Chapter 332: The One Stake She'll Never Bet; A Mature Woman's Secrets
Kirari's question gave Ren a moment's pause. She had expected him to fall into a contemplative silence before offering a calculated solution, but his actual response caught her completely off guard, sending a tremor through her heart.
After only a brief, stunned silence, Ren spoke, his voice calm and certain. "You are the Matriarch of the Momobami Clan, Kirari. Handle it as you see fit. After all, the woman I know doesn't lose to anyone... except me, of course~"
The words struck her, and the tremor in her heart intensified. Kirari reached out, cupping Ren's face in both her hands, a slow, dazzling smile spreading across her lips. "Lucifer was right," she murmured, her voice a low, intimate purr. "You truly are a devilish man, leaving a girl utterly helpless against you. How could I possibly bear the thought of losing when you say things like that...?"
"You really are..." Ren began, but she cut him off.
"You," Kirari said, her smile unwavering but her eyes glinting with a deep seriousness, "are the one prize I would never, ever risk in a gamble. You're the stake I can't afford to lose. Even a madwoman like me has something she's afraid of."
Ren looked at the genuine light dancing in her smiling eyes and sighed with fond helplessness. "What I meant was, you've really picked up some strange nicknames from Lucifer."
"Oh? I don't think it's strange at all," she countered playfully. "It's the kind of thing you can only say to someone you're close to. But... what if I do lose?"
"First," Ren stated with unwavering confidence, "you won't lose to anyone but me. Second, no matter what happens, you can always just come back here."
Kirari's eyes lit up with mischief. "Oh? May I interpret that as an invitation for me to move in?"
"That's your own interpretation," he said, though the corner of his mouth twitched. "In any case, there will always be a place for you here whenever you come."
Her playful grin widened. "Then why don't you come to my place instead?"
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Are you offering to be my patron?"
"Hmm? Pfft~" A laugh escaped her. "Hmm~ Are you unwilling? Come on, let big sister take care of you. I have plenty of money~ Pfft~ Haha~ No, that doesn't feel right. Still, if we're talking about moving, it should be me moving in with you, shouldn't it? Are you looking forward to it?"
"Not at all."
"Hmm? Really?" she purred, leaning closer.
He let out a long-suffering sigh. "...That was a lie."
"You sighed! You really are a devilish man!"
"You..."
"But I like it," she whispered, her smile triumphant.
While Ren and Kirari were lost in their own world, the gym around them was still buzzing with activity. Soryuin Akemi and the others continued their workouts, with Machio occasionally offering pointers. As for Kasugano Sora, she was an enigma unto herself.
She seemed to have reached some kind of breakthrough, finishing her prescribed training routine with surprising speed. After a quick muscle stretch, she migrated over to the climbing machine. She expertly put on her headphones, skillfully queued up a TV show on her phone, and then settled into a steady, almost motionless rhythm on the machine, her eyes glued to the screen.
Sakura Hibiki, in the middle of a set of dumbbell flyes, glanced over at her friend. "Hey, Ayaka, you seem a little out of it today," she said, her voice laced with concern. "Something on your mind?"
Kamisato Ayaka set her dumbbells down with a soft thud and sighed. "When I went home after dinner, I found my sister leading a training session at the dojo. She asked where I'd been, and when I told her... she suggested that maybe Ren-san could come train with us sometime. I just... I don't even know how to bring that up..."
Sakura Hibiki nodded in understanding. "Your sister probably wants to meet him. Just mention it to him when you get a chance. Besides, isn't Ren-san's competition coming up soon? That 'Thai God of War' guy is supposed to be there. If he's a member here, he might show up to train."
Ayaka sighed again, rubbing her temples. "Ah, this is all so complicated. I'm so fed up, my head hurts. Hey, where did Akemi go? Gina! Gina!"
"Hmm? What's up?" Gina called back from across the room.
"Have you seen Akemi?"
"She said she had to pass a message to the President and Ren-san. Are you two done with your workout?"
"Nope!" they answered in unison.
Meanwhile, Soryuin Akemi approached the couple, taking in the sight of Kirari practically glued to Ren's side. 'President Kirari is always like a completely different person around Ren-san,' she thought with an internal sigh.
"Akemi," Ren said, noticing her approach. "Is there something you need?"
Soryuin Akemi cleared her throat, snapping to attention. "It's nothing major! My sister just told me this morning that she's planning to visit your shop sometime soon. I don't really know the details, but she wanted me to let you know."
Ren considered this for a moment, then nodded. "Got it. Thanks for the message, Akemi. You've finished your main workout, right?"
"Yes!"
"Alright, then. Hit the treadmill. Five kilometers of cardio."
When it came to training, Soryuin Akemi's energy was boundless. "Yes, sir!" she chirped, immediately jogging over to the treadmill next to Kasugano Sora and starting her run without a hint of hesitation, her body already thoroughly warmed up.
Kasugano Sora turned her head, casting a brief, indifferent glance at the energetically jogging Akemi. She said nothing, turning back to her show. She would absolutely never run like that. While sweating felt good, she much preferred her exercise to be a little less... uncomfortable.
Elsewhere, the streets were exceptionally lively. It wasn't just because the commercial district was hitting its evening rush, but because of the stunning group of women turning heads with every step: Ichihara Yuko and her companions.
Each of them was incredibly beautiful, with figures that commanded attention and a unique charm that set them apart. It was safe to say that men and women alike couldn't help but stop and stare. More than a few men earned a sharp jab in the ribs from their partners for looking a moment too long.
Courage sighed, observing the effect they were having. "We're certainly drawing a lot of eyes..."
Ichihara Yuko was carrying a large shopping bag overflowing with personal clothing. When Lucifer and the others saw the sheer volume of her purchases, they were all taken aback. Courage stared at the bags, dazed. "Yuko... are you planning on opening your own boutique with all this?"
Sonoko shook her head with a knowing smile. "Judging by her aura, Yuko-san probably doesn't go out shopping very often. I bet she's just stocking up so she's prepared for anything."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Ichihara Yuko looked slightly awkward. "Um... I confess, I rarely wear the same outfit more than once..."
Her admission shocked them into silence. She quickly cleared her throat, adding, "But, well, it's also because I'm too lazy to go out and buy more."
"Oh~" the others chorused in understanding.
Suddenly, a mischievous glint appeared in Lucifer's eyes. "I never would have guessed," she said, her tone playful. "For someone who's never even been in a relationship, you're surprisingly bold, Yuko."
A faint blush rose on Ichihara Yuko's cheeks, but she recovered instantly, her expression turning coolly casual. "It's called being a mature woman. Besides, aren't you one to talk?"
"Hmm? I think I'm perfectly reasonable," Lucifer replied with an innocent flutter of her eyelashes.
"Lucifer likes little bunnies!" Cerberus suddenly barked from Lucifer's side.
"Cerberus!" Lucifer hissed.
Ichihara Yuko let out a soft, throaty chuckle. "Hoho~ Well now, Lucifer. Who would have thought?"
"That's... that's called having a youthful spirit! It's not what you think!" Lucifer sputtered, her composure cracking. "Anyway! Never mind that! Sonoko, where's that cosmetics store you wanted to go to?"
"It's not far, just up ahead," Sonoko replied, trying to stifle a giggle.
"Hurry, hurry!" Lucifer urged, practically power-walking away from her embarrassment.
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