Chapter 30 - Relax
It was well past midnight, and the soft glow of Kazuma's monitor illuminated the dim home office. His light blue eyes were fixed on the lines of code scrolling across his screen, his fingers moving rapidly over the keyboard. Despite the late hour, his mind was sharp, his determination unwavering. He'd been chasing down a stubborn bug in the new build of Spirit Walker, and while his body was exhausted, he couldn't bring himself to stop.
The rest of the house was silent, a stark contrast to the rapid tapping of his keyboard. Kazuma leaned back in his chair for a moment, rolling his stiff shoulders as he exhaled heavily. "Just a little more," he muttered to himself, his light blue hair falling into his eyes. "Almost there."
Little did he know, Masako had woken up. She'd reached out to his side of the bed, only to find it empty. Frowning, she pushed herself up, her golden eyes adjusting to the faint moonlight streaming through the window. It didn't take her long to figure out where he was. She wrapped a light robe over her silk nightgown and padded softly down the hall, the chill of the floor making her shiver slightly.
When she peeked into the office, her suspicions were confirmed. Kazuma was seated at his desk, hunched over his computer as if the world outside didn't exist. His shoulders looked tense, his back slightly curved from hours of sitting. Masako sighed softly, shaking her head.
"This man," she murmured, her golden eyes narrowing with mischief as a playful idea began to form.
She crept closer, her bare feet making no sound on the wooden floor. Masako couldn't help but smile as she watched him, so focused and determined, yet so completely unaware of her presence. When she was just behind him, she leaned down and whispered into his ear.
"You're working awfully late, dear."
Kazuma jumped slightly, his hands freezing on the keyboard as he turned to look at her. "Masako!" he exclaimed, his light blue eyes wide. "You scared me."
She grinned, tilting her head innocently. "What are you doing up so late, dear? It's not healthy to work this much."
Kazuma sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know, sweetie. I just... I wanted to fix this bug before tomorrow. I'm almost done, I promise."
Masako raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "You've been saying that for hours, haven't you?"
Kazuma hesitated, then gave her a sheepish smile. "Maybe."
Masako placed her hands on her hips, her golden eyes glinting with determination. "Alright, if you won't stop willingly, then I'll just have to take matters into my own hands."
Before Kazuma could respond, Masako stepped closer, wrapping her arms around his shoulders from behind. "You're overworking yourself again," she said softly, resting her chin on his shoulder. "I can't just let you sit here and freeze all night. You need someone to warm you up."
Kazuma blinked, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Warm me up?"
Masako giggled, walking around to face him. "That's right." With a mischievous smile, she straddled his lap, settling herself comfortably on his thighs. Her silk nightgown brushed against his skin, the warmth of her body immediately seeping into his.
"Masako!" Kazuma said, his voice flustered as his light blue eyes darted away from her. "What are you doing?"
"Helping," she said simply, looping her arms around his neck. "You've been sitting here all night, cold and stiff. I'm just making sure you're comfortable, dear."
Kazuma groaned softly, his face heating up. "This isn't exactly helping me focus."
Masako tilted her head, her golden eyes sparkling with playful intent. "Good," she said with a grin. "You've been focusing too much as it is." She leaned closer, her nose brushing against his. "Now, tell me, dear. How's the bug fixing coming along?"
Kazuma sighed, though a small smile tugged at his lips. "It's... almost done. I think I'm on the right track now."
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"Good," Masako said, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. "But you should know, dear, if you keep working too hard, I might have to distract you even more."
Kazuma chuckled, shaking his head. "You're impossible sometimes."
"And you love me for it," Masako replied, her voice teasing. She nuzzled against his neck, her breath warm against his skin.
For a moment, Kazuma let himself relax, his hands resting on her waist as he leaned back in his chair. Her presence, her warmth—it was enough to melt away some of the tension he hadn't even realized he was carrying.
"You know," Masako said softly, her tone shifting to something more tender, "you don't have to do everything all at once, dear. I'm proud of you no matter what. You've already done so much."
Kazuma looked into her golden eyes, his light blue ones softening. "I just want everything to be perfect, sweetie. For you, for the players... for us."
Masako smiled, leaning forward to press her forehead against his. "It already is, dear. Because we're doing it together."
Kazuma sighed, feeling the last bit of resistance leave him. "Alright, sweetie," he said quietly. "You win. I'll take a break."
Masako's grin widened as she climbed off his lap, taking his hand and pulling him to his feet. "Good. Now, let's go to bed, dear. You need some proper rest."
---
As they walked back to their bedroom, hand in hand, Kazuma felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. Masako always knew exactly what he needed, even when he didn't realize it himself.
When they climbed into bed, Masako snuggled up against him, her arms wrapping tightly around his waist. "You're not allowed to sneak off to work in the middle of the night again," she murmured, her golden eyes closing as she rested her head on his chest.
Kazuma chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I'll try my best, sweetie."
"You'd better," Masako said, her voice drowsy but filled with affection. "Because if I catch you, I'll just have to 'warm you up' all over again."
Kazuma smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I'll hold you to that."
As they drifted off to sleep, their breathing in sync, Kazuma couldn't help but feel a deep sense of peace. With Masako by his side, he knew he could take on any challenge—and he knew she'd always be there to remind him when it was time to take care of himself, too.