The soft hum of the heater filled the living room as Aoi nestled on my lap, her small frame wrapped snugly in the woolen blanket we shared. The evening light cast golden hues across the modern furniture, and the faint scent of tea lingered from the cup I had set on the coffee table earlier. Aoi's hat was slightly askew, her white hair spilling out as she snuggled against me, her hands clutching the edges of the blanket.
"Onii-Chan," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, "Aoi loves you."
I chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "I love you too, Aoi."
Her cheeks turned pink, and she buried her face against my chest. "Aoi knows," she said shyly, her tail swishing.
As I held her close, an idea formed in my mind. The past few weeks had been tense for Aki and Yuki, and despite their best efforts, neither seemed to know how to break the awkwardness lingering between them. They were only ten, yet their feelings were already so complicated.
