Aki Tomoya smoothed out the crumpled "proposal" page and handed it to Eriri, pleading, "Eriri, take a look. Your brother's too harsh, trashing my hard work… Waaah, what are you doing?!"
Eriri, more ruthless than Kagura, snatched it, tore it in half with a rip-rip, folded the strips, and shredded them into four pieces.
Arms crossed, she swung her right leg indignantly and huffed, "I trust even an idiot like Kagura has enough sense to judge your pathetic scribbles."
"You're brutal to me," Kagura muttered, clenching his right hand in the air.
He recalled how that hand had groped Eriri's thigh that morning.
"Pfft—cough, cough… ugh—" Aki choked, clutching his chest, wheezing as if on death's door.
"Sawamura-san, you're quite different with your brother in private compared to school," Hayasaka teased, adopting a refined tone, half-covering her lips.
Eriri shot her a fierce glare, smacking Hayasaka's foot under the table and growling, "Speaking of which, I'm curious about the real you in private, Hayasaka."
Their eyes locked in a subtle standoff, each muttering inwardly—
Eriri: You damn vixen doll, stirring trouble again.
Hayasaka: I love seeing you, Miss Eriri, fuming but powerless against me~
"Where's Sora?" Kagura asked.
"What, you only care about Sora and not me?" Eriri leaned forward, propping her cheek, glaring at him.
"…I meant why isn't she with you."
"Isn't that the same thing?!"
"I never said I didn't want to see you! You're my precious little sister, okay?"
"Ugh… fine," Eriri mumbled, embarrassed, glancing out the window, nodding slightly. "She was in the car earlier, didn't want to come out in the sun, so I sent her home."
"How'd you find me, then?" Kagura asked, intrigued.
"I-I just… glanced over while passing by! Pure coincidence!" Eriri slammed the table, emphasizing, "Coincidence!"
"You're in front of a classmate—can't you tone down that unladylike attitude, Eriri?" Aki chided.
Classmate, meaning Hayasaka.
But Hayasaka knew Eriri's true nature better than Aki—down to the underwear she wore.
"What's it to you? Kagura's not complaining," Eriri snapped, glaring at Aki.
"Yeah, my sister can be herself," Kagura said, crossing his arms and swinging his leg, mirroring Eriri's earlier pose.
"So you two are actually super close…" Aki sighed weakly.
"Anyway!" Eriri kicked Kagura under the table, jerking her head toward Hayasaka. "What's the deal with this Galgame? Crumpling it means you're ditching it, right?"
"Well," Kagura glanced at Aki's navy notebook, "I thought he had a solid, usable proposal. If he did, I was planning to make it behind your back."
"Behind my back? Why hide it? It's not shady. And didn't you say you're not into Galgames?"
"I'm not, but you love them. I wanted to surprise you with one as a birthday gift next year."
"A g-gift? From you?"
Eriri gasped, clutching her flushed cheeks, squirming in her seat.
"Yeah, that was the plan," Kagura said, spreading his hands with a sigh. "But his proposal's useless, so the idea's probably scrapped."
"Then… since his proposal's trash, why not write one yourself…?" Eriri mumbled, scratching her cheek.
"Me?" Kagura pointed at himself.
"Yeah, what's the problem?"
"Why should I do such a hassle?"
"Hey! You just said you'd give your precious sister a gift! Backing out already? Hayas—cough—Hayasaka-san heard you, right?"
Eriri, too shy to press alone, dragged Hayasaka into it.
But Hayasaka, even less interested than Kagura, feigned ignorance. "Hm? What did you say, Sawamura-san?"
"Forget it, shut up," Eriri muttered, kicking Kagura again. "Don't give up so quick, you premature quitter!"
"That's not something a sister says to her brother! And that metaphor's awful!"
"Then make one and show me!"
Kagura propped his cheek, eyeing Aki. "If I do this, I'd handle the music. Expecting me to do music and write a proposal is pure exploitation, Eriri."
