After returning home, She kicks off her shoes, tosses her bag aside, and takes a long breath.She heads to the bathroom, splashes her face and slips into something more comfortable---a loose tee and her favorite shorts,before collapsing onto her bed with a deep sigh ,she pulls out her sketchbook like she always does when her head needs clearing.
Her mind is still spinning--not from stress, but a strange mix of calmness and chaos.
She picks up her pencil and lets it glide. At first, it's random. Eyes. Hands. A collarbone. Then her pencil slows… her brain fogs…
And suddenly, Dio's face appears in her mind.
Ami: (thinking) What would Dio look like shirtless... maybe leaning against a wall... black pants... smug face... smooth skin...
Before she can stop herself, she's already halfway through the drawing---his torso sculpted, abs carved out like a Greek statue, a hint of damp hair falling over his brow.
Ami: "Wait… what am I doing--?!"
A hot rush surges through her body. Her face turns crimson. And then---
Drip.
Drop.
A nosebleed.
Ami: "AGHHH! What did I just---- AMIIII YOU PERVERT!!!"
Two perfect drops of blood land on the corner of the page. Her nose is bleeding.
"No no no no no----" she panics, scrambling for tissues, pressing them to her nose with one hand and trying to dab the blood off the paper with the other.
Despite the chaos, the drawing is… actually kind of fire. The shading, the anatomy, the expression---somehow it turned out better than her usual ones.
Ami: "Aghhh... okay okay, focus. Not my fault he's literally genetically illegal. Still… wow. It looks dead sec c. Not bad, Ami. Not bad at all. Proud of myself for bringing unreal things into this world through pure talent."
She giggles.
She flips the pencil over and neatly writes in the bottom corner:
"Dio's unreal version Sketch #1: Fanservice Edition 💀"
Still holding her tissue to her nose, Ami checks the time.
Ami: (thinking) Father should be home soon. Showtime.
She places her sketchbook back , wipes her face again, She glances at the hallway mirror, fluffs up her hair a little, and quickly changes into a homey dress---something she knows makes her look like the perfect sweet daughter. and walks downstairs just in time to hear the front gate click open.
Standing sweetly by the doorway, she greets him.
Ami: "Fatherrrr, I was waiting for you~"
Father: "Why? Do you need something?"
Ami: "Nooo, I just… missed you. Felt like saying hi." (smiles innocently, pulling his coat gently off his shoulders)
Father: "How's Aron?"
Ami: "Tired as usual. I think he needs a break from the hospital. He didn't say it, but you can see it in his face."
Father: "What nonsense. Tiredness is weakness. He needs to work harder."
Ami (voice still soft): "True, true. But you know… even machines need rest, right?"
(She smiles, leading him toward the living room.)
Ami: "Should I bring your foot massager from your room? It might help with your legs."
Father (waving a hand absently): "Yeah. Bring that one."
He doesn't even look at her. He drops onto the couch like a stone.
Ami (inwardly, her smile not fading):
Perfect. He said yes without thinking. A great opportunity to snoop without raising suspicion.
She walks briskly toward the master bedroom, her mind already planning where to look first.
But as soon as she opens the door---
She freezes.
Her stepmother is inside, digging through one of Father's drawers. She's holding a wad of cash.
Ami: "Mom?"
Her voice is soft but firm. Enough to make the woman flinch.
Stepmother jolts like she's been electrocuted, turning around slowly.
Stepmother: "Ami…! I----I was just--- Listen, don't tell your father, okay? Let's keep this between us."
Ami: "Well, maybe if I knew a really good reason, I'd feel more inspired to keep the secret. You know how important family honesty is to me."
Her voice is so gentle that it's hard to tell whether she's joking or threatening.
The stepmother forces a smile, her voice now lower and rushed.
Stepmother: "Just... don't worry about it, okay? Your father wouldn't understand. I'll explain everything later."
Ami: "Mm. Well, you might want to explain it soon. He's calling you downstairs."
She lies smoothly, watching the panic ripple across her stepmother's face like a stone dropped in water.
Stepmother: "H-he is?"
Ami (nodding calmly): "Yep. Sounded a little impatient, too."
Flustered, her stepmother rushes out of the room.
Ami (thinking): "That was way too easy."
Ami (thinking): Now's my chance.
She opens drawer after drawer. Nothing. Receipts, socks, old watch boxes.
She eyes the main wardrobe.
Click.
She opens it. Her fingers trace along the back panel until---click. A hidden compartment.
Just as she's about to reach in-----
Voice behind her: "Heh."
Ami freezes.
Slowly, she turns.
And there stands Alia---arms crossed, one eyebrow raised, the corner of her lips curved into a sly, knowing smirk.
Alia: "Well, well. What do we have here? Trying to steal something, huh? Is it cash? Desperate much?"
Ami turns to her with the most innocent expression.
Ami (deadpan, in her mind): "Of course she had to show up now. This snake has a sixth sense for ruining things."