Chapter : 16 : The Beginning of Her Hell!

The morning air was crisp, carrying a faint chill that hinted at the changing seasons. Sunlight filtered through the bedroom window, casting soft golden hues across the bed where Minami lay, still wrapped up in the warmth of their shared embrace. Kazuya, resting beside her, watched as her chest rose and fell in peaceful slumber. She looked so delicate like this—so utterly serene that for a moment, he almost forgot the cruel world outside their small sanctuary.

But he had work to do.

Carefully, he brushed a few strands of hair away from her face, pressing a soft kiss against her forehead. She stirred slightly, her eyelashes fluttering before her black eyes peeked open. She blinked drowsily, a small, sleepy smile forming on her lips.

"You're leaving already?" she murmured, voice laced with drowsiness.

Kazuya smiled down at her, his fingers tracing gentle circles on her cheek. "Yeah. I have something I need to take care of."

Minami frowned, her fingers tightening around the fabric of his shirt. "Come back first."

He chuckled, amused at how cute she looked when she pouted. "Of course. I'll always come back to you."

Minami stared at him for a moment before reaching up to pull him closer. Their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss, filled with warmth and quiet longing. When they pulled apart, her face was slightly red, but she still whispered, "Love you."

Kazuya smirked, pressing another quick kiss to her lips before standing up. "Love you too."

And with that, he left.

---

As Kazuya walked down the street, his mind was already spinning, his thoughts sharpening with focus. His mission today was simple—win Rika's trust, get close to her, and then slowly dismantle her life from the inside out.

He clenched his fists as a wave of anger passed through him. Rika. That despicable girl. He still remembered the way Minami told him how she and her two so-called friends tormented her. The things they said, the way they treated her as if she were worthless. His Minami.

If only they knew just how beautiful she was—how breathtaking she was beneath that cursed mark. But no, they mocked her, belittled her, treated her like she was some kind of monster. Rika, especially, had been the worst. The ringleader.

Today, her reckoning would begin.

He glanced down at his phone, reading the message Yumi had sent him earlier.

Yumi: She's skipping school today. Shopping with daddy's money. Saitama Prefecture. You'll find her near the luxury stores.

Kazuya smirked. "How predictable."

It wasn't surprising that a spoiled brat like Rika would be indulging in mindless shopping instead of attending school. Someone like her had never known hardship, never known what it meant to suffer. She lived in a bubble, surrounded by wealth and privilege.

That was going to change.

---

By the time he reached Saitama, the streets were already bustling with people. The high-end district was filled with well-dressed men and women, casually strolling past expensive boutiques, arms weighed down with bags overflowing with luxury goods.

And then, he saw her.

Rika.

She was standing near the entrance of a designer store, lazily scrolling through her phone with one hand while holding multiple shopping bags in the other.

Kazuya observed her from a distance, his gaze cold and calculating. She had short black hair, an average figure—mid-sized chest, mid-sized hips. Just an ordinary girl in every sense of the word.

And yet, she had the audacity to bully Minami?

His Minami, who was more beautiful than any of the so-called "popular girls" at their school? At least to him.

What was Rika's problem? Her face? Was she so insecure about herself that she had to tear others down to feel superior?

Kazuya's grip on his phone tightened. He wanted to walk up to her and wipe that smug expression off her face right now, but he couldn't act rashly. No, he needed her to trust him first.

He needed to be her hero.

And fate seemed to be on his side.

As Rika stepped onto the zebra crossing, a loud honk split through the air.

A truck.

It was barreling down the road at full speed, its driver showing no signs of stopping. Pedestrians gasped, some screaming as they realized what was about to happen.

Rika froze, her body locking up in fear. Her fingers slackened, her shopping bags slipping from her grasp.

Kazuya moved without thinking.

In a split second, he lunged forward, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her back. The next thing he knew, they were on the other side of the street, Rika pressed against his chest, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps.

The truck roared past them, never stopping.

Kazuya caught a glimpse of the driver's face as it sped away—his eyes were blank, his expression eerily vacant, as if he wasn't even in control of his own body.

A slow smirk curled Kazuya's lips.

Good job, Yumi.

A soft chuckle echoed in his head. Anything for you, my master.

---

Rika clung to Kazuya, her body trembling. "W-What the hell was that…?" she gasped, still struggling to catch her breath.

Kazuya glanced down at her, putting on his best concerned expression. "Are you okay?"

Rika looked up at him, her usual arrogant demeanor completely shattered. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with shock.

"I… I almost…" She swallowed hard, gripping onto his shirt. "T-That truck—if you hadn't—"

Kazuya gently pulled away, giving her a reassuring smile. "It's fine. You're safe now."

For a moment, Rika simply stared at him. Her breathing slowed as her wide, fearful eyes traced his face. But then, something changed.

Her gaze softened, almost mesmerized. A faint, distant look settled into her expression, her pupils dilating as if she were staring at something too perfect to comprehend.

Because, to her, he was perfect.

Kazuya smirked inwardly. Good girl.

The moment their eyes met, his power had taken hold—twisting her perception, altering reality itself within her mind. She wasn't looking at Kazuya anymore.

She was looking at Kenji.

A man who didn't exist. A man crafted solely for this moment.

In her hypnotized eyes, Kenji was breathtaking—tall, striking, and impossibly handsome, the very embodiment of the ideal man of her dreams. A face sculpted to steal her breath, to make her hearts flutter. His hair was slightly tousled in an effortlessly cool way, his eyes sharp yet warm, his smirk just the right mix of confidence and charm.

And most importantly, he was not Sato Kazuya—the famous model she had always envied. The very man whose existence had fueled her hatred toward Minami.

She didn't recognize him.

She couldn't.

And Kazuya enjoyed every second of it.

A faint blush spread across her cheeks as she bit her lip, hesitating before gripping onto his sleeve. "Y-You saved my life…"

Kazuya chuckled lightly, tilting his head in feigned modesty. "Guess I did."

Rika exhaled deeply, looking away for a second before stealing another glance at him. "Hey… can I buy you a drink or something? As a thank you?"

Bingo.

Kazuya smiled, as if contemplating. "You don't have to."

Rika quickly shook her head. "No, I want to. Just… let me do this, okay?"

Kazuya pretended to think it over before nodding. "Alright. I won't say no to free coffee."

Rika laughed softly, her previous panic fading into something softer—something almost vulnerable.

She didn't realize it yet.

But she had just invited the devil into her life.

And he was going to make sure she regretted it.

---

END OF CHAPTER : 16 : THE BEGINNING OF HER HELL!