Feeling the warmth lingering in his palm and seeing the unnatural blush on Reze's face, Cael felt his heartbeat quicken.
For some reason, the memory of the fireworks festival surfaced in his mind. He remembered that reckless kiss they shared that night.
Almost by reflex, Cael felt a faint metallic taste return to his mouth.
He quickly pulled his hand back as if shocked, then nervously glanced toward Asa's room.
The lights were already off.
Good.
Cael quietly let out a breath of relief.
If Asa had seen that scene just now, explaining it would have been a nightmare. Judging by the darkness in her room, she had most likely fallen asleep already.
Safe. Definitely safe.
It seemed those extra points he had invested in luck were not wasted after all.
Subconsciously, Cael took a small step back.
"Reze, you're acting really strange tonight. Saying something like that... you haven't been drinking, have you?"
Her words and behavior had completely scrambled his thoughts.
However, every time Cael stepped back, Reze moved two steps forward.
Soon, the distance between their faces shrank to less than thirty centimeters.
A faint fragrance drifted into his nose.
It was Reze's scent.
Cael suddenly understood something.
Just like Asa, some girls really did seem to carry a natural body fragrance.
"Drinking?" Reze smiled softly and pointed at her lips. "Why doesn't Cael find out himself, just like that night?"
Cael assumed she was joking and forced a stiff smile.
"Don't bite me."
"It's getting late."
"You've worked hard all day, so go wash up and get some rest."
While speaking, Cael continued stepping backward.
Reze kept following him, the playful smile never leaving her lips.
Step by step, she forced him deeper into the shadows until his back touched the wall.
Wall slam.
"Hey," Reze said softly.
"If you know I work so hard, shouldn't the boss reward me properly?"
Cael swallowed hard.
His hormones were running wild.
Calm down.
He absolutely had to calm the hell down.
"I... I can give you a raise," Cael said quickly. "How much do you want? Is 1.2 million yen a month enough?"
Reze shook her head.
"Then one hundred fifty..."
Before Cael could finish speaking, a slender hand covered his mouth.
Tears gathered in Reze's eyes.
"Stop pretending to be stupid," she whispered.
"Cat eating mouse, you know exactly what this country mouse wants."
"A country mouse doesn't stay in a dangerous city for good food."
"She stays for love."
"What I want isn't money."
"Cael, I want you."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Tonight, I need to know your answer."
"I know you like Asa Mitaka. I know you like Makima too."
She paused.
"Honestly, I don't even care if you keep liking other girls."
"As long as they don't hurt you, I don't care how many there are."
"All I want is a place in your heart."
"A place where I can exist."
"Cael, I like you."
"I want to hear those four words from you."
The wind outside had gone still.
Everything was quiet.
Reze's expression looked painfully vulnerable.
Cael knew she was serious.
A Soviet agent, a trained assassin, someone like her would never stay by his side without a reason.
If it wasn't money or power, then the answer was obvious.
"I..."
Cael froze.
His thoughts were a complete mess.
What the hell kind of situation was this?
He wasn't some damn succubus.
The atmosphere between them was thick and heavy.
Cael swallowed again.
The words almost escaped his mouth.
But guilt dragged them back.
His breathing became uneven.
After a long moment, he finally spoke.
"If I say those four words to you now, wouldn't that make me a complete bastard?"
"No," Reze answered immediately.
She shook her head firmly.
One hand rested on her chest while the other pressed gently against the pull ring embedded in Cael's chest.
Her eyes sparkled with playful mischief.
"We both have a devil's heart," she said with a teasing smile.
"We're not exactly human."
"So Cael can't be a scumbag."
"At worst, you'd just be a devil scumbag."
Cael did not laugh.
Even after hearing her joke.
After struggling internally for a while, he lowered his head.
"I'm sorry, Reze."
"Can you give me some time to think about this properly?"
"This is too sudden."
"And Asa is still in the shop."
"No."
Reze lifted his chin forcefully.
"Asa cannot be your excuse."
"In fact, it's better that she's here."
"You need to face this situation if you want to understand your feelings."
"All I want is your honest heart."
"I..."
Cael froze again.
Damn it.
He suddenly wanted to slap himself.
Why the hell was he hesitating now?
Why couldn't he just face his own feelings honestly?
Did he like Reze?
Of course he did.
That answer was painfully obvious.
Looks mattered, sure.
But Cael was not that shallow.
People were complicated.
Sometimes they were moved by moments they never expected.
For Cael, that moment came on the beach.
The girl standing there had thrown away all her identities, all her masks.
She stood there completely bare, completely honest.
Even now, Reze still kept that soaked Paper Bell as if it were a priceless treasure.
Because deep down, she lacked something important.
Security.
Seeing Cael struggle to speak, Reze let out an annoyed breath.
She understood now.
Cael liked her.
But he was trapped by pointless morals and hesitation.
Damn it.
She could not keep dragging this out.
Being indecisive like this was pathetic.
So Reze played her final card.
She cupped Cael's face with both hands.
"Cael, look at me."
"Think carefully."
"If you refuse me…"
Her voice softened.
"Can you imagine me marrying another man?"
"Huh?!"
Cael's entire body froze.
His pupils shrank sharply.
Reze immediately knew she had bet correctly.
Her fingers slowly traced his face.
His ear.
His eyebrow.
His lips.
"You see," she murmured.
"Couples always do things like this."
"Can you imagine another man touching my face like this?"
"Touching my ears."
"Tracing my eyelids."
"Learning the shape of my nose."
"And then going lower... discovering every part of my body…"
Her words suddenly stopped.
Reze's emerald eyes widened.
Cael had suddenly sealed her mouth with his own.
Every remaining word was swallowed by the kiss.
Reze exhaled softly.
Cael's tongue moved boldly, invading without restraint.
She felt strangely satisfied.
Actions always spoke louder than words.
Yes.
This was exactly how it should be.
If you liked someone, suppressing it only made things worse.
Reze tilted her head slightly to make the kiss more comfortable.
Her eyes slowly closed.
This time, she simply enjoyed the moment.
She would not bite his tongue again.
Five minutes later, the two finally separated.
Both of them were slightly breathless.
Cael wrapped his arms around her gently.
His gaze had become firm and steady.
"Reze."
"I like you."
"And don't say something that terrifying ever again."
Her words earlier had genuinely frightened him.
But they had also forced him to recognize his true feelings.
Reze…
She absolutely had to be his.
Only three girls.
He could handle that.
Reze let out a long breath.
"Hmph. Finally got you."
Then her eyes narrowed mischievously.
"However…"
"You bad guy are going on a date with that witch tomorrow."
"If you don't want Asa discovering your blooming love life, you'd better give me hush money."
Cael raised an eyebrow.
"Hush money?"
"Alright. How much?"
Reze smiled slyly and tapped her lips with a finger.
"Hush money isn't cash."
"It requires sealing my mouth like earlier."
"It's calculated by time."
Cael chuckled.
That really was classic Reze.
"Alright," he said.
"You decide."
Reze thought for a moment.
"Let's test ten minutes first."
Cael snorted.
"Ten minutes?"
"Who the hell do you think you're looking down on?"
"I'll make it thirty."
Before, he had been too rushed.
This time, he planned to savor it properly.
"Mm?!"
...
In another room, Asa tossed and turned in her bed.
Even though the window was tightly closed and no wind was coming in, she felt an inexplicable chill on the top of her head.
Maybe sleeping in this weather really required a hat.
If only Cael were here.
Unfortunately, her human body pillow was still busy working.
____
Patreon = _Zeph