The evening air was cool as Kyosokei Tokito walked alone along the quiet street.

  The orange glow of sunset stretched across the buildings while distant traffic hummed softly in the background. Students passed by occasionally, ughing and talking about homework or weekend pns.

  Kyosokei barely noticed any of it.

  His mind was completely occupied.

  What if someone finds out tomorrow?

  He kicked a small pebble on the road as he walked.

  What if Mom slips up and calls me “son”?

  The pebble rolled across the pavement.

  What if someone asks about our family?

  He sighed heavily.

  This is impossible…

  Just that morning, his peaceful high school life had been destroyed by one person.

  Soyoki Tokito.

  His mother.

  Now his cssmate.

  Kyosokei reached the apartment building and climbed the familiar staircase to the second floor.

  The hallway was quiet.

  Good.

  He pulled out his keys as he walked toward his door.

  At least home will be peaceful.

  He stopped in front of his apartment.

  Then he noticed something strange.

  The door was slightly open.

  Kyosokei froze.

  “…What?”

  His heart skipped a beat.

  He slowly pushed the door.

  It creaked open.

  No way…

  Did someone break in?

  Panic shot through his chest.

  Did a burgr take everything?

  His ptop. His clothes. His books.

  His entire life was inside that room.

  He cautiously stepped inside.

  “…Hello?”

  Then he heard it.

  Humming.

  A cheerful humming sound came from the kitchen.

  And a delicious smell filled the apartment.

  Kyosokei blinked.

  …Cooking?

  He slowly turned the corner toward the kitchen.

  And there she was.

  Soyoki Tokito stood happily by the stove wearing an apron, stirring something in a frying pan while humming to herself.

  The kitchen counter was neatly organized.

  The dishes were spotless.

  The entire apartment looked cleaner than it had ever been.

  Kyosokei’s brain stopped functioning.

  “…What.”

  Soyoki turned around.

  “Oh! Kyosokei!”

  She smiled brightly.

  “Welcome home!”

  Kyosokei stared at her like he had just witnessed a ghost.

  “W-WHY ARE YOU HERE?!”

  Soyoki blinked.

  “Hm?”

  Kyosokei pointed wildly around the apartment.

  “This is my apartment!”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re not supposed to be here!”

  “But I am.”

  Kyosokei grabbed his head.

  “How did you even get in here?!”

  Soyoki answered casually while flipping something in the pan.

  “The ndlord lent me an extra key.”

  “…WHAT?”

  Kyosokei’s jaw dropped.

  “How did you even know I live here?!”

  Soyoki tilted her head thoughtfully.

  “Well… I asked around.”

  Kyosokei felt a headache forming.

  “You just… asked around?!”

  “Yes!”

  She smiled proudly.

  “And the ndlord was very kind.”

  Kyosokei slowly looked around the apartment again.

  Everything was sparkling clean.

  Even the table he had forgotten to wipe st week looked polished.

  Soyoki pced a pte of food on the table.

  “Dinner will be ready soon.”

  Kyosokei stared at her in disbelief.

  “This was NOT part of my pn.”

  Soyoki blinked.

  “You had a pn?”

  “Yes!”

  “What was it?”

  “You living somewhere else!”

  Soyoki casually walked toward the table.

  “Oh.”

  She picked up something from the table.

  Kyosokei’s soul immediately left his body.

  In her hands was one of his adult manga books.

  She examined the cover curiously.

  “These books…”

  Kyosokei froze.

  “…”

  Soyoki flipped a page.

  “Do you want to become an artist?”

  Kyosokei teleported across the room.

  “GIVE THAT BACK!”

  He snatched the book from her hands instantly.

  Soyoki blinked.

  “I wanted to read that ter.”

  Kyosokei’s face turned red.

  “YOU ARE NOT READING THIS!”

  He grabbed the entire stack of books and rushed toward his bedroom.

  Why did I leave those out?!

  He threw the books into a drawer and smmed it shut.

  “Disaster… absolute disaster…”

  Just as he stepped out of his room—

  Knock. Knock. Knock.

  Kyosokei froze again.

  “…No.”

  Another knock came.

  “Kyosokei! You home?” a voice called.

  Kyosokei’s eyes widened.

  My friends.

  They had visited his apartment many times before.

  “Kyosokei!”

  “Open up!”

  Kyosokei rushed toward the door.

  “WAIT—”

  But it was too te.

  Soyoki had already opened it.

  The door swung open.

  Two of Kyosokei’s friends stood outside.

  They blinked.

  Soyoki smiled brightly.

  “Hello!”

  The boys stared at her in shock.

  “…Soyoki?”

  Kyosokei slowly approached from behind her.

  Inside his mind—

  This is it.

  The end of my life.

  One of the boys scratched his head.

  “Huh…?”

  Then he grinned.

  “I didn’t expect your cousin would visit you here.”

  Kyosokei forced an awkward smile.

  “…Yeah.”

  Soyoki waved happily.

  “I came to check on him!”

  The two boys ughed.

  “Man, you’re lucky.”

  “Yeah, your cousin’s cooking for you?”

  Kyosokei felt his soul leaving his body.

  Behind him, the smell of dinner filled the apartment.

  Soyoki turned toward the kitchen cheerfully.

  “Dinner’s almost ready!”

  Kyosokei slowly looked at the ceiling.

  This situation…

  …just got ten times worse.