«Oh, I almost forgot. I got married. Again.»
It's dinnertime when Hakuto Karyu hears those words come out of his father's mouth — Shin Karyu.
They're spoken without any warning, with such casual ease that Hakuto almost falls off his chair.
«W-W-WHAT?!»
«Why are you so surprised? Aren't you happy that your old man has found love again? Or are you just shocked that, at my age, I can still pick up women?»
«T-That's not it, it's just… WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU TELL ME ANYTHING?!»
«What are you talking about? I just did!»
Shin's voice stays calm, a smug little grin spreading across his face — a grin with a cigarette inevitably dangling from it.
In sixteen years of life, Hakuto can't remember ever seeing his father without a lit cigarette between his lips.
Even the walls of the small apartment they live in, once white, are now completely yellowed by smoke.
Hakuto lets out a resigned sigh.
«And yet, you've always said that after what Mom did to us, you'd never remarry for any reason in the world, so… what's so special about this woman?»
«I'm glad you asked, Hakuto!»
Shin lifts his chin proudly, his eyes sparkling.
«That woman is the CEO of a massive pharmaceutical company — Seiryu Biotech. This time, your old man really hit the jackpot! Tomorrow we're moving into her huge, luxurious villa!»
This time, Hakuto really does fall off his chair. A marriage and a move, both dropped on him within a single minute, are too much to process.
Sure, leaving that smoke-filled shoebox to live in a villa doesn't sound all that bad… but he needs a moment to let it sink in.
«And I haven't even told you the best part yet!» Shin continues. His grin widens even more — almost diabolical.
«My lovely and wealthy wife — Vivian Kurotsuki — also has two daughters who are very, very cute! And if I remember correctly, they're about your age!»
«And…?»
«And you know what every teenager dreams of, right?»
«No, and I really don't want to know.»
But Shin keeps going, undeterred.
«Every teenager's dream is doing dirty things with his stepsisters!» Shin exclaims, far too enthusiastically. «Don't tell me the idea of being woken up by your two sexy stepsisters doesn't excite you even a little? Aaaah… it must be absolute paradise!»
«Dad… you really sound like a pervert...»