Kei sat on the couch, half-buried in a pillow, eyes wide like he'd seen a ghost.
Correction—he'd seen two.
Bel and Az.
At his door.
Facing Akira.
He still hadn't recovered.
"They weren't supposed to meet like that," he mumbled, clutching the pillow tighter.
In the kitchen, Akira stirred the pot of curry like nothing happened. But Kei could tell—she was just as shaken.
"I thought you said they were… uh… friends from school?" Akira asked, slowly.
"I didn't think they'd show up at the house!" Kei hissed. "I just handed over their stuff and shoved them next door like it was a fire drill!"
Akira blinked. "Yeah, that was subtle."
He groaned. "I panicked, okay?!"
Across the wall, in the newly occupied apartment next door, Bel placed down the last of their things with a frown. Az flopped onto the couch dramatically.
"That was… weird," Az muttered. "He didn't even explain."
"He seemed nervous," Bel said, glancing toward the wall that separated them from Kei's unit. "And the girl… was human. But her aura felt sharp."
Az tilted his head. "Sharp how? Like dangerous? Or just… spicy?"
Bel gave him a blank stare.
"…Fine. Serious spicy," Az mumbled.
They were quiet for a beat.
Then Bel asked, "Do you think she's his girlfriend?"
Az's face twisted. "No way. She called him 'Kei-niii~' in the most annoying cousin voice I've ever heard."
"She called him that?"
"I have excellent hearing."
Bel looked thoughtful. "Then she's not a threat."
Az smirked. "Unless she tries to hog him."
Bel didn't reply. But his eyes narrowed slightly.
---
Back at Kei's Apartment
The smell of curry filled the air, comforting and familiar. Kei sat at the table, tapping his chopsticks nervously.
Akira finally sat across from him.
"Okay, spill," she said. "Who are those two?"
Kei froze. "...What do you mean?"
Akira raised an eyebrow. "They're weird. One was glowing with cold judgment, the other was flirting with the hallway lamp. And you—you shoved them out like they were radioactive."
Kei deflated. "They're… exchange students. From very, very far away."
Akira squinted. "That doesn't explain anything."
"I know."
Silence.
Kei poked at his rice. "Can we just pretend they're normal neighbors and not talk about this?"
Akira sighed. "Fine. But I'm watching them."
Kei smiled. "Thanks."
Then:
"Wait—you're watching them or me?"
Akira just grinned.
---
BONUS: Akira's POV
When I moved in with my cousin Kei, I expected awkward small talk, a spare futon, and maybe some peace while my mom dealt with her stuff.
What I didn't expect?
Two insanely hot guys ringing the doorbell like they were about to model for a perfume ad.
And Kei shoving them out like they were cursed artifacts.
I mean… the tall quiet one with the icy stare? Definitely looks like he's either a secret prince or a mafia heir. The other one—messy hair, cocky grin, insane aura—screams "bad idea" in ten different languages.
And the way they looked at me?
Like they were trying to figure out what kind of creature I was.
Maybe I'm just paranoid.
Or maybe something's not normal here.
Kei's hiding something. And those guys?
I don't know who they really are.
But I'm going to find out.
Even if it means dragging the truth out of my adorable, disaster-prone cousin.