Chapter 15 - Date 2

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of stores and playful bickering. At one point, they found themselves in a small café, sharing a slice of chocolate cake. Katsumi stabbed at the dessert with her fork, her eyes narrowing as Soren stole a bite from her plate. 

"Hey! Get your own," she snapped, though there was no real anger in her voice. 

Soren's dominating Pheromones does make them into Goudere and absolutely devoted to him but as time goes on it returns them to their usual personality but still retains their devotion. 

Soren grinned, leaning back in his chair. "But yours tastes better." 

Katsumi rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. She shoved the plate toward him. 

"Fine. But you're buying me another one. And don't think I'll forget it." 

As the sun began to set, they found themselves on the mall's rooftop terrace, the city skyline stretching out before them. Katsumi leaned against the railing, the cool evening breeze tugging at her hair. Soren stood beside her, his arm brushing against hers. 

For a moment, they were silent, the noise of the mall fading into the background. Then Soren spoke, his voice soft but firm. 

"You know," he said.

"You don't have to act so tough all the time." 

Katsumi glanced at him, her expression unreadable. 

"What's that supposed to mean?" 

Soren turned to face her, his hand reaching up to brush a strand of hair from her face.

"It means I like you just the way you are. You don't have to put on an act for me." 

Katsumi's breath hitched, her usual bravado crumbling under the weight of his words. She looked away, her cheeks flushing. 

"Tch. You're such a sap. But… if you really mean that, then I guess it's fine. Just don't go saying stuff like that in front of anyone else. I've got a reputation to uphold, you know." 

Soren chuckled, his hand lingering on her cheek. 

"Maybe. But I'm your sap." 

Katsumi's lips curved into a small, genuine smile. 

"Yeah. You are." 

As the city lights began to twinkle in the distance, Soren pulled her close, his arms wrapping around her in a warm embrace. Katsumi hesitated for a moment before resting her head against his chest, her fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt. 

For the first time that day, she felt at ease. And for the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to simply be. 

But then, as if remembering herself, she suddenly pulled back, her face red and her eyes wide.

"W-Wait! D-don't just hug me all of the sudden like that!" 

Soren laughed, his arms still loosely around her. 

"Too late. You're stuck with me now." 

Katsumi's blush deepened, and she looked away, muttering under her breath. 

"Stupid Soren… making me all flustered like this…" 

But despite her protests, she didn't pull away. And as they stood there, the city lights glowing around them, Katsumi allowed herself a small, secret smile. Maybe, just maybe, she could get used to this. 

As they left the mall, Katsumi's mind was already racing with plans. She glanced at Soren, her crimson eyes gleaming with determination. 

"Hey, Soren," she said, her voice firm. 

"Hmm?" 

"You're gonna rule the world one day. And when you do, I'll be right there beside you, making sure no one gets in your way. You're the only one who deserves it, and I'll crush anyone who says otherwise." 

Soren raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. 

"Is that so?" 

"Damn right," Katsumi said, her tone leaving no room for argument. 

"You're the best, and I'm the only one of the few who's good enough to stand by your side. Anyone who tries to take that away from me will regret it." 

Soren chuckled, shaking his head. 

"You're something else, you know that?" 

Katsumi grinned, her usual fiery confidence returning. 

"Yeah, well, you're stuck with me. So deal with it." 

And as they walked into the night, Katsumi's mind was already plotting her next move. For Soren, she would stop at nothing. After all, he was her world—and she would make sure the rest of the world knew it too. 

The café was warm, filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the quiet hum of conversation. The large windows let in the golden glow of the afternoon sun, casting a soft light over the cozy booths. Soren sat with one arm draped over the back of his seat, watching Izumi as she stirred her drink with deliberate slowness. 

She was beautiful—more than that, she was sharp. Confidence radiated off her in waves, her emerald eyes locked onto him with an intensity that made most people squirm. 

Soren, however, smirked under her scrutiny. 

"You've been pushing yourself a lot lately," she mused, lifting her cup for a slow sip. 

"Don't overdo it, Soren." 

He leaned forward, resting his chin on his knuckles. 

"Worried about me?" 

Izumi set her drink down, then placed her chin in her palm, grinning. 

"Obviously." 

Her answer came without hesitation, without the nervous stuttering that once defined her. The shy, uncertain girl she used to be was long gone. The Izumi before him was certain, determined, and completely unshakable when it came to him. 

"You're mine, after all," she added casually. 

Soren raised an eyebrow, amused. "Is that so?" 

She reached across the table, her fingers trailing along his knuckles, slow and deliberate. 

"Mmm-hmm~." Her voice was honeyed, yet there was a dangerous edge beneath it. 

"I can't have my future husband getting hurt, now can I?" 

Soren chuckled. "Future husband, huh?" 

Izumi's grin widened, her fingers intertwining with his.

"Mmm~. And father of my future kids." 

Her tone was so casual, so matter-of-fact, that it was almost terrifying. Almost. 

Soren blinked, tilting his head. "You've really got this all planned out, don't you?" 

She giggled, her thumb gently stroking the back of his hand. 

"Of course. I know what I want, Soren. And I always get what I want." 

There was no arrogance in her words, only certainty. 

Soren smirked. "And what if I said I wasn't ready for all that?" 

Izumi's grip on his hand tightened, but her expression remained serene, her green eyes gleaming.

"Then I'd wait. But…" she leaned in slightly, voice dropping to a whisper.

"You'll be ready. Because I'll make sure of it." 

Soren chuckled, shaking his head. "You're relentless." 

Izumi giggled. "I prefer the term devoted." 

The playful air between them lingered, but there was something else beneath it—a quiet, unshakable resolve. 

The server arrived, placing their food on the table, but Izumi barely spared them a glance. Her focus remained entirely on Soren, as if nothing else in the world mattered. 

As Soren picked up his cup, she rested her elbow on the table, chin propped on her palm as she gazed at him. 

"So, let's keep you in top condition, okay?" she said sweetly. 

"Because I won't let anything happen to you, Soren. Even if I have to destroy the whole world to keep you safe." 

The words sent a shiver down his spine—not from fear, but from the sheer weight of her conviction. 

Soren exhaled a quiet laugh. "Destroy the whole world, huh? That's a bit much, don't you think?" 

Izumi blinked once, then smiled. "Nope." 

Soren shook his head, but there was amusement in his gaze. "You really are something else, Izumi." 

She tilted her head. "And yet, here you are. With me." 

He leaned back in his seat, smirking. "Yeah. Guess that says a lot about me, too, huh?" 

Izumi beamed, squeezing his hand. "It does. It means you're mine." 

Soren sighed, shaking his head with a small chuckle. "Yeah, yeah. Yours, huh?" 

Izumi nodded firmly. "Forever." 

And Soren knew, without a doubt, she meant it.