The story centers on the sisters, Rena and Aina, who are as close as two people can be. We’re talking twin-peas-in-a-pod. A seamless unit of understanding and support. Their vibe was so chill, it was like a perfectly curated playlist. Into their peaceful world steps Shota, their stepbrother. At first, his presence is a small ripple, no biggie.
But soon, that ripple becomes a wave. And not the fun, surfing-kind of wave. We’re talking a full-on tidal wave of awkward.
His desire for physical closeness, particularly directed at Aina, is no longer just casual affection; it becomes something more persistent, more overwhelming. Dude went from a slightly clingy squirrel to a stage-five clinger moving faster than the counting of gas bill. His “affection” was feels and more like a human octopus trying to win a cuddle championship.
This is where Rena makes a choice. She decides to step in. She becomes the substitute, voluntarily subjecting herself to Shota’s skin-ship instead of Aina. Basically, she throws herself on the grenade of his awkwardness. She’s like, “Alright, you cringe-lord, your new favorite punching bag is right here. Leave my sister alone.”
Herein lies the core of the story’s conflict. Rena, who has always prided herself on her principled and upright nature, a girl so straight-laced she probably ironed her socks—finds herself in a situation she didn’t even know were on the map.
