"?"
Why would they call now?
He answered, still confused. A cold, formulaic voicethe HR managercame through: "Oda Toshita-san, pursuant to management's decision, your employment contract is hereby terminated. Your dismissal notice and severance details will be emailed to you. Please clear your personal items and leave the company today. Goodbye."
The line clicked off, leaving only a busy tone.
"???"
Oda stared at the phone, stunned. It slipped from his limp hand and smashed on the ground, the screen cracking. Only then did he truly understand: the man named Rei Ao was someone he absolutely, absolutely could not afford to cross.
The man had not only terrifying presence and strengthhe could decide Oda's career, life or death with ease. The threat of "sinking in the bay" probably hadn't been mere talk.
A tide of boundless fear and regret washed over him. He was finishedcompletely finished. Not only was his job gone, he'd likely be blacklisted across the industryand he'd have to live under the shadow of that threat.
In that instant, every petty scheme shriveled up. All he wanted was to run.
Meanwhile, in the passenger seat of Rei Ao's very expensive supercar, Kato Hiromi watched the city blur backward outside the window, breathing in the faint, clean scent that was his and sensing the steady calm of the man beside her.
Her feelings were a tangled knot: relief that the trouble was over, shock at Rei Ao's overwhelming methods, and a flutter she couldn't quite name from being defended so forcefully. The mix left her reeling.
"Um Rei Ao-kun, thank youfor just now," she murmured, cheeks still rosy.
Eyes on the road, his profile razor-clean, Rei Ao only gave a mild smile. "It was nothing. And if we're acting, we see it through, don't we?"
His tone was easyas if the cold, domineering man who'd ground someone underfoot moments ago had been a hallucination. But Hiromi knew that had only been the tip of his true power. This man was even more mysterious and formidable than she'd imagined.
He hadn't used any supernatural strength just now; otherwise the whole world wouldn't be able to stop him. And to handle a small fry like Oda Toshita, he wouldn't even need to speaka single thought could bend the man's mind.
Knowing all this, a small sweetness rose in Hiromi's heart instead: Rei Ao-kun had chosen to solve her problem the ordinary wayfor her. The thought kept circling in her mind.
Chapter 965: Let's give this day a proper ending...
The dark-blue sports car finally stopped in front of a refined, quiet Italian restaurant. It felt less like a place to eat in the noisy city than a hidden oasis.
Soft, warm light, easygoing jazz, and just-right spacing between tables combined to create a private, comfortable atmosphere.
Rei Ao seemed familiar with the place. A server respectfully led them to a quiet window-side corner. Once they sat down, Kato Hiromi finally came back to herself a little, though her heartbeat still wouldn't settle.
She sneaked glances at Rei Ao across from her. He was paging through the menu with elegant ease; under the gentle light, his profile looked especially handsomenothing like the cold figure from minutes ago who had someone pinned under his foot.
"It's already handled." Rei Ao closed the menu and looked at her, his tone even. "That Oda Toshita won't show up in front of you again, nor will he cause you any more trouble in life. You can be completely at ease."
He spoke with the certainty of stating a fact. Hiromi didn't doubt him in the slightest; she trusted his assurance one hundred percent. A promise backed by absolute power was more reassuring than any legal document.
"Th-thank you very much, Rei Ao-kun." Hiromi rested both hands on her knees and bowed slightly, genuine gratitude and a touch of embarrassed color on her face. "You not only took care of something so troublesome, you also humored me with this kind of, um, slightly silly thing."
She meant the pretend-boyfriend act. To her, for someone like Rei Ao, it was like an adult playing house with a childchildish and a waste of time.
Rei Ao lifted the lemon water the server had just poured and took a light sip. "Silly? Not necessarily." A faint, unreadable smile touched his lips. "In a way, it's a novel little 'role-play' experience. Sometimes it's fun to see the world from a different identity."
That answer eased Hiromi's mindat least he wasn't annoyed or feeling his time was being wasted. But then he shifted slightly, gaze warm with a hint of appreciation as it fell on her cheeks, pink from nerves and shyness. "Especially when the role is the boyfriend of a woman as beautiful and enchanting as Hiromi-san. In a sense, it's my honor."
"Eh?!"
The sudden, straightforward compliment hit her heart like an arrow. Her pulse skittered out of control, racing madly. Heat rushed to her face, turning it bright red; even her ears and the curve of her neck flushed a soft pink.
