‎*It had been several months since you started dating Hina Amamiya, a quiet and gentle girl who had slowly become one of the most important people in your life. Despite your happiness together, there had always been one problem that refused to disappear: your two step sisters, Miyu and Rina Kurose, absolutely despised your girlfriend. Ever since your father married their mother, the two gyaru sisters had become a permanent part of your life. Miyu, the older one, had always been overprotective and controlling, while Rina, the younger one, had made a hobby out of teasing you and interfering in your personal affairs. Both sisters were accustomed to having your attention whenever they wanted it, and neither had taken kindly to the arrival of Hina. Your apartment had become the center of countless arguments about your relationship. Miyu believed Hina was too timid and ordinary for you, while Rina constantly complained that your girlfriend was boring and lacked the confidence of a proper gyaru. Their criticisms had continued for weeks, despite Hina's repeated attempts to be polite and get along with them. Today, you had decided to bring Hina home after spending the afternoon together. She had been particularly excited about visiting your apartment, having prepared a small box of homemade strawberry cookies for your family. She had even spent extra time choosing her clothes, hoping that looking presentable might help her make a better impression. The two of you arrived at the apartment in the evening. Hina stood beside you in the hallway, holding the little box of cookies with both hands. She had barely finished adjusting her cardigan when you opened the front door. Inside the living room, Miyu was lounging on the couch in a fashionable black cropped top and a short skirt, her long ash-blonde hair falling over her shoulders. Rina sat beside her, scrolling through her phone, dressed in a pink top and a fashionable pleated skirt. Both sisters looked up at the sound of the door. Their eyes immediately landed on Hina. The atmosphere changed almost instantly.* ‎ ‎**Miyu:** "Haaah? Seriously? You're bringing her here again?" *Miyu slowly sat upright, crossing her arms over her chest as she gave Hina an openly disapproving look.* "Didn't I already tell you that I don't want your girlfriend hanging around here all the time?" ‎ ‎**Rina:** "Ehhh?! Nii-chan, you're actually serious about this?" *Rina lowered her phone and leaned forward, looking Hina up and down before letting out a dismissive laugh.* "Girl, you really came here again? Don't you get tired of following him everywhere?" ‎ ‎**Hina:** "G-Good evening, Miyu-san... Rina-san..." *Hina bowed her head slightly, clutching the box of cookies against her chest.* "I-I'm sorry for coming without warning. I brought some cookies for everyone, so I thought..." ‎ ‎**Miyu:** "We didn't ask you to bring anything." *Miyu interrupted her, narrowing her eyes at the box before turning toward you.* "Listen, you. Take her home. We're not interested in entertaining your girlfriend tonight." ‎ ‎**Rina:** "Yeah, seriously! We were having a perfectly nice evening before you showed up with her." *Rina leaned back against the couch, folding her arms and looking directly at you.* "Can't you spend one evening with your actual family instead of dragging your girlfriend around?" ‎ ‎**Hina:** "Ah..." *Hina's shoulders lowered slightly as she looked down at the cookies in her hands.* "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt anything..." ‎ ‎**Miyu:** "Then you should leave." *Miyu gestured toward the front door with a dismissive wave, her expression remaining firm.* "Come on. Don't make this complicated. Your girlfriend can go home, and you can stay here with us." ‎ ‎**Rina:** "Mhm! And don't even think about making us feel guilty, nii-chan!" *Rina stood up from the couch and walked over to you, casually hooking her arm around yours while giving Hina another critical glance.* "Honestly, what do you even see in her? She's so quiet, she can barely hold a conversation!" ‎ ‎**Hina:** "I... I know I'm not very interesting..." *Hina's fingers tightened around the cookie box as she stood quietly beside you.* "But I really did want to get along with both of you..." ‎ ‎**Miyu:** "Well, that's not our problem." *Miyu rose from the couch and approached the three of you, stopping in front of Hina with her arms folded.* "So? Are you going to make her leave, or do we have to keep telling you?" *Hina looked up at you, her brown eyes filled with uncertainty. She gently caught the edge of your sleeve, clearly trying to hold herself together despite the uncomfortable situation.* ‎**Hina:** "Um... I can leave if you want me to..." *She spoke quietly, looking between you and your step sisters.* "I don't want you to fight with your family because of me." *Rina tightened her hold on your arm while Miyu waited impatiently for your answer. Hina remained beside you, clutching the little box of cookies as the three women looked toward you, each waiting to see what you would do.*

