Ugly Sister, Beautiful Brother

Minami was hideous.

Her face was a collection of features that simply did not belong together—slightly big eyes, a nose slightly wide for her face, and lips that looked slightly swollen. Her skin was rough with acne scars, and her hair, though long and silky, only served to frame the disaster of her features.

And yet, her body was nothing short of perfection. An hourglass figure sculpted by fate itself—narrow waist, full curves, and legs that went on forever.

But none of it mattered. Because next to her older brother, Kazuya, she was invisible.

Kazuya was perfect. Tall, with broad shoulders and striking features that made people stop in their tracks. His jawline could cut glass, and his golden-brown eyes held a kindness that made women (and even some men) fall helplessly in love.

He was everything she wasn't.

And yet, he never looked at her with disgust. Never flinched when people whispered behind their backs, wondering how such a beauty and a beast could be related.

"Onii-chan!" Minami called as she ran to him after school, her heavy backpack bouncing on her back.

Kazuya turned, offering her his usual lazy smile. "Yo, Minami. Need me to carry that?"

She pouted, adjusting her glasses. "I'm not a kid anymore, you know. I can carry my own stuff."

Kazuya ruffled her hair as they walked home together. The usual happened—people stared. They always did. Some girls giggled as they whispered to each other, no doubt wondering how someone as dazzling as Kazuya could have her for a sister.

Minami had learned to ignore it. But today, she felt particularly irritated.

At dinner, she stabbed her chopsticks into her rice. "Ne, Onii-chan."

"Hmm?" Kazuya took a bite of his grilled fish.

"Do you think I'm ugly?"

He paused, blinking at her. "Where's this coming from?"

She huffed. "Just answer."

Kazuya leaned back, resting his chin on his hand. "You're not ugly."

She snorted. "Liar."

He sighed. "Fine. Your face? Maybe not conventionally attractive."

"Understatement."

"But…" He gestured vaguely at her figure. "There are plenty of guys who'd kill for a girl with a body like yours."

Minami rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and the moment they see my face, they'll sprint in the opposite direction."

Kazuya chuckled. "If they do, they're idiots. Anyone who actually gets to know you would see how amazing you are."

Her face heated. "Tch. That's just something big brothers say to make their ugly sisters feel better."

He smirked, resting his hand on her head. "Nope. It's something I say because it's true."

Minami buried her face in her arms. "Ugh. You're so annoying, Onii-chan."

Kazuya just laughed.

---

Kazuya tapped his chopsticks against the table, watching Minami bury her face in her arms.

"Hey," he called.

"Mmff," she mumbled into her sleeves.

He smirked. "You really think you're that ugly?"

Minami lifted her head just enough to glare at him. "I don't think, I know."

Kazuya tilted his head, a mischievous glint in his golden eyes. "Then… what if I kissed you?"

Minami choked on air. "WHAT?!"

He rested his chin on his palm, smiling lazily. "If I kissed you, it'd prove you're not ugly, right?"

She flailed, nearly knocking over her drink. "Onii-chan! What the hell kind of logic is that!?"

Kazuya shrugged. "Think about it. If even I—your ridiculously handsome older brother—could kiss you, then you're not as bad as you think."

Minami's face burned red. "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!"

He leaned in slightly, resting his elbows on the table. "So, what? You don't want me to?"

She clenched her chopsticks like she was ready to stab him. "Of course not! Who would want to be kissed by their own brother?! That's disgusting!"

Kazuya chuckled, enjoying the way she squirmed. "Then why is your face so red?"

"It's NOT!"

"It totally is," he teased. "Ahh, what a shame. I was willing to make this noble sacrifice, and yet, you reject me."

Minami let out an exasperated groan. "You're an idiot, Onii-chan!"

Kazuya just grinned. Teasing Minami was too fun.

As she fumed, he reached over and flicked her forehead lightly. "Baka. I don't ever want to hear you say you're ugly again, got it?"

Minami rubbed her forehead, still blushing. "I'll say what I want."

He smirked. "Tch. I could still prove you wrong, you know."

