Title: What are Sisters For? || Series: Boundless Kakera, Chapter 7

Fandom: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

Synopsis: Playing Cupid has its toll on Sonozaki Shion when Mion makes no advances in her love life. Luckily she has her methods to deal with her stubborn Onee and her dilemma. It's the boldest approach from what she normally does, but that's okay. Tact isn't in her name anyway.

Pairing: KeiMii (Keiichi/Mion, M/F).

Posted: February 19, 2021. Both an early and belated birthday present for the twins technically, these birthdays being July 10, 1969 (originally) and February 11, 1969 (Matsuri). Also, a late Valentine's Day gift for you all.

Requested By: Anonymous

"I don't know about this, Shion..."

"Shush. Trust your twin and her woman's intuition."

The lipstick held in my hand intricately brushes around the crevice of Onee's lips, coating the flesh a rosy color like paint that beautifies an empty canvas.

Onee squirms and whines. She looks ready to plunge herself into a hole and hide there for all eternity.

I simply snicker and carry on applying the cosmetic.

When I found out Onee had been bewitched by the new boy at her school, I instantly got involved. Onee only gets impressed like this once in a blue moon. Seldom individuals have that effect on her. No way that I'd leave the matter unattended.

I've met the guy, Maebara Keiichi. He's brash and a tad clumsy, but he brims with charisma and is a passionate man despite his rough edges.

I believe Kei-chan and Onee would look cute together. They are similar in personality, and they deeply care for one another, even if Kei-chan doesn't comprehend just how much he does. Onee definitely has a better understanding of her own emotions, though she's still clueless when it comes to understanding Kei-chan's.

That addresses the issue, though: Onee is a very difficult woman. I am honest when I say they're alike. Like Kei-chan, she is also clumsy, so she fumbles when it boils down to the grace of romance. But the silver lining of this is that she's got me, Shion, her number one twin sister who is well-versed in the subject.

"That's that," I encapsulate the lipstick. "All that's left for you is the bridal gown."

With eyeliner and augmented lips, Onee flushes.

Hah! Good thing I didn't need to use the blush. Onee does the work for me.

"Bridal gown?! I-I am not getting married!" she cries in dismay.

"Don't say that, Onee. Stand tall and get me that brother-in-law. You'll disappoint me otherwise."

"Shion!"

"Fine, fine. I suppose I teased you enough. For now. But I still argue that you need a change of outfit, and Lady Luck is smiling, because it so happens I got just the thing for you! No bridal gown—was just yanking your chain—but no less special. Trust me, you'll love it!"

I head towards the closet of our shared bedroom before fishing through our wardrobe.

Onee pouts, "Suddenly, I regret convincing Baccha to let you live here at the manor."

"Love you too, darling."

Eventually I manage to find what I'm looking for. Onee is mortified at the sight. Eh, already? I haven't forced her to wear it yet. That's my beloved Onee, I suppose, the tomboy who shies away from expressing her inner girly side.

I don't worry about needing to put up a fight with her. She knows deep down she needs my assistance wooing Kei-chan; she just doesn't want to blatantly admit it. Her pride had already been wounded enough when she asked me of all people for help. Repeating herself would be torture.

Like that matters. Dolling Onee up is far more amusing. I'll see to it that she never lives this down. I have said my piece about helping her find an eligible bachelor. It is a bona fide intent, it's true, but is it wrong not to let her off without the teasing? It'd be criminal without it. You have to have siblings in order to understand, kukuku~!

I bring Onee to the standing mirror.

She deadpans, "I feel like I've been subjected to a punishment game."

Stroking my chin, I study my handiwork. A white dress clings to her sylphlike figure, the hems spilling to her knees. Sleeves from her shoulders bloat like puffy clouds, and, for the finishing touch, a rose crowns her jade-haired head.

My mouth stretches into a simper.

"Superb! Your demure personality adds character to it."

"I... I l-look like a princess..." she stammers, looking chagrined.

"Yes, you do," I coo, "You, the humble princess, are ready to date the pauper with the heart of gold."

Much to my glee, Onee gets a stroke from my insinuations.

"Date?!"

I playfully wag my finger. "Do not act coy. You admitted you wanted to build a deeper relationship with Kei-chan before you go off to the school in Okinomiya. That is why you sought me out for advice earlier, no?"

My bashful Onee averts her gaze. "That's true, but—"

"Then surely this would warrant a date with Kei-chan. Dressing up is a prerequisite for this sort of thing, Onee."

"Stupid Shion!" Onee pulls a face, "You're so hasty about this!"

"Don't be absurd. If anything, you're so slow like a snail I feel like I aged a decade watching the two of you. You invite Kei-chan over here to trade manga on many, many occasions. Sometimes you both hang out in our bedroom and read together. But you refuse to take that to the next level. If that was me, Kei-chan and I would be making out nonst—"

"Shion...!" she thunders warningly.

