"I'm back."
"Shichen, you're finally ho—why so slow? I'm starv—"
Yatogami Tohka had run out to greet him, but stopped dead when she saw a girl cradled in his arms.
"Sh‑she's… who?"
"Oh. This is Yoshino, and on her hand is Yoshinon. From today they'll be living with us."
"Yoshino? Yoshinon?"
Tohka stared blankly first at the shy girl who dared not et her gaze, then at the talking hand‑puppet.
"Co on, take the pan for . Don't just stand there."
Shichen handed her the bag of bread.
"Uh… okay."
Still dazed, Tohka took the bag and watched him change his shoes.
Only when he knelt to help Yoshino out of hers did Tohka snap out of it.
"Hold on—who exactly is she?" Tohka demanded.
"Mm…"
Startled, Yoshino shrank against Shichen's chest.
"Don't shout; you scared her."
"S‑sorry," Tohka apologized at once.
"See, Yoshino, Yoshinon? She's nice, isn't she?" Shichen soothed.
"She really does seem easy to get along with," Yoshinon agreed, nodding earnestly.
"W‑waaah! The puppet talks!" Tohka gasped.
"Onee-san, I'm not a puppet—I'm Yoshinon."
"Yoshinon, got it. I'm Yatogami Tohka. Shichen picked the na for —pretty, right?"
"Very pretty."
"Right?" Tohka bead.
"Oh my, Onii-chan—she really is easy to get along with."
"Believe now?" Shichen laughed.
"Tohka, can we be friends?" Yoshinon asked.
"Friends? Of course!" Tohka nodded.
"Yoshino, say hello to Tohka," Yoshinon urged.
"Just call Tohka," she added.
"O‑okay… T‑Tohka…"
At last Yoshino turned, eyes lowered.
"T‑Tohka… Onee‑san… hello. I'm Yoshino…"
"Nice to et you, Yoshino! I'm Yatogami Tohka," Tohka replied brightly.
Her smile seed contagious: Yoshino gathered her courage and looked straight at her.
"Heh‑heh~" Tohka grinned goofily.
Yoshino couldn't help answering with a small smile of her own.
"Well, now that you've t, get along, okay? And Tohka—no bullying," Shichen said.
"I never bully!"
"I know, I know… Yoshino, let's get your wet shoes off."
He crouched, ready to set her down, but she clung to him, unwilling.
"Oh my~ Yoshino, do you love Onii-chan's arms that much? They are warm," Yoshinon teased.
"U‑uh…"
"It's fine," Shichen whispered, patting her back. "If you like, there'll be plenty of chances for hugs later. But we need to change those soaked shoes."
Only then did Yoshino, flushing, loosen her grip.
"Here, let ," Shichen said, reaching for her foot.
She flinched and shuffled back, embarrassed.
"Don't want to?"
"N‑no, it's just… I‑I can do it myself…"
"It's nothing," Shichen insisted.
"Right—the Onii-chan's being nice. How could you turn him down?" Yoshinon chid in.
"Mm…"
Blushing harder, Yoshino edged forward again and lifted one foot.
At that mont her shoe glowed, dissolved into motes of light, and vanished—leaving a bare, delicate, snow‑white foot.
Her foot looked like a work of art: milk‑pale skin, soft and flawless, tiny toes curled in unease.
"Shichen, that—?" Tohka exclaid.
She was reacting to the burst of spiritual energy, not the foot itself.
Resisting the urge to stare, Shichen explained, "Yes—the sa thing you're thinking."
"Yoshino's like ?"
Delighted, Tohka looked at the girl. "So I'm not alone after all?"
"Still need to ask how they're connected to ?" Shichen smiled—while one hand gently closed around Yoshino's little foot as though afraid it might flee.
The mont his large hand enclosed it, her foot trembled, but she let him—cheeks burning.
The sensation was exquisite: smooth, petite, fitting perfectly in his palm; a faint scent like warm milk seed to rise from it.
He almost didn't want to let go.
"So you were helping Yoshino all along?" Tohka said, suddenly enlightened.
"Smart girl."
"Heh‑heh~ But why are you stroking her foot?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Eh?"
Shichen glanced down—his hand had begun absent‑mindedly caressing the tiny foot.
Looking up, he saw Yoshino's face so red it might steam.
"Oh my, Onii-chan, do you like Yoshino's little feet? Are they fun to play with?" Yoshinon teased.
"A‑hem."
Shichen coughed to cover the awkwardness. "Don't be absurd, Yoshinon. Tohka, I'm not doing anything improper—her foot's wet, I'm drying it."
"Really?" Tohka frowned, unconvinced.
"Really. Trust ."
"Then why are you changing her shoes? Can't she do it?"
"It's her first ti here; she's nervous."
"Then why didn't you change my shoes when I first ca?"
"Huh? You were plenty big enough to do it yourself," Shichen shot back.
"Shichen, you're biased! You are into her feet! You're doing lewd things!"
"Oh my, Onii-chan's a foot‑fetishist? Yoshino's feet are all yours to play with~" Yoshinon giggled.
"Yoshinon!" Yoshino scolded, half‑whining.
"Hmph—am I wrong? You didn't pull your foot away."
"T‑that's not…"
"Ahem—Yoshino, ignore her. I'm not doing anything indecent."
Shichen quickly slid the indoor slipper—blue with a bunny motif, one Kotori had prepared—onto her foot.
"I‑I believe you, Onii-chan… but, um, if you really do like them, I wouldn't mind…"
Completely crimson, she shyly extended the other foot.
This ti Shichen rely gave it a brief squeeze before slipping on the matching slipper.
"All done. Co on—I'll show you our ho."
He took Yoshino's hand and led her inside.
"Shichen! I want you to put my shoes on too!" Tohka protested, trailing after them.
"Next ti, I promise."
"You an it?"
"Cross my heart."
"Hee‑hee, good!"
"Where's Kotori?"
"She said she and Reine had sothing to do and went out—"
Clack.
The door opened before Tohka finished. Itsuka Kotori and Murakami Reine had just returned.
"Shichen‑nii! Are these the new little sisters you ntioned?"
Kotori dashed to Yoshino, eyes sparkling.
Yoshino squeaked and hid behind Shichen.
"Mm‑hm. She's Yoshino, and that's Yoshinon."
"Yoshino and Yoshinon? Hi! I'm Itsuka Kotori, Shichen‑nii's sister. Just call Kotori."
"Kotori…" Thanks to Tohka's example, Yoshino summoned her courage and greeted her softly.
"Hello, Kotori‑chan." Yoshinon wobbled a wave.
"Hi, you two!"
"Yoshino, Yoshinon, welco." Murakami Reine stepped forward and greeted them gently.
"H‑hello…"
"Um, Onee‑san, those dark circles under your eyes are huge—are you okay?" Yoshinon observed bluntly.
"Don't worry, just a little problem."
"Is that so…"
"Kotori, could you show them their room? I should start dinner," Shichen said.
"Leave it to !" Kotori replied with a thumbs‑up.
~~~
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