Hometown School's elementary classes were abuzz with excitement. It was Pajama Day, a much-anticipated event where students could trade their attempts at fashion for the cozy comfort of their favorite sleepwear. The hallways were a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns: Berdly, ever the aspiring academic, sported a pair of blue flannel pants covered in the periodic table; Catti and her cat sauntered by in matching pink and white striped onesies; and Kid proudly wore a pair of glow-in-the-dark skeleton pajamas.

Kris, ever the enthusiast, had carefully chosen their ensemble the night before. Their shirt, a simple white tee, featured a pixelated image of a determined green dinosaur, a reference to their favorite Super Smashing Fighters character, Yoshida. They pulled on their trusty Underjamz, the white fabric snug against them. To complete their ensemble, they donned a pair of soft, dark green pajama pants adorned with a pixelated pattern of tiny green hearts – a nod to their love for video games.

Noelle, on the other hand, had opted for a more traditional approach. Her pink flannel pajama set, adorned with adorable white sheep, perfectly complemented her gentle and caring nature. The soft fabric and pastel hues mirrored the warmth and sweetness that radiated from her. As Kris and Noelle walked side-by-side to their first class, the chatter of their classmates filled the air. The morning progressed smoothly, with Kris and Noelle navigating the pajama-clad chaos with ease.

It wasn’t until after music class, when they were walking back to their lockers, that Noelle gently pulled Kris aside. Her cheeks flushed a delicate pink, and she fidgeted with a strand of her hair. "Kris," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, "I think your Underjamz are showing a bit."

Kris glanced down at their waistband, and sure enough, the telltale white fabric was peeking out above their pajama pants. At first, they shrugged, nonchalant. "Yeah, they’re part of my pajamas," they said, gesturing to their Yoshida shirt. "It's Pajama Day, right?"

Noelle hesitated, then lowered her voice even further. "I know, but... I think a couple of kids were snickering about it earlier."

Kris's stomach dropped. They hadn't even considered that their Underjamz might be seen as anything other than part of their outfit. A wave of embarrassment washed over them, their cheeks turning a bright shade of crimson.

"Did your Mom think it was a good idea to wear them?" Noelle asked, her voice gentle and reassuring.

Kris shook their head, their frustration mounting. "No, she didn’t say anything about it. But... Asriel told me that it would make my Pajama Day outfit 'more authentic'."

Noelle’s eyes widened in surprise. “Asriel told you that?” she asked, disbelief evident in her tone.

Kris nodded, their frustration intensifying. "He said it was like, older brother wisdom or something."

****

The night before Pajama Day

Kris rummaged through their dresser, pulling out various pajama options and discarding them onto the floor. Asriel, lounging on his bed, observed the chaos with amusement.

"Having trouble deciding?" he asked.

"Yeah," Kris mumbled, their brow furrowed in concentration. "I want to wear something cool, but also comfortable."

Asriel sat up, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, if you really want to go all out for Pajama Day, you should wear your Underjamz too."

Kris paused, their head snapping up to look at Asriel. "My Underjamz?" they echoed, their voice laced with confusion.

Asriel nodded, his smirk widening. "Yeah, it'll make your outfit more authentic. I mean, they ARE part of your pajamas, right?"

Kris hesitated, unsure whether to take Asriel's suggestion seriously. But the idea of being the most committed to Pajama Day was tempting.

"Okay," they finally agreed, a hint of uncertainty in their voice. "I'll wear them."

Asriel grinned, satisfied with his successful prank. "That's the spirit, Kris!" he exclaimed, giving them a playful nudge. "You're gonna rock Pajama Day."

***

Present Day

Noelle's expression softened, and she placed a comforting hand on Kris’s shoulder. “Hey, it's okay,” she said, her voice filled with empathy. “Those kids are just being silly. Besides,” she added with a shy smile, “I think the little pixelated hearts on your Underjamz are actually kinda cute.”

Kris felt a mix of embarrassment and warmth spread through them. They appreciated Noelle's kindness, but they couldn't shake the feeling of being duped by their own brother. "Thanks, Noelle," Kris mumbled, their cheeks still flushed. "Do you... want to stick together for the rest of the day?"

Noelle's smile brightened. "Of course, Kris," she replied, her voice filled with genuine warmth. "We can be pajama buddies!"

