After Hitomi arrived in the new city, she settled down fast with help from her dad's friend. The money her parents left was plenty for her and her little brother, Asahi, to live well. Now, they lived alone in the house, just the two of them, like before. Back in their old home, her aunt and uncle had been next door, but here, she didn't know a single soul.
It scared her at first, being in a strange place with no one familiar. But time passed, and she started university while Asahi went to school. She got comfortable, made friends at university, and found the neighbors to be kind. Slowly, everything fell into place.
Still, one thing nagged at her—her little brother, Asahi.
"Asahi, why don't you ever invite friends over?" she asked one afternoon.
Three years had gone by since they moved, but Asahi never mentioned friends or brought anyone home. She started to worry. Was he being bullied? Was something wrong at school? She asked him directly, but he just shrugged and said, "I don't want to invite them."
That wasn't enough for her. Worried, she went to his school without telling him and talked to his teacher. To her surprise, Asahi wasn't being bullied at all. He was a star—top of his class, great at sports, and popular with everyone. His handsome face had girls buzzing about him constantly. Hitomi couldn't believe it. She'd had no idea her quiet little brother was such a big deal.
That night, she pressed him again. "Asahi, why don't you bring friends here? Tell me the truth."
He looked at her, his expression soft and a little shy. "Because I don't want them to meet you," he said.
It was cute, the way he said it, and it warmed her heart. After that, she stopped asking. Truth be told, she felt the same—she didn't want her friends meeting him either.
Life moved forward. Now, Asahi was starting high school, and Hitomi had a job at a company. Their mornings followed a routine. She woke up, took a bath, and cooked breakfast while Asahi bathed. They ate together at the table, chatting about small things, and then she waved him off to school with a smile.
One morning, after he left, she went to the bathroom to tidy up. There, on the floor, was his underwear, carelessly tossed aside. Her breath caught. She knew it was wrong—knew she shouldn't—but the sight of it stirred something deep inside her. For six months, this had been her secret shame. She couldn't stop herself.
She bent down and picked up the soft fabric, her fingers trembling. The faint scent of him lingered, earthy and warm, and it hit her senses hard. Her towel, still wrapped around her from her bath, slipped to the floor as she stood there, naked and exposed. Her heart raced, guilt warring with desire, but her body won. She pressed the underwear to her nose, inhaling deeply, letting his smell flood her mind.
Her knees weakened, and she sank to the cold bathroom tiles, spreading her legs slightly. One hand held the cloth to her face, the other slid down her stomach, tracing the curve of her skin. Her fingers hesitated at her thighs, teasing the sensitive flesh there, before dipping lower. She gasped as she touched herself, her fingertips brushing against her wet heat. Slowly, she rubbed small circles, her breath hitching with each pass.
The sensation built fast. She pushed a finger inside, then another, feeling her walls tighten around them. Her movements grew frantic, sliding in and out, slick and desperate. Her hips rocked against her hand, chasing the pleasure that coiled tighter in her core. She moaned softly into the underwear, muffling the sound as she breathed him in, her mind lost in the forbidden thrill.
Her free hand clutched the fabric harder, pressing it against her lips now, tasting the faintest hint of him. She imagined his voice, his face, his closeness, and it drove her wild. Her fingers plunged deeper, curling inside her, hitting that spot that made her tremble. Wetness dripped down her thighs, pooling beneath her on the floor as she worked herself faster. Her body tensed, every muscle tightening, until the wave crashed over her. She cried out, a sharp, shuddering sound, as she climaxed, her legs shaking and her vision blurring with the intensity.
For a moment, she lay there, panting, the underwear still clutched in her hand. Then the guilt rushed in, heavy and cold. She dropped the fabric and sat up, her chest heaving. "I think I need to get away from Asahi," she whispered to herself, voice shaky.
Once, she'd asked him, "Do you have a girlfriend?"
He'd tilted his head and smiled. "I don't need any girl besides you."
Those words had made her so happy she couldn't sleep that night, replaying them in her mind. But now, she saw the danger in it. This wasn't right—she had to distance herself from him.
At the office, Hitomi finished her work and stretched her arms above her head, easing the stiffness in her shoulders. Someone approached her desk. She looked up and saw her boss, Senha—a stunning woman with sharp features and a dazzling presence. Every guy in the office fawned over her.
"Hitomi, can we talk?" Senha asked, her voice low.
"Of course," Hitomi said, smiling. Most people didn't know, but Senha was her best friend from university. They'd only overlapped for a year before Senha graduated, but their bond stayed strong. They met up daily, and Senha had even helped Hitomi land this job.
Senha shifted, looking uneasy. "Well… I'm leaving the company."
Hitomi frowned. "You're quitting?"
"No," Senha said. "The president offered me a spot at the overseas branch. I'm taking it. I'll be gone for three years."
"Oh," Hitomi said, her stomach sinking. She forced a smile. "That's great. Congratulations."
"Thanks," Senha replied, but her eyes were serious. "There's more, though."
"What?"
"Would you come with me?" Senha asked, leaning closer. "I can bring one person, and I want it to be you."
"Me?" Hitomi said, caught off guard. "But I can't. I have Asahi to look after."
"I thought of that," Senha said quickly. "He could stay with my older sister. You've met her—she's sweet and responsible. She'd take good care of him. It's just three years."
Hitomi hesitated. "I don't know…"
"Please, just think about it," Senha said, grabbing Hitomi's hands. "Take three days to decide. I don't want to go somewhere new with no one I trust."
Hitomi raised an eyebrow. "Maybe you'd have more friends if you didn't act so cold to everyone."
Senha pouted. "Please?"
"Fine," Hitomi sighed. "I'll think about it."
Later, they went out for drinks, laughing and talking like old times. Then Hitomi headed home, her mind spinning with the choice ahead.