Aiko woke up not sure if it's a new day or she just slept for two hours. She stretched, her muscles stiff from the previous day's tension, wore her scarf. Blinking her grogginess away, she looked around. The room was quiet, too quiet. Kaito was nowhere to be seen.
Curiosity gnawed at her. She slid off the couch and peeked at the lotus. They seemed to pulse faintly in the morning light, as though aware of her unease.
The room was sparse yet strangely organized. Shelves lined one wall, filled with books and odd trinkets—ceramic cranes, a chipped teacup, and an ornate inkpot. A small table bore a lone lantern, its glass fogged with age. Near the corner, a tatami mat lay neatly folded beside a thin futon.
Aiko moved cautiously, her fingers brushing the spines of the books. Many were in Chinese, their titles incomprehensible to her. Others were in English, with subjects ranging from history to embroidery techniques. One book caught her eye: "The Art of Binding." She flipped through its pages, pausing at an intricate diagram of a lotus flower.
The sound of the door creaking snapped her attention away. Kaito entered, a brown paper bag in one hand and a thermos in the other. His expression was calm, his gaze settling on her with an unreadable glint.
"I see you're making yourself at home," he remarked, setting the bag down on the table.
Aiko flushed. "I was just… looking around."
He didn't respond, instead unpacking the bag to reveal a traditional Japanese breakfast: rice, grilled fish, tamagoyaki, and pickled vegetables. The aroma made her stomach growl embarrassingly loud.
"Sit," he said, gesturing to the table.
She complied, her hunger overriding her wariness. As she reached for the food, Kaito leaned forward and picked up her chopsticks, taking a deliberate bite of her fish.
"What are you doing?" she asked, startled.
"Proving it's not poisoned," he replied smoothly, chewing and swallowing. "Satisfied?"
Her cheeks burned as she snatched the chopsticks back. "You could've just told me that."
"And would you have believed me?" he countered, arching an eyebrow.
She grumbled under her breath but began eating. The food was simple yet flavorful, and it eased the knots in her stomach.
Kaito poured tea from the thermos into two small cups, sliding one toward her. "What's your favorite tea?" he asked, his tone casual.
"I don't like tea," she replied.
Kaito smirked. "Liar."
Her gaze snapped to him. "Excuse me?"
"You drank it yesterday," he said, his voice laced with amusement. "My tea. I mean."
Aiko froze, her mind replaying the moment.
"You don't have to lie to me so I don't get the chance to learn anything about you." Kaito continued, leaning back in his chair. "I'll find out the truth one way or another. And if I wanted to kill you, I'd have handed you over to the Black Lotus Syndicate already."
Her heart skipped a beat at the mention of the Syndicate. Was he trying to reassure her or manipulate her? She couldn't tell.
"I checked your library, it's quiet interesting...I didn't know you like embroidery." She mocked.
"I'm not. I brought them for you."
"huh?" She gasped.
"I brought them for you to not feel bored staying here with a guy you don't know."
"So you planned for all this to happen?"
"I remember that I didn't give you that spool of thread. You walked in the flea market yourself and you bought it yourself." He said calmly.
"Wait...how do you know that?"
He took time thinking before answering, playing with the rice on his plate with his fork, "I likely know where magical collectables are located."
They continued eating in silence for a moment before she asked, "Why are you helping me? What do you want?"
Kaito's lips curved into a faint, mysterious smile. "That's a question for another time."
Frustration bubbled within her. "You're impossible."
He didn't respond, simply finishing his meal and cleaning his hands with a small towel. Standing, he walked to a corner of the room and splashed water from a bottle onto his face.
Aiko froze as he pulled off his shirt, revealing a toned, pale, mascular physique. She felt her cheeks heat as she quickly averted her eyes, but the image lingered in her mind.
"What are you doing?" she demanded, her voice higher than intended.
He turned, a teasing glint in his eye. "Washing up. Problem?"
"You could at least warn me!" she scolded, trying to sound authoritative.
Kaito stepped closer, his bare chest mere inches from her. His voice dropped to a low murmur. "You don't seem upset about it. I can tell."
"H—How?" She stiffened, her heart pounding "Stop it" She snapped.
He confidently pointed at the embroidered lotus on the scarf that was glowing. "You created something that mirrors your feelings." His words sent a shiver down her spine, and she hated the warmth they stirred within her.
"I—" she started, but her voice faltered.
His hand brushed lightly against her neck, fingers settling near her jaw. "I think I need a cold shower," he whispered near her ear. "Would you like to join me?"
Her eyes widened, her breath catching. She nods calmly, and he pulled back with a smirk.
"I meant after me," he clarified, his tone mock-innocent.
Aiko's face burned. "You're insufferable!"
Kaito chuckled, grabbing a towel and gesturing toward the couch. "You can lay down and stay under the blanket if you don't want to see anything."
Reluctantly, she complied, retreating to the couch and pulling the blanket over her head. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to ignore the sounds of water splashing.
But it was impossible. The rhythmic sound of water, the faint rubbing of his hands against his skin, and the occasional rustle of the towel set her imagination alight. Her legs curled under the blanket, and she scolded herself for her thoughts.
When the water stopped and she heard the sound of him dressing, she dared to peek out. Kaito stood barefoot, dressed in a black T-shirt and trousers, his hair damp and tousled.
"How did you know I dressed up? You saw me with your ears, didn't you?" he teased walking closer to her. "I think you can describe every inch of my body without seeing it."
"Stop!" she snapped, her face red. She jumps off the sofa.
He laughed softly, shaking his head. "Your turn."
"I'm not showering while you're here," she said firmly.
He leaned closer to her, they were nose to nose. "Are you sure you don't want me to see you naked?" He said breathlessly.
"Please leave" Aiko almost teared up as the lotus glows more. She couldn't understand what's happening to her.
Kaito raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fine. I'll step out."
True to his word, he left the room. Aiko moved to the bathtub, her eyes darting between the door and the couch where the scarf rested. As she washed, she couldn't shake the thought of Kaito's presence, his words, and the strange, magnetic pull she felt toward him.
Her thoughts tangled like threads. Kaito was an enigma, and she couldn't decide if he was her protector or her captor—or perhaps both.