Chapter 4: Chapter 4 - The Bedroom Territory War

Kuro Kurogane was unable to fall asleep. It didn’t have anything to do with homework; it wasn’t from feeling stressed out; it was because of how the universe was against Kuro personally.

Kuro’s bedroom was located directly between Akari’s and Aoi’s. Kuro heard the two girls every night engaged in what he could only describe as psychological warfare with one another.

To the left of Kuro’s bedroom was Aoi’s bedroom:

"Aoi! Quit using my hairdryer!"

To the right of Kuro’s bedroom was Akari’s bedroom:

"You’re the one who used my shampoo first!"

Then comes the Mommy:

"MOM! Aoi won’t stop being ANNOYING!"

And the last one was:

"Akari, quit being LOUD!"

Kuro was laying in bed staring at the ceiling in disbelief.

He had been living in this situation for all of four days. That was it.

Four.

And as of today, his once peaceful existence was completely gone.

Then boom - thunder exploded outside.

BAAAM.

As the rain began to pound against the windows, Kuro adjusted his blankets slightly. At least storms were relaxing; no one would bother him tonight. This sudden thought immediately created havoc for him. "Knock knock."

Kuro didn’t even flinch. "Go away." The door creaked open regardless.

Akari peeked through the crack of the door, clearly dressed in pajamas that were far too big for her. "Kuro-kun..."

"No."

"You never let me explain!"

"I already know what you want..."

As the thunder crashed loudly outside, Akari jumped. "That thunder was scary!"

"You are 17."

"And?"

"You just watched at least two scary movies yesterday!!!"

"That’s different."

"In what way?"

"Ghosts are not real..."

"But thunder is?"

Akari disregarded logic when she walked into the room with her pillow.

"You’re so cold Kuro-kun..."

"I told you-you are not sleeping here."

"Yes I am...’’

"N."

"Y."

"N."

"Y."

By now, Kuro could already feel the start of a headache.

However, for no good reason, Akari climbed on to his futon anyway.

"Get off me."

"Nope."

"This is my bed."

"Sharing is caring!"

THUNDER BOOMED LOUDLY WITHIN THE ROOM...

And Akari immediately grabbed Kuro’s arm with a tight grip.

Kuro sighed.

"You’re all an actress.’’

"Maybe.’’

"You just admitted that you are on accident."

But before Kuro could argue, he saw something unusual.

Under the blankets against the wall was a lump.

Kuro frowned.

"WAIT!"

Akari blinked.

"Huh?"

And just as Kuro had called for Akari’s attention, the lump moved under the blankets.

Then a mysterious-looking spirit came out from under the blankets - Aoi.

"Good evening."

Kuro was so shocked by Aoi’s surprise appearance that he could have died!!!

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!?"

Aoi sat in her usual calm demeanor.

"I got here before you.’’

Akari immediately pointed an accusatory finger towards Aoi.

"Liar!! I got here before you!"

"I have been here for 23 minutes."

"THAT’S CREEPY!"

"I was reading...’’

A book was sitting on the pillow.

Kuro went to grab his head.

"How long were you under there!?"

"You didn’t notice."

"That doesn’t make it any better!!!"

Akari pouted her cheeks.

"Hey! How come Aoi gets to stay!?"

"Cause I was already here."

"You’re a sneaky little snake!"

"Geez, you’re so loud".

"And you’re creepy!"

"Thank you!"

Kuro was trying so hard to escape from the window, but unfortunately, the twins had him trapped.

Akari moved closer to Kuro on one side, and Aoi quietly shifted to her right.

Kuro just froze.

"Uh, why are both of you getting closer to me?"

"There isn’t enough space" Akari said quite confidently.

"There is a whole room!"

Aoi reached out and gently pulled part of the blanket over her legs.

"You’re really warm."

Kuro felt like his brain was going to explode from how his mind was racing.

It wasn’t just the fact that they were both so close to him. It had a lot to do with how they looked tonight.

Akari’s oversized pajama shirt kept slipping just off one of her shoulders every time she moved, exposing so much of her very pale skin, which by the way shouldn’t have been displayed so close!

Aoi was wearing an extremely thin black sleepwear outfit that somehow made the peaceful look she had on her face look 10 times creepier!

So Kuro turned and stared at the ceiling.

Out of respect.

To survive.

As soon as Akari saw that Kuro had turned his head away from her, she immediately broke the conversation and said "Kuro-kun".

"What?"

"Why aren’t you looking at me?"

"I’m just not."

"Were you checking me out?"

"No."

"You hesitated."

"Because I still want to live."

Akari moved in a little closer with her devilish grin.

Way too close.

Kuro could smell strawberries from her hair.

His heart started beating faster, giving him away.

"Ohh?"

Akai got this look on her face like she was going to do something now.

"Are you nervous, Kuro-kun?"

"No."

"Your ears are pink."

"I’m having a temperature problem in here."

Aoi reached out quietly to touch his chest.

The moment she made contact, his whole body froze.

"...Your heart rate has increased," she whispered softly.

"STOP TRYING TO ANALYZE ME LIKE A LAB RAT."

Another loud clap of thunder was heard outside.

Akari instantly wrapped her arms around his arm tighter.

Aoi quietly moved closer and closer to him.

Now, Kuro was literally stuck between the two of them.

No way out.

No more air.

Only suffering remained.

Akari laid her head on his shoulder.

"You smell really nice..."

"Please don’t tell me bizarre things."

"But it’s true."

Aoi quietly looked up at him.

"...You’re very cozy to snuggle up to."

Kuro continued to stare at the ceiling.

Somehow this has to be illegal.

Then, the twins found out just how disgusting one another really are.

Akari squinted her eyes.

"Why are you snuggling up to him?"

Aoi leisurely blinked.

"You’re doing the same thing."

"I was here before you."

"You came in after me."

"Shut up."

Kuro became the battleground.

Akari held onto his left arm, possessively.

Aoi grasped his right sleeve, silently.

"Kuro-kun likes me more."

"Wrong."

"He smiles more when he’s with me."

"That’s only because you’re so loud."

"That still counts!"

And they continued this argument for almost 20 minutes.

Kuro endured all of it.

Eventually they were both exhausted.

Akari started to quiet down after several minutes.

Aoi stopped arguing after a few more.

The rain outside had lightened to just a soft shower.

Then, out of the blue—

Akari mumbled in her sleep:

"...Don’t let the other girls at school flirt with you, Kuro."

Kuro blinked.

Aoi’s voice was soft with sleep next:

"...You belong with us."

And at that moment, the room became silent.

The teasing was gone for just an instant.

And something strangely real slipped out.

Kuro had no idea how to respond to that.

But fortunately—

Akari kicked Kuro in her sleep.

"GHHK—"

And Aoi shoved him off the edge of the futon as she threw the blanket over herself.

Kuro nearly tumbled to the floor.

And just like that, Kuro’s emotional state dropped back into oblivion again.

The rest of the night turned into nothing but misery.

No space, no sleep, and no calm.

Just two terrifyingly gorgeous stepsisters sleeping on him as though he was a body pillow, all night long!