"Onee~!" I chirp back in a more cheery tone. "Dearest Onee, you have a golden opportunity here, yet you falter."

Her eyes are downcast. "I'm sorry, Shion. I... I don't wanna freak him out."

"Fear is often greater than the danger. Believe me, Kei-chan will love this outfit, and he'll certainly love its wearer. He'll think that you look arresting."

"..."

Onee couples her hands together meekly, fidgeting. Her face reddens.

"You really think so, Shion?"

I cock my head. "Eh? You doubt me, your twin? Course I know! Boys like Kei-chan pray to be recognized by us beautiful angels. I'm certain you have nothing to worry about."

Reading her face, I see Onee wrestling with thousands of emotions. Hope brings a sparkle into her wide eyes. Fear adds a quiver to her bottom lip. Longing softens her facial features.

"Maybe this could work..." she considers.

"..."

"..."

...Then Onee frantically shakes her head. "Aaah! No, this is too soon!"

I let out a groan. "Seriously...?"

"I'm sorry, Shion, I can't help it! I wanna do this, but Kei-chan is unpredictable. There is no telling what can happen!"

"Fear is greater than the danger, I told you! You're overreacting. You and Kei-chan are already getting along, as it is. Asking him to go out with you will just make that official. That's your one and only option you have of deepening your relationship with him. So do that! Speak up and confess!"

"But I haven't even invited him over here!"

Ho? Using excuses on a whim now? I adopt a not-so-innocent smile.

Having predicted this, I reveal the surprise.

"Well I did!"

"You what?!" she squawks.

"I had phoned him, posing as you. 'Kei-chan, come visit my place! Uncle Mion wants to trade manga with you!', then he took the bait. Hook, line and sinker," I snicker.

Not only taking umbrage over my satirical impression of her, Onee sees red at my confession.

"Stupidstupidstupid Shion! This isn't the kind of help I had in mind!"

"Kukuku~! You focus on what you want but not what is necessary."

She paces back and forth. Her fingers stick onto her temples. "Kami... He could arrive anytime now..."

"You can do it!" I whoop, "Seize the day!"

Onee swerves around violently.

"You have done enough!"

I recoil at the tears welling from her eyes.

"This wasn't how I wanted to get close to Kei-chan!" she cracks, "I wanted to handle this delicately but you're gung ho about speeding things along. Thanks to you, I'm unprepared and I'll end up a total fool in front of Kei-chan now!"

"Onee..." I whisper, guilt-ridden.

"Get out!"

I comply, though not without passing one final look at Onee as I reach the door.

She looks so miserable...

I wander the maze of the manor, my feet dragging along. I can't forget the distraught that had been sketched on Onee's face back there. It is a haunting sight. I recall a few times when she had been pushed to the brink of crying. None of those instances were pleasant.

I do tease her a lot and sometimes my antics go overboard as a result.

But I still care for Onee.

That's why I... only wanted to help...

Ooh, I can't help it! She and Kei-chan are Romeo and Juliet. Minus the dying part. Well, they could be, can be, if Onee was more confident in herself. The love that they have isn't unrequited love, but reciprocal love. Onee showed me the doll that Kei-chan had gifted her one day out of his own accord. She keeps it on her desk in our room.

Shouldn't that tell her enough about Kei-chan? Why is she frantic over how he feels about her, when she should already know?

Me, stupid? More like Stupid Onee!

I let out an indignant huff. I do feel bad, yet at the same time, I am infuriated. Onee is sweet, I will always love her for sharing the same blood as me, but watching her make zero advances in her love life bugs me greatly. She beats around the bush rather than diving headlong into it.

So delicate, my beloved Onee, refusing to take what she wants when she sees something she likes.

Cupid is too demanding a role for me to play. It'd be easier to simply trap her and Kei-chan in a closet together and let things play out for themselves.

My feet halt, my body frozen like a garden statue.

That... is not such a terrible idea, actually.

No, it's fantastic! I constantly try to get them both together, so why don't I literally do that? Not like Onee's gonna muster up the courage to do anything about it, and Kei-chan is too clueless romance-wise, so he can't be expected to take initiative. They need that nudge, and I'm the only one who can provide them that. I'll even make sure they don't try to escape or shyly avoid one another.

Then, the image of the tearful Onee flashes in my mind. I dither. Onee will definitely be displeased if I proceed with the scheme I'm already devising. I don't want Onee to burst into tears, yet, I have this good feeling it'll work out in the end. But with Kei-chan present, there is no telling of the severity of her initial reaction.

Would this be worth it?

I mull it over a while longer before reaching a decision.

Yes.

