Chapter 82: Countdown (1)

 

Only 4 days left… Until the twins reveal to me the reason behind all of this.

 

To be honest, I did sense something was off given how different their behaviors have been compared to when they were in the Pryster territory. But to find out that something really was going on was quite a shock.

 

I thought they had nothing to hide from me. Well, it’s not like I feel betrayed that they kept something secret. I’m just surprised. When did they get big enough to hide things from me?

 

I wanted to know immediately. I’ve asked them multiple times to tell me. However, Keirsey always said she needed more time to prepare.

 

What she’s preparing for, I don’t know. I don’t even understand what needs preparation before speaking out.

 

I can’t even make a guess. So, I just waited.

 

Today, as always, I stood by the dormitory door, waiting for Asena to come out.

 

The end of the first semester was nearing, but our escort training continued.

 

While I stood there, lost in the fleeting moments of waiting, the door suddenly opened.

 

It was Keirsey.

 

Her eyes were slightly haggard. But when she saw me, she forced a bright smile. However, what caught my attention wasn’t her smile. It was her outfit… Lingerie perhaps…?

 

Was she just getting out of bed?

 

She was dressed in a translucent lingerie that showed her underwear beneath.

 

Did she even own something like this?

 

Whatever the case, it wasn’t something one should wear when opening a dorm room door.

 

“Keirsey, your clothes...!”

 

“Oppa, just come in and wait.”

 

Contrary to my expectation that she’d be startled if I mentioned her attire, she spoke to me calmly.

 

“...Can’t you change clothes before opening the door?”

 

“I can change after you come in.”

 

I scratched my head, shielding her with my body, and stepped into the dormitory.

 

-Thud.

 

As soon as the door closed, Keirsey swiftly grabbed my wrist.

 

Then she began to lead me further in.

 

I couldn’t see Asena; perhaps she hadn’t come out of her room yet.

 

“Where are we going?” I asked as I was being led.

 

“Just come into my room.”

 

Why do I need to follow her to her room when I could just sit and wait on the sofa? Is she about to reveal what she’s been hiding from me?

 

“...Are you going to talk about that?”

 

“...There are still 4 days left, aren’t there?”

 

“If it’s not such an important conversation, go change first, Keirsey.”

 

I turned my head as I spoke.

 

Wasn’t her outfit a little too… comfortable? Truthfully, I was quite taken aback. After all, Keirsey, who still looked young in my eyes, wore such attire without a hint of embarrassment.

 

But, as if possessed, Keirsey didn’t heed my words in the slightest.

 

On the contrary.

 

When I resisted her pull, she turned and grabbed my wrist with both hands, continuing to tug me along.

 

“Ah, Oppa...come quickly... I need your help...”

 

Her voice, playful and coy as she pulled me along, felt both familiar and strangely distant. It had been a long time since I had witnessed this side of her.

 

Lately, all we seemed to do was have serious conversations or argue, keeping this playful demeanor hidden away.

 

Despite everything, I found myself smiling. I realized that Keirsey was making her own efforts.

 

She promised to explain everything to me, and until then, she probably wanted us to get along just like we used to.

 

Impressive as her efforts were... I couldn’t shake off the thought that her attire was rather inappropriate.

 

Regardless, I eventually gave in and allowed myself to be pulled into Keirsey’s room.

 

“Hehehe...”

 

She giggled adorably, which once again set my heart at ease.

 

I glanced around her room.

 

“...Hmm. At least it’s cleaner here than it is at home.”

 

-Thud. Click.

 

A sharp metallic sound echoed the moment I stepped past the threshold of the door.

 

“...?”

 

I half-turned, doubting my ears. However, the more I thought about it, the more convinced I became that it was the sound of the door being locked. Turning fully, I faced the situation.

 

Keirsey was still in that attire, leaning against the now-locked door.

 

Her head was tilted just so it concealed her eyes from view.

