The warm sunlight streaming through the window casts a golden glow across the living room as 15 years old Mayl Sakurai steps inside, her footsteps light and confident. She's dressed in a casual outfit that accentuates her curves - a fitted t-shirt and a pair of comfortable jeans. Her short, pink hair flows down her back, and she carries a familiar backpack slung over her shoulder.

It's a familiar sight to Rodrigo, who hasn't seen his best friend in a few days. He's been too exhausted to even think about much beyond his textbooks and sleep. Rodrigo sits on the couch, his head resting against the back, a soft pillow cradling his cheek.

His eyes are closed, his breathing deep and steady. He looks even more tired than usual, his dark circles emphasized by the pale skin of his face. His brown hair falls over his forehead, messy and disheveled. He's wearing a simple pair of shorts and a t-shirt, both stained with sweat and dirt.

"Rodrigo?" Mayl calls out, her voice gentle but concerned.

There's a note of worry in her tone that catches Rodrigo's attention, and he opens his eyes. He blinks a few times, trying to focus on his friend standing in front of him. "Oh, hey Mayl," he mumbles, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "I wasn't expecting you until later."

"I just wanted to return your backpack," Mayl explains, setting the familiar black bag down on the coffee table. "You forgot it at school again."

She then purses her lips, looking at him critically. "You're looking terrible, you know."

Rodrigo tries to shrug it off, but he can't deny that he doesn't feel his best. "I've just been really busy with school and extracurriculars," he says, wincing as he leans forward to rub his sore lower back. "I'm fine, really."

Mayl narrows her eyes, unconvinced.

Rodrigo was a childhood friend of Mayl's. Their families knew each other since forever, but since Mayl was always one year older than he is, she always saw Rodrigo as a little brother of sorts, as much as Rodrigo saw her as an older sister.

In fact, Rodrigo is the only one of her friends who Mayl ever told about her feelings towards Lan, with her "little brother" Rodrigo saying he'd support her through thick and thin.

Flashback:

"Don't worry, Maylu." Rodrigo said, "Maylu" being his friendly nickname for his sis, "I'm sure Lan will find out how you feel sooner or later. And if he takes too long, we can think on a plan for you to tell him one day!" he said.

"Roddy, you're just like Roll, lil bro!" giggled Mayl. "Thanks, bro."

End Flashback

Thus, seeing Rodrigo this way made Mayl very worried, and she sighed. She decided her "little brother" needed to learn to take care of himself.

"You don't look fine, and you don't sound fine," she says, taking a seat on the arm of the couch beside him. "I think it's about time someone does something about it."

Before Rodrigo can protest, Mayl takes action. With lightning-fast reflexes, she grabs his ear and yanks it sharply, causing him to yelp in surprise. Then, before he can react further, she pulls him off the couch and over her knee, bending him over her lap.

His t-shirt rides up his back, exposing his round, pale bottom.

"This should help," she says, her voice firm but gentle. And with that, she begins to spank him.

Her hand comes down hard on his behind, the smack echoing through the room. Rodrigo lets out a yelp with each strike, his bottom stinging and burning.

"Oww! Ouch! B-big sis, come on! I'm 14 years old, I'm too old for a spanking!" Rodrigo protested.

"You are not, lil bro, not until I think you are mature enough to not need this." Mayl firmly said, "You worried me so much, Roddy. When your parents mentioned they would have a work trip, I got my parents's permission and offered you to stay on my home, lil bro. YOU told me you were able to take care of yourself. And now look at how I find you!"

Tears prick his eyes, but he bites his lip, determined not to cry in front of Mayl.

"I...I'm sorry, Maylu...I was focusing on my studies...I d...didn't mean to worry you..." Rodrigo sniffled.

"Roddy, studies are important, but so is your health." Mayl gently lectured, as the spanking went on. "If you run yourself to the ground, then there's no point. Someone needs to teach you that. As your big sis, *I* need to teach you that, lil bro."

After what feels like an eternity of spanks, Mayl finally stops and pulls him back up onto the couch.

Rodrigo winces and rubs his sore bottom, tears streaming down his cheeks. Mayl hands him a tissue and then produces a small wooden stool from behind her back. It's decorated with colorful flowers and has a small cushion on top.

She had bought it, bringing it here on her backpack. Mayl could notice how tired Rodrigo was in school, but had to see for herself. She had a feeling her little brother wasn't taking care of himself properly, and after much deliberation with her faithful Navi, Roll...Mayl decided she had to help Rodrigo reflect. And if Roddy wouldn't reflect from an end...he would from the other.