The rest of the day passed in a blur of shared laughter and whispered conversations. Kris, though still slightly embarrassed, felt comforted by Noelle's presence. They navigated the remaining classes together, their bond strengthened by their shared experience.

When Kris returned home that afternoon, they were no longer fuming, but a quiet annoyance simmered beneath the surface. They walked into their shared bedroom, where Asriel was sprawled out on his bed, engrossed in a comic book.

"Asriel," Kris said, their voice firm but controlled.

Asriel looked up, his eyebrows raised in surprise. "Hey, Kris," he greeted, a playful grin spreading across his face. "How was Pajama Day?"

Kris crossed their arms, their expression unreadable. "It. Was. Fine." they replied, their voice carefully neutral.

Asriel's grin faltered slightly, sensing a shift in Kris's demeanor. "Just fine?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

"Yeah, just fiiiiiiine," Kris repeated, their tone harsher. "Except for the part where everyone was laughing at me because my Underjamz were showing."

Asriel's eyes widened in realization. "Oh," he said, his voice sheepish. "You figured it out, huh?"

Kris nodded, their annoyance evident. "Yeah, I figured it out."

Asriel chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh, oh golly! Well, it was just a prank, Kris. I didn't think you'd actually wear them!"

Kris raised an eyebrow, their voice laced with sarcasm. "Really? Because you seemed pretty convincing last night."

Asriel sighed, his expression turning serious. "Okay, okay, I admit it," he said, raising his hands in surrender. "Maybe I was hoping you'd get a liiiitle bit embarassed." he began. "But it was payback for that time you put my hand in a bowl of warm water when we were little."

Kris's eyes widened in surprise. They had completely forgotten about that incident.

Asriel continued, a hint of amusement returning to his voice. "Remember? I woke up in the middle of the night, soaking wet. I was so embarrassed." He paused. 

"So, we're even now, right?" he asked, extending a hand towards Kris.

Kris hesitated for a moment, then took Asriel's hand, their smile widening. "Yeah, I guess you and me are all squared up now."

Asriel grinned, relieved that Kris wasn't angry. He pulled Kris into a hug, squeezing them tightly.

 "Thanks, Kris," he said, his voice muffled against their shoulder. "You're the best little sibling a guy could ask for."

As they pulled away, Kris's smile faded slightly. "Hey, Azzy," they began, their voice hesitant. "About that warm water prank..."

Asriel's grin faltered, a flicker of understanding crossing his face. "Yeah?" he prompted gently.

Kris took a deep breath, their gaze fixed on the floor. "I actually did that to Noelle last week," they confessed, their voice barely above a whisper. "During our sleepover."

Asriel's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You did?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. "How did she react?"

"She was really upset," Kris admitted, their voice thick with emotion. "Not just embarrassed, but... scared. Like, really scared."

Asriel's expression softened, and he sat down on his bed, gesturing for Kris to join him. They sat side-by-side, the silence punctuated only by the soft ticking of the clock on their wall. Asriel had wondered why Kris had been grounded from Super Smashing Fighters for so long but neither Kris nor Mom were willing to talk about it.

"I felt awful afterwards," Kris continued, their voice cracking slightly. "I helped her clean up and told her about my Underjamz. I wanted to make things right."

Asriel nodded slowly, his gaze thoughtful. "I bet that made her feel a lot better," he said, his voice gentle. "You did the right thing, Kris."

Kris looked up at Asriel, their eyes meeting his. "I just realized that that kind of prank must've made you feel awful too," they said, their voice sincere. "Embarrassed, like I was today."

Asriel nodded, a flicker of remorse crossing his face. "Yeah," he admitted quietly. "It wasn't a great prank. I'm sorry I did that to you, Kris."

Kris offered a small smile. "It's okay, Azzy. We're even now."

Asriel returned the smile, then his expression turned thoughtful. "You know, Kris," he began, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "maybe you should stick to pranks that are more... temporary. Like, jump scares or something. That way, once the prank is over, it's over. You still get the satisfaction of a good prank, but you're not doing any lasting harm."

Kris nodded, appreciating Asriel's advice. "Yeah, that's a good idea," they agreed. "I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings again."

Asriel ruffled Kris's hair affectionately. "That's my sibling," he said, his voice filled with pride. "You've got a good head on your shoulders, and a good heart, Kris. Just remember to use it next time when you're planning your next prank."