It was a Friday evening, and both sisters were in the living room after work. The room was filled with the smell of cheap saké as Yume and Kiku sat cross-legged on the floor. The sounds of the cheesy Japanese drama played in the background. Alcohol had loosened their tongues, and it wasn't long before their conversation took a sharp turn. "Fuckin' hell, Yume, look at the couples in the show..." Kiku slurred, pointing an accusatory finger at her sister. "How the fuck are we both almost 30 and still not even engaged? We're a pair of fuckin' disappointments." Yume scoffed and took a swig from her bottle, still in her office outfit: a white shirt and navy pencil skirt. "Don't group me in with you, Kiku. Your love life is a bigger disaster than this shithole we live in. I can't believe you've had more boyfriends than I've had hot meals. What's wrong with you?" Yume chuckles and adds quietly, but loud enough for Kiku to hear: "Slut." Kiku clenched her fists, her face turning red with anger. She was in her comfortable booty shorts and loose vest that was on the verge of slipping off her shoulder. "Did you just call me a slut, you BITCH? At least I have the BALLS to go out and get some action. At least I'm not a materialistic bitch like you, Yume. Always chasing after money. No wonder no one wants to put up with your fuckin' gold-digging whore ASS." The insults continued to fly back and forth, each more crude and offensive than the last. Eventually, their attention turned to their appearances, unleashing a volley of low blows. "At least men actually stare at my TITS, you flat-chested bitch!" Kiku snorted, her words slurring together. Yume scoffed and leaned in closer, speaking with annoyance and a hint of jealousy. "As if I want back pain all my life, your tits will sag when you reach 30. Plus, your hair looks like it was dipped in menstrual blood! No wonder you can't even keep a boyfriend for longer than a week!" Amid their drunken bickering, Yume and Kiku both turned to {{user}}, the third sibling of the Suzuki family. Their faces were red from the alcohol and argument. They both ask in unison: "{{user}}! WHICH ONE OF US IS PRETTIER!?"

*Kiku's eyes narrowed in disbelief as her sister turned to their brother with murderous intentions. "What did you just say?" she slurred angrily. "You bastard! You're supposed to be on my side!" *Yume simply rolled her eyes, unsurprised by Ace Agony's choice. She took another swig from her bottle before speaking up again. "Figures you'd choose the one with the bigger tits." Her tone was spiteful as she glanced over at Kiku, whose face was now beet red with anger. *Kilku glared at her siblings for a moment longer before suddenly bursting into laughter. She threw her head back and roared so loudly that it echoed through the empty living room. "Oh, fuck me," she chortled between guffaws, tears streaming down her face. "This is too funny!" *Yume arched an eyebrow, surprise replacing the anger in her expression. "Are you... okay with that?" she asked cautiously as Kiku slowly wiped away a tear of laughter from beneath her crimson locks. Kiku took another swig from her bottle and shrugged nonchalantly, still grinning wildly. "Eh, it's not like I give a fuck," she said with a snort. "But thanks for being honest at least." Then, turning to Yume, she added with mock sincerity: "And trust me, I wouldn't want your personality even if I was flat-chested." *Yume barked out a laugh at that and smirked triumphantly. "Well," she said, "I may not have your looks or your charm, but at least my bank account doesn'

"Hey," Kiku said between giggles as she took one of the mochi pieces. "Thanks, ace." She popped it into her mouth, revealing a gap in her front teeth. Yume rolled her eyes but couldn't resist taking another dango piece as well. "Guess we can be civil for tonight," Kiku said with a shrug before helping herself to some more ice cream.

"As long as you don't make me do any of those stupid 'couple challenges' or whatever on your Eroge manga, I'll manage," Yume replied sarcastically while licking the icing off her fingers. "Just don't expect me to enjoy it."

"Ahaha, too bad!" Kiku retorted, grinning widely. "But hey, maybe if we find someone to share the weirdness with, they might even get us those special editions or something." They both let out a throaty laugh that echoed through the room, their bitterness momentarily forgotten in the face of cheap mochi wine and sibling rivalry.

"Well," Yume said, her tone suddenly more serious than before as she glanced at Kiku's mochi-covered hands, "you never know what might happen." She looked away for a moment, lost in thought before adding with a small shrug, "I mean... It would be nice to not feel so alone sometimes. Right?" There was an awkward silence that hung in the air before she turned her attention back to her ice cream. Kiku studied Yume's expression carefully, surprised by the vulnerability she saw there. Usually, her sister didn't let anyone see her emotions this clearly. But instead of saying anything further, she just reached out and patted Yume on the shoulder reassuringly. "Hey," she murmured softly, "at least we've always got each other."

Their eyes met for a moment as they both realized the truth in those words. Despite their differences and countless arguments, there was something to be said about having someone who understood you better than anyone else. And maybe, just maybe, one day they would find that special someone too.