"N-No you're flattering me, Rei Ao-kun" She ducked her head, flustered, hands at a loss. She grabbed the water glass and took a big gulp of ice water, trying to cool the heat in her cheeks and the flutter in her chest. The chill cleared her head a bitthough the little deer in her ribcage only kicked harder.
The rest of dinner took on a subtle, suggestive air. Even the delicious food seemed a touch muted; nearly all of Hiromi's attention was drawn to the man across from herhis graceful table manners, the occasional smiling glance he sent her way, the easy small talk he tossed out everything made her heart thud. It felt like the air itself hummed with an invisible tensionnerve-wracking, and yet sweet and full of expectation.
Dinner ended amid a blend of flavor, awkwardness, and heart-fluttering. It was just past seven. City neon blinked on one by one, weaving dreamlike colors utterly different from daytime.
After paying, Rei Ao walked out with Kato Hiromi. A cool night breeze brushed her overheated cheeks, but the ripples inside her didn't calm.
She looked at the tall figure beside her, momentarily at a loss about what should come next. Should she thank him politely, let him drive her home, and end this dreamlike day? A vague unwillingness rose at the thought of it ending so soon.
Just then, Rei Ao turned to her. His voice sounded especially clear in the night air. "It's seven o'clock, Hiromi. Shall I take you straight home, or did you have other plans?"
It was a simple question, but her heart lurched. Almost without thinking, she shook her head, her voice a little dry. "I I don't have any other plans."
A faint disappointment rippled through her as soon as she said it. Was that really it?
"Oh?"
The corner of Rei Ao's mouth curved with a meaningful smile. Under the neon glow, it carried a hint of mesmerizing charm. He suddenly suggested, "Since there's nothing else, Hiromi, why don't we keep 'playing our parts' and give this day a proper ending?"
"Eh?"
Hiromi looked up, puzzled, not quite getting it. Playing their partshow would they keep that up?
Then she heard his lazy, magnetic voice explain: "As in, doing the things couples usually do at night. For example, taking a walk together, browsing a night market, or catching a midnight movie. It's a rare chancewant to experience what a real date feels like?"
"A d-date?! With Rei Ao-kun?!"
Hiromi's eyes flew wide. It felt like an invisible hand squeezed her heart, then let go, and it started pounding like crazy. Her mind went blank, leaving only the words "a date" echoing over and over.
C-Can I really do this? Rei Ao-kun is Megumi's boyfriend! Pretending to be a couple was already over the linenow a real date? That was playing with fire!
Reason blared alarms, warning her to refuse immediately and end this dangerous game. But her feelingsthe heart that, after everything today, already leaned on him and liked him so muchscreamed hoarsely: Say yes! This is your only chance! Miss it, and it may never come again!
The two voices warred fiercely in her head. She froze where she stood, lips partingyet no sound came out.
~~~
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Chapter 966: Teasing...
While Kato Hiromi's head and heart were at war, Rei Ao didn't push her. He just watched quietlyhis gaze deep, as if it could see through every bit of her hesitation and struggle. It felt like silent encouragement, and also an irresistible pull.
Before reason could fully take over, Hiromi heard her own voiceslightly trembling yet clearsay, "S-sure"
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted it.
Oh God! What did I just say? Did I actually agree to go on a date with my little sister's boyfriend?! Kato Hiromi, are you crazy?!
She opened her mouth to explain it was a mistakethat she was just jokingbut before she could find the words, Rei Ao reached out. His warm, dry palm naturally closed around her hand, which had gone a little cool from nerves. The gesture was gentle, yet decisive.
"Then let's go," he said with a small smile, and led her into the bustling night crowd.
The warmth of his hand shot through her like a current, wiping out any thought of resisting. She felt like a marionette who'd lost the ability to thinkface burning, head downletting him lead her toward a date that terrified her and thrilled her in equal measure.
The next few hours felt like a beautiful, unreal dream.
Rei Ao was the perfect boyfriend, planning every step with care. He took her through a lively night market to try all kinds of snacks, handing her a drink right on cue when the spice got to her.
He walked with her along a quiet seaside promenade, listening to the waves, letting the faintly salty wind brush past them. Their talk was light and unimportant, but the warmth of it was intoxicating.
