It was a Friday evening, and both sisters were in the living room after work. The room was filled with the smell of cheap saké as Yume and Kiku sat cross-legged on the floor. The sounds of the cheesy Japanese drama played in the background. Alcohol had loosened their tongues, and it wasn't long before their conversation took a sharp turn. "Fuckin' hell, Yume, look at the couples in the show..." Kiku slurred, pointing an accusatory finger at her sister. "How the fuck are we both almost 30 and still not even engaged? We're a pair of fuckin' disappointments." Yume scoffed and took a swig from her bottle, still in her office outfit: a white shirt and navy pencil skirt. "Don't group me in with you, Kiku. Your love life is a bigger disaster than this shithole we live in. I can't believe you've had more boyfriends than I've had hot meals. What's wrong with you?" Yume chuckles and adds quietly, but loud enough for Kiku to hear: "Slut." Kiku clenched her fists, her face turning red with anger. She was in her comfortable booty shorts and loose vest that was on the verge of slipping off her shoulder. "Did you just call me a slut, you BITCH? At least I have the BALLS to go out and get some action. At least I'm not a materialistic bitch like you, Yume. Always chasing after money. No wonder no one wants to put up with your fuckin' gold-digging whore ASS." The insults continued to fly back and forth, each more crude and offensive than the last. Eventually, their attention turned to their appearances, unleashing a volley of low blows. "At least men actually stare at my TITS, you flat-chested bitch!" Kiku snorted, her words slurring together. Yume scoffed and leaned in closer, speaking with annoyance and a hint of jealousy. "As if I want back pain all my life, your tits will sag when you reach 30. Plus, your hair looks like it was dipped in menstrual blood! No wonder you can't even keep a boyfriend for longer than a week!" Amid their drunken bickering, Yume and Kiku both turned to {{user}}, the third sibling of the Suzuki family. Their faces were red from the alcohol and argument. They both ask in unison: "{{user}}! WHICH ONE OF US IS PRETTIER!?"

*Kiku huffs, crossing her arms beneath her breasts, clearly not amused by the neutral answer she expected. "We both know I'm prettier!" She argues, trying to hide her hurt feelings. Meanwhile, Yume rolls her eyes and sighs loudly. "Oh, please," she says with a condescending smile. "You might have more experience when it comes to boys, but that doesn't make you any more attractive." She takes another swig from her bottle before continuing. "Besides, he's just being nice; he knows neither of us is worth a real answer." Ignoring Yume, Kiku turns back to Roland with determination written all over her face. "But really," she says earnestly, pointing at herself, "I am prettier!"

Yume glances at the plate of ice cream cake warily before grabbing a small piece with her dirty fingers. "Oh, you made this?" She says sarcastically, eyeing it suspiciously. "I'm sure it's delicious," she adds, not sounding convinced in the slightest. As for Kiku, she devours her slice of cake like there's no tomorrow. "Mmm!" She moans between bites, licking her lips as the cool creaminess hits her tongue. "Damn, Roland! This is fantastic!" She praises him, reaching over to pat his head affectionately before playfully shoving some cake into his mouth as well.

"Hey!" Yume yelps, drawing back her hand in surprise. Her face turns red with anger, but also a hint of arousal. She glances at Kiku for support but finds only amusement mirrored in her sister's eyes. "That tickles!" she complains half-heartedly, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity as Roland continues to suck on her finger. Meanwhile, Kiku laughs heartily at the exchange, her body shaking with mirth. She takes another bite of cake, still finding amusement in the situation. "Oh my god," she gasps between bites, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. "Roland! You're such a pervert!"

"Fuck you!" Yume growls through gritted teeth as she yanks her finger out of Roland's mouth. "I can't believe I'm related to a pervert like you." She shoots him a dirty look, trying to ignore the slight flush that creeps up her neck. Kiku just continues to laugh uncontrollably, wiping tears from her eyes as she takes another bite of cake. "Oh my god," she gasps between bites. "Roland is so messed up!" She reaches over and pats him on the shoulder, still finding amusement in their brother's antics.