This is for her own good. In her immediate affairs, Onee isn't getting anywhere, and it could be at any moment when some other damsel seduces Kei-chan. Let her be angry, I'll gladly take the heat for it. She will appreciate this someday.

I bolt to the direction of the family dungeon. There're a few things I require there and Kei-chan is on his way here. It's a race against the clock.

Onee, Kei-chan, prepare for the bonding of your lives!

"Onee?"

I pop my head around the door to our room while sliding it aside. I am taken aback at what I see.

Onee sits by her desk, smothering the doll given to her by Kei-chan in her bosom like a stuffed animal. She's giving the doll a distant look. Most staggering is that she's dressed in the outfit even now. Maybe she had been too upset to change, but I dunno. She doesn't fancy girly clothing that much, and I kinda expected her to change back into her sun-yellow shirt and skinny jeans after I left. The sight alone is a novelty.

But I don't complain. This could work to my advantage.

Onee looks up and notices me. She shoots up from her seat. "S-Shion!"

"Hey, hey~!" I greet her cheerily with a wave of my hand.

Planting the doll on her desk, she approaches me. When she draws me in a hug I give her a few pats to the back.

Several seconds elapse before Onee withdraws.

Her eyes teem with tears but she looks relieved. "Oh, Shion! The awful things I said to you, I didn't mean them! That had been my frustration talking..."

"I don't blame you. I shouldn't have surprised you like that."

My hands subtly rummage the back pockets of my skirt.

"Still I apologize! You were only doing what you felt was the best for me. How can I be ungrateful for that?"

"No need to worry, Onee. I instantly forgive you!"

Ah, good. Now I have what I need in each hand. I keep the items hidden behind my back until the right moment. Onee, dewy-eyed over closure to perceive the details of my actions, doesn't suspect a thing.

I eye her dress, commenting, "So you decided to keep the outfit on."

Her face heats up.

Her index fingers bridge themselves together, the fingertips squishing against each other. "Ah... in retrospect, the suggestions you gave me, well... they aren't so bad. After pondering it over I realize maybe it can work. Maybe Kei-chan would like seeing me like this."

"Not like. Adore. He loves beautiful women, and I'm beautiful, right?"

"Y-Yeah..."

"Soooo you're beautiful as well! By that extension, Kei-chan will love you. We share the same face. What I do with my looks, you can pull off too! Honestly, if you trust me, then you should trust yourself. We are twins. Take advantage of that."

"I- ...I will!" Onee radiates joy. "I'll impress him and I'll ask him out today after we trade manga! No more idling!"

"Mmm-hm!" I nod in approval.

"And you'll be there to help me?"

Oh, honey, you have no idea, tee-hee! "For eternity—cross my heart and hope to die."

She wriggles in anticipation, beaming, "Thank you, Shion! Really!"

"Hey..."

Smirking slyly, I throw my hands to my sides, revealing their contents.

A rag and bottle of chloroform.

Onee backs away slightly, absorbing the sight in a mixture of fear and stunned silence. But it's too late.

"...What are sisters for!"

I tackle her to the ground.

Thud!

Landing in a heap isn't fun but I quickly recover. The second I regain my senses, I go straight into dousing the rag with the chloroform with no time to lose.

"..nghh... Wha...?" I hear her groan. Onee, unharmed, is disconcerted, though now she's displaying signs of fast recovery. I must handle this posthaste.

I set the bottle aside.

Fully registering the situation, she looks up furiously at me, "Shion, what the hell?! What are you d—mmmfpphh!"

The rag latches onto the lower half of her face. Her beryl eyes goggle as she makes a muffled gasp. I stare down at my petrified Onee, grinning, lowly chuckling a dark snicker that seem to reach her ears like wind because she is writhing more and more ferociously under my weight the longer I rejoice.

Onee tries pulling away my arms to pry off the rag, but I squeeze tighter on her face. She screams through the cloth as though forgetting how helpless she is right now, though I simply ignore her cries of frustration to remind her of her position. I continue to subdue the muted protests and futile resistance Onee puts up.

"GRRMMPPHHH! NHGGGNNNN! PHHHNN...nnhhhggg..."

Her eyelids droop before curtaining her eyes entirely. Her commendable strength received from being trained in the martial arts exit her limp body, this I am particularly happy about. I do possess fighting styles of my own thanks to my bodyguard Kasai, but Onee is no pushover.

Perhaps it's the costume she is wearing that limited her defenses. Had she not worn such a restricting attire Onee might have put up a better fight. Good thing that doesn't appear to be the case. For that I thank Kami-sama graciously for this stroke of luck.

The moment has passed, so I get to work.

I vacate the bedroom fleetingly to grab the wide spring of rope that's stationed beside the door outside.

I return to my unconscious Onee, and I initiate the bondage.

