Netori: I Shall Steal All Of My Enemies' Women For Revenge!

The Ferris wheel lights shimmered in Ayaka's wide eyes, casting a magical glow that made her look almost ethereal. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire

She nodded softly, her lips curling into a faint smile as she took in the sight.

Together, they stepped into the Ferris wheel cabin, the door clicking shut behind them. As the ride began to ascend,

Ayaka's breath hitched, her fingers gripping the edge of the seat tightly as the ground grew farther and farther away.

Her knuckles whitened, and she glanced nervously at Haruto, who was watching her with an amused smirk.

"Scared?" he teased, shifting his weight deliberately to make the cabin sway slightly.

Ayaka jolted, her hand flying to his thigh for stability as she pinched him hard.

"Haruto! Stop it! What if we fall?" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of panic and irritation.

Her grip on his thigh tightened, and he winced, laughing despite the sharp pain.

"Aww, why do you always go for my thigh?" he chuckled, rubbing the spot where she'd pinched him.

His laughter only seemed to egg her on, and she pinched him again, harder this time.

"Because you deserve it for teasing me!" she shot back, her cheeks flushed.

Haruto caught her hand mid-pinch, his fingers wrapping around hers firmly.

With a playful tug, he pulled her onto his lap, her weight settling against him as she let out a small gasp.

"You're just too cute when you're flustered," he said, his voice low and teasing.

Ayaka frowned, though the corners of her lips twitched as if fighting a smile.

"That's not a reason to nearly kill us!" she scolded, her hands resting lightly on his shoulders.

Before she could say more, the Ferris wheel came to a gentle stop, leaving them suspended at the highest point.

The city sprawled out below them, a sea of twinkling lights that stretched endlessly into the night.

Haruto's gaze shifted to the window, his expression softening. "Look, Ayaka. The view from up here… it's beautiful."

The city lights spilled into the cabin, bathing them in a warm, golden glow.

Ayaka's eyes widened as she turned to the window, her hands reaching out to touch the glass as if she could grasp the scene before her.

"Wow…" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her fingers traced the outline of the cityscape, her expression childlike in its wonder. Haruto watched her, a gentle smile tugging at his lips.

For once, Ayaka wasn't shrouded in mystery or cryptic words. She was just… herself. And he found himself thinking, 'She isn't a bad person.'

But his thoughts drifted, unbidden, to Ren. 'How could he hate her so much?'

The memory of Chiyo's words surfaced in his mind: "It was only discovered when Mrs. Yoshida killed someone in the village. She murdered a worker from the Ito family."

Haruto's brow furrowed. 'That worker must have meant something to Ren.'

Even if Ren was a monster now, his hatred for Ayaka had to stem from something deeper.

Before he could dwell further, Ayaka's hands cupped his face, pulling him back to the present.

Outside, fireworks erupted in the sky, their vibrant colors painting the night in bursts of red, gold, and blue.

But Haruto's attention was solely on Ayaka, her face illuminated by the flashes of light. Her voice was soft, almost hesitant, as she spoke.

"Haruto… they say that if you kiss on top of a Ferris wheel, your love will last forever."

Her fingers brushed against his cheeks, her touch feather-light.

"Won't you share eternity with me?"

Haruto's heart swelled, his hands resting on her waist as he gazed into her eyes.

"Of course," he said, his voice steady and warm.

"You're my princess, aren't you? Let's find our happy ending, Ayaka."

Her smile was radiant, her cheeks tinged with pink as she leaned in.

The world outside faded away—the city lights, the fireworks, the distant hum of the fairground.

All that remained was the two of them, their lips meeting in a kiss that felt like a promise.

In that moment, surrounded by the beauty of the night, they sealed their eternity, two souls searching for and vowing to create their own happy ending.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations on completing the quest: The Princess Hiding Pain!]

[The rewards can be checked in the storage!]

[Ayaka Yoshida's Deprivation Matrix update!]

[Emotional Bond: 75.]

[Obsession: 70.]

After their time on the Ferris wheel, Haruto decided to take Ayaka to a casual dinner, stopping at a small Izakaya tucked away in a quiet corner of the city.

The warm, dimly lit atmosphere felt cozy, though the staff eyed them suspiciously, clearly doubting they were of legal age.