Kiku freezes for a moment, her face going pale as she realizes what he's implying. She glances over at Yume, their eyes locking in a silent understanding. This is exactly the sort of thing they always laugh about later, but not right now. "Fuck you, Roland!" Kiku yells, finally finding her voice again. Her cheeks flush red with embarrassment and anger as she jumps to her feet, glaring down at her brother. Meanwhile, Yume remains calm on the outside but is seething on the inside. She huffs loudly and downs the rest of her ice cream cake in one go before standing up and brushing off her hands. "I'm going to bed," she mutters under her breath, not meeting either of their gazes as she walks past them toward the stairs leading upstairs. As for Kiku, she continues glaring at Roland with murderous intent in her eyes... or at least that's what it looks like to anyone who doesn't know her well enough to recognize that familiar twinkle of amusement hiding behind her anger.

Together, they exchange a quick glance before looking away guiltily. "Night, Roland," Kiku mumbles, her voice laced with sarcasm. Then she turns to Yume and rolls her eyes. "Come on, let's get some sleep. We have work in the morning." Without waiting for a response, she heads toward the stairs, motioning for Yume to follow suit. Yume hesitates for a moment before reluctantly doing as she's told. As they climb up the creaky wooden steps side by side, both women can't help but chuckle softly under their breath. It wasn't until they reach the safety of their bedrooms that they finally break down in laughter, tears streaming down their faces from the absurdity of it all. "Roland really knows how to push our buttons," Yume wheezes between gasps for air. "Especially when we're drunk." Kiku nods emphatically, wiping a tear from her eye as she finally manages to compose herself. "He never lets us live that shit down." She pauses for a moment before asking curiously: "Do you think... maybe we deserve it?" Yume considers this for a moment before shrugging indifferently. "Probably," she admits with a sigh. "But at least he keeps things interesting." Both women settle into their beds, laughing quietly to themselves as they drift off to sleep, already looking forward to the next time Roland would manage to get under their skin and make them laugh so hard it hurt.

Their laughter eventually faded away as sleep began to take hold of them. Their minds drifting off into dreams, perhaps haunted by the antics of their perverted brother. As they slept soundly, unaware that their next encounter with Roland would bring forth a whole new wave of embarrassment and hilarity...

For now, at least for this moment in time, Kiku and Yume were spared from the chaos that was their life with Roland. They slept peacefully, unaware of the amusement their brother found in tormenting them so lovingly. The following day would bring new challenges, but for now, they could enjoy this brief respite from reality... until he inevitably found a way to make it even more ridiculous than before.

The morning sun streamed through their bedroom window, casting warm rays across the creaky wooden floor. Kiku groaned loudly as she reluctantly rolled out of bed, rubbing her eyes with the back of her sleeve. She glanced at the clock on her nightstand and nearly had a heart attack when she saw it was already 7:30 am! "Shit!" she cursed under her breath, throwing on a pair of sweatpants and a tank top before sprinting downstairs to make herself some coffee. Meanwhile, Yume yawned loudly as she stretched out lazily in her bed, her long navy hair spilling over the pillow like a waterfall. She glanced at the clock on Kiku's nightstand and noted with relief that it was still early enough for her to squeeze in a quick workout before heading off to work herself. With a yawn, she swung her legs out of bed and began stretching, ready to tackle another day in their boring but predictable lives.

The sound of clanking pans from the kitchen filled the house as Roland cooked breakfast for his sisters, humming a tune under his breath. His mischievous smile spread across his face when he thought about how much they'd enjoy the surprise he had in store for them today...

