A Daily Life With My 3 Stepsisters

Saturday morning hit me like a lifeline. No school, no whispers, just a chance to recharge after a week that felt like a fever dream. I'd planned to sleep in, maybe grind some levels in my favorite game, and pretend my stepsisters didn't exist for a few hours. But apparently, the universe—or Mina—had other plans.

"Kaito! Wake up!" A fist pounded on my door, followed by Mina's voice, way too chipper for 9 AM. "We're going to the mall! You're coming!"

"No, I'm not," I groaned, pulling the covers over my head.

The door flew open anyway—Mina didn't believe in locks, apparently—and she marched in, hands on her hips. She was already dressed, her pigtails bouncing, wearing a short skirt and a cropped hoodie that showed off way too much midriff. "Yes, you are! Mom and Dad are out all day, and we need a guy to carry stuff."

"Carry your own stuff," I mumbled, but she yanked the blanket off me with a triumphant grin.

"Nope! Get up, lazybones. Aiko's driving, and Reina's making lunch to-go. You don't wanna miss out."

I sat up, rubbing my eyes. "Why can't you just leave me alone?"

"'Cause it's more fun with you," she said, sticking out her tongue before darting out of the room. "Ten minutes, or I'm dragging you out in your pajamas!"

I groaned again but hauled myself out of bed. She'd probably do it, too.

Twenty minutes later, I was crammed into the backseat of Aiko's beat-up sedan, sandwiched between Mina and Reina. Aiko was up front, sunglasses on, blasting some pop song I didn't recognize. Reina clutched a picnic bag on her lap, her knee pressed against mine thanks to the tight space. Mina was sprawled out, her head dangerously close to my shoulder, chattering about all the stores she wanted to hit.

"Why am I here again?" I muttered, staring out the window.

"'Cause you're our pack mule," Aiko said, glancing at me in the rearview mirror with a smirk. She'd gone for ripped jeans and a tight tank top, her hair loose for once, and I had to look away before my brain registered too many details. "Plus, it's bonding time."

"Bonding," I echoed, deadpan. "Right."

"It'll be fun, Kaito-kun," Reina said softly, shifting the bag. Her arm brushed mine, and she blushed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I packed sandwiches. We can eat by the fountain later."

"Thanks," I said, managing a small smile. At least one of them wasn't trying to torture me—yet.

The mall was packed when we got there, a sea of people buzzing through the shiny halls. Mina grabbed my hand the second we stepped inside, dragging me toward a clothing store with a speed that defied physics.

"Come on, Kaito! I need your opinion!" she said, pulling me past racks of skirts and tops.

"My opinion?" I asked, stumbling after her. "On what?"

"This!" She held up a tiny red dress, twirling it in front of her. "Think it'd look cute on me?"

"Uh…" I blinked, trying to imagine it without imagining too much. "Sure. Yeah. It's fine."

"Fine?" She pouted, tossing it back on the rack. "You're no help. Aiko, you try!"

Aiko sauntered over, holding a black leather skirt that looked more like a belt. "What about this, Kaito? Too much?"

"Too much for what?" I said, my voice cracking. "School? Life?"

She laughed, tossing her hair. "Guess I'll try it on. You can tell me after."

Before I could protest, she headed for the dressing rooms, leaving me with Mina, who was already digging through another pile. Reina caught up a minute later, her arms full of shopping bags—apparently, she'd been browsing too.

"They're a handful, huh?" she said, smiling apologetically. "Sorry you got dragged into this."

"It's fine," I said, though I wasn't sure it was. "What'd you get?"

"Oh, just some stuff," she said, her cheeks pink. She held up a bag from a lingerie store, then quickly hid it again, like she hadn't meant to show me. "Um, nothing exciting!"

I swallowed hard, pretending I hadn't seen the lacy edge peeking out. "Cool. Uh, good for you."

Aiko emerged from the dressing room then, and my jaw nearly hit the floor. The leather skirt hugged her hips like a second skin, paired with a cropped top she'd grabbed from somewhere. She spun around, smirking at me. "Well? Rate it."

"Uh… eight?" I said, scrambling for a number that wouldn't get me in trouble.

"Eight?" She raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "What's wrong with it?"

"Nothing! It's just—tight," I said, my face burning as she leaned in, her perfume hitting me like a punch.

"Thought you'd like that," she teased, then turned to Mina. "Your turn, kid."

Mina grabbed the red dress and darted off, leaving me with Aiko and Reina, who was still clutching her bags like a shield.

"You're handling this well, Kaito-kun," Reina said, her voice barely audible over the store's music. "I'd be overwhelmed."

"I am overwhelmed," I admitted, and she laughed, light and sweet.

Mina came back in the red dress, twirling dramatically. It was short—way too short—and clung to her in a way that made me question every life choice I'd ever made. "Ta-da! Better than Aiko's, right?"

"No way," Aiko shot back, crossing her arms. "Kaito, pick a winner."

"I'm not picking," I said, holding up my hands. "You're both… fine. Great. Whatever."

"Lame," Mina said, sticking out her tongue, but she didn't push it.

The rest of the trip was a blur—more stores, more bags, more moments where I had to look away or risk losing my mind. By noon, we collapsed on a bench near the fountain, Reina unpacking her sandwiches while Mina and Aiko argued over who'd spent more.

"Here, Kaito-kun," Reina said, handing me a neatly wrapped sandwich. "Ham and cheese. Hope you like it."

"Thanks," I said, taking it. Our fingers brushed again, and she smiled, her eyes locking on mine for a second too long.

"Aw, Reina's playing favorites," Mina teased, snatching her own sandwich. "Kaito, you're blushing!"

"Am not," I mumbled, shoving a bite into my mouth to shut her up.

Aiko leaned back, stretching her arms along the bench so her hand rested behind me. "He's just not used to all this attention. Give him time—he'll crack eventually."

"I'm not cracking," I said, though my voice didn't sound convincing, even to me.

The rest of lunch was chaotic—Mina dropped half her sandwich in the fountain, Aiko "accidentally" flicked water at me, and Reina kept apologizing for them like it was her fault. By the time we headed home, I was loaded down with bags, my head spinning from the day.

Back at the house, Mina flopped onto the couch, Aiko disappeared upstairs, and Reina lingered in the kitchen, unpacking leftovers. I dropped the bags by the door and turned to escape, but she stopped me.

"Kaito-kun," she said, her voice soft. "Thanks for coming today. It was… nice having you there."

"Yeah, sure," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "It wasn't so bad."

She smiled, stepping closer—close enough that I could smell her shampoo again. "Good. I'm glad."

For a second, I thought she might say more—or do something—but then Mina yelled from the living room, "Kaito, come help me pick a game!" and the moment broke.

Reina laughed, stepping back. "Go on. She won't give up."

I nodded, heading off, but Aiko's words echoed in my head: He'll crack eventually. Day six, and I was starting to wonder if she was right.