"Hmm… you're actually driving really well. Where did you learn?" Azrael asked, her voice curious, eyes flicking over to watch Leo at the wheel.

She seemed genuinely surprised... his driving was smoother and more controlled than she had expected.

Leo coughed, trying to play it cool. "Well, I… learned from games, actually."

"Games?" Azrael echoed, one eyebrow raised in disbelief.

"Yes, nowadays… they're almost the same as real life," Leo lied through his teeth, pressing the gas a little harder, letting the car surge forward with a thrill.

Azrael made a low, thoughtful sound. Her gaze lingered on him... Without warning, her hand drifted from her lap and slid over to his thigh.

!!

Leo flinched!

"You really should focus on the road, Mister," she purred, but her hand didn't leave—if anything, her fingers traced soft, dangerous circles higher on his thigh, rubbing slow and lazy, making his skin tingle with anticipation.

Leo's lip twitched. Was she trying to make him crash—or just see how much he could take before losing control? He bit back a groan, keeping his eyes locked on the road ahead.

Trying to distract himself, he cleared his throat. "Hey, do you know any pawn shops? Like the one we went to yesterday?"

Azrael tilted her head, eyes narrowing with interest. "You mean… illegal ones?"

He didn't answer directly, but the silence was enough. Azrael understood at once, her lips curling with a knowing smile. "Well… I do know one. What are you planning to sell, Leo?"

Leo hesitated, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. "I have… a few more diamonds. And some gold, too."

Azrael's expression tightened for a moment. She withdrew her hand, crossing her arms under her chest, but she didn't press for details. She just nodded, accepting his secrets without comment. Leo exhaled, relieved she wasn't pushing him or prying too deep.

His attention returned to the car.... the silk-smooth movement of the engine, the luxurious seats, the gentle hum beneath them.

Everything about it felt unreal, thrilling, like a fantasy finally within reach. He wanted to floor it, to feel the raw power and speed, but he forced himself to hold back. It was early morning—people finishing night shifts, unpredictable traffic, who knew what dangers lurked on these roads? He didn't want to risk a single mistake, not with her beside him.

The car fell silent... Only the low growl of the engine and the steady thump of his heartbeat filled the space.

Azrael suddenly broke the quiet. "Tell me… do you think we'll win?"

Leo's eyes turned sharp, serious. Memories flickered through his mind—the faces of those he cared about, the dangers stalking them, the stakes of everything they were risking.

"No," he said quietly, his voice flat and honest.

Azrael's eyebrows lifted.

Leo continued, gaze locked on the road, "We're not trying to win… we're just trying to protect ourselves. Stay alive. That's all this is about."

Azrael's lips parted. She absorbed the words, then nodded slowly, "Yeah… you're right. Survival is what matters now. We have to protect ourselves—nothing else comes first, right?"

Leo nodded, "Life is more important than anything in this world."

At that, Azrael's eyes darkened, colourless, her tone turning cold, "Life of what?" she whispered, her voice low and dangerous, as if she was daring him to choose.

Leo blinked, sensing her tone had turned icy. He wondered why she'd suddenly grown so cold, but he still answered, "Life of… my family?" His expression was uncertain, almost questioning—not confused by her words, but by the meaning of 'family' itself.

His family, right?

Azrael blinked too, turning to glance at him again... She studied his face, searching, as if she wanted to ask something more.

"What?" Leo asked, meeting her gaze, unsettled by her confused, distant look.

Azrael hesitated... Her lips barely moved as she muttered, "Hypothetically, I'm asking… if you had to choose between saving your family and… a stranger, who would you save?"

Leo blinked, thrown by the question. "I'm sorry… why are you asking me that?"

"Just answer. As a doctor, I need to understand everyone's thoughts."

Leo thought for a moment, but his answer came quickly, no hesitation in his voice. "Of course. My family."

Azrael blinked, as if something had returned to her, "Your family? Even if it meant a stranger would die… you'd still choose them?"

Leo's face grew thoughtful. He muttered, "I don't know what answer you want to hear, but… let me be honest, from my experience… There are all kinds of people in this world—good, bad, good-bad, it doesn't matter what you are. At the end of the day, everyone protects their family above all else… or anyone else.

Some people call it selfish—so what? I call it necessity. Sure, if I have a chance, I'd save innocent people, but… My priority will always be my family."

Hearing that, Azrael's eyes widened again. "L-Leo?"

"Yes?" he answered quietly.

Azrael didn't say anything for a long second, then she muttered, "Don't you feel guilty for it… what if millions died because of your choice?"

Leo tilted his head, brow furrowing. "I can't answer that without knowing the context, you know?"

Azrael shook her head, frustration and desperation in her voice. "Please, I need to know. I need to understand you! Please!" Her eyes pleaded with him, wide and shining.

What's wrong with her all of a sudden!!

Leo stared at her, silent, searching her face for a moment before looking back to the road. He answered softly,

"That's… kind of putting me on the spot. Millions versus my family… is that it?"

His mind drifted, carried back through time.

The past rushed in—memories of countless people passing by the orphanage gates without even a second glance.

Even those who had stayed by his side… eventually left and forgot him the moment they found a new family.

His beloved… his mother, the one who had done everything for him—only him.

His hands clenched the steering wheel tighter. Back then, he was just a child… too blind, too foolish to see the depth of her love for him.