First, her wrists; I force them to intersect in an 'X' shape by using rope that intersects as well. Her hands are brought over to her rear. Next, the upper body, securing her arms against her sides. Then, the legs, pinning the thighs and ankles together.

Finally, I pull out the cloth from my back pocket. I wrap the gag over Onee's lips and fasten it tightly. The knot made at the center of it inserts itself into her mouth, deadening her soft snores and murmurs.

Heaving her body toward the closet took some doing, though I manage. I have Onee leaning against the wall on her back. She is shifting a bit, softly groaning, but otherwise has yet to be pardoned of her slumber.

I survey her. I sorta feel guilty because of our conversation prior to this moment.

From how she was talking, Onee seemed like she'd really follow through in her promise.

What would have happened if I humored her bravado?

...Forget it. Onee scruples in her romantic pursuits, anyway. The past instances of her shying away from the coveted Kei-chan are telltale of this. That outcome is as likely as Kei-chan falling into Satoko-chan's traps, which are a normalcy in itself.

I slide the divider shut, casting my Onee in the shadowy recess of the closet.

Kei-chan should arrive any minute now.

Let's go say hello.

When Mion awakens, she realizes something is wrong. Usually, her limbs freely stretch, matching her yawning as she groggily prepares for the day.

Except they don't do that here. Her arms and legs can't move freely and her vision is hazy. The dingy room is grainy in a way that makes her think she was watching something on her TV. Wiggle wiggle wiggle goes her body. It feels sluggish, tight against something, and she feels deprived of movement. Letting out a groan, she finds that her voice is not as audible to the ears as intended.

There's something around the skin of her mouth. Tight. Uncomfortable.

Her mouth, mouth is... is...

Aaahh... she can't think clearly to go into detail on this experience. Why is she in such a daze?

But soon her senses return. They anchor her back to reality, preventing her from drifting in stupor any longer.

Oh, she's in the closet...

...What the hell?!

Mion does a double take. It's true, this is the closet. She recognizes the layout of the interior, her clothes—draping like numerous, hanging vines of a tree above her. But why's she in here? Why can't she recall anything before now?

Continuing her survey of the place, she spots an unusual sight and she can't help emit a tiny gasp.

Kei-chan!

Indeed. Her crush is bearing her company, though it isn't his presence alone concerning her. She sees loops of rope securing his arms and legs. A cloth is wrapped around his mouth. His head keeps doing these slight bobs indicating his drowsy state.

What is Keiichi doing here in the closet? Why is he all trussed up?

Mion fixates on the boy not far from her, flabbergasted. She thinks to call out to him, so she tries opening her mouth, only to realize it is already open. Sort of. The only sounds that come out are muffled moans because of something stuffing up the opening of her lips.

She glances down on herself and blushes. Like Keiichi, she has the same treatment. Mion makes out a knot protruding from where her mouth should be, a white outline tracing across her rosy cheeks. She perceives similar loops of ropes coiling her body, clinging tight to her dress.

Hold on, Mion retraces her musings. Her dress.

Her, the tomboy, bound and gagged in a closet. With Kei-chan.

A pang of self-consciousness pricks her heart as her thoughts swirl in a raging hurricane. Oh Kami, oh Kami, oh Kami.

She's not ready to let him see her, especially not like this!

Right on cue—as if Lady Luck heard her musing that things couldn't get any worse and decided to be impish, Keiichi rouses from his sleep. The first thing that he does is glance around his surroundings, bemused at their predicament. Eventually he stops when his inquisitive gaze rests on her bound form.

His eyes widen in shock. If he could, he would look agape.

If she could, she would faint from her chagrin. ...well, maybe...

Piaaak!

Hearing the noise of the closet door sliding, she loses her opportunity to escape embarrassment.

Her eyes instinctively turn to the door.

No less than a second later, her vision becomes submerged in a tsunami of brilliant light. Her eyes sting from its gentle, yet burning touch. Only when her vision focuses on the heart of the radiance does she see clearly.

Almost like looking in a mirror, Mion muses. Emphasis on almost. She's far from blind to the differences. This reflection is corrupted by the mischief disposition of a Cheshire Cat wreathed in smiles. Its hair is surging down the shoulders as a cataract rather than a curtain thinned to the strip of a ponytail. And there's the ribbon poking out from the back of the head, shining a yellow color tantamount to sunshine.

Suddenly Mion isn't confused anymore. The missing memories are rushing back to her, including that moment where she had been knocked out with chloroform. She understands what's going on.

Instantly recognizing this mirror image, she has found the perpetrator responsible.

"Pfh...Pffhhnnn..."

Her twin laughs haughtily, "My name is pronounced /shi-on/. Please try to speak more clearly, Onee."

"Grryhmnghh...!" Mion growls, none too pleased with the mockery of her inability to talk.

