Tokyo, Ginza district.
Afternoon sunlight streamed through massive floor-to-ceiling windows into an exquisitely decorated café filled with petit bourgeois charm.
The air carried the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee and the sweet scent of baked pastries.
Cloud—the "Second Young Master" who'd just been "recognized by his ancestors" at the Kusanagi household—currently wore casual designer streetwear and sunglasses covering half his face, looking somewhat bored as he stirred the overpriced cup of kopi luwak coffee in front of him.
Honestly, he had zero interest in this kind of "high society" afternoon tea.
In his opinion, selling a cup of coffee for more than a hot pot meal was pure "intelligence tax."
He'd rather be back at Kusanagi Castle giving pointers to that increasingly clingy "convenient little sister's" training.
But what could he do?
The person who'd called to invite him out was none other than the superstar psychic idol beauty who'd swept across all of Asia—Athena Asamiya.
Invitations from beautiful women, especially gorgeous ones who were pleasant to talk to and had cool "superpowers," were something Cloud found very difficult to refuse.
Just as he took his third sip and felt like this "cat shit" coffee might actually choke him to death, a voice full of delight and energy rang out across from him.
"Cloud! You came!"
Cloud looked up to see a girl wearing a cute beret, a white dress, and oversized black-framed glasses in an attempt to conceal her stunning beauty, standing prettily before him.
Despite her best efforts at "disguise," that innate idol aura shining bright as the sun, combined with those clear, lively purple eyes that seemed capable of speech, instantly made her the focal point of the entire café.
It was Athena Asamiya.
Behind her stood Sie Kensou, looking respectfully at Cloud—after all, Cloud was the original King of Fighters champion.
"Well, if it isn't our superstar," Cloud removed his sunglasses, his face showing that familiar, devil-may-care smile. "What's this? Come to experience the common people's suffering again with this perfectly ordinary civilian?"
"Stop teasing me!"
Athena pouted adorably and sat down across from him, her makeup-free face flushing with an enchanting rosy glow from the joy of seeing her crush.
"I... I just... happened to be passing through here, and when I heard you were also in Tokyo, I... I wanted to buy you coffee. I wanted to thank you in person."
Her stammering, her averted gaze, that "young girl in love" shy demeanor—Cloud found it privately amusing.
Passing through?
A superstar who lives in Kobe just "happens" to pass through Tokyo's Ginza district?
This "passing through" must have teleported you from the "chicken's head" to the "chicken's feet" on China's map, huh?
Still, Cloud didn't puncture her cute little scheme.
He simply waved over a server and, in a very "domineering CEO" tone, said: "Bring one of every expensive cake in your shop. Put it on... this young lady's tab."
Athena: "..."
...
"So..." Cloud forked a small piece of Black Forest cake into his mouth and asked indistinctly, "What's this about? Don't tell me... there's another little problem with a concert?"
"It... it's not that!" Athena's face reddened as she waved her hands frantically. "This time the security is personally handled by my master! Absolutely foolproof!"
"Then you're..."
"It's... like this!" Athena seemed to gather enormous courage, placing her hands nervously on her knees, her beautiful purple eyes filled with hope and pleading. "I've... hit another bottleneck!"
"The song you gave me last time, 'The First Time,' after being released following the KOF tournament, it... it completely blew up!"
Pride and joy lit up her face.
"It not only broke Asian single sales records, but countless fans called it the most moving love song of the century! Everyone said this song expressed the most beautiful fantasy everyone holds about first love!"
"And all of this is because of you, Cloud!"
She gazed at Cloud, her purple eyes seeming to sparkle with stars.
"So... so..." She took a deep breath, using a tone bordering on "begging": "I... I want to ask you for another song. Is that okay?"
[Ding! Detected sincere request from bond character Athena Asamiya. System side quest activated!]
[Quest Name: The Idol's "Golden Producer"]
[Quest Objective: Once again "create" a song capable of moving hearts, gift it to Athena Asamiya, and make her completely fall for your talent!]
[Quest Reward: Source Points x20,000, Athena Asamiya Concert VIP Backstage Pass x2]
Looking at the system's "maximum assist" quest, then at Athena's expectant, pitiful "puppy dog eyes" across from him...
Cloud knew he simply couldn't refuse.
"Sigh..."
He let out that signature sigh full of "superiority."
"I've said it before—I'm just an ordinary, unremarkable fighter who knows nothing about music. Why don't you artistic types ever believe me?"
Though he complained verbally, that "lonely at the top" expression made the little stars in Athena's eyes multiply.
"Fine, fine." Cloud pretended to think deeply for a moment, then slowly closed his eyes, as if searching for inspiration in the vast sea of memories.
Actually, he was just having a "friendly discussion" with the "NetEase Cloud Music app" in his mind.
A moment later, he slowly opened his eyes.
...
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