Cael stood at Asa Mitaka's doorstep, carrying shopping bags of all sizes.
In a city like Tokyo, where land is worth its weight in gold, Asa's home was technically an illegal structure. As he climbed the narrow stairs, a wave of congestion hit him in the face, the cramped space reminiscent of a pigeon coop. It was unavoidable. For convenient commutes to school, these types of buildings were likely the most cost-effective solution.
A pang struck Cael's heart. Once he had saved enough for a "small goal," he planned to upgrade Asa's living environment—somewhere more spacious, closer to him. No need to worry about commuting. As soon as Asa got her driver's license, he'd buy her a car. Traffic in Japan ran on the left, and the driver's seat was on the right—a combination that had left him dazed and lectured by the police when he first transmigrated.
His savings plan was going smoothly, already 60% complete. Having skills was never a burden. Cael's craftsmanship was top-notch, and his Funeral Home's reputation was flawless—zero negative reviews and glowing word-of-mouth from satisfied families.
Ding-dong.
Cael rang the doorbell. Quickly, footsteps echoed inside.
"Cael, wait a moment! I'm coming!"
Asa Mitaka had been in her bedroom, putting on makeup for almost two and a half hours. Normally, she didn't bother with cosmetics, showing little interest in impressing anyone. But today was different. Cael was visiting her home for the first time. She wanted to look perfect.
Inexperience showed. Makeup applied and wiped, reapplied, and wiped again, yet nothing seemed right.
The doorbell rang, accelerating Asa's heartbeat. Few people came to see her, and it couldn't be anyone but Cael. Ignoring her half-finished makeup, she slid on her fuzzy doll slippers and jogged to open the door.
Creak.
"Ca—"
Crash!
Before she could speak, the surge of shopping bags toppled her backward onto the floor.
She stared at the mountain of bags in shock. "Cael, these are…"
He closed the door behind him. "Gifts for you, Asa."
Seeing her dazed, Cael scratched his head sheepishly. "I may have bought a bit too much, but these clothes will look amazing on you."
Warmth spread through Asa's chest. Taking a deep breath, she asked, "How much did all this cost?"
Cael leaned closer, wrapping an arm around her slender waist. "No amount of money is more important than you, Asa."
"Cael, you're so annoying~" she said, gently pushing him away. She picked up the scattered bags and hung them over her arms. "I'll put these away first. Go change your coat and shoes, then come in."
Asa hustled to put the gifts away, her cheeks burning and makeup a mess. The entryway wasn't the right place for this kind of commotion, especially in autumn's chill.
Cael hung up his trench coat and followed her inside. Asa set two cups of hot milk on the coffee table and pulled him down onto the sofa.
"I bought a lot of groceries yesterday. We can prepare a feast at home, no need to go out all day," she said.
Cael understood. It was a subtle hint—they were going to spend the day together.
He handed Asa a bag of the new clothes. "It's still early. Try these on and see if they fit."
Asa blinked. "Okay, I'll change in the room."
Cael covered his eyes. "Or… you could change here. I won't peek."
Biting her lower lip, Asa agreed. In this intimate relationship, a little modesty wasn't necessary.
The rustle of clothes followed. Soon, Asa emerged in a pure white chiffon shirt paired with a khaki pleated skirt falling just past her knees. The outfit highlighted her graceful curves while radiating a fresh, lively aura.
"It fits surprisingly well," she said, spinning. "Cael, does it look good?"
Cael gave a thumbs up, then pulled her into his arms. "My girl is the most beautiful girl."
Blushing, Asa closed her eyes and tilted her head, asking for a kiss. Cael should have leaned in—but something felt off.
"Huh?" he murmured.
Her lips hadn't felt the familiar kiss invasion for a while. Asa's eyes opened, confused. "Cael, what's wrong?"
"Asa… did you put on makeup?"
"Um… yeah," she admitted, embarrassed.
Cael frowned in surprise. "Asa, you're already beautiful. Why add makeup?"
Asa felt a rush of comfort at his words, tears glinting in her eyes. Looking into Cael's gaze, she whispered, "I wanted to look even better… to charm this little rascal Cael to death~"
Cael examined her carefully. "Indeed, Asa. Properly done, your makeup could make you stunning beyond imagination."
"But I don't know how to do it…" she said, disappointed.
"Leave it to me," Cael said with a warm smile. "I'll handle everything."
Asa blinked. "You'll help me? Cael, you're a man… how do you know makeup?"
He shrugged. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it."
A moment later, Asa sat before the dressing mirror. All her previous attempts were removed. Cael, professional as ever, applied face cream evenly.
"This preps the skin," he explained. Then, foundation applied from face to neck to avoid color mismatch.
He shaped her eyebrows, explained eyeshadow technique, and applied a light-colored lipstick, finishing with loose powder to set everything. Nearly an hour passed.
"The girl in the mirror… she's stunning," Asa whispered, amazed at her reflection.
"You little silly," Cael said, placing hands on her shoulders. "Even with just a little makeup, you look incredible."
"Asa…" she drew a deep breath, emotions surging. Suddenly, she turned, cupped Cael's face, and kissed him fiercely.
Caught off guard, Cael stumbled back onto the bed. Asa followed, letting her long black hair cascade over him,
covering his face.
"Cael, War has begun. Next, I want you to mess up my makeup completely…"
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