Chapter 1
Sae came home from college today, and of course, she had to make it a whole thing. New flashy stuff, jewelry she always said it got in the way of soccer but I guess college turned her into one of those people flashy, fake, and constantly trying to prove something.
She sits across from me at the kitchen table, smiling like she’s just won the fucking lottery. Smug bitch. “Rin, how’ve you been?”
She is just trying to show off in front of mom.
I cross my arms, meeting her gaze with the flattest look I can muster. “Good.”
Mom comes in, carrying a pot of mashed potatoes. “Oh, honey, how’s soccer?” she asks Sae, her voice way too cheerful it’s overwhelming.
“Oh, it’s been amazing,” Sae says, leaning back casually like she owns the place. “I’ve had so many opportunities met some incredible people.”
Of course, she has. Everything’s always amazing for Sae. She can trip over her shoelaces and somehow make it look graceful. Meanwhile, I’m stuck here, dragging this family through another boring season of small town drama.
“Oh, honey, that’s so wonderful! College must be such a dream. You have to tell us all about it!” Mom practically glows. It’s nauseating.
Sae rests her cheek on her hand. “Oh, you know. It’s great.”
Mom beams. “I bet you’re so popular. Star athlete, absolutely beautiful if I do say so myself!” She scoops mashed potatoes onto Sae’s plate.
Sae shrugs, glancing at me. “Well, I am your daughter, Mom.”
Fake. All of it. Sae’s been calling every week, filling Mom’s head with stories about how perfect her life is. I don’t buy any of it. She talks about college like it’s heaven on earth, but she couldn’t wait to leave this house and us behind. That’s why she graduated early.
Mom doesn’t seem to notice. “So, tell me any boys for you to bring home?”
Sae smiles, almost smug. “Well I have prospects you could say”
Mom laughs. “I can’t wait to meet the lucky guy!”
I don’t understand how anyone could stand her, let alone like her. Sae’s good at pretending she’s perfect, but I’ve seen the real her the selfish, stuck up brat who thinks she’s better than everyone else. Leaving you and blaming and gaslighting, driving you crazy.
“No, I haven’t bagged any of the guys yet,” Sae says, her tone casual.
“Like any guy would date a psycho maniac like you,” I say, keeping my voice steady.
“Rin!” Mom’s voice sharpens.
Sae just smirks, unbothered as usual. “Some people find it hot.”
“Then where’s your boyfriend”
“Well, Rin, I don’t have a boyfriend. But” She trails off, staring at me like she’s trying to mess with my head.
Mom freezes, chicken platter in hand. “Oh! Sae, is there… someone?”
I feel bad for this guy already. He has to be an idiot.
“Yeah, Mom. Let’s all brace ourselves for the guy dumb enough to date her,” I say glaring refusing to break eye contact
Sae laughs smugly. “Actually, Rin, it’s not a guy.”
The air goes heavy. Mom’s smile flickers, and she stares at Sae like she doesn’t understand what she just heard.
“Well, I’m sure that you can find a guy who is best for you in your future,” she says, her head down like she’s avoiding Sae’s eyes. She is almost denying not letting her self even think what sae ment by her previous remark.
“Guy?” Sae raises an eyebrow.
“What is this, one of your big dramatic acts?” I ask, already annoyed.
“Nope,” she says, leaning back she’s completely unbothered. “I have someone.”
“What girl is crazy enough to date you?” I ask, because seriously, what kind of person would sign up for Sae’s bullshit.
She grins, tilting her head like she’s happy like she’s about to watch a chaotic mess “Shidou.”
Mom drops the plates. A few shatter.
“Shidou?” I repeat, my stomach turning. Shidou, my co captain. My rival. The person who constantly challenges me on the field.
Mom looks like she’s about to faint. “Shidou from Rin’s team?”
Sae just nods, all smug and self-satisfied.
“Gross,” I say, standing up so fast my chair screeches against the floor.
“Well, want to know something else gross?” Sae starts yelling about lesbian sex with shidou her voice mildly drowned out. Ew.
Behind me, I hear Mom trying to regain her composure. “Oh… well, Sae maybe we should think about how..”
