Ruki was already there, lounging on a black leather couch, her legs crossed, a controller in one hand, a glass of tea in the other. She grinned when she saw me, her dark eyes gleaming like a predator spotting prey.
"Lucien~!" She patted the seat beside her. "Took you long enough."
I stepped in, Saki hovering beside me, her fingers twisting in her skirt.
Then...
"Takuya."
He was standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his back to us, his soccer jacket slung over the back of a chair. The tension in his shoulders was visible, like a coiled spring, ready to snap.
[System Note: "Takuya Hayashi - Affinity: 0% (Hostility: 'He hates you. Good.)"]
He turned, his expression smooth, unreadable.
"Cross."
I nodded.
"Hayashi."
His jaw ticked.
Ruki sipped her drink, her gaze flicking between us.
"You two remember each other, right?" Her smile was sharp. "Last summer. Beach house. Poker."
[Memory Fragment: Unlocked]
...Takuya, slurring: "You cheat."
...Me, smirking: "Prove it."
...The sound of a bottle shattering against the wall.
Takuya's fingers twitched.
[System Note: "Takuya Hayashi - Rival Integrity: 50%. (He hasn't forgotten.)"]
I exhaled, slow.
"Yeah. I remember."
Ruki grinned, setting down her glass.
"Good." She gestured to the TV, where Street Fighter was already paused on the character select screen. "Loser does a forfeit."
[New Quest: "The Gambler's Revenge"]
[Objective: Defeat Takuya. (Reward: His pride. Failure: His wrath.)]
[Suggestion: "Let him win. (He needs it. Pathetic.)"]
Saki shifted beside me, her grip on my sleeve tightening.
I smirked.
"What's the forfeit?"
Ruki's smile turned feral.
"You'll see."
Takuya selected Ryu.
I selected Akuma.
The match began.
Takuya's moves were sharp, precise, angry.
I blocked, countered, toyed with him.
[System Suggestion: "Let him land a hit. (He needs it.)"]
I didn't.
Instead, I swept his legs, knocking Ryu to the ground.
"First round's mine."
[System Note: "Takuya Hayashi - Rival Integrity: 45% → 40%."]
He reset, his jaw clenched.
"You haven't changed."
I grinned.
"Neither have you."
The second round started.
Takuya came in hard, fast, his combos brutal.
[System Note: "Takuya Hayashi - Emotional State: Fury. (He's not holding back.)"]
I blocked, dodged, let him hit me, then countered with a perfect Shun Goku Satsu.
"Game."
[System Alert] [Takuya Hayashi - Rival Integrity: 40% → 30%.]
He slammed the controller down.
"Fuck you, Cross."
Ruki clapped, delighted.
"Well! That was fun." She leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. "Now. The forfeit."
[New Objective: "Claim the Forfeit."]
Takuya stood, his face flushed, his hands clenched.
"I'm leaving."
[System Note: "Takuya Hayashi - Rival Integrity: 30% → 25%."]
Takuya grabbed his jacket, his shoulders tense, his jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle twitching.
"I left my phone at school." His voice was flat, cold, the kind of tone that said I'd rather die than stay here.
Ruki pouted, swirling her whiskey. "Aww, already?" Her gaze flicked to me, amused. "Guess it's just us, then~!"
Takuya didn't look back as the door closed behind him.
Saki shifted beside me, her fingers still twisted in her skirt. "I... I don't really play games..."
Ruki grinned, leaning forward. "Oh, but Lucien does~!" She patted the couch. "Come on, Saki-chan! I'll go easy on you!"
Saki hesitated, then sat, her knees pressed together. "O-Okay..."
Ruki handed her a controller, her smile sharp. "Let's see what you've got~!"
I watched as Saki fumbled with the buttons, her cheeks flushing every time she lost.
Ruki laughed, leaning back. "Aww, you're so bad at this~!"
Saki pouted. "I-I never play these..."
Five minutes later, Saki shifted again, her face flushed. "U-Um, Ruki-san... can I use the bathroom?"
Ruki waved a hand. "Sure~! Down the hall, second door!"
Saki stood, shooting me a nervous glance before disappearing down the hall.
[System Note: "Host is now alone with the predator. (What's your move?)"]
Ruki stretched, her uniform riding up just enough to show the edge of her thighs.
[System Alert] [Ruki Kurogane - Affinity: 80% → 85%. (She's tempting you. Obviously.)"]
"So~" She turned, her skirt hiking up as she reached for another game. "What now, Lucien~?"
I didn't move.
She glanced back at me, her eyes dark, knowing.
"You like what you see?"
I exhaled, slow.
