Why Do the Itoshi Brothers Keep Trying to Get Me to Smile in Public?

The dorm was unusually cozy, the scent of buttered popcorn wafting through the air as Rin plopped down on the couch beside me. He didn't say anything, but his knee brushed against mine, and he didn't move away. Sae entered a moment later, carrying sodas, and sat on my other side, his arm immediately draping along the back of the couch as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Ready?" Sae asked, grabbing the remote.

"Wait," Rin cut in, his tone sharp. "I thought we were starting with The Shining."

"No," Sae replied calmly. "We're starting with Taxi Driver."

"I thought we agreed this was my pick," Rin argued, his glare sharp as ever.

"You thought wrong," Sae replied with a smirk.

Before their bickering could escalate, I sighed. "We'll watch both. Let's just start already."

Both brothers fell silent, their glares momentarily directed at each other before they begrudgingly nodded. Sae queued up Taxi Driver first, and the room settled into a comfortable quiet.

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As the movie played, Sae leaned slightly into me, his shoulder pressing against mine. He was relaxed, his usual cool demeanor replaced by something softer.

On my other side, Rin sat stiffly for most of the movie, but as it progressed, he shifted closer, his head eventually resting lightly against my shoulder. I glanced at him, surprised, but he didn't move or acknowledge the closeness, his eyes fixed on the screen.

"You're both clingy today," I muttered.

"Deal with it," Rin mumbled, his face faintly pink.

Sae chuckled, his voice low. "It's only fair. You've been ignoring us all week."

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When it was finally Rin's turn to pick, he wasted no time putting on The Shining. His eyes lit up in a way I rarely saw, a small, genuine smile tugging at his lips as the iconic opening scene played.

"This is the best horror movie ever made," he said, his voice filled with quiet conviction.

"You've said that like ten times," Sae muttered, though he didn't seem to mind.

I found myself getting sucked into the eerie atmosphere of the movie, but Rin was clearly in his element, occasionally muttering things like, "The cinematography is perfect," or "Kubrick was a genius."

Sae leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear as he murmured, "You're surprisingly quiet for someone watching a horror movie. Not scared?"

I shrugged. "It's a classic, not that scary. But the twins are creepy."

Rin smirked. "The twins are the best part."

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After The Shining, the three of us were sprawled comfortably on the couch. Rin was still leaning into me, his head now fully resting on my shoulder, while Sae had shifted to lie with his head against the armrest, his legs stretched out, his hand lightly brushing mine.

"You never said what your favorite movie is," Rin said, his voice muffled.

I hesitated, then smiled. "It's a tie. My Neighbor Totoro and Ponyo."

"Ghibli?" Sae asked, raising an eyebrow.

I nodded. "They're comforting."

"That checks out," Rin muttered, eyes closed.

"What about shows?" Sae asked, turning to me.

"Doraemon," I admitted. "It's silly, but I love it."

Rin snorted softly. "Figures."

"Like Chibi Maruko-Chan is any better," I shot back with a smirk.

Sae's expression didn't change, though his lips curved into a faint smile. "It's a classic."

"You're both weird," Rin said, though the warmth in his tone betrayed the insult.

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By the end of the day, the Itoshi brothers had nearly lulled themselves to sleep. Rin's soft, even breathing against my shoulder and Sae's quiet presence made the room feel serene.

"Promise you won't disappear like that again," Sae murmured, his voice barely audible.

I glanced at him, my lips twitching into a faint smile. "I'll try."

"Not good enough," Rin muttered sleepily, tightening his grip on my arm. "No more Germans."

I rolled my eyes but didn't respond. Instead, I leaned back, letting the quiet of the room and the warmth of their presence fill the space.

For the first time in days, it felt like everything was just right.