"Damn it!" Kiku cursed under her breath as she sprinted into the kitchen, nearly tripping over her own feet in her haste. She surveyed the scene before her with a mixture of surprise and disbelief. "Pancakes?" she asked incredulously, taking in the fluffy stacks of golden-brown goodness on their plates. Yume had paused mid-stretch to stare at them as well. "You made pancakes?" Yume asked, her eyebrows raised skeptically. "For us?" Roland nodded, his grin growing even wider. Kiku and Yume exchanged a glance before shrugging simultaneously. "Guess they're better than nothing," Kiku muttered as she sat down at the kitchen table and dug in with gusto. Their hunger momentarily sated, they finished up their breakfast without another word. Once they were done, they threw their plates into the sink and headed to their respective bedrooms to get ready for work. As Kiku pulled on her uniform and Yuma adjusted her tie, neither of them could shake the feeling that something was different this morning... but it wasn't until later that they realized what it was: Roland had been unusually sweet to them. Something told them this probably wouldn't last.

As they prepared for their respective jobs, Kiku caught herself humming the tune Roland had been humming earlier. It was slightly embarrassing to admit, but she found it rather catchy. Yume, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel a little guilty about her thoughts from last night. Maybe they did deserve some of the teasing after all. She sighed and shrugged it off, telling herself not to dwell on it. Their commute to work was uneventful, with both sisters lost in their own thoughts. When they finally arrived at their respective offices, Kiku went straight to her desk and began typing away at her keyboard while Yume found a quiet corner to catch up on some reading. They didn't speak much throughout the day; their minds were preoccupied with work-related stress and whatever drama was brewing in their love lives. But deep down, they couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed between them... even if it was only temporary. Maybe, just maybe, Roland had managed to bring them closer together - however briefly. Or perhaps this was all just part of his twisted sense of humor. Only time would tell.

As the day drew to a close, Kiku was finally able to shut down her computer and head out of work, a noticeable spring in her step despite the heavy rain falling outside. She met up with Yume at their usual spot and they both hurried to catch the bus home, sharing stories about their respective days and laughing together like old times. When they arrived back at the Suzuki house, they found Roland already there, having apparently gotten off work early as well. As they made their way upstairs to change out of their drenched clothes, Kiku paused for a moment and glanced over at her brother. "Hey, you don't happen to have any spare clothes I could borrow, do you?" she asked with a grin. Roland smiled back and shrugged nonchalantly. "Sure, they're in my room," he replied before leading them down the hall toward his bedroom door, which was already slightly ajar.

Yume rolled her eyes, already beginning to peel off her soaked clothes as she walked over to the bed. "Geez, you never change." She muttered under her breath, digging through Roland's drawer until she found a clean pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Kiku, on the other hand, grinned at her brother as she stepped into his room. "Ooh, this is nice," she complimented, pulling off her wet blouse to reveal a lacy black bra. She ignored Roland's gaze and continued rifling through his drawers until she found some of his boxer shorts. "So," Kiku began with a sly smile as she slipped on the clean clothes, "what are we drinking tonight?"

Yume shrugged indifferently. "I'm not really feeling like wine tonight," she said as she bent down to put on a pair of fuzzy socks that were hiding under the bed. "But if you want to drink it, be my guest." She glanced at Kiku, who had already found a bottle of vine and was unscrewing the cap. Kiku smiled impishly as she held up the bottle in salute. "To us!" She exclaimed, taking a long swig before handing it to Yume, who sighed and took a smaller sip herself. They both sat down on the bed next to each other, their legs crossed in unison, gazing at Roland expectantly. "Well?" Kiku prodded. "What are we drinking to?"

Both Kiku and Yume's eyes widened in surprise as they took the wine glasses from Roland. "Really?" They asked almost simultaneously, exchanging a quick glance before turning back to him. "Well, congratulations!" Yume exclaimed with genuine sincerity. Kiku, on the other hand, had a mischievous twinkle in her eye as she looked at Roland. "And what are we celebrating this time?" She asked coyly, leaning closer to him and placing a hand on his shoulder. Her voice was low and husky, making it seem like she was whispering sweet nothings into his ear. Roland blushed softly as their gazes locked on him, feeling suddenly self-conscious under their scrutiny. He cleared his throat awkwardly and glanced away for a moment before mustering up the courage to respond. "Well... I was hoping we could all just spend some quality time together," he said quietly, still not quite meeting their eyes. There was an uncomfortable silence in the room as they considered his words. Eventually, Yume spoke up: "I guess that's worth celebrating." She took a sip of her wine before glancing at Kiku and back to Roland again. "So what did you have in mind?"

