The day began like any other in Miss Mira's household, except for her probing questions.
"You have a girlfriend now, right?" Miss Mira asked, smiling as she leaned back on the couch. "I get it. You don't want to take my money and use it for... things, like going to motels or buying... other necessities like condoms. But honestly, I wouldn't mind."
She gave a casual shrug before adding, "I do support your independence, Hikari."
She chuckled, "But I can ask around for a side job for you if you'd like. One of my friends mentioned something about a well-paid gig needing people… I think it's at some academy... Saint something?"
She tapped her chin in thought, then waved it off with a smirk. "Anyway, I'll get you more info soon."
"But remember, if you ever change your mind, feel free to ask. Auntie Mira will always spoil you," she teased, before suddenly pulling Hikari into a tight hug.
Caught off guard, Hikari found himself pressed against her chest, barely able to breathe. When he finally managed to pull himself free, his face flushed and smelling faintly of her perfume, he laughed awkwardly. "Thank you, Miss Mira."
"Now, keep up the massage," she instructed with a carefree wave, turning around and presenting her back.
Hikari obediently resumed massaging her shoulders, wondering how he had gotten into such a strange situation. Here was a wealthy, influential woman willing to help him out without a second thought, and all he had to do was show her some gratitude.
"Is Auntie's skin smooth?" she asked suddenly, amusement clear in her tone.
"It's very smooth," Hikari replied dutifully.
"Then why are you pressing so hard?" she teased, feigning offense. "You're not trying to rub my skin off, are you?"
She let out a playful huff. "Gentler, or Auntie will get hurt, understand?"
She turned her head slightly, her voice taking on a mischievous lilt. "If you're good, Auntie might just give you a reward~ Excited?"
Hikari quickly shut his mouth, unwilling to respond. There was no winning with her sly charm and teasing humor.
The truth was, with any other woman, Hikari could play his part as a man confidently. But with Miss Mira, who had been like a mother to him, he could only play the role of the obedient son, his head metaphorically bowed.
Miss Mira wasn't just as warm and nurturing as she seemed; beneath her gentle exterior was a sharp and clever woman who could outwit him any day.
She was the only woman who could make him feel this way. Around her, he was always just little Hikari, bowing his head and complying with every word she said.
And yet, even as he continued massaging her, he found himself stealing glances, feeling a mixture of frustration and resignation. He could look but never touch, not even in his wildest dreams.
Once he finished his duties, Hikari excused himself from Miss Mira's room and quickly left her luxurious apartment. He left a protective charm on the table, as well as a small paper crane enchanted to track her movements, just in case. With that done, he grabbed a coat off the sofa and strode out of the Kurihara residence.
Hikari wasn't just fleeing the apartment because he felt overwhelmed by Miss Mira's teasing; he was also escaping a feeling he couldn't act on.
But most importantly, one of his paper cranes—a pure-hearted warning charm—had just sent an urgent signal.
He took out the small, glowing red crane and unfolded it in his hands. Its warning was unmistakable.
Hikari's gaze shifted towards the apartment building where Natsuha lived, his eyes flashing with a cold glint.
The charm he held was directly linked to her. And if it had sent an alert, there could only be one explanation: someone was attempting to cross a line.
And right now, Hikari needed an outlet for his frustration
———
The neon-lit night had blanketed the city in a shroud of mystery, and in the heart of Tokyo, the iconic Tokyo Tower shone brightly.
At the base of an apartment building not far from it, several men were gathered, murmuring amongst themselves as they eyed the upper floors.
Yuuta Yamano fidgeted, clearly hesitant. He glanced nervously at his friend Masaru Oga, who rolled his eyes impatiently.
"Come on, Yuuta! You're already here, so just go upstairs and see your 'dear Natsuha.' Who knows, maybe she's already up there with that Hikari guy."
Yamano bit his lip, his uncertainty clear. "I… I trust Natsuha wouldn't… I mean, she wouldn't do anything like that. Besides, won't it scare her if I show up suddenly? Especially since I brought you guys."
He looked back at Oga and the small gang of tough-looking guys wielding iron rods. Bringing Oga along suddenly felt like a mistake. Oga was no saint, and his reputation was far from clean.
Seeing Yamano's hesitation, Oga smirked and gave him a reassuring pat. "What are you so worried about? It's just us, your brothers. I brought the rods in case we need to, you know, catch that Hikari guy doing anything shady. You think you can handle him on your own?"
Oga leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Just go up there alone if you're worried. We'll stay here, and if you need backup, just give us a shout. We'll be right there."
Feeling somewhat reassured by Oga's promise, Yuuta grinned nervously. "Thanks, Oga. I'll head up alone, then..."
Yamano, warmed by Oga's seeming sincerity, started to think of him as a genuine friend, someone loyal.
"See? I'm looking out for you," Oga said, clapping Yuuta on the shoulder.
Yamano nodded eagerly. "Yeah! You're a real friend, Oga! Not like that Hikari guy, getting close to Natsuha when he knows she's supposed to be with me! It's infuriating. She's practically his sister-in-law."
"If you hadn't told me, I'd still be clueless." he added, glaring up at the building.
Oga chuckled as he sent Yamano off. "Go on, we're here for you if anything goes down."
As Yamano headed into the building, Oga's friends couldn't help but snicker. "Man, that guy is clueless. He'll believe anything Oga says."
Oga waved them off with a grin. "Quiet. Come on, let's go find out where that Natsuha girl lives. She's the real prize tonight, and trust me, we'll all get a turn."
One of his lackeys hesitated. "Oga, don't you think Yuuta's a bit dense? He's the one who asked Hikari to look out for Natsuha, and yet here you are…"
Oga rolled his eyes. "Listen, Yuuta and Shinomiya go way back. She'll open the door for him, no problem. We're just tagging along."
———
Meanwhile, in her apartment, Natsuha paced back and forth, feeling unsettled. A knock at the door suddenly interrupted her thoughts.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Startled, she walked over to the peephole to see who it was.
"Hey, Natsuha! Open up!" Yuuta's familiar voice called from outside.
Relieved, Natsuha took a breath, recognizing her childhood friend. She reached for the door, ready to let him in out of habit.
But then she remembered what Hikari had told her that afternoon: "Don't open the door for anyone except me. It could be dangerous."
Pausing, she hesitated, hand hovering over the doorknob, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease.
She called out cautiously, "Yuuta, did anyone come with you?"
"Who else would come with me? Just me, Natsuha," Yuuta replied. But he quickly hesitated, remembering Oga's instructions, and then repeated, "Just me, here to see you."
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