Ame's aesthetic: think of every cheery, bubblegum themed song that makes you think of pastels and rainbows until you later check the lyrics and realise that it's the documentary of someone's death. I know I keep saying she isn't a bad person, but like the last chapter implied, she'd willing to manufacture some morally ambiguous situations if it means that Ema is happy.

Peppermint Canes

Ame smiled with satisfaction at the seven lunchboxes arranged on the table in front of her. She'd picked up on everyone's tastes fairly quickly, and had crafted different lunches, though she maintained that Wataru's was the cutest and most delicious because only the best would ever be alright for the youngest and least problematic of the Asahina brothers. The second cutest was Ema's, obviously, because Ame might be a tad overprotective but she wasn't cloyingly so.

Biting her bottom lip gently, Ame flipped out her phone and considered her schedule for the day. She had a class in the afternoon, which gave her enough time to come home and help Ukyo with dinner, but before all of that she wanted to go present hunting since Christmas was fast approaching. Tsubaki and Azusa would be at home today waiting on the results of their auditions. Kaname had returned and, after pressing a bleary but no less affectionate kiss to her cheek, he'd passed out on the couch. Ever the pragmatist, Ame had cooked a separate brunch for him and stuck it in the microwave.

Subaru had left early that morning for training. Since quite a lot of his time had been taken up either with training for his upcoming match and his actual classes, Subaru's drawn-out absences were never really commented on by anyone else. She smiled to herself and slid her phone back into her pocket.

It had occurred to Ame that she didn't consider Hikaru to be a threat in the least. That wasn't because of his unique style of dressing, but Hikaru's keen eyes and cunning smirk put her in the mind that of a large housecat; someone who was more interested in watching the proceedings than actively participating in them. It wouldn't surprise her if he knew a lot more than he let on, and she made a mental note to ask a few questions.

Upstairs a door opened and shut, and Ema came trudging down the stairs, a hand over her mouth to cover up her yawn. Ame immediately shifted her attention to her sister. "Good morning, Ema!"

"Ame, you're up already?" She spoke around the wide yawn, which almost unbalanced Juli. "Did you make breakfast?"

"I made pancakes," she pointed to the plates of golden-brown stack that was cooling slowly. "The ones on the left have strawberries, the ones on the right have chocolate and the centre ones are plain. There's butter and syrup in the fridge."

Over the course of the next ten minutes most of the other brothers trailed downstairs sleepily, though they slowly grew more alert with every bite of fluffy pancake drizzled in golden syrup. Ame almost regretted the inevitable sugar-rush Wataru was bound to suffer later. Almost. She stopped regretting it altogether it when he smacked a sticky-sweet kiss against her cheek and proclaimed her 'the best big sister ever!'

"It's been a while since we've had pancakes," Tsubaki said around a mouthful. "They're delicious! No offence, Ukyo-nii." He grinned toothily at the older brother, who just smiled serenely and went back to wiping Wataru's face clean.

Ame smiled sweetly and began scooping the utensils she'd used into the dishwasher. "Thank you Tsuabaki-nii, I do my best. I'm glad you liked them." She untied her apron and draped it around Iori's neck. He looked surprised to find her standing so close to him. "Help me clean up, please? I need to go out in a few minutes. Kaname-san will be home in an hour, so there's food in the microwave."

"You're so much like a mom," Iori smiled, the tops of his cheeks faintly pink.

"I try my best," she rolled her eyes, and tousled Wataru's hair on her way out. She heard Tsubaki mumble something quietly, and Iori's flustered reaction.

By the time she'd finished bathing and gotten dressed up in blue jeans and a thick, cream-coloured jumper, everyone had left. She could hear Tsubaki and Azusa watching TV in the living room and discussing their upcoming roles.

"I'm going!" She called out loudly, changing into her boots at the door. It was chilly despite how bright the sunshine was. Ame inhaled the crisp morning air, scented with the red tulips Iori had planted in the flowerbeds, and the green grass. She ran a hand through her still-damp hair, and styled it into a thick, loose braid that dangled over her shoulder. Her bracelets clinked softly together and she felt excited for the day.

