[16] Looking for a Solution (II)

While waiting for Asuka's arrival, Kaoru decided to re-examine Shiranui's body, even though he was certain nothing had been overlooked before. His magical eyes swept over the woman's body once more, searching for any signs that might have been missed. Kaoru knew how crucial it was to ensure everything was in order. Suddenly, Shiranui's eyes moved, her eyelids twitched, and her lips let out a faint groan as she began to open her eyes.

"Oh! You're finally awake," Kaoru exclaimed, a little surprised but also relieved.

In Shiranui's view, everything appeared blurry and spinning. Her mind was in chaos, trying to process what had happened. With confusion evident in her eyes, she looked at Kaoru and asked in a soft, hesitant voice, "Um… who are you, sir?" Her voice was mature yet gentle, full of warmth that contrasted with her situation.

Kaoru gave a slight smile, realising how fragile Shiranui's condition was at that moment. "You can call me Kaoru, or Kou if you prefer. By the way, how do you feel?" he asked gently, trying to make her feel comfortable.

Shiranui attempted to move her body, feeling her muscles still stiff and weak. She struggled to remember something, anything, but every effort only brought a worsening dizziness. "I…," she mumbled, frustration clearly etched on her face.

"If you feel you can't, I won't push you. Just rest for now," Kaoru said, standing up and intending to leave, giving Shiranui space to recover. But suddenly, he felt a gentle grip on his wrist. Shiranui, with a pleading gaze, held him back.

"Sir… Please don't go," she said, her voice sounding like a frightened child, pleading with hope.

Kaoru paused for a moment, considering the situation. 'Is this a reaction to her memory loss? But isn't it usual for someone to be cautious around strangers you just met?' Kaoru thought, his confusion mixed with sympathy. His eyes met Shiranui's, which seemed so fragile and vulnerable.

"Haaah… Alright, if that makes you feel better," he said, letting out a long sigh and sitting back down beside her. Shiranui's face showed relief, as if Kaoru's presence gave her the sense of security she needed.

"Sir… Where am I?" she asked, her voice still filled with confusion.

"You're in my apartment," Kaoru replied calmly, trying to ease her mind.

Shiranui frowned, trying to recall more. "Then why am I wearing this embarrassing outfit?" she asked, finally noticing the Taimanin combat suit she was wearing—a garment that emphasised sensuality more than protection.

Kaoru gave a wry smile, finally finding someone who noticed just how erotic the Taimanin combat outfits were. "Ahem… You might not remember, but that outfit is your combat gear. I won't say much about it, but you're a member of a special force."

Shiranui looked surprised for a moment before slowly nodding. "Is that so?" she murmured, still trying to make sense of everything. "Am I… a warrior?" she asked again, her voice filled with uncertainty, as if she was trying to find her identity within her shattered memories.

Kaoru nodded, trying to maintain his composure. "Yes, you're a warrior. A Taimanin, an extraordinarily strong and resilient fighter," he answered sincerely, his eyes shining with undisguised admiration. "But for now, the most important thing is to focus on your recovery."

Shiranui looked at Kaoru with a gaze full of curiosity, her soft eyes now displaying a glimmer of doubt. "Sir Kaoru... are we close? Somehow, I feel like we have a connection," she said, her voice filled with hope and confusion.

Kaoru's body stiffened at the question. His face showed a shocked expression before he quickly regained his composure. "Ahahah~ No, I don't know you, and I just happened to find you somewhere. Anyway, let's end this conversation. Let's focus on your recovery first; you can sleep if you want!" Kaoru said firmly, though there was a hint of nervousness he tried to hide. He felt that this conversation was heading in a direction he didn't want.

"But…" Shiranui tried to rise from the bed, but Kaoru quickly held her shoulder. This movement brought their faces very close, so close that Kaoru could smell the soft scent of Shiranui. The proximity made Kaoru's heart beat faster.

"Enough… We don't have any kind of relationship. I just found you today, so don't ask anything else, you understand?" Kaoru said in a serious tone, trying to establish a boundary between them.

However, Shiranui simply tilted her head, confused by Kaoru's words. Instead of pulling away, she moved closer, her ample chest almost brushing against Kaoru's body, narrowing the space between them.

"Sir Kaoru… I…" Shiranui spoke in a lower voice, almost a whisper, and Kaoru could feel the tension in the air. The situation was becoming increasingly strange and heated, making Kaoru's mind race. Usually, he was the one in control in situations like this, always the one doing the teasing. But this time, with Shiranui appearing so aggressive, Kaoru felt as if he was the prey. A weakness he rarely showed.

Kaoru was not good at handling situations that didn't go as he expected, and this time, he really didn't know what to do.

Then suddenly, the doorbell rang.

The awkward moment froze for a moment, both of them silent, while the bell continued to ring. Kaoru felt an unspoken relief, but also the awkwardness of the situation that had just occurred.

Kaoru quickly headed to the front door, his heart still pounding from the earlier awkward situation. When he opened the door, he saw Asuka standing there, dressed in casual clothing that contrasted sharply with her usually serious appearance. The casual dress she wore, paired with a light jacket, accentuated her charm, revealing a side of her rarely seen by others.

Asuka raised an eyebrow, noticing the clearly exhausted expression on Kaoru's face. "What's with your face? You look like you've just been through something difficult," she asked with a tone that was slightly concerned, yet maintained her usual cold and professional demeanour.

Kaoru let out a long sigh, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders upon seeing Asuka. "I'm glad you arrived early," he replied with an unmistakable sigh of relief. "The situation inside is a bit more… complicated than I expected."

Asuka carefully observed the change in Kaoru's expression, sensing that something unusual was going on.