Takes place after chapter 16 of the manga or episode 12 of the anime. Rated K.
Black Out
Yuzu
The front door swung open as I was lighting a candle in the living room.
"I'm home" Mei declared.
"The power's out" I explain to her.
"I see that" She replies.
"Oh yeah" I laugh nervously and look the other way. Of course she noticed. She probably had to take the stairs up here and walk down a pitch black hallway.
Mei drops of her school bag in our room. I can hear her changing out of her uniform and into something more comfortable. I suddenly remember she hasn't eaten yet, and hurry to the kitchen to grab the food I had made an hour ago.
"I made dinner" I tell her as she walks out of our bedroom.
Mei doesn't respond. She just brings the candle to the table and waits patiently.
"This is the best I could do with no power" I tell her nervously. I set down a salad and sandwiches cut diagonally with the crust shaved off.
Mei smirks "You don't have to cut off the crust. I'm not a child."
I blush "I know but it's a lousy dinner and I just wanted to make it as good as I could for you."
"This is fine" She says "Thank you, Yuzu."
I smile. Just getting a simple 'thank you' from Mei made me happy. As we eat, we talk about how her day at student council went and what I've been doing since i've been home. Well, I did most of talking. Mei isn't much of a talker, but I'm okay with that. She seemed content listening, so I'm happy.
"There's not really much to do with no power" Mei says.
"Yeah" I sigh. There's something that would be perfect for us to do together in the dark. I keep my thoughts to myself and bring our plates to the sink.
"We should go to sleep now so we can go to school early in the morning" Mei suggest.
"Early!?" I exasperate.
"We can't study in the dark, so we'll have to study in the morning at school" She explains "Plus, we'll have to shower at school as well."
"Alright" I sigh. It makes perfect sense. There's just better things we could be doing tonight rather than going to sleep.
Mei grabs the candle and guides us to our bedroom. Once we're in bed and under the covers, Mei blows out the flame.
"W-why did you do that?" I ask her.
"We don't want the place to burn down while we sleep" She says.
"Oh yeah" I laugh nervously. We usually sleep with a night light, but now it was completely dark. I can barely make out my step sisters form next to me.
Mei
No power also meant no heat. Being winter, the room was getting pretty cold. After ten minutes of shivering, I roll over to see if Yuzu was having any luck falling asleep.
Yuzu's laying with her back to the headboard, phone in hand. She wasn't looking at her phone though; she was using it to illuminate the room around her.
"Can't sleep?" I ask. My voice startles her and she almost drops her phone.
"Mei?" Yuzu asks, surprised.
"What's wrong?"
Yuzu's cheeks redden with embarrassment "I'm… afraid of the dark."
Of course. Yuzu would be the kind of person to be afraid of the dark. That explains why she wanted to keep the candle lit and why she's using her phone as a flashlight.
"What about you" Yuzu asks "Why can't you sleep?"
I hesitate, realising we're in the same boat. Two sisters who can't fall asleep.
"It's too cold" I tell her.
"I can get an extra blanket for you" Yuzu offers.
Such a sweet older sister. Although the solution is completely rational, I can't help but think of how clueless she is. She fails to see opportunities when they arise. I guess, as always, I'm going to have to take the wheel.
I wrap an arm around my older sister and pull her in tight against my body. Her warmth immediately spreads through me. In the summer, her high body temperature is a pain. But now, it was an asset.
The blush returns to her cheeks, but this time, she's smiling. Yuzu snuggles closer, intertwining our legs.
"Still scared?" I ask. Her only response is a slight shake of the head.
"Goodnight" I tell her, closing my eyes.
"Goodnight, Mei" Yuzu kisses my cheek.
A different kind of warmth entered my body this time. It filled up in my chest.
Thank you for reading. Tell me what you think.