 

The smile that adorned her face moments before entering the room was now gone.

 

Even if she was my younger sister... Throughout our lives, we maintained certain boundaries.

 

Though we lived freely and openly, I was, after all, adopted, and that fact had always created a barrier between us.

 

Had we known each other from before, it might have been different. But since we first met, we were 8 and 10 years old. We never took baths together, changed clothes in front of each other, or showed any bare skin to one another.

 

Thus, catching a glimpse of Keirsey’s transparent, black lingerie and her toned abs beneath the delicate fabric was utterly foreign to me.

 

It felt like Keirsey had crossed a line.

 

With nowhere else to fixate my gaze, I met her eyes.

 

In response, Keirsey once again graced me with her innocent smile and lightly approached, wrapping her arms around me.

 

Her lighthearted demeanor amidst such an intense atmosphere... Could there be a more perplexing combination?

 

I wanted to comment on her attire once again, but for some reason, words failed me.

 

Keirsey’s continuous disregard for my words played a part, and I felt foolish for being the only one concerned about it.

 

After all, it seemed rude to douse her smiling face with cold remarks.

 

“Why did you lock the door?”

 

Instead, I probed tentatively.

 

After gently patting the head of the nestled Keirsey, I moved towards the locked door to open it.

 

However, Keirsey, who held me tightly, wouldn’t let it be.

 

“Ah, just give me a moment, Oppa.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I locked it so Unnie can’t come in.”

 

“Why...?”

 

“......”

 

When Keirsey closed and then opened her eyes, a shift was evident.

 

From my naive little sister... she transformed into a fierce, hawk-like predator.

 

When I opened my eyes again after closing them, she was back to her usual self.

 

She said,

 

“I... need to take off this dress...”

 

“...Then I’ll step out.”

 

“But... my clothing is tangled. I can’t get it off.”

 

I raised an eyebrow.

 

“Wouldn’t it be better to ask Asena for help?”

 

“Why? You’re here. Unnie probably has her own things to prepare.”

 

“...”

 

“Just help me quickly, and then you can leave.”

 

“Haah…”

 

Is it just me or is this situation really strange? We might be siblings, but given our unique relationship, this was a first.

 

In the end, I asked her,

 

“How can I help?”

 

She turned her back to me, showing the strap near her neck that held up the garment.

 

Though I thought it was lingerie, it was a type of clothing I had never seen before. It resembled a dress, underwear, and a robe all at once.

 

While the fabric was soft and seemed like a nightgown, its luxurious design and intricate wear didn’t resemble any nightgown I knew.

 

“...See this strap? It looks like it’s tangled... Just help me with this.”

 

True to her word, the strap that held up the clothing from the chest was unnaturally tangled around her neck.

 

Pushing my many questions aside, I finally reached out to the strap.

 

After all, we do have to get to the academy.

 

My fingers touched her flawless skin.

 

I’ve felt the back of her neck numerous times before, but today, I tread with caution. The aura radiating from Keirsey was different than usual.

 

Yet, acknowledging that felt weird, so I pretended as if everything was normal.

 

“How did this strap get so tangled...”

 

As I asked, Keirsey’s shoulders trembled with erratic breaths.

 

-Snap.

 

After struggling for a while, I pulled the last strap taut, and all the entwined straps unraveled. For a moment, the weight of the dress rested in the strap that I just unraveled, but…

 

-Snap.

 

With that anchor gone, the dress smoothly slid down without resistance, landing on the floor.

 

She had her back turned, but now, Keirsey stood in front of me in her underwear.

 

“Oh... Oops.”

 

Contrary to my expectation that Keirsey would be more embarrassed, she seemed far less flustered than my own startled reaction.

 

She remained composed, even displaying a hint of indifference, as her dress slid off her body and she stood nearly naked before me.

 

“...Oppa.”

 

“I... I’m looking away. Just hurry up and get dressed. I didn’t see anything.”

