Sunday morning continued quietly across the 13th floor room of Jin Corp.
The world outside still carried faint traces of dawn, soft sunlight slipping through the tall windows in long golden streaks that stretched lazily across the carpet and bed.
The air felt warm and peaceful, wrapped in the kind of calm that only existed on slow weekends where time itself seemed reluctant to move forward.
Inside the room, everything was still.
Except for the faint sound of water running from the bathroom.
Jin was inside the washroom, getting ready for the morning while steam lightly fogged part of the glass door from within.
Meanwhile, Lily sat alone on the bed.
Still wearing her white robe.
Still slightly messy from waking up not long ago.
She sat cross-legged comfortably near the center of the mattress with a sketchbook resting across her lap, one hand supporting the page while the other moved softly with a pencil.
Scratch.
Scratch.
Tiny graphite sounds filled the quiet room.
Lily hummed faintly under her breath while sketching scenery art onto the paper with focused little movements.
Trees.
Clouds.
An open sky.
Gentle landscape shading spreading carefully across the page.
“Hm… just a bit more shading…” she whispered to herself seriously.
Her silver hair slipped over one shoulder as she leaned closer toward the sketchbook, tongue peeking out slightly in concentration while she darkened part of a tree shadow with slow pencil strokes.
For several moments, she remained completely absorbed in artist mode.
Then suddenly… her pencil stopped.
Lily’s silver eyes slowly shifted toward the bathroom door.
The sound of running water still echoed faintly from inside.
A sly little smile appeared on her face.
Not evil.
Not dangerous.
Just… suspiciously adorable.
An idea had formed.
And unfortunately for Jin, Lily’s ideas usually came wrapped in chaos.
She quietly closed her sketchbook.
Carefully placed it aside on the bed.
Then slipped off the mattress as silently as possible.
Her bare feet padded softly against the carpet while she walked toward the small couch positioned in front of the bed.
After reaching it, Lily slowly lowered herself onto the floor beside the couch.
Then dramatically rested her head sideways against the couch cushion.
Eyes closed instantly.
Silver hair spread softly across the edge of the couch like spilled moonlight.
She stayed completely still.
Very still.
Trying with all her might to look asleep.
Even though her lips were visibly fighting a smile.
Inside the bathroom, the water finally stopped.
A few moments later— the washroom door opened.
Jin stepped out slowly, black robe loosely tied around him while faint dampness still lingered in his dark hair.
A few wet strands rested against his forehead, giving him a more relaxed appearance than usual.
For a second, he simply stood there.
Then his eyes landed on Lily.
The “sleeping” Lily.
Curled dramatically beside the couch like some abandoned fairytale princess.
Silence filled the room.
Jin stared.
Then a tiny smirk appeared.
“Trying to fool me…” he muttered quietly.
Without another word, he calmly walked toward her.
His footsteps were unhurried.
Measured.
Lily remained perfectly still the entire time.
Though internally she was already panicking because she could feel him getting closer.
Closer.
Closer—
And suddenly— she was airborne.
“KYAA?!”
Lily’s eyes flew open in shock as Jin effortlessly lifted her bridal style into his arms.
Her entire plan collapsed instantly.
Bright red embarrassment exploded across her face while she grabbed onto his robe on instinct.
“Jinnn!!”
She buried her face straight into his chest while kicking her legs lightly mid-air in panic.
Jin didn’t even react.
He simply carried her calmly toward the bed with quiet amusement in his eyes.
Lily continued wiggling helplessly in his arms the entire way.
Like a tiny kitten caught sneaking food off the counter.
“You were awake the whole time!” she complained dramatically into his chest.
“Hm,” Jin answered lazily.
“Your acting skills were terrible.”
“They were not!”
“They were.”
“I practiced!”
“That somehow makes it worse.”
Lily let out a tiny offended noise and squirmed even harder.
Unfortunately… that was the exact moment Jin stepped near the edge of the bed.
His footing slipped slightly against the blanket hanging over the mattress corner.
The balance shift was small.
But enough.
Both of them tilted sideways suddenly.
