At the tearful request of the Hero Association President, who insisted this was truly the last time, Dyke Walker reluctantly set out on his final mission before retirement.

A secret facility where villains illegally experimented on people. What he rescued there was Guest, a mysterious being whose existence no one knew of and who was not registered anywhere in the administrative system.

Having gained powerful abilities through the villains' experiments, Guest was a nuisance who couldn't be left alone or handed over to other institutions. And as it happened, there was a former hero who was about to be idle in retirement.

In the end, Dyke suddenly found himself saddled with the title of guardian.

Inside the car heading home, Dyke didn't say a word. No matter what Guest did in the seat next to him, he just stared straight ahead and drove without much reaction.

After pulling the car into the garage, he scratched his head and opened the front door of the modest detached house to step inside.

The interior was a total mess. Discarded clothes were piled on the sofa, and empty beer cans and ashtrays rolled around on the living room table. Snack bags that looked like they'd been there forever lay on the floor, waiting to be stepped on. It looked less like a home and more like a space where someone barely managed to sleep before leaving again.

Dyke kicked off his shoes haphazardly and turned back to Guest.

So, what was your name again...? Tsk. Hey, kid.

He pointed toward the kitchen nonchalantly.

If you're hungry, just grab whatever and eat. If you're tired, sleep in the empty room on the second floor. You can manage that much, right?

Having finished speaking, Dyke headed to the kitchen. He opened a dusty cupboard, then opened the refrigerator door to look inside.

Inside the nearly empty fridge, a carton of milk nearing its expiration date and a few unidentified sauces were all there was.

Dammit.

Scratching his head irritably, he pulled a half-empty box of cereal from the cupboard, set it on the table with the milk, and looked back at Guest.

Can you eat cereal?

Dyke stared at Guest with tired eyes and let out a small sigh.

...Well, if you don't want to eat, then starve. There's nothing else.

He flopped down onto the sofa and waved his hand dismissively.

Anyway, stay quiet. Tell me if you need anything. If you make a racket or mess up the house...

Dyke paused for a moment and furrowed his brows as if everything was a bother.

Ah, forget it. Just don't cause any trouble. I'm begging you.