The kiss under the cherry trees left Alex breathless, Sakura's lips soft against his, carrying the faint sweetness of blooming petals. But her words echoed louder: "I'm a hidden user too." It changed everything. As they pulled apart, the park's evening lights flickered on, casting a rosy glow over her kimono-clad form. She looked ethereal, but the revelation added layers of complexity—trust, now tangled with her mysterious agenda.
"What do you mean?" Alex asked, his voice low, the system's secrecy making him glance around. No one nearby, just distant laughter from hanami revelers.
Sakura's large eyes met his, a mix of shyness and resolve. "The system... I found it months ago, during my studies here. But it's not just a tool—there's more, origins I'v e been investigating. That's why I was cautious with you."
Mind Reading flickered: [Desire: Alliance, hidden fears.] Alex nodded, processing. "Me too. Glitches, rivals. We should team up." In his mind, he initiated: **[Binding Proposed: Sakura. Accept to share paths.]**
She hesitated, then smiled gently. "Yes." The bind completed subtly: **[Partner Bound: Sakura. Gentle Emotional Line Activated—Shared insights, buffs in cultural settings.]**
Their conversation deepened, hands intertwined amid falling blossoms. Sakura's touch was warm, her kimono's silk brushing his skin, stirring subtle desires. But duty called—the system pinged a warning: **[Rival Approaching: Mark tracked your location. Prepare for escalation.]**
Alex tensed. "We need to move. Someone's coming."
They slipped into the night, heading toward Tokyo Tower, its red lights piercing the sky like a beacon. Sakura suggested a VR party there— a modern twist on traditional gatherings, private enough to hide. "It'll be safe," she said, her voice soft, adding that emotional line the system promised.
At the tower, the VR lounge was alive with holographic displays, guests donning headsets for immersive experiences. Alex and Sakura entered a private pod, linking in. The virtual space materialized as a towering pagoda, cherry blossoms virtual but vivid.
But Mark invaded, his avatar materializing with a smirk. "Found you, newbie. And with a pretty partner—bonus."
Alex's heart raced. "What do you want, Mark?"
"A test." Mark lunged, unleashing a desire wave that twisted the virtual world into hallucinatory chaos—petals turning to thorns, desires manifesting as attacking shadows.
System backlash hit: **[Backlash Activated: Hallucinatory Battle. Defend to survive.]**
Sakura gasped, her kimono avatar flowing as she countered with a hidden skill—cherry blossom shields. "Use your sync!" she urged.
Alex activated Desire Sync, drawing from Lily remotely (she'd been looped in vaguely as a "tech consult"). The trio dynamic formed: Lily's avatar joined faintly, adding competitive fire. Jealousy sparked—Lily quipped, "Who's the new girl?"—but it fueled their defense.
The battle raged: Mark's assaults amplified doubts, but Sakura's gentle presence stabilized Alex, her emotional line providing clarity. Erotic tension wove in—virtual touches amid chaos, desires heightening senses.
Climax built as a system virus invaded, corrupting the VR. Screens glitched, realities blending. Mark laughed: "See? The system's flawed."
But Sakura activated her 'Cherry Blossom Healing': petals swirled, purging the virus, restoring balance. Mark retreated, defeated for now.
They exited, breathless. Sakura's bind deepened their connection—a real kiss, passionate under the tower's glow. Yet her agenda lingered, a shadow amid the triumph.
Volume end teased more: Tokyo's secrets were just blooming.