The Saturday sun lit up the metro station, busier than usual for a weekend. Students crossed the platforms with backpacks slung over their shoulders, while tourists with cameras and folded maps filled the air with hurried chatter and laughter.
Outside the station, Kaido waited near the fountain. He wore a dark light jacket over a white t-shirt and simple jeans. Arms crossed, he watched the street calmly, alert for any sign of Lili. Every passing minute dragged out like some test of patience.
"She nags me about not being late… and she's the one who doesn't show up," he muttered, narrowing his eyes.
Further down the platform, Asuka leaned against a pillar, eyes fixed on Kaido. Megumi stood beside her — small, brown hair with rosy highlights, shy expression, holding her ticket with both hands.
"A-Asuka, the train is about to depart… shouldn't we go in?" Megumi murmured, almost swallowing her words.
"Shhh. We'll catch the next one."
And then something broke the morning's rhythm.
A black limousine approached from afar, gliding silently down the street and stopping directly in front of Kaido. The headlights reflected against the station glass, casting long shadows that stretched all the way to the fountain — catching everyone's attention.
Kaido straightened, alert, and the chauffeur opened the back door.
Lili stepped out with elegance, ready to seize the moment. A simple white dress, but perfectly tailored, matching heels, her blonde hair gleaming under sunlight. Sunglasses lifted with a graceful flick of the hand, and a confident smile completed the picture.
"Wow… who is she? She looks like a… model."
People whispered, while Asuka clicked her tongue — "Tsk… so much theatrics."
Megumi remained confused, too uneasy to ask.
And Kaido… couldn't help the slip of admiration.
"…Wow." He swallowed. "Ahem." He cleared his throat to hide it.
"You know we already missed two trains."
Lili approached with a charming smile.
"Bonjour, mon amour." She kissed his cheek.
Kaido sighed in resignation.
"Pas pressé…"[1] she replied, wearing a teasing smile. "Did you really expect me to go by train?"
"We're going by car?"
"Oui." Her smile widened.
Kaido crossed his arms.
"Then let's go quickly… I don't want to suffer too much under your plan."
"Calme-toi, mon cher… we're still missing people," Lili said, glancing toward the station.
She pushed her sunglasses up onto her head, spotting Asuka hiding behind the pillar, Megumi beside her.
"Uhu, Asuka!" Lili called, leaning into the French accent, practically waving a victory flag.
Kaido turned around.
Asuka flinched like a startled cat.
"Shimatta…"[2]she squeezed her lips tight, irritated.
Great. Now I can't pretend this had nothing to do with me. So that's it… all or nothing.
She breathed deeply.
"Let's go, Megumi," she said, firm now.
"F-For where? The next train is about to arrive!" Megumi stared desperately at the schedule panel.
"Just follow me." Asuka stepped away from the pillar like she was walking into a ring.
Her steps were sharp, certain.
Kaido, caught between confidence and embarrassment, gave a quick awkward wave.
Megumi bowed shyly from behind Asuka.
Asuka crossed her arms immediately.
"What was that kiss just now?" she pointed with her chin, outraged. "Do you think this is a date or something?!"
Kaido scratched his neck, voice catching.
"Well… it wasn't exactly—"
Lili tilted her head, smile blooming like someone slotting the perfect puzzle piece.
"Agitated so early, mon ange?" she said sweetly, though the sweetness stung.
Asuka opened her mouth to fire back — but the chauffeur stepped forward with impeccable timing.
"We should be departing, Miss."
Lili waved a delicate hand, then smiled at the group.
"Merci. You may all get in."
Megumi blinked.
"In… in that car…?"
"Oh, just get in already," Lili said, the tone a blend of teasing and command.
Megumi drew a breath, trying to appear composed, but her voice came out tiny:
"Ex-Excuse me…"
She bowed politely and stepped into the limousine, sitting carefully.
Kaido followed. To pass between Asuka and Lili, he had to slow down — the space was wide, but the atmosphere wasn't.
His shoulders brushed just close enough — and the air thickened.
Great… and I have the whole day ahead of me, he thought in silent despair.
Asuka watched him enter, arms on her hips — that automatic gesture saying everything without words.
Lili, on the other hand, smiled in pure satisfaction. Everything was proceeding exactly as she intended.
The two got in, Asuka sat beside Megumi, while Lili took the seat facing them, next to Kaido.
The car slid forward smoothly. The interior smelled of expensive perfume, the engine a soft whisper. Rose-hinted luxury details, monogrammed water bottles, flawless leather — everything unmistakably "Lili de Rochefort™".
"Uwah… it's so… spacious…" Megumi said, eyes shining at the soft lighting and satin surfaces.
Lili rolled her eyes, not even bothering to respond.
Asuka noticed — and held Megumi's hand.
"Nee, don't be rude to her!" she grumbled protectively.
"Pffff." Lili crossed her legs with elegant ease, elbow resting like she was seated on a throne. "I can't apologize for having good taste."
"Hmph. Good taste, right…" Asuka muttered.
Then she finally processed the detail she had missed.
Lili and Kaido were sitting… too close. Far too comfortable. Too much.
Asuka pointed, outraged:
"Move away! Why are you sitting together like that?!"
Lili didn't rush to answer.
She tucked a golden strand of hair behind her ear with the delicacy of someone accustomed to being observed.
Then leaned into Kaido, took his arm, and rested her head on his shoulder — light, as if landing on silk.
Only then did she lift her eyes at Asuka — sweet… and poisonous in measured dose.
"Your fault, Asuka," she said gently. "You're the one who didn't sit here, chérie."
"Huh?! Then switch! Now!"
Lili gave a short, light chuckle, running her finger through her golden strand of hair, almost as if sealing the deal.