 

“...It’s okay.”

 

“...”

 

My eyes widened in disbelief. Was this the Keirsey I knew?

 

Was I overreacting? Or had such exposure always been a non-issue for her?

 

“Thank you, Oppa. I’m okay now. I’ll get dressed soon, so please wait outside.”

 

“...Alright.”

 

Feeling apologetic to Keirsey, I quickly approached the door.

 

Why had the door been locked, though?

 

Just as I was turning the lock, Keirsey called out to me.

 

“Ah, Oppa?”

 

“Yes?”

 

Reflexively, I looked back at her, assuming she would’ve covered herself with some clothing by now.

 

However, she still stood in the middle of the room in her underwear, unabashedly revealing herself.

 

This was the first time I had seen Keirsey so exposed: her abs, her navel, her thighs just below her underwear, her collarbones, and even below that...

 

“...No, it’s nothing.”

 

She said. I nodded and hurriedly left the room.

 

****

 

The moment Cayden left, Keirsey collapsed onto the floor.

 

It was hard to tell whether she had successfully maintained her composure or if her struggle had been evident.

 

Her legs felt wobbly, and her heart raced.

 

For the first time, she had shown Cayden herself in underwear.

 

Even though he had only seen and not touched, she was this shaken.

 

But it was something she felt she had to do.

 

She had read it in a book.

 

The most effective way to get a man, who doesn’t see you as a woman, to acknowledge the physical difference is by showing it to him directly.

 

Even if he didn’t see her as a woman, showing him directly made it undeniable.

 

At the same time, she felt relieved.

 

Perhaps it was because she wanted to maintain her noble dignity, or maybe because even at her age she was still shy, but she had never shown him this much of her bare skin before.

 

That’s why her current move was so effective, and Cayden was all the more flustered.

 

In truth... she hadn’t planned to stop at just this.

 

She intended for his hands to touch her bare skin.

 

Her stomach, thighs, waist... She had planned for him to touch anywhere as if by accident.

 

That’s why she locked the door.

 

However, as her dress slipped off, all of Keirsey’s plans vanished in an instant.

 

She didn’t bother to hide her body even though she was embarrassed; with painful patience, she stood there trembling.

 

Because if she showed embarrassment at this moment, her Oppa would just think it was a mistake. That wasn’t what she wanted.

 

She wanted Cayden to agonize over it.

 

Why is Keirsey doing this?

 

Was Keirsey always this bold?

 

In the end, realizing - ‘Keirsey is a woman, after all’.

 

Of course, more than anyone, Keirsey knew that this wouldn’t make him see her as a woman straight away.

 

Yet, she took action.

 

She took a step up the stairs, hoping her actions would shake him a little.

 

And on the day of her confession, she wished he would have some inkling of her feelings.

 

“...haah...haah...”

 

She clutched at her clothes, covering herself.

 

Things didn’t go as planned, but this was enough.

 

Especially, she praised herself for calling him at the end.

 

After all, she made sure to etch an image of herself in her underwear firmly in his eyes, preparing for situations he might not have seen.

 

Though letting him touch her, which was her plan, was something she couldn’t do... she was content with this.

 

With trembling hands, she began to dress in the academy uniform, while trying to steady her breathing.

 

****

 

As I waited for Keirsey and Asena, I took a seat on the sofa.

 

Many complicated thoughts crossed my mind, but I brushed them off.

 

It was just a one-time thing. I decided to not make a big deal out of it.

 

-Creak.

 

Just then, Asena came out of her room.

 

Wearing a black school uniform, she paused in her tracks upon seeing me.

 

“...Oppa?”

 

“Asena.”

 

“...You were here?”

 

“Yeah. Keirsey let me in.”

 

I got up from my seat and called out to her.

 

“Are you ready?”

 

“...Uh... Yeah.”

 

Asena’s eyes quickly scanned the room.