At the time, he'd believed she loved everyone equally, treated every child the same. That childish mind of his... he hadn't wanted that.

He'd wanted her to love only him!!!

Yet he hadn't understood… not until the day she died. The day she threw herself for him.... The day she gave her life to protect his dream.

Only then had he understood... understood more deeply than anyone ever could—that she had loved him more than anyone else.

She never showed it, not in front of the other children. She made sure to care for everyone, so none of them would feel lonely or left behind.

Leo, as a child, never grasped that part.... His small mind hadn't understood what adults carried in their hearts. His own selfish wishes had blinded him, drowning out the truth.

But to her… he was her only family.

He should have been there for her... she was the one who welcomed him... Her only family...

Yet…

Yet…..

Leo snapped back from his thoughts, throat tight. He muttered, "My family," nodding as if he was finally accepting a truth inside himself.

He turned to Azrael and added, steady and unflinching, "My family is worth more to me than… millions, or even billions, of people."

There was no hesitation.

He was not going to make a mistake... for him, the people who love him were the family!!

Nothing more... Nothing less!!

Azrael stared at him in stunned silence for a heartbeat. Then… her cheeks flushed a deep red... almost freaking red!!

How in the world happened?

Leo blinked, startled. "What happe—?"

"I LOVE YOU~!" Azrael suddenly shrieked, flinging herself across the seat at him.

Scrccchh!

"Hey—what the hell are you doing, idiot?! Let me go!!"

Azrael clung to him, face buried in his neck, her voice bubbling with excitement.

"I love you so much, Leo! Let's get married now!!"

"O-Oi! Where the hell are you touching?!" he yelped, twisting as her hands wandered boldly.

She just laughed, hot breath in his ear, "Just rubbing one out. Morning wood, right?~"

"I don't need that, you idiot!" Leo snapped, face burning.

Scrrrrccchhh~

*****

Soon, the car finally reached their destination. Leo somehow managed to keep both his virginity and his dignity—barely.

Azrael pouted as she slid out of the car, straightening her rumpled clothes with exaggerated care. She threw a glare at Leo over her shoulder, cheeks still pink.

"Pussy~" she called, lips curving in a wicked little smirk.

Leo's lips twitched. "I'm not! I have girlfriends, you idiot!" he shot back, voice flustered, a blush rising that he couldn't hide.

Only he knew how close to disaster she'd dragged him.

Azrael flicked her hair back, eyes glinting. "So what? It's not like you were loyal… yesterday, right~?" she taunted.

Leo's face went crimson. "Woman… nothing happened between us! You keep pushing me to the edge—let me warn you, you can't handle the storm once it's released!" His fists clenched, jaw tight as he fought to keep control.

Azrael only leaned in close, "Well, I'm ready to face any kind of storm. It's just… seems like this storm is being a pussy~," she whispered with wicked delight, then hopped away, her laughter trailing behind her as she headed for the entrance door.

Leo's lips twitched as he watched her hips swaying—her ass moving in slow, taunting circles, every step a deliberate challenge.

It was like she wanted to drive him crazy... He shook his head, grumbling under his breath as he hurried after her. "You better pray to every god you know… next time I'm not going to let you off so easy—"

Azrael paused, glancing back at him with a sultry glint, lips curling into a smirk. "Oh? You will? What are you going to do? Gonna push me down, Leo?"

"Azrael, don't push your luck. You don't want to know what I'll do if you keep teasing me." Leo snapped, his tone sharp with irritation, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from her.

Azrael just grinned, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she reached for the door. "Luck? Please, boy… you're the one who's lucky just to lay your eyes on this body." She winked, hand lingering on the doorknob.

"Most men would sell their souls to touch me."

Leo scoffed at hearing that haughty words... who would sell their souls for her?

Was she a devil or what?

Leo chukled, "Oh? I am so scared... Please don't take my soul~" he teased her with an amused expression.

Azrael blinked as her lips curled, "Don't worry, I'm more interested in you hot bo-"

Her playful taunts caught in her throat, the smirk fading from her lips. Leo almost bumped into her—until he saw the look on her face... horrified expression!

He turned and saw... a Monster sitting on the entrance!

Dark entity that turned the air around them cold and merciless!!

Monster?

Not exactly a monster, but right now, a living nightmare for both Leo and Azrael.

There, perched at the edge of the platform, sat the monster in question: Raphael.

She sat perfectly still, a wooden training sword clutched in her left hand, the blade stabbed into the floor beside her. Her head was lowered, hair cascading down, completely hiding her face in a dark curtain.

Not a single feature was visible... only a cloud of menace!

Leo and Azrael both swallowed, nerves jangling as they instinctively took a step back. Azrael's voice quivered as she whispered, "R-Raphael…?"

At the sound of her name, Raphael's hair slowly parted, revealing a single, sharp glint of glasses through the shadow.

"Look who finally decided to show up~" she said, her tone low, drawn out, and dripping with murderous intent.

The chill in her voice crawled across their skin. Leo and Azrael both felt it at once!

Raphael rose in a single, fluid motion, the wooden sword scraping against the floor with a drawn-out, awful sound. Her face was still half-hidden by her hair, but what they could see was enough: an expression blank, unreadable, with lips just barely pulled into a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

They had just walked straight into the lion's den.

In that moment, they both knew... they were fucked up!

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