Marin's face darkened instantly, as if someone had smeared it with charcoal.
Gaio's question, "Who's bullying you?" hit like an invisible slap, stinging his pride.
Without waiting for a response, Gaio leapt down from the windowsill, landing silently. He strolled over to Kaguya, who stood rigid as a board, his steps as casual as if he were wandering through his own backyard.
Then, in a flash, he leaned in close—so close their noses almost touched. His piercing eyes locked onto Kaguya's frosty crimson gaze, his brow furrowing slightly as he let out a low, "Hmm?"
Ice Kaguya?
The name flickered through Gaio's mind.
This girl in front of him, with eyes as cold and hard as millennia-old stone, was nothing like the poised, perfect heiress he knew.
In the next moment, he straightened up, as if that intense, oppressive moment had been an illusion.
Casually, he shoved the metal motorcycle helmet he was holding into Kaguya's arms, which she instinctively clutched.
"Hold this."
Two words, no room for argument.
Only then did he turn halfway, his gaze cool and indifferent, landing on Marin, whose face was a kaleidoscope of emotions.
"Shinomiya Marin?"
He said the name plainly, no honorifics, no respect.
Marin's jaw muscles twitched, clearly stung by the blunt address.
But the venom in his expression vanished quickly, replaced by a forced, almost fawning smile. He even bowed slightly. "That's me, Mr. Gaio."
Gaio eyed the fake deference, a flicker of undisguised disdain passing through his eyes.
He raised an eyebrow, his gaze cutting through the fake smile like a blade. "Care to explain?" He nodded toward Kaguya, who stood frozen, clutching the helmet like a statue. His voice dropped colder. "What did she just 'understand'?"
Marin's smile froze, his throat catching like he'd swallowed a fly he couldn't spit out or choke down. The air turned to ice again.
In that suffocating silence, Shinomiya Yunying stepped forward.
"Mr. Gaio," he said with a slight bow, his voice low but clear. "My brother's words may have been careless, but he meant no disrespect to Kaguya. The Shinomiya family's sincerity toward you…"
He didn't finish. Gaio's gaze swept over, and the rest of Yunying's words lodged in his throat.
"Better be," Gaio said, the three words light as a feather but heavy as a mountain.
He turned to Kaguya, still rigid with the helmet in her arms.
The icy edge in his eyes melted instantly, replaced by a warm smile that was worlds apart from his earlier demeanor.
"Let's go." He reached out, ruffling her silky black hair. "I'm taking you to see some fireworks."
Kaguya froze.
Her eyes widened slightly, lips trembling, unable to form a single word.
Her brain short-circuited—Gaio's hand is so warm… and his smile… it's so nice…
Before she could process, Gaio bent down, and with one swift motion, hoisted her over his shoulder!
"Eek!" Kaguya let out a short squeal, her "Ice Kaguya" persona shattering completely. Her face flushed bright red, her hands and feet flailing, unsure where to go.
Too… too close… I might… I might get pregnant…
The absurd thought popped into her head, followed by a chaotic burst of others, exploding like fireworks in her blank mind—
What would we name a boy? A girl? Would they look like him or me…?
Gaio paid no mind to the whirlwind in her head, striding forward with her over his shoulder. As he passed Marin, he paused briefly, not even glancing back as he tossed out, "I'm taking her. Got a problem?"
Marin's face flickered between pale and livid, but he didn't dare say a word.
The air in the tea room stayed frozen until Gaio's figure vanished down the corridor. Yunying let out a long breath, realizing his back was soaked with sweat.
Meanwhile, Kaguya, slung over Gaio's shoulder, clutched her burning face with both hands, her mind screaming one thought:
I'm done for… Am I… already pregnant…?
Gaio carried her confidently through the courtyard, Kaguya's legs pressed against his chest, her long skirt swaying with his steps.
"Young miss?!" A maid's tray clattered to the ground.
The security team froze, hands hovering over their holsters but not daring to move. This was the VIP even Lord Qinglong greeted personally!
At the corridor's turn, Shinomiya Qinglong was still frowning, scanning the area. "Strange, she was just here…"
"Lord Qinglong!" A servant pointed behind him, trembling.
Qinglong spun around, his pupils shrinking—there, over Gaio's shoulder, was his red-faced, face-covering sister!
"Hey, you—!" Qinglong started forward, but Gaio brushed past without so much as a glance.
Outside the grand entrance, Gaio paused. He turned, looking up at the third-floor window.
Shinomiya Ganan, the family patriarch, stood there, his face dark enough to drip water.
"Shinomiya Patriarch," Gaio said with a nod. "I'm borrowing your girl. I'll bring her back later."
Bang!
The window slammed open. The usually dignified patriarch's mustache quivered with rage. "You punk! Is my daughter a package to be carried like that?!"
Kaguya peeked through her fingers, stunned—Father… is roaring?
"Put her down! Now! Immediately!" Ganan leaned half out the window, gripping the frame. "And what's with that pose?! Her skirt's about to fly up!"
