The morning light seeped gently into Reina's room, filtered by pale curtains that swayed faintly in the breeze. She stirred, stretching beneath her blanket until ANIER's voice chimed softly inside her lens.
"Good morning, Reina. Full report: last night's rest quality 96%. Heart rate consistent. No signs of stress interference. Dream activity minimal."
Reina yawned, rubbing her eyes. "...So you're saying I slept well."
"Precisely."
She swung her legs off the bed and trudged toward the bathroom, hair slightly tangled. Her routine began in silence: washing her face, carefully applying skin care as though it were another experiment, brushing teeth with mechanical precision, and smoothing out her long hair until it gleamed. For once, she skipped her lab coat—choosing instead a light cardigan and simple jeans.
When she descended the stairs, the smell of breakfast filled the house. Her family was already at the table.
"Rei-nee."
Her little brother Hiro was staring at her, chopsticks paused mid-air. His pout deepened. "You're always busy in that lab… You never hang out with me anymore."
Reina's hand froze on her cup. "…"
"Rei-nee! Today's Saturday. Stay with me, please?" He leaned across the table, eyes wide.
Reina sighed, closing her eyes in surrender. "...Fine. After breakfast, get ready. I'll take you to town."
Their parents exchanged a glance and grinned knowingly, quietly amused by how easily Hiro could sway his older sister.
Out in Town
By late morning, the siblings were out together. Hiro's chosen destination: the largest mall in the area. The towering glass building reflected sunlight, bustling with weekend crowds. Reina walked beside him, carrying nothing, while Hiro buzzed with energy like a storm contained in a boy's frame.
As they entered, Reina casually flicked her lens on, pulling up her lab camera feed. On the screen in the corner of her vision, Shiro was waking up on her new fluffy bed. The cat stretched, tail swishing, before hopping down and padding toward the lab door.
"Wait…" Reina muttered under her breath. "She's leaving again?"
Indeed, Shiro had grown bolder—slipping out for little walks around the school grounds like she owned the place. Even Reina couldn't stop a faint laugh at the absurdity. "Too smart for her own good…"
Hiro tugged her sleeve. "Rei-nee, c'mon! This way!"
She followed.
The Mall Adventure
Hiro darted from shop to shop with tireless energy. In a bookstore, he stacked volumes of manga and reference books until Reina was sure his bag would burst. In the electronics section, he tested every demo console, face lit with glee. He grabbed new controllers, a stack of games, even replacement headphones.
Reina watched silently, half exasperated, half impressed. "You… actually study well despite this?"
Hiro grinned. "Of course! High scores and high scores, right?"
She pinched her forehead. "…Idiot."
Still, she carried nothing, letting him juggle the bags he eagerly insisted on holding himself.
By noon, they were seated in a café, Hiro happily sipping a chocolate milkshake while Reina stirred a tea absently. She barely listened to his chatter about games and school festivals, her lens showing her Shiro wandering the campus again, tail flicking proudly.
She muttered, "...Even the cat has more social life than me."
Hiro blinked. "Eh? Did you say something, Rei-nee?"
"Nothing." She sipped her tea.
Afternoon Fun
The day stretched on. They tried an arcade where Hiro destroyed her in rhythm games and shooting galleries, earning far too many prize tickets. At karaoke, he sang with reckless enthusiasm while Reina sat stiffly, arms folded, secretly recording his terrible high notes with ANIER for future blackmail.
By the time they stepped out of a small family restaurant after dinner, Hiro's hands were full of shopping bags. His energy had dimmed slightly, though his grin remained.
Reina smirked at him, tilting her head. "That's what you deserve. Buy too much, carry too much."
"Rei-nee…" He pouted, wobbling under the load.
Not that Reina minded. It was her card footing the bill, but she had no concern. After all, just days ago she'd discovered ANIER was secretly investing in stocks and handling quiet trades on her behalf. Her savings were multiplying at a pace she hadn't even calculated.
"…Suspicious AI," she muttered softly.
"Efficient AI," ANIER corrected smugly in her ear.
Return Home
By evening, they flagged a taxi and returned home. Hiro stumbled inside first, dropping his haul into the living room before carting armfuls of frozen goods and snacks into the kitchen.
Their mother's eyes widened at the sight of stacked groceries. "Hiro… Did you really buy all this?"
He grinned, sheepish but proud. "For the family! Now we won't need to shop for months!"
Reina leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a faint smile tugging at her lips. For all his noise and energy, Hiro really did think about their home.
Their mother clapped her hands together, relief spreading across her face. "Well then, I suppose I won't complain. Thank you, Hiro."
Reina simply exhaled, letting the noise of the house settle into her. For once, her lab could wait. Today, her little brother had claimed her, and she had allowed it.