Ayumi, now lightly dressed, makes her way to the café, her steps calm but her mind still lingering on her brother's message. As she arrives, she pauses slightly at the entrance, her brows knitting together in confusion. 'Huh? Why is the café empty…?' she mutters quietly to herself. The place looks open—the sign clearly reads "Open"—yet there's not a single customer inside, not even the usual faint noise of staff or background chatter.
She hesitates for a moment before stepping in, her footsteps echoing softly in the unusually quiet space. "Excuse me… is this café open?" she calls out, her voice careful, almost cautious, as her eyes scan the surroundings. There's no immediate response, and the silence only makes the atmosphere feel stranger.
Her thoughts begin to spiral slightly. 'What happened…?' she wonders, her chest tightening just a little. Then another thought crosses her mind, sharper this time. 'Is Nii-sama in trouble…?'
But almost instantly, she shakes that idea away. She knows exactly who her brother is. There's no way someone like him—Rashomon—would get into trouble, especially not in anything related to the underworld. If anything, he is the trouble others fear.
Still… something feels off.
Her gaze slowly moves across the café again, more carefully this time, and that's when she notices it—the faint scent in the air. Flowers. A soft, pleasant fragrance that doesn't quite match the usual atmosphere of the place. It's subtle, but undeniable, lingering just enough to make her heart beat a little faster, as if something is about to happen.
But then—suddenly—the atmosphere shifts.
The lights dim.
For a brief second, everything falls into a soft, almost surreal darkness… and then, one by one, warm romantic lights begin to glow across the café, casting a gentle golden hue over the entire space. It transforms instantly—from something quiet and unsettling into something intimate… something carefully prepared.
Staff members step out from behind the scenes, dressed in elegant white, each of them holding flowers. They move in perfect coordination, placing petals across the floor, along the tables, creating a path that leads directly toward the center. Then, with a soft flicker, a neon light ignites behind them.
"Happy Valentine Ayumi."
The words glow softly, yet brightly enough to make her breath catch.
And then—
He appears.
Zaboru walks forward slowly, holding a guitar in his hands. He's dressed in a sharp, perfectly fitted suit, something far more formal than his usual style—and it suits him unbelievably well. Every step he takes feels deliberate, calm, confident. Under the warm lighting, he looks… unreal.
Handsome.
Radiant.
Like he walked straight out of a dream.
Without saying a word, he positions himself in front of her, lifts the guitar—and begins to play.
The melody flows gently at first, soft and controlled, filling the entire café with warmth. Then his voice follows.
The song "Can't Take My Eyes Off You."
Every note he plays is precise, every chord clean, his fingers moving with practiced ease. But it's not just skill—it's emotion. The way he plays, the way he sings… it carries something deeper, something real.
Zaboru isn't just performing.
He's confessing.
Through music.
Through every word he sings.
"You're just too good to be true…"
"You'd be like heaven to touch"
"I wanna hold you so much"
Ayumi freezes where she stands, the world around her fading into nothing but his voice. Her hands slowly rise to cover her mouth, as if trying to hold back something too overwhelming to contain. Tears well up instantly, spilling over before she can even blink them away—warm, trembling tears that blur her vision as the reality of the moment crashes into her all at once.
Her chest tightens, her breath catching unevenly. She tries to say something—anything—but no words come out.
"Z… Zabo…"
Her voice breaks.
Her entire body trembles, not from fear, but from a happiness so intense it almost hurts. It feels unreal, like a dream she's afraid will disappear if she moves too much or breathes too loudly. Every note he sings, every step he takes closer to her, makes her heart beat faster and louder, echoing in her ears.
She can't look away from him.
She doesn't want to.
Her tears keep falling, but she's smiling through them—soft, helpless, completely overwhelmed. It's not just the surprise, not just the effort… it's him. The way he stands there, singing for her, looking at her like she's the only person in the world.
And in that moment… she truly is.
As Zaboru continues playing, slowly moving closer, each step feels heavier, more meaningful, closing the distance between them like a promise being fulfilled. Ayumi's heart feels like it might burst, her fingers curling slightly against her lips as if trying to steady herself—but nothing can calm the storm of emotions rising inside her.
