Chapter 118: White Dove Pharmaceuticals
Yor covered her mouth with one hand and accepted the gift box with the other.
Filled with surprise and anticipation, her eyes remained completely fixed on the elegant package.
She loved the gift itself, but what made her even happier was that the person giving it to her was Natsukawa.
"Open it and see."
"Okay."
The ribbon was carefully untied, and the exquisite gift box opened with gentle pressure.
Resting on white silk padding, an oval gemstone shimmered with ethereal light.
Its numerous precisely-cut facets reflected different rays of brilliance, illuminating the room as if transforming it into a seven-colored wonderland.
The radiance fell across Yor's fingertips, making her pale fingers seem adorned with dreamlike colors.
Yor moved her slender arm lightly, and the dreamlike hues flowed over her skin like flowing water.
Natsukawa approached and gently lifted Eternal Bloom from the box.
"Beautiful lady, I think only this magnificent gem is worthy of your lovely face. You will make Eternal Bloom exude an even more graceful charm and a more noble elegance."
After speaking, Natsukawa moved behind Yor, reached around her neck with both arms, and carefully fastened the platinum necklace clasp.
After securing it, Yor noticed that Natsukawa remained standing behind her.
"W-what's wrong? Does it not look good?"
"Yor... shall we be together?"
Natsukawa whispered directly into Yor's ear.
The warm breath against her skin made Yor's face flush crimson, and all her carefully maintained restraint evaporated instantly.
Before Yor could formulate an answer, Natsukawa's hand had already settled naturally on her waist, and he rested his head gently on her shoulder.
Their hair intermingled, creating small sparks of static electricity.
Natsukawa continued softly: "From that very first time in the coffee shop, I felt you were an indispensable part of my life. Perhaps our meeting was destined by fate itself."
Tender feelings filled the room completely.
The dazzling display of colors from the gem, like blooming flowers in full spring, filled the space with a dreamlike, shimmering atmosphere.
"...Okay."
Yor spoke so softly that only Natsukawa's proximity allowed him to hear.
"So, girlfriend, may I invite you to dinner tonight?"
"Eh? But your injured leg..."
Natsukawa immediately dropped the act, swiftly tearing off the excessive bandages to reveal only a small adhesive bandage covering a minor scrape.
"You sneaky rascal!"
Yor stomped her foot in embarrassment, her face burning bright red as she fled from the room.
Natsukawa watched her retreat with a triumphant smile playing across his lips.
Mission accomplished!
Though he'd probably need to replace the apartment's flooring with reinforced granite now.
And the bed—specially reinforced steel would be far more suitable than a standard wooden frame.
Night descended over Tokyo, and Tokyo Tower stood magnificently amidst the surrounding skyscrapers.
The red warning lights adorning the tower blazed brightly in the darkness, appearing from a distance like a brilliant shooting star frozen against the night sky.
The steel lattice structure at the tower's peak looked particularly imposing in the darkness, like a giant guardian watching over every corner of the metropolis.
From the observation deck, the entire city of Tokyo resembled a vast illuminated canvas, breathtakingly beautiful.
Natsukawa and Yor went to Tokyo Tower's sky restaurant for dinner.
Anya, naturally, wasn't brought along—this was supposed to be a romantic candlelit dinner for just the two of them.
So she'd been sent to the Mouri Detective Agency for temporary care.
The little girl had been distinctly unhappy about this arrangement, but Natsukawa's decision was final. Anya had no right to object, only to passively accept her fate.
"Is it really okay not bringing Anya-chan? She looked so upset. Will she end up resenting me later?"
Yor seemed genuinely worried. The concept of "stepmother" still carried considerable psychological weight.
She wondered whether Anya might make things difficult for her in the future.
Natsukawa gestured for Yor to stop, indicating this topic didn't need further discussion.
Yor had asked this exact question countless times during their journey here.
His mind was practically overflowing with variations of this concern.
"I've already promised Anya I'll take her to an onsen in a few days, so you don't need to worry, Yor-san. If you're really that concerned, just bring her a bag of peanuts when we return.
Children are easily satisfied—a small treat is usually enough.
Also, it's best not to give her more than ten peanuts at once! Otherwise she'll definitely get cavities."
Yor nodded thoughtfully, taking mental notes.
Reservations for Tokyo Tower's sky restaurant were notoriously difficult to obtain, and Natsukawa had gone to considerable lengths to secure one.
What kind of lengths?
"Excuse me, I'm a special investigator from the National Tax Agency. I've received a report that this sky restaurant's revenue figures are suspected of being significantly inflated or underreported for tax purposes."
Following that declaration, the previously haughty Tokyo Tower management staff became incredibly enthusiastic, immediately setting up an exclusive private dining space on the second floor of the sky restaurant to properly welcome the special investigator from the NTA.
Enjoy the finest Tokyo night view alongside the most expensive French foie gras and premium caviar.
Without even paying the bill.
While money wasn't actually an issue for him, this at least proved that the National Tax Agency credentials were extraordinarily useful.
The candlelit dinner was wonderfully romantic—at least it would have been if Natsukawa's phone hadn't started ringing.
The insistent ringtone was undoubtedly a mood-killer in this intimate atmosphere.
It was Vodka calling.
Heaven only knew why he'd call at this particular hour. Didn't he realize this was Natsukawa's first proper date with his new girlfriend?
Natsukawa didn't answer. He absolutely couldn't let Vodka ruin this romantic moment.
Even if it was urgent, he could deal with it when he returned home later that night.
However, Vodka seemed remarkably persistent.
"Natsukawa-san, I think you should probably answer it?"
When the phone rang a second time, Yor couldn't help speaking up. "What if it's something genuinely important?"
Natsukawa declined the call again, looking visibly annoyed. "Anyone calling me this late at night can't possibly have good intentions!"
"But you really shouldn't keep hanging up on people..."
Yor felt like she'd already disrupted Natsukawa's normal routine just by becoming his girlfriend.
The title of "girlfriend" felt somewhat overwhelming, making her unexpectedly anxious.
The romantic atmosphere was somewhat diminished by Vodka's repeated calls.
Natsukawa finally answered the phone with obvious reluctance.
It had to be acknowledged—Yor certainly possessed the qualities of a devoted partner, constantly encouraging him to take the call.
Natsukawa stepped out of the private dining room toward the floor-to-ceiling windows of Tokyo Tower and asked impatiently, "Vodka, don't you realize I'm busy right now? Couldn't you have just sent an email instead?"
There was a lengthy silence on the other end before a voice finally spoke.
"Tonight. White Dove Pharmaceuticals."
The concise announcement ended abruptly without any further explanation.
However, that single short sentence was enough to make Natsukawa's expression turn serious.
The voice wasn't Vodka's—it was Gin's.
This was highly unusual.
It was likely related to his repeatedly declining the calls.
Clearly it hadn't been Vodka calling at all, but rather Gin, who'd grown increasingly irritated by the continuous rejections.
But what could possibly warrant calling him now?
The Organization had entered a period of operational dormancy following Karasuma Renya's direct orders—they were essentially on extended leave.
Could it be... something has happened?
And White Dove Pharmaceuticals—the name itself triggered certain associations.
Could this White Dove Pharmaceuticals be the drug research and development facility where Sherry conducts her APTX-4869 research?
End of Chapter 118
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