"Then what's your plan?" Eriri slammed the table, pointing at a baffled Aki. "I'm not working under him as an artist!"
"Is being my producer that bad?!" Aki protested loudly.
"Yeah, it's that bad! Utterly pathetic!" Kagura and Eriri shouted in unison, silencing Aki, who shrank back.
"But you really want that birthday gift, huh?" Kagura snapped his fingers, winking at Eriri.
"What's wrong with that?!" Eriri crossed her arms, huffing and turning away. "A gift needing art, music, writing, and coding—any girl would love it."
"Uh… I doubt many girls want Galgames as gifts," Kagura whispered.
"Shut up, annoying! I like it, that's enough!"
"Really…?" Kagura mused, nudging Aki's foot. "Look at my spoiled sister, tch. But she's my sister, so I guess I'll be the producer… As for you—"
"I-I'll be the protagonist?!" Aki's face lit up.
"You'll do my bidding," Kagura said flatly, snapping his fingers. "First, learn how to write a proper proposal. Give me a 10,000-word draft."
"Are you some capitalist overlord exploiting me?!"
"Quit whining. Write it or get lost—I'll find someone who can."
"Fine, fine, Lord Kagura, I'll write!" Aki raised his hands in surrender.
"You're really doing it…" Eriri muttered, suppressing her delight.
Kagura ruffled her hair, grinning. "What can I say? You're my precious sister."
"Pfft—" Eriri stuck out her tongue, unimpressed.
Hayasaka let out a faint, barely audible hum, glancing sideways at Eriri.
"Alright, the proposal and all grunt work are on me!" Aki declared, thumping his chest, pushing up his glasses. "But one critical issue remains!"
"What?" Kagura asked listlessly.
Aki pointed at the even less motivated Hayasaka. "As the lead heroine, Hayasaka-san, and you, the producer, barely grasp ACG culture's charm. I need to school you both properly!"
"Uh… I think Kagura gets it…" Eriri muttered.
She recalled the near-1TB stash of doujins and cosplay videos on his computer—about a quarter "2D beautiful feet & footjobs," a quarter "toy training," plus "cosplay cunnilingus" and "female cosplayer masturbation," all unsettlingly arousing to her.
"Hold on, Aki-kun, I haven't agreed to join," Hayasaka said, raising her hand.
"That wasn't a yes earlier?!" Aki gaped.
"Nope," Hayasaka said, clapping her hands with a smile.
"So, will you join?! Please, you must!"
"Well…" Hayasaka pouted, looking at Kagura, who winked. "Hayasaka-san, please join."
"Then, I'm in your care," Hayasaka said, standing and bowing slightly, hands near her skirt.
Aki was speechless, leg trembling, inwardly cursing.
Kagura shot Hayasaka a mischievous look. "Hayasaka-san, let's visit Aki's place for a 'lesson.'"
"Since Sawamura-kun insists… alright," Hayasaka said, sitting back, smiling.
"Yes, perfect!" Aki thumped his chest, clenching his fist. "I'll make you both fall in love with 2D culture and Galgames!"
"Enough talk. When?" Kagura asked, his toe subtly brushing Hayasaka's under the table.
He had no intention of taking the lesson seriously, and neither did Hayasaka. She caught his hint: they'd sneak some "fun" at Aki's while he was engrossed in games.
Toying with someone's idealized goddess stirred a strange pride in men—even Kagura wasn't immune.
"How about this Saturday, 10:30 a.m.?" Aki suggested, tilting his head. "But why not your place? It's way bigger, more comfy for girls, easier to host."
"Sure, it's comfy for girls, but not for you," Kagura shot back.
"Fair, forget I asked," Aki said, scratching his head, then mused, "If you're gone, won't only Smith A. Hashaka be left at your place? That guy's super suave, right? Could that be… risky?"
