[7] Asuka Koukawa (II)

Asuka's face flushed with anger, her blood boiling as she met Kaoru's sly gaze, which made her feel increasingly cornered. Kaoru's red eyes sparkled with intrigue, like a cat playing with its prey. It was then that a sudden realisation struck Asuka—she had been played. All of this was just a game to Kaoru, and she was merely a pawn on a chessboard.

"You!" Asuka exclaimed, her voice erupting with a mixture of anger and humiliation.

Kaoru raised a finger to his lips, signalling her to be quiet. "Sssst... One who makes a promise must keep it," he said in a casual tone, as if discussing the weather. "I'm sure your group has some tradition about honour, doesn't it?"

Asuka's eyes widened in disbelief. How could someone she had just met that evening make her feel so utterly demeaned? A wave of shame spread through her, making her blood boil. Asuka, usually cold and calculating, was now consumed by burning rage. She knew she had lost control, but this feeling—of being trampled and toyed with—compelled her to take what might be the most foolish action of her life.

Taimanin, legendary warriors, possessed an extraordinary ability to manipulate Taima particles, a form of spiritual energy that allowed them to perform various miracles. As Kaoru turned his back to her calmly, as if he no longer cared, Asuka saw an opportunity she had to seize. In a swift movement, she gathered Taima particles in the palms of her hands, the energy coalescing with increasing intensity. This was an unexpected attack, one she was sure would take Kaoru down in an instant.

Kaoru, however, seemed to sense the shift in the air. He turned around calmly and saw Asuka standing with a stance ready to unleash energy like a hero from a fictional tale, both hands extended forward, channelling tremendous power towards him. A victorious smile graced his beautiful face, as if he could already envision Kaoru lying on the ground, defeated by her full might.

"With this, you're done!" Asuka shouted passionately, then fired the Taima energy with all her strength. A bright beam exploded from her palms, racing with terrifying speed, ready to destroy anything in its path.

Yet Kaoru showed no sign of panic, let alone fear. He merely sighed, as though what he faced was just a minor inconvenience in an otherwise calm night. With a relaxed motion, he raised one hand, and in an instant, a magical barrier appeared before him. It was not a solid, flat wall but a spinning square barrier that seemed to dance in the air. The Taima beam that was supposed to obliterate Kaoru struck the barrier and, instead of shattering it, the beam was deflected in two opposite directions, sending the energy shooting sideways, striking an empty building in the distance.

An explosion occurred, shaking the ground around them, but Kaoru did not move an inch. He lowered his hand casually, a small smile etched on his handsome face.

"Such a pity," he said in a tone that almost sounded sympathetic. "You really don't know when to stop, do you?"

Asuka was stunned, her body trembling not only from exhaustion but also from disbelief. She had just used her strongest attack, and Kaoru had faced it as if it were just a passing breeze.

Kaoru then approached with light steps, like a dancer moving on a stage. "Did you really think that attack would work?" he asked in a softer tone, as if speaking to a child who had just made a mistake.

Asuka gritted her teeth, overwhelmed by shame and anger. "You... you can't keep looking at me like that!" she shouted, though her voice now sounded more like a plea than a threat.

"Oh, but how can I resist?" Kaoru replied with a light laugh, his red eyes sparkling with mischief. "You're too intriguing to ignore. A strong and brave woman, but also easily ignited by her emotions. A deadly combination, wouldn't you say?"

Kaoru stopped right in front of Asuka, so close that she could feel the warmth of his body. Gently, he lifted Asuka's chin with his fingers, making their eyes meet. "But you know," he continued in a lower, more intimate voice, almost a whisper, "this game is only fun if you play along wholeheartedly."

Asuka could feel her face flush again, but this time she didn't know if it was from anger, embarrassment, or something deeper.

Kaoru grinned, like a lion that had just caught its prey in an inescapable grip. "Well," he said with a lower yet no less captivating tone, "how about we talk more casually?"

---

Kaoru grinned, like a lion that had just caught its prey in an inescapable grip. "Well," he said with a lower yet no less captivating tone, "how about we talk more casually?"

They were now in the apartment Kaoru had rented the previous night, a small but cosy place in a bustling corner of the city. With his cunning, Kaoru had exchanged some gold coins he had kept in his storage. Although the world's economic system had shifted to digital forms, he faced no significant difficulties. With his undeniable charm, manipulating people to accept unusual transactions was a trivial matter.

Asuka sat on the sofa, her body slightly hunched, clutching a cushion tightly. Her eyes were fixed on Kaoru, who moved gracefully in the small kitchen. Kaoru wore a white shirt provocatively with the top two buttons deliberately undone, revealing a perfectly chiselled chest. His grey trousers completed his look, giving an elegant impression that was hard to ignore. His captivating allure was like a sweet poison seeping into Asuka's thoughts, making it difficult for her to maintain her composure.

In the kitchen, Kaoru was preparing drinks for them. The strong aroma of coffee filled the room, mingling with the soothing scent of tea. Kaoru's movements as he prepared the drinks were so graceful and attentive that his presence in the kitchen seemed more than just charming—he was the focal point of everything, drawing all of Asuka's attention.

Once finished, Kaoru walked back to the living room with a relaxed, yet charismatic stride that made the air feel thicker. He placed a cup of tea in front of Asuka while he himself carried a steaming cup of black coffee, the rich aroma spreading in the quiet room.

Asuka accepted the cup of tea with slightly trembling hands, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart. Meanwhile, Kaoru sat on the sofa opposite her, comfortably leaning back. He sipped his coffee, a decent result despite being made from cheap coffee grounds he found in the kitchen.

Kaoru looked at Asuka with eyes that were gentle yet full of mystery, like an ocean holding countless secrets in its depths. "Are you calm now?" he asked, his voice deep and soothing, as if he were the whispering breeze caressing the surface of a serene lake.

Asuka nodded slowly, though her mind still churned with a thousand unanswered questions and lingering doubts. "I... I still don't understand what you want from me," she said, her voice barely audible, trying to hide the anxiety that was slowly surfacing.