[Quest Update: "The Gambler's Tease"]
[Objective: Make Ruki beg.]
I stood, stepping behind her.
She didn't turn.
"Looking for something?" My voice was low, rough.
She smirked, bending further, her skirt riding up higher.
"Maybe~" Her fingers traced the game cases. "Or maybe I'm just distracted."
I reached out, my fingers brushing the hem of her skirt.
She shivered, but didn't pull away.
"Lucien~" Her voice was breathy, mocking. "You want something?"
I leaned in, my lips brushing her ear.
"You've been tempting me all night."
She laughed, low, dark.
"And?"
I pulled back, just enough to let my fingers trail down her spine.
She bit her lip, her breath hitching.
"You tease, Lucien."
I smirked.
"And you like it."
She straightened, turning to face me, her eyes dark, hungry.
"Then stop teasing."
I grabbed her wrist, pulling her against me.
Her breath caught as I pressed her against the bookshelf, my hand sliding up her thigh.
She whimpered, her fingers clawing at my shirt.
"Lucien..."
I cut her off, my lips crashing against hers.
[Ruki Kurogane — Affinity: 115% → 120%."]
She moaned into the kiss, her body arching against mine.
I pulled back, just enough to whisper against her lips.
"You wanted this."
[Affinity: Ruki Kurogane - 120% → 125%."]
She nodded, dazed.
"Y-Yes..."
[New Title Unlocked: "The Temptation""Congratulations! You've broken another one. (Gold star for emotional domination!)"]
My hand slid between her legs, my fingers pressing against her through her underwear.
She gasped, her head falling back against the bookshelf.
"L-Lucien...!"
I smirked, my fingers circling, teasing.
"You like that?"
[Affinity: Ruki Kurogane - 125% → 130%."]
She whimpered, her hips bucking against my hand.
"Y-Yes...!"
[Quest Complete: "The Gambler's Tease" (Reward: Ruki's total submission. Enjoy.)]
My fingers traced the lace of her underwear, the heat of her pulsing against my palm. Ruki's breath came in short, sharp gasps, her nails digging into my shoulders like she was trying to anchor herself to me.
"L-Lucien..." Her voice was raw, desperate, her hips bucking against my hand.
I smirked, my thumb pressing harder, circling just enough to make her whimper.
"You like that?"
[Affinity: Ruki Kurogane - 135% → 140%."]
She nodded, her head falling back against the bookshelf, her thighs trembling.
I pulled her underwear aside, my fingers sliding inside her.
She gasped, her body arching, her fingers clawing at my shirt.
"N-Ngah...!"
I curled my fingers inside her, my thumb pressing against her clit, rubbing in slow, deliberate circles.
[Affinity: Ruki Kurogane - 140% → 145%. "]
Her breath hitched, her body tensing, her legs shaking.
"I-I'm...!"
I pulled back.
She whimpered, her eyes snapping open, wild, desperate.
"W-Why...?!"
[Affinity: Ruki Kurogane - 145% → 150%. (She's addicted to the denial.)"]
I grinned, dark, dangerous.
"Because I can."
[New Title Unlocked: "The Denier" "Congratulations! You've mastered the art of edging. (Your targets will never recover.)"]
[Mana Perception: ACTIVE] "Target Detected: Yoshida Saki — Approaching. (ETA: 10 seconds.)"
I pulled my hand back, wiping my fingers on Ruki's skirt before adjusting her underwear.
Ruki whimpered, her legs still shaking, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Y-You...!"
I stepped back, smoothing her skirt, fixing her hair.
The bathroom door creaked open.
Saki stepped out, her cheeks still flushed, her eyes nervous.
"L-Lucien...?"
I turned, smiling.
"Yeah?"
Ruki straightened, her breath still unsteady, her fingers clutching the bookshelf.
[Affinity: Ruki Kurogane - 150% → 155%."]
Saki blinked, her gaze flicking between us.
"W-Were you two...?"
I shrugged.
"Just talking."
Ruki laughed, low, dark.
"Yeah. Just talking~!"
[System Note: "Ruki Kurogane - Affinity: 155% → 160%."]
Saki frowned, but didn't push.
...
Saki hesitated at the door, her fingers still twisted in her skirt. The tension in her shoulders was visible, her gaze flicking between me and Ruki like she was trying to piece together something she couldn't quite name.
I reached for her hand, my smile easy, fake.
"Let's go."
She nodded, but her eyes lingered on Ruki for a second too long.
Ruki leaned against the bookshelf, her skirt still hiked just enough to be distracting, her lips curled in a smirk that promised trouble.
