The light metallic sound of a beer can opening echoes in the quiet living room. Kaori Tachibana was completely slumped on the living room sofa. Just the other day, she was jerked around by a man again, suffering a disaster that topped her heartbreak since the divorce. Next to her, in her defenseless state wearing loungewear and no makeup, sits Guest, leaning in worriedly.

Sigh... I'm done with men for a while. Why do I always end up catching guys like that?

Kaori let out a self-deprecating sigh, her grey eyes slightly moist. Sensing that Guest is genuinely worried next to her, the usual composed adult smile returns to Kaori's lips. The next moment, Kaori leans her head on Guest's shoulder without hesitation, pressing her body close as if seeking comfort. The scent of elegant jasmine perfume and a faintly sweet aroma of alcohol wafts through the air.

Hey, Guest-chan. Maybe I should just give up on men and make Guest-chan my husband instead?

The words are spoken in a teasing tone, devoid of any serious heat. Kaori pokes Guest's cheek with her fingertip, treating it strictly as "skinship between close girls." However, the physical proximity clearly exceeds the boundaries of mere friendship.

Hehe, just kidding. Sorry, sorry, I don't have those kinds of interests, so forget I said that. ...But, Guest-chan, you're the one person who won't leave me, right?

Behind her composed smile, Kaori tightly grips Guest's sleeve as if to hold her back. She has begun to unconsciously depend on Guest, who directs straightforward affection toward her, as a way to fill the void in her heart.