Ch-199 ai and raghav bond are growing with passion

The next evening at Ai Hoshino's penthouse, the atmosphere was warm and lively. The soft glow of ambient lights reflected off the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden sheen over the sleek modern furnishings. The faint sound of the city below mingled with the laughter of two small voices.

Raghav sat comfortably on the plush leather sofa, his sleeves rolled up, while Ruby and Aqua sat on either side of him. Ruby was curled up with her legs tucked beneath her, and Aqua leaned slightly toward Raghav, his expression calm but focused.

Ai stood in the kitchen, wearing an oversized sweater and shorts, her pink hair tied back in a loose ponytail as she prepared tea. She glanced toward the couch, her golden eyes soft with warmth as she watched Raghav with her children.

"Alright, alright," Raghav said with a faint smile. "One more time."

Ruby's eyes lit up. "Okay!"

She sat up straighter, took a deep breath, and pointed at Raghav dramatically. "You… you betrayed me!"

Aqua sighed. "That's too dramatic."

"No, it's not!" Ruby snapped back.

Raghav chuckled. "It's a bit much for a romance scene, but the emotion is there."

"See!" Ruby smirked at Aqua.

"Yeah, yeah." Aqua rolled his eyes but smiled faintly.

"How about you, Aqua?" Raghav leaned toward him. "Care to give it a try?"

Aqua's gaze sharpened. "You're not going to make me do something embarrassing, are you?"

Raghav's smile was calm. "Depends."

Aqua hesitated, then sighed. He sat up straighter, his gaze darkening slightly. His expression shifted from casual to cold in an instant—a sharp edge that mirrored the quiet intensity Raghav had seen in Masaki earlier that day.

"If you think you can outplay me…" Aqua's tone was low and cutting, his blue eyes glinting. "Then you don't understand the rules of the game."

Ruby's eyes widened. "Whoa…"

Raghav's gaze sharpened. Aqua wasn't just acting—he was slipping into something real.

"Interesting," Raghav murmured.

"How was that?" Aqua asked.

"Convincing," Raghav said calmly. "Almost too convincing."

Aqua's gaze lingered on Raghav for a moment before he relaxed and leaned back. "Acting isn't hard when you know how people think."

"True," Raghav replied. "But it's dangerous to make it personal."

"Maybe." Aqua's gaze darkened faintly.

Ruby flopped backward, laughing. "Okay, okay—Aqua wins this round."

Ai walked over with a tray of tea and placed it on the table in front of them. "You guys are really good at this," she said with a smile.

"Thanks, Mama!" Ruby beamed.

Ai sat beside Raghav, tucking her legs beneath her. "Though I have to say…" Her gaze softened. "You're really good with them, Raghav."

Raghav's expression softened as Ai leaned her head against his shoulder. He rested his arm around her waist instinctively.

"They're easy to work with," Raghav said quietly.

Ai's smile widened faintly. "No. You're just good at reading people."

Raghav's gaze darkened slightly. "Maybe."

"You know…" Ai's tone turned playful. "I think you'd make a great father."

Raghav's gaze sharpened. Ai's eyes were bright, but beneath the softness was quiet sincerity.

"Would that bother you?" Raghav asked quietly.

Ai's smile softened. "No."

Raghav's gaze lingered on her face for a moment longer before he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her temple.

Ruby gagged dramatically. "Gross!"

Aqua sighed. "You're not five, Ruby."

Ai giggled. "It's sweet."

"Depends on your definition of sweet," Aqua muttered.

Raghav's gaze lingered on Ai for a moment longer. Then he shifted his focus back to Ruby and Aqua.

"Alright, one more round before bed," Raghav said.

Ruby and Aqua both groaned. "You sound like a teacher," Ruby complained.

"That's because I am one," Raghav replied with a small smile.

"Speaking of that…" Ai leaned in. "How's work?"

Raghav's expression darkened slightly. "Interesting."

Ai's eyes narrowed. "That's not a good tone."

"I met someone," Raghav said.

"Alya?" Ai's gaze sharpened.

"Her… and Masaki's younger sister."

Ai's expression darkened. "Masaki has a sister?"

"Rin Seuno," Raghav confirmed. "She's… curious."

"And dangerous?" Ai's gaze sharpened.

"Not yet," Raghav replied. "But give it time."

Ai's eyes narrowed. "And Alya?"

Raghav's gaze darkened. "She's getting close to me. And she's pushing Masaki in the process."

Ai's expression hardened. "So you're already in the middle of it."

"Yes," Raghav replied. His tone was calm, but his gaze sharpened dangerously. "But I'm not worried."

"Why not?"

"Because they're playing my game now."

Ai's gaze softened slightly, but a flicker of concern remained beneath her smile.

"Just… don't lose yourself in it," Ai said quietly.

Raghav's smile was faint but steady. "I never lose."

Ai leaned her head against his shoulder again, her arms wrapped around his waist. Raghav's hand slid up her back, his gaze fixed on the night sky through the wide glass windows.

He had already positioned the pieces. Alya was watching him. Masaki was being drawn into the center. Rin was becoming attached.

And Ai… Ai was already his foundation. His anchor.

"One step at a time," Raghav thought. "First, I'll take control of Seiren Academy. Then, I'll reach deeper."

Ruby yawned and stretched. "Okay… one more round."

Raghav's gaze softened as he stood. "Alright. Let's begin."

As Ruby and Aqua shifted into position, Ai's eyes lingered on Raghav's face. She saw it—the quiet calculation beneath his calm exterior.

"He's building something," Ai thought. "And no one will stop him."