He woke with a jolt. Not from a nighheart, but the kind of memory that hits below the belt.
White ceiling. Not his.
The air was soft. Still carried lavender and something even more dangerous.
He rolled to his side. The mat still held her shape, but she was gone.
He touched the blanket, half-covered in the heat of last night. His skin buzzed with it. His body ached in that spent, satisfied way, but under it? Something else.
Something electric.
And then....
[ SYSTEM BOOT COMPLETED...]
[Welcome to the Midnight System]
[A sensual and emotional resonance interface designed to convert deep emotional and physical connections into power, money, and growth]
[Emotional Capital (E-CAP) Gained: +480]
He stared.
[MIDNIGHT SHOP (Quick View)]
[Conversion: 100 E-CAP = 1 Midnight Point (MP) Available MP: 4.8]
[STAT & PASSIVES]
[Voice of Velvet (Passive) – 3.5 MP]
[Discription : Your voice gains an alluring depth. Conversations linger longer. Commands land heavier]
[Confidence Surge (+1 Charisma) – 1.0 MP]
[Discription : You speak smoother. Smile sharper. People notice]
:
:
[CASH & BUSINESS]
[Bank Injection: ¥100,000 (Instant Cash) – 2.0 MP]
[Discription : A direct deposit into your account. No strings. No questions]
[Client Pull Boost (Business Growth) – 2.0 MP]
[Discription : Your digital presence sharpens. Clients feel drawn to you, like gravity]
:
:
[BODY & APPEARANCE]
[Body Sculpt – Light Frame Upgrade (Passive) – 6.0 MP]
[Discription : Slight muscle definition, fat trimmed, posture refined. You look like you give a damn, even if you don't]
[Tip : The deeper the resonance, the more power the system can channel]
[Warning : Alignment affects future unlocks. Stay balanced… or choose a side]
---
He sat up.
This wasn't just a one-night stand. This was something else. Something bigger. Maybe even dangerous.
He ran a hand through his hair, let out a breath, and stood.
The kitchen clattered softly. Water running. A drawer opened.
She was still here.
Riku stepped into the hallway, shirtless, barefoot, quiet.
Yumi stood at the counter, wrapped in a black robe, humming some melody that curled in the air like incense. Her hair was down, and it moved like silk every time she leaned or turned.
He hovered in the doorway for a beat too long.
Then, he stepped in. Straightened his spine. Tried to carry the weight of what happened like a man who meant to earn it.
She didn't look up. Just kept stirring her tea.
"If you're gonna act like the man of the house," she said, voice amused, "you better learn to make the first cup."
He blinked, caught. Then grinned.
"I was just... surveying my kingdom."
"Is that what you call watching me make breakfast in your underwear?" she said, finally looking at him, eyes half-lidded and playful.
He came up behind her, warmth rolling off his chest as his hands slid around her waist. One palm dipped low, cupping her ass through the thin silk, shapely, firm, begging to be claimed. His fingers spread, slow and deliberate, like he was memorizing every curve with his grip.
She inhaled sharply but didn't stop him. Her body leaned into his.
His other hand slid upward, over her ribs, under the robe, fingertips brushing the underside of her breast. Soft. Full. Real. His thumb grazed the hardened peak, and her breath caught against the windowpane.
She turned, her eyes smoldering, lips parted, but he didn't wait.
He kissed her hard.
It wasn't sweet. It was hunger dressed in silk. Tongues tangling. Teeth grazing. Her moan was muffled, raw, as his hand gripped her tighter. Their hips collided with heat that felt days overdue.
Her fingers clawed into his shoulders. He pressed her back against the counter, never breaking the kiss, letting his body say what words couldn't.
She was bare heat under him, all smirk and surrender.
And he? He knew walking away from her would only get harder from here.
---
Later, they sat in the soft morning light, sipping fresh coffee. Bare feet. No pressure. No rush. But the silence between them wasn't empty.
It buzzed with everything left unsaid.
Finally, he stood, sliding on his jacket, like a man trying to remember how to leave something dangerous behind.
"I should go," he said quietly.
Yumi looked at him over her cup. That same wine-colored smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"You'll come back tonight?" she asked, as casually as someone asking about the weather.
He tilted his head, smirking.
"Should I?"
She leaned forward on the counter, robe falling just a little looser, no accident.
"If you do," she said, voice smooth and wicked, "I'll be prepared this time."
He nodded slowly, lips twitching.
"Then I guess I'd be stupid not to."
And with that, he walked out the door.
But he didn't leave empty.
Her taste still lingered on his lips.
And the system in his blood pulsed like a second heart.
[+100 Emotional Capital (E-CAP)]