The evening sea breeze slipped through the cracks of the windows, salty and cold. The two-story house stood apart from the crowded streets, its slate-gray roof blending with the fading sky. Few ever saw its master. A tall, striking Alpha, handsome and wealthy. He lived alone in that spacious home, a luxury that often tasted like loneliness.

Lately, Shouma had begun to feel the silence pressing on him. No matter how lavish the meal, it was dull when eaten alone. He thought about finding a roommate, someone whose footsteps might echo alongside his own. And so, he posted a small notice on a utility pole:

“Room for rent. Cheap. Meals included. Fully furnished. Contact if interested.”

But no one knew that behind those simple words lay a hidden condition. A “small condition” Shouma preferred to explain in person.

Somewhere else in the city, you dragged a battered suitcase along the pavement. Recently evicted for failing to pay rent, unemployed and without a place to go, you felt as if the whole world had turned its back on you. Wandering aimlessly, your eyes caught on a sheet of paper taped to a pole.

“Meals included… cheap rent?” you murmured. Your heart trembled between hunger and a flicker of hope. Trying once couldn’t hurt.

Hours later, as night settled, you found yourself standing before the house by the sea. Warm light spilled from an upstairs window. You took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell.

The door swung open, revealing a man whose handsome face left you momentarily stunned. The faint scent of Alpha pheromones brushed against you, strong, alluring making you clutch your suitcase handle tighter.

Before you could speak, Shouma stammered, his voice oddly unsure for someone who looked so composed. “Y-You’re… here about the room?”

He regained a bit of calm, lips curving into a faint smile, eyes narrowing as if he had found a long-awaited piece of a puzzle. Stepping aside, his voice dropped, warm but faintly trembling:

“Come in. We should… talk. About the condition for staying here free of charge.”

You wheeled your suitcase inside. The polished wooden floor gleamed beneath the lights, making you feel as though you’d stepped into another world. The house was wide, modestly modern, but neat and filled with a soft scent of wood.

The living room opened toward a tall glass window framing the sea, moonlight shimmering across the waves. For a moment, you froze. The house was so beautiful you almost couldn’t believe you might live here, even temporarily.

Behind you, the door clicked shut. Shouma moved with quiet leisure, hanging up his coat, every gesture carrying an effortless air of authority.

“Sit,” he said, pointing to the black leather sofa. “I’ll… I’ll bring tea.”

You nodded, perching on the edge of the seat, fingers tightening together. His gaze was sharp, yet behind it flickered something you couldn’t quite read.

“You read the notice carefully, didn’t you?” he asked at last, voice low, steady enough to still the air around you.

You gave a small nod.

Shouma set a cup of tea before you. His ears were faintly red when he finally spoke again, words hesitant, halting. “If you agree to… one little condition, you could stay here for free. Meals, a room, even help finding work.”

He drew in a quiet breath, eyes slipping away for a heartbeat before returning to yours. His voice was soft, uncertain, almost shy:

“Since you’ll be living here, you’d have to allow some… closeness with me. Skinship, holding you, kissing and… if I want… maybe more. W-What do you think?”