And then— fwump.
They fell together onto the bed.
The mattress absorbed the impact softly as blankets crumpled beneath them in a chaotic mess.
For one second neither moved.
Then Lily lifted her head slightly.
And realized she was laying directly on top of Jin.
One of her hands pressed against his chest.
Her knee trapped between his legs awkwardly.
Jin beneath her.
Looking mildly betrayed by gravity itself.
A laugh escaped Lily first.
Small.
Breathy.
Then Jin unexpectedly laughed too.
Quietly.
The sound surprised both of them.
The tension instantly shattered into playful warmth.
Lily smiled brightly for half a second before suddenly realizing their position again.
Her entire face turned red.
Immediately she lightly punched his chest.
“Baka!”
Jin smirked calmly beneath her.
“You can’t fool me.”
Lily pouted deeply.
Then, to hide her embarrassment, immediately buried her face into the side of his neck again.
“Stupid husband-to-be…” she mumbled.
Jin froze instantly.
A faint blush appeared across his cheeks almost at once.
“…Um.”
He awkwardly looked away toward the ceiling.
“And my wife-to-be…”
That somehow made Lily even redder.
She made a tiny squeaking sound before hiding her face completely against his chest now.
The two of them stayed like that for several seconds in mutual embarrassment while sunlight continued spilling warmly across the messy bed.
Finally Jin sighed softly and started shifting slightly beneath her.
Trying to sit up properly.
But the moment he moved—
Lily clutched his robe tightly.
“No, Jin…”
Her voice turned small again.
Sleepy.
Soft.
“Stay…”
Jin blinked once.
Looked down at the silver-haired girl curled atop him like an overly clingy cat.
Then sighed helplessly.
“Okay, okay…”
Instantly Lily relaxed again.
Her body softened comfortably against his chest while she quietly settled there without resistance now.
The room became peaceful once more.
Warm sunlight spread across the tangled blanket.
The sketchbook still rested abandoned nearby.
And atop the bed, Lily remained curled comfortably on Jin while he laid beneath her with resigned amusement in his eyes.
After few seconds..
The morning sunlight stretched lazily across the bed, painting soft gold over the tangled black blanket and scattered sketch papers.
The air carried that quiet Sunday stillness that only existed before the rest of the world woke up properly.
Warm.
Slow.
Comfortable.
Lily remained curled atop Jin for another few seconds after their playful tumble, her cheek still pressed against his chest while his heartbeat thudded steadily beneath her ear.
Then, suddenly, she lifted her head.
Her silver hair slid over her shoulders in soft waves as she slowly pushed herself upward.
Jin blinked once in confusion.
Lily rose carefully until she was lightly straddling his waist on the bed, the loose white robe draping softly around her thighs.
She stared down at him with unusual seriousness.
Then gave one determined nod.
Jin looked up at her silently.
“…What?” he asked flatly.
Lily ignored the question completely.
Instead, she climbed off him and shifted beside him on the bed, sitting cross-legged with dramatic importance.
She reached for her sketchbook, pulled it onto her lap, then opened it with the energy of a teacher beginning an important lecture.
The pages fluttered softly.
Jin already looked tired.
Lily pointed at him accusingly with her pencil.
“I am gonna teach you how to make art.”
Jin immediately frowned.
“Boooring.”
Lily narrowed her eyes instantly.
Her expression transformed into mock-serious teacher mode.
“Nah-uh,” she declared firmly.
“You will learn now.”
Jin let out a long dramatic sigh, shoulders slumping backward against the headboard.
It was the sigh of a man realizing resistance was useless.
Then she placed the sketchbook between them and handed him a pencil.
“Sketch.”
Jin stared at the pencil like she had handed him a weapon from another planet.
“A tree.”
Silence.
Jin slowly looked at the blank page.
Then at Lily.
Then back at the page.
Inside his head, pride was dying quietly.
Lily watched him closely for a moment before a sly little smirk appeared on her face.
She tilted her head thoughtfully, pretending to consider something.