"I love you, baby, and if it's quite alright
I need you, baby, to warm the lonely night
I love you, baby, trust in me when I say
Oh, pretty baby, don't bring me down, I pray
Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay
And let me love you, baby, let me love you"
Zaboru slowly stops playing, the final note lingering softly in the air before fading into silence. He gently takes her hands, holding them with warmth and care, then brings out a box of chocolate, presenting it to her with a soft, sincere smile. "Happy Valentine, my love… and I'm sorry for neglecting you," he says, his voice quieter now, filled with genuine emotion.
Ayumi breaks completely.
Her tears fall even harder, uncontrollably now, her shoulders trembling as the weight of everything finally overwhelms her. She had truly believed he forgot. She had convinced herself that he was simply too busy… that work would always come first. And yet—here he is, standing right in front of her, doing something so absurd, so dramatic, so incredibly him that no one else in the world could ever replicate it.
It's ridiculous.
It's excessive.
It's completely unnecessary.
And yet… it's perfect.
Because it's him.
She laughs through her tears, her voice shaking, her emotions spilling out without restraint. Her heart feels so full it almost hurts, like it might burst at any second from how much love she feels in this moment. She falls in love with him all over again—deeper than before, stronger than before—like every memory, every feeling, is being rewritten right now into something even more precious.
"Zabo… you fool…" she whispers, her voice breaking as she looks at him, her eyes shining through tears. "…you don't need to do this…"
But even as she says it, her hands tighten around his, refusing to let go.
Zaboru smiles softly and lets out a quiet chuckle, his eyes never leaving hers. "How could I not?" he says gently. "I have the best wife in the world… and yet I keep neglecting her because of work. Honestly… I should be ashamed as your husband. I'm sorry, Ayumi." His voice is calm, but sincere, carrying a weight that makes his words feel real rather than just something said for the moment.
He lifts his hand and gently caresses her hair, brushing it aside with a tenderness that contrasts completely with the bold, dramatic display from before. This time, there's no performance—just him.
Ayumi's lips tremble slightly as she looks at him, her tears still falling, but softer now, warmer. Then, with a small, shaky laugh, she whispers, "Hehehe… I forgive you though."
Before he can respond, she leans forward and kisses him.
It's sudden.
Natural.
Full of everything she couldn't say.
The staff around them immediately burst into applause, clapping with bright smiles, clearly moved by the scene unfolding before them. Some of the female staff can't hide their expressions—half admiration, half jealousy—as they watch Zaboru standing there, a man who is not only incredibly rich and handsome, but also fiercely loyal.
Because despite everything—despite his status, his power, the fact that he could have anyone he wanted—he chose her only her.
And he continues to choose her.
Again and again.
Meanwhile, Ayumi slowly lets go of Zaboru, though her fingers linger for a moment as if she doesn't want to completely release him. She carefully opens the box of chocolate he gave her, her hands still trembling slightly from the overwhelming emotions, when suddenly the café staff return once more, bringing out a large chocolate cake—beautifully decorated, clearly prepared with care.
Zaboru grins proudly. "This is for you."
Ayumi lets out a soft laugh, wiping her tears as she looks at the cake. "Hehehe… you just want to eat it too, right?"
Zaboru scratches the back of his head, smiling sheepishly. "Hehehe… yeah…"
Her smile softens even more, something warm and affectionate blooming in her eyes as she looks at him. She picks up a spoon, scoops a small piece of the cake, and gently feeds him first instead of herself.
Zaboru blinks in surprise before laughing softly, accepting it without hesitation.
Then, naturally, he returns the gesture.
The two of them feed each other in small bites, smiling, laughing quietly, their earlier intensity melting into something softer, something deeply intimate. The world around them fades away completely—the staff, the decorations, everything becomes background noise.
Right now, in this moment, it feels like there are only two of them.
Only Ayumi and Zaboru.
And for once… nothing else matters.
Not long after, Akechi arrives, dressed in a simple casual shirt, yet his presence immediately stands out even in such a warm and romantic setting. There's a faint grin on his face as he looks at the scene in front of him, though he tries to keep his usual composed demeanor.
Ayumi notices him and lets out a soft sigh, turning to Zaboru with a slightly exasperated yet amused expression. "Zabo… how can you even ask Nii-sama to do this…? Well… you know… he's kind of rigid…" she says, glancing back at her brother, still unable to fully process how he agreed to something like this.