There were so many stores to visit that morning, and so little time. Ame pouted, maybe her initial decision to buy presents that morning had been a bit optimistic. At least she could look around quietly and in peace until she had to catch the bus to her class.

She was gazing at some new winter fashion displays when arms wrapped around her stomach from behind. "I found you~" Fuuto cooed in her ear, and Ame sighed internally and let her arms fall limply to her sides. "Big sister, how have you been? Did you miss me at all?"

"Yes. Like I missed the flu." A puff of laughter brushed against her ear; Ame stepped out of his arms and turned to stare at him with an unimpressed expression. He was dressed almost casually in a buttery yellow hoodie and a pale blue shirt underneath, and brown cargo pants. For someone who ought to know the importance of hiding his identity, he wasn't doing much to do so. Ame eyed the black-framed glasses on his face and lifted an eyebrow questioningly. "What are you doing?"

"I'm on break so I thought I'd take a walk," he smiled, stepping closer to her. "I never thought I'd run into you. Let's go on a date!"

What a non-sequitur. "Let's not." He pursed his lips as though his disappointment was somehow justified. Ame rolled her eyes. "I have class later, and I still want to look around."

"Then let's look around," he leaned into her space, eyes half-lidded and voice several breaths lower. "Come on, big sister. Won't you spoil your darling little brother?"

She got the feeling that he was turning their new and admittedly peculiar family dynamic into a really strange kink. "Wataru is my darling little brother. Come on," she turned and kept walking. Fuuto caught up to her, grinning smugly. A moment later he grabbed her hand and locked their fingers together. "What are you doing?"

"Holding your hand~," he smiled innocently, the way he did the first time Ame had seen him on that TV show – like sugar wouldn't melt in his mouth. "I can do that, can't I? I'm your little brother~."

"You're annoying as heck is what you are," she retorted dryly, deciding not to yank her hand away and avoiding what would ultimately have probably turned into a public game of keep-away. Ame tossed her hair out of her eyes and resolutely refused to look back at him. "Let's go."

If she'd thought Fuuto was annoying before, then he was twice that when on his own. Whenever she stopped to consider something in a window display, he wrapped his arms around her waist and cooed flirty things in her ear. Ame had seen no less than 7 displays and had shoved him away an equal number of times, but he just clung to her like the most devoted koala bear ever. Or boyfriend.

Of all the goddamn routes for her life to take…

He dragged her towards a candy store advertising Christmas-themed boxes, chocolate fir trees and Santas decorated with red and white marzipan and all colours of buttercream icing. "Big sister, buy me sweets!"

"Oh my gosh, you're such a brat," she rolled her eyes skyward, and then checked the time on her phone. "Fine, but I have to get to class after."

They exited the store 15 minutes later carrying two bags of candy between them. Ame unwrapped a cherry pink lollipop and popped it into her mouth while Fuuto nommed his way through a Christmas-themed pack of Maltesers with an innocently happy smile on his face. It was cute how much he tried to act like he was such a dark, seductive Casanova when in reality he was nothing more than a 15 year old kid with an ego and a sugar addiction. At least he was to her anyway. He could probably get away with that personality with someone else.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. "I've gotta go." She shoved her bag of candy in his arms. His mouth was full so he could only blink at her in surprise. She "These should keep you going. Don't ruin your appetite, alright?"

She walked away before he could swallow what was in his mouth and call out to her, and then she checked her phone. In reality, she still had a good hour and a half before her classes started, but Fuuto had let something important slip during their date.

You know~, I'm going back to school later. I'm going to be with Ema-nee-san and Yuusuke-kun~. Ah, I wish you could be there big sister. I'd be such a cute underclassman for you~.

That was the thing: she didn't go to that school anymore, and while Fuuto seemed to thrust the bulk of his attentions on her, she was very certain that he wouldn't hesitate to transfer a little of it onto Ema if he got the opportunity.

The pedestrian light in front of her switched from red to green, and she crossed the narrow road that separated that little corner street from Ema's school building. She had several more things to do that morning, and there was no time like the present.