The night was pitch black.
Screech.
The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of a residential apartment building in Chiyoda Ward. This was where Kobeni Higashiyama lived, renting a small unit.
"Akai, this the place?" Cael asked.
"Um…" Kobeni lowered her head and unbuckled her seatbelt with a soft click. "Today really… felt like a dream. I've been such a burden to you, Cael…"
"It's nothing, but…" Cael leaned back in his seat, relaxed, glancing at her. "Akai, you don't blame me, right? For stepping in and cutting off your ties with your relatives."
"Eh?" Kobeni panicked, waving her hands. "O-Of course not! Honestly, they've been a headache for a long time. I just didn't have the courage to do anything. Cael, you… you helped me a lot…"
Cael nodded.
"Yeah? Even I could tell your family situation was messed up."
As he spoke, something felt slightly off.
Cael leaned forward and reached out. "Akai, don't move."
"Eh?! Cael, what are you do—"
The moment his fingers touched her face, Kobeni froze. Her heart started pounding like crazy.
Cael brushed the corner of her lips and smirked. "We left in a rush earlier. You didn't wipe your mouth properly."
"Oh… um, yeah…"
Kobeni snapped out of it, forcing an awkward smile. So that was it… She thought he was going to do something else.
Even though she was usually uncomfortable around men, if it was Cael… it didn't feel so bad.
Cael pulled out a tissue and wiped the stain clean, chuckling softly. "Akai, why are you blushing?"
"Eh?" She slapped her cheeks lightly. "I… I'm not blushing…"
Cael gave her a knowing look.
Damn, she was easy to read. And kind of adorable.
He felt like messing with her a bit.
"Ahem." He cleared his throat. "Akai, you're way too shy. Be more confident. You're worth a lot now, you know. Don't forget, you're the employee I 'married' into the company with a forty million yen bride price."
"Eee?!" Kobeni's face turned completely red as she covered it. "I… I'll work for free for two years to pay it back! P-Please don't joke like that…"
"Haha, alright, I'll stop."
He couldn't help himself and reached out, ruffling her hair.
"No way I'd make you work for free. Don't worry about the forty million yen. You won't lose a single yen from your salary because of it."
"Eh?!"
Her eyes shook.
Forty million yen… for free?
No, no, no. That kind of thing doesn't exist. Free stuff is always the most expensive.
Wait.
Is this a test?
Right. It had to be a loyalty test.
Kobeni shook her head frantically, face still red. "N-No! That's way too much! I can't accept that kind of money! I have to pay you back!"
Cael raised an eyebrow, amused.
He spoke casually, almost lazily. "I'm not joking, Akai. Forty million yen really isn't a big deal to me. At this point, money's just numbers. Paper. Its value only exists because people believe in it."
Kobeni bit her lip. "I… I didn't go to university. I don't really get what you're saying…"
Cael scratched his head. "Yeah, fair. I picked that up from Makima's rambling anyway. I don't fully get it either."
He waved it off.
"Point is, losing forty million yen doesn't matter to me. Spending it to get a healthy, reliable employee is a damn good deal."
Kobeni's vision blurred as tears formed.
"Cael… I…"
Cael took out a handkerchief and gently wiped her tears.
"Just think of it as a joining bonus and accept it. I'm not some big shot with grand ambitions. I just want the people around me to live the way they want."
He looked at her calmly.
"You should be happy too, Akai. Money gives you options. Want to go to school? Do it in your free time. Three days off not enough? I'll give you four."
Her mind went blank.
Everything he said echoed over and over.
This was bad.
No… this was really good.
Her feelings became clearer.
She liked Cael.
Yeah, the money mattered, obviously. She wasn't stupid.
But more than that, he always managed to hit the exact spot she needed, the part of her she didn't even know how to express.
Her eyes shimmered.
"Um… Cael… I want to ask something…"
"Go on."
"Asa… Reze… and Ms. Makima… are they really all your wives?"
Cael blinked. "Yeah. Why?"
The topic switch was random as hell.
"Then… do you hate me?"
Her voice was quiet, but steady enough for him to hear.
"Why would I hate you? I've got no reason to."
She let out a long breath.
Good.
That was all she needed.
Then suddenly, something bold sparked inside her.
She grabbed the door handle. "Then… bye…"
"Yeah, get some rest."
In the next second, everything flipped.
Kobeni turned around so fast it caught Cael off guard. She climbed onto his lap, grabbing the back of his head, and pressed her lips against his.
Cael's eyes widened.
What the hell?
He instinctively leaned back, breaking the contact.
"Akai, you—"
But Kobeni, already past the point of no return, chased after him.
She pulled him back and kissed him again, more firmly this time.
Their eyes met for a brief second before she closed hers, clumsily pouring everything into that kiss.
Her thoughts were simple.
Sorry, Cael.
You don't hate me.
It's just a kiss.
This should count as repayment… right?
And besides…
You've got multiple wives anyway. Why can't I squeeze in there too?
Cael's breathing steadied.
The tension in his body faded.
He understood what she was trying to say.
And more importantly…
He realized he wasn't pushing her away.
So yeah.
He liked her too.
With that, Cael adjusted slightly, pulling her closer and returning the kiss, slower this time, matching her pace.
Not far away, someone froze.
Kobeni's brother, Yori Higashiyama, had just stepped out to grab instant noodles.
And now…
He was staring straight at his sister making out with some guy in a car.
Holy shit.
Is that my brother-in-law?
Damn, he looks cool as hell.
Yori almost stayed to watch, but then it hit him.
That's my sister.
Yeah, nope.
"Didn't see anything, didn't see anything…"
He turned around and walked off quickly, clutching his noodles, leaving the rest to play out on their own.