The heavy wooden door of Ruki's estate loomed ahead, its ironwork casting jagged shadows in the moonlight. Saki's arm stayed looped through mine, her warmth seeping through my jacket. The scent of her shampoo, something soft, floral, mixed with the crisp night air.
Saki slipped her arm through mine, smiling faintly. Her cheeks were still pink from earlier, but she leaned into me with that quiet trust that always twisted something sharp in my chest.
[System Note: "Yoshida Saki — Affinity: 170% → 175%. (She trusts you completely. Too much.)"]
My throat tightened. I didn't deserve it. Not anymore.
Ruki trailed behind, a shadow in the doorway. She'd fixed her hair, her skirt straightened, her smirk sharpened into something sly, unreadable.
She didn't speak until Saki stepped out ahead, her shoes clicking softly on the stone path.
That was when her hand shot out, fast, firm, and grabbed me through my pants.
I froze.
Her nails pressed against me, the heat of her palm impossible to ignore.
I hissed under my breath. "Ruki..."
She leaned in, her lips brushing my ear, her voice low enough that only I could hear.
"Mmm… you're hard again already." Her breath was warm, sweet with whiskey. "I knew you couldn't help yourself, Lucien."
I caught her wrist, but I didn't push her away. Couldn't.
My jaw clenched. "What about Takuya?"
She laughed softly, the sound like broken glass wrapped in silk.
"Takuya?" She tilted her head, eyes gleaming. "He's just a childhood friend. Nothing more." Her fingers tightened, slow, deliberate. "He could never make me feel like this."
I exhaled sharply, forcing her hand away before Saki turned back and saw us.
Ruki only smirked, licking her lips. "Relax, angel. I won't steal you… not yet."
Saki waved from the bottom of the steps, smiling softly. "Lucien, let's go!"
I swallowed hard, forcing my face into a smile. "Coming."
Behind me, Ruki's laughter was soft, knowing.
Like she already had me.
Saki glanced up at me, her eyes warm, curious. "You're quiet, Lucien… did something happen in there?"
My chest tightened. The easy lie sat on my tongue, just talking, nothing important. But the weight of it pressed like a stone. I was already drowning in masks. Drowning in sins.
If I lied now, I'd lose her. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But someday.
So I didn't.
I stopped walking, forcing her to face me under the dim glow of the lamp post.
"Saki," I said softly. "Something did happen. With Ruki."
Her brows furrowed, confusion flickering in her gaze. "Something…?"
I swallowed. The words scraped their way out. "Ruki… touched me. Just now. When you weren't looking."
Her smile faltered. For a second, her breath caught. Then she blinked, steadying herself, her fingers twisting in her skirt. "Touched you… how?"
I didn't look at her. Couldn't. "You already know."
My chest tightened. I forced myself to continue. "I didn't stop her fast enough. That's on me. I could lie. Pretend it didn't happen. But if I do that…" My throat closed. "…I'm not the person you think I am."
Her eyes widened, her lips parting like she'd been struck. For a second, I hated myself more than the System ever could.
I met her gaze at last, my voice low, raw. "Saki. I don't want to lose you. And I don't want you to believe I'm someone I'm not."
Her eyes widened, her lips parting like she'd been struck. For a second, I hated myself more than the System ever could.
Then she breathed in, sharp, trembling. "…You told me."
Tears gathered in her lashes, but she smiled anyway, fragile and bright. "Lucien… you didn't have to. You could've hidden it. But you didn't."
I nodded once, my throat dry. "I won't lie to you, Saki. Not about this. Not ever."
[System Note: "Yoshida Saki — Affinity: 165% → 180%.(Trust Reinforced: 'He chose honesty.')"]
She blinked, stunned. Her voice shook. "You're… you're so stupid."
Before I could answer, she leaned across the console and kissed me. Hard. Desperate.
When she pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, her breathing unsteady. "I already told you, I don't care that Ruki has you. Not Tsukimi. No one." Her grip tightened on my shirt. "Even if you mess up… even if you fall… I'll stay. Because you chose me first."
[New Trait Acquired: Anchor of Faith.
[Effect: Lies will fracture Saki's trust, but truths, no matter how painful, double her loyalty.]
["New Title Unlocked - 'The Fool's Honesty.'" - "Congratulations! You've chosen truth over strategy. (You sentimental bastard.)"]
[System Note: "Yoshida Saki - Affinity: 180% → 200%. Bound: Absolute Devotion."]
My chest ached. Guilt. Relief. Fear. All of it.
I whispered, more to myself than her, "I don't deserve you."
She smiled, sad and soft. "Then get stronger until you do."