I stop halfway up the stairs, my stomach churning. Shidou? Sae? This has to be some kind of sick joke.
Oh boy. What a summer this will be.
Ew. Ew. I feel sick to my stomach.
I grab my phone and text Isagi. She has to know about this.
“Sae, my sister, is a gross fucking lesbian and is sleeping with Shidou,” I type.
“OMG whattttt,” she texts back immediately.
“Like actually,” she adds.
“Gross, I know.”
“No, girl, we gotta talk in person. Can I come over?”
Well, mom usally makes a point to not hang out on sundays because the of the church, but she realizes I’m her only chance at a grandchild. I might as well milk that for all it’s worth.
“Okok, when u gonna be over?” I text.
“OMW right now.”
I toss my phone onto the bed and walk downstairs.
“Hey, Mom. Isagi’s coming over,” I say.
“Oh my, I just love that girl,” she says, hands clasped together like she’s praying.
Could she be dumber? I roll my eyes and walk back to my room.
“Oh, honey, your father and I-" I don't care enough to hear what she has to say I just put my airpods back in, "Okay" I yell out walking back up the stairs.
A few minutes of scrolling on TikTok go by before I hear a knock at the door.
I tiptoe downstairs, hair bouncing annoyingly.
Opening the door, I see Isagi bent over, hands on her knees, panting. “Did you run here?” I ask.
She looks up, bangs damp, ponytail slightly messy. “Well, yeah. I’ll do anything for tea about your sister.”
Her blue eyes sparkle like this is a game.
“Get in here. My mom said no house parties, but everything else is fair game,” I say, half-sarcastic.
“Oh boy, pillow fort time!” She steps inside and grins.
“Might as well. I don’t know what else to do.”
“TALK ABOUT YOUR SISTER!” she yells, practically vibrating with excitement.
“Gross lesbian stuff. Blah blah,” I say, sinking into the couch.
“Shidou and Sae,” she says, sprawling out beside me.
“Strange,” I mutter.
“Kinda iconic,” she says casually.
What? Ew.
“Iconic? That’s disgusting,” I say, frowning at her.
“Well, it’s intense. Dating your sister’s co-captain and rival? That’s, like, next-level drama.”
“Huh. Iconically gross,” I mumble.
“Are you mad it’s two girls, or are you mad it’s Sae?” she asks, rolling onto her back to look at me with a almost dead serious look.
I turn away, feeling weird. “It’s gross. What will people think?” I say, voice low.
“What’s so wrong about two girls being together?” Isagi sits up, staring at me for way too long.
I shuffle a bit. “Sae ruins everything. She’s gross and unpleasant and stuck up—”
“And she left,” Isagi cuts in.
I flop onto my stomach, groaning into a pillow. “Isagi!” I yell, kicking my feet like a child.
“So, the plan,” Isagi says.
“What?” I peek up at her.
“The plan to break them up.”
I sit up. “Why didn’t I think of that?” I sigh
She smirks. “I thought that’s why I was coming over.”
“What were you thinking?” I ask.
“Let’s start small. Get her to talk. Maybe host a summer training session or something,” she suggests.
That could work. Shidou wouldn’t be able to keep her mouth shut.
“Perfect,” I say, grabbing my phone.
Isagi types quickly, her phone dinging a second later. “Done. ‘Summer training Monday, anyone can come.’”
My phone buzzes almost instantly.
Shidou: “Can’t wait. Hope the captain doesn’t cry when I beat her(;”
I glare at the screen. Typical Shidou. Training, not a match when will she stop trying to beat me.
“This might actually work,” Isagi says, brushing her bangs back.
“I hope so.”
She flops onto her stomach and looks up at me. “But, like, is there really something wrong with them being together?”
“Of course there is—”
She cuts me off. “What, you’ve never thought about kissing a girl” her eyes pierce right through me with a faint smile.
“No” I say turning away almost offended.
She smiles, chin resting on her palm. “Oh, Rin. You’re a funny gal.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let’s just break them up.”
