Ayaka stood at the entrance of their home, school bag still in hand, her uniform blazer unbuttoned just slightly.
She didn't speak for a moment. Neither did Aeron.
Her red eyes were sharp but not cruel. More surprised than anything.
"You're… Kael," she finally said. "From Class 1-A."
Aeron replied flatly, "You're Ayaka. The girl everyone stares at."
"...And you're my stepbrother," she added, walking past him as if they were simply neighbors on a train.
Aeron didn't move. His eyes followed her quietly until she disappeared down the hall.
---
Dinner was quiet.
Their father and stepmother—Midori Asagiri, the company president—talked about business in soft tones while Ayaka sat across from Aeron, twirling her noodles with mechanical precision. The clink of silver against ceramic felt louder than their conversation.
Midori smiled at Aeron. "How was your first day?"
He gave a short nod. "Normal."
"That's good to hear. Ayaka, you saw him at school?"
"...Yes," Ayaka replied after a pause, not lifting her gaze from her food.
Midori laughed gently. "You two can relax, you know. You're family now. You don't have to act like strangers."
Aeron leaned back in his chair, sipping his tea. "We are strangers."
That silenced the table.
Ayaka's eyes twitched, barely—like she hadn't expected him to say it out loud.
---
Later that night, Aeron stood alone on the rooftop terrace, hands resting on the iron railing. The city lights sparkled in the distance. Cold air brushed his skin, but he didn't flinch.
He wasn't angry. He wasn't sad.
He just didn't feel anything.
The door creaked open behind him.
Ayaka stepped out quietly, her long silver hair undone, wearing a light hoodie and school pants. Her voice was soft this time.
"I didn't know it would be you."
Aeron didn't turn. "I don't blame you."
"You're different at school. Colder."
"I'm always like this."
A pause.
"I'm not used to this either," Ayaka said. "Having someone suddenly appear in my house. At school. In my space."
Aeron looked up at the stars. "Then we're even."
She folded her arms, standing beside him now. They didn't face each other, but the silence between them was less stiff.
"Are you… going to tell anyone we're related?" she asked quietly.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because it doesn't matter."
Ayaka looked at him then—really looked. Her eyes softened just slightly. "You don't care about anything, do you?"
Aeron exhaled slowly. "I did. Once."
That ended the conversation.
---
The next morning, Aeron rose before anyone else. He was already dressed when the sun began to rise. In the mirror, he looked the same as always—bored, flawless, detached.
But something lingered in the back of his mind:
The way Ayaka had looked at him. Not cold. Not proud. Just confused. Human.
Maybe being under the same roof would change nothing.
Or maybe...
this was the beginning of something far more complicated than silence.