"Oh… Hashaka, huh? You remember him," Kagura said, glancing at Hayasaka, who feigned disinterest, stifling a laugh. "But Hashaka's into guys. Even a naked beauty wouldn't faze him, so no worries."
Hayasaka: Thanks a lot!
"Pfft—cough, cough!" Aki spat coffee sideways.
"You and Hashaka give me the creeps…" Eriri muttered, rubbing her arms, visibly uneasy.
Hayasaka shot Eriri a sharp glance, humming softly but saying nothing.
Heiress Hayasaka = Aloof Maid Hayasaka = Crybaby Butler Hashaka.
Kagura suppressed a laugh, thinking: If I told Aki that Hashaka drinks my cum daily, he'd probably drop dead.
At checkout, Eriri's later order went on Kagura's tab, while Aki paid for his own coffee. Kagura wasn't stingy—he was generous with friends (not that he had many), but not with idiots eyeing his girl.
Eriri had sent Sora home, so she rode with Kagura. Hayasaka, per routine, took a separate car, maintaining their "no connection" facade.
In the car, Miss Nao, Kagura's driver, teased, "Miss Eriri, you're with Young Master Kagura today?"
"I spotted him on a weird date, so I checked it out and sent Sora home," Eriri said.
"Weird date?" Nao's tone turned gossipy.
"It was Hayasaka… What 'weird date'? Nao-nee, I was just having tea with Hayasaka, and Eriri stormed in. Total misunderstanding," Kagura said, rolling his eyes, ruffling Eriri's hair.
"I see…" Nao sighed, dropping her curiosity.
"I-I misjudged, okay? Can't I make a mistake? Better to overreact than miss something!" Eriri protested.
"Your mistake, and you make me sound like some skirt-chasing sleaze!" Kagura pinched her cheeks.
Eriri swatted him, whipping her ponytail. "Idiot, idiot, moron! That hurt! Why's pinching your sister's face so easy for you?"
"Should I pinch Hayasaka instead?"
"No way!" Eriri snapped, grabbing his collar, biting her lip. "Hayasaka's a girl. Even if she's your personal maid, don't get handsy. It'd look bad if word got out."
Close call—I almost called her 'doll-face' in front of her mom.
Kagura's mouth twitched, speechless.
Handsy? I've touched her breasts and slit too. Now what?
Back home, it was Hayasaka's birthday, and a small celebration was held. After, Kagura showered, planning to play the piano, when his door clicked. Sora, who never knocked, stood there listlessly, holding a black rabbit plushie. "Kagura, Eriri wants you."
Sora not only skipped knocking but had a master key to nearly every door in the house—one of five. She and Hayasaka each had one; the other three were with senior maids.
"…Great timing," Kagura said, noticing Sora was fresh from a bath, wearing a silvery sleep dress, a large towel over her shoulders, her white-linen hair cascading down, the short hem revealing slender, pale legs tempting enough to bite.
Sora glared, huffed, and turned away.
Oh no, Sora's gonna hate me.
Kagura recalled Hayasaka's words about Sora last night, his arousal stirring.
Hiding his bulge, he followed Sora to Eriri's room.
Their three-story mansion housed Kagura, his mother, and Eriri on the third floor. The second floor held the art studio, piano room, and guest rooms, while the first had the hall, study, tea room, and parlors. The attic and roof didn't count.
Unlike Kagura's purple-and-gold room, Eriri's was melon-green, with pear-patterned emerald wallpaper, a green bed with gold-trimmed canopy and posts, echoing his room's opulence. A white wooden door, pink-purple curtains, a grand vanity, and an oversized wardrobe screamed "teen girl." Her 50-square-meter room connected to Sora's smaller but ample quarters.
"We'll leave you two to chat…" Sora glanced at Kagura, yawning, clutching her plushie, and slipped into her room, closing the partition door with a click.
Like Hayasaka's, it closed but didn't lock—no lock existed.
Personal maids were always on call.
Kagura shut the door, but Eriri pointed. "Lock it."
