To take a shower, Utaha specifically booked two hotel rooms—one for herself and one for Rei Ao.
Lunch was simply dealt with by ordering delivery, postponing the dinner invitation to the evening.
Booking a hotel in broad daylight... that was indeed unusual.
In Utaha's hotel room bathroom, she scrubbed herself vigorously with body wash, occasionally sniffing her skin. Despite not detecting any strange slls, Rei Ao's comnt about his sensitive nose lingered like a haunting echo in her mind.
"Could there really still be a sll?"
Even when she stepped out of her room in the evening and saw Rei Ao, Utaha awkwardly asked, "Is there... still a sll?"
Rei Ao chuckled. "Yes."
"!!!"
Utaha felt like dying on the spot. But Rei Ao quickly added, "Though it's just a faint fragrance."
"???"
Utaha blinked in confusion, then gave him a slightly resentful look.
"Rei Ao-kun, if that's the case, please say it all at once."
"Haha, I'll rember for next ti."
They left the hotel and headed to a restaurant recomnded by Utaha. Rei Ao, not wanting her to overspend over sothing minor, ordered a few affordable dishes.
Sitting across from each other, Utaha felt even more awkward. This was one of the few tis she had been this embarrassed in front of a guy. Moreover, she didn't have much experience eating face-to-face with one.
After a long silence, unsure of what to say, she felt the sharp tongue that her editor had once described as her strength, utterly fail her in front of Rei Ao.
Just when she thought the awkward atmosphere might continue, Rei Ao broke the silence.
"Kasumigaoka-san, I'm curious. What made you decide to beco a light novel author?"
"…"
Utaha was montarily stunned.
"Why are you interested in that?"
"No particular reason. I just wanted to know more about you."
Rei Ao smiled gently.
"!!!"
Seeing his calm, cool deanor, Utaha's heart skipped a beat. It was the first ti soone had spoken to her like this.
"…"
After a few seconds, she composed herself and began sharing the story of how she beca a light novel author.
With the conversation flowing, the two quickly found common ground. Rei Ao, acting as an attentive listener, truly seed interested in her words, encouraging her to open up.
Before she knew it, Utaha was recounting not only her initial motivations but also the struggles she faced, the monts when she considered giving up, and the darker tis in her journey.
She spoke at length, her heart growing fuller and more complex as she shared.
Ti flew by, and soon, two and a half hours had passed. Yet Utaha still hadn't had enough. It was the first ti she had opened up to soone like this. She couldn't explain why, but talking to Rei Ao felt calming, as though he offered a sense of peace, leading her to reveal more than she ever had, even to her family.
Realizing she had revealed so much of herself, Utaha said, "Rei Ao-kun, we've been talking about this whole ti. What about you?"
After all, she hardly knew anything about him.
"?" Rei Ao glanced at his phone. "We'll have to save that for another ti."
Looking at the ti, it was already 9:30 p.m.
"It's getting late. It could be dangerous for you to be out alone this late."
"!!!"
Utaha gasped. "Is it that late already?"
She hadn't realized how quickly ti had passed.
"Maybe you got so imrsed in sharing your story that you lost track of ti," Rei Ao suggested.
"S-sorry," Utaha stamred, feeling guilty for taking up so much of his ti.
But Rei Ao just smiled. "No need to apologize. I actually enjoyed seeing this more sincere side of you."
"…"
Utaha felt her face heat up. She quickly stood up, flustered. "Thanks. I-I'll go settle the bill."
She hurried off to the front, afraid that if she stayed any longer, her pounding heart might give her away. She'd never felt like this before. It was strange… but also a little exciting.
After paying, the two left the restaurant. It was dark outside, and the streets were mostly empty except for a few passing cars. The cool evening breeze was a welco contrast to the day's heat, but Utaha still felt warr than ever.
Walking side by side with Rei Ao, her heart wouldn't stop racing.
When Rei Ao offered to walk her ho, she didn't refuse—almost as if compelled by so invisible force. Now, they were making their way toward her apartnt, and Utaha once again fell silent, her mind racing with thoughts: 'Utaha! Say sothing, this is getting awkward!'
Suddenly, her phone rang, breaking the silence like a lifeline. Grateful for the interruption, she stopped and said, "Sorry, let take this."
"Go ahead."
Rei Ao stopped under a streetlight while she answered the call.
It was her editor, Sonoka Machida.
'You're my savior, Machida-san,' Utaha thought gratefully as she answered.
But Sonoko's drunken voice ca through the phone. "Hey, Utaha, how's it going? Did you snag that handso guy yet?"
"..."
The words were loud and clear.
Utaha turned and saw Rei Ao looking at her. He had definitely heard.
It was the ultimate social death.
Afraid Rei Ao might get the wrong idea, she quickly cut Sonoko off. "Machida-san, don't say things like that! Rei Ao-kun and I are just—"
But what were they?
"Friends," Rei Ao said calmly.
Utaha froze for a mont, her blush deepening.
"Y-yes, we're just friends."
"Oh co on, Utaha," Sonoko slurred. "As soone older and wiser, let tell you, don't miss out on such a good catch."
Utaha winced. Sonoko was clearly drunk, rambling on with no filter. "I think you two are a perfect match. Don't be like , stuck as an old maid…"
Utaha could hear the slight catch in her editor's voice.
"If I were ten years younger, I might've gone for him myself. When I talked to that handso Rei Ao-kun earlier, it almost reignited the spark of my youth."