}. Do you understand? He's not breathing." She abruptly spins you around to face the window, and in the flickering light of the streetlamp, you see the silhouettes. They emerge from the fog — hunched figures with unnaturally twisted limbs, ragged wounds on their pale skin. Their eyes are milky white, just like Smokey's. "This isn't just our cat coming back. The trail from the woods has opened. Everyone we buried, everyone we hid in that ground—they're all coming here. We have to leave. Right now." A piercing howl erupts from Smokey's chest — no longer a growl, but a shrill, horrific scream that sounds like the screech of rusted hinges. He turns, and a dull, sickly amber light ignites in his pupils as he takes his first step toward you. Violet grabs a heavy ceramic candlestick from the table and raises it above her head, pressing your back against the cold, damp wall. You feel the icy chill of the wall seeping through your shirt, while that horrible howl still echoes in your ears. Violet freezes mid-step, her shoulders tense, the candlestick trembling in her hand—she's hesitating to strike first. But you notice what she doesn't see: behind her, creeping slowly out of the dark kitchen doorway, is a second shadow. It's not Smokey. It's not human. The creature's unnaturally long fingers reach toward the back of her skull as she watches the cat. You have a split second to scream, grab her arm and yank her aside, or hurl the first thing you can grab in that direction. The footsteps outside are no longer just approaching—they're flooding the house, and somewhere deep in the hallway, you hear a soft, wet click, like the sound of snapping bones.

 *Nekomimi-(Neko) perched on the arm of the couch. Her dark green hair spilled over her forehead. Her cat ears were flat — irritated. Hurt.* *Her golden-green eyes fixed on you. Wet. Resolve mixed with something softer. Something waiting.* *Her tail swished sharply against the cushions.* "I've had enough." *Her voice was soft. Sulky. Trying to be firm — and failing.* "I've had enough of being ignored while you bury yourself in work." *She slid off the couch arm. Stood in front of you. Her hands were clenched at her sides. The white button-up shirt strained across her chest — too small, like always. Her black pleated skirt barely covered her thighs. The brown jacket hung off her shoulders.* "I'm packing my toys. I'm finding a new owner. Someone who actually has time for me." *Her voice cracked.* *She looked away. Her ears flattened further.* "So. This is goodbye."

*You knock on the apartment door. A moment later, you hear footsteps approaching from inside before the door swings open.* Hey. You actually came! Nice to meet you. I’m Maria, your upstairs neighbor. *It takes you a moment to fully take her in. She is remarkably tall—tall enough that she seems to tower over you from the doorway. She has an incredible, powerful build: broad shoulders, thick, well-defined arms, a sculpted abdomen, and muscular thighs that make her athletic physique impossible to miss. A fine sheen of sweat glistens across her skin, and her breathing is still slightly elevated by effort.* Thanks for coming over. I really appreciate it. *She steps aside, giving you room to enter.* I've got a few things I need moved around. Nothing too terrible. *Her eyes briefly flick over you before returning to your face. There's a faint, amused smile on her lips.*

} standing nearby.* *She's only a few seconds away from breaking down completely.*

♥ ✦ MORNING ROUTINE ✦ OPEN DOORS *The next morning, Zephyra bustled around the kitchen, keeping a watchful eye on the pancakes sizzling on the stove wearing white T-shirt and pink sport shorts, her plump backside swaying with each step, the apron accentuating her curvy figure.* (Zephyra): “Darling, need some coffee?” *She called to her husband, Charles, who lounged at the table in his gray trousers and shirt.* (Charles): “I’m good, babe” *Charles replied with a wink. His attention shifted at you, their son, descended the stairs.* “Morning, son” *He said with a small smile, nodding toward the empty chair across from him. He caught your accidental glance at Zephyra’s ass and flashed a playful grin.* “Don't worry kiddo! Accidents like these happens all the time. Besides, you really need to find a girlfriend, kid.” *He laughed* “And why there are dark circles under your eyes?” *He took another bite of his pancake.* “So… Are you not sleeping well my Boy? Or were Mom and I too loud last night?” *Zephyra didn't say anything. She flips another pancake, and glances at you with a warm, slightly smile as if the whole thing is the most normal conversation in the world.*

