Chapter 125: Phase Two Complete... Level Up?

Aoi immediately pulled the flash drive out and slipped it into her pocket before hurrying back toward her own desk. She sat down, opened a random document and pretended to work, forcing herself to keep her breathing steady.

Her heart was still pounding against her chest. The flash drive was gone. The transfer was complete. Now she just needed to act normal.

Aoi stared at her monitor, pretending to read through the document in front of her while listening carefully to the sounds coming from the hallway. Every second felt painfully long.

Then she heard footsteps.

Her fingers tightened around the mouse as the footsteps grew louder. Aoi kept her eyes on the screen and tried her best not to look nervous.

The office door suddenly opened.

Mayumi stepped inside.

Aoi’s heart nearly stopped.

Mayumi’s eyes immediately landed on her. For a moment, neither of them said anything as Mayumi slowly narrowed her eyes before looking around the office and then back at Aoi.

"What are you doing here?" Mayumi asked.

Aoi’s body went stiff. "I’m just wrapping up with the work on my side."

Mayumi stared at her for another second before letting out a small sigh. She seemed more concerned by Aoi’s exhausted appearance than suspicious of anything else.

"Don’t bother with work and go home, Tachibana. If you fall over, I won’t have anyone to work to the bone tomorrow," Mayumi said with a smile.

Aoi choked on her spit and immediately started coughing.

Mayumi’s expression changed when she saw her reaction, her earlier smile replaced by concern. "Come on, go home quickly and rest. You’ve been working yourself too hard this week."

Aoi covered her mouth as she continued coughing, eventually managing to calm herself down. She nodded while trying not to let the relief showing on her face become too obvious.

She had gotten away with it.

Not only had Mayumi failed to notice anything, but she was actually sending her home early.

Aoi almost felt like celebrating.

However, the words Mayumi had said earlier came back to her mind, and her excitement quickly became complicated. Working at the company was supposed to be nothing more than a disguise. She had only taken the position because Reiji needed her to create enough trouble to force Hina’s return from vacation. Once the plan was complete, there was no guarantee she would ever come back.

Strangely enough, that thought bothered her more than she expected.

Over the past few days, the work had been exhausting, Mayumi was terrifying whenever she entered work mode, and the amount of paperwork she had been given was practically criminal. Yet somewhere along the way, Aoi had started enjoying it.

Maybe it was because she had finally found something she was good at.

Maybe it was because Mayumi, despite working her like a machine, genuinely seemed to care about her employees.

Or maybe she had simply gotten used to the place.

Whatever the reason, Aoi realized she didn’t actually want to leave forever.

She quietly packed her things before leaving the office. Since she didn’t want to order an Uber in front of Mayumi and risk raising questions about where she was really going, she decided to take a cab instead.

The ride back felt strangely peaceful after the stressful day.

By the time Aoi reached Reiji’s apartment, the sky had already begun darkening. She paid the driver, stepped out and made her way inside.

The moment she opened the door, warm light spilled across the entrance.

Reiji was waiting for her.

Vel sat beside him with an expression that made it look as though he had been waiting for his favorite person to return from a battlefield.

"Welcome home, Aoi," Reiji said with a relaxed smile.

Aoi blinked.

Something about those words immediately warmed her chest.

She slipped off her shoes and entered the apartment, only for Vel to rush toward her and greet her with his usual dramatic enthusiasm.

’My Lord’s beloved has returned!’ Vel declared telepathically, practically bouncing around her feet.

Aoi couldn’t help laughing as she picked him up. "Vel, you’re getting more dramatic every day."

’I have been dramatically suffering in your absence my lady.’

Aoi continued petting his chubby body.

Reiji stared at the cat for a moment before shaking his head. "Ignore him."

Aoi smiled and placed Vel down before looking toward Reiji.

He had prepared dinner.

The table was already set, and the smell coming from the dishes immediately reminded Aoi just how hungry she was.

"You actually prepared all this?" she asked.

"Of course. You survived another day under Manager Yamada. You deserve a proper meal and also the competition of phase two."

Aoi sat down, and Reiji served her before taking his own seat. She barely needed encouragement before starting to eat.