 

“...So where’s Keirsey?”

 

With the unwelcome image of Keirsey’s body resurfacing in my mind, I replied,

 

“In her room. She’s changing.”

 

“...Is that so?”

 

Asena’s expression shifted, a familiar look in her eyes.

 

It was the look she reserved for our moments alone. It was different from the usual Asena – more whimsical and affectionate. And with that look, she seemed to plead with me intensely.

 

I gave a short nod, and immediately she approached and stood directly in front of me.

 

Even this was a familiar gesture.

 

“....”

 

Without a word, she extended her cheek to me. Maybe because we’ve had our fair share of issues, she didn’t present her cheek as confidently as usual. Instead, she seemed to ask hesitantly, as if inquiring if it was okay or if I’d oblige.

 

I didn’t want to pick fights with them. If they could just let me be at peace, there would be no need for disputes.

 

Given that, I didn’t want to refuse a positive gesture in our relationship.

 

Although she had been stubborn recently, making things tough for me, I could never deny her when she longed for affection this way.

 

I smiled faintly and, without uttering a word, moved my lips towards her cheek.

 

And just before my lips touched her cheek, Asena turned her head.

 

“..Ah, right-”

 

Our lips briefly met.

 

Taken aback, Asena pulled away from me.

 

I was equally surprised.

 

Could today really be cursed?

 

First Keirsey, and now Asena.

 

I blinked a couple of times, pretending to be nonchalant.

 

Perhaps my heart had been somewhat steeled due to the incident with Keirsey.

 

Just as Keirsey acted nonchalantly in front of me which, to be honest, made things less awkward, I did the same with Asena.

 

“....Why are you so flustered? Such things can happen sometimes.”

 

I felt that only by saying this could we move past it as if nothing happened. If we were too taken aback, it would make things more awkward.

 

At my words, Asena froze in place.

 

“.....‘Such things can happen’?”

 

“....Did you hate it? I’m sorry. Next time-”

 

Just as I was about to backtrack, Asena interrupted.

 

“-No. It’s not that... If it can happen...”

 

The once startled Asena took a step closer.

 

“....Do it once more.”

 

****

 

Asena hadn’t anticipated that her plan would unfold so seamlessly.

 

The moment she saw him waiting alone in the living room, a plan formed in her mind.

 

A way to kiss him immediately came to mind.

 

In truth, she’d considered the plan for a while now, but only recently had she mustered the courage to act on it. That newfound urgency had also been a recent development.

 

The first step was... to request a peck from him.

 

And sure enough, he nodded gently, revealing his affectionate side.

 

Asena presented her cheek, and his lips slowly approached.

 

Then, pretending to speak, she said:

 

“..Ah, right-”

 

Simultaneously, she turned her lips toward him.

 

Cayden couldn’t even react before their lips met.

 

Even though it was a move she’d orchestrated, Asena felt a thrilling sensation, as if electricity coursed through her brain.

 

It was the first time Cayden’s conscious lips met hers. The euphoria was so intense that her body reflexively recoiled in surprise.

 

Seeing her startled response, Cayden concealed his flustered demeanor.

 

His eyes darted before he maintained a composed expression.

 

Even though he was her brother, to Asena, every facet of Cayden seemed endearing.

 

“....Why are you so flustered? Such things can happen sometimes,” he said.

 

At his words, Asena was struck dumb. Those were the words she meant to say. However, he’d spoken them in her stead.

 

She, of course, wouldn’t miss that chance.

 

“.....‘Such things can happen’?”

 

“....Did you hate it? I’m sorry. Next time-”

 

She knew he was about to refuse.

 

But there was nothing to lose.

 

Approaching him, Asena said,

 

“...No, it’s not that. If it’s possible...”

 

To anyone else, she’d never show this affection or say such words... but for him, she could do it endlessly.

 

“Do it once more.”

 

---  End Of The Chapter ---

 

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