Chapter 27
Yuki stepped out of the bank with a wad of cash tucked safely into his wallet. The cool city air brushed against his cheeks as he made his way toward the subway entrance. He could've hailed a cab, maybe even gotten himself a driver now that he had the money—but no. The subway had always been his thing. Crowded, noisy, alive.
It reminded him of home before it turned haywire. Yuki hopped in, gripping the overhead bar above his head on the train. He stared out the window, his reflection warped by the graffiti-covered glass. The subway jolted to a stop at the next station. Yuki stepped out and climbed the stairs to the street level, eyes scanning his surroundings out of habit. That's when he saw it.
A brand-new women's boutique, tucked between a ramen shop and a mobile store. The mannequins in the window were dressed in delicate fabrics and soft pastels, things he knew Aiko would look breathtaking in. He stopped walking, brows raised.
Pulling out his phone, he tapped into his banking app.
Balance: ¥382,000
He grinned.
"Damn," he muttered, shoving his phone back into his pocket. "I'm rich."
His eyes drifted back to the store window. A gift. Something small, maybe a scarf or a necklace. Nothing too flashy—but enough to make Aiko smile. Maybe even enough to make her heart flutter. Maybe...
Maybe she'd fall for him, too.
Just as he took a step toward the store, his thoughts screeched to a halt.
"Oh crap..." he murmured aloud, eyes widening. "Aiko's lecture..."