These Dangerous Girls Placed Me Into Jeopardy

When does everyone’s day usually start?

Normally, it’s probably around six, seven, or eight in the morning, right?

If you’re a lazy bum, maybe you get up at eleven or twelve noon—or even one in the afternoon?

Anyway, it definitely starts during the daytime, right? (Well, unless you’re a cultivator or something.)

Under normal circumstances, for someone as healthy as me, the day should also start at six in the morning. But today, for once, I woke up in the middle of the night.

As for what time it is now... I’m not exactly sure, but looking at how it’s still pitch-black outside the window, it’s definitely the middle of the night.

My consciousness suddenly snapped awake, for one simple reason: I needed to go to the bathroom.

If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have drunk that glass of ice-cold juice before bed. On top of that, I had only been wearing a jacket when I walked home, so maybe my stomach caught a chill.

However, there was a very critical problem right now.

That was—lying beside me at this very moment was a creature from the Sister Department.

Her breathing was slow and steady. She was definitely asleep.

I remembered that back when Serena and I used to share a room, I would sleep on the top bunk. Every time I so much as turned over, Serena’s breathing would immediately become uneven. So, in order not to disturb her sleep, I had trained myself to stay absolutely still and silent in my sleep—no snoring, no tossing and turning.

But that’s beside the point. What I’m trying to say is: when Serena sleeps, she’s extremely sensitive. Even the tiniest movement could wake her up. She’s as alert as a cat.

And right now, I had no confidence that I could move her arm aside without waking her.

But I really needed to pee...

What time was it now, exactly? Shouldn’t she be leaving around this time?

Surely Serena isn’t sneaking into my room every night, is she? When did this even start?

I couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed it until now!

Sure, I’m a heavy sleeper, but still—this was just plain stupid.

Maybe because I was hoping too hard, a soft little whimper suddenly reached my ears.

Serena was waking up.

Whew... thank goodness. If she left like yesterday, everything would be fine.

I’d wait until she left, then go to the bathroom. Just to be safe, I could hold it in for a few more minutes and head downstairs to the first-floor bathroom instead. I could probably hold it for another ten minutes.

But—my plan shattered in just three seconds.

A faintly fragrant something moved close to my face. I realized with a jolt that it was probably Serena’s lips.

Yesterday she was just hugging my arm. Today she’s trying to kiss me?!

The sense of uncertainty made panic surge inside me. There was no way I could keep pretending to sleep!

My body went stiff as a board. I almost couldn’t help but shove her away!

No! I couldn’t move! I couldn’t even swallow my saliva!

I had to stay frozen until Serena left!

If I moved now, the one who would be hurt wouldn’t be me—it would be Serena!

“Brother... you’re awake, aren’t you?”

—

Busted!

No, wait—maybe she’s just guessing. Stay calm. Don’t panic.

“You don’t have to pretend anymore. I can feel it. You’re definitely awake.”

Shock! Hah, hah...

At this point, there was no point pretending anymore.

I opened my eyes and turned my head toward Serena. Her face was right there, barely inches away. Her expression didn’t seem to have changed, but I knew she was a little nervous.

After spending more than ten years together, I was pretty good at picking up the subtle shifts in my cold little sister’s expression.

I sat up halfway, bracing one hand against the pillow, and scratched my head with the other.

Now what should I do? Should I ask her why she’s sleeping in my bed? Or why she tried to kiss me?

No—that would be too cruel, wouldn’t it? If I asked directly, it would just embarrass her...

Tsk.

I couldn’t even think of a decent conversation opener. What a headache.

As I was wracking my brain, an overwhelming urge to pee struck again.

Uh... right, I had completely forgotten about that. Awkward.

No helping it. Nature’s call can’t be ignored.

I’d have to take care of that first, and then have a serious conversation with my sister afterward.

But just as I tried to get off the bed, Serena grabbed my wrist.

“Where are you going?”

“To the bathroom.”

“You’re lying. You must be going to tell Mom.”

“Uh, no—I really am just going to the bathroom.”

...

Although, to be fair, the idea of telling Mom had crossed my mind just now. But I forcefully squashed it.

I was afraid that if Mom found out, Serena would be so shocked that she might actually run away from home.

Telling Mom would be my final trump card—something I could only use if there was absolutely /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ no other way out. Definitely not lightly.

I figured I had a rough idea now of how to handle this conversation with Serena. Since she was scared of me telling Mom, I could use that as a bargaining chip to get her to talk. That way, I could negotiate with her from a stronger position.

“Then I’ll go with you.”

—

Huh?

Go with me?

Okay, yes, the bathroom in our house isn’t separated by gender, but that doesn’t mean boys and girls can use it together, alright?!

“You wait here for me.”

“No. I’m going with you.”

Convincing Serena in a short time was probably impossible. And honestly, I was already close to my limit.

So I had no choice but to compromise temporarily.

“Fine. Whatever you want.”

I forcefully pulled my arm free from her grip, shook her off, and bolted out of the room.

I hurried to the second-floor bathroom, threw open the door, rushed inside, and didn’t even bother turning on the lights. I just frantically started unbuckling my pants.

But just as I had undone my waistband and fished Little Bro out—

Click!

—the door closed behind me.

When I rushed into the bathroom, I hadn’t closed the door. Which meant that Serena must have shut it.

“You’re not planning to call Mom, are you?”

WAHHHHH!!!

I nearly died of fright!!

When did she even get inside?!

“H-Hey! You can’t come in here! Get out!”

“No. Hand over your phone first.”

“I didn’t bring my phone!”

Any longer and my bladder was going to explode!!

Tsk.

Forget it!

A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do! I turned my back toward Serena, aiming at the toilet. She couldn’t see anything anyway!

With that mindset, I stood in front of the toilet, undid my waistband and button, and pulled down the zipper.

Aimed.

...

Nothing came out.

“You... can you not stare at me...? I can’t pee if you’re looking.”

“Why?”

Why?!

What do you mean, why?!

Of course it’s awkward being stared at!

Serena was silent for a few seconds.

Then, suddenly—darkness.

The bathroom light went out.

Oh...

So that’s what she meant.

In the dark, the pressure of being watched would feel less intense.

Ha...

Seriously.

Why did going to the bathroom have to be such a complicated ordeal?

(Scene fades out)

Three minutes later...

I sat limply on a chair, drained of all spirit, my whole body feeling gray and lifeless. Ah... It felt like I had lost something. That must have been... dignity?

It felt like something precious had fallen even lower. That must have been... my bottom line?

I didn’t pee my pants—but it felt like my soul had left my body...

My dignity as an older brother had shattered into a million pieces before it even had a chance to take root.