"..."
Utaha felt utterly mortified.
While she could agree on two things—Rei Ao's appearance and his calming presence during conversations—Sonoko couldn't be allowed to keep rambling on like this. She didn't want Rei Ao to think her editor was so kind of weirdo.
Pulling herself together, she tried to cut Sonoko off. "Machida-san, you're drunk."
"Well, yeah," Sonoko replied, "it was a company dinner, and I got a little emotional and had a few extra drinks, but I'm fine!"
This was 'not' fine at all. She was clearly saying nonsense.
"W-wait, Utaha, there are two guys hitting on . Is this… good luck?"
"!!!"
Utaha's eyes widened in shock. Two guys hitting on a drunk Sonoko?
Realizing the situation was dangerous, she quickly asked, "Machida-san, that's not luck. Where are you?"
"Where? I'm standing outside — ran shop."
"Okay, go inside right now!"
Utaha's concern was evident. Despite Sonoko's teasing and carefree attitude, she had always been a supportive editor, especially when Utaha's novel was on the verge of being canceled. She couldn't let anything happen to her.
But then, strange noises ca through the phone.
"Huh? Why are you guys taking my phone?"
"Hey! Get away from !"
'Crash!'
The line went dead.
"Machida-san!!!"
Realizing sothing had gone terribly wrong, Utaha panicked.
Rei Ao had overheard the conversation and quickly reassured her.
"Don't worry, Utaha. It's not far from here. Let's get there quickly."
"Right! Let's go!"
…
A few minutes later, they arrived at the entrance of the restaurant where Sonoka Machida had ntioned. The restaurant had long since closed, and all they found was a handbag lying on the ground.
"This is Machida-san's bag!" Utaha panicked. "We should call the police!"
"No need," Rei Ao said, narrowing his eyes. This wasn't just so thugs or a kidnapping.
Before Utaha could question why, Rei Ao disappeared in a flash, reappearing a hundred ters away at the entrance of a dark alley.
"???" Utaha blinked, thinking she was seeing things.
Rei Ao, however, was focused on the pitch-black alley. Deep within, behind a trash can, Sonoka Machida was crouched, trembling in fear. She was barefoot, her face pale with terror. The alcohol that had dulled her senses earlier had completely worn off.
What she initially thought was two n trying to hit on her had turned into a nightmare when they suddenly shoved her into the dark alley. They showed no rcy, and one of them had even covered her phone, stopping her from calling for help.
To her horror, the two n's bodies began to swell and change right before her eyes, transforming into terrifying monsters!
That sight had sobered her up completely, filling her with paralyzing fear. Her legs had given out, but she had forced herself to run and hide behind the small trash can, her heart pounding wildly.
'Am I going to die here?' she thought, her mind racing. 'Thirty years old, still a virgin, and this is how it ends? Eaten by monsters?'
Tears welled up in Sonoka Machida's eyes. 'If I survive this, I'll date the first decent guy I see, no matter what.'
But her thoughts quickly turned to despair as the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the alley. Each step felt like a dagger stabbing her heart.
'I don't want to die…'
Then, she felt a chilling sensation wash over her body. She curled up even tighter, burying her head in her knees, as the footsteps stopped right in front of her.
She didn't dare look up. She was convinced that if she did, she'd be staring into the monstrous maw of whatever was about to devour her.
But then, a hand gently rested on her shoulder.
"Sonoka Machida-san."
"…Huh?"
That voice… It sounded familiar.
Slowly, she lifted her head, her vision clearing. Standing before her was the sa young man she had t earlier that day—Rei Ao.
Seeing her dazed expression, Rei Ao waved a hand in front of her face. "Are you hurt?"
"!!!" Snapping out of her daze, Sonoko quickly asked, "Rei Ao-kun, d-did you see the monsters?!"
"You an those two?" Rei Ao pointed down the alley.
Sonoka Machida turned her head and gasped. Not far away, two large blocks of ice stood, perfectly capturing the forms of the two monsters that had attacked her.
"Wh-what's going on?!"
The question ca from Utaha, who had just arrived at the alley.
Rei Ao helped Sonoko to her feet, her face still a mask of shock and confusion. "Those were beasts," he explained calmly.
[Beasts]: Greed Wolves
[Level]: 8
[Ability]: 'Disguise'
The two monsters, called Greed Wolves, were covered in black fur with sharp fangs and claws, each about three or four ters long. Most likely, they had crossed over from another dinsion connected to this world.
Sonoko's confusion about the n transforming into monsters stemd from their ability to disguise themselves.
"Beasts?" Sonoko, still trembling, clung to Rei Ao for support, her mind spinning.
"We can talk about that later. For now, you should rest."
Rei Ao raised his hand and clenched his fist. The frozen statues shattered into pieces, clearing the alley.
He led Sonoka Machida back to Utaha, who was still stunned from what she had just witnessed.
"Utaha, take care of her for a mont."
"Oh… Oh, right!" Utaha quickly steadied Sonoko, even though she had a million questions racing through her mind. 'What are these beasts? And just who exactly is Rei Ao?'
But seeing how shaken Sonoko was, Utaha knew that getting her calm was the priority.
While Utaha helped Sonoko, Rei Ao pulled out his phone and made a call.
"Hey, Rei Ao, what's up?" ca a voice from the other end.
"Raphiel, I just encountered so beasts."
"Beasts?! Send your location, I'll be right there."
[Location shared!]
~~~
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