> [Ding! Hayakawa Aki's panicked emotion detected, reward: 20 points]
Just speaking up suddenly had earned Arthur 20 points instantly. He suddenly felt that racking up points wasn't that hard after all.
When Aki saw it was Arthur, her already-flushed face turned even redder—cute and bashful. But she quickly composed herself, her expression cooling into calm professionalism.
"Apologies. I didn't know smoking was prohibited here. I won't do it again."
She took a step back.
"Hello, Arthur-senpai. I asked your name before but didn't get to introduce myself properly. I'm Hayakawa Aki. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
She gave a respectful bow.
Her formality caught Arthur off guard. He wasn't great at handling these situations.
"Oh… oh, um, yeah."
Aki then turned and picked up a large bundle of bags she had placed on the ground. These were thank-you gifts she had brought with her.
Arthur's eyes caught a logo on one of the boxes: Kobe beef.
"Damn… that's expensive."
"Well, come on in."
"Of course."
Arthur pulled out his keys and opened the door. They both stepped inside, took off their shoes, and walked into the room.
> [Ding! Hayakawa Aki's curious emotion detected, reward: 10 points]
[Ding! Hayakawa Aki's nervous emotion detected, reward: 10 points]
Arthur looked back and—just as expected—saw Aki's cheeks blushing again as her eyes wandered curiously around the room.
Noticing his gaze, she instinctively looked his way and locked eyes with him. Arthur gave her a subtle teasing smirk.
With a loud "Whoosh!", her face turned beet red. She quickly looked down.
"U-um… Arthur-senpai? Is something wrong? Is there something on my face?"
"Hm? Oh no, not at all. It's just… you looked so cute blushing that I stared too long. Sorry, sorry."
> [Ding! Hayakawa Aki's happy emotion detected, reward: 5 points]
[Ding! Hayakawa Aki's shy emotion detected, reward: 20 points]
Arthur's apartment wasn't especially fancy, but it wasn't cheap either. It was quiet, well-maintained, and clean, with good neighbors. Smoking and drinking were prohibited, which suited him just fine.
The apartment was small—just a living room (which doubled as a bedroom), a bathroom, and a kitchen. He had a proper bed in the corner since he couldn't sleep on tatami mats. With all the chaos earlier, his bedding was still a mess.
"Hm… Arthur-senpai seems like the unbothered, carefree type…"
Aki noted the messy details in her mind and quietly sat down.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Arthur tidied the room quickly.
"Sorry about the mess—I didn't get a chance to clean up."
"No, no, it's my fault for coming by so suddenly. I've interrupted your rest. I should apologize."
Arthur poured two cups of tea and sat down across from her.
"You don't need to be so formal. I might even be younger than you. Just call me Arthur. No need to be polite or use honorifics—we're equals here."
Hearing that, Aki became more convinced of her impression.
> "So Arthur is the kind of girl who needs someone to help manage her daily life. But… maybe she's too unrestrained. Doesn't she know calling someone by their name directly is only for close relationships like lovers or family? Or… does she want that?"
> [Ding! Hayakawa Aki's happy emotion detected, reward: 5 points]
In Tokyo, using someone's name directly implied deep intimacy. But Aki had obviously misunderstood Arthur's casual attitude.
Arthur, being a transmigrator, didn't care about those social rules.
He was still trying to figure out why she looked so happy again.
Grrrrrr~
His stomach growled—for the third time today.
"Well then, since we have a guest, allow me to show off a little. My room might be messy, but my cooking skills are top-notch."
He was about to get up when Aki suddenly stood.
Her expression was flustered, her words awkward. "S-senp—Wu—Arthur—cough…"
> [Ding! Hayakawa Aki's shy emotion detected, reward: 20 points]
"Arthur, since you're hungry, how about I cook instead? I actually came to thank you for saving me the other day."
"Eh? That's not necessary. Just look at your injuries."
"I-It's fine, really! They're just minor wounds. They don't affect me."
Afraid he'd object again, Aki didn't give him a chance. She grabbed the groceries and rushed to the kitchen.
There was no wall between the kitchen and the living room, so Arthur had a full view of everything she did.
Aki neatly tied up her ponytail, then wrapped it into a bun behind her head. She walked to the wall, grabbed the hanging apron, and skillfully tied it on.
She took out bottles and fresh ingredients from the bags. Then, after cleaning the knives, she began slicing with elegant, precise motions. The sound of the knife tapping the cutting board echoed crisply through the room.
Her movements were so smooth and professional that Arthur couldn't help but be impressed.
"That's some real anime wife energy…"
For a moment, Arthur felt oddly blissful.
"Eh? Arthur, did you say something?"
She paused and looked at him, confused.
"Ah, no—it's nothing. Just amazed at your cutting skills."
"Thank you."
Aki smiled and focused back on cooking.
Arthur didn't want to distract her, so he quietly opened his system panel out of boredom.
His current points had already risen to 72.
"That fast? Nice! Looks like spending time with Hayakawa Aki is seriously profitable."
But then Arthur paused.
"Wait a second… this is an opportunity."
He looked toward Aki, who was still absorbed in cooking, and a bold, wicked idea formed in his mind.
Kitchen… apron… that setup almost demanded something to happen.
Aki was so focused she didn't even notice Arthur wasn't seated anymore.
She suddenly felt someone gently approach from behind.
Their breath brushed her neck—soft but undeniable.
He was getting closer… and then they were touching. Aki could feel his body heat through their clothes. Her heartbeat began to race uncontrollably.
> [Ding! Hayakawa Aki's shy emotion detected, reward: 20 points]
Aki trembled and looked toward the living room—Arthur was no longer there.
"Arthur?"
Her voice was soft and shaky, like melted marshmallows.