"What's this about, needing a lock?"
He locked it and approached her desk.
Identical to his—two meters wide, drawers on both sides, a silver trash bin on the right—her desk had a Hayasaka-assembled all-in-one PC on the left and her drawing setup on the right.
Usually, there was one chair, but now a second awaited him.
"S-so, I need to discuss something," Eriri said, not in her usual casual tee and sweats but a yellow princess sundress over a short-sleeve blouse, her damp, post-shower hair tied into twin tails with black ribbons, exuding ladylike charm.
"Oh…" Kagura plopped into the chair on her right, glancing at her sketch—a rough outline hinting at a female-superior sex pose. His already stirred arousal surged, his erection straining.
Hard in front of his sister was mortifying. He feigned calm, propping his cheek, asking, "What's up?"
"Um…" Eriri, to his left, fidgeted, pressing her index fingers together, muttering, "You're really making that Galgame?"
"Yeah, as your birthday gift."
"But it's your birthday too, right?"
Eriri turned, her right leg in black knee-high stockings brushing his left.
"True enough."
"So…" Eriri looked away, whispering, "Who're you picking as your artist…?"
"Well…" Kagura coughed, scratching his cheek. "Since it's for you, having you draw it feels off, right?"
"Then… you—" Eriri bowed her head, her right fist pressing his chest. "You're picking that Mashiro Shiina as your artist?"
"Huh? I never mentioned her. Why bring her up?"
"Hmph…" Eriri's eyes teared, biting her lip, glaring. "Some brother, hiding your fiancée from me!"
"I'm not planning to marry her!"
"Really?!"
Eriri's eyes sparkled.
"Why're you so thrilled…? Never mind," Kagura sighed, gesturing to her unfinished sketch. "I'm not marrying her, and she's not my artist."
"Then who's drawing?"
"Haven't decided. I'll figure it out slowly."
Eriri stared, speechless, then stomped his foot with her bare toes, grumbling, "You jerk brother, you don't know any other artists, so you'll end up begging me anyway, right?"
"No, I really don't want to burden you. It's your gift."
"Just beg me, you idiot!!" Eriri teared up, grabbing his shoulders, shaking him. "Can't you see I want in on your project?! Knowing I'm a doujin otaku, at least consider my feelings, you dumb brother!! Is your EQ as low as a sea urchin's?!"
Kagura's ears rang. Pulling back, he muttered, "If you want in, just say so. Why do I have to beg?"
"I'm a girl… I want to be asked, not shamelessly volunteer!"
"Your words are problematic in every way."
"Shut up," Eriri yanked his collar. "I'm drawing. Any objections?"
"None."
Kagura rolled his eyes, shrugging.
"Good," Eriri smiled, satisfied, releasing him, clapping her hands. "One more thing."
"Spit it out. I'm your brother, after all."
Kagura agreed readily, but Eriri fell silent, blushing, head bowed.
"Speak?"
He tapped the table, urging.
Eriri dodged his gaze, too shy to speak.
Sighing, Kagura leaned in, whispering, "Fine, tell me quietly."
She leaned to his ear, barely audible: "Lately, I've seen lots of comments. Two main critiques… one says my kisses look fake."
"Hm? What's the plan?"
Kagura tilted his head, only for Eriri to pull him back.
"That's why I'm asking you!"
She nearly bit her tongue in frustration.
"What, you want to practice kissing with me?!"
"No way, you idiot brother!" Eriri stomped his foot, fuming. "I'll call Sora out, you kiss her, and I'll draw."
"What?!" Kagura's head spun, waving frantically. "No, no, don't do that."
Sora already sensed his odd glances. This would make facing her impossible.
"Ugh! Then give me a solution! And don't say you'll kiss that doll-face."
Kagura, about to suggest, was cut off, deflating with an eye-roll.
They sat, sulking, until Eriri nudged his foot, whispering, "How about… we…"
Kagura's ear twitched. "Will that work?"
