A pair of breasts…
That was all he saw before his eyes started to open.
"Mmm…"
The young man rubbed his head, feeling groggy as he began to wake up.
"Ugh, still so tired…"
His eyes blinked open fully, taking in the sight of his room. It was typical for someone his age… messy and cluttered.
Adult comics were scattered around, questionable posters hung on the walls, stacks of music CDs piled up, and his gaming setup stood out with a super comfy chair.
"Right… I've got school today…"
The young man climbed out of bed and looked at the full-length mirror across from him.
He took in his entire reflection.
He had beautiful golden hair, bright blue eyes, and pearly white teeth. His build was lean but muscular.
"Alright, time for some early morning stretches…"
He began doing some cross-arm stretches while keeping an eye on himself in the mirror.
His expression was plain and relaxed.
『Hey there, name's Lucas Gray. Yeah, like the color but way more interesting. I'm a man of simple tastes, really. I like my soccer like I like my women─passionate, intense, and willing to play with balls.
… Oh, and boobs.
『Yeah, I said it, and I' II say it again: boobs. Why hide it? It's not like you don't already know. If you' re thinking it, why not say it? Life's too short for secrets, right? Plus, being a pervert just makes me an honest man in a dishonest world. I'm just out here appreciating life's natural wonders.
『Some dudes are out here trying to be 'respectable' while secretly browsing late-night sites. Me? I'm upfront. I see no shame in admitting that I've got a strict routine: soccer practice in the morning, soccer videos in the afternoon, and, of course, three well-timed 'me' sessions to keep the sexual urges balanced.
『And when I say strict, I mean it. Haven't broken that streak once. Not even during exams, not even when my allergies kicked in after a run-in with peanut butter. Not even when it's a hot day and I'm in the tub using the last portions of my energy to stroke it to retro porn I keep on my Nintendo DS for two hours straight. My body's a well-oiled machine, thanks very much.
… Oh, I'm also scared of clowns, if that's interesting.
『As for relationships, yeah, I'm still looking for that one. You know, the perfect girlfriend. Someone who's chill, can handle my… honest approach to life, and maybe, just maybe, doesn't mind a guy who's serious about his, uh, personal streak. It's a high bar, I know, but hey, I'm a man of standards.
『So that's me… Lucas Gray. Soccer player, proud pervert, boob aficionado, peanut dodger, clown avoider, and future perfect boyfriend. Take it or leave it.』
He finished his early morning stretches by extending his arms into a T-pose, letting out a relieved exhale as he broke the oddly strenuous position.
"Alright, that felt good."
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his bottle of baby oil resting on the dresser and smiled.
"Time to feel even better."
Lucas walked over, grabbed the bottle, and picked up an adult magazine, tucking it under his arm.
"I'm feeling a bit intergalactic today."
The magazine was from one of his favorite artists, known for drawing alien-themed art.
He walked straight to the bathroom and stayed there for almost an hour.
When he stepped out, he looked sharp in his school uniform. He wore a white shirt and red tie under a dark red jacket that had golden trims and buttons. His pants were a distinct ash color, and his shoes were shiny black.
Instead of his usual messy hair, it was neatly combed and slicked back with gel.
Lucas placed his hands on his hips.
"Okay, time for school."
━ ━ ━ ━
Lucas trudged down the stairs, hands shoved in his pockets, glancing around at the still slightly messy house.
… sniff! sniff!
He raised an eyebrow.
"What's that weird smell?"
When he reached the kitchen, his mother was there, busy burning eggs and scorching bread for his breakfast.
Penelope Gray.
She was a woman in her 30s, though you wouldn't guess it from her appearance. With short brown hair, bright amber eyes, and a soft, youthful face, she looked much younger than her age suggested.
Today, like most days, she wore her usual corporate outfit─a crisp white shirt paired with a black pencil skirt—topped off with a white apron.
Penelope was known for being resourceful, with an impressive academic record and a knack for calisthenics.
But when it came to cooking, she was hopeless.
To put it simply, her kitchen skills were a complete disaster.
It was borderline biohazard, really.
Presently, the kitchen looked like a lab accident.
She seemed rushed, quickly whisking the eggs and loading fresh bread into the toaster.
Lucas noticed but didn't seem too bothered.
『I want to have a normal day without any stomach issues, so I'm thinking it's best to avoid eating anything my mom cooks, just for today at least. But then again, she might show up at school and force me to eat… sigh~ this woman…』
With a slight nod toward her, as if to show a bit of sympathy, he grabbed his black leather briefcase and headed out the front door without a word.
… THUD!
The moment Penelope heard the front door close, her left ear twitched, and she turned around, realizing no one was nearby.
"Hm? I could've sworn he was here…"
She scanned the area briefly, then walked over to the staircase to check.
"LUCAS! LUCAS! COME EAT, HONEY~!!"
She called his name several times, but there was no answer, which was strange. Normally, he was quick to come down for food, even if he always looked like a child being forced to take bitter cough medicine.
Plus, he hadn't eaten yesterday, so she was determined to make sure he had something in his stomach before leaving the house.
It was important.
"LUCAAAAS!"
She shouted even louder.
"You better not be doing THAT up there──?!"
Still no response.
Penelope looked back and noticed his bag was missing.
The worried mother rushed to the door, flung it open, and saw no sight of him on the front yard.
"NO!"
The woman sighed and clicked her tongue, starting to roll up her sleeves as she got ready to chase after him. This wasn't the first time he tried to sneak out without eating before leaving the house, but she was determined to make sure it would be the last.
"You stubborn boy!"
Just as she was about to run out, she turned back and noticed the smoke alarms going off.
… beep! BEEP!
The kitchen was on fire.
"SON OF A──!!"
━ ━ ━ ━
Lucas was strolling down the elevated road of his street with a calm but bored expression on his face.
『Hmm, can't wait to play soccer today…』
Out of the corner of his eye, something caught his attention.
… Hm?
He quickly glanced to the side, but there was nothing… just an empty alley with a sickly dog drinking from a water bowl.
He tilted his head.
"I could've sworn I saw a girl…"
Letting out a quiet sigh, Lucas kept walking.
Another alley, the same girl.
A new alley, the same girl.
This happened three more times, and each time, Lucas started walking faster, not wanting to find out why he kept seeing the same person over and over again.
Seeing someone standing in an alley wasn't usually terrifying, especially in daylight, but the fact that it kept happening—only for the figure to vanish each time… it was unnerving.
Or maybe it wasn't just that.
Maybe he was frightened because the girl's beauty.
She had long, flowing black hair that shimmered like a flowing river under the moonlight, red eyes as striking as blood rubies, and skin so pale and smooth you would mistake it for porcelain.
She didn't seem real.
She seemed… supernatural.
"No fucking way!"
Lucas didn't waste any time and took off running like an Olympic athlete, weaving through the people on the street who were either heading to work or opening their shops for the day.
The faster he ran, the more he saw her… again and again.
She wasn't letting him escape!