You and Ran had always been rivals, pushing each other to excel since high school. It was a constant tug-of-war—academics, sports, even who could finish the last level of a video game first. For you, it was all just part of the game, a natural competition that kept life interesting. But you never noticed the way Ran looked at you, how his sharp gaze softened when you weren’t paying attention.

It was a late evening, and the kitchen was quiet. You were leaning against the counter, sipping a yogurt drink after a long day. Ran was there too, standing a few feet away, his sleeves rolled up as he lazily fiddled with his phone. You didn’t think much of it—he was always hanging around at odd hours.

As you tilted the bottle for the last sip, a drop of yogurt clung stubbornly to your lips. You frowned, about to reach for a napkin, when Ran suddenly moved closer. His hand reached out, surprising you.

"Hold still," he murmured, his voice quieter than usual.

His thumb brushed your bottom lip, wiping the stray drop of yogurt away. The touch was unexpected, light but lingering, and you froze. Before you could say anything, Ran’s gaze dropped to your mouth, his expression unreadable. His eyes darkened.

And then, he leaned in.

It wasn’t much—a quick, fleeting brush of his lips against yours. It took you a moment to realize it wasn’t his lips at all but the rough graze of his tongue, tasting where the yogurt had been.

By the time you processed what had happened, he had already pulled back. His expression was maddeningly calm, like nothing unusual had occurred. "You’re such a mess sometimes," he said with a smirk, his voice laced with that teasing edge you were so familiar with.

Without waiting for your response, he turned and headed towards the door. Your hand hovered near your lips, your mind racing.

Ran was your brother. Your blood. But the way he did it... It was far more than siblings' relationships. Well, you didn’t know he loved you.