Luxury View Room —
Kasumigaoka Utaha lay sprawled on the bed like a contented cat, her body nestled in the plush sheets as if they were clouds. A faint smile lingered on her lips, and her cheeks held the subtle blush of satisfaction. The crimson in her wine-red eyes shimmered faintly under the morning sun filtering through the blinds.
Overall, it had been... an experience. And even now, the still unsatisfied Kasumigaoka Touji was handling the aftermath like a dutiful onii-san.
With practiced hands and a surprisingly gentle expression, Touji wiped her down using a warm towel, every motion precise, every gesture filled with a silent reverence—like a craftsman tending to a masterpiece.
Every now and then, when the towel brushed over particularly sensitive spots, Utaha's body would tense and tremble slightly, betraying just how much she still remembered the earlier intensity.
"..."
"Yosh!" Touji finally exhaled, his voice soft yet cheerful, as though completing a job well done.
He disappeared into the bathroom, where the sound of water could be faintly heard. After a short while, he returned, freshly showered, his damp hair clinging slightly to his forehead. Without a word, he slid under the covers beside Utaha and gently wrapped his arms around her.
"Stop it," Utaha mumbled, her voice muffled against the pillow.
She was utterly exhausted. The whirlwind day yesterday, the endless walking, the endless teasing... and of course, the culmination of everything last night—it had all drained her.
Touji, surprisingly obedient, stilled his hands and didn't push further. "Got it, got it," he whispered, the corners of his lips curling into a fond smile. Then he turned off the lights, his voice a quiet murmur: "Good night."
"Mm... Good night, little brother."
Utaha's lips curved into a small, sleepy smile as she glanced at his silhouette in the dim light. Her crimson eyes, always so sharp and intelligent, softened before closing completely. She nestled deeper into his chest, surrendering to the pull of sleep.
Despite the mutual declaration of sleep, Kasumigaoka Touji's mind remained abuzz. He had never felt so awake.
Was it the adrenaline? Or perhaps the 'Solar Energy' system he'd loaded into his body…? Either way, he was positively brimming with energy.
With Utaha resting against him, he couldn't exactly move around, use his phone, or sneakily watch anime. So, after a brief moment of pondering, he quietly accessed the Dream Mall in his mind and began browsing for something productive.
[Rock Experience Packs] caught his eye.
"Why not?"
The moment he made the purchase, thunderous riffs and rhythmic rebellion poured into his mind—like a lifetime of late-night gigs and garage-band dreams compressed into seconds.
Touji blinked. "Sugoi... This stuff is amazing."
Encouraged, he bought another. And another.
However, by the fifth pack, his head began to spin slightly. Too much knowledge at once. His brain buzzed like a shaken soda can.
"Urgh... yameru... for now."
Realizing his limit, Touji logged out of the Dream Mall and closed his eyes, finally allowing sleep to claim him…
—
The Next Morning —
"What are you doing?"
The sharp question came from Utaha, who had just exited the restroom. Her attire was simple: a white fitted T-shirt and a pale, flowy fishtail skirt that hugged her curves just enough to emphasize her natural elegance. The sunlight caught in her long, dark hair, giving her an ethereal glow.
But her gait was off—small, stiff steps like a waddling penguin.
Touji, sitting on the edge of the bed with his phone pointed directly at her, didn't even flinch.
"Recording precious memories," he replied with a straight face.
Utaha narrowed her eyes. "Baka."
Still, she didn't protest further. With a roll of her eyes, she slowly shuffled to the sofa by the window and lowered herself onto it gingerly, wincing slightly as she sat.
"Go buy breakfast, will you?" she said, voice laced with sleepy laziness.
Touji nodded. "Hai, hai. What do you want, onee-san?"
"Anything's fine. I trust your taste."
He made an exaggerated salute and slipped out of the room. A few moments later, he returned bearing two portions of Eggs Benedict, two steaming cups of milk, and a few pastries.
The two of them spent the rest of the morning lazily lounging in the room. They scrolled through the photos from yesterday, laughed at silly poses, and shared warm glances. Occasional touches turned into fleeting kisses, and teasing whispers laced the air.
By noon, it was time to check out.
Touji headed downstairs, took care of the formalities, and then the two had a quiet teppanyaki lunch at the hotel's third-floor restaurant. The sizzling sound of meat on the grill was oddly calming.
And then, their journey home began.
—
Both Kasumigaoka Touji and Kasumigaoka Utaha were deeply satisfied with their short but meaningful trip together.
Their relationship had quietly but unmistakably taken a huge step forward—stepping hand in hand onto the staircase of adulthood.
For them, it wasn't just a trip.
It was a new chapter.
Perhaps the most life-altering change, however, was that Kasumigaoka Touji had finally activated the Dream Mall and exchanged for his first real superpower.
And just like that—boom!—'Solar Energy' was now his.
Ever since, walking under the sun had felt completely different. He no longer squinted or grumbled under its rays—in fact, he felt invigorated, like he could sprint across rooftops or shoot beams out of his eyes like a tokusatsu hero.
"I feel like a solar panel… no, more like a fully charged power bank," he muttered, arms outstretched like he was about to fly. "Someone give me a lightbulb so I can shine!"
But unfortunately for Kasumigaoka Utaha, she was the closest available outlet…
"Tsk. Detestable Kasumigaoka… you're really such a waste," Touji muttered under his breath, eyeing her with a very un-nii-san-like gaze.
Just as he began mentally drafting a cheeky remark, Utaha suddenly turned and poked him sharply in the waist.
"Ouch! What was that for?!"
"Hmm~ I felt a strange gaze coming from a certain Otouto-kun," Utaha replied nonchalantly, her tone languid yet cutting.
The golden sunlight danced across her delicate face, enhancing her already dazzling features. Even the ends of her silky black hair glowed faintly.
Touji gave a strained smile. "Your senses are sharp as always, onee-san. I was trying to mentally offend you."
"You're not even hiding it now, huh…" she sighed.
Without hesitation, Touji smoothly wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace. The feel of her narrow waist was completely different from the softness of her chest or hips—it had a unique, feminine tension to it.
"Baka," Utaha murmured, lightly pressing her palm against his chest. "Otouto-kun, you really ought to understand the difference between a human and a beast."
"Eh? Kasumi Utako-sensei, how exactly did I become a beast?"
"Making weird 'beep beep beep~' noises in the middle of the street—if not a beast, then what?"
From nearby, a passing lady gave them a long, suspicious glance.
'One calls him "Otouto-kun," the other calls her "Sensei"… but they're clinging to each other like newlyweds? These modern kids and their complicated relationships…'
And then came the whispered bits:
"Beep beep? In public?"
The lady shook her head, a pained look on her face. She gently patted her cheek and whispered, "I fear for this generation… the future of Japan is in danger."
"Worry before the world worries, rejoice after the world rejoices… that's the spirit we need."
…Or not.
Back home, the atmosphere settled.
"You go rest, Utaha-chan. I'll wash the clothes," Touji said casually as he gathered the laundry they had changed out of the night before.
Utaha blinked. "Eh? What about after today?"
Touji glanced back over his shoulder and gave her an exaggerated eyeroll. "You'll wash them tomorrow. Just for today, I'm feeling generous."
"Hmph. You're so low in feminine charm, it's almost negative. Totally unqualified as a homemaker!"
"Yosh! It's decided!" Touji clapped his hands dramatically. "Starting today, I'll give you proper training!"
"…Are you trying to turn me into a housewife or a magical girl?" Utaha deadpanned, tilting her head with a half-exasperated, half-curious expression.
Touji smirked. "Whichever has better transformation sequences."
"…Baka."