Morning.
The first ray of golden sunlight, characteristic of Los Angeles, peeked through the gap in the enormous floor-to-ceiling window like a shy visitor.
It painted the cold and luxurious presidential suite with a warm and soft tone.
Justify slowly opened her eyes, which were the color of the blue ocean.
She felt as if she had slept for a century.
It was the deepest, calmest, and most pleasant sleep she had enjoyed in years.
The extreme exhaustion that had clung to her body like worms to bone vanished without a trace.
And the heavy chains that had imprisoned her spiritual world also seemed to have completely disappeared.
Unconsciously, she turned her head.
Then, she saw something that made her newly reborn heart skip a beat.
Kaito was sitting right next to her bed.
His back was resting against the cold headboard, and his hand held hers tightly.
He had fallen asleep completely dressed, just like that.
The sunlight cast a soft shadow over his profile, making his attractive features appear even more delicate.
His face reflected a certain tiredness after having guarded her all night.
But his sleeping expression was so serene.
Justify's gaze slowly slid downward.
She realized that her body, still cool, was covered by his suit jacket, which gave off the man's unique, pleasant, and comforting aroma.
On the nightstand, the cup of hot milk, which had long since cooled, had been replaced at some point by a cup of perfectly lukewarm water.
Beside it, he had meticulously prepared a simple but nutritious breakfast: a slice of golden toasted bread and a small bowl of steaming oatmeal with fruit.
Had he... watched over her all night?
An unprecedented emotion, complex and impetuous, like the warmest tsunami, instantly overwhelmed Justify's heart.
It was gratitude.
It was trust.
It was an uncontrollable fluttering of the heart.
And... it was the purest love.
She knew it.
This man before her was the only "fool" who walked toward her against the current when the entire world had abandoned and despised her.
He was the only "monster" who saw beyond all the pain and struggle hidden behind her "perfect" mask.
He was the only... Savior in her life.
She sat up carefully and gently from the large, fluffy bed, terrified that she might make the slightest noise and wake him.
She gazed with adoration at Kaito's sleeping face, watching how his eyelashes flickered slightly while he slept deeply.
Something called "courage," which she had never possessed before, grew strongly in her heart.
After hesitating for a long, long time.
She leaned down.
It was as if she had finally made the most important decision of her life.
She closed her eyes and pressed her soft, slightly trembling lips, like rose petals.
Gently upon Kaito's lips.
This kiss had no lustful burden.
Only the purest gratitude and adoration, clean and delicate as a maiden's dew.
Kaito woke up to that sudden and soft touch.
The moment he opened his eyes.
He saw Justify's dazzlingly beautiful face, just inches away, flushed like a ripe apple from shyness.
She had been discovered!
Justify instantly recoiled like a frightened fawn caught red-handed doing something naughty!
She shot away immediately!
She sat there, nervous and helpless, with her head down, not daring to look at him again.
After a silence that made her heart pound loudly, almost to the point of suffocation.
Justify slowly raised her head again.
The deep despair of yesterday had vanished from her blue eyes.
In its place, a faint and undeniable light shone, mixed with extreme shyness and unwavering determination.
She looked at Kaito
And spoke with a voice almost pleading, yet incredibly serious:
"Mr. Kaito... thank you"
"You... gave me a new life"
"Therefore..."
"...please allow me..."
"...to reward you... with everything I have"
Before Kaito could give any response.
She actively approached Kaito again.
Her small hands, trembling but incredibly resolute, slowly untied the belt of her silk nightgown.
Revealing her soft, delicate, and fragrant shoulders, like the finest white marble.
"Catherine always said I was her most perfect 'masterpiece'..."
She looked at Kaito, with crystal-clear tears shining in her beautiful eyes.
"...but she only cared about the commercial 'value' of this 'masterpiece'..."
"...But you..."
"...saw me when I was about to become a forgotten 'piece of scrap metal'..."
"...You saw my heart"
She opened her arms completely to him.
"So..."
"...now..."
"I want to give you this so-called 'masterpiece,' along with my 'heart'..."
"...to be a 'collector's item' that belongs only to you..."
"...Is that okay?"
Kaito observed the beautiful but fragile young woman before him, who was actively offering him everything she possessed.
There was no longer a trace of hesitation in his heart.
He knew it.
At this moment, any refusal or delay would be the greatest and cruelest harm to her.
He did not speak.
He simply reached out and gently wiped the warm tear rolling down her cheek.
Then, with a soft and deep kiss, full of tenderness.
He answered all her requests.
He drew her toward him once more.
He lowered his head and whispered in her ear with a husky voice that could melt any girl:
"You are not a collector's item for anyone, Justify"
"...You are a unique treasure"
The morning sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, painting the entire room in a warm and sacred golden color.
What followed was no longer the "treatment" full of comfort and protection from the previous night.
Instead, it was a tender and complete union, full of rebirth and love.
Kaito employed all his skills with the greatest delicacy and attention.
He guided the beautiful young American woman, who was experiencing intimacy for the first time, to explore a completely new world, full of light and hope, that belonged only to the two of them.
Every kiss and every caress of his seemed to repair the invisible wounds in her body that had been torn by "perfection"
Justify felt like a flower about to wither completely during a long, dark night.
In that moment, she had finally waited for her... Sun.
Nourished by the morning sunlight and by that life-giving rain and dew... she, slowly, once again... bloomed.
She was no longer the heavy idol who held the honor of an entire nation.
She was simply a normal girl, immersed in the embrace of the person she loved, feeling pure happiness.
[Ding—!]
[Soul Contract established!]
[Congratulations, host! You have completely healed the psychological trauma of Justify, the starry glory, and have established the deepest level of "Soul Contract" with her.]
[The Trust Level has reached MAXIMUM!]
[Target completely conquered!]
[Obtained a new special bond passive skill: Star's Protection LV1 (Effect: When any of your bonded companions falls into a negative mental state, Justify's words and company have a certain probability of providing comfort and encouragement from a distance. This is an extremely rare "Commissar" type support passive skill!)]
When everything ended.
Justify pulled from the deepest part of her closet the most important and sacred thing she had.
The outfit with which she won the American Triple Crown for the first time, printed with a vibrant starry flag design.
She did not put it on.
Instead, she, with solemnity and delicacy, placed it over the man who had just stood up, the man whose scent still lingered on her body.
Then, she hugged him tightly from behind.
She rested her slightly flushed cheek against his firm and broad back.
And whispered softly with a murmuring voice full of infinite satisfaction and happiness:
"From today on..."
"...You are my glory"
"...My starry flag"
This action symbolized the honor of the "nation" in her heart.
Everything had been completely transferred to Kaito, to this man, and only to him.
She would no longer compete for the United States.
But she would fight only for him!
Just as both were enjoying this hard-won intimate tranquility...
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
A sudden, urgent, furious, and energetic knocking echoed from outside the room door!
Immediately after, the icy voice of Catherine Underwood, suppressing a monstrous rage, was heard from outside the door!
"Justify! I know you are in there!"
"And... Mr. Kaito!"
"I give you three minutes!"
"Get out of here right now!"
Kaito and Justify exchanged glances.
Both noticed a hint of nervousness in each other's eyes.
And... a touch of incredible excitement!
Far from being afraid, Justify
Winked at Kaito in a playful and daring way, and then kissed him again with enthusiasm.
Kaito knew it.
The war between him and Catherine, from this moment on... would officially pass from a growing "covert struggle"... to an authentic and direct "open confrontation"
A "Glory Contest" even more intense and explosive was about to break out in the hallway in the next chapter, right in front of everyone!