Fixing Shion with a puzzled look, Keiichi tilts his head.

Shion takes notice of this and expresses faux-surprise.

"Oh, dear~! How inconsiderate I am, leaving you two that apart from one another. Kei-chan, you need to be relocated immediately."

Keeping true to her words, Shion begins dragging him over. She sets him down abreast of the other captive. They are rather close physically, their arms and shoulders make contact with no regard to personal space.

Mion shoots a pointed look at Shion, though the emotion comes off more as loss of face than her true temper.

Because of this the minx simply cackles, waving her off.

"I can tell you are much obliged. But no need to thank me! I do what I do," Shion ruffles her jade head, eliciting a disgruntled huff. "Now I suppose I should explain my intentions for this abduction. See, I have come to notice a strong relationship between you both. Most astounding was the revelation of you two rendezvousing here at the manor to trade manga. Never did I believe Onee can be that trustful of others, prior to my discovery. Here, I always assumed you were simply rivals in the gaming club Onee runs."

Mion is shaking her head frantically as she hears this. What's Shion trying to pull, and why?! Did her admission of professing her feelings to Keiichi fall on deaf ears? Or did Shion listen but did not care enough to take her word for it? Countless questions over this betrayal storm in her mind, causing her a headache.

"You two even read manga in her bedroom together! That I find the most noteworthy. There anything you get up to from that spare time I should know?" Shion prompts.

The captives' complexions redden as her brow narrows, accentuating her teasing visage.

"Curiouser and curiouser," she pesters, "Really too bad, though. There is no solid conclusion to confirm... well, whatever it is that you two have going on. But I thought a way to find out. What better— than with a club activity?"

...Huh?

"Let's call this game, Couple's Confinement, inspired by Seven Minutes in Heaven. However, you get an hour instead, not seven minutes. The challenge is simple—as a pair, you have to undo each other's bindings, then you escape confinement before your given duration. Think of it as exercising teamwork and trust. After all that's essential to a healthy couple. And as significant others, you'll need to venture this two-way street. Kukuku~!"

Keiichi stares at Shion like she's grown a second head.

Mion shrinks down to her shoulders, looking at anywhere but him or her sister. She can't believe this is happening.

"I'll come back when time is up. By the way if you two fail, then you face the penalty game. Together. I won't say what it is aloud, so you're free to speculate," she adds before strutting over to Mion, who cocks an eyebrow at her approach.

Shion leans into her ear, muttering. Hearing the words, her face momentarily loses color, then boils with an intense shade of red. From this it almost seems possible that steam would erupt out her ears at any moment. Mion let her sister's warning echo in her mind.

"If you and Kei-chan lose this club activity, I'll come back and actually bind you two together for the remainder of the night."

Leaving her flustered Onee wrapped up in the potential scenario, Shion begins heading out, snickering. She flippantly waves a hand goodbye as she departs. Her back is turned from them but the captives figure that she's smirking to herself right now, enjoying her twisted game way too much.

As if adding insult to injury Shion leaves the pair with a few parting words.

"Don't have too much fun now, Onee! Oh and Kei-chan, do be gentle with her. She is a delicate princess, regardless of what you may believe... The outfit speaks for itself. Tehehe! Later~!"

She quickly retreats before they get the chance to react.

"MMMMNNNGGGGNNHHH! PPFFFHHHNNNNNNNN!"

"Hnngmmhhhmmm...!"

Mion and Keiichi thrash and thrash against their bondage, as they have for who knows how long. The former screeches at the top of her lungs while her crush is moaning helplessly.

No such luck. The ropes enforce a tighter hold the longer their bodies grind against its stout restraints. Their gags are pulling firmly at their faces, contorting their features.

At some point, Mion surrenders, her dwindling strength beginning to have its toll.

She puffs through her nostrils. Her breathing is heavy, humid and shallow, thanks to her fatigue and lack of respiration from the mouth.

Why would Shion do this?! That insufferable troll... I always knew she had a very twisted sense of humor, but I didn't believe that she could be crazy enough to pull off this stunt! This is an all new low. Ooh, I will get her back for this!

"..mmmm...Mmffhnnmmnn..."

Her heart leaps at the distorted call for her name. She turns her head to the source.

Keiichi eyes her with worry. Mion shrinks. She nearly forgot about him in her reflection of vengeance.

He tilts his head, eyes rounding as they zero in on hers. Are you okay?

The words are not uttered. But, they are transmitted to her. Observing his stances and the glint of concern in his eyes, she can read off his thoughts like brick walls of text in pages of a book.

Rena had been on to something when she commented on that. Keiichi does have the habit of wearing his thoughts on his lips. Well, his face, in this instance.

She relaxes. Giving the boy a pacific, steady look, she nods. Yeah, peachy.

