Under everyone's tense gaze, Rei Ao unhurriedly lifted his cup again for a light sip of coffee. He set it down, lounged back against the sofa, and kept his arm casually around Kirishima Touka, whose body was stiff and cheeks were burning red.
"Rei Ao," he said evenly, giving his name. "You can call me that."
"As for why I know so much"—the corner of his mouth curved into a secretive smile—"very few of this world's secrets are opaque to me."
"And my reason for coming here is simple." His eyes swept across everyone from Anteiku and finally settled on the girl in his arms. "I'm just here to complete a deal with Touka-san."
"A deal?" Yoshimura Kuzen frowned. He looked at Touka, worry and confusion in his eyes. "Sir, may I ask… what kind of deal?"
He feared Touka had paid a price too heavy to bear to save them. The others at Anteiku immediately turned to Touka, tense.
"Heh." Rei Ao chuckled and answered for Touka, who seemed too embarrassed to speak. "The terms are… I save all of you—everyone at the Anteiku café—and make sure you live."
Warmth rose in the hearts of Yoshimura, Yomo Renji, and the others; their looks toward Touka brimmed with gratitude and emotion. This kid…
But Yomo quickly seized on the point. "And the price?" he pressed. "What does a deal like that cost?" He didn't believe someone this powerful would help for nothing—especially with the whole CCG on their tail.
Rei Ao's smile turned more playful. He reached out a long finger and lightly tipped Touka's chin up, forcing her to lift that flushed, flustered face.
The gesture was flippant, yet carried an unquestionable dominance. Under everyone's suddenly stunned, furious, or conflicted stares, he drawled in that smooth, magnetic voice:
"The price? The price is, of course… her."
"What?!" Yomo exploded; as Touka's uncle he nearly rushed in. Yoshimura's face went grim in an instant. Even Arima Kishou and Eto's eyes flickered with surprise.
Touka's body jolted. Her cheeks were so red they might drip blood. She bowed her head deeply, not daring to meet her uncle's or the manager's eyes—but she did not deny it.
Rei Ao seemed oblivious to the killing intent thick enough to solidify in the air. Still smiling, he idly stroked the smooth line of Touka's chin, as if admiring a precious item he'd just traded for.
The café's atmosphere plunged from shocking revelations into an even stranger, tighter whirlpool.
"You'd force Touka?!" Yomo's growl cracked like thunder; he looked ready to charge anyway. Irimi Kaya and Koma Enji stepped up beside him at once, faces equally dark. They were grateful to Touka for saving them—but they could never accept her sacrificing herself.
"Sir!" Irimi's voice was ice. "If the price for saving us is Touka's sacrifice, then we don't want these lives!"
"That's right," Koma rumbled. "People from Anteiku haven't fallen so low we need a child to protect us like that!"
Manager Yoshimura rose slowly. The habitual kindness had left his lined face; only gravity and resolve remained. He stepped between Touka and the three, looked Rei Ao straight in the eye, and said in a low voice:
"Their view is also mine—as the elder here."
Pain and determination burned in his gaze. Once, to save himself and protect his daughter, he had killed his wife Yuna with his own hands. It was a sin and a cowardice he would never be able to let go. Now, he would not watch another junior he loved like a daughter sacrifice herself for them.
"Your power reaches the sky, sir; we know we're no match. But there are principles we must uphold, even if it costs our lives."
Yoshimura didn't speak loudly, but his resolve brooked no argument. He traded a look with Yomo, Irimi, and Koma. In an instant, all four eyes flushed crimson—their kakugan flared—as a do-or-die will rose. The café bristled, a fight ready to ignite.
"Wait! Everyone—don't!" Touka, held in Rei Ao's arm, panicked. She struggled to stand and cried anxiously to the manager and her uncle, "It's not what you think! I… I agreed to all of this!"
"Agreed?" Yomo frowned, clearly unconvinced. "Touka, you don't have to fear him! We're here—"
"I really did agree!" Terrified they'd actually attack and enrage Rei Ao, Touka blurted, mind racing, "I—I promised to be Rei Ao's girlfriend. He'll protect everyone!"
Her words stunned the room. Girlfriend?
Touka's cheeks flamed as her eyes darted about. But things had gone this far; she could only double down, trying to dress the cold bargain up as a story of mutual love.
"A-and also!" She drew a deep breath—as if mustering every ounce of courage—and said, trembling but crystal clear, a line that even frightened herself: "Most importantly… I—I like Rei Ao, too!"
She immediately cast a pleading look up at him, eyes filled with a silent "please just go along with it."
She didn't want the manager and her uncle to feel guilty because of her—much less to clash with the unfathomable Rei Ao over her.
Rei Ao looked down at the flustered yet stubborn girl in his arms, lips quirking into a half-smile. He naturally saw through her little ploy.
But to him, the form of the deal didn't matter—only the contract itself. He shrugged, lazy as ever. "Mm. You could put it that way."
~~~
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