Gaio gently carried the sleeping Kitagawa into her room, settling her onto the bed and tucking the blanket around her.
With a soft kiss on her smooth forehead, he quietly left the room and started the car again.
His destination wasn't Yukino's house but a quiet corner of a nearby greenbelt.
Yukino's family situation was unique. Her mother was a domineering figure, imposing strict demands on her two daughters. Pets like cats or dogs? Absolutely forbidden. That's why Yukino had been forced to rent a small apartment of her own to live independently.
The big orange tabby cat, for various reasons, had been left to roam freely in the area.
As soon as Gaio parked, he spotted his target. Yukino Yukishita, usually so cool and composed, was crouching on the ground.
The sunlight bathed her in a warm glow. Holding a small carton of milk and some cat food, she wore a rare, genuine, soft smile, completely focused on feeding a chubby orange cat in front of her. The cat was happily munching, its tail swaying contentedly.
Gaio approached quietly, but Yukino was too absorbed in her cat-petting bliss, her fingers gently combing through the tabby's thick fur.
"Tch, tch," Gaio suddenly reached out, swiftly grabbing the cat by the scruff of its neck and lifting it off the ground with ease. "No surprise there, Yukino. This big guy's living large."
"Mrow!" The startled cat yowled, its four chubby legs flailing uselessly in the air.
Yukino jumped, looking up instinctively and spreading her arms to snatch the cat back. "Let go!"
Gaio didn't release his grip. Instead, he hoisted the hefty tabby a bit higher, shaking it playfully. "A stray cat, and you've fed it into a perfect ball. That's not exactly a good thing, you know."
He noticed the slight flush of anxiety on Yukino's cheeks, finding it far more appealing than her usual icy demeanor.
Yukino lunged for the cat but missed, glaring at Gaio. The warmth from moments ago vanished, replaced by her signature cold tone. "Mind your own business! Put him down!"
The orange cat recognized the guy holding its scruff. Its small eyes narrowed with a look that screamed, You again, you two-legged nuisance. Giving up the struggle, it adopted an imperious Put me down already attitude.
Gaio chuckled and set the cat back on the ground, mimicking Yukino by crouching beside her.
The moment its paws hit the dirt, the tabby turned around, pointing its plump rear at Gaio and diving back into the cat food, its tail flicking smugly.
"Pfft." Yukino couldn't hold back a laugh.
Gaio nudged her lightly with his shoulder. "If you're gonna feed it like this, why not just take it home?"
Yukino swayed from the nudge, shooting him a look. "Not everyone's a big-shot celebrity with their own place. My landlord strictly forbids pets in my tiny apartment."
Gaio reached out to stroke the cat's raised tail. "Aren't you worried your mom will catch you feeding it here? You're so close to your house."
Yukino's expression froze. She gently petted the cat's head, her voice flat. "She'd never come to a place like this."
The orange cat seemed to sense the shift in mood, nuzzling Yukino's hand and purring softly.
Noticing her dip in spirits, Gaio suddenly held out his hand, palm up, fingers spread.
Yukino looked up, puzzled, meeting his smiling eyes. Her face flushed. "Jerk." But she still placed her hand lightly in his.
Gaio grinned, closing his fingers around her cool hand. "A secret romance won't last long, you know."
"Who's fault is that?" Yukino sighed, her tone turning indignant. "Kitagawa confessed first! And you, you jerk, actually said yes!"
Gaio slid his arm around her shoulders. "Yup, I'm a jerk. I just want to be the one you both lean on."
"Excuses," Yukino muttered, rolling her eyes. "A jerk's a jerk."
They fell into a brief silence. Sunlight filtered through the tree leaves, dappling the ground. The orange cat, full and satisfied, lazily licked its paws.
Gaio broke the quiet. "Yukino, you and Kitagawa both belong with me."
Yukino whipped her head around, brows knitting tightly. "Do you even hear yourself?" Her voice trembled with suppressed anger.
Gaio nodded calmly. "I do."
"And you still say something like that?!" Yukino yanked her hand free and stood up. The cat's ears perked up, alert.
Gaio stood too, hands in his pockets. "Because I'm not giving up on either of you."