His gaze roams through the curves of her figure. He seems particularly entranced on her garments.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out what that meant.

Nice dress.

Judging from the blush and shy look on his face, Mion would say he has taken a liking to it. That realization nearly makes her swoon. This is not the first time Keiichi has acknowledged her as a girl, rather than a spunky tomboy; his giving of the doll to her serves as the testimony to that fact. But he's never flatly admired her appearance like this.

She doesn't know what to make of her position. The way he gawks at her is a little embarrassing because she knows she is the epicenter of his interests, and it's not often for that to be the case, so it's awkward to cope with.

Yet strangely, she doesn't mind the attention too much.

If anything, she... kinda likes it...

Mion squirms coyly. Then, she scooches closer to Keiichi. Their elbows peck each other, and their upper arms smooch as their shoulders bridge together. Her cheeks flush and boil in heat, but she tries not to care about that. She cannot thank him verbally so this is the best possible way to show her appreciation of his noticing her.

Benevolent as she knows him, Keiichi doesn't resist.

When she looks at him, she can make out subtle hints of a smile poking through the gag as he exchanges eye contact on his end.

Mion lets out a muffled coo.

Keiichi snuggles up to her, squishing the both of them further.

He nudges her repeatedly.

Let's stay like this, his movements tell her, and Mion does not mind this at all. Her cheek nuzzles into his shoulder. She nestles her body against his, sharing each other's warmth.

At least until Keiichi abruptly pulls away.

Somewhat upset that her cheek rammed into the floor, she quickly heaves herself back up to throw a dirty look in Keiichi's direction. Only for her to halt. Mion finds Keiichi with his back facing her. His cross-shaped wrists fiddle with the rope bindings as his digits beckon her to come. He's giving her this pleading look.

Absorbing the sight, she realizes he wants help to undo the bindings.

So, when he had been nudging her earlier, he was really asking her for assistance, not—

...oh.

Blushing, Mion giggles through the cloth sheepishly. Guess she's not as much of a mind reader as she pegged herself. That's a job meant for the perceptive Rena.

Her fingers fumble with the knots by his wrists. No good, so far. They are securely tied. The notion of precautions must have crossed Shion's mind for the ropes to be this tight. Still, Mion persists. Undoing the bindings would certainly prove nigh impossible, though not outside probability. If she keeps up the effort, then eventually the ropes should loosen.

Sometimes, Keiichi would take a crack at unbinding her restraints when she needed a breather. The squeeze that chafes her wrists have a gradual decrease of tightness as he tries. But the effect is too miniscule for there to be a difference, so she cannot simply burst free by using her own strength.

"Mngh! Ffph!" Keiichi grunts in his struggle.

As he wrestles with her ropes, Mion occasionally feels his hands sweep over her skin, like waves washing the shore during a blistering summer day. Smooth in the movements, warm to the touch.

She even interrupts his endeavors, once, by wrapping his pair of hands using her own. They feel calloused. The gestures they make are gentle, they treat her hands as if they are made of porcelain. And, they carry so much warmth for something that's firm to knead. The moment had been instantaneous.

By the time Mion lets go she's already gotten the reminder of what she loves about Keiichi, just from their hands interlocking, even if it is for a brief moment. Not that Mion has forgotten to begin with. But now she can get a better idea of what Keiichi is like as a person, as well as why those qualities dazzle her so.

Mion doesn't stop him from untying her wrists again. She instead muses over the feel of his hands, how they define their owner for who he is.

Strong and benevolent, that Keiichi. What a guy...

Then there it is. The chafing from her wrists dissipate and the ropes, slackened, slide off her skin, flopping onto her palms.

Brought out of her reverie, Mion blinks. Her fingers unfurl, her hands massage themselves in relaxation after dropping the undone ropes.

Keiichi did it. He has managed to untie her hands!

She gazes at him, grateful, appearing relieved.

He returns the eye contact graciously, adding a wink to accentuate his pleased expression.

The two return to extricating themselves. Except this time, neither of them are distressed in their endeavors. There's no reason they need to be.

Not if they have each other.

Now out of the closet, lounging in her spacious bedroom has never felt this gratifying.

Mion is kneading her forearms, erasing the existence of friction burns that interrupt the flow of skin. Just now, she and Kei-chan have freed themselves of bondage. It's taken some doing on their end—and patience has undisputedly been a virtue they exercised during that time—but now the fruits of their labor are beginning to show.

She watches Keiichi stretch his legs, likely to relieve the numbness in them. Butterflies flit about in her stomach.

Feeling guilty, she apologies. "Sorry, Kei-chan, about... today. Shion, she's got this naughty streak to her."

To her shock, he brushes off her concerns. "Nah. I don't mind, Mion. This was a fun club activity," glancing over to the clock, he adds, "We won, too! Still got just a little time left. Guess Shion must have been generous. Or we're just that good."