Gaio tilted his head, glancing at the bundle over his shoulder. "This is just easier."
"Easier, my foot!" Ganan lost it completely. "You think she's a sack of rice?!"
In the courtyard, the servants bit back laughter, shoulders shaking. Qinglong stood dumbfounded—he'd never seen his father so uncomposed.
Kaguya's toes curled in embarrassment, her mind a barrage of thoughts: Oh no, oh no, Father saw…
Gaio grinned at the fuming Ganan, said, "See ya," and turned, casually waving a hand as he strode off with Kaguya still over his shoulder.
"You—!" Ganan watched the punk saunter off with his daughter, nearly choking on his rage.
His chest heaved for a few seconds. Then, as if a tide receded, his furious expression vanished, leaving only calm.
His face settled, his eyes—those of a man who controlled a vast business empire—unfathomably deep and steady.
He stood by the window, watching Gaio and Kaguya disappear around the courtyard's corner.
"Steward."
"Yes, sir." The old steward, silent as a shadow in the corner, stepped forward.
Ganan's voice returned to its usual commanding calm, betraying no emotion. "Tell Marin. From now on, he's not to meddle in Kaguya's affairs."
"Understood." The steward bowed deeply and left without question.
The door clicked shut.
In the vast room, Ganan stood alone, still gazing out the window where Gaio and Kaguya had vanished. After a long moment, a complex, indescribable emotion flickered in his sharp eyes.
Resignation, scrutiny, and finally, a deep nostalgia.
He raised a hand, fingers brushing the cold edge of the window frame, his voice a soft sigh lost in the quiet room:
"Mayayotsume…"
He paused.
"Our daughter… has grown up, hasn't she?"
Gaio strode out of the Shinomiya estate's grand gates, Kaguya still over his shoulder. A sleek, heavy motorcycle waited in the open lot.
Its design was striking—sharp, aggressive lines reminiscent of Dante's demonic weapon "Cavaliere" from Devil May Cry, but with a darker, more restrained vibe, like a Dark Knight's steed, radiating raw power.
With a flick of his wrist, Gaio set the still-dazed Kaguya on the back seat.
Thud.
Kaguya clutched the cold metal helmet, her eyes blank, pupils swirling like tiny mosquito coils.
Gaio chuckled at her spaced-out look.
Like a magician, he pulled another helmet from nowhere. Unlike his own angular, menacing one, this one was soft pink and white, topped with two fluffy, floppy dog ears and covered in adorable chibi dog doodles—cute to a fault.
Without a word, he plopped the ridiculously adorable helmet onto Kaguya's head.
"Mmph?!"
The sudden enclosure snapped her back to reality.
She fumbled with the visor, trying to see him, her muffled voice echoing from inside. "T-Gaio-kun? Where… where are we going?"
Gaio grinned, tapping the top of her dog-eared helmet with a knock knock.
"Tch." He shrugged off his black leather jacket, still warm from his body, and draped it over her long dress.
The jacket was comically oversized on her, like a kid wearing an adult's clothes.
Gaio swung a leg over the bike, settling into the front seat and revving the engine.
The bike roared to life, a beast waking from slumber.
He glanced back, his voice laced with amusement through the helmet. "Didn't I just say?"
The motorcycle surged forward, the sudden force making Kaguya yelp and instinctively wrap her arms tightly around his waist.
"Fireworks!"
The engine's roar tore through the air.
Kaguya clung to Gaio's waist, her helmet pressed against his broad back.
The sheer acceleration obliterated her lingering shyness and chaotic thoughts.
The wind howled, scenery blurring into streaks of light that twisted and stretched past her visor, too fast to make out details.
Her vision filled with a chaotic cascade of colors, the weightlessness and rushing air making her heart pound, blood racing, adrenaline surging.
This feeling… it was foreign yet familiar.
Like that time he dragged her onto a roller coaster, the dizzying plunge from the peak.
Wild, thrilling, a reckless freedom that broke every rule.
The initial rush made her tense, her fingers gripping so tightly she could feel the firm outline of his abs through his shirt.
But as her body adjusted to the breakneck speed, a strange calm began to bloom from their close embrace.
The speed wasn't just fear anymore—it became a foundation.
The wind screaming past her helmet blocked out the world, focusing all her senses on the man in front of her.
His warmth seeped through, his back her only anchor.
Where they were going? Did it matter? Kaguya's mind held only one thought.
It didn't matter. Not one bit.
She tightened her arms around him, pressing closer, her head resting on his broad, warm back. Through the helmet and clothes, she swore she could feel his steady heartbeat.
Thump… thump…
The world's noise was drowned out by the engine and wind.
Inside her helmet, a small smile curved her lips, and she closed her eyes, content.
The vibrations of the engine pulsed through his back, his warmth steady in her palms.
The wind shrieked outside, but it couldn't touch the calm she felt.
Her heart raced—whether from the speed or him, it burned all the same.
