Chapter 6:

Outside Mei's House...

The night air was quiet.

Only two figures remained standing near gate—Raiden Ryoma and Asher.

They faced each other under the warm glow of the lantern lights lining the walkway.

Ryoma's gaze rested on the boy before him. He wasn't angry. Nor did he feel any resentment toward Asher. In fact, deep down, he felt grateful.

It had been a long time since he'd seen his daughter smile like that with someone. A genuine smile—not the polite, guarded one she wore around people who called themselves her friends.

So many of them... fake, opportunistic. He knew that world too well. A world where power invited masks.

That's why Ryoma had always been afraid. Not for himself—but for Mei. Afraid of what would happen to her when he was no longer there to protect her. Especially now... with Cocolia's movements growing more suspicious by the day.

But then—this young man appeared.

Ryoma had done his homework. Of course he had. He wasn't just a father. He was the CEO of M.E Corp.

Asher: orphaned, raised in modest circumstances, yet constantly pushing forward. Clean record. Self-sufficient.And more importantly—respected.

Every neighbor had good things to say about him. Kind. Reliable. The type of person who helps without being asked. A rarity.

Yes… Ryoma could see it clearly.

If something ever happened to me... Mei would still be okay. As long as this boy is around.

But there was still something else that made Ryoma uneasy.

Mei. His daughter might think her feelings were just friendship… but Ryoma could see through it.

She was confused about her own feeling. Maybe unaware. But it was already happening. And this boy? He might still be oblivious to it all.

That, more than anything, annoyed Ryoma. If you want to win my daughter's heart…Then you'd better be ready to face me.

Ryoma silently walked Asher to the gate.

Just before the young man stepped out, Ryoma finally broke the silence.

He looked at Asher with a heavy but steady gaze.

"Will you still act the same… if something happens in the future?"

Asher paused just at the edge of the gate. He turned back and met the older man's eyes.

"I will," Asher said, voice firm.

Ryoma studied him for a long moment—then slowly nodded.

And then, just before Asher could fully step away, Ryoma added quietly:

"If anything happens to me... please take care of my daughter."

There was no weight of pride in that request.Only the quiet, sincere plea of a father.

Asher held his gaze, and with a firm nod, replied:

"I promise."

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A week had passed since that dinner.

It was now the weekend.

The sun hung high in the sky, glaring down on the city below. Sweat clung to Asher's skin as he hoisted a heavy bag of cement over his shoulder, muscles straining beneath the weight. He moved steadily across the construction site, his boots crunching on the gravel below.

Once he set the bag down where his foreman had pointed, Asher paused, wiping his brow with the back of his arm. He lifted a hand to block out the sunlight—then blinked.

Not far from the site, someone stood waiting by the fence.

...Mei?

Asher narrowed his eyes slightly, the sunlight playing tricks on his vision. But no—he wasn't mistaken.

Mei stood there, holding something behind her back.

"Asher?" she called gently as he approached.

"Mei? What are you doing here?" he asked, walking over in his dust-covered uniform, still catching his breath.

She smiled brightly. "Good afternoon, Ash."

"Good afternoon," he replied, still surprised.

"I came because… I thought maybe you hadn't eaten lunch yet," she said, holding up a small, neatly wrapped lunch box.

Asher blinked.

She came all this way... just for that?

He sighed softly, but smiled. "Mei, you really didn't have to go out of your way for me."

"I wanted to" Mei said, her voice cheerful but firm as she held out the box.

Asher shook his head gently, half-smiling. "Let me finish my shift first. I've only got a bit left."

"Okay! Then I'll wait at that park over there," she said, pointing toward a small green space nearby.

Asher gave a nod, then turned and jogged back to his post.

Later…

With his shift wrapped up and his pay envelope tucked in his pocket, Asher made his way toward the park.

Under the shade of a tree, Mei sat quietly on a bench, her hair catching the golden hue of the afternoon sun. She looked up and smiled as soon as she spotted him.

"You're back," she said, scooting slightly to make room.

"Yeah," Asher replied, sitting beside her.

Without a word, Mei handed him the lunch box, then helped unwrap it carefully. Inside was a neatly arranged portion of chicken katsu curry, steam still rising faintly from the insulated container.

"I tried something new today. Chicken katsu with curry… I hope it's good," Mei said, eyes locked on him, nervous but excited.

Asher picked up the chopsticks and took a bite.

Crispy, juicy chicken. Rich curry. A touch of sweetness that made it unmistakably hers.

Delicious.

He looked at her, a small grin forming on his lips. "You've improved a lot, Mei. This is seriously good."

Mei's face lit up, glowing brighter than the sun above. "I'm glad it's delicious!"

As Asher finished the last bite of his meal, Mei glanced at him, gathering her courage.

“By the way, Ash… are you free tomorrow?” she asked, her tone casual, but her eyes curious.

Asher wiped his mouth and leaned back slightly. “Well, I’ve got a part-time job again, but after work, I’m free. Why?”

Mei perked up. “There’s this café I really want to visit. They’ve got this dessert that’s gone viral online. Everyone’s talking about it.”

