After lunch, Luke quietly excused himself and headed upstairs. The house felt calm now, the noon sunlight casting soft shadows across the polished floors.
He entered his room, gently closing the door behind him — and this time, he turned the lock.
With a stretch and a sigh, he walked over to his study table, pulled out his notebook, and grabbed a pen.
"I'd better finish my homework now, he thought."
Miss Ross had asked for help this evening, which meant he'd probably be back late. The last thing he wanted was to come home tired and still have assignments left to do.
So, like the semi-responsible student he pretended to be, Luke began working ahead.
Afternoon, downstairs on the first floor…
A beautiful young woman lay stretched out on the living room sofa, flipping casually through a magazine. Her long, soft blonde hair was tied in a lazy bun, and her eyes — a cool ocean green — held the sharpness of someone who saw through everything.
This was Emily Whitmore, Sarah's eldest daughter.
Mature, confident, and frustratingly clever, Emily was a college student with the poise of a model and the attitude of someone who never failed at anything. She was the responsible one in the house, the steady presence between her bubbly little sister and their too-gentle mother.
She had just returned from her part-time job at a local café, where she helped out on weekends and whenever her friend needed extra hands.
At that moment, she heard soft footsteps coming down the stairs.
Emily looked up.
"Oh? Good afternoon, Luke," she said coolly, her voice as casual as her posture.
Luke stopped halfway into the living room and blinked, surprised. "Good afternoon, Emily. You're home early today?"
"Yeah," she replied, stretching slightly, the hem of her T-shirt lifting just a little as she lazily arched her back. "My friend got an emergency call, so we closed the café early."
She sat up and smiled slyly. "Why? Surprised to see your beautiful older sister at home? Did you miss me~?"
Luke gave an awkward laugh, scratching his cheek. "More like I'm just not used to seeing you back before sunset."
It was true — Emily usually worked late, stayed at the campus library, or went out with friends. Her sudden appearance threw off his rhythm.
Their family wasn't rich, not exactly. But Sarah's late husband had left behind enough money to give them a comfortable life. Emily's part-time job wasn't out of necessity — it was just her nature. She liked to stay busy, liked earning her own money, liked keeping control.
Emily tilted her head slightly, her eyes scanning Luke with subtle interest.
Luke had changed over the past few years. He wasn't the quiet little boy Sarah had rescued anymore. He was taller now — broader shoulders, sharper features, and a calmness that made people look twice. That awkwardly shy charm… It was starting to get under Emily's skin in ways she didn't care to admit out loud.
Still, she played it cool.
"You've grown a lot, you know," she said teasingly. "Back then, you barely reached my shoulder. Now look at you — tall, handsome, and way too calm for your own good."
"Y-You always say weird things," Luke mumbled, clearly flustered. "You'll never get a boyfriend if you keep teasing people like that."
Emily smirked.
"Ufufu~ Who says I need a boyfriend?" she said as she stood up and walked over to him. "When I've got such a cute younger brother at home…"
Without warning, she slipped her arms around him and hugged him — warm, close, and very much inappropriate.
Luke froze.
Her body pressed against his. She was soft. Warm. Smelled faintly of coffee and jasmine. His heart thudded, and worse — something else reacted too.
He turned completely red.
"I-I gotta go!" he blurted out, tearing himself free and rushing toward the door like a man escaping a wild beast.
Emily laughed behind him, watching his retreat with amused eyes.
"Hahaha~ You really are getting more adorable," she murmured, placing a hand on her hip. Then, in a softer, darker voice:
"One day, Luke… you'll end up in my bed. Ufufu~"
Luke stormed down the street, breathing hard, trying to cool his face and thoughts.
"Damn it, Emily…" he muttered under his breath. "I swear, one day, I'll get you back for this…"
The town of Brisden looked beautiful under the golden afternoon sun. It was a quiet, leafy suburb just outside the city of Westbridge. The streets were lined with trees, the houses cozy and familiar. Children played in the distance, dogs barked lazily, and a gentle spring breeze rustled the leaves.
Luke slowed his pace.
He needed to cool off before visiting Miss Ross, but first — he had another goal in mind. Something… secret.
Ten minutes later, he stood in front of an old comic shop tucked between a pharmacy and a bakery.
This place was a hidden gem — a tiny store filled with manga, light novels, old anime DVDs, and of course… a risqué section in the back behind a half-hung curtain.
He stepped inside.
The smell of old paper and ink hit him immediately. The clerk barely looked up as Luke made his way to the familiar corner of the store.
He glanced around — no one else inside.
Quickly, he reached for two wrapped manga volumes and tucked them under his arm. One of them had a suggestive cover showing a smiling girl and the title:
"Harem Under One Roof"
A forbidden love story between a boy and his step-family, wrapped in secrets and temptation.
The second one was a newer series he had been eyeing for a while:
"Pleasure Nights with My Neighbor"
Luke paid in cash and slipped the books into a plain brown bag.
As he stepped outside, the sun was starting to dip below the rooftops, painting the sky in streaks of pink and orange. The air felt cooler now. More peaceful.
He was almost home when he remembered…
"Oh right. Miss Ross."
He turned at the next corner and headed toward her house.
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