"That's two of many ways to put it..."

"Hm? Why so glum?"

"I didn't intend for this to happen. We actually were gonna read manga together, as I wanted. But Shion thought differently and decided we be put in this drastic situation. You know how she can be sometimes. When she is dead set on something, she doesn't stop until she is satisfied, and she does whatever it takes to accomplish that."

"Reminds me of you, Mion. You are a stalwart individual, if I ever saw one," he grins. "On that note, I enjoyed our time together."

Mion flinches, taken aback at the last comment. Did that mean...?

Higher in pitch than intended, her voice quacks, "R-Really?"

"Sure! This game had been intense. I don't think that many of our club activities encouraged teamwork like this before, and there's no way to cheat your way out. I help you, and you help me. That is what the game has been about. Personally this is a nice and unique change of what we usually play."

Once he concludes, Mion frowns.

"Is.. Is that what you thought this to be?" downcast, her eyes glitter in disappointment. "I was sure that you'd believed our time here was a date."

Right there and then she instantly regrets her slip of the tongue. The last comment just came out without a second thought...

It's too late to take it back, though, because Keiichi already heard.

"Eh?! This was a date?!"

His exclamations startle Mion, putting her in an awkward position. She twiddles her thumbs. They rotate and rotate over each other like gears of machinery.

"N-No! ...maybe... sorta..." she gulps, then meekly squeaks, "yes?"

He quirks his head, cutely naive in her opinion.

Each one-word response punctuates the nervousness in her voice as well as her heart. Mion isn't sure what appropriate answer she should give. She is stuck in this conundrum. Keiichi has already heard quite enough from her and she's just digging deeper in her own grave. A gut feeling tells her that fleeing or fainting is a bad idea.

So, what to do...?

"Fear is greater than the danger, I told you! Speak up and confess!"

Her twin's words of wisdom trigger her recollection. She doesn't forget that argument between them; Mion definitely wants to forget. But these particular words resonate with her, she who sputters and fumbles for words. Her heart longs to expose itself to Keiichi. The pulsations are getting unbearable to where it's making her woozy and swooning.

Maybe the silence has gone far enough...

Maybe it's time.

Shuffling nervously, she glances sideways. To speak through her heart.

"Ah... to tell you the truth, Kei-chan, you were invited here for more than just manga. See, ah, erm, I, er... I wanted to... spend more time with you. But us two, alone. And I had hoped to ask you if we could do so when you arrived. I even got all dolled up for the occasion, as you s-see. I just, I... I think that you're a great guy, and I don't want us to be distant. So I wanna get closer... to you..."

Speaking through the heart reveals much of the emotion she carries for Keiichi. Shy, delicate, wavery. But truthful and full of affection and tingling with conviction.

Her voice disappears into silence after finishing the confession. Mion hugs herself and squirms, for a reason she cannot fully comprehend. Is it to rein in this unconditional love growing from within her, to tell it "be still, my heart"? Or would this be a way of her bracing herself for Keiichi's reaction, which is ultimately that anxiety-inducing?

Blushing profusely, squeezing her eyes shut, Mion awaits his reply.

Suddenly, a hand begins flattening her tufts of hair.

Mion opens her eyes.

Keiichi is rubbing her head with his hand. He smiles. "I was wondering why you were looking special today."

Her vocal cords are tangled by embarrassment so all she can do is nod.

"You'll have to forgive me then. I have been rather cruel."

This boggles her mind. "Kei-chan, what do you mean?"

"Come to think of it, I do spend a lot of time with members of the club individually. I go treasure hunting with Rena at the junkyard, or I am dining with Satoko whenever she visits me; sometimes, even Shion and I converse during her breaks at Angel Mort. Yet I don't do all that much with you, and that must have made you lonely," he chuckles.

Mion considers his admission. That really does seem to be the case, in a way. The affairs he brings up about the others is true, and for them their moments are tame comparatively. Sometimes, the exchange of manga they do occasionally is simply that, an exchange, so that time between them is fleeting.

Even when they read manga in her room together, they're silent and too engrossed in the illustrative pages to start a conversation, much less start anything that could lead to a deeper relationship. Though that's something Mion blames herself for and not Keiichi, over not opening up about this sooner.

"Hey, it's okay, Mion," he reassures, "You're going to leave our school and further advance in your education soon, am I correct? That means we'll part ways. And, y'know, I understand."

"You do...?" her voice wanes as she whispers.

He flashes a lopsided grin. "You don't want either of us to leave each other's lives, so you've decided to use these last moments bringing us closer as much as possible. Really, I don't mind. I would greatly like that."

With a flick of his thumb jutting upward, Keiichi makes his confident conclusion.

