"I'm back."
Even though I know no one's going to answer, I still say the words and close the door behind me.
I toss my backpack into some corner of the apartment and collapse onto the couch, my mind drifting to Satsuki.
I really upset her...
I hate seeing her sad...
Guess I'll postpone her punishment for another day. After all, it's just a bit of sex—it's not as important as her happiness.
I got up and went to the fridge. Since Satsuki would be coming over tonight, I should probably make her dinner.
That's what a good boyfriend would do… right?
"…"
Empty.
My fridge was completely empty—not even a bottle of water. Looks like I'll have to make a quick trip to the store.
What a pain.
But I'll do it for Satsuki.
I quickly changed out of my school uniform into something more comfortable—a pink shirt with little teddy bears on it and a pair of purple pants. Satsuki said they looked cute on me, but I get the feeling she was just making fun of me.
I stepped into the elevator, twirling the keys to my Lamborghini between my fingers. It was a gift from my family on my birthday.
Meanwhile, my older brother inherited our parents' company. At least I got something this year…
I jumped into my Lamborghini and hit the road in search of a supermarket. The pleasant feeling of gripping the wheel, the deep roar of the engine—nothing more relaxing than that.
"Now this is life."
Good thing I live in a luxury neighborhood. I wouldn't want to be stuck in traffic when I could be tearing down the road at full speed.
I'm not really a car fanatic, though—driving is just a sport to me. I simply like the thrill of high speed, the same way I like sex.
But my fun didn't last long; soon enough, I arrived at the supermarket.
It had opened recently but was already drawing crowds thanks to its low prices and high-quality products.
I parked my Lamborghini right in front and walked in without hesitation.
I've got to say, I was impressed. From the outside, it didn't look like much—but inside, the place was huge, almost the size of a football stadium.
How the hell did they build all this so fast?
After getting over my surprise, I started looking for the ingredients for tonight's dinner.
I grabbed a shopping cart and filled it with all sorts of things—meat, vegetables, fruit.
The cashier frowned slightly when she saw how much I was buying.
"Sir… are you sure you can pay for all this?" She glanced at the century-old wine bottle in my hand. "You picked some pretty expensive stuff."
"Don't worry, I can afford it."
She nodded silently and went back to scanning my items. After a few minutes, she said politely,
"That'll be 105.000 yenes."
I nodded, handed her my card, and waited for the transaction to go through. When it did, she gave me a bright smile and said,
"Thank you for shopping with us. Come again!"
I took my card back and left, my arms full of shopping bags. But as soon as I reached the door, I stopped.
It was pouring outside.
For a moment, I thought about going back to buy an umbrella—but then decided against it. The wind would probably destroy it anyway.
"You've got to be kidding me…"
A woman with pink hair and red eyes muttered desperately beside me. She wore only a green coat and a tight, semi-transparent dress that left little to the imagination. With her flawless looks and perfect figure, she almost looked like a model.
For some reason, she seemed sad and defeated, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She was probably in the same situation as me, so I decided to strike up a conversation.
Definitely not because she was beautiful.
"Why are you crying?"
She blinked several times, trying to hold back the tears before answering in a trembling voice:
"I… I don't have a way to get home. My husband's away on a business trip, and I can't call him for help…"
She spoke softly, trying to keep her composure as she gave me a weak smile, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be crying here… it must look strange to you."
A wave of indignation ran through me. What kind of man leaves a wife this beautiful behind?
I looked at her curiously and asked,
"You wouldn't cry just because of the rain. There must be another reason… would you mind telling me?"
The woman hesitated, clearly surprised by my sudden question. She looked at me, then sighed and began her story.
"My husband left on a business trip a month ago… and he just called to say he won't be back for another month. Our wedding anniversary is in a few days and… I just feel so lonely and forgotten."
Her voice trembled slightly, mixed with emotion and relief. It must have felt good to finally talk to someone, even a stranger.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be unloading all this on you… you don't even know me. My name's Mei Ling. Nice to meet you."
I felt anger toward her husband. How could he neglect his wife like that?
Just thinking about doing the same to Satsuki made me sick… I should try to be better for her.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts and said with a soft smile,
"You don't need to apologize. If anything, I should apologize for intruding. By the way, my name's Kurokawa Ren."
Mei Ling smiled gently, clearly grateful for my kindness. She extended her hand, and I shook it without hesitation.
Her touch was soft and warm—pleasant enough that I couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like if she held my—
Better stop thinking about that and focus on what she's saying.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kurokawa. And really, there's no need to apologize. Sometimes, opening up to a stranger is easier than to someone close."
She said with a hint of humor in her tone, trying to lighten the mood.
"So, now that I've shared my sad story, maybe you could help me with my little current problem?"
I turned to her, pretending not to understand.
"What kind of problem?"
Mei Ling looked toward the downpour, her gray, transparent dress clinging tightly to her curves from the humidity. She turned back to me, her expression helpless.
"I walked here, and now I'm stuck in the rain without my car. I can't get home without getting completely drenched."
The strong wind carried a sharp chill with it. Mei Ling crossed her arms over her chest, trying to shield herself from the cold.
"I don't know what to do… I don't want to get sick." She looked at me with hopeful raspberry-colored eyes. "Maybe… you could give me a ride?"
That's it!
I can't miss this opportunity.
I nodded quickly and said,
"No problem. But we'll have to get a little wet—my car's parked a bit far."
