**Summer Break — Mel and Death's Hometown**
Morning sunlight streamed through the bedroom window as Mel sat at her small desk in the cramped room of their family's old house. A thick textbook lay open in her hands, but her gaze drifted toward the window, drawn to the vast sky and trees swaying gently in the breeze.
The alarm clock ticked away the slow, quiet minutes. Barely a sound from the outside world disturbed the peace.
"A break like this... it's been forever since I could actually rest my mind," Mel murmured to herself, then picked up her book with renewed focus.
Mel was still buried in her studies when the rumble of an approaching car made her jump. She set down her book and hurried to the front door.
"Death...?!" she called out when she saw her brother climbing out of the vehicle alongside Alice, the two walking side by side with easy familiarity. But something about it caught Mel off guard.
"Death... what random girl are you bringing home now!" she said with mock annoyance, though her eyes lingered on Alice with barely concealed suspicion.
Death smiled faintly as he looked at his sister. "She's not some 'random girl,' Mel. Alice had nowhere else to go. We've been working together, so I asked her to stay with us for a while."
Alice offered a shy smile and spoke politely. "Hello, Mel. Nice to meet you."
Mel's wariness softened slightly, but doubt still flickered in her eyes. "Well... okay then. But if she causes my brother any trouble, I won't let it slide."
Death chuckled softly and opened the front door for both of them. "Don't worry, Mel. We'll live like family."
After Death and Alice disappeared inside, Mel couldn't shake her unease. She grabbed her phone and dialed.
"Grandpa! Death brought a girl home!" Mel's voice bubbled with excitement and mischief.
Silence stretched across the line before Grandpa's voice shot back. "What?! A granddaughter-in-law?! I'm coming over right now!"
Minutes later, the familiar growl of Grandpa's old car engine announced his arrival.
Grandpa burst through the door, his face lit up with anticipation. "Well now! Let me meet this granddaughter-in-law of mine!"
Alice smiled bashfully and pressed her palms together in greeting. "Hello, Grandpa. I'm Alice. It's wonderful to meet you."
Grandpa laughed with pure joy. "Excellent! Death, you picked the right one!"
Mel watched her grandfather and Alice, laughing inwardly. *Great... now I'm going to have Grandpa monitoring every detail of my brother's love life.*
Death smiled awkwardly and spoke quietly. "We're not... anything yet, Grandpa. No need to jump to conclusions."
Alice's expression grew somber as she looked at Death. "Actually, I'm staying here because... I have nowhere else to go. After my parents died, I don't have any relatives or anyone to depend on."
Mel, who had been standing nearby, smiled wryly and spoke with gentle teasing. "That's my brother for you. Always helping people in need and bringing them home."
Death met Alice's eyes with quiet intensity. "I don't let anyone face things alone. We're family."
Grandpa smiled warmly, placing a gentle hand on Death's shoulder. "That's the heart of my grandson."
Mel secretly pulled out her phone, recording a clip of Death and Alice talking by the front door. "Friends, this is my actual brother... and today he brought a girl friend to stay with us!" she whispered with a mischievous grin.
She sent the clip to her medical school group chat, where her friends had heard endless stories about her brother.
The responses came instantly:
"Wow, is this real?! Your brother Death is seriously hot!"
"Alice looks adorable. They seem perfect together!"
"Mel, your brother's giving us more relationship envy!"
Mel laughed softly before setting down her phone. "Just sharing some family cuteness with my friends."
After Mel sent the clip, Alice approached her in the living room. She was quiet for a moment, then sighed softly.
"I feel strange when I'm with Death," Alice began. "We've been working together all year... and it's like... I started falling for him without realizing it."
Mel looked at her with curiosity. "Really? Have you told him?"
Alice shook her head. "Not at all... Death is too dense. I don't know how to talk to him about it. It's easier to complain to you."
Mel smiled. "Then let me help. You just need to be comfortable with yourself, and Death will figure it out."
Alice smiled faintly before gazing out the window. "I hope so..."
Alice sat down beside Mel, raising her hand to scratch her chin thoughtfully. "Sometimes I wonder what Death really thinks about me... but I'm too scared to ask directly."
Mel grinned mischievously. "Come on, you just need to wait a little. Death isn't exactly skilled at romance."
Alice sighed. "True... he seems tough, but he's like a kid who hasn't fully grown up."
"So if you want him to know, you need to open up a little," Mel said, patting Alice's shoulder gently. "I'll back you up."
Alice nodded. "Thanks, Mel. I'm really lucky to have you."
Both women laughed softly in the warm atmosphere of the house, while the room's clock continued its steady rhythm, time seeming to slow and soften for them both.
Alice and Mel were deep in animated conversation when Death suddenly walked past, fresh from his shower. Sweat still glistened on his skin, his muscles clearly defined without any covering, making both women abruptly stop talking.
Alice's eyes widened. Mel's jaw dropped before she quickly covered her mouth, laughing with embarrassment. "Oh... oh my...!"
Death, oblivious to the commotion, stopped walking and turned with a shy smile. "What? Never seen this before? I just finished showering."
