He could feel his heartbeat quickening by half a beat.
[System Notice: Detecting abnormal heart rate in Host. Adrenaline secretion accelerating. Analysis: Hormonal fluctuation. Determination: Host has entered mating season... er, no, "Heart-Stirred Mode."]
"Ahem." Cloud coughed lightly to cover his momentary distraction.
He decided it was time to demonstrate true "straight guy" technique.
"This whole 'becoming a pillar' thing sounds like a lot of trouble." He pretended to ponder. "You know me—I'm pretty lazy. I just like drinking cola, watching fights. Saving the world takes too much energy. Unless..."
He deliberately drew out the word.
"Unless what?" Chizuru asked nervously.
Cloud suddenly leaned in close. Their faces were less than ten centimeters apart; both could feel the other's warm breath.
He watched her long lashes tremble slightly with nervousness. A mischievous smile curved his lips as he lowered his voice to a magnetic tone: "Unless... the reward is attractive enough."
Chizuru's mind went completely blank from his sudden move. Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it might leap out of her throat.
"R-reward?" Her voice was barely a whisper.
"That's right." Cloud's gaze traveled from her delicate brows and eyes, down her petite nose, finally landing on those cherry-red lips. "Like... shares in the Kagura Financial Group? Or maybe... a few private islands? Or perhaps..."
His voice grew more suggestive. "...yourself?"
BOOM—!
Chizuru felt something explode inside her head.
Heat rushed from her soles straight to the top of her skull. Her entire face turned red as a ripe apple, even her earlobes flushing pink.
She... she had been openly teased by this man?!
She instinctively tried to retreat, only to find she couldn't move at all.
She tried to retort, but her lips seemed glued shut—she couldn't utter a single word.
Just as she thought she might "crash" from "brain overheating," Cloud suddenly pulled back, sitting upright again, his face returning to that devil-may-care smile.
"Just kidding. Don't take it seriously."
Chizuru: "..."
She felt like she'd just ridden the world's most thrilling roller coaster. Her heart had lurched up and down so violently she'd nearly died on the spot.
She stared at Cloud's infuriating smiling face, feeling both embarrassed and angry, gritting her teeth. This man always loved to tease her!
But for some reason, besides the embarrassment and annoyance, there was also a tiny bit of... secret delight and anticipation in her heart.
She took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of courage she possessed. She raised her head and met Cloud's gaze.
Her eyes no longer evaded. They were filled with a young woman's stubbornness and shyness.
"I..." Face crimson, she spoke in a tone of throwing caution to the wind, enunciating each word clearly. "I... can give you... an opportunity... to pursue me!"
Having said that, she immediately yanked up the blanket and buried herself underneath, curling into a ball, not daring to look at Cloud again.
The hospital room fell into a peculiar silence.
On the neighboring bed, Maki Kagura—who had been "pretending" to sleep—let an almost imperceptible smile curve her lips.
As for Cloud, watching the "blanket creature" trembling under the covers, he stood frozen for a full three seconds before bursting into laughter.
He knew that from this moment, his relationship with this young miko heiress of the Kagura family had taken a decisive step toward something more interesting... and sweeter.
When Chizuru had summoned all her courage and said, red-faced, "I can give you an opportunity to pursue me," the very air in the hospital room seemed to turn pink and strawberry-scented.
"Hahahaha... an opportunity? Miss Chizuru, do you have some kind of misunderstanding about me?"
Cloud stood and walked step by step to her bedside. He bent down and, through the blanket, spoke in a low voice near her ear: "I've never believed in opportunities. I only believe in... taking the initiative."
"Besides..." He paused, his tone growing more suggestive. "Did you forget? I'm this year's KOF champion. According to tournament rules, the champion... gets a special private reward from the host."
Under the blanket, Chizuru trembled all over. She could clearly feel Cloud's warm breath tickling her ear, making her heart itch too.
This man... was too good at this!
How was he a "straight guy"? He was clearly a top-tier "heart arsonist"! Every word, every action struck precisely at her heartstrings!
[System Notice: Chizuru Kagura's heart rate has exceeded 180 BPM! Cerebral cortex activity spiking! Dopamine secretion has reached romantic love standards!]
[System Commentary Time: Congratulations, Host! Your cheesy pickup line skill has scored a critical hit! Target's affection has surged from +40 to +60 (Almost Lovers)! Friendly reminder: Strike while the iron's hot! Keep up the momentum! You're only one grand slam away from a home run!]
Hearing the System's notification, the corner of Cloud's mouth curved in satisfaction.
Slowly, gently, he pulled the blanket away from Chizuru's head.
What emerged was a breathtakingly beautiful, flushed face.
Those eyes that usually sparkled with wisdom and mischief were now misty, carrying seven parts shyness, three parts annoyance, and one part anticipation.
Her cherry lips were slightly parted from nervousness—moist, inviting, as if silently beckoning.
Looking at this vision before him—delicate as a flower ready to be picked—Cloud felt the "beast" genes within him roaring.
"As for the reward..." he murmured softly, slowly lowering his head.
"...let's start with collecting a little interest in advance."
The moment those words fell, he pressed his lips gently against that alluring redness.
...
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