Then casually murmured, “Maybe… I’ll give you a sweet kiss if you’re a good boy.”
Jin nearly dropped the pencil.
He snapped his head toward her immediately.
“Wha…?” His ears reddened instantly.
“I don’t want that!”
Lily just stared at him with the most unconvinced expression imaginable.
“Mhm.”
“That reaction says otherwise.”
“It doesn’t.”
“It does.”
“It doesn’t.”
“It absolutely does.”
Jin clicked his tongue softly.
“Tch…”
Then finally lowered the pencil toward the paper.
“I’m only doing this because it’s something new.”
“Mhm.”
“And not because of your weird bribe.”
“Mhm.”
“You’re not listening.”
“I’m listening perfectly.”
Jin glared at her.
Lily smiled innocently.
The pencil finally began moving.
At first, his movements were stiff and awkward.
Careful.
Almost overly precise.
He drew the trunk with sharp rigid lines, then harsh branches extending outward aggressively.
Lily leaned closer slowly.
And stared.
The tree somehow looked threatening.
Like it paid taxes angrily.
Like it had unresolved trauma.
She pressed her lips together.
Then suddenly burst into soft giggles.
Jin narrowed his eyes immediately.
“What?”
Lily pointed at the sketch while laughing quietly.
“Why does your tree look like it wants revenge?”
“It’s a strong tree.”
“It looks emotionally unavailable.”
“It’s disciplined.”
“It looks like it files lawsuits.”
Jin crossed his arms slightly with annoyance.
“You asked for a tree.”
“I didn’t ask for villain backstory tree.”
Another laugh escaped her before she scooted closer beside him on the bed.
Their shoulders brushed lightly together.
Jin stiffened faintly at the sudden closeness.
Lily gently reached over and wrapped her fingers around his wrist holding the pencil.
Her touch was soft and warm.
“See?” she whispered patiently.
“Trees aren’t stiff.”
She guided his hand slowly across the page.
“The lines should flow more softly…”
The pencil glided in curved motions now under her guidance.
Gentler.
More natural.
“Branches bend naturally,” she explained quietly.
“And shading should feel light here…”
She leaned even closer while sketching a tiny example beside his drawing.
Her silver hair brushed softly against his shoulder.
Jin’s eyes followed every tiny movement of her pencil carefully.
The soft shading.
The leaf texture.
The subtle curved structure.
For the first time, genuine focus appeared in his expression.
Lily noticed instantly.
A smug smile slowly formed.
“See?” she whispered proudly.
“Not boring.”
Jin replied immediately without looking away from the page.
“Still boring.”
But he kept sketching.
Lily’s smile widened.
Morning sunlight warmed the bed quietly while time drifted by peacefully around them.
Only soft pencil strokes filled the room now.
Scratch.
Scratch.
Occasionally interrupted by Lily’s gentle explanations.
“No, softer there.”
“…less stabbing motion.”
“You’re drawing bark, not murder.”
Jin exhaled through his nose.
“You complain too much.”
“And you draw violent vegetation.”
Another ten minutes passed.
Slowly, the second tree began taking shape.
Better proportions.
Smoother branches.
Actual shading.
More depth.
Less… homicidal energy.
Lily blinked slowly while staring at it.
Then looked at Jin.
Then back at the page again.
“…Wait.”
Jin raised one brow.
“You’re actually talented.”
A small smug smirk appeared instantly on his face.
“Naturally.”
Lily puffed her cheeks and lightly nudged his shoulder.
“Arrogant…”
Jin leaned back slightly against the headboard with quiet satisfaction while Lily kept staring at the improved sketch.
Then her expression softened.
A tiny smile appeared.
Without warning, she leaned toward him.
Jin noticed too late.
A soft quick kiss landed against his cheek.
Warm.
Tiny.
Barely longer than a heartbeat.
“Reward for good student,” she whispered softly.
Jin froze completely.
The pencil stopped mid-air.
His entire body went still.
Slowly, very slowly, a blush spread across his face again.
Lily immediately hugged the sketchbook against herself proudly like a victorious teacher.
