Chapter: 0.145: touch

(heat: Note Chapter Remake) 

For a long time, time itself seemed to stutter.

Rena stood there, frozen. Her mind, usually sharp and disciplined after hours of rigorous training under Her mother-in-law and Sion, had...faded. Her golden eyes were wide, unblinking, and her breath caught between her lungs and throat. The silence in the karaoke room fell like a thick, disorienting fog.

Her face was burned. No, not burned—*burned*. Her whole body felt like it was on fire.

*"Why Jin"*!!!!? 

Jin was completely frozen, his hand hovering in the air, barely touching her, as if he was hesitating: should he retreat or redouble his attack? His crimson eyes, usually filled with playful mischief, now shone with something entirely different—shock. Maybe a little horror. Maybe... curiosity?

They both remained completely still, as if fate itself had played a cosmic joke on them. For a moment, neither of them moved.

then-

"You…!" Rena stammered, her voice cracking as blood streamed down her face. "You pervert—*idiot*!"

She slapped his arm hard, belying her slim figure, and Jin—still a little stunned—didn't even resist. He took a step back, blinked once, then twice.

"Well," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't expect that."

"You expected?!" Rena screamed. "You… were *testing* me?"

He smiled shyly. "You didn't run away. That says something."

"They say you're *unbearable*!" she screamed, pointing a trembling finger at him, her cheeks glowing like molten gold. "And disgusting! And—and—*stupid*! And if I had another glass of juice in this room, I'd spill it all over your arrogant face!"

Jean bowed theatrically. "Your insults are my poem."

"Do you ever take anything seriously?!"

He straightened, his smile becoming softer, but it didn't disappear. "Only you."

That stopped her. A moment. Long enough for her heart to betray her again—fluttering off like a stupid little bird.

She bit her lower lip and looked away.

Silence fell again, not the awkward silence from before... but the one that buzzed beneath the surface with something *else*. Something unknown. A very loud sound inside Rena's ribcage.

Jin sat down again, this time without any provocation. For the first time, he gave her space.

"I'll behave," he said, his voice becoming quieter. Almost… sincere. "Tonight, we have to make it up to you. I promised, didn't I?"

Rena didn't answer immediately. She stood still, her fists clenched at her sides. Her breathing was ragged. Her heart was still beating fast. But not from anger anymore.

After a moment, she turned her head and looked at him. "You're impossible," she muttered.

"However," he said with a smile, "here I am. Your legal marriage is impossible."

This almost made her laugh. She choked back a laugh.

She sighed in resignation, then walked over to the table and sat across from him, carefully avoiding his gaze. She reached for a spoon and took some of the vanilla pudding he'd ordered earlier.

"...You owe me," she said quietly, her eyes fixed on the bowl.

"Everything," he answered very calmly.

---

They sat in comfortable silence for a while. Outside the shaded window of the private karaoke room, the moon hung thick and full over the academy's horizon, covering the sky in a cool silver color.

It was cold outside. But here, under the dim amber lights, surrounded by the warm echo of music still faintly echoing from the hallway, Rena felt... strangely safe.

Uncomfortable, not exactly.

But safe.

And I saw.

Jin didn't pressure her after that. Not with words or touch. He just sat there, eating a candy she probably didn't even like, and sipping juice from a strange flower-shaped straw.

Finally, he looked at her.

"You know…" he said in a low voice, "I've come a long way."

I blinked. "What?"

"Your control of mana. Your form. Even your presence." His tone was more serious now. "When you first arrived, you couldn't even walk down the hall without panicking."

"I wasn't in a panic," she said, huffing.

Jin smiled sarcastically. "That was a very dramatic fall."

Rena rolled her eyes in surprise, but... a faint smile spread across her lips. She looked down at her spoon. "You worked hard."

"I noticed."

silence.

Then he added calmly, "My mom and Sion weren't wrong to train you this way. But they were wrong to think you were just a tool for the name Amber Hart."

Rena looked at him then. Really looked at him.

He was slumped in his chair again, covered in a midnight black coat, his eyes shining like lit-from-within rubies. He was still sarcastic. He was still infuriating. He was still... him.

But at this moment, she saw something else beneath the mockery.

Respect.

And something like pride.

It meant more than I expected.

"..Thank you," she whispered.

Jin leaned back in satisfaction. "You're welcome, my dear wife."

I glared at him again. "Stop calling me that."

"I'll stop when it stops making you blush."

"*I don't blush!*"

He raised an eyebrow. "Your face says otherwise."

She picked up another spoonful of pudding and threw it on the table.

I hit his cheek with a *hit*.

He blinked and then slowly wiped it with one finger and licked it.

"Strawberry," he said. "Sweet."

"You're crazy," she moaned.

"Still," he smiled, "I'm yours."

She covered her face with her hands, wishing desperately that there was a portal to swallow her whole.

Outside, the moon continued to shine.

And somewhere, somehow, the night continued—filled with bad jokes, stolen glances, and the strange, slow beginning of something Rena couldn't name yet.

---

Heat: I have a question for you guys. Do you want me to develop Jin and Rena's relationship? But if I develop it more, there might be R18 scenes and some words that might make you addicted to the chapter. So, what do you think? Do you agree or do you want us to keep the same style of feelings and slow development? 🤔🤔