"Ding~ Detected Hayakawa Aki's flustered emotion. System rewards: 20 points."
Just by speaking a few words, Renji Kuroda had gained 20 points. He raised an eyebrow. So this is how easy it is to rack up points?
Hayakawa Aki, upon recognizing him, flushed a vivid red. Her pretty face—usually composed—was now tinged with a rare blend of cuteness and shyness. But she was no rookie. Aki had been through more than her share of battles, both physical and emotional. She quickly caught herself, adjusted her breathing, and within moments, her expression was once again calm and professional.
"I apologize," she said smoothly. "I didn't realize smoking was prohibited here. I won't do it again."
She stepped back slightly, then bowed with impeccable form.
"Hello, Renji-senpai. I didn't have the chance to properly introduce myself earlier after asking your name. Let me do that now—Hayakawa Aki. Please guide me."
Her sudden formality made Renji feel awkward. He never did well in overly polite settings.
"Ah... Oh. Yeah, sure. No problem."
Aki turned to pick up a large paper bag from the ground—thank-you gifts by the looks of it. Renji caught the label for Kobe beef peeking out from one of the packages.
"Holy crap… That's not cheap. That's suicidal-level expensive," he muttered under his breath.
"Anyway, come in."
"Thank you."
Renji unlocked the door, and the two stepped inside, removed their shoes, and entered the modest apartment.
"Ding~ Detected Hayakawa Aki's curious emotion. System rewards: 10 points.""Ding~ Detected Hayakawa Aki's nervous emotion. System rewards: 10 points."
Renji glanced back at her and noticed her expression—blushing again, eyes scanning the room with subtle curiosity. But when she realized he was looking, their gazes met. Renji gave her a half-smile.
In an instant, Aki's face turned even redder. She froze, startled, then quickly looked away, bowing her head.
"Th-that… Renji-senpai? Is something wrong? Do I have something on my face?"
Renji chuckled softly. "Hmm? Nah, nothing like that. You just look cute when you blush. I might've stared too long—sorry about that."
"Ding~ Detected Hayakawa Aki's happy emotion. System rewards: 5 points.""Ding~ Detected Hayakawa Aki's shy emotion. System rewards: 20 points."
The apartment wasn't luxurious, but it wasn't run-down either. The main appeal was the peace and quiet. When Renji signed the lease, the landlord made a big deal about the rules: no smoking, no drinking, and no rowdy behavior. The neighbors were mostly older, professional types, so the atmosphere was serene. Just how Renji liked it.
The layout was simple: one living room that doubled as a bedroom, a small kitchen, and a compact bathroom. A kotatsu sat at the center of the room. Instead of the traditional futon or tatami setup, Renji had brought in a western-style bed, which now sat in the corner—unmade and a bit of a mess.
Aki's eyes lingered on it for a moment.
"So Renji-senpai is the kind of woman who's bold and not very detail-oriented…" she thought as she knelt politely near the kotatsu.
Renji scratched his head and began tidying the place up.
"Sorry about the mess. I've had kind of a hectic day."
Aki quickly shook her head. "No, no, it's my fault for coming by unannounced. I must've interrupted your rest. I'm the one who should apologize."
Renji finished straightening the room, poured them both some tea, and sat down across from her.
"You really don't have to be so formal. I might actually be younger than you. Drop the 'senpai'—just call me Renji. And no need for keigo either; plain speech is fine. We're not in some hierarchical organization. We're just... people."
Aki blinked, momentarily stunned. Her inner thoughts stirred again.
"So she's the type who needs someone to take care of her daily life… But isn't that a little too forward? She must know that calling someone by their first name in Japan implies a certain level of intimacy. Unless..."
"Ding~ Detected Hayakawa Aki's happy emotion. System rewards: 5 points."
Renji, of course, was oblivious to the cultural nuance. Being a transmigrator, he hadn't paid much attention to those subtle unspoken rules. He had no idea why Aki suddenly looked so pleased.
And then—
—Grrrrrumble~
Renji's stomach let out its third cry of protest for the day.
"Perfect timing," he said with a grin. "Now that you're here, let me show you what I'm good at. Don't mind the mess—I promise the food's worth it."
Renji Kuroda was about to get up, but Hayakawa Aki had already stood. Her expression was flustered, and she stammered, "Se-Re... Renji Kuroda... cough cough!"
"Ding~ Detected Hayakawa Aki's shy emotion, system rewards 20 points."
"Re... Renji Kuroda, if you're hungry, let me cook for you. It just so happens that my main purpose in visiting you today is to thank you for your previous help."
"Eh? Let's not—look at your injuries."
Hayakawa Aki quickly shook her head. "It's fine, it's fine, these are just minor injuries; they don't hinder physical activity."
Afraid that Renji Kuroda would say something to stop her, she hurried into the kitchen with the groceries beside her, not waiting for his reply.
In the rented apartment, there was no barrier between the kitchen and the living room, so Renji Kuroda could clearly see Hayakawa Aki's entire cooking process.
She gently tidied her high ponytail, then carefully coiled it behind her head. She walked to the wall, reached for the apron hanging there, and tied it on with practiced ease.
Then, Hayakawa Aki took out bottles, jars, and various fresh ingredients from a plastic bag. She carefully washed the knives, and as the blades flashed, she began to display astonishing chopping skills. The knives struck the cutting board with crisp rhythm, and her technique was so skilled that Renji Kuroda couldn't help but exclaim.
"It truly has the taste of a waifu!"
Renji Kuroda suddenly felt a little dazed—and quite happy.
"Eh? What did you say, Renji Kuroda?"
Hayakawa Aki paused and looked back, puzzled.
"No, nothing. Just marveling at how amazing your chopping skills are."
"Thank you."
She refocused on her cooking.
Not wanting to disturb her, Renji Kuroda stopped watching. Bored, he opened the system panel to check.
The system showed his personal points had reached 72.
"Accumulating so fast? That's great! It seems spending time with Hayakawa Aki and interacting more is very necessary."
As he thought this, a sudden realization struck him. "No, that's not right... this is an opportunity..."
Renji Kuroda looked back at the busy Hayakawa Aki in the kitchen, and a bold, wicked idea formed in his mind.
Kitchen. Waifu. When those two things combine, how could something not happen?
Hayakawa Aki, completely focused, didn't notice that Renji Kuroda was no longer sitting in his original spot.
Then, she suddenly felt someone slowly approaching from behind. The person's breathing was soft, but his presence was unmistakable.
He came closer and closer until their bodies were tightly pressed together. Hayakawa Aki could feel the warmth of his body through her clothes—warm and real—making her heartbeat quicken involuntarily.
"Ding~ Detected Hayakawa Aki's shy emotion, system rewards 20 points."
She trembled and glanced back toward the living room. Sure enough, Renji Kuroda was no longer where he had been sitting.
"Re... Renji Kuroda?"
Hayakawa Aki softly whispered his name, her voice already growing faint and breathless.
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