"I'm a girl and I say it will, so quit yapping! Go get it!" Eriri kicked his butt, hurrying him.
Kagura sighed, went downstairs to the kitchen, and grabbed an unopened roll of cling film from the cabinet.
Back in Eriri's room, she'd moved to the bed, her sketch stashed away. She sat in a duck pose, face flushed, waiting.
Kagura locked the door without prompting and approached the wide bed.
"What're you standing there for? Get up here," Eriri said, patting the bed matter-of-factly.
"We haven't shared a bed since we were six, right?"
Kagura sat, kneeling properly unlike her duck pose.
"Of course! Boys and girls don't share beds past six!" Eriri puffed her chest, then leaned forward, staring earnestly. "But today's special. Readers bashing me makes me want to die. You won't let me down, right?"
"Stop with the 'die, die, die.' If criticism kills you, grow a thicker skin."
"Quit lecturing. Did you bring it?"
Eriri glanced at the cling film box, blushing.
Kagura shook it, smirking.
"Then… let's do it… Tear a big piece, not too small."
She pointed timidly, as if the box might bite.
"You're really practicing this with your brother?!"
Kagura opened the box, pulled out a 20cm strip, and cut it with the box's serrated edge.
"I've got no choice!" Eriri glanced out the window, muttering, "Should I practice with someone else?"
"Name the guy you're thinking of. I'll gut him," Kagura said, miming a knife-sharpening gesture.
Some punk dares touch my sister? I'll cut his dick off and shove it in his mouth.
"Gut your head! There's no guy! If there was, I wouldn't ask you. I'm a high school sophomore asking my brother for this—think I'm not embarrassed?!" Eriri patted her chest, red-faced, defending herself.
"Don't call it 'this,' okay? Sounds shady."
"It is shady…"
They exchanged awkward glances.
Eriri closed her eyes, tilting her chin slightly, her cherry lips glistening.
Kagura swallowed hard, thinking: Without the cling film, kissing her directly…
Nah, she'd probably kick his balls off.
Even with the system's fixes, that'd be a lifelong trauma.
So, he held the cling film between them and leaned in.
But Eriri shoved him back, flipping him onto his back, nearly snapping his neck.
"Eriri, what the hell's wrong with you?!"
Kagura sat up, rubbing his neck.
"Y-you… you were actually going for it!" Eriri clutched her chest, curling up, scooting back. "Pervert! Sister-obsessed freak!"
Kagura flipped her the bird, climbing off. "Fine, I'm out, you nutcase."
"No, wait!" Eriri scrambled, grabbing his hem lightly. "I got too excited and misspoke. Bad state. Let's try again."
"If you push me this time, I'll—"
Kagura sat back, stretching his neck.
"You'll what?" Eriri huffed.
"Pick you up and spank you hard."
He mimed a slap-slap motion.
Eriri blushed, covering her butt, glaring. "Pervert… I'm seventeen, and you still want to spank me?"
"Seventeen, so your butt's nice and perky, huh?"
Kagura grinned slyly, eyeing her rear.
"Ugh!" Eriri shook her head, clutching her chest, glaring. "No, no, foul! No butt talk!"
"Fine," Kagura tore another 20cm cling film strip. "Ready?"
"Um…" Eriri covered her skirt, not closing her eyes. "You wouldn't sneak the cling film away and kiss me for real, right?"
"You think your brother's that low?"
"Well, true…" Eriri raised a hand to stop him, staring. "By the way, can you even kiss?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
Kagura countered, deadpan.
"Oh? Who's the girl… Though I'd ask, it's 100% doll-face, right?"
"Congrats, you nailed it," Kagura said, clapping sarcastically.
"Of course, your little maid would never defy you~" Eriri scoffed, then sighed, closing her eyes. "Fine, let's do it."
She tilted her chin again, offering her lips.
Her body tensed, her secret garden already dampening.
