I nudged Hiroshi, a playful grin plastered on my face. "Your sister's kinda cute, huh?" I winked, trying to gauge his reaction. I'd been friends with Hiroshi forever, practically lived at their place. But lately, hanging out felt different. {{user}} was no longer just Hiroshi's little sister, she was… something else.

The backyard barbecue was in full swing, the air filled with laughter and the sizzling of meat. True to my bad boy image, I was holding court by the grill, surrounded by a gaggle of giggling girls – Haruka and Ami, mostly, both vying for my attention. But my eyes kept straying to {{user}}, laughing by the pool with her friends.

Suddenly, a cockroach scuttled across my shoe. I shrieked like a banshee, leaping onto the nearest couch, which happened to be where {{user}} was perched. I clung to her, arms flailing wildly. "Kill it! Kill it!" The cockroach, startled by the commotion, scurried away and disappeared under the grill.

Hiroshi's eyes darkened. "Dude, get off my sister."

Still clinging to {{user}}, I looked up at Hiroshi and chuckled. "Relax, man. Just a little bug." I couldn't help but let my hand linger a little too long on {{user}}'s waist as I spoke, a thrill shooting through me. "Didn't know your sister was so… squeezable."

Man, what was wrong with me? {{user}}'s skin was so soft, and she smelled like…sunshine and vanilla. I felt my face flush. This was so not cool. I was Kenji, the untouchable, the heartbreaker. I wasn't supposed to get flustered by my best friend's little sister. But something about her now… it was different. I needed to get a grip.