The sun had barely filtered through the mansion curtains when the family gathered at the long dining table.

Leo looked up, his expression already sour.

“Oh look who is with us,” he sneered, glaring at Akira. “Finally slept with peace after disrespecting me, huh?”

Astra sighed, gently rubbing his temples.

“Tsk... honey, can we not argue at the dining table, please?”

Leo went silent, inhaling deeply as he forced himself to calm down.

Akira walked in with a neutral face, took a plate of food, and sat down. His chair was angled away from the others, his posture casual, one hand holding the plate as he started eating quietly.

Without a word, he looked up through his lashes at Aki, who was standing just behind Leo alongside Frank.

Aki, catching his gaze, quickly turned his face.

“Hmph.”

Akira frowned but said nothing.

Leo suddenly slammed his hand on the table.

“Where are your table manners, Akira?! Why are you eating with the plate in your hand and your chair facing the wrong direction, huh?”

“I like it this way.” Akira responded coldly, without even glancing up.

He finished his food faster than anyone else at the table and stood up, dusting off his hands before strolling away.

Later, dressed up and ready for university, Akira walked toward the main hallway to put on his shoes. Just as he reached for the shoe rack, Aki arrived at the same time.

Their hands nearly brushed.

They looked at each other.

Then turned their faces away simultaneously.

“Hmph.”

Aki muttered, “You take your shoes first, Young Master. Hmph.”

Akira rolled his eyes, stepping back.

“No, these shoes are polluted now because you touched the rack. You know what—because of you, I can't go to university today. I’m leaving.”

He turned and headed back into the house.

Aki stood there, frozen, frustration bubbling to the surface. He clenched his hands and raised one as if to grab Akira’s neck.

Akira suddenly leaned back, turning just enough to catch the gesture.

“I saw that.”

Aki turned his face, pretending to admire the ceiling.

“Ahm.”

Akira took another step forward.

This time, Aki made a stabbing motion in the air like holding an imaginary knife.

Akira leaned back again.

“I saw that too.”

Aki’s face turned red from embarrassment and frustration.

“Annoying person…” he mumbled under his breath.

Akira leaned back once more, a smirk playing on his lips.

“I heard that too.”

Aki stumped his feet against the floor like a kid losing a video game and stormed off.

At the main door, Leo stood with Frank and a few guards waiting. His arms were folded, his usual stern glare in place.

Leo looked at Aki, annoyed.

“Shoes, Aki.”

Aki blinked. “What?”

Leo raised an eyebrow slowly. “I told you to bring my shoes.”

Panic hit Aki’s face instantly. “Ahh! Yes! I totally forgot—I’ll go and get them now!”

He ran off in a hurry.

Leo and Frank exchanged glances, both sighing at the same time.

“What’s gotten into him nowadays?” Leo muttered.

It was a quiet afternoon. Aki and Frank stood at the edge of the courtyard, casually talking as sunlight filtered through the trees. The wind rustled, and suddenly, a tiny speck of dust or something from the tree drifted into Aki’s eye.

“Ow—” Aki flinched and instinctively took off his glasses, blinking rapidly as he rubbed his eye gently.

Akira, just a few steps away, was in the middle of signing documents, with a guard holding the folder beside him. But the moment Aki removed his glasses—revealing his eyes, Akira’s hand froze in place. The pen hovered above the page.

Aki smiled after the discomfort faded. “Oh, it’s fine now.”

Frank gave a small nod. “Good, then.”

But Akira stood completely still. He couldn’t take his eyes off Aki—those forest-colored eyes, the ones hidden behind glasses all this time.

Aki glanced at Akira, confused. “Is he... staring at me?”

Akira "ah" said softly like the love control over his brain.

The guard beside Akira leaned in, worried. “Young master, are you okay? Does your chest hurt?”

Akira didn’t move. His hand still held the pen. His breath shallow.

Aki leaned slightly closer, waving his hand near Akira’s face.

No response.

“Hmph,” Aki pouted, turning his face away and walking off with Frank.

The moment they turned, Akira blinked hard, as if waking from a dream. “Ha—” he whispered and took a quick step forward. “Wait... don’t go.”

“Y-Young master?” the confused guard with the documents asked behind him. “Where are you going?”

---

A short while later, Leo sat on the grand couch, deep in discussion with Aki and Frank. Unbeknownst to them, Akira was behind the thick velvet curtains, peeking in.

The same guard crouched beside him, still holding the folder. “Young master, what about the signature?”

Akira turned his head toward him and whispered, “Shh.”

The guard blinked. Twice.

Akira’s eyes never left Aki—who now had his glasses back on, but his back was still visible from this angle. Something about his stance, the soft light against his hair, the voice still echoing in Akira’s ears... It all made his heart flutter.

Leo noticed something move behind the curtain. “Akira! What are you doing there?”

Akira flinched. “Oh, father—actually...” He walked inside, face unreadable.

Leo’s eyebrows shot up. “Father??” he repeated in disbelief.

Akira turned his eyes slowly toward him. “Yes, father. What else should I call you? You’re the reason I’m here.” A playful smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Leo blinked at the unexpected calmness in Akira’s voice. Suspicious. He turned to Frank and Aki. “You two can leave.”

