"How long will I be stuck in here, Sakura-san?" Yuna asked, her voice tinged with frustration and a hint of sadness.
"Until things settle down," Sakura replied, taking a casual sip of her beer, her demeanor almost careless, like that of a seasoned delinquent.
Yuna clenched her fists, her body language betraying her opposition to Sakura's answer.
"And how am I supposed to explain this to my parents?" she demanded, locking eyes with Sakura, her tone edged with defiance.
Sakura casually tossed the empty beer bottle across the room, making a perfect shot into the wastebasket on the other side. She sighed, leaning back with a sly smile.
"The answer is simple," she said with an air of finality.
Before Yuna could question further, the door opened, and a young man entered the room. Yuna's eyes widened as she took in his appearance.
Standing before her was an exceptionally handsome young man, with eyes as blue as the ocean and dark, medium-length hair styled in a unique way. His delicate yet striking features held a harmonious balance, giving him a princely aura.
"This prince standing before you is Ren," Sakura announced, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips. "And from this moment on, you two will pose as a couple. You'll tell anyone who asks that you live together and that you've been in a relationship for quite some time."
Ren bowed slightly, offering a charming, half-smile.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Ren Inoue. I work for the special intelligence services," he said, his voice warm and captivating.
But his charm seemed to fall flat with Yuna. Her expression shifted to one of disbelief, as if silently screaming, "What on earth is this all about?!"
Despite his flawless looks, Ren wasn't her type in the least.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Yuna spoke, her tone resigned.
"I have no choice, do I?" she sighed.
"No," came the synchronized reply from both Sakura and Ren.
"Great," Yuna muttered, rubbing her temples in exasperation.
But then, a question popped into her mind.
"Wait… did you say intelligence services?" Yuna asked, her brows knitting in confusion.
Ren nodded, a look of mild surprise crossing his face. "That's right."
"Sakura's practically a criminal. Shouldn't you be arresting her or something?" she asked, her voice thick with suspicion.
Sakura chuckled lightly, clearly amused. Ren, however, studied Yuna for a moment with a curious glint in his eyes. It was clear to him that Yuna had a keen eye for details.
"That's a good observation, Yuna," Ren said, nodding with respect. "But you should understand that I work for a different branch of intelligence. One that isn't corrupted and has connections in every corner of society. I belong to something much deeper, something separate from the police. So, no, I won't be arresting her."
"Ah, I see. So, you're part of a criminal organization too, aren't you?" Yuna asked sharply.
Ren let out a genuine laugh at her boldness.
"Not at all," he replied, his eyes twinkling. "We're more like enforcers of justice. We eliminate criminals without harming innocent people." Ren's voice grew serious, leaning against the wall as he looked directly at her.
"Ah, so you're a vigilante group? Killing those you deem dangerous? Doesn't that make you criminals, too?" Yuna shot back, her voice steady as she crossed her arms and legs, unfazed.
Ren's confidence wavered, surprised by her insight—not by what she said, but by her ability to unnerve him with her blunt honesty.
"What's the difference? Perspective?" she added, her gaze piercing through him and Sakura.
"Exactly," Ren answered, his voice cool and intense, as though trying to reach the core of her beliefs. "We kill a few to save thousands, while criminals only think of making money, living in luxury, and humiliating the innocent."
Yuna didn't flinch or falter. She simply sighed, almost as if bored.
"Understood," she replied briefly, rising from her seat.
Ren's lips curved into a smirk as Yuna stood over him, her eyes narrowed with irritation.
"Let's get one thing straight, my dear 'prince,'" she said, her tone laced with irritation.
Ren's smirk deepened, clearly amused. "Go on, tell me."
"First, you're definitely not my type. Second, I have absolutely zero interest in you. Third, don't think you can just get close to me whenever you please," she said, her voice tinged with warning.
"Oh, and one last thing," she added. "I already have someone on my mind. So, don't get any ideas."
A silence fell between them, punctuated by the sound of Ren's laughter.
"Hahaha! Alright, I'll respect those boundaries," he replied, his tone playful.
Sakura, who had watched the scene unfold quietly, decided to excuse herself and retreat to her room.
"I'm going to get some rest. You both should do the same," she advised, heading towards her own room.
Yuna and Ren glanced at her as she left, then exchanged brief looks before moving toward their respective rooms.
With a slight bow, Ren bid her goodnight, adding with a smirk, "I hope our 'relationship' will be a happy one."
Yuna didn't respond; she simply muttered, "Goodnight," before turning away and heading into her room.
At that moment, it became clear that Yuna's life was on the brink of a major shift.
Inside her new room, she stripped down and slid under the unfamiliar covers, her thoughts racing as she tried to adjust to her new reality.
A million different emotions flooded her mind, and above all, she felt a deep ache of loneliness. She missed Kai.
She felt a profound sadness settle over her, a longing for her "old" life. The simplicity, the warmth of familiar faces, the comfort of routine—all of it felt like a distant dream.
That night, Yuna lay awake, her heart heavy and her mind restless, caught between the life she wanted and the one she was forced into.
"I hate this life. I hate everyone. I want to live…" she kept saying.
"Kai…" that was the last thing she thought when she fell asleep…