“Hm? Can’t you just order it for delivery?” Asher asked.

“I could,” Mei said with a small laugh. “But because of you, I want to go there and eat it in person. The experience is different when you're at the actual place... you know?”

Asher tilted his head. “Because of me?”

“Yeah. You reminded me that things taste better when you share them—with a friend. Also, I read somewhere that friends should spend more time together outside of school,” she said, slightly flustered but smiling.

Asher looked at her, then nodded with a soft smile. “Alright then. I’ll make sure to come.”

“Um!” Mei nodded happily, clearly pleased.

After finishing, Asher closed the lunch box gently. “Thanks for the food, Mei. It was really good.”

Mei gave a gentle nod, a quiet but proud smile on her lips.

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The Next Day – Late Afternoon

After finishing his shift, Asher washed up and changed into casual clothes. He checked himself in the mirror, brushing a hand through his slightly damp hair. A simple hoodie, jeans, sneakers. Clean, casual, nothing flashy.

He gave a small nod of approval to his reflection, then grabbed his phone and headed out the door.

The walk to Mei’s house wasn’t long, and soon he stood in front of the large, familiar gate. He pressed the intercom.

“It’s Asher. I’m here for Mei.”

Seconds passed. No answer.

He frowned slightly, then pulled out his phone to send her a quick message.

Just as he hit send, the gate slowly creaked open.

Mei stood there… but she wasn’t alone.

Standing just behind her, arms crossed, was none other than Raiden Ryoma.

His gaze was sharp, unreadable, and locked directly onto Asher.

“You said you two were just friends,” Ryoma began in a low voice. “But now you show up like this? You do realize this clearly looks like a date, right?”

“D-Dad!” Mei said, her face turning red. “What are you even saying?! This is just a normal hangout with a friend!”

Ryoma ignored her, his eyes still trained on Asher like a hawk.

Asher scratched his cheek awkwardly, offering a nervous chuckle. “Uncle, I think you’re misunderstanding. It’s really just a casual outing. No more than that.”

“Y-Yeah,” Mei added, her voice half a whisper. “It’s nothing serious…”

Ryoma finally looked between the two of them and sighed, long and heavy.

Just like how it started with Mei’s mother, he thought bitterly. Friends first…

“Fine,” he grumbled, clearly unconvinced. “Just make sure Mei’s home before evening.”

He turned around and walked back inside the mansion, shoulders slumped just slightly in defeat.

Mei gave Asher an apologetic half-smile. “Sorry about that... he’s really... protective.”

Asher shook his head with a quiet smile. “It’s fine. I kind of expected it.”

There was a moment of silence, then Asher looked ahead and asked, “So, shall we go?”

“Mm!” Mei nodded quickly, her mood brightening. “Let’s go!”

And with that, the two walked side by side down the street, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows behind them.

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Downtown Nagazora – Early Evening

The city buzzed with life as Mei and Asher walked side by side along the sidewalk, weaving through small crowds and passing glowing shop signs.

“Where exactly is this café, Mei?” Asher asked, glancing around at the unfamiliar streets.

“Um… it should be somewhere around here,” Mei said, focused on her phone's map. “Just a little further, I think.”

After a few more turns, they stopped in front of a cozy-looking café with warm lighting and pastel-colored signage. A soft bell chimed overhead as they stepped through the door.

The atmosphere inside was calm and welcoming, filled with the smell of roasted coffee and sweet pastries. Indie music played softly in the background.

They approached the counter, standing side by side as their eyes scanned the menu above.

“There's a lot of desserts,” Asher murmured.

Beside him, Mei frowned slightly, her eyes darting over the listings. “Hmm… I don’t see the one I read about…”

Asher turned to the cashier. “Excuse me—wasn’t there a dessert here that went viral a while ago?”

The cashier, a young woman with a tired but polite smile, nodded. “Ah, you must mean our mochi cheesecake. It’s a cheesecake covered in a thin mochi layer. That’s the one everyone’s been posting about.”

“I see,” Asher said, then looked at Mei. “Is that the one you wanted to try?”

Mei nodded quickly, her eyes lighting up. “Yes! That’s it.”

Asher turned back to the cashier. “Alright. One of those, please. And… a cappuccino.”

The cashier tapped at her screen. “Anything else?”

Asher glanced at Mei. “You want something to drink?”

“Mm. Can I get the strawberry soda?” Mei asked sweetly.

“Sure. One strawberry soda,” the cashier confirmed. “Will that be all?”

Asher nodded. “Yes.”

“That’ll be ##### yen.”

Just as Mei reached into her purse to pay, Asher casually handed over the money.

“Huh? Ash—” Mei started.

“Too late. I already paid,” Asher said with a grin.

Mei pouted slightly. “Then next time, I’ll pay.”

“Sure, I’ll hold you to that,” he chuckled.

The cashier, gave them a deadpan stare while handed them their number card. “…Please wait at your table.”

Please stop flirt in front of her......

They thanked her and headed to an empty table near the window.

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