Midnight Strokes for Big Sis

Pat pat.

"...What the hell?"

Cleaning, watering plants, doing dishes... even massages made sense from a helpful perspective. But petting her hair? And with Serin of all people.

My big sis had always been so composed and level-headed, taking care of us after our parents passed, acting more mature than anyone. The idea of stroking her head helping her just felt off. It might even come across like treating her like a kid, and she wasn't the type to like that anyway.

"...This is so random."

I stared at the ceiling and let out a sigh. I had no clue what triggered these quests. This one didn't even seem to match what the target wanted.

...Well, complaining wouldn't change shit. I couldn't risk my bladder. But I couldn't just barge in on my awake sister and say, "Hey, let me pet your head for ten minutes," so I had to bide my time.

I pulled out my phone and opened the family group chat.

I sent the messages and flopped onto the bed to wait. Raen texted tempting me to stay up all night for some fun, but I couldn't get distracted by sex and lose my bladder, so I explained the situation.

But damn, she's been way more clingy since we fucked.

We used to bicker and she'd curse occasionally, but since two days ago, her attitude flipped completely. That sharp gaze begging for affection...

...

Is this what gap moe is?

...Time dragged on. One hour, two... As midnight approached, the house grew quiet. Lights went out in the living room and all rooms. Raen and Serin had been in bed for ages.

...Time to move.

I got up quietly and crept to Serin's door. It was shut tight.

"...Hoo."

I activated Phasing and slipped through the door. Faint moonlight filtered through the curtains, softly illuminating the room. Serin lay deeply asleep on the bed, in her usual composed, proper posture—breathing even and quiet.

I knelt by the bed and studied her sleeping face. It always felt strangely unfamiliar. Awake, she was always sharp-eyed, assessing situations calmly without showing much emotion. But now—she was just a peacefully breathing, stunningly pretty girl, nothing more or less.

"..."

I let my gaze drift lower. Since awakening her ice magic, her looks had shifted a bit. Her already dark hair had turned a deep navy. Even in the dim room, it held a subtle sheen—like the depths of the ocean transplanted here. Strands spilled across the pillow, faintly sparkling in the moonlight.

Her eyes were closed, but I knew their color: the same deep navy as her hair, like a cold night sea. And her eyeshape—similar to Raen's. Slightly upturned at the corners. Lately, Raen only gave me those sharp-yet-adorable smiles, but before, her gaze matched Serin's. The hair color made all the difference, though. Raen's bright silver softened the sharpness playfully; Serin was the opposite. Calm. Quiet. A cool aura. When I heard she'd awakened ice magic, it clicked perfectly.

"..."

But now, that coolness was muted. Asleep, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her face looked far softer than usual. Long lashes. Gentle breathing. I stared blankly until the quest popped into my head.

Time to pet her hair. For a full ten minutes.

...I raised my hand carefully. And slowly lowered it onto her hair.

Soft strands slipped between my fingers.

Smooth... smooth...

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

...Softer than expected.

I'd figured ice magic meant cold and coarse hair, but no. The neatly arranged locks flowed smoothly under my fingertips. I moved my hand gently. Slowly. Stroking downward like petting silk.

Smooth... smooth...

Then—her lashes fluttered ever so slightly.

"...!"

I froze. Focused on her breathing. Soft, steady inhales. Chest rising evenly.

"...Just my imagination?"

I muttered and resumed. Smooth—sliding my hand down her hair. Maybe imagining it, but her expression softened a tad. The composed face relaxed subtly... brows easing, looking more at peace even with eyes closed.

Nah, no way.

...Come to think of it, I'd thought the same during Raen's massage. That if she were awake, no need to pretend sleep. Something like that.

...Who knows.

Petting my overworked big sis's head wasn't some huge sin. Even if she hated it, I couldn't stop—so I kept going without delay.

After that, no more reactions. Breathing steady, body still. I just stroked mindlessly. Ten minutes flew by faster than expected—lost in the silky navy strands, time blurred.

And just like that, my first quest for Serin was done.

* * *

The next day.

"...Hm, here we go."

After a full day of training and dating with Choyeun, I got home late at night... and we'd progressed from hair-petting to belly-petting.

Hair was whatever—siblings with an age gap might do that affectionately.

...Two years wasn't that much of a gap, but anyway. Belly-petting implied a whole different level of intimacy...

"Fuck it."

I grumbled as I arrived home. Slipped quietly through the front door—the place was dark. Living room, kitchen, both bedrooms at the hall's end.

...Everyone's asleep.

Just like yesterday. I stood naturally before Serin's door.

Sneak in again.

Asking to pet her belly instead of her head? I'd get a look of pure disdain. No knob needed—Phasing and I passed right through.

...Faint moonlight bathed the room. Curtain gaps lit the bed softly. Serin lay in the same pose. Composed. Proper. Blanket up to her belly, breathing quietly.

"..."

I perched on the bed's edge and hesitated. Yesterday was hair—easy reach. Today? Belly. Raen's case proved it: no bare skin, no clear.

That blanket was in the way. Gazing down, her abdomen rose and fell subtly with each breath. I reached carefully for the thin blanket. Lifted it slightly, slipped my hand through her pajama gap onto her bare belly.

That instant—her body twitched faintly.

"...!"

"..."

Breathing stayed steady. Not awake. ...Sleep twitch, probably.

I muttered and resumed stroking. Slowly, gently. Like soothing a sleeping child.

Smooth—

Then—her hand moved slowly. Like unconsciously seeking something.

"...?"

Startled, I stopped. But next moment—her hand softly overlaid mine.

And... squeezed gently...

"...Uh."

I blinked in confusion. Eyes still closed. Breathing even. Expression unchanged.

"...Sleep habit, huh."

That made the most sense. So I kept going, her hand holding mine. Slowly. Stroking her belly again.

Smooth—smooth—

Her hand lightly gripped mine, like it felt good.

"..."

I stroked on autopilot. Ten minutes... felt even shorter than yesterday.

"..."

Quest cleared. I slowly withdrew my hand.

Squeeze—

Her hand clung like she didn't want me to go, but I gently slipped free. Watched her a moment, then stood and phased out of the room.