"Miss Akizuki, you're still in college, right? Are these two your sisters?"
Adrian Blake pointed to a family photo on the table, his voice full of curiosity.
Hearing this, Akizuki Haruka blushed slightly.
"I'm not in college anymore; I'm an old aunt already. These two are... my brother's children, my nieces. He and my sister-in-law died in a car accident many years ago, and I've been raising them ever since."
She wasn't sure why, but she ended up explaining more than usual. Normally, she would simply say these were her daughters, since she had raised them since they were little. They weren't just her nieces; they were practically her own children. But for some reason, when faced with this handsome young man, her long-buried emotions stirred once again.
"Miss Akizuki, you're really kind. It must be hard, raising two kids on your own. When I was living alone, just taking care of myself was already exhausting."
Adrian's words seemed to strike a chord with Haruka. She gracefully moved closer, her voice soft as she asked, "Adrian-kun, you're still young, but you speak with such maturity. Have you lived alone?"
"To be more precise, I've been living alone for five years."
Adrian exhaled, offering a more simplified version of his story.
When Haruka heard about his tragic past—losing both parents and being ostracized due to blood relations, living as a wanderer—tears glistened in her eyes.
Without thinking, she wrapped him in a warm embrace.
He was just a young boy, about the same age as her nieces, yet he had such a tragic past.
Adrian, however, didn't feel nearly as sorrowful. He was feeling quite comfortable. The only thing he could think of was how soft and plush she felt—her warmth enveloping him like a blanket.
Her fragrance was intoxicating, and Adrian could practically bury his face in her soft, comforting embrace.
"Ah~ Adrian-kun~~"
After the embrace, Haruka realized how close they were. Her face turned crimson, and she quickly pulled back, looking down at Adrian with a flustered expression.
It wasn't until she glanced down that she noticed something that made her eyes widen in surprise.
She had completely forgotten that Adrian was a young man, and not a child.
Yet... what she saw was much more than she expected.
Her mind briefly wandered to the adult films she had watched when she needed self-soothing. But nothing she had seen compared to Adrian.
Flustered, she quickly turned her head away, her heart racing.
"Ahem~ I'm sorry, Adrian-kun. I got carried away for a moment."
"No need to apologize, Miss Akizuki. Your embrace was very warm, and I liked it very much."
Adrian said this with such sincerity that it made Haruka's heart skip a beat. She could clearly hear the underlying meaning in his words.
While feeling shy, Haruka also couldn't help but feel a strange joy deep inside her heart. She was in her thirties, yet here was a young man around her nieces' age, showing an interest in her. It made her feel young again.
Just as she was about to speak again, she noticed Adrian staring intently at her lips. The temperature in the room seemed to rise a few degrees.
Haruka froze, unable to speak, as their eyes met. His gaze was fiery, almost predatory.
The tension between them was palpable, and Haruka's heart raced in her chest.
But before anything could happen, a voice from upstairs interrupted.
"Mom, is someone visiting?"
Haruka quickly snapped out of her trance, taking a few steps back, but the blush on her face didn't fade.
"It's our neighbor, Adrian-kun. Come down and meet him!"
Haruka quickly called out to the others upstairs.
Although their moment had been interrupted, Adrian quickly regained his composure, his eyes turning toward the staircase.
A girl with golden twin tails, fair skin, and a cute face, Akizuki Airi, was the first to come into his view.
Following her was Akizuki Marinay, with long brown hair.
Both girls were exceptionally attractive, with curves that outshone girls their age. It seemed that the Akizuki family had remarkable genes.
"Enriri would be so jealous."
Adrian thought to himself, comparing Airi to the twin-tailed girls he had seen before. Airi's figure was far more developed than he expected.
When their eyes met, Airi felt a strange flutter in her chest, instinctively sensing his intent gaze.
Unlike the other boys who had secretly ogled her, Adrian made no attempt to hide his interest. His bold, direct gaze was obvious.
Airi was both annoyed and intrigued. On one hand, she was repelled by his forwardness, but on the other hand, he was undeniably handsome, which made her heart stir.
Marinay, who was more composed, greeted Adrian politely.
"I'm Akizuki Marinay, Airi's older sister. It's a pleasure to meet you, Adrian-san."
"I'm happy to meet you too, Marinay."
Adrian took her hand in greeting, addressing her casually by name.
His familiar tone made Marinay blush slightly, but she didn't pull back.
Airi, on the other hand, felt a slight discomfort and immediately spoke up.
"Hmph, don't act like you're so familiar with my sister. Don't think you can have any funny business!"
Before Adrian could respond, both Marinay and Haruka quickly intervened.
"Airi! Adrian-san was just calling me by name. Don't read too much into it!"
"Yes, Airi, apologize to Adrian-kun!"
Seeing their united front, Airi huffed and stormed off, slamming the door behind her.
Haruka sighed apologetically.
"Sorry, Adrian-kun, Airi can be a bit mischievous."
"No problem, she's just a lively girl. I find it charming."
Adrian smiled and waved his hand, making it clear he held no ill will.
Despite the disruption, Marinay couldn't help but feel some resentment toward her younger sister.
"My younger sister can be a little extreme, Adrian-san. Please don't mind her."
Marinay quickly sat down beside him and began chatting.