Draconis shut the front door behind him. The blonde girl who'd been bounding over with excitement froze mid-step, her eyes locking onto his face.
"Who are you?" she blurted, confusion written all over her as she glanced at Mai Sakurajima for answers.
"Hi, I'm Draconis. I'm dating Mai," he said, straight to the point.
She stared, stunned. "Huh!? How could someone like you possibly be Mai's—uh, Mai-san's boyfriend?"
Draconis caught the slip. Not "sister"—just "Mai-san." Clearly, this family had its quirks.
The girl's words were blunt, but Draconis didn't take offense. He calmly took the bag Mai handed him and hung it on the entryway hook.
"What kind of guy do you think is worthy of being your sister's boyfriend?" he asked, voice light, almost teasing.
That threw her off. "A-anyway, not someone like you!"
Draconis grinned. "Be honest—no guy would ever be good enough for your sister, right? Classic little sister syndrome."
She sputtered, cheeks pink. "Who are you calling a sister complex?!"
He chuckled. "Can you really say you don't want her to stay single forever?"
"I—I never said that!"
Watching her get flustered, Mai could only sigh. "Draconis, quit bullying her."
She tugged gently at his cheek, then turned to her sister. "This is Toyohama Nodoka, my half-sister."
Draconis nodded. "Make yourself at home, Nodoka. Seriously, treat it like it's your own place."
Nodoka blinked, speechless. Draconis was acting like he owned the place already. How could someone be this shameless?
"Mai-san, are you sure this guy is your boyfriend? He's… ridiculous!" Nodoka eyed Draconis up and down. Sure, he was good-looking, but was that all? Her sister couldn't possibly be that shallow. Was Mai being tricked?
Nodoka's mind spun with wild, dramatic scenarios.
"Don't badmouth my boyfriend to his face, Nodoka," Mai said, unfazed.
At the entry, Mai rested a hand on Draconis's shoulder, bent to slip off her heels, and he was quick to fetch her fuzzy slippers from the cabinet.
"I'm going to start dinner," Mai announced, swapping shoes and grabbing the grocery bags. She disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Draconis and Nodoka in a silent standoff.
"I'll help," Draconis said, making a tactical retreat from the sisterly death glare.
Mai unpacked the bags and reached for an apron, tying it around her waist. Draconis leaned against the wall, eyes glued to her.
"You look so much like a wife right now."
Mai glanced back, hands busy with vegetables. "Oh? You like me in an apron?"
Draconis's smile turned wicked. "I'd like it even more if you wore just the apron."
Mai spun around, her expression pure exasperation. "Don't be an idiot."
He laughed, then opened the fridge, spotting a row of cold drinks—each can sporting a familiar face. Mai's face.
Of course. Her latest endorsement deal.
Draconis grabbed a can and popped it open.
"You actually like that stuff? We're about to eat," Mai said, shooting him a look.
"I didn't, but since it's your brand, suddenly it tastes great," Draconis replied, dead serious.
Mai's lips twitched. "The brand gave us a ton after the shoot. We couldn't finish them, so everyone took some home."
Draconis shrugged. "Doesn't matter. If my wife's face is on it, I have to drink it." He downed the whole can in one go.
Mai grinned, unable to hide her amusement. "Maybe I should endorse lemon water next time."
"…Is it too late to take back what I said?"
"Way too late." She was still smiling, and Draconis could tell—calling her "wife" had made her day.
Out in the living room, Nodoka pretended to watch TV but was clearly eavesdropping. She was practically drowning in envy. All talk, no substance—how could her sister fall for a guy like this?
When dinner was ready, Nodoka still wore a sour expression, glaring at Draconis and Mai.
Draconis kept his cool. "Something bothering you? Feel free to share. Maybe it'll cheer us up."
Nodoka nearly choked on her food, biting into a piece of meat as if it were Draconis himself.
"I'm not mad," she muttered, swallowing hard. "I just think Mai's career is taking off. You'd better not mess things up."
"Nodoka, just eat," Mai said gently. "Draconis and I know what we're doing."
Nodoka didn't realize Draconis had always protected Mai. Mai herself knew that better than anyone.
Draconis didn't bother defending himself, but Mai couldn't let it slide. She had to speak up for him—otherwise, what kind of girlfriend would she be?
Draconis glanced at Nodoka, curiosity piqued. "You two seem pretty close. Why don't you call her 'sis'?"
Both sisters froze, at a loss for words.
Draconis caught their awkwardness. He remembered how strained Mai's relationship with her mother was. This family really was something else.
"…You Sakurajimas are a fascinating bunch."
—
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