“Of course. But first,” she grabs the remote, “we’re watching the new Haikyuu!! movie.”
I roll my eyes, heading to the kitchen. “I’m grabbing blankets and drinks. Want anything?”
“Coke, please!”
Athletes and their sugar. She’s getting orange juice.
Summer training camp, we just need a little bit of a lead from Shidou.
The field is already buzzing when I show up, cleats slung over my shoulder.
“Rin! Over here!” Isagi’s waving like an idiot, standing next to a cooler she probably didn’t even carry.
I jog over, dropping my bag. “You bring drinks or just your endless optimism?”
“Drinks and snacks. I’m not a monster,” she says, pointing to the cooler. “But more importantly, are you ready to grill Shidou?”
Before I can answer, Shidou strolls onto the field, ponytail swaying like she owns the place. Blonde hair bright in the sun with her signature pink money pieces out.
“Captain Itoshi!” she calls, smirking. “Glad you could make it to your own event.”
I grit my teeth. Of course she’d start with that.
“Shidou. You came,” I say flatly.
“Wouldn’t miss it. Gotta keep you on your toes,” she says, grinning like she knows a secret.
I glance at Isagi, who’s already watching Shidou like she’s a science experiment. “This is gonna be a long day,” I mutter.
“Half day” she leans in and whispers “I’m not an idiot she adds” I can’t help but perk up with a smile. That’s Yoichi always planning ahead.
“Alright, let’s get started,” I say, clapping my hands and stepping onto the field.
The team starts trickling into their warm-ups—dribbling drills, sprints, passing formations. I keep one eye on Shidou, who’s showing off with a ridiculous step-over move, and the other on Isagi, who’s practically vibrating with energy.
“Rin,” Isagi mutters, jogging up beside me. “You gonna talk to her, or should I?”
“She’s not gonna spill anything if we just ask her,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “We need to be subtle.”
Isagi snorts. “Subtle like a brick. Got it.”
Before I can respond, Shidou jogs over, flicking the ball up with her foot and catching it in her hands.
“Captain,” she says, tilting her head. “You planning to actually train, or just stand there glaring at me?”
“Maybe if you focused on the drills instead of showing off, I wouldn’t have to glare,” I shoot back.
She laughs, tossing the ball to me. “Relax, Itoshi. I’m here to help you out, not steal your spotlight. At least not today.”
“Generous of you,” I mutter, passing the ball back.
“Speaking of help,” she says, her tone dropping just enough to sound sly, “heard Sae might swing by later. She didn’t mention it to you?”
The ball slips under my foot, rolling a little too far. I scramble to recover, trying to act like her words didn’t throw me off. “No. Why would she?”
Shidou shrugs, but there’s that smirk again. “Just thought it’d be fun if she showed up. You know, for old times’ sake.”
I shoot a look at Isagi, who’s suddenly very interested in adjusting her cleats.
“Focus on the training, Shidou,” I snap, turning away.
“Whatever you say, Captain,” she says, jogging back to the group.
Isagi sidles up to me, barely containing a laugh. “She’s so messing with you.”
“I know,” I hiss. “That’s why we have to mess with her first.”
“I have an idea” isagi smirks and runs off
What in the world is she doing.
I clap my hands together and call the team in “Ok guys great work with the drills we are gonna do a little scrimmage 6v6” Glances between everyone partnering up “Wait we are picking teams not our usal switching teams” We usually do subs so everyone can play for each team and play with all of the teams.
“Me and Shidou are picking subs included” I say calm and serious hands behind my back
“You pick first captain” Shidou steps up leaning up close.
“Isagi” I say usually Isagi would be might second choice but although she isn’t as advanced as some of the others she understands how we work together our chemistry on the field is unmatched
Shidou goes on to pick the team all layed out
Rin: Isagi oyata ness bachira and nagi
Shidou: chigri reo baruo kurano hiro
We take our places on the field. Shidou stands at center, spinning the ball in her hands like it’s an accessory, her smirk as sharp as ever. My team gathers behind me, and I can feel the buzz of anticipation.
“You ready for this, Captain?” Shidou calls out, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Always,” I say flatly, pulling my armband tighter.
