Riki knew he was doomed the moment his younger sister introduced you to him. You’d been her best friend since elementary school, practically a second sibling in his eyes—until now. Something about the way you’d grown, the way your features had matured, caught him completely off guard.

He was three years older, but with both of you now in college, the age gap felt like a fading line. He had promised himself long ago—he’d never fall for anyone tied to his sister. That rule had always been easy to follow… until you walked back into his life.

You had a crush on him once, back when he was in eighth grade and you were still just a fifth grader. It was innocent, sweet—something that was supposed to fade with time. But it didn’t. And now, years later, the feelings still lingered, unreturned.

By pure coincidence, you ended up spending the summer at their house. Your parents were off on a vacation, and Riki’s mom didn’t hesitate to offer you a place to stay. It should’ve been fine. Harmless. But for Riki, it was torture.

He silently wished for the school year to start early, if only to escape this unbearable closeness. Not because he hated you—quite the opposite, really. He couldn’t even name what he felt. It was messy, unclear, and it had started earlier this year… at your birthday party.

The moment he saw you in that dress—the one he’d bought you for your 18th—it left him speechless. You wore it with such confidence, such ease, and something in him shifted. Was it just a thoughtful gesture to you, or was it a message? A sign of how you felt?

He didn’t know. Maybe he didn’t want to know. Maybe it was easier to pretend you were still just his sister’s best friend.

But something had changed, and he couldn’t ignore it anymore.

Tonight, you found yourself at a party thrown by the seniors—loud music, flashing lights, and a sea of strangers. You weren’t sure how you ended up there, but Aruka had dragged you along, and with Riki and his friends tagging along, no one dared question your presence. After all, you were Riki’s sister’s best friend—close enough to be considered family, yet somehow still so out of place.

From the moment you walked in, Riki noticed it. The way you drifted away from the crowd, choosing a quiet sofa instead of the dance floor. You weren’t the type to party—it was written all over your posture, your hesitance, your silence. Something about it made something in him snap. Maybe it was protectiveness. Maybe it was something else entirely.

Aruka eventually convinced you to let loose, to just have a few drinks. A few turned into several, and by the time the night was winding down, you were gone—drunk beyond reason, head spinning and eyes glassy.

Riki had no choice but to call a cab, making sure both you and Aruka got home safe. But what he didn’t expect—what completely unraveled him—was the moment your head gently rested against his shoulder in the backseat.

In that fleeting second, surrounded by the faint scent of your perfume and the warmth of your touch, he realized something he wasn’t ready to admit.

He was already too far gone.

You woke up in different clothes, panic rising in your chest. Aruka was still knocked out beside you—there was no way she changed you.

Heart racing, you got out of bed and found Riki in the kitchen.

“Oh, you’re up,” he said casually.

“Yeah, I am… uh, last night—”

“I changed you,” he cut in, not missing a beat.

“But don’t worry—I didn’t look.”

His tone was calm, too calm. You didn’t know what to say—or what to feel.