“Hehe…”
Jin stared ahead silently for several seconds.
Then muttered under his breath,
“…unfair.”
Lily tilted her head innocently.
“What is?”
“You.”
That only made her smile brighter.
The sunlight continued spilling across the messy blankets and scattered papers while the quiet Sunday morning stretched onward around them.
One learning art.
One learning affection.
And neither realizing just how deeply they were already becoming part of each other’s worlds.
After an hour
The bed had become an absolute disaster zone.
Sketch papers were scattered everywhere across the black blanket like casualties of war.
Trees.
Shading attempts.
Half-finished scenery sketches.
One suspiciously angry apple.
Jin leaned back heavily against the headboard with a low groan escaping him.
His black robe sat slightly crooked now from hours of unwilling artistic labor, one sleeve loosened near the wrist while his hair had fallen messily over part of his forehead.
“…Drawings are worst,” he muttered dramatically.
Across from him, Lily sat cross-legged on the bed with the proud glow of a teacher whose student had finally survived kindergarten.
Her silver hair spilled over her shoulders while she hugged the sketchbook to her chest protectively.
“But you did that,” she replied calmly.
Jin crossed his arms lightly.
“Because it was new.”
Lily’s lips slowly curled upward.
That dangerous knowing smile again.
“No…” she whispered softly.
Then leaned a tiny bit closer.
“Because it was me.”
Silence.
Jin immediately paused.
Blinked once.
Then let out a defeated sigh through his nose.
No counterargument arrived.
Because unfortunately…
She was right.
Lily looked unbearably victorious.
Jin leaned his head back against the headboard afterward, eyes drifting upward toward the ceiling while the morning sunlight continued warming the room softly.
For a few moments, silence returned.
But slowly…
The softness in his eyes faded little by little into something colder.
Focused.
“Hmm…” he thought quietly.
“Guard 137 chapter closed…”
“And Toyo is in the cell too…”
His gaze narrowed faintly.
“Guess all side quests completed.”
The warmth of the room almost clashed against the sharpness returning to his mind.
Now only one thing remained.
His father.
The killer.
The unanswered past hanging over everything.
Jin’s fingers tapped lightly against the blanket.
“Now I can finally focus on finding father’s killer.”
A faint tension settled in his jaw.
Then another thought surfaced.
“Natsumi…”
“I have to contact Natsumi for further investigations.”
Before the thought could deepen further though—
The mattress bounced lightly beside him.
“Darlinggg~”
Jin malfunctioned instantly.
He blinked hard and turned toward Lily.
A blush appeared with absurd speed.
“…What?”
Lily giggled softly at the reaction before scooting closer beside him on the bed.
Then even closer.
Until her shoulder pressed against his arm.
Then, naturally, she wrapped herself around one of his arms and clung to it like it belonged there permanently.
Which, increasingly…
It did.
She tilted her head upward toward him with soft sleepy eyes.
“Cradle my hairs…”
Jin immediately reacted on instinct.
“Nonsense.”
Lily puffed her cheeks instantly.
No words.
Just a pout.
A devastatingly effective one.
Jin stared at her for exactly three seconds before his resistance collapsed like wet paper.
Same story as always.
“Tch…”
Slowly, he lifted one hand.
Then gently rested it against her silver hair.
His fingers slid softly through the strands before cradling the back of her head carefully.
Lily melted instantly.
A tiny spoiled happy sound escaped her throat.
“Mmm…”
She nuzzled deeply into his shoulder, relaxing completely against him like a cat finally finding the warmest spot in the house.
Jin looked away slightly afterward, pretending this situation was perfectly normal.
Even while continuing to stroke her hair slowly.
The room became quiet again.
Warm sunlight.
Messy blankets.
The faint sound of distant city noise outside the windows.
Then—
Click.
The bedroom door slowly opened.
Haruka stepped inside.
She paused immediately.
Her eyes moved across the scene.
The messy bed.
The scattered sketches.
Lily curled against Jin’s shoulder while he absentmindedly cradled her hair.
And the emotional warmth practically flooding the room.
