The afterglow was all rose.
Denji-ko's excited, trembling words still echoed indoors.
Heads tilted, Su Tang froze. His first thought—did he mishear?
He looked at her. The girl was lifting her chin to meet his gaze head-on. Her big eyes were especially bright—sparkling with something called expectation.
A faint wine-flush spread across her fair cheeks.
Oh… maybe he'd stood silent too long.
He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.
Headache.
Frankly, from a normal person's perspective—whether man to woman, woman to man, or same sex—making such a request without a confirmed intimate relationship is extremely impolite.
You might get a slap and "pervert."
But… Denji-ko wasn't "normal."
Back when he returned to HQ with Makima the first time, he'd seen Denji-ko's file. Childhood shattered; mother died spitting blood from heart disease; father went deep into debt to the mob, drank, beat Denji-ko, then killed himself.
Such a childhood left her lacking basic knowledge parents should teach. Nearly ten years holed up in mountain forests, seeing only trees, devils, and gangsters—no training in people skills.
Unlike hermits who choose retreat after seeing through the world, Denji-ko simply never had the chance—confused and ignorant.
If you strip away "human," she's more like a solitary beast roaming the hills.
Su Tang's arrival was like leading that beast out of the mountains, letting her slowly reclaim her human identity.
So he didn't see her request as "impolite."
As he'd told Makima, Denji-ko probably just placed her yearning for good things on him.
Good things including the good expectations of the opposite sex, of course.
"Hoo."
He let out a slow breath and opened his eyes.
He knew his decision would be crucial.
Not to mention he'd promised—if he refused, she might stumble and never get up, returning to the confused, lonely beast.
He couldn't accept that. He wanted to keep seeing the light in her eyes.
So, meeting her gaze, watching her breathing grow heavier, he nodded gently.
It's just touching my pecs!
What's a big guy got to fear!
So he thought—but when her hands actually reached, he felt a sudden, inexplicable panic.
Was this right or wrong?
He coughed lightly. No time to overthink—he made a final, symbolic protest:
"Ground rules: you can touch! No pinching, no squeezing, no biting… in short, no 'lightly stroke, slowly knead, rub, and tease'!"
She nodded like a pecking chick.
Seeing that, he inhaled, fighting for calm, and undid the first button on his white shirt.
The collar tips fell outward, revealing firm skin under thin cloth.
Then the second button.
The third.
The view lay open.
"That's about enough." Under her regretful gaze, he stopped, clasped his hands behind his back, turned his head, breathing a touch fast. "If you're gonna touch, hurry! I'm only counting to ten!"
"Ten…"
Her hands were already on him.
His eyes flew wide—his pecs felt a little icy, a little cool.
The fire-qi-hardened body replenished the heat at once.
"Mr. Su Tang's chest… warm… toasty…" she murmured, entranced.
Damn! If you're going to touch, touch—why the running commentary!
He felt an absurd shame, but he'd said what he'd said—no eating his words halfway. He decided to speed up the count!
"Ten-nine-eight-seven-six-five…"
He hadn't said ten counts equaled ten seconds anyway!
It was pointless, as it turned out.
Because at the third count, the door banged open.
"What sneaky stuff are you two doing in here! Give me one too!"
Afterward.
He carefully refastened the top button and stood at the window, hands behind his back.
Night had fallen; stars glittered. Behind him, two girls bickered loudly.
"Crappy woman! You owe me seven seconds of chest—aaahhh!"
"Roll, stupid human! You blew the timing yourself—blame me? I'll give you a few pads to feel if you want!"
"Who wants your stupid pads—take a bite of this!"
"Detestable human—you dare bite me? Then I won't be polite—taste my gaping maw!"
"…"
He stood quietly, a smile tugging his mouth.
He remembered Makima often did this pose. Now he sort of got it.
Gazing deep out the window, he found an answer to that earlier unease.
He'd somehow made the right choice.
Like that line he'd once seen:
Life isn't a TV drama. Those moments that change your fate don't arrive grandly; there's no BGM to cue you. They happen quietly, even strangely—and decide everything.
"Mr. Su Tang!"
The quarrel must have reached a verdict. Turning, he found Power pinned beneath Denji-ko's butt—defeated.
"Mr. Su Tang, I've decided!"
Stars glittered in Denji-ko's eyes. She raised a hand like taking an oath and declared loud:
"I'm going to save money and go to school! I'll test into the Imperial Seven!"
Three days passed in a blink.
It was Su Tang's most peaceful stretch in Tokyo—no devils, no mobs. He prepared the clinic for opening.
Equipment, documentation, staffing.
He finally finished the last tasks before the next workday.
Which meant, barring surprises—
Tomorrow, he could open!
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