"Do you think I'm not pretty?"
A flicker of insecurity passed through Morena's eyes. Within the Heil-Ly Family, she held the highest authority, standing above all others. Even across the Kakin Empire, her status was significant. Yet when standing in front of Ron, Morena felt uncertain, worried that he might dislike her because of the scar on her face.
She stared at Ron with unease, her body trembling slightly.
"No." Ron shook his head.
Morena instantly broke into a smile. "Hmm, thank you, Shall we go see a movie?"
They bought tickets and entered the theater, picking a film at random. Since arriving in this world, Ron had never really been interested in such things—most of his focus had gone into acquiring strength. His pursuit of gourmet experiences was only due to obtaining the "Gourmet Cells" ability. Founding the "Yoshihiro Togashi" platform had likewise been a means to boost the visibility of his second shadow ability.
....Come to think of it, this was the first time Ron had ever watched a movie in the proper sense—a moody romance film.
Morena completely relaxed, fully immersed in the story. At times, she even empathized with the female lead—or perhaps saw parts of herself in her.
A tear escaped her eye, landing silently on her chest. Ron calmly handed her a tissue at the right moment.
"Ron, can I ask you something?"
"What do you think love is?"
"Love… is mutual affection, I suppose."
"And what is affection?"
Ron shook his head slightly. "That's hard to define clearly. If I had to explain… maybe it's that when you see the other person for the first time, your heartbeat accelerates. When you're not with them, you think about them. Just thinking about them makes you happy. And simply seeing them feels like happiness."
When the movie ended, the two stepped back out onto the street. Night had fallen completely, though the city lights still glowed brightly, casting overlapping shadows on the ground. A cool wind swept past them.
Suddenly, Morena stopped walking. "Ron."
"Hm?" Ron turned to face her.
"I like you." Morena looked at him with hopeful eyes. "Do you like me?"
Ron paused, his thoughts spinning. He did admired Morena for her resilience as well as her strength. Few, especially those with her background, could accomplish what she had done: claw her way to the top of the Heil-Ly Family. Her scars were more than simply physical; they were evidence of the struggles she had faced and the suffering she had endured.
He didn't think they were ugly at all but rather just made her more beautiful than she already was. But what truly drew Ron in was the fire that burned behind her eyes.
He looked into her hopeful eyes and nodded.
A burst of joy and delight lit up Morena's face. Ron extended his hand. Morena quickly slipped hers into his, their fingers interlocking.
Neither of them said another word—they simply walked like that in silence, hand in hand, until late into the night.
The next day, something subtle had changed between them. They were no longer just friends—they had become lovers. Morena left all her responsibilities in Kakin behind, fully absorbed in her time with Ron, like a young girl deeply in love.
And truthfully, Morena was still quite young, not much older than Ron. The two wandered the city, ate good food, went to amusement parks—doing all the things lovers normally did. For those few days, they seemed like ordinary people.
That was Morena's wish. And for Ron, those days brought a different kind of gain—a chance to slow down and observe what "normal life" felt like.
As night fell once more, they returned to their hotel suite. Erina's figure appeared in the kitchen, busily preparing a meal.
"She's your Nen Beast?" Morena asked.
"One of the best chefs in the world!."
Morena glanced in Erina's direction with a puzzled look. "Wouldn't something be a waste of energy? Using your Nen to develop a lifestyle-based ability—doesn't that hold you back from growing stronger?"
Without "Gourmet Cells," that might have been true. Most people would think so. But Ron's answer was simple.
"Just a little. Not much."
"Life isn't only about strength. There are many other things, aren't there?"
Morena was briefly stunned, then nodded.
Soon, the dishes Erina had prepared were served. Ron gave the mental command, and Erina vanished. In the center of the table were beautifully plated dishes; beside them, a bottle of red wine. Forks, knives, and chopsticks were set neatly beside the plates.
She picked up her fork, lifted a bite, and placed it in her mouth. The moment it touched her tongue, her eyes lit up.
"Delicious! It's incredible. I've never tasted anything before—not even in Gourmet Paradise."
"You know about Gourmet Paradise?" Ron asked.
She nodded. "Yes. In fact, I visited once when I was very young. The food there was the best I've ever had—without question. But the meal your Nen Beast just made was even better. Just with this alone, Ron, you could open a restaurant that people would line up endlessly to visit."
Ron chuckled. "If you like it, eat more."
He raised his wine glass. Morena quickly followed, and the two clinked glasses lightly before taking small sips.
Placing her glass down, Morena glanced at the bottle beside her. "This wine is already excellent, but after tasting this food, I can't help but feel it doesn't do the meal justice."
Outside, the lights of the city were gradually dimming.
They had moved from the dining area to the window, dinner now finished. Seated side by side in chairs, they looked out at the night skyline.
The scent of alcohol lingered in the air. Compared to Erina's cooking, the wine didn't quite match in quality, but that didn't stop them from drinking a fair amount. For Nen users, the alcohol posed no real effect—it was all about atmosphere.
Both of them were slightly tipsy. Morena turned to look at Ron, eyes glittering as if tears were about to spill.
Unconsciously, she leaned closer. Her lips were moist and red, alluringly soft. Ron placed one hand on her shoulder, the other gently at her waist.
------------------------
You can read up to 120 Advanced chapters!