January 11th. The day of the banquet come.
In an environment surrounded with powerful people, Reika and Shira attract every eyes.
"…But… wow…"
The day of the banquet comes, and the moment Renji allowed himself to really look, his heart quickened far more than he had prepared for.
Reika always been beautiful, that much was obvious even on ordinary days. Most of the time she appeared in her business attire—layered suits, tailored blouses, and tidy coats chosen with careful taste. Everything about her usual presence was prim, composed, disciplined.
Yet even beneath those structured layers, her natural femininity had never truly been hidden.
Tonight however, nothing concealed it.
Her ash-brown hair, which normally swayed at shoulder length, had been gathered into a loose-lazy bun. This simple arrangement exposed her nape, a small detail that somehow drew the eye more than any ornament could.
Even the makeup was just as restrained. Just a faint layer of foundation and a modest shade of red touched her lips. There was nothing extravagant about it.
Well… for someone like her… it was unneeded in the first place…
Moreover, freed from the rigid lines of her usual attire, the deep violet gown wrapped around her body, a color so rich like an aurora blooming across a starless night, making her dangerously captivating.
The halter neckline rose from the bodice and tied behind her neck in a gentle knot, leaving her smooth shoulders and back bare, while a slender keyhole opening fell along the center of her chest—offering just enough of a glimpse to lend the dress a refined sensual allure.
The fabric gathered neatly at her waist in a slim sash, before continuing downward, shaping her silhouette with quiet confidence.
Renji let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Yeah… no wonder people can't take their eyes off her…
Then his gaze shifted slightly.
A step behind her Shira walked like a shadow.
If Reika was the brilliance that drew every gaze in the hall,
Shira was the quiet presence that made sure those gazes never lingered too long. Her presence was quieter, but no less striking.
Her long, straight dark hair was pulled back into the same practical ponytail she always had. The only difference tonight was the faint gloss on her lips. A bit of lip balm Reika had insisted she put on before they left.
Shira's black suit was tailored with the same similar masculinity she always adorned herself with.
Yet the collar of the blazer opened into a long plunge down her chest. Normally, such suit would conceal a blouse or shirt beneath it. Tonight, Shira boldly wore nothing underneath.
That open collar framed the clean line of her collarbones, pale skin standing in quiet contrast against the dark fabric. It revealed enough to soften the otherwise austere suit.
Her trousers fitted along the thighs before easing slightly around the calves into a subtle flare. The hem rested just above a pair of sleek black high heels, their quiet clicks echoing faintly against the lobby floor as she followed behind Reika.
Then the two women disappeared inside as the lobby doors slowly closed.
Renji sat behind the windshield of the parked car, still staring at where they had been.
Women really can change their appearance 180 just like that, huh…
He leaned back slightly in his seat, letting out a quiet breath.
"…And here I am in the car."
His eyes drifted down to his own outfit. Just his usual driver's suit. Plain-toe shoes, a gray shirt, and a dark jacket. No fancy watches. No accessories. Nothing worth mentioning.
Pulling out his phone, he stared at the glow of the screen through the cracked corner.
Nah… I'm probably better off staying behind anyway. No way I could handle the pressure of all those elites gathering inside…
He glanced at the clock, then browsed the movie collection he had saved on his phone.
"Going to be another long wait…"
While trying his best to distract his mind from the lingering scent Reika and Shira left inside the car interior.
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The soft lightning of the Tokyo Imperial Kaikan interior spilled warm gold across the marbled floor as the doors opened.
Conversations already filled the hall in a soft chatter. Voices of the guests, executives, politicians, and people who were invited in this KHX annual banquet.
As Reika passed through the lobby toward the ballroom entrance, those murmurs shifted, heads turned.
A well-dressed couple approached first.
"Hiraga shachō." the man greeted with a respectful incline of his head, the CEO of Kanto Electrics. His wife stood beside him in a pale blue evening dress, offering a polite smile.
"Good evening," Reika replied smoothly, her voice calm and warm without losing its composure. "Thank you for attending tonight."
"Wouldn't miss it," the woman said lightly.
They stepped aside, allowing Reika to continue.
A few steps later, "Ah! Hiraga shachō!"
An elderly man with weathered skin and a booming voice waved a glass of champagne. The owner of Hokusei Marine Group, a seafood empire that practically controlled half the southern salmon routes.
"You look so lovely tonight!" he declared with a grin.
"You flatter me, Takamine-kaichō."
"Not at all!" the old man laughed. "If my grandsons were here tonight, I'd tell them to work twice as hard just to earn a greeting from you!"
Even Shira allowed the faintest hint of a smile at that before they continued walking.
Further ahead, a small group of executives parted as another man approached.
Tall, clean-cut, with the quiet confidence of someone used to commanding above the chain.
"Shachō."
The president of Aoyama Motors inclined his head slightly.
"Your company's new logistics system has already improved our export schedules… If you would, I hope we can discuss future cooperation after this."
"I'd welcome that, let's talk more later, yes."
After Reika close the conversation with small talks, the man nodded once and backs away.
They walked a few more steps until Reika gave a soft murmur, voice low enough that only Shira could hear
"…I forget how exhausting these things are."
