[MashUp] Ch 30: Fading When Apart?

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Morning

The first rays of sunlight slipped through the curtains.

Mai Sakurajima opened her eyes, still half-asleep, but the first thing she felt was her body—warm and real. She hadn't faded away. She was still here.

Turning her head, she saw the face sleeping beside her, unreal in its manly beauty.

Takuma Kurosawa.

The man who had dragged her back from the edge of nothingness in the cruelest way possible.

Beneath the blanket, their hands were still entwined, that lingering warmth the only anchor she had clung to all night.

She was lost in thought when she suddenly realized his eyes were already open, watching her with quiet amusement.

"Morning~ My bunny pillow."

Takuma's voice carried the lazy rasp of just waking.

Mai's cheeks went up in flames. Instinctively, she tried to pull her hand away.

But he tightened his grip. There was no way he was letting her go after seeing her naked again.

"Oh? What's this?"

With a wicked grin, he rolled over, completely covering her and staring into her panicked eyes.

"Use my pure body all night, then try to skip out on the bill?"

"Well. I'll let you use it again for free."

Her muffled protest was swallowed whole. 

By the time the sunlight grew bright and everything settled, Mai's entire face was red, hidden under the blanket, her breath still unsteady. Even her hair seemed to give off heat.

Takuma sat up, the blanket sliding down to reveal lean, defined muscles across his torso.

He glanced at the clock, speaking casually. "I'm heading out."

The words crushed the tiny spark of warmth she'd been holding onto.

"Leaving?!"

She forgot her embarrassment, bolting upright with panic in her voice.

"If you go… what happens to me?!"

"Your 'puberty syndrome' is your problem, not mine."

Takuma stood, dressing like a man discarding a toy he'd finished with. His voice was cold, heartless.

"You…"

Mai's eyes reddened instantly. She couldn't even form the words. The humiliation of being tossed aside when she'd given him everything—

He looked back at her tearful face and chuckled, leaning down to peck her lips.

"Kidding. Last night worked perfectly. You're full of "my energy" now, and my memory of you is crystal clear."

"Relax. The way you looked last night—I doubt I could ever forget that."

At the bedside, he tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze.

Mai turned her eyes away, blushing furiously.

"But…"

"That energy will burn out eventually. Until you stand on stage again and are completely healed, I'll drop by now and then to recharge you."

He smirked. "Can't have my bunny running out of juice, right?"

Bastard! 

Her face burned hotter, and she dove back under the covers to hide.

"Quit hiding. Hand me your phone."

His big hand slipped under the blanket, pinching somewhere it shouldn't.

"Ahh~"

Mai jolted, trembling. Face red, she reluctantly passed him her phone and watched as he tapped in a number. Then he saved his contact under a single name: "Master."

Satisfied, he tossed the phone back.

"The theme park's still in prep. When the timing's right, I'll call you. Until then, all you have to do is behave."

He turned to leave, but then paused, holding out his hand.

"Huh?" Mai blinked.

"Almost forgot." His brows arched, tone smug.

"My service isn't cheap. You were once a national-level actress. Can't expect your savior to work for free, can you? After all, I worked hard all night to satisfy and fill you."

That awful grin stretched across his face.

But instead of anger, Mai suddenly felt calm. She understood.

He didn't need her money.

This was his way of binding her tighter, forcing their fates to knot together.

Biting her lip, she reached into the nightstand drawer, pulled out a slim wallet, and slid out a black bank card.

Her face flushed, she placed it in his hand and whispered a six-digit code so softly it was barely audible.

"That's… all I've saved since debut. Around five million."

"Perfect."

He pocketed the card, finally moving toward the door.

After she heard the shuffle of shoes at the entrance, Mai threw off the blanket, wrapped herself in his oversized down jacket, and ran barefoot after him.

She didn't know why. She didn't even know what she was hoping for.

She just stood there in the living room, clutching his coat, staring at his back with tear-rimmed eyes as he reached for the door.

Takuma's hand froze on the knob.

Slowly, he turned.

Mai was there—barefoot, wrapped in his jacket, saying nothing. Just looking at him like he might vanish from the world in the next second.

The playful light faded from his eyes, replaced by something deeper.

He pulled her into his arms and lowered his head.

Their lips met. 

When they finally parted, he rested his forehead against hers, his voice uncharacteristically soft and serious as he spoke her name.

"Mai."

"I won't let you disappear. From now on, you are safe."

He looked at her deeply, then released her, turned, and left without another word.

Click.

The door shut.

Mai stood frozen, then slowly raised a hand to touch her lips. They were still burning, still carrying his breath, his promise.

The hollow in her chest wasn't so empty anymore.

She went back to bed, but instead of lying down, hugged his jacket tight, burying her flushed face deep inside.

Through the fabric came a muffled whisper, thick with heat and a touch of a sniffle.

"Jerk…"

So soft it was like she was talking to herself.

"Takuma, I can only rely on you now."

— — — 

Outside the luxury apartment, the system's voice echoed in Takuma's head.

[Ding!]

[Host has completed a "Special Lodging."]

[Congratulations. You've gained 10 free template experience points!]

His lips curved.

So-called "puberty syndrome" was nothing but the world's corrective force rejecting Mai's existence data.

But him? A system-wielding outsider? He was the biggest bug this world had ever seen.

The world wanted to erase something in front of him? Impossible.

"Fading When Apart" was just an illusion. Even if he had left long ago, Mia wouldn't fade anymore.

What happened yesterday? He had deliberately blurred his focus, letting her reflection slip from his sight, driving her into despair.

And it had worked perfectly.

Though he hadn't expected her to chase after him barefoot, terrified of being abandoned.

That… was unexpectedly cute.

That unscripted kiss, and the promise that slipped out with it, had added a bit of sweetness to his little game.

He chuckled, pulling the black card from his pocket, twirling it between his fingers before sliding it away—nestled right against Mafuyu Kirisu's sub-card.

"Five million yen, plus ten experience points…"

"It should be enough."

He flagged down a taxi, only to find it was that same driver again.

"The Mountain?" the driver asked, speechless at why he had to meet that man once more.

Takuma nodded, just as speechless about why it was always this driver.

.

.

.