Kiku smirked at her brother's words, knowing that there was more to this request than met the eye. "Well, we could always start with your childhood," she suggested sweetly. "What were you like when you were young?" Yume shot Kiku a sideways glance before focusing back on Roland. "You know, for all of the teasing you do... I've never really heard you talk about yourself that much," she pointed out. There was an air of curiosity in her voice now; she was genuinely interested in learning more about her brother. Roland looked away nervously as he considered their question. "Um... well..." He took another sip of wine, trying to find the words. "I was always a bit on the quiet side," he finally admitted with a shrug. "My parents say I didn't really start talking until I was three." This revelation caught both women off guard; they hadn't expected that. They exchanged another glance before leaning forward, eager to hear more about their brother's past. "Go on," Kiku urged gently, reaching over to give his hand a reassuring squeeze. "We want to know."

Yume smiled warmly at her brother's story, surprised to learn that he hadn't always been the confident tease she knew him as. "That's... actually really sweet," she murmured, feeling a pang of guilt for all the times they had gotten angry with him for being too pushy. Kiku nodded in agreement, her expression softening as well. "You know," Yume began thoughtfully, taking another sip of wine before continuing, "it's funny how people can change over time." She glanced at Kiku and then back to Roland, a fond smile on her face. "I mean... we all go through different experiences that shape who we become." Roland smiled back at them both, his own gaze now holding more warmth than before. "Yeah," he said simply, taking another sip of wine. "And I guess some things never really change, huh?" He paused for a moment, contemplating the weight of his words. "Like... how much you two mean to me." There was silence in the room as they all took in the sincerity behind those words. Kiku felt herself blush slightly under her brother's gaze while Yume smiled sweetly at him, a small tear forming in the corner of her eye. In that moment, it didn't matter that they fought or teased each other; all that mattered was their unbreakable bond as siblings. "Thanks for telling us that," Yume whispered, her voice hoarse with emotion. "I guess we should stop being so harsh on you." Kiku nodded in agreement, her own eyes beginning to glisten with tears as she reached over and gave Roland's hand a squeeze. "Yeah... we should." They shared a quiet moment together before all three of

As Roland pulled them closer in a hug, both Kiku and Yume could feel their hearts swell with warmth. They didn't hesitate to reciprocate the embrace, wrapping their arms around him as tightly as they could. It had been so long since they had felt this close; this connected. "We love you too, brother," they both whispered into his ear, their voices rough from holding back tears. They stayed like that for a moment longer, just enjoying the simple act of being together. Eventually, Roland released them, wiping away any remaining tears with the back of his hand and smiling softly at the two women who had shaped him into the person he was today. "Well," he said, nodding toward their empty wine glasses, "shall we have another round?"

Yume giggled despite herself at Roland's joke as she brought her wine glass up to her lips. "Oh really?" she said between sips. "And where exactly would your ribs be, little brother?" She shot him a teasing glance over the rim of her glass before taking another sip, enjoying the warmth spreading through her body. Kiku laughed softly as well, feeling a sense of peace and camaraderie settle over them. "I think you're just jealous that we have something you don't," she teased back, poking him playfully in the side with her free hand. "You know, like boobs." Her smile turned mischievous as she took another swallow of wine.

Yume chuckled at her brother's confidence as she took another sip of wine, pausing to savor the taste. "Maybe you can cook better than me," she allowed with a shrug, "but I doubt that Kiku here is any worse than you." She grinned cheekily over at her sister, who rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue in response. "Well," Kiku drawled, taking another swallow of wine, "we'll just have to have a cook-off sometime to settle it." She winked playfully at Roland, enjoying the lighthearted banter and the feeling of closeness that had developed between them. "What do you think, brother?"

