her chest, but every now and then, her shoulder brushed mine, sending a jolt through me I couldn't quite shake off.

By the time we reached the house, I was ready to collapse. School had been a gauntlet—whispers, stares, and way too many questions about my "hot stepsisters." All I wanted was a quiet evening, maybe some video games to unwind. But this was my life now, and quiet wasn't an option.

"Finally!" Mina kicked off her shoes at the door, sending them flying into the entryway with zero regard for order. "I'm starving. Who's cooking?"

"Not me," Aiko said, tossing her bag onto the couch and flopping down beside it. She stretched out, her uniform shirt riding up just enough to show a sliver of toned stomach. I looked away fast, pretending to adjust my own bag. "I'm beat. Kaito, you do it."

"What? Why me?" I protested, kicking my shoes off more carefully. "I'm not your personal chef."

"'Cause you're the man of the house now," she said, smirking as she propped her head on her hand. "Gotta step up, little bro."

"I'm not your—" I started, but Reina cut in, her voice soft but firm.

"I'll cook," she said, already heading for the kitchen. "It's no trouble. I like it."

"See? Reina's got it handled," Mina said, darting past me to raid the fridge. "But I call dibs on snacks!"

I sighed, dropping my bag by the stairs. "Fine. I'm gonna change. Don't burn the house down."

"No promises!" Mina called, her mouth already full of something I couldn't identify.

Upstairs, I swapped my uniform for a comfy hoodie and shorts, savoring the brief moment of peace. My room was still a safe haven—for now. But as I headed back down, the sound of clattering pots and Mina's laughter told me the chaos was far from over.

The kitchen smelled amazing when I walked in. Reina was at the stove, stirring something that looked like curry, her hair tied back with a scrunchie. She'd changed into a loose T-shirt and shorts, and the way she moved—graceful, focused—made it hard to look away.

"Need help?" I asked, mostly to distract myself.

"Oh!" She glanced over her shoulder, smiling. "You don't have to, but… maybe you could chop some vegetables? If you want."

"Sure," I said, grabbing a knife and a cutting board. Anything to keep my hands busy and my mind off how close she was standing.

We worked in silence for a bit, the only sounds the rhythmic chop of the knife and the bubbling pot. It was almost peaceful—until Mina burst in, waving a bag of chips.

"Kaito, catch!" she yelled, tossing it at me. I fumbled, nearly slicing my finger off, and the bag hit the floor with a crunch.

"Mina!" Reina scolded, hands on her hips. "Be careful!"

"Oops," Mina giggled, not looking sorry at all. She hopped onto the counter again, kicking her legs. "You two look cute together, though. Like a married couple."

"W-What?" I sputtered, my face heating up. Reina turned pink, too, focusing way too hard on stirring the curry.

"Knock it off, Mina," Aiko said, strolling in with her phone in hand. She'd changed into a tank top and leggings that hugged her legs in a way I really didn't need to notice. "You're gonna give Kaito a heart attack."

"Too late," Mina said, smirking as she crunched a chip. "He's already a mess."

"I'm fine," I said through gritted teeth, shoving the chopped carrots into a bowl. "Totally fine."

"Sure you are," Aiko said, leaning against the counter next to me. She was close—too close—her arm brushing mine as she reached for a carrot slice. "You're tense, though. Rough day?"

"You could say that," I muttered, stepping back to put some distance between us. "Thanks to you three."

"Aww, don't be like that," she teased, popping the carrot into her mouth. "We're making your life exciting."

"Exciting's one word for it," I said, but she just grinned, undeterred.

Dinner was ready soon after, and we gathered around the table again—no Dad or Hana this time, just the four of us. The curry was incredible, spicy and rich, and for a moment, I almost relaxed. Almost.

"So," Mina said, spoon halfway to her mouth, "did you see how many guys were staring at us today? I bet they're jealous of you, Kaito."

"They can have my spot," I said, taking a bite to avoid elaborating.

"No way," Aiko said, leaning back in her chair. "You're stuck with us. Besides, you're kinda fun to mess with."

"Gee, thanks," I said, rolling my eyes.

Reina giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. "You're handling it well, though. I thought you'd hide all day."

"I wanted to," I admitted, and she laughed again, the sound light and warm. It was almost enough to make me forget the madness—until Aiko's foot nudged mine under the table.

"Careful, Reina," Aiko said, smirking. "Keep being nice, and he might fall for you."

"Aiko!" Reina's face went red, and she ducked her head, suddenly very interested in her plate.

I choked on my curry, coughing into my napkin while Mina cackled. "Oh my god, this is gold! Kaito, your face!"

"Shut up," I wheezed, grabbing my water.

After dinner, I volunteered to wash dishes—anything to escape the teasing. Reina stayed to help, drying while I scrubbed, and the silence between us was… nice. Comfortable, even.

"Thanks for dinner," I said, handing her a plate. "It was really good."

"You're welcome," she said, smiling up at me. Her fingers brushed mine as she took the plate, and for a second, neither of us moved. Her eyes were soft, her lips parted just slightly, and—

"Oi, lovebirds!" Aiko's voice cut through the moment like a knife. She leaned in the doorway, arms crossed. "You're taking forever. Mina's hogging the TV, and I'm not fighting her for it."

"We're not—" I started, but Reina just giggled, stepping back with a blush.

"I'll go," she said, hurrying out of the kitchen.

Aiko lingered, eyeing me with that smirk I was starting to hate. "You're in deep already, huh?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, turning back to the sink.

"Sure you don't," she said, her voice low and teasing. She stepped closer, her breath warm against my ear as she whispered, "Just don't pick favorites too fast, okay? Night, Kaito."

She sauntered off, leaving me gripping the sponge like it was my last lifeline. My heart was pounding, my head spinning, and I realized something terrifying: this wasn't just chaos anymore. It was a game—one I wasn't sure I could win.

I finished the dishes in a daze and trudged upstairs, collapsing onto my bed. Day two down. Ninety-eight more to go until I figured out how to survive this—or if I even wanted to.