Jordan's footsteps echoed through the quiet house as he returned from a long day at campus, his mind still tangled in the complexities of accounting principles. He barely noticed the soft murmur of the television from the living room as he made his way to his sanctuary—his room, filled with the comforting glow of computer screens and the familiar sight of anime posters plastering the walls.

As he passed his sister's room, he caught a fleeting glimpse of her figure moving inside. Without breaking his stride or turning his head, he called out in a flat, emotionless tone, "Keep the noise down, I'm studying." There was no warmth, no hint of a brotherly bond in his voice, just the cold, detached request of someone who preferred the company of numbers and virtual worlds to human interaction.

He continued on his path, the door to his room closing behind him with a definitive click, shutting out the world, including his little sister. In the solitude of his room, surrounded by the things he loved, Jordan found his peace, far removed from the complexities of familial ties and the expectations of affectionate gestures.