A/N: Yes! Apologies for being one week late. Work has been a liiiittle stressful (read; a lot) and I've been tired. No other excuses, sorry :)! Enjoy the read!

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Lyoko! Only my imagination :)!

"Ulrich!" Hiroki got up to greet – unbeknownst to him – his sister's boyfriend. "How have you been?" Ulrich asked the ecstatic younger male. "Fine, just fine. And you? Has my sister been crazy?" He laughed. "She's been better than that." Hiroki frowned. "Crazier?" Ulrich turned his slightly and noticed Yumi coming back from the corner of his eyes. "Yeah, something like that," he answered vaguely. Hiroki didn't pay attention to his sister who was flustered the conversation had already taken that turn.

"And I'm doing great because of it," he revealed. "Well.. that's good then," Hiroki was confused, but decided to let it be. "I brought a new game. Want to test it after dinner?" He asked and started to rummage around in his bag. Ulrich looked at Yumi, who tried to mouth that she hadn't told her brother the news yet. He was amused by the hand gestured she added to aid her explanation. "Oh, it got shoved to the bottom," he heard Hiroki say, who held up the game afterwards. He grinned at the taller male. "Sure," Ulrich agreed to his request.

"Just make sure to keep track of time. Ulrich still has to go home and we all have places to be tomorrow," Yumi warned them. "We're not five-year-olds sis," Hiroki remarked. "I'm warning you because you act like them when you hold a console," she said. Hiroki rolled his eyes. Ulrich chuckled. He was glad they were still the same.

After dinner Hiroki and Ulrich sat on the sofa that faced the TV, while Yumi plugged in the necessary cables for them. "Okay, don't break anything. I'll be doing the dishes in the kitchen," she announced. "Yes, sir," Hiroki joked. "Wait, do you need help? We can help first," Ulrich offered. "No, it's fine. You go and have your guys' time," she said. Hiroki was already busy starting the game. Ulrich held her gaze where Yumi lingered next to the TV. When Hiroki noticed their staring session, he nudged Ulrich with his elbow. "If you're done staring at my sister, let's start," he teased him. Yumi and Ulrich quickly broke off their eye contact and resumed with their respective activities.

About an hour later, Hiroki paused the game. "I'll be right back," he said as he headed for the bathroom. Ulrich nodded and got out his phone.

Yumi heard her phone ring. Her watch read 7:38 PM and she frowned, trying to guess who would call her now. Then she saw the caller's ID. "I'm not even that far away," she answered. Yumi heard him chuckle.

"That might be, but Hiroki will be back any moment. So I'm staying here," Ulrich replied.

"You have the freedom to move around, you know," she told him.

"Can I tell Hiroki about us?" He asked.

"I was hoping for a semi-calm week, but you may ruin that if you want," she exaggerated.

"Hiroki and I have talked about the time we were all apart. And it seems he wasn't always having the best time either. I've been mostly open towards him, because he does deserve that. So, I want to take this moment and possibly make him even happier than you," he explained.

"That's going to be very hard," Ulrich smiled upon hearing Yumi's words. "Just kidding, go for it then," she gave in.

"Thanks Yumi," he said before ending the call.

"Do you want something to drink?" Hiroki asked. He had returned shortly after Ulrich had put away his phone. "I'm making tea," Yumi let them know while choosing a flavour. "Great timing sis," Hiroki shouted in the direction of the kitchen.

The gentlemen resumed their game, but after a minute Hiroki whispered something to Ulrich. "Judging from your earlier staring session, I think you should just ask my sister out," he advised him. Ulrich held back a smirk. "Should I?" He questioned. Ulrich purposely kept his attention on the game. "From what I've heard, she recently started dating someone though," he continued pranking him. "She did?" Hiroki was completely taken aback. "Yeah, so I don't think it's necessary anymore," Ulrich sighed in a dramatic way.

"I'm sorry," Hiroki apologized. "That must be a total drag." Ulrich shook his head. "Not really. I did tell you I love her. And I did promise you I would take care of her. And I'm going to keep doing both," he confidently stated. "Wow, my sister doesn't know what she's missing. I wish I could hit some sense into her," Hiroki twisted his fist into his hand. "Don't.. you'll never win," Ulrich warned him. The younger male shuddered at the thought of him trying to overcome his sister. "Yeah, well, verbally then," he shrugged. Ulrich chuckled. "Besides that, I think she would know exactly what she's missing," he hinted.

