As if in an unexpected sprint, the response from an unidentified number arrived on your phone. It left you in a moment of stunned silence, staring at the screen with a poker face.
The speediness of the reply was rather surprising, but the sender wasn't a mystery to you at all.
With a calm, collected mind, you opened the new message that had been delivered from the freshly added contact. The unidentified number had earned a spot in your contact list, yet it didn't feel right to let it remain as just a set of digits. You selected the contact info and, after some thought, you chose to rename the new contact 'Cat person'. It seemed a fitting nickname, a small clue to the sender's identity, just in case you needed to remember.
Preparing a reply wasn't immediate. You took a few seconds to consider your words, to choose the best phrase. Finally, you decided on a simple, yet curious,
'How were you so quick? LOL'
After hitting send, you left your phone behind, disconnecting from the virtual conversation momentarily.
Now, your focus shifted back to your younger sister. Mikoto was still diligently finishing her meal, taking her time to enjoy every bite. You estimated that she'd be done in about a minute.
"Mikoto," you started, your voice barely above a whisper, not wanting to surprise her, "After eating, you have to go to bed, okay?" She looked up at you, her innocent eyes reflecting understanding, and she responded with a quiet nod.
In no time at all, or so it seemed, Mikoto had polished off her meal. She carefully slid off her chair, balancing her used plate, spoon, and fork in her small hands. With careful steps, she journeyed down the hallway to the kitchen, delivering her dishes to their designated resting spot, the sink.
She retraced her steps back to the dining room where you were waiting. Her face lit up in a brilliant smile, and you couldn't help but return the gesture.
"Let's go to bed now!" The joy in her voice was unmistakable. Eagerly, she tried to grasp your hand, her intention clear - she wanted to lead you to her room. However, you retracted your hand quickly.
"Nuh uh, we're not sleeping until you brush your teeth," you said, your face stern, portraying the seriousness of the situation. "I'm going to brush my teeth, I swear!" She promised, her features shaping into a pout that hinted at a playful protest.
"Okay, okay. No need for crying," you said, trying to suppress your chuckle. You extended your hand to her once again, and she didn't hesitate to seize it. Then, with surprising strength, she led you to her room, letting you perch on the edge of the bed as she dashed off to the bathroom to fulfill her promise of good dental hygiene.
As you waited for your little sister to finish her bedtime preparations, you took out your phone and casually checked for any messages that Rin might have sent your way.
'It was a request from you, so yea.' 'Fuck.' 'Is there any way to unsend messages here?'
A subtle grin formed on your face as you read the latest messages from Rin. Little did you know that your sister had been discreetly observing you during this exchange, and now she was wearing a curious expression.
"Hmm," she pondered, her index finger lightly touching her chin as she scrutinized you with a hint of suspicion. "Big Brother, you seem to be smiling at your phone quite a lot," she remarked, squinting her eyes as if trying to decipher some hidden code.
Caught off guard, you shifted your gaze away from her, your hand nervously rubbing the back of your head.
A gulp escaped your throat as you realized that Mikoto might be drawing conclusions that you weren't ready to share. You knew your little sister all too well, and you could practically predict the next words that would escape her lips.
"YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND, DON'T YOU?!" she exclaimed with playful accusation, her hands now resting firmly on her hips. "Hahahaha! My brother is finally a grown-up, and I utterly -" You quickly interjected, coughing slightly to divert her attention.
Despite being the younger sibling, Mikoto seemed to relish the role of the older sister in this situation, playfully teasing you. You found it amusing, though a part of you couldn't help but worry about what she might disclose to your parents.
"Okay, okay," you chuckled nervously, trying to regain control of the situation. "It's not what you think. Just a friend's message, that's all."
Mikoto raised an eyebrow skeptically, not entirely convinced by your explanation. "Well, if you say so, Nii-san. But I'm keeping an eye on you!" she teased, wagging her index finger in a mock-threatening manner.
You playfully rolled your eyes, appreciating your sister's concern mixed with a touch of mischief. "Sure, keep your detective skills sharp, Detective Mikoto."
She giggled at the nickname, delighted with the playful banter. "Deal, Detective Nii-san!"
With a smile and a sense of relief, you watched as your sister finally finished her bedtime preparations. As she hopped into bed, you settled down next to her for a moment, sharing stories and laughter before tucking her in for the night.
As you left her room and headed back to your own, you couldn't help but appreciate the special bond you had with your younger sister, even if her imaginative assumptions occasionally caused you a bit of worry.
With a sigh, you collapsed back into the comfortable embrace of your gaming chair. You allowed your gaze to wander upwards, resting on the ceiling as you indulged in a brief moment of respite before returning to your digital device.
Upon activating your phone, you noticed a cascade of unread messages from Rin. The realization hit you then; you hadn't gotten around to responding to his previous texts.
'Are you still around?' 'Or have you dozed off?' 'It's about time you hit the bed.' 'Don't think as if I'm worried about you not having enough sleep or something, because I'm not.' 'We have an early start for our trip tomorrow.' 'I'm heading off to sleep now.' 'See you tomorrow, bye.' 'Night.'
Quite a handful, you thought as you scrolled through the string of messages. Despite the delay, you read each one attentively and finally decided to craft a reply.
'Goodnight, Rin :)' 'Sleep well.'
You then flopped onto your bed, dozing off as you patiently waited for the next day to come.
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AN - Yuh, here y'all go. I swear I'll write more Sae bonding times too 😊 Also, prepare a tissue for the next following chapters hahwhwhhwhshdd
