Chapter 6 : Shy Encounter

The morning sun peeked through my curtains, casting a warm glow that stirred me awake. I stretched lazily, feeling the soft sheets against my skin, and shook off the remnants of sleep. Today felt different; a surge of excitement coursed through me, and I was eager to check my phone for any updates.

After a quick breakfast, I grabbed my phone from the nightstand. As I opened the app, a flurry of notifications lit up the screen. My curiosity piqued, I tapped the notification bar.

New Notifications:

Primordial Dragon Born: Following the birth of the primordial dragon, a few other primordial dragons have emerged.

Fairies Emergence: Following the World Tree, fairies are coming to life around her.

My heart raced at the implications of this news, but I had no time to ponder these developments now. I quickly dressed and made my way to the café where Yuki had asked to meet me. Each step felt purposeful, my mind swirling with the possibilities that lay ahead.

Upon entering the café, I spotted Yuki in the corner, her laptop open and papers spread out before her. She looked up and smiled as I approached, a spark of warmth in her brown eyes that set my heart racing.

"Renji! I'm glad you could make it," she said, her voice smooth and inviting. She stood to greet me, her fitted blazer accentuating her curves perfectly. I couldn't help but admire the way she carried herself; it was evident that she was a professional who took her work seriously.

"Thanks for inviting me, Takahashi-san," I replied, trying to keep my composure despite the flutter of nerves in my stomach.

As I sat down, I allowed myself a moment to truly appreciate her. Yuki's brown hair framed her face, and the way her outfit hugged her figure highlighted her voluptuous bust. There was something magnetic about her presence, and I felt drawn to her confidence.

"I wanted to talk about your future in modeling," she began, leaning in slightly as if to emphasize her point. "With everything that's happening, there are going to be a lot of new opportunities. You could be at the forefront of this."

"Really? What kind of opportunities?" I asked, intrigued.

Yuki explained the upcoming campaigns and projects, her enthusiasm infectious. She outlined how the recent events could create a wave of interest in new faces, and I felt a flicker of excitement at the thought of stepping into this new role.

"We need to build your personal brand," she continued. "It's all about making the right connections and presenting yourself well."

I listened attentively. "I am willing to do this."

Yuki smiled, her eyes sparkling with confidence. "I'll keep you updated on the details. Just stay prepared and be ready to seize the moment when it arrives."

After discussing the future of modeling and the steps I needed to take, Yuki glanced at her watch. "I should get going, but I'll reach out to you soon."

"Thanks for everything, Takahashi-san," I said sincerely.

Yuki gave a small laugh, shaking her head slightly. "It's ok. You can use my first name, as I'm doing with yours."

I blinked, taken aback by the casual suggestion. "Oh... Then I'll call you Yuki-san?" I offered cautiously.

Yuki pouted, her lips forming an adorable expression of disapproval. "No, just Yuki."

I chuckled softly, caught off guard by her sudden cuteness. "Alright then, Yuki."

She beamed, clearly pleased by my response. "Much better." With that, she flashed a bright smile, her eyes warm as she waved goodbye and left the café, walking away happily.

As I watched her leave, a small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Something about Yuki's carefree nature was incredibly refreshing, and our conversation left me feeling invigorated for whatever lay ahead.

---

After the café meeting with Yuki, I couldn't stop thinking about the opportunities she mentioned. My part-time job was next on my agenda, but my thoughts were swirling with excitement about my future prospects.

The café was eerily quiet when I arrived. With no other customers around, I busied myself cleaning up tables and preparing for any incoming orders. The doorbell jingled softly, catching my attention, and I glanced up to see a lone figure entering the café.

A girl, dressed in mismatched loose clothing, quietly walked in. Her messy black hair obscured most of her face, but what stood out was her figure—curvy, with a noticeable bust even under her baggy outfit. Despite her attempt to stay unnoticed, there was something about her that intrigued me.

Since she was the only customer in the café, I made my way over to her. "Good afternoon," I greeted politely, maintaining a professional tone. "What would you like?"

The girl hesitated, clearly shy. Her voice barely rose above a whisper as she finally replied, "Just a cappuccino, please."

"Sure thing," I said, jotting down her order. As I did, my gaze caught the edge of her notebook lying open on the table. It was filled with intricate drawings—fantastical landscapes, mythical creatures, and various designs that showcased undeniable talent.

"You're an artist?" I asked, genuinely curious.

Her eyes widened slightly, surprised that I noticed. She nodded shyly, avoiding direct eye contact. "I… I draw sometimes."

"That's pretty impressive," I said, genuinely interested. "Your work looks amazing."

She blushed slightly, her hands nervously fidgeting with her notebook. "Thank you," she mumbled, clearly not used to compliments.

"What kind of work do you usually draw?" I probed, hoping to get her to open up a bit more.

"Fantasy worlds mostly," she answered, her voice gaining a bit of confidence. "I like creating different places and creatures… it's like escaping reality for a while."

I smiled at her words. "That's really cool. It must take a lot of creativity to do that."

She finally looked up at me, her shy demeanor softening just a bit. "It helps," she admitted softly.

"Do you work as an illustrator?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation going while preparing her cappuccino.

She nodded again. "Yeah, I do freelance work. It's… not always easy, but I love it."

As I handed her the cappuccino, I couldn't help but admire her quiet strength. Despite her withdrawn nature, there was clearly a passion within her that spoke through her art. There was something undeniably captivating about that.

"Good luck with your projects," I said with a smile. "I'm sure you'll go far."

She gave me a small, grateful smile. "Thank you… um…"

"Renji," I offered. "You can call me Renji."

She nodded, the smile lingering on her lips. "Thanks, Renji."

"And you are?" I asked her

"Uhm Aoi Nakamura Nice to meet you!" She said with shy voice.

"Nice to meet you Nakamura-san" I said with gentle smile.

---

The rest of the day passed by without much excitement, but my brief encounter with the shy illustrator stayed on my mind. There was something about her, something that drew me in. As I locked up the café later that night, I couldn't help but wonder if our paths would cross again.

[An : Comment your views on this chapter and are you all liking how he is slowly improving and his relationship build up with others]