Hiroki didn't follow. Ulrich decided he had waited enough. "I forgot to tell you. I also recently started dating someone," he revealed. "Huh?" Hiroki was even more confused, until he retraced Ulrich's sentences. Ulrich saw realization finally dawning on him. "YOU ARE DATING MY SISTER?!" He rapidly stood up and rushed towards the kitchen.

"Have the delusions finally gotten to him? Or is it the truth?" Hiroki had a hopeful look in his eyes as he awaited Yumi's reply at the doorstep. "Tea's done," she said. "I baked a cake too," she pointed to the table. "Get them to the coffee table in one piece and I might tell you," she ordered. Hiroki was in and out quicker than a fox. Yumi smiled to herself as she brought along plates and a knife.

Yumi sat down as well and provided them all with one piece of cake and a cup of tea. "Wellll?" Hiroki pressed on. "Originally, I wanted to tell you later. For instance, when you would go home," Yumi began. "But Ulrich convinced me otherwise. I guess I should be wondering which one of us is treasured more," she looked at Ulrich, who was simply amused once again. "That aside, it's true. As of yesterday, we're dating," Yumi confirmed.

"YES! FINALLY!" Hiroki shouted while jumping up. Ulrich laughed and Yumi rose an eyebrow at her brother's enthusiasm. "I can't believe it. You were right," she told Ulrich. "It's hard to tell. That reaction is not to be compared to yours though," he shrugged. They were referring to their earlier phone conversation. Hiroki was too absorbed in his happiness to listen to them. "Okay, okay," Yumi yanked him down. "I knew it would happen someday! This is just great," he seated himself properly. "A toast to your new beginning," Hiroki held up his tea cup. Ulrich and Yumi smiled and clinked theirs against his. "Thank you," they simultaneously said.

The remainder of the evening was spent by gaming and chatting away until it was time for Ulrich to go home. "Well, see you tomorrow Yumi," Ulrich calmly told her. "Yes," she wished him a good night. "Boring, aren't you supposed to be all over each other so I can be annoying about it?" Hiroki teased them. "Go to bed," Yumi chased him away, sparing him a hit. Hiroki shrugged. "Just saying." Yumi crossed her arms. "Your concerns are really not appreciated," she claimed. "Things will mostly stay the same, right?" She turned back to Ulrich for confirmation. He had already put on his shoes and was holding his jacket in his left hand.

"You're right, mostly. Let's see if Hiroki can handle that difference," Ulrich said as he approached Yumi and backed her to the empty space on the wall in the hallway. "Uhm, what are you doing?" Yumi whispered. "I wasn't being serious you know," Hiroki hastily stated to save himself from seeing something he'd really rather not. "I'm being serious too," Ulrich said with a tone that froze Yumi in place. "Wait, you can't, he's watching. I'll never hear the end of it," she tried to stop him. "Someone has to be the first to witness us as a couple. Let's make him number one," Ulrich suggested. He leaned in close.

Despite not wanting to see it, Hiroki also found it hard to move. Ulrich's point somehow sounded plausible enough. "Of course it doesn't, you idiot," he thought to himself.

In the meantime Yumi panicked. She was not going to show her brother what she wished to keep to herself. "Ulrich? Maybe you should carry out your great plans another time. It's late, you should-," she was cut off by his kiss.

Hiroki had close his eyes in an attempt to grant them their privacy. But after five seconds he slightly opened his right eye to take a peek. He was momentarily shocked at the sight of an obviously close Yumi and Ulrich. The lower two third of their bodies was perfectly visible. The rest was blocked by Ulrich's jacket that hung over his lower arm, falling over his elbow. "That's unfair," he grumbled. "You were planning that from the start."

Ulrich looked at Yumi, who had already turned red and was currently imagining her brother's sure to be constant pestering. He grinned at her and eyed his jacket. She followed his gaze and let out a sigh of relief, after which she hit him softly. "That is unfair indeed," she said for a different reason.

"I'll go home now," he ruffled her hair. She smiled. "Good night." He nodded to Hiroki, who waved back. Ulrich directed his next words to Yumi. "Good luck, sleep well." After that, he walked out.

Yumi closed the door and locked it. "Do not say a word," she said to Hiroki, who was prepared to speak up. He held up his hands. "I won't," he promised. "Today," he thought. Yumi knew he was lying, but was grateful the silence would at least last until morning, with a little luck even until the next evening. "I'll clean up, you can have the bathroom first," she offered. "Okaaay," he said.

With Hiroki out of the way, her thoughts ventured to the next day.

One worry surfaced in her mind.

What was going to happen at the office when their colleagues would hear the news?

A/N: Next time, we'll probably be back to drama :D? Thanks for all the follows! And thanks for reading :)!