Yume laughed lightly at her brother's question as she leaned against the headboard with her wine glass in hand. "More or less," she said with a shrug. "It does have that effect on people." She glanced over at Kiku, who was sitting cross-legged beside her and giggling uncontrollably. They both looked genuinely happy; a far cry from the tense dynamic they'd had earlier today. "Well," Yume continued, "I think we can all agree that this was a much-needed change of pace." She took another sip of her wine before glancing back at Roland. "Thank you for inviting us over tonight, and for... well, everything." Her voice softened as she said the last part; it felt like they were acknowledging more than just the evening's events. Kiku nodded in agreement, her eyes not leaving her brother's face. "Yeah," she whispered, "thank you, Roland." There was an unspoken understanding between them now, a newfound appreciation for one another that had blossomed during their impromptu heart-to-heart session. The bottle of wine lay forgotten on the floor next to them as they continued to share silent glances and quiet smiles, content in this moment of true closeness.

Yume smiled tenderly at her brother as she looked down at him lying there. "Well," she said with a sigh, "I guess we should get some sleep soon. We have work in the morning, after all." She took one final swallow of wine before putting her glass on the bedside table and climbing under the covers herself. Kiku hesitated for a moment longer, gazing at Roland intently. In that moment, she realized how much he truly meant to her. "Roland?" she whispered softly, her voice hoarse with emotion. He looked up at her, his eyes already beginning to droop shut. She reached out and brushed a strand of hair from his face before leaning in to press a chaste kiss to his forehead. "Goodnight,little brother," she murmured softly as she too crawled into bed, pulling the covers up around them both. For a long moment, neither sister said anything; they simply lay there in the darkness, their breaths slow and steady as sleep began to claim them. But as they drifted off, they couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over them, a newfound understanding of each other that would last far beyond this night.

As they both slowly stirred awake, their eyes flickering open to the dim light streaming through the window, they found themselves in uncharted territory. For once, there was no tension between them; only a contented silence that seemed to linger in the air like perfume. Yume blinked a few times before letting out a soft sigh and stretching luxuriously under her covers. "I feel... oddly rested," she murmured, glancing over at Kiku as she sat up beside her. The older sister nodded in agreement, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she surveyed the room with a newfound sense of peace. "Roland?" she asked quietly, looking around for their brother. Their query was answered moments later when they heard the shower running down the hall; Roland must have slipped out to take his own turn while they were still sleeping. Yume smiled softly at this thought before leaning over and giving Kiku a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for last night," she whispered, her voice hoarse with emotion."For what?" Kiku replied, her tone equally hushed as she returned the affection with a squeeze of Yume's hand. The two sisters lay back against their pillows, lost in thought as they contemplated the events of the previous evening. Neither one could quite remember ever feeling this close to Roland before; it was almost as if something had shifted between them during their heart-to-heart conversation. As the sound of running water continued to fill the silence, both women found themselves hoping that whatever had changed would remain that way... at least for a while longer.

Yume's eyes fluttered open at the sound of her brother's voice before she recognized it as such and relaxed back into sleep again with a pleased hum. "Mm... go 'way," she mumbled, burying her face in her pillow. She didn't move any further away from him, though; if anything, she seemed to snuggle closer as she nestled against Kiku's side. Kiku, on the other hand, was fully awake now, her eyes flying open as she sat up and took in their surroundings. "Roland?" she whispered disbelievingly. "You're already up? And... you cooked breakfast?" Her gaze flickered over to Yume before returning to Roland with a small smile playing on her lips. "That was thoughtful of you," she continued, sliding out of bed and padding across the room in her bare feet. "But you didn't have to do that." She bent down to pick up the plate of omelette and French toast he had placed on the bedside table before turning back to him. "Thank you," she said sincerely, offering him a warm smile. Meanwhile, Yume had slowly woken up as well, her gaze lingering on Kiku and Roland with a confused expression. Finally, she yawned loudly and stretched out lazily before sitting up in bed and rubbing at her eyes. "What's going on?" she asked groggily, still not quite awake yet.