The whistle blows, and the game kicks off. Bachira takes the first touch, weaving through midfield with his usual ease. I hang back, watching for Shidou.
It doesn’t take long. She’s fast—faster than most people realize until it’s too late. She intercepts a pass intended for Nagi, and before anyone can react, she’s already dribbling up the field, her blonde ponytail flying behind her.
“Back on defense!” I yell, sprinting to cut her off.
She doesn’t even glance at me, but I can see her smirk widen as I close in. She flicks the ball to Chigiri on the left wing, then darts past me, like she’s daring me to follow.
“Is that all you’ve got, Captain?” she taunts, her voice cutting through the shouts of the game.
“Stay on her!” Isagi yells, sliding into position to block Chigiri’s shot.
The ball ricochets off Isagi’s cleat, and Bachira picks it up, counterattacking with that chaotic flair she’s known for. SHe skips past two defenders before laying it off to Ness, who sends it downfield.
“Go, Nagi!” I shout, sprinting to support.
But Shidou’s already there, cutting off the pass like she knew it was coming. She turns, her eyes locking with mine for a split second.
“Not bad, Captain,” she says, dribbling backward, her control annoyingly perfect. “But not good enough.”
I lunge, stealing the ball cleanly and breaking downfield. My team follows, the rhythm clicking into place. Isagi’s on my right, Ness on my left.
“Cross!” Isagi shouts, cutting into open space.
I send the ball to her with a sharp pass, but before she can take the shot, Shidou barrels in, stealing it back.
“Too slow,” she says, her voice mocking as she spins away.
This time, it’s Isagi who doesn’t let up. She sticks to Shidou like glue, forcing her to pass back to Reo.
“Nice work,” I mutter to Isagi as we regroup.
“Thanks. She’s infuriating,” Isagi whispers back, sweat dripping down her temple.
The game stays deadlocked, the tension mounting with every play. Every time we get close to their goal, Shidou or Chigiri breaks it up. Every time they push forward, Isagi or I shut them down.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity of failed plays, Ness intercepts a pass from Kurona and sends it to Bachira.
“Rin, go!” Bachira yells, chipping the ball over Shidou’s head.
I sprint, catching the ball mid-air and firing off a shot. It sails past Hiro, straight into the back of the net.
“Goal!” Isagi cheers, jumping up and down.
Shidou jogs up to me as the teams reset, her smirk softer but no less smug.
“Good game” she smirks wiping the sweat away from her cheek
“I guess” I say walking off the fried and letting down my hair minor waves falling to my back.
Isagi runs up to me and starts talking about summer stuff concerts festivals all of the above when in an instant a white jeep pulls up. A white jeep sae owns. She was here.
“Isagi” I say in a low voice cutting off her talk about some festival.
She pauses mid-sentence, her hands still gesturing from her animated description of the festival lineup. Her head snaps to the car, then back to me, her expression shifting from curiosity to unease.
“No way,” she leans in and whispers, stepping closer to me. “She actually came?”
The door swings open, and out steps Sae, as composed as ever. She’s wears black shorts with a sleek black athletic top, her hair pulled back in a messy bun. Sunglasses perch on her nose, but even from here, I can feel her sharp gaze sweep over the field.
Shidou’s laugh cuts through the air like nails on a chalkboard. She’s already jogging toward the Jeep.
“Sae!” she calls out, way to happy.
I feel my stomach churn as Sae steps forward, exchanging a quick handshake with Shidou. They’re talking—casual, easy. Too easy.
“What is she even doing here?” Isagi asks, her voice tight.
“Probably came to see Shidou,” I spit, the bitterness seeping into my words.
Isagi glances at me, her brows knitting together. “Or maybe to see you? You are her sister”
I scoff, tossing my bag over my shoulder. “Yeah, right. She hasn’t cared in years.” That ship has sailed.
Sae finally turns her attention toward the field, her gaze landing on me. Even from a distance, the weight of it feels unbearable, like she’s dissecting every inch of me without a single word.
I break eye contact first, brushing past Isagi. “Let’s go.”
