46 Kiss Me - My Little Sister Is Only Ever Cold to Me, Yet Recently She’s Been Strangely Clingy

Chapter 46: Kiss Me While helping Mom with dinner preparations, I heard the sound of the front door rattling open. "It sounds like Ren's back, don't you think? Ai, why don't you go greet her?" "Okay!" Encouraged by Mom, I headed towards the entrance. Standing in front of the door was Ren, carrying a slightly larger bag than usual on her back. "I'm home." Her voice was flat and cold, a stark contrast to the lively conversation we had through messages yesterday. Yet, despite her tone, her body gravitated towards me and collapsed into my arms as if drawn by some invisible force. A melting embrace. Her warmth, which felt somehow nostalgic after only a day apart, made my heart race as always. "Welcome back." As I whispered in Ren's ear, her hug tightened. Gently, I ran my fingers through her short-cropped hair as if to soothe her. "I wanted to see you." "I wanted to see you too." Her straightforward words prompted me to voice my true feelings. My face was burning; surely my cheeks must have been flushed crimson. Ren was so close that I hoped she wouldn’t notice, but her mere proximity only intensified the heat in my face. "I'll come to your room again later." "Alright." Nodding, I recalled yesterday's conversation with Ren and the promise of a reward. What would Ren want from me? And what could I offer her? Our embrace persisted, refusing to break, while a jumble of heat and swirling thoughts mingled in my mind. Summoning what little self-control I had, I said to Ren: "Let's eat dinner first. It’s almost ready." "Okay." Reluctantly, Ren nodded and stepped back. Even though I had suggested it myself, I felt the same pang of reluctance, as if I resonated with Ren. ◇◇◇ After eating dinner, tidying up, and taking a bath, I lay down on my bed in my room, sighing with relief. As if perfectly timed, a knock came at the door. "Come in." Upon my invitation, the door opened, and just as expected, Ren appeared. With practiced ease, Ren walked into the room and lay down not next to me, but rather on top of me. "Um... Ren...?" I was taken aback by her sudden closeness. "I’m tired from the training camp... Is it okay?" Despite her monotonous voice, she seemed to be seeking comfort. Her endearing way of seeking reassurance never failed to impress me. And that impression was always accompanied by warmth, making it impossible to turn her away. "Of course." "Yay." Ren whispered quietly, nestling her face into my thighs. Her childlike gesture made my cheeks soften. Instinctively, my hand found its way to her head, gently stroking it. For a while, we were enveloped in a soft and tender moment, having forgotten completely about the promised reward, as we floated back to the carefree times of our childhood. But all of a sudden, Ren cut the moment short. "On the bus ride to and from the camp, I read that novel you recommended during our date." "Did you like it?" Despite the sudden shift in conversation, I was pleased she had read my recommendation and asked about it. "Yeah, it was a love story, and a little sad." Ren nodded and fell silent, as if lost in thought. After a brief pause, she murmured a question: "Hey, have you ever kissed someone before, Onee-chan?" The unexpected question felt like a firm smack to my head. "Why...why do you ask?" "The novel mentioned, 'The first kiss was sweet.' It made me curious if that's true. So, have you ever kissed someone, Onee-chan?" Ren asked once more, sitting up slightly. Her face hovered close to mine. Naturally, my gaze was drawn to her thin lips, fixated as I replied. "No, I haven't. What about you, Ren?" Asking tentatively, I hoped for a negative response. I didn’t understand why, but my head felt like it was boiling. "If I had, I wouldn’t be asking you." "Yeah, that makes sense..." I supposed it was true, yet I didn't understand why I was so relieved over something that should have been obvious with a little thought. Ren’s gentle voice cut through my tangled emotions. Her words, as cool as ever. "Kiss me."