Akashi, wrapped snugly in a thin quilt, sat quietly on the plush sofa. His small frame seemed almost swallowed by its size as he waited patiently.
Suddenly, the sound of the entrance door unlocking broke the silence.
A clear, melodic voice called out:
"Mom, I'm home!"
The door swung open, and a young girl stepped inside. Her presence lit up the space, her vibrant energy filling the room.
The newcomer was stunning. Beneath her gracefully arched willow eyebrows were striking, slightly purple eyes that sparkled like gemstones. Her smooth, flawless face—resembling a delicate white melon seed—was brimming with youthful radiance and framed by a cascade of shiny black hair.
She was dressed in a blue high school uniform, the hem of her skirt revealing long, slender legs that ended in white socks. As she slipped off her shoes by the door, her socked feet gave a small, casual shuffle.
This girl, full of vitality, was none other than Ran Mōri.
As she walked further into the apartment, her bright, youthful energy was almost palpable—a vibrant contrast to the morning's stillness.
"I got the boys' clothes you asked for!" Ran announced cheerfully.
But the words trailed off when her eyes landed on Akashi.
"Eh…???"
Her cheerful expression froze in surprise as she took in the scene.
There he was, sitting quietly on the sofa, wrapped in nothing but a thin quilt. The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, falling gently on his messy, star-like hair and adorably delicate face.
The sight was almost otherworldly—like a mischievous little elf who had accidentally wandered into the mortal world.
Ran's lavender eyes blinked in awe, her heart inexplicably skipping a beat. A soft blush crept onto her cheeks as she stood frozen in place.
'How can someone be this cute?'
It wasn't until she swallowed unconsciously that Ran snapped back to reality, her train of thought thoroughly derailed by the unexpected guest.
---
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Eri was entirely engrossed in her cooking. The clatter of pots and pans masked any noise from the living room.
Ran, however, couldn't contain her curiosity. She stepped toward Akashi with growing interest, her mind buzzing with questions.
'Who is this kid? How did he end up at Mom's house?'
'Could he be connected to one of Mom's cases?'
'And why isn't he wearing any clothes?'
Realizing the clothes she'd purchased were likely for him, Ran's gaze softened.
'His hair looks so fluffy,' she thought, a sudden urge bubbling up. 'I want to ruffle it!'
But as she closed the distance between them, something unexpected happened.
The floor, polished to an impeccable shine, betrayed her. Or perhaps it was her eagerness—her steps were quick, her socks too smooth.
Either way, her foot slipped.
"Ahhh—!" Ran cried out as she lost her balance.
---
Akashi's starry eyes widened as he watched the beautiful high school girl stumble toward him. He had no time to react.
In a heartbeat, she collided with him, and they both toppled backward onto the sofa.
Soft warmth pressed against his cheek—a sensation that was plump and tender.
It took him a moment to process: her lips.
Ran's lavender eyes flew open, equally shocked by what had just happened.
For a fleeting moment, the accidental kiss left an electric warmth in its wake, but Ran quickly snapped out of it.
She scrambled upright, her face flushed red, and stammered apologies.
"I'm so, so sorry! Are you okay?" she asked anxiously, her voice hurried and full of guilt. "I didn't mean to bump into you—the floor was too slippery!"
Her small hands gently gripped Akashi's shoulders as she checked him over for any signs of injury, her concern evident.
Akashi, still processing what had just happened, feigned confusion.
"I'm fine," he said softly, tilting his head innocently. "Who are you?"
At that moment, Eri emerged from the kitchen, hearing the commotion outside. Her expression was calm yet sharp as she addressed the situation.
"Akashi, this is my daughter, Ran," she said, gesturing toward the high schooler. Then, turning to her daughter, she added, "I asked her to buy clothes. Ran, did you bring them?"
Ran quickly rummaged through the shopping bag she'd placed by the door. Pulling it out, she handed it over with both hands.
"Here they are!"
Eri stepped forward, took the bag, and inspected its contents before passing it to Akashi.
"These are the new clothes I bought for you, Akashi. Why don't you go ahead and change into them?"
Akashi accepted the bag with a polite nod and turned toward the bedroom without a word.
---
As the boy disappeared into the bedroom, Ran rose from her seat and sidled up to her mother. She couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer.
"Mom, who is this boy? Why is he at your house?"
Eri chuckled softly, her demeanor suddenly lighthearted.
"His name is Akashi. From now on, he'll be your little brother—I've decided to adopt him!"
"Ha?!"
Ran's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. Her mouth fell open as she struggled to process what she'd just heard.
"This… this… this is so sudden!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in pitch. "Mom, you haven't even talked to Dad about this, have you?"
At the mention of her estranged husband, Eri's phoenix-like eyes darkened, her gaze hardening with unmistakable intensity.
"Don't bring him up to me!" she snapped. "Besides, adopting Akashi and having him live with me is none of his concern!"
Faced with her mother's fierce resolve, Ran fell silent, too stunned to argue further.
---
Moments later, Eri's expression softened, a hint of warmth returning to her sharp features.
"Akashi has had a hard life," she explained gently. "At the orphanage, the director beat him, neglected him, and often left him without food. If I don't help him, no one will."
Her words struck a chord with Ran, who hesitated.
"You don't want to see him go back to that kind of life, do you?" Eri asked, her tone both firm and imploring.
Ran bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. It wasn't that she was against the idea—it was simply too much to take in all at once. She had only come over to drop off some clothes, and now she was being told she had a younger brother?
Still, she couldn't ignore the image that had greeted her when she first walked in: the pure, almost ethereal boy sitting quietly on the sofa.
Could someone so innocent and beautiful really be her brother?
Ran's internal conflict slowly melted away, replaced by a growing sense of acceptance.
'Maybe… maybe this isn't so bad.'
Her hesitation vanished as the bedroom door creaked open.
Akashi stepped out timidly, dressed in simple jeans and a crisp white shirt. His slender figure lingered at the threshold, his wary eyes peeking out from beneath his disheveled bangs.
The vulnerability in his gaze was heart-wrenching, and Ran felt an unexpected surge of protectiveness.
She grabbed her mother's hand, her eyes sparkling with determination.
"Mom, I support your decision!" she declared. "If you believe this is the right thing to do, then it must be."
Of course, Ran told herself, her decision had absolutely 'nothing' to do with how cute Akashi was. None at all.
Eri raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by her daughter's sudden enthusiasm. A knowing smile tugged at her lips.
"That's wonderful to hear," she replied warmly.
---
Eri glanced at the clock before turning back to her daughter.
"You must have come here so early that you haven't eaten yet," she said matter-of-factly. "I just made breakfast. Come, Ran, Akashi—let's eat together."
At her mother's words, Ran froze, the cheerful determination draining from her face.
'Mom's cooking?'
Her smile grew stiff as she quickly tried to backpedal.
"Oh, no, no, Mom," she stammered. "I already ate before coming here. My stomach is completely full!"
But Eri's narrowed gaze, glinting with faint menace, silenced any further protests.
Ran quickly changed her tune.
"But I haven't tasted your cooking in so long," she added hastily, her voice unnaturally high. "Even if I'm full, I can still eat a little more!"
With that, she hurried toward the dining table, her movements slightly mechanical.
Behind her, Eri guided Akashi to the table with a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Both Ran and Akashi sat down, their expressions akin to lambs awaiting their fate.