“Rin, wait,” she says, grabbing my arm. “Are you seriously going to let her being here ruin your day?”
“It’s not ruined,” I snap, pulling away.
“We have lots of great things to do with non lesbians” I scoff and turn away
But as I walk off the field, my heart pounding I can’t shake the feeling that this is only the beginning.
my day is not ruined
“Rin, what are we gonna do?” Isagi asks, her voice quieter this time.
“Well, we’re gonna go be normal teenagers and do cool, normal teenage stuff,” I snap, sharper than I mean to.
“Oh.”
Her tone shifts, soft and uncertain, and she stops in her tracks. I take a few steps ahead before realizing she’s not beside me anymore.
“Isagi?” I turn back, guilt pooling in my chest. Maybe I was too harsh. Maybe all my snarky comments have finally piled up.
She’s standing there, head bowed, her dark hair falling over her face.
What an idiot I am. Always pushing away the one person I can actually stand. The one person I… like. And all I do is act like a bitch. Rude, dismissive—why would she even stick around?
“Isagi, I’m sorry,” I say quietly, running a hand through my hair and turning slightly away, bracing myself for her reaction.
There’s a pause. Then she looks up, her grin as bright as ever, her eyes sparkling like she’s been waiting to catch me off guard.
“You’ve never wanted to do anything normal before,” she says, and I know I’m screwed.
Oh no. She’s gonna make me do some normal teenage shit.
“We should go shopping! Then grab food—oh, and there’s a bonfire at the beach tonight! We have to go!” she says, excitement bubbling over as she plans out our entire day.
I cut her off before she can keep going, leaning forward and resting my forehead lightly against the curve of her neck.
“Thank God you’re not mad at me,” I whisper, “but I’d rather not go to a bonfire.”
“Well, I am gonna be mad at you if you don’t go,” she counters, her grin widening as she pushes me upright with a hand on my back.
“Oh boy.”
And just like that, my summer takes a turn.
My sister is dating my rival. My rival is a gross lesbian. I’m trying to ruin their relationship. And now? I’m going to high school bonfires.
Isagi sings off-key, music blaring in her 4Runner, all the windows rolled down to let the cool ocean air into the car. My forearm rests on the edge of the door, my hand slicing through the breeze.
“Rinnnn, you gotta singggg!” Isagi yells, her voice almost drowned out by the blast of Britney Spears, Ke$ha, Katy Perry, and a sprinkle of old Taylor Swift—about as basic white girl as you can get.
“No,” I say flatly, staring out the window.
Isagi turns down the music and rolls the windows up. I glance over at her.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Rin, you gotta live a little. You’re so serious. Be a normal high schooler,” Isagi says, shaking her head.
“I’m going to a bonfire,” I reply, justifying how normal I am.
“And you’re gonna sit quietly and kermit or whatever.” Isagi side-eyes me, one hand on the wheel, the other tucked into her hair. “Try something new tonight,” she says, smiling.
“Like what?” I ask, not entirely sure what I need to do to meet her impossible standard.
“Talk to a cute boy. Make some friends. Drink a little. Have fun,” she says, her attention back on the road.
“I do normal stuff like that all the time,” I argue, crossing my arms.
“Oh, really? When was the last time you talked to a cute boy?” she asks, smirking.
“All the time,” I snap, meeting her gaze with sharp defiance.
“Who?” she presses, her smirk widening.
I fall silent, shifting uncomfortably.
The rest of the car ride, I stew in determination. I’ll talk to a cute boy tonight—just to prove her wrong. I plan out what to say, how to act, and finally, we arrive. The sound of crashing waves fills the air, the bonfire glowing in the distance, surrounded by a crowd of high schoolers.
Isagi parks her black 4Runner and hops out. As we walk toward the group, the hum of conversation grows louder than the ocean.
She nudges me forward, closer to the fire. “Go get ’em, champ,” she says, slapping my back. I stumble forward and accidentally brush shoulders with a sun-bleached blonde.
“Oh, my bad,” I mutter, regaining my balance.