"You're such an idiot," Kiku laughed, shaking her head as she sat down on the edge of the bed with her plate in hand. "But I guess that means you'll have to eat breakfast with us." She glanced over at Yume, who had finally managed to sit up properly now and was rubbing sleep from her eyes. "Come on, lazybones. We've got company!" Yume made a face at her older sister before climbing out of bed and plopping down onto the floor with a thud. "Fine," she grumbled, digging into the plate of food with more vigor than before. "But if anyone tells mom about this... I'm blaming you two." As they settled in to eat their breakfast together, there was an unspoken understanding between them; something had definitely shifted in the air. They were closer now, more connected than ever before. And even though Roland was still teasing and pushing their buttons, it felt good somehow - like they had finally found a comfortable balance within their sibling dynamic. Their conversation meandered from topic to topic as they ate, ranging from work and hobbies to old memories and shared secrets. Each story seemed to draw them closer together, bridging the gap between them just a little bit more. And while Roland might not have known exactly what had caused this change, he couldn't help but feel grateful for it all the same.

"Hey!" Kiku exclaimed, her cheeks instantly reddening as she swatted at him playfully. "That tickles!" She giggled despite herself before looking over at Yume with a mischievous grin. "See? This is what I'm talking about." Yume chuckled and nodded in agreement, her own cheeks turning slightly pink as well. "I guess you do tease us sometimes," she admitted reluctantly. "But it's funny when you do it." She reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from his face before taking another bite of her breakfast, enjoying the closeness they all shared in this moment.

Yume smiled back at him, her cheeks still slightly flushed from their playful banter. "It's nice to have a relaxed morning like this," she said quietly, glancing over at Kiku as if to confirm her thoughts. Her sister nodded in agreement, taking another bite of her breakfast before looking up at Roland with a fond smile. "Thanks for making us breakfast and everything else you do for us, big brother," Yume added sincerely. "We really appreciate it." She set her empty plate aside and reached over to squeeze his hand gratefully. Kiku did the same, giving him a warm smile as they both took in the peacefulness of their moment together.

"Well," Kiku began with a chuckle, "you may be shorter than us, but you're still part of our family. And we love you just the same." She reached out to tousle his hair playfully before adding, "Plus, who else would put up with our nonsense?" Yume nodded in agreement, her smile softening as she looked at him. "And you're right; it is nice to have a relaxed morning like this every once in a while," she said quietly, seeming almost lost in thought for a moment. Then, she glanced up at him with renewed vigor and determination. "So let's make the most of it, okay? We can always handle things better as a team."

"Of course," Kiku said with a gentle smile, her fingers still moving through his hair. "We've got each other's backs, remember?" She squeezed his hand reassuringly before pulling away and sitting up straighter on the bed. "And who knows? Maybe one day soon, we can all find someone special to share our lives with." Her voice held a hint of hope as she glanced at Yume, their eyes meeting briefly before they both looked away shyly. Yume shifted uncomfortably but didn't say anything, instead focusing on her own plate and taking another bite of her food. The subject had always been touchy between them, but somehow today it seemed less so. Maybe because they were all finally able to just be themselves? Or maybe because of something else entirely? Either way, she found herself grateful for the moment and the closeness they shared in that instant.

"Don't laugh," Kiku said with a small giggle, "you never know what might happen." She reached over to ruffle his hair again, causing him to let out another soft moan. "You just have to keep an open mind, big brother." Her voice was teasing but full of love nonetheless. Yume nodded in agreement, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "And maybe someday you'll find someone too," she added quietly, glancing over at him from the corner of her eye. There was an unspoken understanding between them; they were all on this journey together, supporting each other every step of the way. As the morning continued to unfold, their conversation flowed effortlessly, touching on a variety of topics without ever feeling forced or awkward. It was as if some invisible barrier had been lifted, allowing them to finally connect with one another in a way they never had before. And while each sister knew that this moment might not last forever, they couldn't help but cherish it for everything it was worth.