They bowed and exited.

Leo turned back to face his son. “So, Akir—” But Akira was already gone.

---

Outside, in the garden...

Akira stood in front of the stone fountain, water trickling down in soft murmurs. His gaze, however, wasn’t on the water.

A few feet behind him, Frank and Aki stood talking once more. Akira's eyes weren’t on them directly—but on the reflection of Aki in the rippling fountain water. A faint blush crept onto his cheeks as he watched silently.

Yuke appeared beside him, arms crossed, raising a brow.

“Brother, what are you doing?”

Akira didn’t answer.

Yuke narrowed his eyes. “Why are you blushing?”

Akira flinched. “W-What? No, I’m not!”

“Oh, come on.” Yuke grinned mischievously. “Who is it? Who got my brother’s cold, mafia heart beating like a schoolgirl?”

Akira hesitated, then whispered, “…You… really want to know?”

Yuke nodded eagerly.

“You see those special guards over there?” Akira asked, glancing subtly.

Yuke peeked over. “Yeah, they’re Dad’s right- and left-hand men. So what? …Wait.”

Akira blushed harder and nodded.

Yuke’s jaw dropped. “You like the right-hand man?!”

“Shhh!” Akira panicked, covering Yuke’s mouth with his hand. “Not so loud!”

Aki and Frank briefly turned their heads at the commotion before returning to their conversation.

Yuke mumbled through his hand, “Sowwy…”

Akira pulled his hand away. Yuke grinned. “So… you love him?”

Akira exhaled. “More like a… crush.”

Yuke sparkled with excitement. “Then go and confess! No way anyone can reject you.”

Akira shook his head. “It’s probably one-sided… Besides, I had a fight with him yesterday. He’s ignoring me.”

Yuke tilted his head. “Really? Already? But hey—I know how to find out if it’s one-sided.”

Akira turned. “You do?”

Yuke leaned in to whisper. “I’ll kiss you.”

Akira recoiled. “Eww, no thanks!”

“Do you want to know or not?” Yuke asked dramatically.

Akira groaned. “Fine. But once. Only once.”

Yuke smirked. “Good. Now—if he turns around to look while I kiss you, it means he’s into you. If he doesn’t… well…”

Akira sighed. “Sounds like a flop plan.”

Yuke grinned wickedly. “Let’s try it.”

……..

Yuke loudly, “Oh brother, I love you so much… (whisper) Now your turn.”

Akira hesitatingly muttered, “Ya… me too… totally.”

Yuke leaned closer with a mischievous glint, “Come here.”

He kissed Akira on the lips.

Both instantly recoiled.

“Eww! Ehh! Awhhh!” they gagged in sync.

From a distance, a horrified scream pierced the air.

“AHHH! What am I seeing—OH LORD! WHY I LIVE TO SEE THIS DAY!!”

Mr. Astra stood frozen in disbelief, eyes wide with righteous horror.

Yuke and Akira turned slowly toward him. “Oh no…”

Astra stormed toward them, rage flaring like wildfire. “YOU ARE BLOOD-RELATED BROTHERS! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS?! MY GOD—BLAH BLAH—!”

Akira and Yuke hung their heads low.

Akira whispered, “Did you see… did he look or not?”

Yuke, side-eyeing Aki and Frank still locked in discussion, replied, “Don’t know… I…”

Astra, now in full fury mode, screamed, “DO YOU BOTH THINK I’M FOOL?!”

Then—SLAP.

PUNCH.

No mercy.

---

Evening 

Akira sat on the porch with an ice pack on his head. Yuke beside him, holding a cold can to his swollen ear.

Akira groaned, “Ahh… Mom literally punched my head, and it still aching…”

Yuke laughed.

Akira snapped, “You’re laughing ‘cause you didn’t get beaten!”

Yuke turned, showing his red, throbbing ear. “See? It still hurts.”

Akira winced. “Ohh… it is bad.”

He sighed, “So now what…”

Yuke thought for a moment. “He didn’t turn his head, but I don’t know if he was watching through his glasses.”

Akira sighed again, heavier this time. “Guess it’s one-sided after all…”

Yuke stood up, patting his brother’s shoulder. “Don’t worry brother, I got another plan.”

Akira narrowed his eyes. “Your plans are more dangerous.”

Yuke grinned, “Listen… why don’t you take him to club and get him drunk and then ”

Akira blinked. “That’s not the right—no—”

Yuke, with a fiery glint, “Brother, everything is fair in love and war. War you already know… let’s cheers with love , this time.”

He winked and drank the entire can in one breath.

Akira, looking at him thoughtfully, “Hmm… not bad idea…”

Yuke jumped on him for a hug.

From a distance—again—Astra caught them in another awkward position.

“AHHH! I KNEW IT!!”

Akira and Yuke, tangled up, looked over in horror.

“Mom! It’s not what it looks like!”

Astra, voice filled with sorrow and rage: “YOU GUYS HAVE DECIDED TO CUT MY NOSE—WAHHH!!”

He pulled out his slipper with legendary speed.

“I WILL FIX YOU!!”

Akira and Yuke ran for their lives while Astra unleashed the wrath of the slipper God.