He turns to me with an easy smile. “Oh no, you’re fine,” he says, his voice light and breezy.
“You look familiar, but I don’t think I’ve seen you at many of these things,” he chuckles, rubbing the back of his head, his tan skin glowing in the firelight.
“Not much of a ‘functions’ girl,” I reply, turning away slightly.
“You could be one, though,” he says, sticking out his hand. “I’m Kai.”
“Rin,” I say, shaking his hand. His grip is warm and steady—almost comforting.
“Rin? Like Itoshi?” he asks, his brows lifting, though his smile doesn’t waver.
“Yes, I’m the cold-hearted soccer girl,” I deadpan, looking away.
His smile shifts, less nervous now. “I thought you were some crazy soccer maniac, but turns out you’re just a cute girl,” he says casually.
“Uh… thanks?” I say, glancing around. Isagi would be so proud of me right now. Look at me, talking to a boy who just called me cute.
A few minutes of us just chatting goes on. Our conversation just seeming to flow.
“I like to surf around here,” Kai says, gazing out at the ocean. “You ever surf?”
I open my mouth to answer and tell him about my crazy undeniable fear of water, but catch sight of Isagi in the distance. Her gaze is fixed on Kai, her expression unreadable, but her eyes are like daggers.
“No,” I say, turning back to him.
“Well, give me your digits, and we can go sometime,” he says, pulling out his phone.
I type in my number, sneaking another glance at Isagi, who’s now chatting animatedly with someone else, but her shoulders are stiff.
“Thanks. I like your vibe,” Kai says, taking his phone back. “You seem fun.”
“I—”
“Rinnnn, we’ve gotta talk! I just found out the craziest thing!” Isagi appears out of nowhere, grabbing my arm and pulling me away.
I wave goodbye to Kai, and he waves back with a small smile.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Isagi demands, her tone sharp as she drags me to the edge of the crowd.
“You told me to talk to boys!” I snap.
“Well, you shouldn’t. They’re all distracting,” she huffs, turning her back to me.
“What about being a normal teenage girl?” I yell, my voice rising.
We’re starting to draw attention. A few people glance our way, but Isagi doesn’t seem to care.
Isagi glares at me, arms crossed like she’s the authority on what I can and can’t do. “Being normal doesn’t mean letting some guy mess with your head,” she snaps.
“Mess with my head? He asked for my number, Isagi. That’s it,” I shoot back, my voice louder than I intended.
A few people nearby glance over, murmuring. I take a step back, trying to rein in my temper. “Why do you even care?” I ask, my voice lower now, but sharp.
“Because I know how these guys are,” she huffs. “They’ll say whatever they think you wanna hear, and then—”
“And then what? This kid is just some skinny surfer boy” I cut her off, my chest tightening. “He’s not some evil mastermind. He’s just a guy who surfs and goes to parties. Normal teenage stuff, remember?”
She opens her mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. Her jaw tightens, and she looks away, biting her lip like she’s holding something back.
“What is your problem, Isagi?” I press.
“My problem,” she mutters, turning back to me, “is that you deserve better than some random guy who barely knows you.”
Her words hit me harder than they should, but I keep my face neutral. “You’re being ridiculous I spoke to 1 guy is it really that big of a deal” I say, brushing past her toward the fire.
“Rin—”
I don’t turn back. Instead, I find myself weaving through the crowd, pretending to care about the conversations happening around me. My chest feels tight, like there’s something I can’t quite shake.
It’s not Kai. It’s her.
Later that night, after the crowd thins and the fire dies down, we’re sitting on a piece of driftwood by the water. Neither of us says anything at first. The waves fill the silence, crashing and retreating.
“You’re mad at me,” Isagi finally says, staring out at the ocean.
“I’m not mad,” I lie.
Well after yelling at me because I did exactly what you told me to do and, then getting drunker than needed I have mild right to be mad
She glances at me, unconvinced. “You were right, you know,” she says softly.
I frown. “About what?”
“Being normal,” she says, kicking at the sand. “Maybe I pushed you too hard.”
Her voice is small, almost fragile, and it makes my stomach twist. “I’m not mad,” I repeat, this time more truthfully. “I just… don’t get why it bothers you so much.”
