[15] Looking for a Solution

Asuka rolled around on her soft bed, her body sinking into the exhaustion that seemed never-ending. Her room, which usually served as a refuge from the outside world, now felt cramped and suffocating. Her mind was still haunted by the last mission she had undertaken, a task that had pushed her to her physical and mental limits. Her body screamed for rest, but for some reason, Asuka's mind couldn't find peace.

Every time she tried to close her eyes and forget everything, Kaoru's image would uninvitedly appear in her mind. The man's face, with his mischievous grin that always teased her, disturbed her tranquillity. Asuka frowned, hugging her pillow tightly as if it could ward off these unwanted thoughts. Yet, the more she tried to forget, the stronger Kaoru's image embedded itself in her thoughts.

"What is he doing right now? Has he eaten? Or maybe he's up to something foolish again?" she muttered, her feelings a mix of irritation and curiosity.

Asuka let out a long sigh and then hit the pillow she was hugging with her advanced prosthetic hand. Every time her thoughts drifted towards Kaoru, she felt annoyed with herself. How could she, an agent of an organisation supposed to be cold and professional, be distracted by that man?

"No! No, Asuka! You mustn't keep thinking about him!" she exclaimed to herself, her face turning as red as a boiled crab. Steam seemed to rise from her head, a sign of how embarrassed she was with herself.

However, despite the confusion and anxiety filling her heart, Asuka couldn't entirely hate Kaoru. There was something about that man that made her keep thinking about the little things, like whether he had eaten or what he was doing in his spare time. These thoughts made her angry at herself, but she still couldn't stop thinking about Kaoru.

While Asuka was rolling around on her bed, lost in her embarrassment and confusion, her smartphone suddenly rang loudly, breaking her mood. The sound startled her, and she quickly grabbed the phone. But when she saw who was calling, her face turned crimson in an instant.

"W-what?! Kaoru?" Asuka stammered, panic surging through her. "Awawawa! What should I do?!"

Her heart pounded as she saw the phone screen, where Kaoru's name was clearly displayed. And to make matters worse, it wasn't just a regular voice call—it was a video call. Her face erupted in a deep blush.

"Why does it have to be a video call?! Argh, damn you, Kaoru!" she screamed inwardly.

With slightly trembling hands, Asuka swiped the button to accept the call. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm herself, before finally opening them and looking at the screen. Kaoru's face appeared on the screen, looking as calm as usual, as if he was unaware of the turmoil Asuka was experiencing.

Asuka quickly composed herself, returning to the cold and professional demeanour that had become her trademark. She took a deep breath before answering Kaoru's video call. As her face appeared on the screen, Asuka immediately spoke, her voice firm and without hesitation.

Asuka managed to calm herself, adjusting her expression to be as cold and professional as usual. Even though her heart was pounding a little, she successfully hid it behind her steady tone.

"Hello? Kaoru? What is it?" she asked, her voice controlled even though a hint of concern coloured her thoughts. Her gaze was focused, as if ready to face whatever Kaoru was going to say.

On the screen, Kaoru's face appeared serious, with a faint frown on his forehead. However, behind that serious expression, a mischievous glint flashed in his eyes. A slight smile, almost imperceptible, began to form on his lips. The mischievous streak that often appeared suddenly took over, and he decided to play around for a bit before delivering the important news.

"Asuka, you look... as stunning as ever," Kaoru said in a playful tone, his eyes narrowing with a hint of teasing. "Did I just interrupt your leisure time? Or perhaps... a sweet dream about me?"

Asuka simply blinked, her cold expression shifting slightly due to a mix of irritation and embarrassment. Nonetheless, she wasn't easily provoked. She quickly responded, her voice still flat but with a slight sharp edge.

"Kaoru, if you're only calling to tease me, we might as well end this call. I have more important things to do," she replied, trying not to show that Kaoru's comment had slightly unsettled her.

Kaoru chuckled softly, savouring the moment before his face turned serious again. "Alright, I'll stop messing around. Actually, there's something important I need to talk to you about, Asuka. It's about..."

Kaoru continued his story in a more serious tone, recounting how he had just destroyed a research facility and rescued a Taimanin. His eyes gleamed as he described how much he had enjoyed his little escapade.

"Take a look at this woman..." The camera on his phone shifted, showing the figure of Shiranui lying quietly on a bed. "Do you recognise her?"

Asuka, who was also a Taimanin, felt her heart race as she saw the face of the woman lying helplessly. The Taimanin were an elite group whose members were closely connected, and Asuka immediately recognised who the woman was.

"Isn't she... Shiranui Mizuki!?" Asuka gasped, her voice showing deep shock. "Where did you find her!?"

Kaoru frowned, slightly surprised by Asuka's reaction. "Huh!? You're asking as if she was missing," he replied, turning the camera back to his own face.

"She was!" Asuka responded quickly, her face showing concern. "Shiranui went on a reconnaissance mission two weeks ago and never returned. I thought she was either captured or dead, but if she was captured... her fate could have been quite tragic, especially since the organisation she was spying on was a group of Incubi."

Kaoru nodded slowly, processing the information. "Ah... You mean she was probably... violated?" he asked in a blunt tone, making Asuka sigh deeply.

"Anyway, let me come to your apartment! I need to confirm something, and you need to explain everything in detail!" Asuka said firmly, her tone indicating how serious the situation was.

"Sure thing, baby," Kaoru replied teasingly, the mischievous smile returning to his face.

"Hngh!..." Asuka growled softly, her face flushing with both anger and embarrassment. "Just wait there!" She quickly ended the call, trying to calm her mixed emotions.

On the other end, Kaoru just chuckled softly, looking at his now blank phone screen. Despite the seriousness of the situation, his playful teasing of Asuka always provided him with a bit of amusement amid the tension.