Chapter 12: Reze

·Chapter 12: Reze7 JunShareReze.

Renji Kuroda recognized the woman the moment she stepped into the coffee shop.

Today, Reze looked nothing like a weapon of mass destruction. She wore a casual loose T-shirt and tight jeans that accentuated her long legs, making her look like any other pretty, laid-back girl out for the day. Around her neck was a black choker with a pull tab—a delicate yet dangerous accessory that gave her a mysterious, seductive allure.

The Bomb Woman.

Renji knew her. Knew what she was capable of the moment she tugged that little black tab.

His eyes scanned the room. At some point, the coffee shop had filled up, every seat now taken—groups of two or three chattering softly over the aroma of roasted beans. Only his table remained mostly empty, with spare seats waiting. He half-smiled to himself. Surely, he thought, things would go as they usually did. Reze would spot his open space, walk over with a polite smile and say—

"Excuse me, mind if I sit here?"

A perfect script.

But reality had no interest in his fantasies.

Renji watched in quiet surprise as Reze walked right past his table and straight to the counter. She was talking with the shop owner—clearly staff.

He let out a low laugh, mocking himself.

Old habits, huh?

Even back in his original world, he'd been a shut-in, always clinging to the delusion that the world spun around him. That somehow, somewhere, a beautiful girl would just... notice him. Approach him. Fall into his orbit.

Be it in cafés, classrooms, anime expos, or street corners—no matter how little they knew about him.

He had completely forgotten the simplest detail: Reze worked here.

Putting the thought aside, Renji dug back into his dessert, planning to finish and head home for a nap.

Behind the counter, the shop owner shot Reze a sharp look. Her lips pressed into a frown. "You're late again," she muttered, annoyed.

Reze didn't respond. Her attention was elsewhere—locked in one direction, subtle but unmistakable.

The owner followed her gaze—and sighed.

She was staring at that delicate-looking girl seated alone, quietly enjoying her dessert.

The "girl" was Renji Kuroda in his current form.

The owner frowned deeper. "The late portion will be deducted from your pay."

Reze pouted. "Stingy~"

"Get to work. That coffee's for the girl you've been ogling. Brew it and deliver it."

With that, the manager took off her apron and disappeared into the back kitchen.

Reze put on her own apron and moved behind the counter. Her motions were smooth and practiced, but her eyes kept drifting.

Renji was savoring the last bite of his dessert when a cup of coffee slid onto his table.

He looked up. Reze stood there, smiling playfully, a party popper in one hand.

Ding~ Detected host's first acquaintance with a main plot character, Reze. System rewards 3 points.

"Hello, beautiful big sister~ Here's your coffee~"

—Bang!—

Confetti burst in the air as the popper exploded beside the table, streamers floating down like falling flower petals.

"Boom boom boom boom Congratulations, beautiful big sister! You're our 50th customer today! Please accept this special gift from the café~"

With a flourish, Reze reached behind her back and pulled out a freshly bloomed rose, presenting it with a theatrical flick of her wrist. Its soft fragrance drifted between them.

Renji blinked in mild surprise. He accepted the rose with a quiet thank you, then returned to his dessert. He didn't say much more.

Reze blinked. That wasn't the reaction she expected.

She leaned in slightly, eyes sparkling.

"No return gift?" she asked, half-playful, half-serious.

Renji looked up, caught off guard. "Huh? I need to give one back?"

She nodded, pouting ever so slightly. "Of course. That rose was from my own wallet, you know. It's not cheap~"

From the back kitchen came the unmistakable voice of the shop owner, sharp with sarcasm:"Oi! Reze! Don't flirt with customers just because they're cute! Get back to work!"

Reze stuck out her tongue, grinning sheepishly. She gave Renji a small shrug."Don't mind her. She loves teasing me. I didn't mean anything by it. Please enjoy your drink and dessert."

She turned to leave.

"Boss!" Renji suddenly called out. "Another coffee—on me. For this waitress."

The manager reappeared from the back, her expression unreadable.

"Are you sure, customer?"

Renji nodded.

She raised an eyebrow, glanced at Reze, opened her mouth like she might object—but stopped herself and sighed.

"Alright. One more coffee, coming up."

Renji smiled slightly and gestured to the empty seat.

"Sit down. Call it my return gift."

Reze's lips parted slightly in surprise. Then she tilted her head, that signature mischievous glint returning to her eyes. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

"Oh~?"

Then, she sat directly beside Renji Kuroda, hooked her arm around his wrist, and pressed herself tightly against his body.

Renji was startled by this sudden action. He had expected Reze to sit in the opposite seat, but he didn't expect her to sit directly beside him—and so close.

Feeling the warmth emanating from Reze, he could only move further inward, trying to maintain some distance. But Reze immediately pressed closer again, clearly intending to be intimate with him.

Her forwardness made Renji feel very uncomfortable. He was not good at dealing with such proactive people. The distance between them was so close that Renji could even feel the heat radiating from Reze. His breathing and heart rate accelerated.

The atmosphere gradually began to develop in a strange direction.

"You... you're like this, I... I'm a bit uncomfortable. Isn't there an empty seat opposite?"

Reze didn't reply; she just giggled at Renji.

"Ding~ Detected Reze's emotion of pity. System rewards 10 points."

This sudden system prompt instantly pulled Renji out of that subtle, ambiguous atmosphere and back to reality.

Pity?

Renji was startled. Reze was pitying him? Feeling sorry for him? Why? A series of thoughts flashed through his mind, and then he suddenly remembered Reze's true identity—wasn't she a Soviet spy?!

So that's it. She thinks I've completely fallen for her, and started to like her, that her seduction worked, so she's pitying me, feeling sorry for me?

Renji thought to himself, quickly recalling all the interactions he'd just had with Reze.

Has she already figured out my male identity? Does she want my body? Eh? No, that's not right…?

In the original work, this should have been between Denji and Reze, so why is it me and Reze now?

No, this can't go on, I need to do something...

"Ding~ Detected Reze's emotion of nervousness. System rewards 15 points."

Not good! Reze seems to have noticed my reaction!

"Your coffee~ Enjoy~"

At this moment, the coffee Renji had ordered was finally ready, and the boss brought it over.

Reze picked up the coffee cup, carefully took a sip, and savored it.

However, just then, Renji suddenly made an unexpected move.

He quietly reached his hand into Reze's apron, placing it on her thigh. Even through a layer of jeans, Renji could still feel the softness and tenderness of her skin.

His fingers gently caressed it, teasing Reze.

"Ding~ Detected Reze's shocked emotion, system rewards 15 points."

"—Cough—cough—cough!—"

Reze suddenly coughed, spraying coffee from her mouth.

...guys , run to my p@ treon Rene _ chan :)