Kiya settled down after getting changed into a more comfortable and casual shorts and loose t-shirt, flopping back on the leather couch and grabbing the controller. She still had to get the switch connected to the internet and the game installed before they could play, so she had best get started on that quickly.

It took some time- half the download- before Kiriai showed up, meekly opening the door and glancing here and there as if she wasn't sure where she was. “Sorry I took so long, I don't know my way around just yet-” She apologized.

Kiya stretched one arm over the couch and looked back at her. “No worries, I’m still getting it installed. Just go get dried off and changed, I’ll get it set up for us.” Her gaze followed her sister as she went over to the bathroom, concern carefully masked on her features.

Once Kiriai had disappeared behind the door, Kiya turned her attention back forwards, flicking out her phone and looking through some posts while she waited for the installation to finish. “Hey, Kiya?” The voice came from behind the door.

“Mhm?” Kiya responded, pivoting back to face the bathroom where Kiriai was changing.

“You’re setting it up for PvE, right? Co-op?” Kiriai asked, her voice still sounding nervous and insecure. Kiya had hoped she might relax when it was just the two of them, but it didn't seem like it.

“Yeah, of course. I wouldn't make you compete with me.” Kiya replied, in what she hoped was a reassuring voice. Her sister never liked competition- Probably partially because Kiya was significantly better at playing games than her.

Just about when the download finished and Kiya started setting up the match for them, Kiriai emerged, sweeping her hair back. She was wearing a nice buttoned-up shirt and a skirt, and as usual hadnt quite dried her hair fully, leaving it still dripping. Kiya scooted to one side to give Kiriai room to sit next to them, but Kiriai instead sat in the leather armchair off to the side of the sofa, and Kiya sighed and stretched out onto the couch, resting her head on the armrest on one side.

[...]

After playing a few practice matches- one without any enemies just to help Kiriai remember all the controls, the rest in co-op with weak enemies- Kiya starts up a tournament where they can watch the A.I. fighting eachother when they’re not personally involved. Kiriai only makes it to the second bracket before being taken out, while Kiya- Perhaps inevitably- reaches the final round.

“You wanna go for another bracket?” Kiya asks, leaning their head down off the couch so they are looking at Kiriai, upside down with their hair falling down to the floor. Kiriai shrugs. “Uh, sure. I don't have anything else to be doing.”

Kiya gives her a smile in return, then rummages through the bag of chips she has on her lap, holding a handful out to Kiriai. “Here, want some?”

Kiriai reaches to take some, but Kiya instead keeps a firm grip on the chips in her hand and just places one directly in Kiriai’s mouth, who blinks rapidly in response, surprised. Kiya gives a smug smile at them, suppressing a giggle. “Here, you can have the rest.” She hands the mostly-empty bag over to Kiriai as she goes and sets up another tournament.

This time, they both reach the final bracket- but, of course, since Kiriai doesn'tdoesnt like competing, they just call it there and turn off the game.

No later than Kiya had done so, a loud grumbling sound issued forth from Kiriai, who looked mortified. “O-oh, sorry, I guess I skipped breakfast this morning. I guess the chips weren'twerent enough for me. I’ll go make some-”

Kiya was already shaking her head. “Nu-uh, no can do. Brand new place, remember? I got some snacks at the store but no meals.” Kiya shrugged.

Kiriai frowned. “Well, alright, what snacks do you have? I’m sure I can make do.”

Kiya shook her head vehemently as she curled her legs up and then shot them out again, rolling forward in and standing to her feet in one swift motion. “My, that won't do at all. I invited you here, the least I could do is feed you properly. C’mon, lets go get some proper food.” She motioned outside with a jerk of her head.

Kiriai just pondered for a moment, before shrugging. “Alright, alright, have it your way.” She laughs, standing up and smoothing out her skirt.

Kiya smiled warmly. Finally, she’s coming out of her shell a little. The thought came to her along with a slight twinge of melancholia. It seemed like so little, but somehow it just made the contrast seem greater. I guess that's on me. Kiya had spent so little time with all of her family lately, she supposed it made sense that there was this somewhat awkward atmosphere between her and her sister.

Kiya led the way out to the car, sitting down at the wheel and leaning back while Kiriai got in on the other side, staring absently out the window. Kiya turned on some music and started up the engine, pulling out of the parking lot and heading up the road into town. Kiriai watched out the window passively, as the residences slowly gave way to storefronts.

“Hey, Kiya? Could you play, ‘Home’? You still have it on your phone, right?” Kiriai asked, and Kiya glances at them.

“Hm? Sure, play whatever you want. I can't really use the phone right now, I’m driving.” Kiya stated, matter of factly. Kiriai took the phone and put in the passcode, then messed with it for a while, while Kiya eventually pulled up to a red light.

Kiriai looked at Kiya sheepishly. “Can you do it? I can't figure out how to navigate this accursed thing-” Kiya sighed and took the phone from them- Somehow Kiriai had gotten onto their bookmarks on the web browser while looking for the music. Quickly navigating to the music, she handed it back to Kiriai as the light turned green and she stepped on the gas again.

A moment went by, and then music filled the car. Kiriai hugged their knees again, frowning slightly. “...This song always makes me think of you.” She breathed out, almost silently.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“What, you couldn't pick a less melancholy song?” Kiya asked, sarcastically, before glancing at Kiriai and, seeing how somber they were, instantly regretting their attitude. “...Sorry. I didn't mean to… Sorry.”

They both stopped talking while the song filled the silence.

I’ve been lost for far too long

I’m finding out where I belong

And in the dark you’d be the light

To guide me home, to guide me.

