System Error: Heart Not Found

Kira hadn't slept.

She didn't do insomnia. She scheduled sleep like she scheduled meetings—efficiently, precisely, and for optimal brain performance.

But ever since that night in the café, she'd been… glitching.

She replayed Rina's laugh. Her warmth. The way her eyes lit up even when she was saying something ridiculous.

And worse—how Kira had smiled back.

"You're getting past my firewall."

She'd meant it as a joke.

It wasn't.

📧 That Morning – Syntek HQ

An email from HR pinged her.

Subject: Cross-Department Audit — Helena Wu RequestPurpose: External engagement and innovation collaboration.Approved.

Kira's jaw clenched.

Helena. In her building. On her floor. With access to Rina.

Of course.

Kira stood so fast her chair rolled back.

☕ Ground Floor Café

Rina was humming when Helena appeared again, all smiles and smooth words.

"Hey there, sunshine."

Rina blinked. "Oh. Uh—hi."

"Still thinking about my card?"

Before Rina could answer, Kira's voice cut through the air like a scalpel.

"Helena."

The air dropped five degrees.

Rina glanced between them, suddenly feeling like she was holding two wires way too close together.

"Wow," Helena said, turning. "CEO Yoon. You visit your baristas personally?"

"She's not just a barista," Kira said.

Rina froze.

Helena smirked. "I can see that."

"I mean it," Kira added, her eyes still locked on Helena. "She's not just anything."

That made Rina's heart stop.

Not. Just. Anything.

Helena raised her brows. "So this is personal?"

"No," Kira said coolly. Then softer: "It's important."

Helena gave a slow nod, like noting a chess move.

"Noted. I'll see you both… around."

She walked out, heels echoing. The moment she was gone, Rina turned to Kira, wide-eyed.

"You didn't have to do that."

"I did."

"Why?"

Kira stepped closer. Her voice dropped. Quieter. Like it was only meant for Rina.

"Because I'm still learning how to protect things that matter to me."

🔒 After Hours – 59th Floor

Later that evening, Rina walked into Kira's office with a warm drink in hand. Not coffee. Just cocoa.

"This helps when I'm overwhelmed," she said, placing it on Kira's desk. "And I figured… maybe you're overwhelmed, too."

Kira stared at the mug like it was a foreign object. Then reached for it slowly.

"Thank you," she said.

"No schedule. No performance metrics. Just chocolate," Rina added with a smile.

Kira looked at her.

And then, quietly:

"I don't know how to do this."

Rina tilted her head. "Be human?"

Kira laughed, soft and tired. "Yeah. That."

Rina sat beside her—not across. Just beside.

"Then let's learn together."

Kira didn't respond with words.

She just leaned her head slightly… and rested it on Rina's shoulder.

Not programmed. Not perfect.

But real.