The two of them stood in the afterglow of the near-death moment, the bustle of the street seeming far away from Rika's mind. She tucked a lock of black hair behind her ear, still visibly shaken but slowly regaining her composure. Kazuya—or rather, Kenji, as she now saw him—was calm and smooth, his smile a crafted work of manipulative genius.
"So," he said, breaking the silence, his voice laced with a quiet charm, "do you usually walk into traffic, or is this a one-time performance for me?"
Rika let out an awkward laugh, the flush on her face deepening. "I-I wasn't paying attention, okay? That truck came out of nowhere."
"Well," he said, stepping a little closer, voice dipping to a lower, velvety tone, "lucky for you, I have a knack for being in the right place at the right time."
Rika smiled, bashfully tucking her chin down. "Seems like it. I mean, wow. You really saved me back there."
Kazuya tilted his head, as if analyzing her like a puzzle. "You know, you're kind of cute when you're not screaming at someone."
Rika blinked, caught off guard. "W-What?"
He chuckled, the sound rich and deliberate. "Don't take it the wrong way. I mean it. You have this fierce energy. But now? You look... soft. Like someone who just needs a little kindness."
Rika looked away, flustered. She'd never been spoken to like this—not sincerely, not with this smoothness.
Kazuya leaned in slightly, his eyes gleaming with calculated amusement. "Am I embarrassing you?"
"N-No!" she said quickly, then bit her lip. "Maybe a little."
He smiled, that perfect blend of teasing and warmth. "Well, I'll try to be gentle, then. With my words. But no promises."
Rika giggled. God, he's charming.
They walked slowly toward a nearby café, Rika occasionally stealing glances at him, her earlier fear all but forgotten in the haze of her growing interest. Kazuya kept the pace slow and relaxed, casually slipping in comments that seemed innocent but dug into her insecurities just enough to make her crave his approval.
"You know," he said as they approached the door, "I have to admit, I didn't expect to meet someone interesting today."
"Interesting?" she repeated.
He nodded, holding the door open. "Yeah. Most girls I meet try too hard. But you... you're raw. Real."
Rika flushed again, flattered beyond reason. She stepped inside, her steps lighter than before. "Thanks... I guess."
Once seated, she ordered an iced latte, and he got a black coffee. Kazuya leaned back in his chair, his fingers laced together as he watched her from across the table. She shifted in her seat under his gaze.
"So…" Rika started, her voice unusually soft. "What were you even doing there?"
Kazuya tilted his head and smiled faintly. "Fate, maybe?"
She blinked. "Fate?"
He leaned forward slightly, locking eyes with her. "Or maybe I was meant to save someone special today."
The flush on Rika's cheeks deepened. She tried to laugh it off. "You're laying it on thick, huh?"
He smirked, taking a slow sip of his coffee. "Only when it's deserved."
Rika's eyes widened slightly before she looked away, her heart skipping for reasons she didn't quite understand. This guy—Kenji—he wasn't like the usual types. He wasn't chasing her, flattering her to get something. He made her want to impress him.
And she hated how much she liked it.
"You talk smooth," she muttered, brushing her hair back. "Dangerously smooth."
Kazuya's gaze narrowed playfully. "Am I dangerous?"
"Maybe."
He leaned in just a little more, voice dropping an octave. "And yet… here you are. Sitting with me. Buying me coffee. Letting me close."
Rika bit her lip unconsciously, then snapped herself out of it. "Don't flatter yourself. It's just a thank you."
"Sure," Kazuya replied, teasing in tone. "And you're blushing because the coffee's too hot?"
She covered her mouth slightly, turning her head away. "God, you're annoying…"
Kazuya chuckled. "You're the one who invited me here. I'm just giving you a good return on your investment."
Rika scoffed, but the way she kept glancing at him gave her away. She hated how he made her feel small and seen at the same time. Her usual wall of arrogance? Nowhere to be found. She was disarmed—and he knew it.
"What do you even do?" she asked, trying to regain composure.
Kazuya smiled. "Me? Oh, nothing too exciting. I help people. Listen to their problems. Give them what they need."
"Like a therapist?"
"Closer to… a tailor of emotions," he said smoothly, eyes gleaming. "I find what people crave and give it shape."
"That sounds creepy."
"Only if you have something to hide," he replied quickly.
Rika blinked. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Kazuya leaned forward, his voice softer now. "It means I can see through masks. And I think… you're wearing one right now."
Her fingers froze mid-lift of the cup. "Excuse me?"
"Confidence, arrogance, sarcasm—it's a shield. But shields crack. Today, yours did."
Rika's lips parted slightly. Her heart thudded. He wasn't wrong. When that truck nearly ended her life, all the power she had clung to—status, wealth, beauty—it had meant nothing.
Kazuya gave her a small, almost gentle smile. "And what I saw underneath... was beautiful."
That did it.
She looked away again, covering her mouth like she was trying to hide a grin. Her defenses were dissolving fast, melting under the warmth of his voice.
"You're… really something else," she muttered.
"So are you," he said sincerely. "Even if you don't realize it yet."
She dared to look at him again, her cheeks still tinted pink. "You say that like you know me."
Kazuya tilted his head. "I don't have to know your whole story to understand a part of it. You've been misunderstood, haven't you? Used to people chasing you for shallow reasons. Never for who you really are."
Rika stared, stunned. He was nailing every insecurity she kept buried. Every ache she never voiced.
"How—how did you—?"
He leaned back, folding his arms. "It's a gift. Or a curse. Depends on the day."
She let out a shaky laugh. "You're dangerous…"
"You already said that."
She stared into her drink for a moment, then looked up, more composed now. "You're not from around here, are you?"
"New enough to be interesting," he replied with a wink.
"You talk like you've lived a hundred lives."
He shrugged. "Maybe I have."
There was long silence until he spoke again.
"Do you like adorable things?"
Rika nodded, her eyes sparkling. "I like that. I really like that."
Of course you do.
He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Like this little cowlick right here. Totally adorable."
She froze at the gesture, her cheeks going scarlet. "Y-You're kind of... flirty, huh?"
"Only with girls worth flirting with," he replied smoothly. "So far, you're at the top of the list today."
They talked for nearly an hour. Kazuya kept the mood light, laced with flirting and gentle compliments. He asked her about her favorite music, movies, made jokes about cheesy rom-coms and dramatic school life. And the more they talked, the more Rika relaxed.
She thinks she's being seen. Understood. Wanted.
It was perfect.
When they finally stood to leave, Rika hesitated. "Um... would it be okay if I got your number? You know, just in case I ever need saving again?" She laughed nervously.
Kazuya smiled. Checkmate.
He took her phone without hesitation, typing in a number that would route through an alias. "There. Now you have a hero on Line."
She stared at the name he typed in: Kenji Aoyama.
It was fake. Every bit of it.
But to her, it was now the most precious contact in her phone.
They stood awkwardly at the sidewalk. Rika scuffed her shoe against the pavement. "So... what now?"
Kazuya leaned in close again, lowering his voice. "How about we meet again sometime? Just to see if fate tries to kill you again."
Rika giggled, almost giddy. "You mean, like... hang out?"
"Yeah," he said, watching her reaction closely. "Hang out. Just us."
She nodded quickly. "Y-Yeah! I'd like that. A lot."
"Great," he said, backing away slowly. "I'll text you."
Rika smiled, practically glowing. She watched him walk away, her heart pounding.
Kazuya turned the corner, his smile fading as his eyes darkened.
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END OF CHAPTER : 17 : WAVE OF DECEIT!
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A/N: Liked the story. Give me power stone!
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