She Left me Breathless... and a House

The Next Day – Afternoon

Riku stirred awake, his body a map of pleasant soreness that made him smile before his eyes even opened. Last night had been... incredible. Life-changing, even.

But as consciousness returned, something felt off.

Silence.

He blinked at the ceiling, sunlight bleeding through the curtains. The space beside him was cold.

"Yumi?" he called, voice rough.

No answer.

The apartment looked like a battlefield, pillows scattered, furniture misaligned, clothes trailing across the floor like breadcrumbs from the chaos of passion.

But she was gone.

Riku forced himself up, each movement coaxing another memory to the surface.

Damn… how many times did we even go at it? Shower. Kitchen. Against the wall. He'd lost count. Just the thought made him grin.

But Where is She?

He checked the kitchen. Empty. Bathroom? Nothing. Her yoga studio? Silent.

The clock blinked: 1:37 PM.

"Twelve hours?" He rubbed his face. "She really drained me dry... in every sense."

That's when he noticed from the corner of his eyes.

An envelope on the nightstand, which survive the storm somehow.

His heart skipped as he opened it. Inside, a handwritten letter, and something else. A sleek, black card with gold trim. Heavy. Expensive.

"Midnight Club."

And his name was etched in silver:

"Riku Asano"

___

"Last night was beautiful. You made me feel things I thought I'd buried forever. But I can't stay. I'm not who you think I am not just a yoga trainer.

You'll understand one day. Maybe sooner than you think.

This card will guide you, if you can figure it out. If not, perhaps we were never meant to be.

I've left you this house and the studio. It's yours now.

We'll meet again, Riku.

—Yumi"

He read it again.

She left just like that...?

The ache in his chest deepened. Her scent still lingered in the sheets. On the walls. In his mind. She had flipped his world upside down, taught him things about his body, his power, his presence.

And now, she was gone.

He sat on the bed, staring at the card, her words echoing in his mind.

"From here on..." he said to his reflection in the mirror, "...I'll be a new man."

"And I'll definitely find you, hopefully with the help of system. "

His jaw tightened. A promise, not a wish.

Let's check the rewards first and then figure out something.

"System."

A soft hum answered.

___

[MIDNIGHT SYSTEM – STATUS PANEL]

[Host: Riku Asano]

Focus: 5

Charisma: 8

Stamina: 9

Libido: 8

Composure: 6

[E-Cap Earned: +3600]

[Total Available MP: 37.2]

[Skills]

Primordial Alpha – Active – On Cooldown (29 Days)

---

"Thirty-six hundred points in one night?" Riku blinked, then laughed. "Guess I earned that. I mean... we even broke the damn showerhead."

But something else stuck in his mind. He pulled out the black card again.

Midnight Club. Midnight System...

"System, are you connected to this?" he asked.

[Advanced information unavailable. System upgrade required]

"...Wait...upgrade? System can be upgraded? "

[Affirmative. Current System Rank: UNRANKED. To reach Rank 1, all core stats must be raised to 20]

"So I'm not even level one yet?" he muttered.

[Correct. Unranked = Baseline Mode. System features remain limited.]

He scoffed. "No wonder you ghost me half the time."

Riku shook his head, smiling. "Fine. Let's get to work."

"Show me the shop."

---

[MIDNIGHT SYSTEM – SKILL SHOP]

[Available MP: 37.2]

[Body Sculpt (Passive) – 6.0 MP]

[Fat trims. Muscle tightens. Jawline and symmetry subtly optimized]

[Voice of Velvet (Passive) – 3.5 MP]

[Your voice gains an alluring depth. Conversations linger. Commands hit harder]

[Posture Protocol (Passive) – 3.0 MP]

[Instantly aligns posture. Boosts height 1–2cm. Projects confidence and elegance]

[Microexpression Mastery (Passive)– 2.0 MP]

[Read others. Control your own. Persuasion and emotional manipulation improved]

[Bank Injection – ¥100,000 (Instant Cash) – 2.0 MP]

[Funds delivered. No trace. No questions]

[Other Skills Available But Skipped:]

Crowd Magnet Aura – Too flashy.

Seduction Matrix – Locked.

Hyper Libido – Dangerous. Not yet.

Abs Pack (Visual Only) – Nah. Not cheating.

---

Riku smirked. "We go subtle. Strategic. Strong."

[Purchase Confirmed: Body Sculpt ]

Heat spread across his body. Subtle, steady. He didn't grow bulkier, but leaner. Sharper. His reflection was still him... only better.

[Purchase Confirmed: Voice of Velvet]

He cleared his throat. "Testing..."

Even that one word sounded... captivating. Like someone you wanted to keep listening to.

[Purchase Confirmed: Posture Protocol]

There was a faint crack in his spiin, followed by a stretch. His back straightened, chin lifted. The posture of someone who never doubted himself.

[Purchase Confirmed: Microexpression Mastery]

[Knowledge bled in. Subconscious cues. Blinks. Twitches. He could read people like a second language—and mask himself like a master]

[Purchase Confirmed: Bank Injection – ¥100,000]

Ping.

His phone buzzed. New deposit. Clean. Instant.

___

[Updated Skills Panel]

[Primordial Alpha – On Cooldown (29 Days)]

[Body Sculpt – Tier I (Passive)]

[Voice of Velvet (Passive)]

[Posture Protocol (Passive)]

[Microexpression Mastery (Passive)]

[Remaining MP: 20.2]

___

Riku let out a slow breath, staring at the glowing screen in front of him.

A smile curled at the corner of his lips. He wasn't just imagining this anymore.

"Alright… let's boost the foundation."

He dragged open the [Stat Allocation] tab.

He began assigning the remaining points, not all at once, but with quiet intention.

---

[Stat Points Allocated]

Stamina: 9 → 10

Charisma: 8 → 10

Composure: 6 → 10

Focus: 5 → 10

Libido: 8 → 10

---

The final number blinked in the corner:

[Remaining MP: 6.2]

"Let's keep that," Riku muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Rainy day reserve."

He could already feel the upgrades kicking in. His spine aligned without effort, like a string had been pulled taut through his back. His shoulders settled into a natural square. Even his voice carried differently now, deeper, smoother, like velvet with weight.

And then....

He caught a whiff of himself and winced.

"God…" He took a cautious sniff. "What the hell is coming out of me?"

His whole body felt… purging. Like it was shedding something old. Sweat. Toxins. Whatever it was, it reeked.

He made a beeline for the bathroom.

---

[After the Shower]

The water had been scalding. He wanted it that way,like burning off the past. Steam still clung to his skin as he toweled off, sharp droplets tracing new contours along his chest, arms, jawline.

Everything felt leaner. Tighter. Smarter.

Back in the room, he moved with a strange new ease, like gravity had shifted in his favor. He stepped in front of the mirror, towel around his waist, and finally met his own gaze.

No.

Not his.

Someone else's.

The man staring back looked sculpted, precise. His eyes held a quiet intensity, posture radiating control. His skin looked clearer, his jaw sharper. Even the way he breathed felt deliberate—measured.

Composed. Charismatic. Confident.

He took a slow breath and ran a hand through his damp hair, pushing it back. No more slouch. No more second-guessing.

This wasn't just an upgrade.

It was an arrival.

His lips curled into a calm, knowing smile.

"And tomorrow…" he said quietly, locking eyes with himself,

"…I won't be who I am today."

From his pants pocket, where he'd tossed them on the chair, the black card pulsed once. Subtle. Waiting.

Whatever game Yumi had started…

He was ready to play.

All in.