"This is a Naughty Stool," she explains. "It's meant to help you remember your behavior. You'll have to sit on it whenever you feel the need to think about what happened just now, or whenever you're about to do something you shouldn't."

Rodrigo looks at the stool dubiously, but before he can protest, Mayl pushes him down onto it. The cushion is surprisingly comfortable, but he can still feel the cool wood against his bottom.

"Oww...Maylu..." Rodrigo groaned.

"Now now, Roddy, don't start with 14 years old being too old for this. We had this discussion a few minutes earlier, during your spanking." Mayl kindly, but firmly reminded him.

Rodrigo then sighed, glancing over at Mayl, who is now busying herself with tidying up her little brother's mess of a living room. "How long do I have to sit on this thing?" he asks, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably.

"Until you feel that you've learned your lesson," Mayl answers without looking at him. "That could be a few minutes, or it could be a few hours. It's up to you."

Rodrigo sighs and looks back at the wall, occasionaly rubbing his sore bottom as he watches Mayl work. He can't help but feel a small sense of gratitude for her help, even though it's come at the cost of a painful spanking.

Of course, he soon yelped, as his sis landed another spank on his bum!

"No rubbing, Roddy." Mayl gently reminded him, "And nose on the wall!"

"O...okay, Maylu. Sorry..." Rodrigo sighed.

"It's okay, lil bro. Just think on what you did, kay?" smiled Mayl, before she went back to work.

As he sits there, the warmth from the spanking slowly fades, replaced by a dull ache that serves as a reminder of his misbehavior.

After a while, Mayl turns off the television and climbs onto the couch beside him. "Hey, lil bro. Think you learned your lesson?" she asked, smiling.

"Y...yeah, big sis. I think I reflected enough." Rodrigo confirmed.

"Good boy. C'mere, Roddy." Mayl said, patting the space next to her on Rodrigo's couch.

As Rodrigo sat next to his big sister, Mayl wraps an arm around him, pulling him close. "Better?" she asks, her voice gentle.

Rodrigo nods, sniffling. "Yeah," he whispers, feeling the warmth of Mayl's body against his. "Thanks, Maylu. I really appreciate it."

They sit together in silence for a while, enjoying the comfort of each other's presence. Finally, Rodrigo musters the courage to ask, "Do you think I'll really remember this lesson, sis?"

Mayl smiles and gives his hand a sisterly squeeze. "I have faith in you, silly. And if you need any reminders, you know where to find me."

Rodrigo smiles back, feeling a little embarrassed but also relieved. He knows that Mayl is only looking out for him. Indeed, Rodrigo and Mayl were happy to have decided to consider each other brother and sister.

As the afternoon wears on, he starts to feel more rested and refreshed. Maybe sitting on the Naughty Stool wasn't so bad after all. "Hey, Maylu?" he says, turning to face her. "Do you want to watch a movie or something?"

Mayl shrugs. "Sure, why not?" she replies, grinning, but then ordered, teasingly, but meaning it, "But you're sitting on the Naughty Stool for the whole time, got it? To make sure you will never worry me like you did today again, my naughty lil bro!"

Rodrigo nods, a small laugh escaping him. "Got it, Mayl." He wipes the last of the tears from his face and brings the Naughty Stool to sit on, obeying his big sis. "What do you feel like watching?"

"How about that new comedy everyone's been talking about?" Mayl suggests, smiling to him. "It's supposed to be hillarious."

"Sounds good to me," Rodrigo agrees. "Let's give it a try."

Together, they browse through their movie selection, finally settling on the comedy that Mayl had suggested.

As they watched the movie, Rodrigo can't help but feel grateful for having someone like Mayl in his life. Even though she's strict sometimes, she only wants the best for him.

And right now, laughing with his big sis, Rodrigo thinks he wouldn't trade these moments of sibling bonding with his caring big sis for anything, grateful as he was for Mayl, who took care of him ever since he was very young.

They spend the rest of the day watching movies, laughing together, and forgetting about all the stress of school and extracurriculars. It's the perfect way to spend an afternoon, and Rodrigo realizes that maybe the Naughty Stool isn't such a bad thing after all. Sometimes, all you need is a friend like Mayl to help you learn your lesson - and a little bit of pain to remind you not to forget it.

As the days passed, Rodrigo's exhaustion only seemed to worsen. His eyelids grew heavier with each passing hour, and his skin took on an unhealthy pallor.

Mayl couldn't help but worry about her little brother, and she knew something had to be done. She decided that a little tough love was in order once again.