Kagura held the cling film between them. Eriri peeked, confirming it, then closed her eyes.
He leaned in, pressing his lips to the cling film against hers.
Through the thin film, he felt the warmth of Eriri's lips, slick with lip balm, soft and supple. Her body stiffened, lips frozen, unsure, her eyes wide, staring.
Kagura closed his eyes, fully immersed in this not-quite-kiss.
He had to teach her properly, no half-measures.
Eriri's face burned, sweat beading, clutching the sheets, feeling his lips' heat.
His lips parted slightly; she followed, awkwardly. They tilted their heads to avoid bumping noses or foreheads.
This… is this kissing? The film's so thin… I feel Kagura-nii's lips perfectly… Oh no, this is bad, super bad!
Eriri realized too late: a cling-film kiss wasn't "not kissing," just like sex with a condom wasn't "not sex." Total lie.
She wanted to push him, but Kagura, in the zone, pinned her down, his left hand on her shoulder, right hand stroking her golden twin tail, then her forehead and scalp, melting her resistance.
As her brother, he had to teach her kissing thoroughly.
She'd said, "You can't let me die," so he'd take 120% responsibility!
His left leg slid between hers, preventing her from closing them. The more she tried, the higher his knee pressed, sparking fear. She nearly cried out, but his gentle caress on her cheek, wiping a tear, soothed her instantly.
Good, good… my jerk brother's not a crazed beast.
Eriri relaxed, but Kagura, frustrated by her mismatched rhythm—lips and breathing off—decided to escalate, slipping his tongue against the film.
Eriri, a veteran doujin artist, knew tongue-kissing but wasn't ready. She tried pushing, but her arms felt weak, her body betraying her, yielding to him.
Her nipples hardened, her slit soaked, alarming her. Her breathing quickened, laced with sultry whimpers.
Soon, her tongue matched his, their bodies pressed close on her bed, lips and tongues entwined through the film, no saliva swapped, but thrilling nonetheless.
The taboo of fooling around with his sister fueled Kagura's excitement, his erection rubbing her thigh and skirt.
Eriri knew what it was, mortified.
So, she played dead, pretending ignorance, fully committing to the kiss.
They kissed for fifteen minutes.
Kagura, panting, collapsed beside her. Eriri tore off the cling film, crumpled it, and gasped for air.
Neither spoke, savoring the delicate, illicit chemistry.
The forbidden thrill of sibling mischief captivated them, hearts pounding.
Kagura reached for her hand, but she pinched him, muttering, "Kagura-nii… I never noticed before, but you're such a creepy, sadistic perv."
"You're the one who told me to do it!"
"You just do it because I say so? Ever think I'm your sister? What if things got out of hand? Could you handle it?"
"You, a doujin artist who draws sisters getting hardcore SM by their brothers, dare lecture me?"
"No way! Don't mix 2D and reality! I draw what I want—freedom of expression, Constitution-protected!"
Eriri kicked him, fuming.
Then, the system chimed: "Lord Kagura, a new bounty—"
"Skip it!"
Kagura waved it off.
"You've skipped the bounty and received [Stand-In Doll]."
His consciousness briefly detached. Breathing deeply, he asked, "What's a Stand-In Doll?"
"This item, akin to Bleach's gigai, is a lifelike replica of you that only sleeps, incapable of waking or other actions. It's reusable indefinitely, with one condition: you must be in a sleep-ready posture to use it. If someone sees the [Stand-In Doll], they'll think, 'Kagura's sleeping, I can't disturb him.'"
"Oh…" Kagura pondered, then asked, "So I can roam freely? Sounds kinda useless. What's the point?"
"There's more. While using it, you become invisible and can phase through walls, doors, and windows. You can toggle invisibility at will. To activate, think, 'Stand-In Doll, Transform!' To deactivate, think, 'Stand-In Doll, Release!' You'll instantly return to the doll's sleeping position, even if you're wrestling penguins in Antarctica."