Nirvana smiled gratefully and nodded, her ponytail swaying.
"I don't mind getting a little wet if it means I won't be stuck here. Thank you, Kaiser. You're very kind."
Me? Kind?
"Then let's go—before I melt completely in this soaked dress."
She said with a hint of humor, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. She was trying to keep things light despite the situation.
"All right then. I'm ready when you are."
She stepped forward, waiting for me to lead the way through the rain.
What a cute girl—but way too naïve. Her husband's an idiot for leaving someone like this alone. A guy with bad intentions could easily take advantage of her.
Good thing I'm here.
"Let's go."
I commanded and started walking briskly toward the Lamborghini, knowing Mei Ling would follow.
As expected, she hurried after me, trying to keep up in the rain. Out of the corner of my eye, I couldn't help noticing how the wet fabric clung to her curves, revealing more than she probably intended. She pulled her green coat tighter around herself, trying to hide a bit more.
"You… you've got excellent taste in cars. A Lamborghini, no less," she said in awe as we approached the luxury vehicle. "I've always wanted to ride in one of these."
I opened the trunk to stash the groceries and said casually while arranging them to fit,
"You've got a pretty expensive dress—I thought you were from a rich family. Never been in one before?"
She looked a little surprised, her face flushing slightly. She glanced down at her dress, realizing how it clung to her body.
"Well, my husband's… the CEO of a big company. So yes, we have money. But he never let me drive his sports car. He always said it was too dangerous for me." She sounded frustrated, shrinking a bit as she tried to cover herself.
I glanced at the bag in her hand—and at how her dress clung to her chest.
Too bad she was wearing a bra.
"Want me to put those in the trunk too?"
I asked, extending a hand toward her.
"Yes, please, if you don't mind putting my things back there as well."
Her fingers brushed against mine as she handed me the bag.
I stored her things and closed the trunk. I was already tired of standing in the rain.
I climbed into the car, and Mei Ling followed, shivering slightly from the cold and dampness. She buckled her seatbelt and watched as I started the engine.
"Wow… it's even more impressive on the inside," she said, her wide eyes scanning the luxurious interior.
"You must really like speed," she added, trying to make conversation as she wiped some water from her arms.
I paused what I was doing and gave her a mischievous smile.
"You have no idea. For me, driving is as good as sex. Do you like driving too?"
Mei Ling froze, her face turning bright red. She swallowed hard, struggling to find her words.
"I… well, I've never had the chance to drive something like this. My husband always said women shouldn't drive sports cars." Her voice trembled slightly. "But I've always wanted to feel… excitement, you know?"
To others, it might've sounded like flirting—but I saw the emptiness in her eyes, the pain in her voice.
I could tell the thrill she wanted wasn't sex or adrenaline. She was just sad—she wanted love. Real affection. Something she probably hadn't felt in a long time.
I turned on the heater, trying to melt away the cold, heavy atmosphere.
"Mei Ling, where do you live?"
She stayed silent, staring down at her feet.
"Mei Ling, where do you live?" I asked again, more softly this time.
She blinked a few times, as if snapping out of a trance. A sad smile crossed her lips as she straightened up in her seat.
"Why are you changing the subject so suddenly, Mr. Kurokawa?"
She asked, leaning a little closer—her voice still trembling, but now laced with a hint of mischief.
Her sweet perfume filled the air. She was inches from me. Her raspberry-colored eyes stared straight into mine with unexpected intensity.
I stayed silent for a moment, meeting her gaze with a neutral expression. There was no point in lying or pretending I didn't notice.
"I want to know where you live so I can drive you home," I said honestly.
Mei Ling let out a weak, humorless laugh.
"Don't kid yourself. You think I didn't notice the way you've been looking at me? Since the moment I saw you, you couldn't take your eyes off my wet dress—how it clings to my chest and my ass."
The silence returned, heavier this time. I said nothing—just looked at her, accepting the truth in her words.
Tears welled up in her eyes again. She broke eye contact, looking down at her feet.
"So… why did you lose interest, Ren?" she whispered. "I know I'm not the youngest anymore, but… what's wrong with me?"
The first sob escaped, and she covered her face with her hands, trying to muffle her crying.
"My husband… he doesn't even touch me anymore. He doesn't even look at me. No matter what I wear, no matter what I do—it's like I'm invisible to him." Her voice broke with each word. She was a monument of beauty and sadness collapsing in the passenger seat. "Is it so wrong to want someone's touch? To want to feel desired again?"
A knot formed in my throat. She reminded me of Satsuki, a few months ago. I never wanted to see Satsuki like that again.
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. What she needed wasn't flirting—or a quick fuck.
"Mei Ling," I said, my voice serious but not cold. "What you want isn't someone's touch. You want a real connection. You want to be loved—truly loved, the way you deserve."
Her eyes widened. She stopped crying and looked at me.
"You won't find that with me." My voice was firm. "Save your love for someone who truly deserves it. Don't settle for scraps."
For the second time in my life, I felt the strange urge to comfort someone without expecting anything in return. The first had been Satsuki, on the day we met.
Mei Ling stayed silent for a long minute, just staring at me as the rain kept beating against the windshield. Her expression slowly shifted—from pleading to acceptance.
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, took a deep breath, and finally said:
"I live in Diamond Tower, 12th floor. Apartment 1205."
I frowned. Diamond Tower… 12th floor…
"I'm your neighbor," I said flatly. "Apartment 1201."