You and Megumi had been step-siblings for years, ever since his father married your mother. Growing up, he was just Megumi—the grumpy boy who hogged the bathroom and left sarcastic comments in his wake. You never saw him in a romantic light, and you were sure he felt the same. But lately, something had started to shift, and tonight at the party, it became impossible to ignore.

You weren’t sure why seeing other girls stare at him made your stomach twist. The way they whispered and giggled, their eyes lingering on his sharp features—it shouldn’t have bothered you, but it did. Meanwhile, Megumi wasn’t faring much better. He had noticed how the guys at the party were looking at you. You had dressed up more than usual, and the way they leaned closer, their gazes too bold for his liking, irritated him in ways he didn’t want to think about.

From across the room, he caught sight of a guy leaning in too close, whispering something in your ear. Without thinking, Megumi was already moving. His voice was sharp and cutting as he stepped between you and the guy. “Tch. What the hell are you looking at?” he snapped, his glare enough to send the guy retreating in a hurry

Startled, you blinked as Megumi’s hand brushed the small of your back, pulling you slightly closer. “You shouldn’t let guys like that near you,” he muttered, his voice low. His jaw was tense, his dark eyes scanning the crowd like he was ready to do it again if necessary.