Chapter 6 – Dinner with a Dumbass Drawing

Narrator: After a week of chaos, Noa finally gets invited to a fancy dinner with her team plus a few clients which could mean real career progress if she doesn't mess it up.

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Determined to look normal for once, she leaves Reno at home with strict instructions to stay out of sight.

But Reno being Reno, shows up anyway in a suit Somehow. His grand entrance turns a professional dinner into a rom com disaster zone filled with jealous coworkers, spilled wine, and one very confused waiter who thinks Noa is dating a stripper.

Noa stood in front of the mirror adjusting her earrings like she was heading into battle.

"Okay! she muttered, It's just dinner. Just coworkers just clients, just the future of your career riding on your ability to not be a disaster."

She smoothed down her dress navy blue, classic cut modest neckline.

Professional, but still flattering Her makeup was subtle Her hair, finally cooperating.

Everything was under control, Except Reno

He was currently lounging upside down on her bed, shirtless, holding a wine glass full of cereal. "Why are you dressed like an unpaid intern's fever dream?" She asked, glaring at his plaid pajama pants and sunglasses.

"I'm embodying off-duty hot guy who's bad for your taxes," he said raising the glass like he was toasting her anxiety.

She grabbed her coat and pointed at him like she meant business.

"You are staying here, No exceptions, do not follow me, do not teleport, do not manifest in the bathroom of the restaurant."

"That was one time."

"It was this morning!"

He smiled. "You looked cute when you screamed."

She grabbed her purse and stormed out, muttering threats under her breath.

---

The restaurant was nicer than Noa expected. Crystal light fixtures, Real menus Zero cockroach sightings.

Her team was already seated in a private section, Her boss gave her a rare approving nod when she walked in.

Kaito was there too, looking extra dangerous in a black dress shirt and no tie.

He waved her over with a smile that made her knees wobble slightly.

Noa sat down, exhaled slowly and tried to act like a person who had it together.

Small talk started, The wine flowed. Someone cracked a joke about their last live broadcast failure Noa laughed it was nice.

Normal.

Which was exactly why it couldn't last.

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Halfway through the appetizers, the temperature shifted

People started whispering, Forks froze in midair and then she heard it.

A voice behind her,

"Table for one charming bastard?"

Noa's soul left her body, She turned around.

Reno stood at the entrance of the private room, wearing a black suit that somehow both fit perfectly and looked like it was stitched out of smugness. His hair was slicked back, His grin was criminal.

Someone gasped, Someone else choked on a breadstick. Kaito blinked. "Is that your cousin from Osaka?" Noa wanted to crawl into the soup.

---

Reno walked over like he owned the place, nodded at her boss, and casually pulled up a chair beside her.

"Evening," he said smoothly. "Hope I'm not late. Traffic was hell. A cat yelled at me."

Her boss gave Noa a confused smile. "You didn't mention your partner was joining us."

Noa's mouth opened. No words came out.

Reno leaned in. "She's shy. Isn't it cute?"

Kaito looked visibly amused.

Her coworker Rika looked visibly homicidal.

"Nice suit," someone muttered.

Reno winked. "Thanks, Found it in a sketchy dream sequence." Noa kicked him under the table, Hard! He didn't flinch.

Instead, he picked up a wine glass sniffed it like a sommelier then downed it in one go.

"I can taste the capitalism," he said.

Someone clapped.

Noa died again.

---

Dinner continued.

Sort of.

Every time Noa tried to steer the conversation toward work, Reno made it weird.

When her boss asked about the station's upcoming promo, Reno said, "We should do it shirtless. That always gets clicks."

When a client mentioned their ad budget, Reno asked, "Is it enough for matching underwear?" When the waiter came by with dessert menus

Reno ordered "one emotionally available man and some crème brûlée."

People laughed. Too much, Too loud.

Somehow, Reno was charming in that unhinged rom-com love interest kind of way just enough charm to be dangerous just enough chaos to be unforgettable.

Noa wasn't sure if she wanted to kill him or marry him.

Probably both.

---

After dessert, as people slowly filtered out, Kaito walked up beside her.

"So," he said. "That guy's definitely not your cousin." Noa sighed. "You have no idea."

"He's… something."

"That's one way to put it."

Kaito smiled. "If you ever need rescuing from your sketchbook boyfriend, I'm available. For coffee or intervention."

She gave him a half-smile, "I'll keep that in mind." He walked off.

Noa turned back to Reno, who was now trying to tip the waiter with a fake business card that read "Reno Full Time Problem"*.

"Let's go," she muttered.

"Aw. But I was just about to pitch a spin-off."

She dragged him out by the sleeve.

As they stepped into the cool night air, Reno looked up at the stars and said, "Did I ruin everything?" She looked at him.

He was still in that perfect suit

Still grinning, Still absolutely not supposed to exist. "No! she said softly "You ruined it perfectly."

He beamed. "You're welcome."