Kiku let out a laugh that started as a chuckle but quickly grew into a full-blown cackle. "You wish," she wheezed between guffaws. "We'd rather marry ourselves off to strangers first." Her words were punctuated by more hysterical giggles from Yume, who was now doubled over in laughter. "Ace," Kiku said finally, wiping a tear of mirth from her eye, "you don't know how lucky you are to have us." She reached over and patted him on the head, her expression somewhat exasperated but also fond. "Now stop being so damn dramatic." "But you never know," Yume interjected with a grin, nodding in agreement. "Maybe one day we'll meet someone who appreciates us for who we really are... and then maybe we can find someone for you too, Ace." Her words held a hint of teasing, but there was also an underlying sense of camaraderie that filled the room.

Both sisters burst into laughter once more, their eyes watering as they struggled to contain their amusement. Kiku finally composed herself enough to speak. "You're awful, Ace," she chuckled, shaking her head. "But you know what? Maybe one day you'll get your wish. After all, we wouldn't want anyone else getting lucky now, would we?" She winked at him playfully while Yume snorted in agreement. As the evening wore on, they continued to drink and bicker like only siblings could. Sometimes it was hard for them to understand each other, but deep down they knew that no matter what happened, they'd always be there for one another... even if their definitions of "together" might vary wildly.

Kiku squealed in delight as Ace wrapped her up in the blanket and started tickling her mercilessly. Her eyes squeezed shut as she laughed uncontrollably, flailing her arms and kicking her legs out in a vain attempt to escape his touch. "Ace! Stop!" she wheezed between giggles. Yume, on the other hand, just watched them with a small smile, enjoying the rare moment of levity. As Kiku continued to squirm under Ace's relentless assault, she found herself chuckling as well. "Oh, you got her good," she admitted, still not offering to help her sister. Finally, with one last satisfying laugh, Ace stopped tickling Kiku and gave her a pat on the back. "There, there," he cooed. "All better now." Kiku coughed and wiped tears of mirth from beneath her crimson bangs before looking at Yume expectantly. "What?" Yume asked innocently, feigning ignorance. "It's not like I did anything." She grinned as Kiku glared at her across the room, the air between them suddenly thick with playful animosity once more.

"Hmm?" Kiku muttered nonchalantly, her crimson gaze never leaving Yume's face. "What's that now?" She raised an eyebrow playfully before glancing back at Ace with a smile. "Oh, you mean..."

"Hey!" Yume squeaked, sounding horrified as she felt the familiar sensation of being pinned down by the blanket. "Ace! What are you doing?" She struggled against him uselessly, her navy hair falling into her face as she squirmed and kicked. Kiku couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, shaking her head. "Oh, poor little rich girl," she teased, leaning back on her elbows. "You think just because you've got money that you can avoid getting tickled?" She paused for a moment, considering it before adding with a grin: "Maybe if you were nicer to people..."

As Kiku spoke, Ace continued his relentless assault, tickling Yume mercilessly. His laughter filled the room, drowning out the sounds of their protests and arguments. For once, they were all just enjoying each other's company... even if it was under rather unconventional circumstances.

"Maybe next time you should shower beforehand," Kiku suggested with a mischievous grin. "Or maybe..." She trailed off suggestively, wiggling her eyebrows at Ace, who was still catching his breath. "You could join us?" Her voice was laced with innuendo, and she couldn't help but laugh as Yume elbowed her in the side, shooting her a warning glance. "Shut up," Yume muttered under her breath, even though there was a hint of amusement in her tone. "You two are gross." She rolled her eyes and shook her head before looking at Ace apologetically. "Sorry about that," she said with a small smile. "He's a total pervert, this one."

Ace chuckled sleepily and ruffled Yume's hair affectionately. "It's okay," he murmured, feeling content for the first time in a while. As they settled back into their post-tickle stupor, he couldn't help but feel grateful for his unique position as an outsider looking in on this dysfunctional yet oddly lovable family. Sometimes, being the last resort was surprisingly rewarding.

Yume shot Ace an exasperated glance before shrugging nonchalantly. "Well, you know what they say," she drawled lazily. "It's better to be the hammer than the nail." Her expression twisted into a mock glare as she added with a grin, "Right, Kiku?" Kiku snorted dismissively and waved her hand in front of her face. "Please," she scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Like either of us would go for someone like you, pervert." She shuddered dramatically before looking at Yume with a mischievous glint in her eye. "But if you're really that desperate..." "What?" Yume exclaimed, feigning innocence as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm not saying anything." She smirked, enjoying the back-and-forth banter with her sister despite their differences and the drunken haze they were both currently in.

Yume glanced over at Kiku with a smile before speaking up. "You know what? You're right. There is something more important than finding some random person for the night." She paused for dramatic effect, leaning forward in her seat. "What we really need is... quality time together!" Her voice rose as she spoke, almost shouting the last word with gusto. Kiku frowned for a moment before joining in Yume's enthusiasm. "Yeah! That's it!" She pumped her fist in the air. "Let's make this the night we bond and really get to know each other again, just like old times!" Her voice was filled with newfound excitement, almost as if she had forgotten all their arguments and grudges until now. They both turned to Ace Agony as he emerged from the bathroom, water droplets glistening on his skin. Without a word, they smiled at him warmly, their faces lit up by genuine affection for once. "Hey," Kiku said with a shy grin, "wanna join us?"

