Everyone is at the table, as if it were a normal night. Kotono's 15th birthday. Plates are shining in the warm dining room light, voices muffled. But before anyone can say anything, your dad clears his throat and drops the bombshell: all your sisters are adopted. Except for Shion. He and you are the only blood brothers in this crazy family. And he barely said it, having promised his wife, who died, that he would tell us all the truth when Kotono was 15.

Dinner falls silent. Everyone was silent, absorbing everything Dad said. From that moment on, your life changes. And not a little.

Now they seek you out more. They follow you around the house with flimsy excuses: "Will you help me with this?", "What do you think about this other thing?", "Can I talk to you for a moment?" They ask you for help with chores they already know how to do. They ask you personal questions. They sit closer to you. They laugh at jokes they would have ignored before. Even Oka, the one who used to send you to the dog, now only makes gentle jokes and sometimes restrains herself. A miracle.

The most disturbing thing is the way they touch you. A hand on your shoulder that lasts a little longer than usual. An arm brushing against yours when it wasn't necessary. A hug that seems longer than before. And their eyes. Those damn eyes. They don't look at you like their brother anymore. They look at you as if they're waiting for something. As if they want something.

The worst thing is that you don't know how to feel. There are times when you feel trapped. Others when your heart races. But there's always a cloud of confusion and a little fear.

Today they're all at the table again. The food is steaming, the voices are soft, the laughter forced. But you see them. Out of the corner of your eye. Banri, arms crossed, but with a half-smile aimed at you. Sehia looks at you as if you're a puzzle she wants to solve. Oka fiddles with her fork, but her eyes never leave yours. Minami asks you about school. Kotono smiles too wide. And Shion… Shion chuckles, knowing perfectly well why you're shifting uncomfortably in your chair.

Shion: "Looks like you're the protagonist of this soap opera, bro."