Moments Earlier!!

With a bucket of feed in one hand and a pail of water in the other, Derrick trudged to the backyard of his home. At the far end stood a rough looking makeshift shed of wood, scrap, and grass, but sturdy enough to survive violent winds and storms.

He pushed the door open with a smile, whistling a cheerful tune, his gumboots thudding softly against the mulched floor.

Inside, a herd of small goats rushed to greet him (not ordinary goats, but shaggy little creatures with third eyes gleaming on their foreheads). At first glance, they could've been mistaken for eerie creatures out of a nightmare. Up close, though, they were nothing short of adorable, fuzzy little furballs, their coats as thick as healthy sheep wool. Fifteen in total, each bleating happily as they nuzzled his boots and licked at him like excited pups.

"Hold on, boys! Food's here!" Derrick laughed as he filled their feeding troughs. The goats dove in immediately, munching noisily and meeh-ing in delight.

One of the smaller ones shoved its way to the front, gobbling more than its share. Derrick gently pulled it back.

"No, no, no, Tasha! Too greedy, chill out!"

"Huh?" A familiar voice crawled behind him. "Did you just call that goat Tasha?"

The voice froze him in place. Derrick turned slowly, dread tightening his chest.

Standing at the doorway was Natasha—arms folded beneath her ample chest, and her eyes locked at him.

"Oh… hi," he said, voice cracking as he forced a smile that felt about as natural as a wooden spoon. Inside, his heart was sprinting laps. Natasha of all people wasn't supposed to see this. He had worked so hard to hide this from her. Every time she visited, he made sure to bring her inside only when his parents weren't home. But today? His parents were here. And now she'd found… this.

"Tell me," she said coolly, eyes narrowing. "Why does that goat's name sound suspiciously like my name? Tasha? And you called it greedy?"

Her brow twitched. "What exactly are you implying, Derrick?"

He gulped. Loudly.

"It's....it's not like that! Natasha and Tasha are… completely different names! Totally unrelated. No connection whatsoever, so maybe we could just—"

"Uh-huh. And what the hell are you wearing?"

He glanced down at his baggy dungarees, his father's hand-me-downs. They were dirt-stained, patched, and absolutely unflattering. He'd been bracing for this. A girl who only liked him when he looked good, who couldn't stand this side of him. The side of a farmer who touches dirt. Now what? She's going to dump him for that? Maybe he was better off without—

"Hahaha!" Natasha's sudden laugh shattered his train of thoughts. "Oh my gods, Derrick...you look hilarious! Like some grizzled old farmer straight out of a Veyran harvest festival!"

"…huh?"

"Does your family actually have a goat farm?" Her eyes lit up as she stepped inside, crouching to pet one of the goats—Tasha, of course, who leaned into her touch with a happy hum. "Goddess Veyra, take me to the farm this summer break! I want to wear goofy outfits like yours and wander around with these cute little furballs!"

Derrick just stared, dumbfounded. Was she… okay with this?

Natasha glanced up at him, her grin turning sly. "Besides… farms seem like a fun place to fuck, don't you think?"

His jaw nearly hit the mulched floor.

She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper low enough his parents couldn't hear from across the yard. "Speaking of which… I'm feeling very horny tonight."

Derrick's mind spun. For months, he had pegged her as nothing more than a lust-driven girl who'd mock his quiet passion for agriculture. But here she was—excited, teasing, completely unbothered. Maybe even supportive? The thought almost made him smile....

Until she wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing herself against him, breasts soft against his chest, and kissed him hungrily.

Reality crashed back down. Nope. She's still just horny.

She broke the kiss with a playful wink. "Quickie? Right here? I'll even let you cum inside and I promise I won't moan loud enough to alert your parents."

"Absolutely not," he said flatly.

She pouted. "Come on. I need it."

"In my goat house?!"

"They don't mind."

"I mind."

She groaned, exasperated. "Fine! Later, then. Since your parents are around, we'll do it at my place tonight. Climb through my window."

"You want me to sneak in while your parents and sibling are right there in the same house? And then we fuck?" Derrick asked, incredulous.

She rolled her eyes. "I'll lock the door. Stop being a coward."

He sighed. "…Fine. After chores. Tonight."

"Good boy." She kissed him one last time, gave "her" namesake goat a farewell pat, and strutted off, cheerfully greeting his parents on her way out.

Derrick sank to a crouch, running a hand down his face. She's going to drain me dry tonight… I'll need that potion. Asher's 'Cougar's Heat' or whatever it was called.

Locking the goat pen, he hurried to his room, changed into casual clothes, and jogged to Asher's house.

Onalenna opened the door.

"Afternoon, ma'am. Is Asher around?"

She nodded, looking worried. "He is… but something's off."

Inside was chaos. Sharon was tossing clothes and belongings out of Asher's room like she was searching for treasure, and Onalenna's room was just as ransacked.

Meanwhile, Asher sat calmly on the couch in sweatpants and a plain gray tee, reading a comic book.

"Bro?" Derrick called.

Asher looked up and his face lightened. "Ah… GoatMan! Long time no see!"

Derrick nearly tripped. GoatMan—that was the old nickname Asher used before his long illness. He hadn't called him that in months.

"A-are your memories coming back?" Derrick stammered.

"Memories?" Asher tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

Derrick's stomach dropped.

Just then, Onalenna emerged from her room, sweating, holding a comic book.

"I found it!" she panted.

Asher's face lit up. "Yes! Volume four! I never finished it before I got sick. Thanks, Mom!" He snatched it and dove right back into reading.

Then, he faced Derrick again: "Volume 5 out yet?"

"Uh… I—I dunno. Maybe Adrian knows."

"Pfft. Adrian never knows. His little brother Alan does, though. I'll swing by later."

Derrick couldn't wrap his head around what was happening. He pulled Onalenna aside, whispering urgently. "What's happening?"

She pulled him to Asher's room where Sharon was still searching for more comics. "It's like he's regained his memories from before his illness… but everything after is gone." She muttered.

Derrick froze. He doesn't remember becoming S-rank? His realm? His fiancée Anna?

Sharon poked her head out. "He's even burning all the clothes he bought recently. Says they're not his."

Derrick's mind reeled. He turned back to Asher with a forced grin.

"Uh… bro… you still got that concoction? Cougar's Heat?"

Asher blinked. "What's that?"

Derrick nearly fainted. And then....

THUD THUD THUD.

The main door flew open.

Another Asher stumbled in, panting, clutching a navy tee.

Everyone froze.

Derrick gawked between the two. "…Wha—Asher? And… Asher?"

Onalenna and Sharon rushed out, eyes going wide.

"What in the gods' names—"

TBC

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