"I gave you a chance!"
"Agh..."
"Help... me!"
Following a few desperate screams, the men fell silent, their bodies utterly lifeless. Finally, under the destructive force of Orphnoch energy, they crumbled into dust.
Yuka reverted to her human form, picked up her groceries, and continued walking back to the Café. A subtle look of resolve flashed in her eyes.
When she arrived at the Café, Raven had just gotten back as well. Yuka immediately told him everything that had happened, using the opportunity to rush into his embrace, seeking comfort.
"It's alright. While I did ask you not to use your Orphnoch power, that situation left you no choice. You did well," Raven said, his hand soothingly rubbing her soft, delicate back.
"But, will I really only have twenty years left to live...?" Yuka was reluctant to accept this fate; she wanted to live with Raven forever.
"I will find a way. As long as I'm here, you'll be fine," Raven assured her.
He reasoned that for an Orphnoch to gain eternal life, the only known way was through the power of the Orphnoch King. Raven figured if he could devour the King, he would gain that ability, which he could then use to solve Yuka's problem. If that failed, he could also use his Amazon Origin blood to transform Yuka into an Amazon, though that carried its own significant risks and drawbacks.
Yuka nodded, satisfied with his promise. She looked up at Raven's face, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him without hesitation.
This time, it was no mere peck on the cheek; it was a real kiss.
For a moment, Raven's mind went completely blank, the kiss led entirely by Yuka.
Several long moments later, Yuka finally, reluctantly pulled away. She immediately ran, face flushed crimson, up to the second floor.
Hiding in her room, Yuka's heart was pounding. It felt like a frantic deer was trapped in her chest.
"What am I going to do... what am I going to do... that was too impulsive... What if Mr. Raven thinks I'm easy..." Yuka buried her face in the bed, speaking incoherently. That was her first kiss, her real one. The reason she seemed so practiced was because she had seen a few idol dramas where it was done that way.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Raven touched his lips, savoring the lingering scent of her lip balm. A smile eventually spread across his face.
....
At the Clover Club bar.
Jay returned, holding his dog. Itsuro Takuma, who was sitting there, asked, "Did you finish so quickly?"
Jay shook his head. The man of few words finally spoke: "That guy is strong."
"Interesting," Takuma pushed up his glasses, now intrigued. Someone existed in the world that even the Lucky Clover couldn't easily take down.
"But I am stronger. He won't get away next time," Jay said, confident in his own abilities, and looking forward to the next fight.
"Naturally. I trust you won't tarnish the reputation of the Lucky Clover," Takuma said, taking a slow sip of his fine wine.
Saeko Kageyama, who was mixing a drink nearby, spoke up: "Takuma, you can't just lounge around either. President Murakami gave us another task: besides retrieving the Driver, there are several traitors who refuse to attack humans that need to be dealt with."
"I'll put you in charge of that. How does that sound?" Saeko asked him with a smile.
"This is annoying, but fine, I get it," Takuma sighed helplessly. It seemed he couldn't escape the fate of being put to work. Before becoming an Orphnoch, he was a man who hated working, living off his parents' inheritance. He only became an Original Orphnoch after an accidental death.
"Here are their photos and information." Saeko handed Takuma the faxed photos.
The people in the photos were Yuji Kiba, Naoya Kaido, and Yuka Osada.
"Excluding Naoya Kaido, the other two are Original Orphnochs," Saeko specifically warned him.
"Original Orphnochs, huh?" Takuma finally showed a bit of seriousness.
"You should be careful. Don't mess this up."
"Miss Saeko, do you lack faith in me? I am a member of the Lucky Clover."
"Then prove it to me."
Saeko knew Itsuro Takuma well and understood how much he liked to slack off. She deliberately provoked him to ensure he would take the task seriously.
And just like that, Takuma accepted the mission to execute Yuji Kiba and the others. Meanwhile, Jay was already planning his next encounter with Raven.
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