It was only 3,000 yen a month.
Kei Asano should've known that meant something was wrong.
The house sat crookedly at the edge of town, where streetlights gave up and weeds took over. A peeling gate. Shuttered windows. Shadows that moved a little too much. But Kei wasn't in a position to care. No job. No money. No future. All he had was a suitcase full of clothes and enough cynicism to choke a therapist.
He stepped onto the porch. The wood groaned like it regretted his decision, too.
The front door was unlocked. Of course it was.
Inside, the house was strangely pristine. Dusted furniture. Velvet curtains. Warm lighting. It smelled faintly of sandalwood and something floral, sweet and spicy at the same time. The air had weight—like something was waiting.
And then it spoke.
> "You're late."
Kei spun.
A woman stood in the hallway, arms crossed, eyes cool and assessing. Tall. Impeccable. She wore a navy suit with gold trim, her hair in a flawless bun. Her gaze pinned Kei like a blade.
"I—uh," he stammered. "The train—"
"No excuses," she said crisply. "You're Kei, the new tenant. Correct?"
"…Yes?"
"I'm Aris," she said. "Embodiment of Pride. Your presence here is unfortunate, but not unworkable."
Kei blinked. "Embodiment of…what???"
Before he could finish, the air shifted.
Warmth.
A slow, humid, almost electric presence. He turned—just in time to see another woman step down the stairs like sin incarnate.
She was stunning. Long legs in sheer stockings. A fitted leather jacket clinging to her curves. Her silver hair cascaded over one shoulder, catching the light like a halo made of moonlight. Deep red lips curved into a knowing smile. Her top dipped just enough to make Kei forget how words worked.
She looked directly at him—and winked.
"Well hello, new boy," she said, voice smooth as velvet and warm as summer skin. "You didn't say you'd be cute."
Kei made a sound that may have been "hi" or possibly a small dying animal.
"I'm Vel," she said, stepping closer with the lazy confidence of a predator. "Lust. And you… you're adorable."
Kei backed into a wall. "I'm not—I mean—uh—hi?"
Vel's smile deepened. "So polite. And blushing already. Gods, I love a shy one."
"I'm not—blushing," Kei lied. His ears were definitely on fire.
She leaned in slightly, finger tracing the edge of his hoodie collar. "Don't worry. I'll fix your wardrobe and your self-esteem."
Aris cleared her throat sharply. "Vel. Stop harassing him."
"I'm just saying hi." Vel gave a lazy shrug, but her gaze lingered on Kei like he was dessert.
"This isn't a brothel," Aris snapped.
"Could be," Vel said with a smirk. "But I guess we're doing the whole 'redemption arc' thing first, huh?"
Kei's mind was melting. "Wait, what are you—?"
"House of sins," Aris said flatly. "You signed the lease. Now you live with us. Terms are binding."
"Us?" Kei echoed, eyes wide.
A loud thump came from upstairs. Followed by something that sounded suspiciously like drywall cracking.
"…Sorry!" a new voice yelled. "That wall started it!"
Aris closed her eyes. "And that would be Wrath."
Vel giggled. "Oh, you're in so much trouble, sweetheart."
Kei wanted to run. Or hide. Or evaporate.
Instead, he stood frozen in the entryway of the house he'd just agreed to live in—surrounded by beautiful, terrifying women claiming to be literal sins.
He was very much not ready for this.