"You say that every year…"
"Haaah~ At least I hope you came in with a dress, Shira…"
"…What's so exciting about me in a dress…"
"Oh come on, you shoul—"
"—Ah, Reika-ojō-sama. Kurosawa-san. Good evening." Their short banter was cut by a warm greeting.
The man approaching them was in his late sixties, dressed in a traditional kimono with wide hakama and a layered haori. The ornate fabric gave him the air of a warlord who had wandered out of another century, yet his smiling face as kind as his tone, Shinpei Takaori.
"Advisor Takaori" Reika replied with a respectful nod. "Thank you for coming."
"Why, my pleasure." Shinpei gave soft laugh, fixing his haori, then continues, "Truly… it's been a while for our annual banquet to be this lively again."
"Yes, sorry for the sudden change."
"Not at all, so… what do you have in mind, Reika-ojō-sama …?
"For now?" Her gaze drifted across the hall. "At least I'll stay away from boardman Genzou and Hino."
The three of them glanced in the same direction.
At the far side of the hall, Boardman Igarashi Genzou—the sharp-nosed, thick-skulled man, clad in fine suit covering his well-built muscle despite his age, had already gathered a circle of businessmen around him. His laugh carried across the room as glasses clinked again and again in his hand.
Not far from him, boardman Hino Gakujin, his immaculate suit complements his silver hair that combed neatly back, leaned casually near a column, easy smile plastered on while speaking with several young women from a visiting tech company.
Reika looked away first.
"I prefer productive conversations tonight… those two clearly not cut for that."
"I see, then I'll be the one talking to them… the last thing you want is for them to feel left out, hehe." Shinpei said with a wry smile.
"That would be wonderful, please."
"And well… Kurosawa-san, I hope you can relax in this banquet too." Shinpei shift his eyes past Reika, where Shira just nods at him.
"I am as relaxed as ever, Takaori-sama."
"Haha, I'm just saying."
The three exchanged brief pleasantries, the sort that filled any gathering like this—polite and measured. Yet even as she spoke, Reika's eyes kept drifting around as in search of something.
Shira noticed her wariness, her gaze followed Reika's subtle movements for a moment before returning to Shinpei.
"Takaori-sama, where's Kouga?"
Shinpei's smile remained, but it changed just slightly at Shira's sudden question. "Kouga?"
Reika blinked at Shira, clearly caught off guard like she just read her mind. "Yes… Seiryuu-san… never fail to attend each year."
"Well, haha! The man himself would be on cloud nine if he knows that our ojō-sama expecting him."
"…Uhh... no— that's not– I'm not saying that I'm expecting him specifically—"
"—Too bad Kouga's on another urgent errand, Reika-ojō-sama. Kurosawa-san…"
"Is that so." Shira closed short and cold, while Reika just let out a sigh of relief.
"Though, he nearly wept tears of blood and kept saying stuff like 'Alas, a year without the honor of witnessing Reika-sama's beauty'… haha."
Both women just gave out a dry, wordless smile. And before the conversation could drift further, someone near the entrance caught Reika's eye.
A tall, bespectacled woman had just stepped through the front doors with confident stride. Her deep dark red cocktail dress cut an elegant silhouette against the lights of the hall, matched with her long-wavy dark hair with a slight tint of crimson emphasized her posture and mysterious air, though her smile carried a trace of mischief as her sharp eyes searched the room and met Reika's eyes.
"Well… that's my cue… If you'll excuse us, advisor Takaori."
Shinpei just lifted his glass and gave polite nod, watched them go with the same gentle smile.
Reika and Shira moved to her direction, timing it precisely that they cross path in a quieter space.
"Superintendent Yamagami-san."
The woman tucked strands of her long hair behind her ear and grinned when she greets back.
"There you are, Hiraga-san, Kurosawa-san." She gave a small playful salute.
"… Haha… you look so different I almost failed to recognize you."
"You're the one who told me not to come in my uniform."
"You look so beautiful, Yamagami-san."
"Tell me about it, Hiraga-san, you look striking." And her eyes shifted off from Reika "You as well, Kurosawa-san, slightly embracing your womanly charm tonight?"
"…Well, the occasion forced me to…" Shira gave a snort of incredulity. "Thank you for your time, such short notices and all."
"No problem, so…here I am." Her eyes sparkled with playful defiance. "Feel free to flaunt me as you wish tonight~"
Reika groaned with quiet exhaustion. "Yamagami-san… please."
Yamagami laughed softly. "I'm kidding. Mostly."
Shira remained silent beside them, watching the crowd. And then she saw him.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she leaned toward and whisper to Reika.
"Reika-sama, he's arrived."
Across the hall, Kitamura Rindou arrived and removing his gloves beside the coat attendants with casual authority.
Reika's expression didn't change, but her attention shifted instantly. Then turned back to Yamagami.
"I'll come back to you later, please enjoy yourself tonight, we already prepared few vintage selections."
"Oh, don't mind if I do." Yamagami send her off with a smirk.
Few steps away, Shira leans closer to Reika.
"You two talk alone, I'll keep watch."
"Thank you, Shira."
Behind her, Shira drifted into the crowd—not toward the drinks or the conversations, but to a quiet vantage where she could oversee the entire room.
Meanwhile, Reika walks with confident steps.
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