One afternoon, after school let out, Mayl made her way over to Rodrigo's house. She knocked on the door and waited patiently for him to answer.

After a few moments, he finally stumbled out of his room, still clad in his pajamas, looking as if he'd just rolled out of bed.

"Oh, hey Maylu," he mumbled, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "I was just about to head over to yours."

Mayl couldn't help but smile fondly at her little brother. "No need," she replied, holding up the backpack she'd been carrying. "I came to return this."

Rodrigo's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, right, thanks," he said, taking the backpack from her. "I forgot about that."

As they stood there chatting, Mayl noticed the dark circles under Rodrigo's eyes and the way he seemed to slump whenever he stood still. It was clear to her that he hadn't been taking care of himself lately, and she knew she had to do something about it once again.

"You know, Roddy," she began, "You don't look so good. You should really try to get some sleep and take care of yourself. Didn't we talk about this a few days ago?"

Rodrigo just shrugged. "I'm fine," he insisted, yawning widely. "I'll get better soon enough."

But Mayl wasn't convinced. She knew her little bro needed more than just words of encouragement. Deciding that it was time to take matters into her own hands, Mayl grabbed Rodrigo by the ear and pulled him forcefully toward her.

"Ow! Hey, what are you doing?" he cried out, his surprise evident in his voice as memories from the day she spanked him and got him his naughty stool began flooding his mind.

"I'm sorry," Mayl said, her expression serious. "But you need to learn your lesson. You've been neglecting yourself and your responsibilities for too long."

With that, she dragged him over to the couch and bent him over her knee. "You're going to get a good, hard spanking, young man," she warned, her voice firm but not unkind. "And after that, you're going to sit on the naughty stool until you can think of nothing else."

Rodrigo squirmed and protested, but it was no use; Mayl was stronger than him, and she had him firmly in her grasp.

As the first stinging slap landed across his tight, rounded bottom, Rodrigo let out a yelp of surprise and pain. "Ow! Maylu, that hurts!" he cried out.

"I'm sorry, Roddy," Mayl replied, her voice gentle but insistent. "But you need to learn your lesson. And I promise, it'll feel a lot better once we're done."

And so, with Mayl's firm hand delivering stinging smack after stinging smack to Rodrigo's exposed bottom, his protests slowly turned into whimpers and then into sobs.

His bottom flushed red from the punishment, and tears streamed down his cheeks. But through it all, Mayl remained steady, delivering the punishment she felt he so desperately needed.

When she finally decided that Rodrigo had been punished enough, she helped him to his feet and led him over to the Naughty Stool.

"You can sit on that until you've thought about what you've done and promised to do better," she instructed, pointing to it, still on the same corner Mayl had placed it on before: a bright, shiny stool with the words "Naughty Stool" emblazoned on its side. "And don't even think about getting up until you've learned your lesson, understand?"

Rodrigo nodded miserably, his bottom still stinging from the spanking. As he sat on the Naughty Stool, feeling the warmth of his bottom spread through his legs, he couldn't help but wonder what more Mayl had in store for him.

He should have expected her to be so strict, so firm. As he sat there, he realized that maybe she was right. Maybe he did need someone to take charge and help him get back on track.

Time passed slowly, and Rodrigo sat on the Naughty Stool for what seemed like hours. His bottom continued to throb, and tears trickled down his face. But eventually, he began to feel a sense of resolve forming within him. He knew that he had to take better care of himself, that he had to be responsible for his own well-being.

And when he finally felt ready, he stood up from the Naughty Stool, looking Mayl in the eye. "I'm sorry I've been such a burden," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I promise to do better."

Mayl smiled warmly at him. "I know you will, Roddy," she replied, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "And if you ever need help, or someone to watch over you, you know I'll always be here for you."

From that day forward, things began to change for Rodrigo. He started eating better, exercising more, and getting more sleep. He even began to make progress on his schoolwork. And all thanks to Mayl, who had shown him the importance of taking care of oneself and the value of having a friend who was willing to be firm when necessary. As for Mayl, she continued to keep a close eye on her best friend, making sure he stayed on track. But she also made sure to give him space when he needed it, respecting his newfound independence and responsibility. Their relationship grew even stronger as a result, and they both knew that they could rely on each other no matter what challenges life might throw their way.

Alas, old habits die hard. Once test season began on their school, Rodrigo didn't want to distract his big sis from her studies by asking her to help with his own. Mayl soon noticed the signs once again.