"Too late."
Asuka huffed, but didn't advance.
There's… something going on here.
She didn't know what it was—but she knew it wasn't just provocation.
…She's already caught him.
Asuka clenched her teeth, eyes fixed on Kaido's arm trapped with Lili's.
But Kaido isn't acting like someone charmed…
There's something there. Something I'm not seeing.
And that bothered her more than the touch.
Kaido breathed out, accepting that choosing sides was pointless.
"So…" he looked up. "Why did you two come along, anyway?"
Before Asuka could respond, Lili lifted her chin slightly, as if taking the lead out of pure reflex.
"Mon cher, obviously they're going to the same museum as we are," she said lightly.
Then she slowly turned to meet Asuka's eyes.
"Isn't that right, chérie?"
Asuka crossed her arms and looked away. Her silence was like barbed wire.
- - -
The road stretched out before them, the sound of tires mingling with the distant hum of other cars. The sun streamed through the limousine windows, casting golden stripes that moved slowly across the inside.
Megumi talked cheerfully to Asuka about the museum exhibits. Asuka replied, but her eyes frequently flicked to the reflection in the window — Kaido and Lili side by side.
Kaido spoke in a low voice to Lili.
"Did you really have to give me that kiss?" Kaido muttered, trying not to look bothered.
"Oui." No hesitation. A small, unmistakable smile. "Nothing better than irritating my rival right at the start of the day."
"You said you weren't going to provoke…"
"Non, monsieur Kaido." She wagged her finger gently. "I said I wouldn't provoke 'too much' after the weekend."
Without warning, she leaned closer, whispering at his ear:
"If you behave, you might earn a reward."
Kaido swallowed hard and looked firmly out the window.
The closeness was unmistakable. Asuka saw it all in the glass reflection — fists tightening.
"Mou… usou to shiteru no?!"[3] she muttered.
"Kaidoo, anta sa…"[4]
"AH!" Megumi squeaked. " We missed the exit for the museum! Look, it just passed!"
Kaido opened the window. Wind rushed in, tousling everyone's hair. The museum sign shrank away in the rearview mirror like a cruel joke.
Asuka and Kaido exchanged a wordless look. Then both stared at Lili.
She smiled.
"Lili, where are you taking us?" Kaido asked, serious.
Lili raised her finger elegantly — correcting a musical note.
"Non, non… that's not how I like it, mon cher Kaido."
Kaido sighed resignedly and sat down again. Asuka leaned forward, disbelief written all over her face:
"Na… nande yo, anta-tachi ittai nani shiten no yo?!"[5]
"Surprise, ma chère," Lili said, legs crossing smoothly, heel brushing the soft pink carpet. "A very fun surprise."
- - -
The roar of an airplane cut through the air.
WHOOM!
Kaido looked through the window — the airport was approaching fast.
"We're going to the airport?!" Megumi yelped, scared.
Lili simply smiled. The silence was bait and hook.
Asuka held Megumi's hand.
"Don't worry. I'm not letting this lunatic hurt you."
But the vehicle turned again, veering away from the main entrance onto a side road. Megumi squeezed Asuka's arm tightly, her gaze darting between the windows and Lili's face.
Megumi clutched Asuka's arm, eyes darting.
Two armed guards stood by a security gate.
Megumi sat up straight in her seat, feeling uneasy.
"A-Asuka… they have guns…"
But before he could finish, the gate opened immediately, without any request for identification.
The guards bowed their heads deeply as the limousine passed by.
Megumi swallowed hard and looked at Lili. She returned the gaze with a smile on her lips, a sparkle in her eyes that showed she enjoyed sincere reactions.
"Lili, leave Megumi alone," Kaido said in a low, protective ton.
Lili winked at him.
"Of course, dear…"
Asuka didn't know whether to laugh at how easily Lili accepted the remark—or to be annoyed that Kaido was allowing this game to continue.
The road opened up, revealing a wide area with a private jet gleaming in the distance. The metal gleamed as if it were polished every second. Employees lined up in a row: dark coats, gloves, perfect posture.
Asuka leaned forward, her eyes widening without her wanting them to:
"Iya iya iya, matte... matte! Where are you taking us?!"
Lili just smiled, maintaining the mystery, as the limousine glided slowly past the line of employees who bowed in silent choreography.
Ssshhh—
The vehicle slowed to a stop. The doors opened with measured precision, with the help of the employees to assist the group exiting.
The jet's silver fuselage sparkled like a jewel in the sun, flawless from end to end. A soft pink stripe ran along the side, curving around the nose of the aircraft and rising to the tip of the tail, where the pink stood out again—discreet, but impossible to ignore. Everything perfectly representative of Lili de Rochefort™.
The pilot approached with a firm step and a bow.
"Miss Rochefort, everything is ready for takeoff."
"Merci, Armand," replied Lili, with a serene nod that cut like a silk blade.
Kaido narrowed his eyes.
"Lili, where are we going?"
She pivoted in a demi-pirouette, her dress twirling with her.
"To my house. In..." She paused dramatically, batting her eyelashes.
"Monaco, bien sûr."
"MONACO?!" Megumi shouted.
The color drained from her face. Her eyes widened more than they should have, her hands released the air.
Thump!
Megumi collapsed into Asuka's arms.
"Megumi!" Asuka planted her feet and caught her, calling softly. "Hey... it's okay. I'm here."
Lili brought her fingertips to her lips, stifling a giggle.
"Oh-la-la... I think I overdid the suspense."
[1] No rush
[2] Damn it
[3] You’ve got to be kidding me!
[4] Kaido, you—
[5] But... what the heck is going on with you two?!