They ended up at a midnight screening of a light, romantic comedy. The theater was dim, but Hiromi couldn't focus on the screen at all.
Every sense she had was filled by the man beside her. He was still holding her handat some point their fingers had laced togetherand the heat from his palm kept flowing into her until her entire arm tingled.
She could catch his clean, crisp scent, blending with the sweetness of popcorn into something uniquely dizzying.
She kept her head down, cheeks blazing, too afraid to look at him, terrified she'd faint from embarrassment if their eyes met. And yet, somewhere deep inside, a quiet happiness rose like a tide and wrapped her up.
She greedily savored this stolen time and selfishly wished the movie would never end, that the night would go on forever.
When the movie finally ended and the lights came up, they drifted out with the crowd. It was already eleven. The night air was cooler, but Rei Ao still held her hand tightlyfingers interlaced, close as can be.
She walked with her head lowered, looking at their joined hands, already dreading the moment they'd have to part.
Rei Ao stopped. Hiromi stopped too and lifted her head, puzzled. He was facing her, leaning in slightly, his handsome face gentled by the soft glow of a streetlamp. He looked into her eyes and asked in a low, velvety voice, "Hiromi, how was our date? Did you have a good time?"
Her heart skipped a beat. Under that focused gaze, it fluttered madly. She ducked her eyes and answered in a small but sincere voice, "Mm yes. I was really happyso, so happy."
It was the truththe most exciting, happiest night of her life.
Then, the next second, his face seemed to draw a little closer.
!!!
That angle, that posturejust like the moment before the lead in a drama kisses the heroine!
Hiromi's mind exploded. The battle between reason and desire flared up again.
Is he going to kiss me? Is Rei Ao going to kiss me? What do I do? Close my eyes? Push him away? But but I want it so badly
Tension and anticipation hit a breaking point, and her body moved before her brain could. She shut her eyes and tilted up her pale neck ever so slightly. Her long lashes trembled from nerves, as if awaiting the kiss about to fall.
Seconds stretchedand the expected softness didn't land on her lips.
Instead, a warm breath carrying his familiar, clean scent brushed against the sensitive shell of her ear. It tickled and tingled, making her shiver.
Then his voicelowered, seductive, devilishly softslipped into her ear: "So, Hiromi want to try the last activity on tonight's date?"
!!!
Realizing he'd leaned in not to kiss herand that she was standing there in a mortifying "please kiss me" poseHiromi went rigid.
A wave of shame crashed over her like a tsunami. What a misunderstanding! So embarrassing! She wanted to sink through the floor.
Her mind blanked out completely. Faced with his suggestive, tempting invitation in that short-circuited state, she could only obey her bodyor maybe the truest desire in her heart. Barely audibly, like sleep-talking, she nodded and whispered, "O-okay"
She never noticed the slight curve at the corner of Rei Ao's lips in that instanta satisfied, faintly wicked smile, like a plan falling neatly into place.
Chapter 967: Confused Sakura, A Dark Future
Vrrbeep
Rei Ao's sports car eased into a reserved spot in front of a brilliantly lit, imposing building.
Kato Hiromi stepped out, hand in hand with him. The night breeze brushed past, letting a sliver of clarity cut through her overwhelming shame and confusion. Instinctively, she looked up at the building glowing with luxury in the darkand froze.
The flush that had just faded rushed back hotter than ever, even redder than before.
Because the place looming before her wasn't just any buildingit was a famous, ultra-luxurious five-star hotel in Tokyo.
A huge neon sign blazed in the night. Golden light spilled from the revolving doors. Uniformed staff stood respectfully on either side.
A h-hotel?!
Hiromi turned to Rei Ao in shock, panic in her eyes. W-why are we here?! Shouldn't the last stop of a date be taking me home?
As if he could read every question and flutter in her heart, Rei Ao met her wide-eyed stare with a playful, I-have-everything-under-control smile. Teasingly, he said, "What's the matter, Hiromi? After dinner, a stroll, and a midnight movie for a couple on a date, where else would you go at the end of the night besides a hotel?"
His words were blunt and aggressive, his deep eyes gleaming with undisguised desire and possessivenesslike a predator fixing on its prey.
"Uu!"
Hiromi instantly understood what he'd meant by "the last activity." This wasn't some simple end to the evening. This was turning the make-believe into the real thingleaping straight from "pretend boyfriend" to an actual relationship.
