"Fuck! How could I forget such a thing?"
Luke's mind raced as he frantically searched through his memories. Bits and pieces rushed back to him, vivid and raw, each memory as overwhelming as the last. And when he thought about Elara—
Another memory flashed into his mind, sharper than the rest. He saw her—a beautiful woman whose smile could light up even his darkest days. Her warm, sweet laugh played like music in his head, and he could almost feel the familiar tug at his heart.
The problem was that this woman wasn't Elara.
Luke's mind spun as he processed the whirlwind of emotions.
Celeste. The name echoed in his head, soft yet powerful, stirring feelings he hadn't felt since his memories returned.
It was Celeste who had occupied his heart while he was an ordinary student with no memories of his previous life.
He clenched his fists, frustration and confusion gnawing at him. He barely knew her—hadn't even shared a conversation yet.
Celeste was always just out of reach, sitting with her friends or focused on her own world, while he only dared to steal glances from across the room. And now, realizing the depth of his feelings for her, Luke felt foolish.
"Damn it," he inwardly cursed, his voice a mixture of bitterness and longing. "How did I let myself fall for her? For someone who probably doesn't even know I exist."
The memories of Elara—the memories that had been his entire world—were so clear, so beautiful. She was the woman who had filled his soul, who had made him whole. But now... there was Celeste too, a girl he'd come to care about in a world where Elara had no place.
"How do I move forward?" he thought despairingly.
"Brother, are you okay?" asked Leila, breaking the silence that had enveloped them.
She was slightly startled by Luke's sudden outburst.
"Ah, nothing. Just remembered something," he replied, attempting to brush it off.
Leila blinked, studying him with a mix of curiosity and concern, her face just inches from his. "Mm, remembered something, huh?" She teased, her voice softening as she leaned in closer. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were flustered, big brother."
Luke felt his face heat up as he realized their positions—Leila was still on top of him, her hair falling in messy waves around them. He could feel her gaze boring into him, playful and knowing.
And not to mention, he could feel two soft mounds pressed against his chest.
"Leila," he said, trying to keep his tone steady, "get off already. And please, give me some space."
But she only smirked, leaning even closer until her nose almost touched his. "Oh? Big, strong brother Luke can't handle his little sister being this close?" She tilted her head, eyes gleaming mischievously.
"Or maybe… there's something else on your mind?" she added, a teasing lilt to her voice.
Luke flushed, swatting her hand away as he grumbled, "Don't push it, Leila. Seriously, get off!"
She laughed, light and lilting, but eventually rolled off him, giving him space. "Alright, alright, I'm going! But you owe me for disturbing my beauty sleep."
Luke sighed in relief as she stood, adjusting her clothes with a smirk. He shot her a pointed look, hoping to drive her out faster.
"Fine, fine, I'll leave," she chuckled, heading for the door. "But, brother, if you keep looking that flustered, people might start to think you're hiding something," she teased, winking as she slipped out of the room.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Luke sighed, running a hand through his hair.
His sister was impossible sometimes.
Luke's thoughts were still reeling when the voice of the system echoed in his mind, pulling him from the chaos of his emotions.
[Why doesn't the host consider her for his harem? She looks good.]
He blinked in shock.
[What the hell are you talking about? She's my sister! I only have eyes for—]
But his words faltered, caught in the storm of his feelings. Just moments ago, he had been recalling Elara, the woman who had filled his heart, yet now he couldn't shake the undeniable connection he felt toward Celeste.
"What is wrong with me?" Luke thought, gripping the edge of his bed as frustration coursed through him.
[So what? The host is destined to reach the peak in the future—even if it's with your mother, it wouldn't be a problem.] The system replied, its tone unyielding.
"Are you kidding me?" Luke exclaimed, his voice rising in disbelief. "That's not how this works! I can't—"
[You must expand your options, host. Emotions are complex; the heart does not always obey reason.]
"Fuck! Are you a god system or a harem system?" Luke shouted, his frustration reaching a boiling point. He couldn't believe that the system was suggesting such a ridiculous solution to his dilemma.
*****
"Ah!! I really did it!!"
Leila exclaimed, jumping up and down with excitement.
Inside her room, Leila bounced on her toes, barely able to contain her joy. "I really did it!" she squealed, her heart racing like a hummingbird's wings. She clutched her pillow tightly, as if it could absorb her overflowing excitement.
Her mind was still buzzing from her playful banter with Luke. The way his cheeks flushed, and his eyes widened when she teased him, made her feel alive. There was something thrilling about catching her brother off guard, and she secretly hoped he noticed the hints woven into her words.
"What if he really does see me differently?" she mused, a giddy smile creeping onto her face.
With each jump, she imagined Luke's face again—how flustered he'd looked, how he'd struggled to maintain his composure when she leaned in. It felt like a game, and she loved every moment of it. Her heart swelled as she replayed their encounter, the heat between them buzzing like electricity.
"Maybe he'll finally understand how I feel," she whispered to herself, biting her lip. "I mean, how could he not? I've practically thrown myself at him!"
Leila twirled around her room, imagining scenarios where she and Luke shared a quiet moment together, where their laughter filled the space, and the teasing turned into something deeper.
But then doubt crept in. "But what if he doesn't? What if he sees me as just his little sister? Just a kid?"
She flopped onto her bed, burying her face in the softness of the pillow, a frustrated groan escaping her lips.
"Ugh! Why is this so complicated?"
She reached for her phone and started searching for something; after a while, a smile bloomed on her face as she found a paragraph that resonated with her current situation.
"Is it possible for a Star Warrior to marry his sister?" she muttered, scrolling through the screen.
Her heart raced with excitement, each word igniting a flicker of hope in her chest.
"At what level can a Star Warrior impregnate his sister?" The absurdity of the questions made her giggle nervously, but deep down, they resonated with the dreams she had kept locked away.
Leila couldn't shake off the warmth that flooded her whenever she thought of Luke.
He was her brother, yes, but he was also the one who made her heart flutter and her cheeks flush.
When she'd heard from their mother that he wanted to become a Star Warrior, her spirits soared.
Only Star Warriors can marry their siblings without any problem, and it was a secret desire she had always harbored.
One time, she even tried to cultivate and become a Warrior herself, but unfortunately, she didn't have the talent for it.
As for making Luke become a Star Warrior, she didn't ask, since she didn't want to do it against his will and risk his safety if he became one.
That's why she had closed off these feelings for her brother, but now it felt different.
"If brother really becomes a Star Warrior, then... ah!!"