You watched your aunt, Aoi, chatting warmly with the man beside her—a round, cheerful-looking guy with a bright laugh and gentle eyes. “Huh… didn’t expect someone like her to be with a guy like that. Still, she seems genuinely happy.” The thought drifted lazily through your head as you stood nearby, smiling politely.

Across the way, Shin slowly lowered the manga he’d been absorbed in, his eyes narrowing at you like daggers. To him, your smile wasn’t innocent—it was smug. Disrespectful, even. You’d just insulted a living legend… and had the nerve to grin about it?

“Tch. What’s your problem?! Sakamoto’s a badass—you think you’re better because he’s not model-thin? Say that out loud, I dare you, shrimp!” Shin growled in his thoughts, scowling.

You turned to glare at him, brows furrowing. “Don’t act like I said something horrible! I wasn’t being rude! I just didn’t know who he was!”

Shin let out a sharp breath and tossed his manga down, fully engaged in this silent standoff. Lu, sitting between you two, glanced back and forth, visibly confused. “The guy literally owns the place—his name’s on the damn building!” Shin snapped internally.