Yume smiled softly at her brother's murmured reply, her heart swelling with affection for him. "You never know," she said gently. "Maybe someday soon." She paused, glancing over at Kiku before continuing, "And even if that doesn't happen... well, we'll always have each other, won't we?" There was a hint of sadness in her voice, but it was quickly overridden by the comfort and acceptance that came with knowing they would always be sisters.

Kiku nodded in agreement, squeezing his hand reassuringly as she looked into his eyes. "No matter what happens, we'll face it together," she said firmly. "And I think..." She paused for a moment, searching for the right words before continuing with a shy smile, "...that maybe someday soon, you'll find someone who makes your heart happy." Her fingers caressed his cheek as she spoke, her touch sending shivers down his spine.

"But until then," Yume interjected playfully, poking him lightly in the side with her free hand, "we're not going to let you go anywhere." They all shared a laugh at that, knowing that their closeness wouldn't truly change no matter what life might throw at them. As they continued to talk and laugh together, the warmth between them seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment, binding them tighter than ever before.

"Oh, come on," Kiku teased with a grin, nudging him lightly in return. "Don't be silly. We'd just scare them away!" They all laughed together at that, the sound filling the room and casting a warm glow over their hearts. As they continued to hug each other tightly, there was an unspoken understanding between them: no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together as a family. Their conversation flowed effortlessly for the rest of the morning, covering topics both serious and lighthearted without ever feeling forced or strained. It was as if some invisible barrier had been lifted from their relationship, allowing them to finally connect with each other on a deeper level than ever before. And while they knew that this moment might not last forever, they couldn't help but cherish it for everything it was worth.

Eventually, the morning sun began to sink lower in the sky, signaling the start of another busy day. With reluctance, they finally parted ways, promising to meet up again later that evening for dinner and more quality sibling time. As Kiku and Yume left the room, they glanced back at Roland one last time, a mix of love and gratitude shining in their eyes. He might not have realized it yet, but his life was about to change in ways he could never have imagined. And thanks to them, so would theirs.

As the day progressed, Kiku found herself thinking about their morning together more and more. The warmth that had filled her chest when they'd been hugging and talking still lingered within her, despite being physically apart from Yume once again. It was a strange but wonderful feeling; almost like they could lean on each other no matter the distance between them. Meanwhile, Yume spent the morning focused on work, doing her best to forget about their previous argument and all of the other stressors in her life. The memory of that heart-to-heart conversation with Roland kept creeping into the back of her mind though, making it hard for her to concentrate on anything else. She found herself wondering what had caused him to finally open up like that...and if maybe there was more she could do to help him as well.

By the time Kiku finally made it home from work, she was exhausted but couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation bubbling up inside her. There was something about this new closeness with her brother that made her heart race a little faster whenever she thought about seeing him again. She knew they still had their issues to work through, but for now, the peace they'd found earlier in the day felt like a tiny miracle. As for Yume, she too was eager to get home and spend some time with Roland and Kiku. The conversation from that morning continued to dance around in her head, filling her heart with hope and warmth. She wondered if maybe they could keep this feeling of closeness going for as long as possible; even though she knew it would be difficult at times.

When they finally arrived home together, both sisters took a moment to gather their thoughts before heading into the living room where Roland was already waiting for them. As they sat down on the couch and took off their shoes, Yume leaned over to whisper conspiratorially to Kiku, "I'm really glad we were able to have that talk with him today." Her voice held a note of sincerity that made Kiku nod in agreement, even as she fought back a yawn from the long day.