"A world without Sonozaki Mion would totally be lame. I wish for you to forever be part of my life."

That's it. Mion can't take it anymore.

"Oh, Kei-chan! I feel the same way about you!" she gushes.

Instantly, the hand Keiichi used to pat her head is sandwiched between hers. She gently pulls his hand down before burying it deep within her chest.

Her sudden actions fluster Keiichi. Even Mion herself turns scarlet at her boldness. But she just plays along with it. Her heart thrums for Keiichi, skipping beats as a way to dance and hop in rhapsodies of love, had it been a person. She wants him to feel it—the affection she harbors for him. She isn't that good with words the way he is, anyway. She's more a woman of action, and this gesture is an example of that.

Shion is right, she has been silent about this for too long. Now that he understands her feelings, there is really no excuse for her to shy away from him.

Keiichi is still caught off guard, but he doesn't wrench away. He lets her cuddle his hand while wearing a tiny, sheepish smile. He feels her heart, and her devotion to him along with it. He knows what she wants, and benevolent as usual, he is willing to grant her that satisfaction.

"I'll try to be more considerate to you from now on," he vows.

"I know. I know," Mion coos, "Maybe tomorrow we can go out, you and me?"

He winks. "You and me."

She tries not to get her hopes up so much. There is a chance that this boy before her might not be comprehending her feelings entirely, or in the way she wants him to. Yet he is acknowledging her and he does feel the emotions from her heart.

This may, or may not blossom into a deeper relationship, or this might take time if it does, but Mion likes to think of this as a step in the right direction towards that, and that is what should matter.

It's a start.

Then whoosh goes the sliding door providing entry to her bedroom.

Mion and Keiichi turn to see Shion intruding.

"Oooooh, Onee, Kei-chan!" her twin hollers, oblivious to the scene, "I know I said two hours, but I'm impatient and I doubt you two lovebirds will get free so I'd say it's about time for the pen..al..ty..game..."

Once Shion begins to register the sight of them both staring back, not trussed up in the closet, her face pales as she does a double take.

"Shit."

The two exchange a knowing look, already figuring the best way to start their time together.

I flail about like fish out of water, my body grinds against ropes. A cloth wrapping tightly around my mouth, my tongue makes the fruitless attempt to push out the knot.

"LHNNMMM MMMM GHNMMM! Khhchhnnn! Ommnnhhnnn!"

No matter my valiant effort, the snakes of bondage tighten their thick coils. My arms are bound to my sides, my upper body is wrapped up, and my legs are secured together.

Onee howls in laughter. Beside her Kei-chan says nothing, but he looks equally smug.

"You weren't wrong, Shion, it was about time for the penalty game!"

She swaggers toward me. Bending down, her gaze leveling with mine, she whistles, "You impress me, having the gall to challenge Uncle Mion to club activities. That had been your first mistake. I champion the club games! You don't play a player. Hopefully you learn from this."

Then she peeps over her shoulder, eying Kei-chan in the manner of making sure he's distant from us, before leaning closer to my face.

"Seriously, thank you so much, Shion. I couldn't have gotten closer to Kei-chan without ya. Opening up was all I had to do, and you were that push I needed. Really, I am grateful," her appreciative smile distorts into a wicked sneer. "But I'm still upset that you knocked me out. For that you must fulfill your karma's due! I'll release you tomorrow."

Through my confinement I wrestle and whine and wait impatiently for my freedom.

But by then Onee and Kei-chan already condemn me to seclusion. Through the sealed entrance of the closet I overhear their conversation.

"Hey, Mion, you said something about tomorrow you wanted me for?"

"Ah, that's right! I know I keep a plentiful stash of manga, but maybe we could check out the bookstore and buy more. Not exactly ideal for a date, though I can't think much else, unless maybe you..."

"No no, I'm fine with what you have in mind. It's your call, the least I can do for you. Wherever we go, being with you'll make me happy, and that's what's gonna satisfy me the most."

"Oh, Kei-chan~!"

I slump to my shoulders, grumbling through my gag. I'm not sure what's worse: Onee not making advances in her love life before or her getting this sappy after.

Oh well, I'm happy for her regardless. I'm also glad things worked out for her in the end. Onee deserves to enjoy her time with Kei-chan, she has earned it. I cannot be any more supportive of her.

But I wish I wasn't stuck like this! Seriously, gotta use the bathroom here!

Oooo, Cruel Onee!

Author's Note:

Here it is: my first requested story, by an online acquaintance who wanted "Shion trying to nudge her sister and Keiichi together in her mischievous way". They also wished to remain anonymous. We talked a lot over the idea together and this was how they wanted it.

Next is Song and Dance: Part II. Not only do I wanna get that done and over with, but I am already getting excited over what to write for it. It will be intense, that's for sure!