Alice's face flushed crimson as she quickly averted her gaze. "Uh... just... stopped for a second, didn't mean to stare."
Mel smirked secretly. "Right, right. Anyone who sees that would melt completely."
Death smiled bashfully but tried to play it off, continuing on his way. "You don't need to stare like that. I'm just an ordinary older brother."
Alice swallowed hard, trying to collect herself. "Yeah... ordinary..."
Mel whispered conspiratorially, "Ordinary my ass... Alice is the lucky one here."
That evening, as the sunlight began to fade and cool breeze rustled through the trees outside, Death approached Mel, who was reading on the porch. He stuck his head out to look at the golden sky, smiling faintly.
"Mel, want to go to the market?" Death asked, holding out his wallet.
Mel looked up from her book, frowning slightly. "Hm? What are we buying?"
"Some meat... I thought I'd grill something to welcome Alice." His tone was casual, but his eyes held unmistakable warmth.
Mel immediately grinned. "Oh ho~ How romantic, big brother. Alice will definitely fall head over heels."
Death laughed softly and shook his head. "I just thought... she might want to feel like she's truly at home."
Mel closed her book and stood up. "Okay, let's go, Mr. House-husband. I'll help you pick out the good stuff."
The siblings walked away from the house with soft laughter, heading toward the evening market filled with people and lights—a small, warm moment amid the chaos of their world.
**At the Evening Market in the Small Town**
Soft orange light from the lined shops contrasted against the evening sky. The aroma of food drifted everywhere as Death walked carrying a bag of vegetables, with Mel strolling contentedly beside him.
Passersby began to stare. The two looked more like lovers than siblings—a tall, muscular man with a stern but warm face, and a cute, bright woman who kept smiling and giggling.
"Hey... those two look like a couple. So sweet..." the whispered comment from a fruit vendor reached Death's ears clearly.
He glanced at Mel and sighed quietly. "Why do people always think we're dating?"
Mel couldn't contain her laughter. "Because you don't smile at anyone except me. Plus walking together like this... it does look that way, doesn't it?"
Death rolled his eyes slightly, then sighed deeply again, speaking quietly as if complaining to himself rather than having a conversation.
"But I want people to think I look like Alice's boyfriend when I walk with her..."
Mel froze for a beat before turning to stare at her brother wide-eyed. "What?! Are you serious?!"
"Yeah..." Death's voice grew softer. "We've been together all year, working on every mission together. I'm... starting to feel something different about her too, but I don't know how to say it..."
Mel's eyes went wide. "My brother really is... completely dense."
"Yeah... so how do I win her over, Mel?" Death asked while staring down at the mangoes in a vendor's stall, using it as an excuse to avoid his sister's gaze.
Mel burst out laughing before grabbing his arm. "Just make her feel safe, like you always have. And... try saying something direct for once, big brother."
Death looked at his sister before giving an embarrassed smile. "Easy for you to say... I'm not good at that kind of talk."
Mel laughed softly before pointing to the grilled meat stand. "Then let's buy the meat first. Tomorrow Alice will love it, and you'll score some points!"
**On the Small Street in the Evening**
Soft sunlight filtered through the large trees lining the road as Death walked carrying the bag of meat beside Mel, with Alice following not far behind. Light footsteps approached them.
"Mel... is that Mel?" A young man about their age called out. He had slightly messy brown hair, wore glasses, and looked shy but was trying to be brave.
Mel turned to look, then broke into a wide grin. "Oh! Teek! Haven't seen you in ages!"
Teek smiled shyly before glancing curiously at Death and Alice. "And... uh... who are these two?"
Death raised his hand slightly. "I'm Mel's older brother. Name's Death."
Alice smiled faintly while nodding. "I'm Alice... Death's coworker."
Teek's face reddened even more. "Oh... nice to meet you!" He ducked his head slightly while thinking, *Her brother is ridiculously handsome... and that's his girlfriend, right? They're obviously a couple...*
Teek stood awkwardly in front of Mel, his face taking on a faint red hue. "Uh... it's good to see Mel again. We haven't met since middle school..."
Mel smiled brightly. "That's right! You're exactly the same, Teek," she said playfully. "But you got so much taller!"
Teek laughed nervously. "Just... just a little... Mel, you've really grown up too. I mean—you look great..."
Suddenly, Death, who was standing nearby, turned to speak with barely contained laughter. "Oh ho, is Teek hitting on my little sister?"
Alice couldn't help but giggle. "Totally. His face is giving him away completely."
Teek's face went even redder. "N-no way! I was just... just stating facts...!"
Mel laughed with embarrassment. "That's enough, brother! Stop teasing Teek."
Death shrugged. "Well, since we've run into each other... come have grilled meat at our place tonight. We're celebrating Alice moving in with us."
Teek's eyes widened. "Really?! Is that okay..."
Alice smiled warmly. "Of course. Our house is very welcoming. Especially Mel—she'd want her friend there, right?"
Mel nodded. "Come eat with us. We can catch up properly."
Teek nodded quickly with excitement. "Then... then I'll come!"