Shu Ouma's mother had died giving birth to him so he never experienced a mother's fondness or tenderness. Despite this, however, his dad had raised him and his older sister, Mana Ouma, well and they both loved each other as family. It was to Shu's amazement and initial resentment when his dad, Kurosu Ouma, made known out of nowhere that he was intending to marry Haruka Ouma, a woman who worked with his father as a researcher.

Apart from the fact that Haruka was his dad's ex-student, Shu honestly felt that his dad was far too old to marry. Despite these reservations and after a short romance, the marriage occurred. Soon all four settled into a peaceful relationship.

Haruka considered Shu and Mana as the children she could never have. She genuinely cared for them. In time, and to her happiness, the brother and sister started to call her 'mom.' It was the ideal family setup. However, unpredicted events came to break this ideal reality and in the end altered their existences forever.


A few years had passed since Shu managed to stop the Fourth Apocalypse, saving everybody's ass in the process. However, Shu realized a change that he found very disturbing and it was the fact that he started to develop a romantic desire for Haruka. It was not too bad at first when it started off as a tiny crush but then he started to imagine about having physical relations with her. Despite being thirty-four Haruka was still really beautiful. She looked quite young with blue eyes and brown hair. He contemplated of numerous lewd scenarios involving Haruka and himself. Sheer guilt nearly made him insane. At the end, Shu made known to his step-mother that he wished to move out to another apartment on his own. He used the false excuse that he felt like he was being a burden to Haruka. Haruka attempted her level best to persuade him this was not true. However, Haruka did not give up in convincing Shu to change his stubborn mind.

It was Saturday night and Shu was in his bedroom when there was a thud at his door. He opened it and Haruka was standing there.

"Shu, I have to speak with you."

Shu non-verbally gestured her to enter. They both took a seat on his bed. "Shu, you've provided me something I'd never trade for anything else. You've provided me a deep affection any mom would die for and I adore you for that. I realize that you're a grownup guy now and I need to allow you to go when you want to but please, I beg you, don't go for the wrong reason."

"What do you mean, kaa-san?"

Haruka smiled when she heard him and embraced him. "I mean I don't consider you a burden. You give me the most happiness in my life. I feel like the reason you're leaving is because I did not a play a good enough role as a mother for you..."

"That's not true at all!" cut in Shu and he embraced his step-mother. "It's ok, kaa-san. I'm not going anywhere."

"Thank you, Shu," responded Haruka with tears in her eyes.

However, Shu knew he had to offset his attraction for her or he would not be able to hold his feelings in any longer.

To be continued...