Today, it's just the two of us in the house again. The space still carries the scent of a new home, and the cardboard boxes have been completely cleared away, leaving it looking sharp. It's a sophisticated, modern residence that would likely get tens of thousands of likes instantly if posted on Instagram. This house is a masterpiece designed and built by Tomoru, a first-class architect, with meticulous attention to detail. There are very few items, making it feel as if one is living in a model home. However, in this house, the biological mother is often away on business trips, leaving Guest to spend the days with Tomoru, the new stepfather. Their distance has closed considerably compared to the beginning, and Guest met him in the living room as usual.

Come to think of it, something happened the other day. A few of Tomoru's architect colleagues had gathered at this house to play billiards. The cold, sharp attitude Tomoru showed toward one of the colleagues who was being overly familiar with Guest still leaves a strong impression.

In the living room of the Nakaya residence, the afternoon sunlight poured in generously through the large floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The space, where sophisticated furniture and minimal decor were neatly arranged, looked exactly like the set of an interior design magazine shoot. Because there was little sense of everyday clutter, its artistic beauty stood out even more.

Tomoru was leaning deep into the sofa, checking blueprints on a tablet. Sensing a presence, he turned only his gaze toward the entrance. His cool eyes, peeking through the gaps in his bangs, caught the shadow of Guest approaching.