She hesitates, her fingers digging into the sand. “Because you’re… you’re Rin. You’re supposed to be focused on soccer and winning and—” She cuts herself off, shaking her head. “I guess I just don’t want anything—or anyone—to distract you.”
I raise an eyebrow. “That’s it? You’re worried about distractions?”
She shrugs, but her expression betrays her. There’s something else there, buried beneath her words.
For a second, I want to push her, to force her to say what she’s really thinking. But instead, I look back at the ocean. “I’m not gonna let some surfer kid ruin soccer Isagi. You don’t have to worry about that.”
She nods, but I can feel her watching me, her gaze lingering like there’s more she wants to say.
“Good,” she says finally, her voice barely above a whisper. She rest her face in the sand and we sit in silence for 15 minutes.
“Isagi, are you okay to drive?” I ask, glancing down at her sprawled-out figure on the sand, face down and unbothered. “Teenage fun,” I mutter to myself. “Glad I’m not that dumb.”
Silence.
I bend down and lift her. She’s lighter than I expected, all her weight limp against me. Walking her to the 4Runner, I open the back door and lay her down, tugging off my hoodie to shove under her head as a makeshift pillow.
“If your mom sees you like this, she’ll kill you,” I mutter, not that she can hear me.
I hop in the driver’s seat, starting the car. A glance back at her confirms it—she’s completely out.
“Isagi, you owe me big time,” I say, backing out of the lot and onto the quiet streets. The dashboard clock reads 2:06 AM. Her mom is going to lose it regardless.
When I pull into her driveway, I freeze. The house is dark, her mom probably asleep. I sit there for a moment, debating.
“Nope. Not dealing with that,” I say, pulling my phone out. I type quickly:
Hey, Isagi’s staying at my house tonight. I hope you don’t mind. Her phone died, so I’m texting you on mine.
I send it, then reverse out of the driveway, heading for my own house.
The air is cool as I step out and hoist Isagi over my shoulder. She lets out a quiet groan but doesn’t stir beyond that. I shove the front door open, kicking off my shoes, and carry her up the stairs. Reaching my room, I drop her onto the floor—not too hard, but definitely not soft.
I tiptoe back downstairs to grab blankets and pillows. The storage closet is practically empty, so I head for Sae’s room.
The door creaks open, and I immediately regret my decision.
Sae is flat on her back, a smirk on her face, looking at Shidou—who’s missing a shirt entirely.
I slam the door shut before either of them can say anything. My stomach churns with disgust, and without thinking, I march to my parents’ room to snitch.
“My sister has no sense of self-worth!” I shout as I barge in, flipping on the light.
The bed is perfectly made. The room is empty.
I whirl around, confused, and see Sae at the bottom of the stairs, her hand on her hip.
“They’re on vacation,” she says flatly, her maroon hair falling in loose waves around her face, bangs slightly out of place. She’s in an oversized shirt, completely unbothered.
“What the fuck? Why didn’t they tell me?” I yell, anger bubbling up.
“ It was a last minute thing, You’re old enough to be alone,” she says, examining her nails like I’m the problem.
“Stop. You’re disgusting. You betrayed us, our religion, our family, everything. Why would they even let you stay here?” I demand, gripping the stair railing to keep myself steady.
“House-sitting,” she replies nonchalantly, not even looking at me.
“Gross,” I spit, storming back upstairs and slamming my door.
Isagi is sprawled out on my bed, her hair fanned out over my pillow like she owns the place. I stare at her for a moment, fuming. She’s a brat, but I let it go. My bed’s big enough to share, even if I don’t want to.
I sit down, chest tight with rage, clawing at my wrist out of habit. My nails dig in, and the pain anchors me for a second. Then I feel the warm trickle of blood.
I let go immediately, staring at the red drops spilling down my hand.
Lying back on the bed, I stare at the ceiling, anger and confusion swirling in my head. Sae is selfish. She didn’t have to ruin everything. She didn’t have to ruin us.
The rage dulls, leaving only a bitter ache.