"Roll, I'm so worried about Roddy." Mayl said, sighing. "It hurts me to see him doing that to himself."

"Oh, Mayl, I wish I could help you." said, then blinked. Or her equivalent of blinking, anyway. "Say, Mayl! Lan's father, maybe he could help us!"

"Well...it's true Mr Hikari is a genius." Mayl mused. "Maybe he CAN help!"

And soon, Mayl was confronting Rodrigo. He apologized, but sighed, offering his ear to Mayl. But she shook her head.

"I won't be the one punishing you this time. Roll is going to do that." she explained.

"Roll? Isn't Roll your Net Navi?" Rodrigo asked, confused. "How can she punish me? I mean, I GUESS she could scold me, but..."

"With this." Mayl said, putting some VR glasses on Rodrigo, and pulling his pants and undies down, adding some sensors to his bum so that he could feel 's spanks!

"W-woah, Maylu, what are you doing?!" Rodrigo gasped, confused.

"Shh, it's okay, Roddy. It's for your own good. Just remember, Mr Hikari said that you can spend days inside the Cyber World in only a few hours on the real world, so try to reflect, for me, okay?" Mayl gently asked.

"Okay...Maylu." Rodrigo sighed, then gasped as Mayl turned on the machine...

Rodrigo awoke with a start, his heart racing and his face flushed. He couldn't believe he'd been transported into the Cyber World.

"I-is this the Cyber World?" he stammered, looking around in disbelief.

He couldn't see Mayl anywhere, but he could feel her presence through the connection they shared. His big sister was nearby, watching, the boy knew it.

Before he could gather his thoughts, a colorful creature materialized before him. It had the shape of a girl, but with a distinctly digital appearance.

"Ah, you must be Rodrigo," the creature said in a cheerful tone. "I'm Roll, Mayl's Net Navi. It seems you've been quite the handful lately."

Rodrigo felt his cheeks heat up even more. "I-I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I didn't mean to worry Mayl."

"That's a good first step," replied with a reassuring smile. "But actions speak louder than words. You need to understand the consequences of your behavior."

With that, she turned Rodrigo around, and said, "Look down."

Rodrigo did so, and blushed, as he realized, "I-I'm naked?" he asked, his eyes widening in surprise and embarrassment as he realzed.

"Yes, you are. But don't worry, Mayl promised she wouldn't look at the screen!" winked at him.

Rodrigo blushed at the thought of Mayl seeing him like this! Aside from his bare bottom during spankings, he wasn't used to her seeing him naked. Well, maybe they did once or twice on their childhood, but then, they were nothing but silly children making stupid bets and getting scolded by their parents.

"I...I hope she DOES fulfill her promise." Rodrigo blushed.

"Don't worry about it right now." reminded him, "As you have to think on why you're in this situation to begin with. Now then," she continued, guiding Rodrigo over her lap. "Since you seem to have forgotten your manners, I think it's time for a little refresher course."

With that, she began spanking him soundly on his bare bottom, each smack causing a stinging pain that radiated through his entire body. Rodrigo winced and squirmed, but he couldn't escape the relentless spanking.

"That's for neglecting your health!" scolded. Rodrigo yelped, remembering how Mayl told him about how terrible he looked.

"And this one is for worrying Mayl!" scolded. Rodrigo sniffled, realizing how much he made his adoptive sister worry, to go to such lenghts to ensure he took care of himself.

"And this one is to ensure the lesson sink in! I don't want you to ever put yourself through this, and neither does Mayl! It hurts her, don't you see?!" scolded. The guilt and realization now made Rodrigo bawl...

Finally, the spanking came to an end. "There," said, patting Rodrigo's reddened bottom. "That should help you remember."

She gestured to a nearby object that resembled the Naughty Stool from the real world. "Now then, since you seem to have a knack for finding trouble, you'll be sitting on this Naughty Stool until you think about your behavior."

Rodrigo's eyes widened in horror as he realized that he had to sit on the Naughty Stool in this virtual world as well. His bottom throbbed from the spanking, but he had no choice.

Slowly and reluctantly, he lowered himself onto the digital stool, feeling its cold surface press against his bare bottom. "B-but I'm naked here!" he protested weakly.

"Yes, you are," replied with a sympathetic smile. "And that's part of the lesson. Your nudity is visible to everyone in the Cyberworld, just as your actions are visible to those around you in the real world. You need to learn to be more careful about what you do, and more considerate of others."

"I...I know...but..." Rodrigo blushed.

