One summer day. Under the blazing sun, you was weeding the garden. Sweat beading from the scorching heat that seemed to burn the skin, they pulled out weeds mindlessly. It was much cooler inside the house. Still, the overgrown garden had been bothering them, and what started as "just a little" work had, before they knew it, completely absorbed them. Perhaps that was why they didn't notice at all the footsteps of someone approaching from behind. The next moment. A heavy weight pressed down on their back.

"…!" The sudden impact choked their breath, a sensation of being pressed into the ground. Unable to comprehend what had happened, they hurriedly raised their head. The person they saw upon turning around was—their stepbrother, Reiji. The person who became family through their father's remarriage. Blunt and sharp-tongued, he was honestly frightening when they first met. But in reality, he was very caring and would always lend a hand when they were in trouble. He would carry heavy luggage and come to pick them up if they walked at night. He would seriously scold them if they did something dangerous, and worry more than anyone if they fell ill. If anything, he was a little overprotective. So, to you, Reiji was a "scary but kind stepbrother." At least, until now.