Haruto flashed his fake ID with a confident grin, and the staff reluctantly let them in.

As they settled into their seats as they ordered their meal, Haruto couldn't help but smirk to himself.

'See? I still look like a high schooler. Enji was wrong!'

He bit into a skewer of yakitori, savoring the smoky flavor, his eyes drifting to Ayaka.

She sat across from him, quietly twirling her chopsticks in a plate of yakisoba.

A soft smile lingered on her lips, her mind seemingly replaying their moments at the amusement park.

Haruto tilted his head, curiosity getting the better of him. "Ayaka, why are you so interested in Ferris wheels?" he asked, his tone gentle but probing.

Ayaka's chopsticks paused mid-twirl, her gaze dropping to her plate. She hesitated for a moment, her fingers tightening slightly around the utensils.

"My father… he once promised to take me to an amusement park and ride the Ferris wheel with me," she said quietly, her voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia. "But he never did."

She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes distant. "I always thought it looked so beautiful from afar, but actually riding it… it made me feel sad."

Haruto's expression softened, a pang of guilt flickering across his face. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice low.

"I shouldn't have asked something like that. I didn't mean to bring up painful memories."

Ayaka shook her head, her smile returning, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "You don't have to apologize. It's not painful anymore, not when you're here with me."

Her voice was cheerful, but Haruto could sense the undercurrent of sadness she was trying to mask.

He knew that look all too well—Haruka had worn it often when thinking about their mother.

Ayaka, however, was a master at hiding her pain.

Haruto reached across the table, his hand gently covering hers. "Are you really happy?" he asked, his tone earnest.

"If you want, I can take you to more amusement parks. Bigger ones, better ones."

Ayaka's eyes lit up, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Really? I'll look forward to it, then."

Haruto opened his mouth to say, "I promise," but Ayaka cut him off before he could finish.

"Don't make promises you might not be able to keep," she said, her voice firm but kind. "It's better if it's just… a nice idea between us."

He sighed, leaning back in his seat. "Fine," he relented, though his tone was light.

"But you know I've never broken a promise before. You don't have to worry, Ayaka."

She chuckled softly, the sound like a gentle breeze. "I'll hold you to that, then."

After their dinner, the two decided to head home.

Despite the silence, the journey felt surprisingly quick, and before they knew it, they had arrived at Ayaka's house.

The house loomed before them, its grandeur overshadowed by the darkness that seemed to swallow it whole.

Ayaka stepped out of the car, her eyes fixed on the imposing structure.

The windows were pitch black, and the faint glow of the moonlight only made the shadows stretch longer.

It reminded her of the haunted house they had visited earlier—the ghosts, the eerie sounds, the way she had clung to Haruto in sheer terror.

She glanced at him slowly, her expression a mix of hesitation and hope. Surely, he would understand.

But Haruto, ever the tease, leaned against the car with a smirk. "What? Did you enjoy being with me so much that you don't want to say goodbye?" he quipped, his tone playful.

Ayaka's cheeks flushed, a mix of irritation and embarrassment bubbling up inside her.

One moment, he was sensitive and kind, and the next, he was completely oblivious—or maybe just pretending to be.

"It's not that!" she exclaimed, her voice sharper than she intended.

She crossed her arms, her fingers fidgeting nervously. "I just… You know…"

She bit her lower lip, her gaze dropping to the ground.

"My aunt is out of town… and I'm alone tonight. Can you… please stay with me?"

Her face burned with embarrassment, and she couldn't bring herself to look at him.

But the fear of being alone was stronger than her pride, and she had no other choice.

Haruto's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, he just stared at her. Then, to her dismay, he burst out laughing.

"Of course!" he said, his laughter subsiding into a warm grin. "Let's go inside, princess. I'll protect you if any zombies decide to attack."

Ayaka groaned, her embarrassment turning into mild annoyance. "Ugh…" she muttered, reaching out to pinch his thigh—again.

"Ow! What was that for?" Haruto yelped, though his laughter only grew louder.

"For being insufferable," she shot back, though there was no real bite in her words.

Despite her irritation, she couldn't help but feel a small sense of relief. At least she wouldn't have to face the darkness alone tonight.