"Kayoko~"
The instant the beauty appeared before him, Takumi straightened up and offered the best kind of greeting.
Kayoko leapt into his arms, clinging to the well-built man in front of her, her eyes brimming with lingering allure. "Mm~ come in first."
She breathed a fragrant sigh, took Takumi by the hand, and led him into the house.
A rosy flush warmed Kayoko's cheeks. She whispered, "Takumi-kun~ Airi and Marina just went back to their rooms. Should we… have a little drink first?"
"I think drinking you would be just right."
Takumi captured her lips at once. The aggressiveness of his kiss nearly took her breath away.
A moment later, Kayoko gently pushed him away and walked toward the bedroom.
Following right behind, Takumi didn't bother hiding the heat in his gaze.
The lace hem of Kayoko's purple nightdress swayed as she walked, sketching one rounded, graceful arc after another. When she bent to pour wine, Takumi's gaze traced the snowy swan-neck and delicate collarbones. The fullness straining the fabric, the shadowed valley beneath, the smooth, flat belly below—it was enough to hook a man's soul.
"This wine is excellent~~"
Takumi couldn't help praising, which made Kayoko's eyes go a little hazy.
They hadn't even drunk yet—how was he already tasting how "good" it was?
Following his line of sight, she immediately shot him a coquettish glare.
When she sat down, the tight fabric outlined every generous, upturned curve. Under the light, her sandal-strapped ankles were fair and spotless; her thighs were full and smooth, long and pliant. Takumi felt half-drunk before a single sip.
Sensing his restlessness, Kayoko's heart thumped—how could such an obvious scene not make one's pulse race?
She took a small sip, and when Takumi glanced over he realized she wasn't wearing her mask.
"Eek~"
Perhaps his stare burned too hot—Kayoko flustered, her hand slipped, and the glass fell.
The purple-red wine soaked through her bodice, and the gossamer-thin nightdress clung to her curves.
"Kayoko, let me help you dry that."
Playing the gentleman, Takumi offered her some tissues.
She hesitated, then took them. "Takumi-kun, your voice—mm!"
"Keep it down, Kayoko. And while we're at it, let's talk investments. I remember what line your company's in."
As a company employee, Kayoko knew how steep the risks could be. She only had a few investment channels at hand—three in total—and there were limits on how many shares she could hold herself.
Cautiously, she asked, "Takumi-kun~ how much are you thinking of putting in?"
With a bold sweep of his hand, Takumi declared, "Start at three hundred billion. That's how you lever the market for a real score!"
"Mm—t-that's too much…"
Kayoko's face showed surprise—and a touch of fear—as she shook her head.
Takumi didn't give her the chance to refuse. Sinking his voice, he said, "I'm buying in with everything."
"Ah!?"
Kayoko gasped. She'd never handled capital on this scale. But since Takumi insisted, she could only nod her assent.
With a rapid tap-tap-tap of the keys, the first wave of funds was set to hit the account.
Dazzling operations followed one after another, leaving Kayoko both thrilled and stunned. If she could adapt to managing capital at this intensity, her ability to control holdings would skyrocket in the future.
But even the first round had her scrambling.
Tap, tap, tap—
In the spacious, quiet house, a set of soft footsteps descended the stairs.
Airi, in a white nightdress, yawned as she came down. She couldn't sleep and wanted a drink of water before going back to bed.
Just then, that suppressed tap-tap-tap of the keyboard filtered into her ears.
"Mom?"
Curious, Airi crept toward the bedroom. Through the slightly open door she saw market tickers glowing on the monitor and heard the feverish clatter of keys. At her age, she'd never been exposed to something this high-level. Hand over mouth, eyes wide, she stared—shocked, confused, bewildered… and a little curious.
The keystrokes sparked like they might throw off embers.
Immersed in the trades, Kayoko showed her professional chops, focusing solely on eking out higher commissions.
Noticing tariffs had suddenly ticked up, she understood the timing and immediately pulled back to preserve capital.
Takumi assisted at her side—and even brought out another tranche of funds.
"No… this isn't the time anymore…"
Kayoko sighed, shaking her head with the last of her strength. Her capability had limits; she truly couldn't helm any more capital flows. Just juggling the funds already in motion was a problem. With her current constraints, any additional money would likely bleed out instead of being preserved. She could only watch, powerless to stop it.
Takumi, stepping back, flicked a glance toward the door—and through that narrow slit of space, his eyes met Airi's trembling blue pupils.
In that instant, Airi felt like prey caught in a beast's sights, as if the next second she'd be in the wolf's jaws.
Thud!
She flinched back and plopped onto the floor.
Kayoko, drained, let her eyes crack open for a moment before drifting shut again, mind still lost between the rolling returns she'd just reeled in and reality—she half-thought the sound she'd heard earlier was her imagination.
With a click, Takumi switched on the room light. He strode to the door, pushed it open, and stepped out.
Airi, slumped on the floor, tilted up her face. The man's looming figure blocked her view, filling her vision edge-to-edge.
Gulp.
A reflexive swallow bobbed her throat; fear filled her eyes. She tried to move, to escape—but her legs had turned to jelly, and even standing would take effort.
"Help—"
Before the word formed, Takumi clapped a hand over her mouth. With his other arm around her back, he scooped her up in one swift motion.
Drip, drip.
Something—sweat—spattered in the quiet night. Airi shrank like a quail, head tucked in, not daring to make a sound.
...
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