“You’ve been driving for a while now, haven't you? Is there really no grocery anywhere closer” Kiriai asks suddenly, looking out the window. “You just passed one right back there-”

Kiya shook their head. “Not going to the store.” Just then, she turned on her turn signal and pulled into a parking lot at a Chinese restaurant.

“Wha- Sis, I can cook my own food!” Kiriai blushed a little and started at Kiya as if both infuriated and flattered. It was her favorite restaurant; Kiya had just driven significantly out of her way to go to it.

“Yeah, but we’re relaxing today. Besides, it got you to call me ‘sis’, didn’t it?” Kiya gave a wry smile to Kiriai and reached up to pinch her cheek. “C’mon, let's go reserve a table.”

[...]

Kiya leads the way inside and gets a table for two in the corner of the restaurant, near the window. It's a mid-range restaurant- not too fancy, but not fast food either. Kiriai sighs contentedly as she sinks down into the comfy seat opposite of Kiya, who is already perusing the menu.

Kiriai looks around at everyone else's food, hungrily, perhaps a tad impatiently, as her stomach growls louder. “Someone's feeling hungry.” Kiya giggles. “Guess it's a good thing we aren't cooking, you might faint on me before you finish-”

Kiriai squirms. “Is it really that loud? I haven't eaten all day…”

Kiya shrugs. “Who knows, maybe I’m just extra sensitive to these things. I assumed you ate breakfast before we left like I did.” Then, wanting to take Kiriai’s mind off of hunger, they lean forward. “So, how’s studying going?”

Kiriai perked up. “Well, my chemistry teacher is a bit of a pain, but I think I’m doing well. Finals are in a couple weeks so I gotta study more, but I feel pretty good about it.”

“What's wrong with your chemistry teacher?” Kiya asked, absently stirring their cup of water with the straw then taking a sip.

“Ugh, they’re just… They get distracted from the lesson super easily, and have the most dull voice. You could probably replace them with a rock and I’d learn more from them, at least they wouldn't distract me when I’m trying to read the textbook then-” Kiriai complains, huffing irritably.

“If they’re really that useless, you could just not go. I know some of my friends just went to college for exams, and stayed at home studying the rest of the time.” Kiya suggested.

Kiriai shakes their head. “Well, you know how it is- I stayed at college to make it easier to stay focused.”

Kiya shrugs. “Well, I won’t distract you, if you need to study. I’ll make sure to leave you the living room when you need to study, I can just stay in the bedroom.”

Kiriai blinks, then does a double take. “O-oh, right…” Somehow, they’d already forgotten they were planning to move out. They hadnt even slept in the new apartment yet, it didn't feel like home. “I dunno, maybe. I mean, no, I can't make you stay out of your own living room!” She says, doing another double take and furrowing her brow. “Jeez sis, you gotta be less generous or people will take advantage of you.”

Kiya smirks a little and leans back. “Well, maybe I don't mind if just one person takes advantage…” She murmurs quietly, under her breath.

“What was that?” Kiriai asks, narrowing her eyes at Kiya suspiciously.

“Oh, nothing.” Kiya says dismissively, a smug look still on their face. Before Kiriai could question further, the waiter appeared.

“Are you two ladies ready to order?” The waiter asks, clipboard in hand.

“Uh-huh, we’ll have two tomato beef chowmein’s and a plate of dumplings. Oh, and a raspberry lemonade, thankyou.” Kiya asked, and the waiter nodded and disappeared to tell the staff the order.

Kiriai furrows their brow looking at Kiya. “You didn't even ask me what I wanted-”

Kiya leans over and pokes Kiriai in the cheek, still smiling smugly. “You always order the same thing, silly.”

Kiriai puffs out one cheek, pouting. “Well. You’re not wrong, that is what I was going to order…” they mutter to themself. “Alright, fine, you win.”

[...]

When their food arrives, Kiriai eyes it hungrily, licking their chops. She had already drank all her raspberry lemonade, and eaten her share of dumplings- Kiya had stealthily given her one extra.

“Alright sis, dig in.” Kiya announced, spearing her own food- using her chopsticks more like a spear than actual chopsticks, though she was at least holding them correctly.

Kiriai dug in ravenously, barely pausing to speak between bites. Kiya giggles and just watches them, nibbling at their own food. “You're eating so messily, one might think you were me-” Kiya teased her gently.

Kiriai swallowed her current mouthful and sat up straight. “...Well, maybe, but at least I don't talk with my mouth full.” They paused and grew more somber for a moment. “Besides, it's just the two of us here. I don’t think you mind, do you?”

Kiya shook her head rapidly, whipping her hair around. “I think it’d be a bit hypocritical if I said I did. Just eat your fill. Do you wanna order another serving?”

Kiriai blanched, her stomach growling again- not as loudly as before, at least. “Um… I don't think I can afford it.”

Kiya raised a brow. “Afford it? Don't be ridiculous, I’m paying for you. You need to save your money for college.”

Kiriai sputtered and looked at Kiya indignantly. “What? Kiyaaa! You can't do that, it's bad enough that you're not charging me rent, you can't pay for my food too!”

Kiya crossed her arms, looking serious. “I can afford it, and you can't. Besides, what's the point of having money if I can't spoil my baby sister?”

Kiriai groaned, slumping down in their seat. “You just say that, I know you had to save up for months to move out. You need to watch your money better.” Kiriai looked at Kiya concerned.

Kiya shook her head. “Nu-uh. You need money more than me. I’m paying, and that's final.” Then, under her breath she muttered “I can just skimp on showers for a couple months, that’ll make up for it.”

Just then, a waiter was walking by. “Oh, could we have another serving of tomato beef chowmein, please? My sister is still hungry.” Kiya asked, Kiriai looking at her furiously.