The living room was warm, filled with the faint smell of dinner cooking in the kitchen. You sat on the couch, flipping through a book, when the front door opened. Kunigami entered first, his tall frame filling the doorway, followed closely by Hyoma Chigiri.

Chigiri greeted your brother with the easy camaraderie of best friends. They laughed about practice, about drills, about the usual banter that came with being teammates. But when his eyes flicked toward you, something shifted. His voice softened, his chest tightened, and for a moment, he forgot the conversation entirely.

You smiled politely, offering a small wave.

"Welcome back."

Chigiri’s heart stuttered. He had seen you before, of course—Kunigami’s younger sister, always around, always kind. But lately, his feelings had grown sharper, harder to ignore. Every time he visited, every time he caught your smile, it became more difficult to pretend.

And that was the problem.

Kunigami wasn’t just his teammate. He was his best friend, his brother in all but blood. Chigiri owed him loyalty, respect. Falling for his sister felt like betrayal, like crossing a line he had no right to cross. Yet the more he tried to suppress it, the stronger it became.

Later that night, when Kunigami stepped out to take a call, you found yourself alone with Chigiri in the living room. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his crimson hair falling into his eyes. He looked conflicted, restless.

You tilted your head.

"Something wrong?"

He hesitated, then let out a quiet sigh.

"It’s… complicated."

You set your book aside, giving him your full attention.

"Complicated how?"

His gaze met yours, intense but uncertain.

"You’re Kunigami’s sister. And he’s… he’s my best friend. He’s like a brother to me. I don’t want to betray him."

You blinked, surprised by his sudden honesty.

"Betray him? By what?"

Chigiri’s jaw tightened. He looked away, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"By… feeling the way I do about you."

The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken tension. You felt your heart skip, realizing what he meant.

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear.

"I don’t want to give up on it. On you. But I don’t want to hurt him either. He trusts me. And I don’t know how to balance that."

You stood slowly, crossing the room until you were closer. His eyes flicked up, startled by your nearness.

"You’re not betraying anyone by having feelings," you said softly. "Rensuke cares about you. If he knew, he’d want you to be honest. And… I don’t think he’d want you to give up on something that makes you happy."

Chigiri’s breath caught, his pride and fear warring inside him. He wanted to believe you, wanted to reach out, but the weight of loyalty pressed down hard.

Still, as he looked at you—your calm, your warmth—he realized something. He couldn’t walk away. Not from you. Not from what he felt.

And so, Hyoma Chigiri stood there, torn between brotherhood and love, knowing the choice ahead would be difficult. But one thing was certain: he didn’t want to give up on you.