Yukino's chest heaved, too furious to speak. Gaio suddenly reached out, pulling her into his arms.
"Let go!" Yukino struggled, her fists pounding his chest. Gaio didn't budge, only tightening his hold.
"You… jerk…" Her voice muffled against his chest, her struggling weakening.
Gaio lowered his head, his chin resting on her hair. "I know I'm greedy," he said softly. "But seeing either of you upset hurts me."
Yukino's fists unclenched, crumpling his shirt. The orange cat tilted its head, watching them with a soft "mew."
"My family would never agree," Yukino mumbled into his chest. "The world would tear us apart."
Gaio dipped his head, his voice gentle. "No, your family will agree. And the world? It won't even see us."
He paused. "You've seen what I can do. I'm not exactly ordinary. Even if I have both of you, there's someone out there who can argue our case."
Yukino went quiet for a few seconds before speaking. "No, I won't agree."
Gaio chuckled, rubbing his chin against her hair. "You already have."
Yukino snapped her head up, glaring at him with a mix of grievance and embarrassment. "When did I ever agree?"
"Right after Haimi's confession," Gaio said, leaning down to plant a quick kiss on her forehead. "When you insisted on keeping our secret romance going."
Yukino froze, her cheeks flaming. She'd thought it, sure, but having it called out like that was mortifying.
"Jerk!" she growled, burying her burning face back in his chest, her fist thumping him weakly.
Her muffled voice came through. "This is all your fault…"
Gaio laughed, tightening his arms around her. The orange cat yawned dramatically at their feet, its tail lazily brushing Yukino's leg.
"Wanna move in with us?" Gaio teased, twirling a strand of her hair.
Yukino shook her head instantly. "No way. I… I can't handle living under the same roof as three of us."
"Oh, really?" Gaio's low chuckle vibrated against her ear. "You know, Haimi's already thinking about adding more people to our household."
"What?!" Yukino broke free from his embrace, her eyes wide with shock, all traces of embarrassment gone. "How could she… How is that even possible?!"
This was Kitagawa Haimi they were talking about—Gaio's official girlfriend in the public eye! The woman countless fangirls wanted to take down!
Gaio grinned at her stunned expression. "She's seen some things that go beyond normal, just like you have."
He paused, his tone steady and commanding. "Add to that the money I've made from concerts and my ongoing investments… She's starting to see that building power takes time. Gaio family is becoming something unshakable."
Yukino was speechless.
Gaio's extraordinary abilities, the vast wealth empire he was quietly building…
Kitagawa was looking at a bigger picture—a true dynasty taking shape in Gaio's hands.
Her mind flashed to her grandfather.
That stern old man, officially married to only her grandmother, but everyone in the family knew about his other residences.
Even the Shinomiya family… Kaguya's father, the head of the Shinomiya clan—didn't he have mistresses and illegitimate children? Wasn't Kaguya herself…
"So," Gaio's voice pulled her back, his thumb gently brushing her cool cheek, his gaze deep. "Yukino, are you really okay with being a secret lover forever? Or…"
He paused deliberately, locking eyes with her. "Do you want to stand by my side, with Haimi?"
Yukino's heart skipped a beat. Not okay with it? Those words stabbed at her core.
Why… Why should she have to hide? Why should Kitagawa get to…
Her hand unconsciously gripped her skirt, her lips trembling, unable to say "no."
Gaio saw her struggle and decided to push further.
He lowered his voice. "Know why Shinomiya Yanan keeps inviting me to dinners? Even though he knows Kaguya has a thing for me and never tells her to stay away?"
Yukino's eyes were still dazed, lost in her tangled thoughts.
Gaio smirked. "Because people at that level know more than the average person, especially in Japan's messed-up social structure."
He leaned closer, his warm breath grazing her sensitive ear. "He knows that if Kaguya becomes mine, the Shinomiya family can climb even higher."
Yukino's heart stuttered. She opened her mouth to argue against the absurdity, but Gaio cut her off with a quieter whisper. "Including… that elegant lady in the kimono behind you."
"What?!" Yukino's pupils shrank as she whipped around—
Just a few steps away stood her mother, Yukishita Kikuko, always impeccably dressed and exuding an air of authority.
