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 handsome—nothing 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 child—childish 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 mind—at 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 bit—though 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 her—his 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 tension—nerve-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 parts—how 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 chance—want 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 line—now a real date? That was playing with fire!
Reason blared alarms, warning her to refuse immediately and end this dangerous game. But her feelings—the heart that, after everything today, already leaned on him and liked him so much—screamed 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 parting—yet no sound came out.
~~~
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