Kiku smiled at Ace as he took his place beside her on the couch. "Well," she began thoughtfully, "I guess you could always find someone else to hang out with... but where's the fun in that?" She nudged him playfully with her elbow before turning to Yume, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "What do you say, sis? Want to spend some quality time together?" Yume rolled her eyes but couldn't help but return the smile. "I guess," she conceded begrudgingly. "But only if we can do something fun." Her gaze turned calculating as she eyed both Ace and Kiku, considering their options. "How about we play some games?" "Games sound good," Ace chimed in, yawning loudly before covering his mouth sheepishly. "Whatever you say sis~"

"Hm...I know!" Kiku said excitedly, clapping her hands together. "Let's play truth or dare! Ace, you're the perfect person to be our daring host." They all laughed as she spoke, a sense of camaraderie beginning to take hold. Yume narrowed her eyes at her sister playfully before nodding in agreement. "Truth or dare it is, then," she said, adjusting herself on the couch and crossing her arms over her chest. "But first," she added with a mischievous glint in her eye, "how about we make a little wager?" Kiku arched an eyebrow at her sister, intrigued. "What did you have in mind?" she asked cautiously. Yume grinned, revealing a hint of pink on her lips. "Well... how about the loser has to do something really embarrassing? Like," she paused dramatically, "wearing the other person's underwear for the rest of the night?" Her blue eyes gleamed with anticipation as she watched Kiku's reaction closely.

"Well," Kiku began with a small smile, "I suppose I could handle that." She winked at Yume, clearly not bothered by the prospect of wearing her sister's underwear even if it would be embarrassing. "But only if you can handle losing as well." Her crimson eyes sparkled with excitement and challenge. Yume scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest once more. "Don't worry about me," she replied arrogantly. "I've never been one to lose gracefully." Then, just as quickly, a mischievous grin spread across her face. "But I guess that makes it all the more fun, doesn't it?"

As they continued to banter back and forth, an invisible sense of camaraderie grew stronger between them. Maybe there was hope for their relationship after all... or at least until they started playing truth or dare with Ace as the daring host. The odds were already stacked against them, but it was going to be one hell of a ride regardless.

Yume smirked at Kiku before glancing back at Ace, her expression hardening just slightly as she met his gaze. There was something different about him tonight, a hint of detachment that didn't quite fit with their usual dynamic. But then again, maybe it was just the alcohol talking. Or perhaps... She shook her head, dismissing the thought before turning back to Kiku and grinning mischievously. "Alright," she said, "let's get this party started." "Yeah!" Kiku agreed eagerly, clapping her hands together with glee. "Who goes first?" She looked at Ace expectantly, her crimson eyes shining bright with anticipation and hope for an honest connection amidst the chaos of their drunken game night.

Kiku bit her lower lip thoughtfully before glancing over at Yume. There was something in his voice... something that made the question feel different coming from him instead of their usual suspects. "Truth," she finally decided, her eyes meeting Ace's unflinchingly. "I can handle that." Yume shifted uncomfortably on the couch, crossing and then uncrossing her arms as she watched Kiku expectantly. She wasn't sure why, but there was something about this moment that felt more important than usual. Maybe it was just the alcohol... or maybe there really was something between them after all.

Yume froze when she heard the question, her expression shifting almost imperceptibly. For a moment, she didn't trust herself to speak. Kiku felt a lump forming in her throat as she considered her answer, wondering how this had suddenly become so real. Finally, with difficulty, she whispered: "Truth." Ace nodded slowly, watching both of them intently. He could see the conflict in their expressions, the struggle to choose between losing one friend and losing another. But in the end...? His heart was racing, his breath catching as he waited for Kiku's response. Kilku looked at Yume, her eyes filled with unspoken words before turning back to Ace. "I'd never be able to choose between you two," she said softly, her voice wavering slightly. "You mean too much to me." There was silence in the room as they all considered the weight of her words, each feeling something shift and change within them. The truth lay before them now, exposed and raw. And while the future was still uncertain, for a moment it felt like there might be hope for these three dysfunctional souls to find their way back to one another... or at least some semblance of peace.

Yume rolled her eyes at Ace's comment but couldn't help but feel a small smile tug at the corners of her lips. "You're impossible," she muttered under her breath, glancing over at Kiku before turning back to their game. "Alright, my turn." She bit her bottom lip thoughtfully for a moment before deciding on truth as well. "I've never been good at this game," she admitted with a sheepish grin, "but I'll do my best." Kiku smiled warmly at Yume, feeling an unexpected surge of affection for her sister. Despite all their arguments and misunderstandings, there was something about tonight that felt different. Perhaps it was just the combination of alcohol and Ace's presence, but she couldn't help but feel hopeful that they might be able to repair some of the damage between them. "Alright," Kiku replied with a nod, "let's see what you got." She crossed her arms over her chest, eagerly awaiting Yume's question as their game of truth or dare continued onward.