Zaboru simply laughs, completely at ease. "Hahaha! Akechi-san might be scary, but for you he'd do anything, you know that, Ayumi. He's just bad at expressing himself," he says casually, his tone light but sincere.
Akechi's expression tightens slightly, his brows furrowing as he looks at Zaboru. "Better watch your words, Zaboru," he says, his voice low and firm, carrying that usual intimidating edge.
But then—
He turns away.
And a small grin forms on his face.
Subtle.
Barely noticeable.
But real.
Of course, if it's for his little sister, he would go this far without hesitation. He may not say it out loud, may not show it openly, but his actions speak clearly enough. Seeing Ayumi this happy, smiling like this… it's more than enough for him.
He lets out a quiet chuckle under his breath, feeling a rare sense of ease. More than anything, he's relieved—relieved that Ayumi has someone like Zaboru, someone capable of making her smile like this, someone willing to go to such absurd lengths just to make her happy.
That alone… is enough.
Without lingering any longer, he lifts his hand slightly, giving a small, casual wave over his shoulder. "I'm off," he says, his tone returning to its usual calm.
And just like that—
He leaves.
Quietly.
Leaving behind a moment that, for once, doesn't belong to him—but to them.
Zaboru grinned. "Thanks, Akechi-san…" he said, watching his brother-in-law leave, his tone light but carrying a genuine hint of appreciation beneath it.
Ayumi chuckled softly and nodded, her smile still lingering as she picked up another spoonful of chocolate cake and gently fed it to him. Her movements were slower now, softer, filled with quiet affection, as if she wanted to stretch this moment just a little longer.
"I still can't believe it…" she murmured, her voice filled with amazement as her gaze drifted toward the direction Akechi had gone. "You actually made Rashomon do something like this… if the underworld ever found out, it would sound completely unbelievable."
She let out a small laugh, but there was real disbelief behind it, as if she was still trying to process everything that had just happened.
Zaboru simply shrugged, a relaxed grin forming on his face as he reached out and gently caressed her cheek, his thumb brushing softly against her skin. "Well… miracles happen," he said casually, though his eyes softened when they met hers.
He leaned slightly closer, his voice lowering just enough to feel more intimate.
"So… where do you want to go after this?"
There was no hesitation in his tone, no distraction—just full attention.
"For today… I'm yours."
He paused for a brief moment before adding, a playful grin returning, "Oh, and yeah—Mom already knows, so don't worry about the kids. Everything's taken care of. Hehehe."
Ayumi blinked in surprise, her eyes widening slightly. For a second, she didn't respond, as if her mind needed time to catch up with everything he had just said.
Then slowly…
Her expression softened.
Her shoulders relaxed.
And her heart felt lighter than it had all day.
All the small worries she had been carrying since the morning—the disappointment, the doubt, the quiet loneliness—faded away so easily, as if they had never been there in the first place.
She looked at him again—really looked at him—and felt that warmth bloom once more, deeper than before.
Stronger.
More certain.
In that moment, she didn't need to think about anything else
That was more than enough.
Ayumi's eyes widened, a soft breath escaping her lips as she tried to organize her thoughts, still overwhelmed by everything he had done. "Sigh… Zabo… but… hehehe… let's go watch a movie first, then maybe go to the amusement park… and after that… dinner… hehehe," she said, her voice light and excited, almost like she couldn't stop herself from smiling.
Zaboru grinned, gently placing his hand on her shoulder, pulling her slightly closer. "Anything for you, my love," he replied without hesitation, his tone warm and certain, as if there was nothing in the world he wouldn't do for her at this moment.
Ayumi's smile grew even brighter, her eyes shining with happiness that hadn't been there earlier that morning. It wasn't just excitement—it was relief, warmth, and something deeper, something that made her feel completely at ease. Her fingers instinctively intertwined with his, holding on as if she didn't want to let go again.
For a brief moment, she looked at him again, her heart swelling quietly, as if trying to memorize everything—his expression, his warmth, this moment.
Then, without another word, the two of them stepped forward together.
And just like that… they began to spend the rest of the day side by side, leaving behind everything else—responsibilities, worries, and doubts—allowing themselves, for once, to simply enjoy being together.
To be continue
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