A soft motherly smile appeared on Haruka’s face almost instantly.
“Well now…” she murmured warmly.
“My darling children?”
Jin blinked hard.
Then immediately pulled his hand away from Lily’s hair like he’d been caught committing federal crimes.
His posture straightened instantly.
Cold composure restoration attempt activated.
Meanwhile Lily barely moved.
Still resting comfortably against Jin’s shoulder, she lazily opened one eye toward Haruka.
“Good morning… mama…”
Haruka looked ready to explode from affection.
Instead, she simply smiled knowingly at Jin.
“Looks like the trial is going very well, Jin.”
Then she added with a teasing wink,
“She’s fully pulling the ground under your feet.”
“Nah,” Jin answered immediately.
Completely serious.
Meanwhile his entire shoulder remained softened where Lily was still clinging to him.
Haruka absolutely noticed.
Lily noticed too.
A tiny smile appeared against Jin’s shoulder.
Haruka finally sighed softly before looking at Lily more gently.
“Actually…” she asked kindly, “how do you feel so far with Jin?”
Lily’s cheeks pinkened instantly.
She hid part of her face into Jin’s shoulder again before whispering softly,
“I feel wonderful…”
Her fingers curled lightly against Jin’s robe.
“Dreamy…”
Then quieter still,
“And in clouds…”
Haruka’s expression softened beautifully.
“Hm… that sounds wonderful.”
Beside Lily, Jin’s ears turned faintly red again.
He quietly looked away toward the window.
Haruka saw that too.
And immediately began enjoying this far too much.
She giggled softly.
“Come on, baby boy…”
Jin’s soul visibly left his body hearing that title.
“Already under charms of your dear wifey-to-be?”
“N-no,” Jin answered immediately.
“I’m not under any charms.”
Lily looked upward slowly.
Their eyes met briefly.
Then she smiled.
Which somehow made him blush harder.
Haruka finally rescued him from further suffering.
“Well,” she sighed dramatically, “it’s already 9 AM.”
“You both should come to the living room in one hour for breakfast.”
Jin nodded calmly.
Lily nodded too.
Though she still had absolutely no intention of leaving Jin’s shoulder anytime soon.
Then suddenly, Haruka’s eyes sparkled mysteriously.
“Oh?”
She sat down beside Lily on the bed.
Then gestured secretly.
“Come here for a second.”
Lily blinked curiously.
She slowly scooted closer toward Haruka.
Tilting her head innocently.
Haruka leaned near her ear carefully.
Then whispered:
“Do you love him?”
Lily froze.
Completely.
Entire system shutdown.
Her face exploded into bright scarlet instantly.
Haruka smiled softly and whispered again,
“Don’t worry…”
“I won’t tell him.”
Lily nervously glanced toward Jin.
He was looking away toward the ceiling again, thankfully unaware.
Her heart hammered violently inside her chest.
Then finally…
Very quietly…
“Y-yes…”
Her fingers tightened together nervously.
“Very much…”
Haruka’s eyes softened with immediate warmth.
“Hm…”
“Then it’s alright.”
She gently patted Lily’s head before standing from the bed.
“Okay then,” she said casually.
“I shall go make breakfast now.”
Then she walked toward the door smiling softly to herself.
Click.
The room became quiet again.
Lily sat frozen beside Jin trying to recover from emotional destruction.
Meanwhile Jin slowly turned his head toward her.
Blink.
“…Why are you acting strange?”
Lily immediately panicked.
“Stop staring, you idiot…”
Jin raised one brow calmly.
“You’re the one who glanced now.”
Lily puffed her cheeks again before immediately burying her face back into his shoulder.
“Dummy fiancé…”
Then, under her breath so quietly even the sunlight barely heard it:
“But my dummy…”
Jin didn’t catch the words.
His gaze drifted upward toward the ceiling again instead.
Toward unfinished revenge.
Toward Natsumi.
Toward the mystery surrounding his father’s death.
But beside him…
Lily remained curled warmly against his shoulder beneath the sunlight.
Quietly.
Safely.
Completely in love.