Morning came like a lazy slap. Birds yelling, sun too bright, hay stuck in Kazuki's hair. He stretched in the tiny shack like a man born in the wrong bed. If you could even call this a bed. More like a pile of regret and horse smell.
He stepped outside, scratched his neck, looked around like a king surveying his dirt kingdom.
"Time to go flirt with someone's wife again," he muttered, brushing off dust.
The system buzzed softly in his head.
{Quest: Visit Lila again}
{Optional Bonus: Initiate physical contact}
{Warning: Husband's return – 2 days}
Kazuki blinked at that last part. "Oh? We got a timer now?"
No response. System just liked the drama.
He made his way through the village, hands in pockets, taking his time. People were already out. Some men fixing carts, a couple kids chasing a chicken, one old lady squinting at him like she saw through everything.
He smirked and nodded at her. She spat near his foot. Charming place.
When he reached Lila's house, he didn't knock. Just leaned against the doorframe and waited. She came out a few seconds later, carrying a small basket, same annoyed expression as yesterday but with less bite in it today.
"You again," she said.
"Miss me?" he asked.
She raised a brow. "You're early."
"You're beautiful."
"You're shameless."
"Only around you."
That one got her. She paused, then shook her head with the tiniest smile before walking past him.
"I'm heading to the river. Unless you're planning to flirt with the trees, walk with me."
Kazuki followed, walking beside her like he belonged there. They didn't say much at first. The dirt road wound through the trees, sun dripping through the leaves like melted gold.
He glanced at her. She caught him.
"Eyes up," she said.
"I'm admiring nature."
"Uh huh."
They reached the riverbank. She knelt down, pulled out a piece of cloth and started washing it in the stream. Her sleeves rolled up, arms wet. Kazuki sat on a nearby rock, watching.
"You always this quiet?" she asked.
"Depends who I'm with."
"And with me?"
"I talk less, watch more."
Lila dipped the cloth again, looked at him. "Why?"
"Because you're hard to read."
"I'm not a book."
"No, but you've got chapters."
She stopped. "That was smooth."
"I have better," he said. "But I'm pacing myself."
She rolled her eyes. Then went quiet again. The river rushed between them. A bird called out from the trees.
"Your husband," Kazuki said after a while. "He treat you right?"
She didn't answer right away. She kept scrubbing. Water splashed.
"…he's a good man," she said finally. "Provides. Comes home when he can."
"That's not what I asked."
She stopped. Stared into the water.
"He's kind. But distant."
Kazuki didn't push. He stood up, walked over behind her. Close, but not too close. The system buzzed.
{Touch Chance: 78% success}
But he didn't take it yet. He just crouched next to her.
"I don't want to cause trouble," he said.
She looked at him sideways. "Liar."
He smiled. "Okay, maybe a little trouble."
She shook her head, but didn't move away. The cloth slipped from her hand, floated in the stream.
"Oh—damn it," she muttered, reaching for it.
Kazuki moved without thinking. His hand went around her waist to keep her from falling, the other caught the cloth. Her body tensed under his arm. Wet clothes. River breeze. Skin under his hand, warm.
Neither of them moved.
Lila turned her head, and their faces were close now. Too close. No space left for pretending.
"You're trouble," she whispered.
"I warned you."
She looked away first, pulling back. But she didn't scold him. Just took the cloth, stood up and dusted off.
"I'm going home," she said, walking fast.
He didn't follow. Just watched her leave.
System whispered.
{Progress: 34%}
{New Status: Emotionally conflicted}
{New Quest: Kiss before husband returns – Reward: Charm Lv.2}
Kazuki smiled.
He walked away from the river like a thief with no loot. But he knew he was getting there. Slowly. Smoothly. Teasing the edge of something dangerous.
She was married.
But she wasn't blind.
He didn't go straight back to the shack.
Instead, Kazuki found himself sitting under a tree near Lila's house. Just watching the road. Not really planning it—he told himself it was strategy. That was half a lie.
He just wanted to see if she'd look for him.
The sun dipped low. Orange and soft. Shadows stretched. And finally, the door opened.
Lila stepped out again. No basket this time. No excuse.
She walked down the path with that same tired grace, like a woman used to doing everything herself. But this time, when she saw him, she stopped.
"You're still here."
"I never left."
She tilted her head. "Why?"
He stood, brushing dirt off. "I forgot to ask if you were okay."
She stared at him. "You touched my waist."
"Very gently."
"That's not the point."
"You didn't pull away."
She stepped closer. Just a bit. "What exactly are you trying to do with me?"
Kazuki didn't blink. "I'm not trying. I'm already doing."
She looked almost angry. Or maybe nervous. Her hands curled at her sides. She stepped even closer.
"I'm married."
"And yet," he said softly, "you're here."
The air between them turned heavy. Not loud. Just thick. Like the kind of silence that shouldn't feel this warm.
Then she exhaled. "Gods… you're dangerous."
"I know."
Her eyes flicked to his mouth. Just for a second. The system buzzed in his head like a hungry mosquito.
{Kiss Chance: 92%}
{Warning: Emotional threshold will shift}
{You are entering a path of no return}
He reached out—not too fast—just enough to test the waters. His fingers brushed her cheek. She didn't move. Her breathing changed. Faster. Softer.
But Kazuki didn't kiss her.
He leaned in close, lips near her ear, and whispered—
"Next time."
And pulled away.
She blinked, like she just snapped out of something.
"You're not normal," she said again.
He gave her a crooked smile. "I'm not trying to be."
She turned around quick, maybe to hide her face, maybe to hide whatever was rising inside her chest. "Go home."
"I don't have one yet."
"Then disappear."
He laughed under his breath and walked off, hands back in his pockets. Her footsteps didn't follow, but he knew she stayed at the door. Watching. Thinking.
By the time he got back to the shack, the system chimed.
{Lila: 45%}
{Status: Morally conflicted. Attraction overpowering guilt.}
{New Side Effect: +5% Charm when teasing married women}
Kazuki lay on the straw bed, arms behind his head, staring at the ceiling like it was the sky.
"She's cracking," he muttered. "Wonder if she hates that or loves it."
Then he grinned.
Probably both.