Her eyelids grew heavy, the world blurring into streaks of light. Only her arms around him felt real, gripping tight, anchoring her to this moment.
Gaio's lips curved under his helmet, feeling her small hands tighten around his waist. He twisted the throttle, the engine's roar spiking, tearing through the night as the speed surged again!
The dashboard needle slammed into the red zone.
If any street racers were around, they'd be on their knees shouting "Epic!" As for the cops? Pfft, he'd already cleared that hurdle.
The blazing speed ripped through space, the long coastline of Kujukuri Beach flashing by in an instant.
The engine cut off, and the world fell silent, save for the deep, rhythmic crash of Pacific waves.
Kaguya's helmet still rested against Gaio's warm back, nearly lost in the comfort of his presence.
"Kaguya," his voice, tinged with amusement, cut through her helmet. "We're here."
She snapped awake, realizing she was still clinging to his waist. Like she'd been burned, she yanked her hands back, her face flaming under the helmet.
Gaio dismounted with a smooth motion and leaned in, his handsome face close enough to her visor that she could see the laughter in his eyes.
"Kaguya, off the bike." His voice was low, carrying the scent of sea breeze.
A muffled "Mhm" came from her helmet. She fumbled with the clasp, pulling off the dog-eared helmet.
The cool, fresh sea air hit her face, tossing her hair. Her cheeks still burned, and she fanned herself instinctively.
A strong, defined hand appeared in her vision.
She paused, looking up.
Gaio stood beside her, his familiar lazy, indulgent smile on his face.
Kaguya's lips curved into a small smile, her cheeks still pink. Her hand lifted naturally, slipping into his.
Warm… steady.
His dry, warm hand enveloped her cooler one, their fingers interlocking naturally.
"Come on." He tugged gently, leading her into a light jog across the cool sand.
The oversized jacket flared behind her. A few steps in, she spotted some unassuming cardboard boxes on the beach.
Gaio let go, crouching to rip open the tape. Kaguya watched curiously as he pulled out an assortment of fireworks.
He picked out a slender sparkler, its tip shaped like a golden star, and handed it to her.
"Give it a try?"
Kaguya took it carefully, the cool metal rod steady in her hand.
Gaio stepped closer and snapped his fingers.
Snap!
A small orange flame flickered to life at his fingertip.
Kaguya's eyes widened slightly.
She'd heard about the Gojo family, knew he wasn't ordinary, but seeing fire bloom from his finger still made her heart skip.
The flame burned steadily, lighting up his smiling eyes.
He brought it to the sparkler's tip.
Hiss—
Golden sparks burst forth, racing up the wire, illuminating Kaguya's delighted face.
The warm glow danced in her crimson eyes, melting the last traces of coldness.
Kaguya stared at the leaping sparks, a sweet smile spreading across her face, like a kid who'd finally gotten her favorite candy.
Gaio watched her bright eyes, reaching out to ruffle her soft hair.
Like a magician, he pulled more goodies from the box—a spinning fire wheel, a rocket with a colorful tail, crackling electric flowers—and piled them into her arms.
"Hold these. Have fun."
Kaguya's eyes sparkled even brighter.
In that moment, all her Shinomiya heiress poise and elegance flew out the window.
She kicked off her shoes, running barefoot across the sand, lighting the small fireworks and watching them whirl and pop.
Her clear, bell-like laughter echoed across the empty beach, drowning out the soft hum of the waves.
Soon, the small toys burned out their brilliance.
Still buzzing with excitement, Kaguya ran back to Gaio, looking up at him with bright, expectant eyes, her smile full of unbridled joy.
Gaio chuckled, pulling a square metal fireworks box from the cardboard.
He jogged to set it on a dry patch of sand, then returned, pulling Kaguya back to a safe distance.
They sat side by side on the soft sand. Gaio raised a hand and snapped his fingers.
Snap—
A spark shot from the fuse, blazing brightly.
Whoosh—Boom!
The first firework rocketed into the inky sky, exploding into a massive golden-red orb that lit up the entire beach, its shimmering fragments falling like a golden waterfall.
Then—
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One after another, bursts of color filled the sky.
Chrysanthemums, willows, peonies—vivid hues of purple, red, and gold painted the night, reflecting off the two figures on the sand.
Kaguya tilted her face up, mesmerized by the grand display put on just for her.
The vibrant lights danced in her eyes like scattered diamonds, her lips curved in a pure, contented smile.
The night sky blazed with color, the sea breeze carrying the faint scent of gunpowder.
As she watched, Kaguya's head tilted, hesitantly resting on Gaio's strong arm.
He didn't move, letting her lean against him.
"Gaio-kun…" Her voice was soft, nearly drowned by the next firework's blast.
Gaio turned to look at her.
Kaguya kept her eyes on the sky, her profile softened by the flickering lights.
Her long lashes fluttered, and her next words came clear, laced with unguarded affection and longing:
"Tonight…" She paused, finally turning to meet his gaze, her crimson eyes brimming with raw emotion and hope.
"I don't want to go home."