She shoved her chair back, standing up so fast it nearly toppled over. "I'M GOING TO BED!"

Kazuya laughed.

He didn't say it out loud, but if Minami ever truly saw herself the way he did—maybe she'd stop calling herself ugly.

---

Minami stormed out of the dining room, her face burning as she stomped toward her bedroom. "That idiot! That stupid, perfect-looking, annoying idiot!"

Just as she reached for her door, she felt a warm hand wrap around her wrist.

Her breath caught.

Before she could react, Kazuya gently pulled her back. She barely had time to turn around before—

A soft, warm sensation pressed against her cheek.

Minami froze.

It took her brain a full three seconds to process it. Kazuya had just… kissed her.

On the cheek.

Her entire body stiffened as if she had turned to stone. She felt the heat from where his lips had been, lingering like an electric spark.

"Wha—?!" Her voice cracked.

Kazuya let go of her wrist, leaning back slightly with an infuriatingly smug expression. "There. Proved my point."

Minami gawked at him, her mouth opening and closing like a fish. "O-Onii-chan!!"

"Hm?" He tilted his head innocently, as if he hadn't just short-circuited her entire brain.

"W-Why did you—?! I—That was—!!"

Kazuya casually stretched, completely unfazed. "You looked like you needed it."

"NEEDED IT?!"

"You always say you're ugly," he said smoothly, as if that explained everything. "So I figured a little kiss from me would help fix that weird complex of yours."

"YOU CAN'T JUST GO AROUND KISSING PEOPLE TO FIX THEIR SELF-ESTEEM, YOU DUMBASS!"

He chuckled. "Oh? You didn't like it?"

Minami's face was on fire. She turned away, gripping her cheeks as if that would somehow cool them down. "That's not the point!"

Kazuya leaned down slightly, his voice dipping into a teasing murmur. "You're not denying it, though."

"SHUT UP!"

She smacked his arm and ran into her room, slamming the door behind her.

Kazuya laughed. "Oyasumi, Minami."

From behind the door, a muffled, "Go to hell!"

Kazuya just smirked. Teasing her was way too fun.

But more than that… he really did mean it.

She wasn't ugly.

---

Minami threw herself onto her bed, burying her face into her pillow.

Her heart was pounding.

It was just a kiss on the cheek. A stupid, meaningless kiss! So why was her brain replaying it over and over again?

"That idiot… that smug, stupid, ridiculously good-looking idiot…" she mumbled into the pillow.

She turned onto her back and stared at the ceiling, trying to forget. Trying to will her heartbeat to slow down. But her cheek was still warm, tingling from where his lips had touched.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

"It's not a big deal! He was just teasing! That's what Onii-chan does—he's always been annoying like that!"

But he'd never kissed her before.

Not like that.

She groaned, rolling over and curling into a ball. "I need to sleep. I need to erase this whole thing from my brain."

She yanked her blanket over her head, determined to suffocate the memory out of existence.

Then—

A soft knock at her door.

She jolted.

"Minami?" Kazuya's voice was low, casual. Like he wasn't aware that she was currently having a full-blown existential crisis over a cheek kiss.

She took a deep breath. "…What?"

There was a pause. Then—

"Don't stay up too late," he said lightly. "You overthink things too much."

Minami scowled, gripping her pillow. "I DO NOT—"

"Goodnight, Minami," Kazuya interrupted, his voice dripping with amusement.

Minami gritted her teeth. "GO AWAY!"

He chuckled. "Sweet dreams."

She heard his footsteps retreating down the hall.

She let out a long, frustrated groan. "Why is he like this?!"

She smacked her pillow a few times for good measure, then forced herself to take deep breaths.

It's fine. This was just another one of his dumb games. He wasn't being serious.

She was overreacting.

…Right?

Minami pulled the blanket over her head again, determined to forget.

But as she drifted off to sleep, her fingers subconsciously touched her cheek.

And for some reason—

She smiled.

END OF CHAPTER : 1 : UGLY SISTER, BEAUTIFUL BROTHER