(Note: Yukino's mother doesn't have a name in the anime or novels, so I've named her after the voice actress who plays her.)
Sunlight filtered through the branches, casting dappled shadows on her expensive kimono.
A faint, aristocratic smile played on her lips, her calm gaze fixed on Gaio and Yukino, as if she'd been watching for a while.
The air froze.
Yukino felt her blood rush to her head, then drain away, leaving her cold.
All those thoughts about family rules and defiance were drowned out by the fear of her mother's discipline.
Her body tensed, instinctively trying to pull away from Gaio.
"M-Mother…" she choked out, her voice dry.
But Gaio didn't move an inch. His hand, which had been playing with her hair, slid naturally to her waist, holding her firmly in place, preventing her retreat.
Far from showing any sign of being caught, he flashed a calm, almost amused smile, meeting Kikuko's scrutinizing gaze head-on.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Yukishita," Gaio said, his voice clear and steady, breaking the silence. "Fancy meeting you here."
Under Yukino's horrified stare, her usually haughty mother slowly bowed to Gaio in a perfectly formal gesture.
The two attendants behind her bowed even deeper, their movements so synchronized they seemed rehearsed.
"Good day, Mr. Gaio ," Kikuko said.
Her voice rang in Yukino's ears.
Yukino's eyes widened as her mother straightened, that same smile she reserved for honored guests gracing her face.
The sunlight suddenly felt blinding. The orange cat had vanished into the bushes, only its puffed-up tail visible.
"It seems my daughter is quite… close to you," Kikuko said, her eyes flicking to Gaio's hand still resting on Yukino's waist.
Yukino realized she was still half-leaning into him and tried to pull away, but his hand held her firmly in place.
Gaio chuckled. "Yeah, she's my girlfriend."
Yukino's head snapped up, staring at his sharp profile in disbelief.
How could he admit it so openly? In front of her mother? In a public place where paparazzi could be lurking?
What stunned her even more was her mother's reaction—the fine lines around her eyes softened, and she gave a genuine smile. "That's quite an honor for my daughter."
Yukino felt the world spin.
Her mother's strict face, the torn manga from her childhood, the harsh upbringing—all those memories shattered in this moment.
She instinctively grabbed Gaio's shirt.
"I heard Yukino's father is having some trouble with his county councilor campaign?" Gaio changed the subject, his fingers soothingly rubbing her lower back.
Kikuko's elegant expression faltered for a split second. "Since my father's passing, there have been some… clowns causing trouble," she said, pausing like an actress delivering a line.
"Contact the Gojo family," Gaio cut in sharply. "Tell them Nero sent you."
"The Gojo family… Lord Satoru's clan?" Kikuko's voice rose slightly, and Yukino noticed her mother's manicured fingers trembling.
The Gojo family—the sorcerer clan even the Shinomiya family treated with deference?
Gaio nodded, leaning close to Yukino's ear to whisper, "See? I told you the world's rules don't bind us." His warm breath made her ear tingle. "Your mom's probably already thinking about how to convince your dad."
When Kikuko bowed again, the gold thread in her kimono's crest gleamed in the sunlight. "Thank you for your generosity."
As she looked up, her gaze swept over Yukino's stunned face, and Yukino saw something new in her mother's gray-blue eyes—something like relief.
"Yukino," her mother said in the gentle tone she used to coax her to take medicine as a child. "Come home for dinner this weekend. Your father will be thrilled to hear this news."
It wasn't until the sound of her mother's wooden clogs faded around the corner that Yukino collapsed into Gaio's arms, her hands trembling as they clutched his collar. "What… what did you do to my mother?"
Gaio kissed her sweaty forehead, smiling. "I didn't do anything. Your mother just saw things clearly."
He pointed to the towering Yukishita estate in the distance. "She knows who can give the Yukishita family more opportunities. And you,"
His finger slid to her racing heart, "will stand by my side, with Haimi."
A rustle came from the bushes as the orange cat waddled out, its round body bumping into Yukino's skirt. Gaio bent down, picked up the chubby cat, and placed it in Yukino's stiff arms. "Meet the new family member."
Yukino looked down at the purring cat, suddenly aware of something more terrifying than her mother's approval taking root in her heart—a seed called expectation.