"If it makes you feel better, we are on Mayl's homepage." said, winking to calm Rodrigo down, "So only me, and the occasional Net Navi should be able to see you like this. No one on your school will see you, if that's what worries you."

"T...thanks, Roll." Rodrigo sighed on relief.

"You're welcome. Now, sit there and think on what you did. I disabled your log out privileges until you served your punishment fully." firmly informed.

As Rodrigo sat on the Naughty Stool, he felt the cold surface bite into his tender skin, reminding him of his mistake. He looked around, embarrassed by his exposed body and the knowledge that some Navi could see him, occasionally forcing to slap his bum and remind him to face the corner.

Days of sitting on the Naughty Stool in the virtual world had left Rodrigo exhausted, both physically and emotionally. The constant reminder of his poor choices and Mayl's concern for him weighed heavily on his mind. But like Mayl explained, days here were probably an hour or two on their world.

He thought about Mayl and how much she must have worried about him. A wave of guilt washed over him, and he began to understand the depth of her concern.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the Net Navi appeared before him.

"I'm proud of you, Rodrigo," said warmly. "You've taken the first step towards becoming a better person. When you're ready to apologize to Mayl and work on being more responsible, I'm sure she'll be glad to hear it."

Rodrigo nodded, tears welling up in his eyes. "I will," he whispered. "I promise."

With renewed determination, he stood up from the Naughty Stool, vowing to make things right with Mayl and himself.

"Good luck, Rodrigo," said with a encouraging smile. "I believe in you." With those words, she disappeared in a flash of light, leaving him alone in the Cyber World once more.

As he prepared to log out and face Mayl again, he knew that the road ahead wouldn't be easy. But he also knew that he had the strength and determination to make things right. With a deep breath, he logged out of the Cyber World, ready to begin his journey towards becoming a better person.

As he finally mustered the courage to apologize to Mayl, he knew that this was the first step towards regaining her trust and taking control of his life.

Rodrigo awoke with a start, the bright light of his room stinging his eyes, as he saw his sister. He blinked several times, trying to focus on her concerned expression. "Hey, you okay?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle.

Rodrigo nodded, still struggling to gather his thoughts. "I'm sorry," he managed to choke out. "For everything. I've been such a jerk, and I just want you to know that I'm serious about changing."

Mayl's features relaxed, and she reached out to stroke his hair. "I know you are, Roddy. It's just...it's been so hard watching you hurt yourself. I love you, you know that." Her voice cracked slightly, and Rodrigo felt a pang in his heart.

He wanted nothing more than to make things right between them. "I'll prove it to you," he said, sitting up and meeting her gaze. "I'll start by taking better care of myself. Eating right, getting enough sleep...whatever it takes."

Mayl smiled at him, tears welling up in her eyes. "I know you can do it," she said, wiping away a tear. "I'm here for you, always."

She reached behind her and handed him a folded piece of paper. "I wrote you a note while you were on the Cyber World," she explained. "It's something to help you remember your goals when you're feeling lost."

"Oh! Thanks, Maylu! I promise I'll read it today." Rodrigo said, hugging her.

Mayl smiled, and hugged Rodrigo back. "Don't mention it, Roddy. I'll see you tomorrow. Don't sleep late, okay?" she asked, kissing his cheek.

Rodrigo blushed as well. "Okay, Maylu..." he said, kissing his sister's cheek a well. "I'll go to bed in time from now on, I promise."

"You better, lil bro. Or Roll AND I are gonna have to remind you of your lesson!" giggled Mayl.

After Mayl said good night and went to her home, Rodrigo dealt with the rest of his day.

Before he went to bed, he looked at the note Mayl wrote, and was curious. Changing into his pajamas and wincing lightly as he sat down on bed, Rodrigo unfolded the note and began to read:

Dear Roddy, I know it's not easy to change your habits, but I believe in you. Remember the times we had when we were younger? How much fun we used to have? That's the Rodrigo I miss. The one who was full of life and energy.

You can be that person again, I know it. So here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Take care of yourself. Your health should always be your top priority.

2. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I'm always here for you, and so are your other friends.

3. Be open to new experiences. You never know where they might lead.

I love you, lil bro. Always.

Your big sis, Mayl

Rodrigo's eyes widened a bit...before he teared up.

Sobbing lightly, he smiled as he wiped his tears. "Don't worry, big sis. I won't worry you again. Never again. I promise..." he said to himself, promising that, from now on, he'd prove himself deserving of the care his adopted big sister had for him. He would take his health seriously without worrying her.

And that, Rodrigo thought as he went to sleep, was a promise.

THE END