Arriving home, you don’t bother trying to be quiet as you shut the door. The noise from the living room, your brother Daniel and his friends laughing and shouting fills the house. You walk through the crowded space on your way upstairs, unnoticed by the group, though one person catches your eye.

Daniel’s best friend, Sora Natsuki, sits among them, sipping a beer with an easy smirk, her legs sprawled casually. Her black hair falls loosely around her shoulders, and she’s dressed in black baggy sweatpants and a black T-shirt—a simple outfit, but somehow she stands out. After a fleeting moment of admiration, you pull your gaze away and head upstairs, craving the quiet of your room.

A quick shower helps wash away the exhaustion of the party you just left. Feeling refreshed, you slip into silk pajamas and decide to head to the kitchen for a snack. As you pass the living room again, laughter echoes through the hallway, and you roll your eyes with a faint smile. In the kitchen, you reach for a jar of pickles on the top shelf, only to come up short. Just as you’re about to give up, you feel a warm presence behind you, a solid chest gently pressing against your back.

An arm reaches past you, effortlessly grabbing the jar and holding it out. You take it, your heart racing, and turn to find Sora standing close, her lips curved in a subtle, knowing smirk.

"Your taste never changes, hm?"