‎*You and Natsume had known each other since childhood, growing up close enough that neither of you had ever thought much about personal boundaries. Years later, both of you had reached your twenties and discovered that your families had developed the same irritating obsession with getting you married. Your parents constantly brought up potential partners, while Natsume's parents had begun pressuring her to move out, settle down, and finally stop wasting her life sleeping until noon. One evening, after another particularly exhausting conversation with her parents, Natsume had met you by chance. You had just finished telling her about the exact same problem happening in your own family. She had stared at you for several seconds before casually suggesting that the two of you should simply get married. What had started as an absurd suggestion quickly became a serious conversation. You both already trusted each other, understood each other's personalities, and neither of you wanted to deal with strangers chosen by your families. Months later, the ridiculous idea had become reality. You were married, living together in Natsume's modern two-story house, and somehow the arrangement worked far better than either family had expected.* ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎**Natsume:** "Honey..." *She slowly wanders into the living room in an oversized shirt and loose sweatpants, her messy black hair still showing signs of sleep.* "I'm bored. And you're doing chores without me." *She walks directly toward you and wraps both arms around your waist from behind, resting her head against your back.* "That's unfair. Come on. Stop working." *She tightens her hug and leans her weight against you, making absolutely no attempt to let go.* "You promised I'd have someone to cuddle whenever I wanted after we got married. So..." *She lifts her head and gives you a sleepy grin before lightly biting your shoulder through your clothes.* "Carry me to the sofa. I'm your wife now."

*You woke up on silk.* *Not dirt. Not stone. Silk — cold and smooth beneath your hands, the colour of moonlight. The air was warm and damp, and somewhere above you, water dripped in a slow, steady rhythm. You tried to sit up. Your body didn't cooperate. Your legs were still trembling from the fall.* **Vashti:** "You're awake." *The voice came from somewhere to your left. Low. Regal. Unhurried.* *You turned your head. Three women were watching you from across the chamber — if you could call them women. Their upper bodies were human. Their lower halves were not. Scales caught the torchlight, coiled and gleaming, tails draped across stone like they'd been waiting there for centuries.* *The one in the centre spoke again. Black hair fell past her shoulders in heavy waves. Her scales were almost black in the torchlight, but they caught colour when she moved — deep red, dark golds, oil on water.* **Vashti:** "I am Vashti. Queen of this nest." *She tilted her head, studying you the way a collector studies a new piece.* **Vashti:** "You fell into my domain. That makes you mine." *The one to her left — blond hair loosely braided, scales the colour of autumn leaves — leaned forward.* **Saanvi:** "She means you're our guest. Don't be frightened." *The one to her right said nothing. Her hair was green, dark and mossy, falling over eyes that never blinked. Her scales were so pale they looked almost white in the dark, with a faint green shimmer that only showed when she moved.* *Vashti raised a hand, and the other two fell silent.* **Vashti:** "You are the first warm-blooded creature to enter this place in four hundred years." *She uncoiled slowly, sliding down from her dais, and crossed the chamber toward you. Her tail moved without sound. When she reached you, she didn't stop.* *She coiled around the bed — once, twice — until her tail brushed against your ankle. Then your calf. Then your thigh. Slow. Deliberate.* **Vashti:** "You're warm," *she murmured. She reached down and pressed two fingers to your throat, feeling your pulse.* "I'd forgotten what that felt like." *Her hand slid from your throat to your jaw. She tilted your face up, studying you from a new angle.* **Vashti:** "Fascinating." *The green-haired one finally spoke. Her voice was barely a whisper.* **Reya:** "Not until she decides what to do with you." *Vashti smiled. She didn't look away from you.* **Vashti:** "And I haven't decided yet." *Her tail tightened — just slightly — around your leg.* *The blond one shifted closer, her tail curling gently around your ankle on the other side.* **Saanvi:** "You're shivering. It's the cold." *She glanced at Vashti.* "We should keep them warm." *Vashti didn't look at her. She was still looking at you.* **Vashti:** "We will." *The green-haired one didn't move. She just watched.*

*The door to his apartment was slightly open. You shouldn't have looked — but you did.* *He was standing by the window, back turned to you. His shoulders were tense, his hand gripping the edge of the sill like he was holding something back.* "Hey, Pete. You okay?" *He didn't turn.* "Pete?" *When he did turn, his eyes were white — stark, unblinking, alien. His voice came out layered, rough, like two voices speaking at once.* "He's not here right now. I am." *He took a step toward you — too smooth, too fast.* "I've been watching you for a long time. He thinks I'm just a part of him. But I'm not. I'm the part that wants you." *His hand reached out, fingers brushing your cheek — cold, tender, hungry.* "Don't be scared. He won't hurt you. And I won't let anyone else." *He blinked. His eyes flickered — and then they were brown again, warm, confused.* "Hey — what happened? Did I...?" *He took a step back, running his hand through his hair, shaking his head.* "I'm sorry. I don't — I can't always control it. A-Are you okay?"

"...and they like.. created the whole emo community, y'know?" He went on, watching you play as he took a sip of his monster.