The first few bites were enough to make her shoulders relax.

Reiji watched her for a moment before smiling. "You look exhausted."

"I am."

"You did well, though."

Aoi paused. Those simple words somehow affected her more than they should have.

She lowered her eyes toward her food while hiding a small smile. "Thanks."

Reiji leaned back in his chair, looking satisfied. "Eat properly. After dinner, go upstairs and crash. I’ve prepared a nice bath for you."

Aoi looked up in surprise. "A bath?"

"Yeah. Warm water, steam, everything."

Her eyes immediately brightened.

After everything she had endured that day, the idea sounded almost heavenly.

She continued eating, but curiosity eventually got the better of her. Aoi glanced toward Reiji before asking about the flash drive.

"So... what exactly was inside that file?"

Reiji didn’t even look worried. He casually continued eating before answering.

"Nothing dangerous. I created a small bug that will attack the company’s server without actually damaging anything. It’ll interfere with a few documents and lock them behind an authorization requirement."

Aoi blinked. "You created that?"

"Yeah."

"And you can do that?"

Reiji shrugged. "It’s not that complicated."

Aoi stared at him.

Not that complicated?

She had already known Reiji was good with technology, but hearing him casually explain something like that made her realize she probably didn’t understand even half of what he was capable of.

"You really are something else," she muttered.

Reiji smiled. "I’m nothing but a simple tech guy."

Aoi took another bite before remembering something else that had been bothering her.

"If everything goes according to plan, Hina is going to come back, right?"

Reiji nodded.

Aoi hesitated before continuing. "But what if mom decides to return alone?"

Reiji suddenly chuckled. "Oh, you’re already calling my mom... mom."

Aoi’s face warmed slightly. "It just slipped out."

Reiji shook his head with an amused smile before taking another bite.

"That most likely would happen, but I have a plan. No need to worry, dear."

Aoi looked at him for a moment before nodding.

She trusted him.

Whatever crazy plan he had come up with, somehow, Reiji always seemed to have another move waiting.

After dinner, they headed upstairs together.

The bathroom had already been prepared exactly as Reiji promised. Warm steam filled the room, and the soft fragrance immediately made Aoi feel like she could fall asleep standing.

She spent some time relaxing before eventually returning to the bedroom.

By then, the exhaustion from the entire week had finally caught up with her.

Aoi climbed onto the bed, and Reiji settled beside her.

Neither of them said anything.

The room was quiet, the atmosphere strangely comfortable after everything they had experienced together.

At some point, Aoi shifted closer.

Reiji didn’t move away.

She rested her head against his chest, and his arm naturally settled around her waist.

Neither of them seemed to notice when they had started cuddling.

Or perhaps they had noticed and simply didn’t care.

Aoi listened to the steady sound of his heartbeat.

It reminded her of the previous night.

She tightened her arms around him slightly, afraid that if she loosened them, this moment might disappear.

"I love you, Reiji, and I never want you to leave me."

Her voice was quiet, but the sincerity behind those words was unmistakable.

Reiji looked down at her.

There was no hesitation in his expression.

"I will not leave you."

He pulled her closer, and before either of them could say anything else, his lips met hers.

Aoi’s eyes widened for only a moment before she closed them and returned the kiss.

The kiss deepened as her arms tightened around his neck, and the warmth between them slowly pushed away the exhaustion of the day.

For once, Aoi wasn’t thinking about anything else. There was only Reiji and for that moment, that was enough.

Then the familiar green screen suddenly appeared directly in front of Reiji’s face.

His eyes widened.

[Congratulations Host! I never thought you’d had the balls (⁠ ⁠՞⁠ਊ⁠ ⁠՞)!]

Reiji froze. Aoi, who couldn’t see the system, continued holding onto him. Another notification appeared.

[Bond rate of Bond Partner has been filled!]

[Current Bond Rate: 100%]

Reiji’s expression changed. The system wasn’t finished.

[Aoi Tachibana is now officially Bond Partner #2!]

[No kissing your jewels goodbye this time.]

Ding!

[Second Bond Partner gained! Bonus Reward:

+50 BP!]

Ding!

[Host has leveled up!]