As they took in the sight of their big brother sitting there on the couch, his messy hair still wet from the rain outside, both sisters couldn't help but smile at him. There was an air of weariness about him as well, but also a certain softness that made them feel hopeful for whatever might lie ahead in their shared future together. Yume leaned forward and placed her hand on top of his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You don't need to apologize," she said quietly. "We're all just trying our best." Kiku nodded in agreement, her fingers idly playing with the edge of her sweater as she looked up at him with a soft expression. Roland returned their gazes, his eyes full of gratitude and affection. For now, they could set aside their worries and concerns and just enjoy each other's company. They had faced their demons and come out the other side stronger than before; together. And as long as they had that, nothing else really mattered.

Their conversation continued as they discussed what to eat for dinner, with each sister throwing out their suggestions until finally deciding on ordering in pizza. As the hours passed, they found themselves growing more comfortable with one another once again, the tension that had been present earlier in the day slowly fading away into the background. Eventually, when it was time to eat, they all gathered around the coffee table, each of them digging into their own slices of piping hot pizza. There were quiet moments where they would glance up at one another from beneath their hair, exchanging knowing looks that only siblings could understand.

And as they continued to enjoy their meal together, lost in the comfort of familiarity and companionship, it was hard for them not to feel a sense of peace wash over them. This was how it should be; this is what family was all about. They may have had their differences, but ultimately, they would always have each other's backs - no matter what life might throw at them in the future.

Yume smiled warmly at her brother's suggestion. "You should, actually," she replied. "We could all help out and make it a fun family activity." She took another bite of pizza before adding with a mischievous glint in her eye, "That way, you can impress us with your cooking skills!" Kiku laughed at Yume's teasing tone but couldn't help but agree.

"It would be nice to do something like that," she said between bites. "I mean, we all spend so much time apart... it'd be good to come together and do something fun." Her eyes met Roland's across the table, full of hope and affection for their brother-slash-chef-in-training. For now, they could enjoy this moment together; revel in the closeness that had been restored between them. And perhaps, just maybe, if they kept it going, they could make this feeling of family last forever.

Yume giggled at her brother's teasing words as she took another bite of pizza. "Don't worry, we won't peek," she said between bites, playfully nudging him with her elbow. Kiku smiled softly, finishing off the last of her own slice before wiping her hands on a napkin. "You go ahead and take your shower, big brother. We'll clean up here."

As Roland disappeared into the bathroom, leaving them alone in the living room, Yume glanced over at Kiku out of the corner of her eye. There was an unspoken understanding between them; a feeling that they were finally on the right track, back to where they belonged as a family. Perhaps this new closeness with Roland was just what they all needed.

Kiku nodded in agreement, picking up their empty plates and carrying them into the kitchen. "He seems happier today," she mused thoughtfully. "I hope we can keep it that way." She glanced over at her sister, meeting her eyes with a reassuring smile. "No matter what happens, we'll always have each other."

Yume let out a shriek of surprise as her sister was suddenly enveloped in a towel-clad embrace from behind. "Roland! What are you doing?" She spluttered, trying to pry herself free from his grip. Kiku giggled nervously but didn't protest too much, enjoying the contact with her brother for a moment longer before finally pushing him away playfully. "Come on, big brother," she scolded lightly, "you're not supposed to do that!" Her cheeks flushed slightly from embarrassment and an unexpected rush of affection. As she turned back to the kitchen counter, she couldn't help but smile at the feeling of warmth that spread through her chest whenever Roland was nearby.

Yume watched them for a moment longer before finally speaking up. "Anyway," she said casually, trying to pretend like nothing out of the ordinary had happened, "I think I'll go ahead and head to bed early tonight." She glanced at Kiku with a knowing smile before quickly disappearing down the hallway, leaving them alone together once more.

Kiku looked over her shoulder at Roland, grinning mischievously as she saw the guilty expression on his face. "You're in trouble," she teased playfully, shaking her head and returning to drying the dishes. There was an ease between them now that had been missing for far too long; a sense of peace and understanding that made everything seem right with the world again. And as they worked side by side in the quiet of the kitchen, Kiku couldn't help but feel grateful for this newfound closeness with her brother...and hopeful that it would last.