Chapter 138: First Activation

R̃&e;ad ́on​ &K;a&t;Reаd​ı​n‍gＣa‍​f̈è

Things, by nature, have their intended uses, and only by being used as intended can they fulfill their purpose.

‘So, I’m just wearing it as intended. Nothing strange about that.’

The desire to cherish an object—to love it—isn’t that the same as loving the world itself?

Lost in her usual nonsensical thoughts, Sugar pushed open the factory door.

“You’re late.”

Riley, sipping tea while reading a book, acknowledged her without looking up. His slow, deliberate movements somehow drew her gaze—his rolled-up sleeves, his broad shoulders—she kept staring.

How strange. What was so fascinating about a man’s body? She’d already gotten her fill of eye candy yesterday at the women’s bathhouse.

‘But beautiful things naturally draw the eye.’

Feeling awkward for no reason, she closed the door and shuffled toward him.

“Since there was some distance… Sorry. Did you wait long?”

“Not really.”

With that, Riley flicked his fingers. The blackout curtains closed on their own, the lights dimmed, and only the soft glow of the sofa-side lamp remained.

As the mood settled in, Sugar took a deep breath.

Today was the day they’d carry out what they’d postponed yesterday. Riley had asked her to wear a choker with his mark beneath it, and Sugar had agreed without him needing to use a wish token—so today was the renewal date.

“Come here.”

His low murmur as he gestured to the sofa felt strangely alluring.

She never paid much attention when he guided her normally, but when he set the mood like this, she hesitated.

It was hard to approach.

Still, not wanting to seem cowardly, she plopped down beside him. Just thinking about what was to come made her face burn, but she didn’t back down.

“Did you have a good time uptown?”

“Mhm.”

“So… buy anything?”

According to the map, she’d lingered in one shopping district for a while—a place men couldn’t enter. Trying to hide his anticipation, Riley asked casually.

“Y-You’ll find out soon…”

Her trembling hands, her inability to meet his eyes—he pressed a kiss to her earlobe.

“What could it be?”

His whisper, thick with expectation, made her shoulders tense. As always, her ears were her weak point.

Riley cradled Sugar gently, lowering her onto the sofa. Shyly blushing, she obeyed like a well-mannered maiden—peeking up at the man now straddling her before quickly averting her gaze when their eyes met.

The sofa was as wide and plush as a bed. A little cramped for two, but since they’d be pressed together, it didn’t matter.

“Why so nervous? We’ve done this before.”

“I-I’m not nervous.”

Her shoulders wouldn’t stay still, so he stroked them soothingly, his fingers trailing warmly up to her nape.

“I’m not a pet, you know…”

“Aren’t you?”

“No!”

While Sugar pouted, Riley undid her ribbon tie. Next, the choker. With a click, the feeling of liberation—or was it emptiness?—washed over her.

His fingers traced where the choker had been, lingering insistently.

Sugar almost said, “Just hurry up and do it,” but stopped herself. Worry, anticipation, excitement, unease—all tangled together. She wanted to delay as much as possible, so she let Riley set the pace.

Then, the first button at her collar came undone.

Couldn’t you go slower?!

Two more buttons, and her chest would be exposed. The new underwear she’d bought today would be on full display.

It felt like… the moment before revealing the final pull in a gacha game after spending all her currency.

Her heartbeat was so loud she worried he could hear it. Scared but curious, she stole glances at his reaction.

‘Why is he so calm…?’

His gaze was hazy and heated, but that was it. While she trembled with tension, his composure twisted something inside her.

Sure, his embrace was comforting—but the more Riley grew smug over time, the more it irked her.

Then again, hadn’t she been the one to tell him not to use a wish token? She’d dug her own grave, yet here she was, full of complaints.

‘How will his face change…?’

What kind of reaction would he have after undoing the buttons and seeing what lay beneath?

Sugar briefly entertained mischievous thoughts before focusing on Riley himself. Even if she absolutely hadn’t bought today’s underwear with the intention of showing anyone, fate had decided her childhood friend would be the first to see it.

Since he was going to see anyway, she hoped for a good reaction.

This feeling—she didn’t want to deny it. Truly, purely, it was like wearing a pretty outfit and asking a friend, “How do I look?”

‘Will he like it…?’

Half hope, half worry. As she struggled to steady her breathing, the second button came undone, revealing her collarbone.

“R-Riley.”

“What?”

“D-Don’t be shocked.”

“By what?”

“…”

Instead of answering, Sugar frowned and turned her face away.

Now he was curious. What had she done underneath? He’d guessed she’d bought new lingerie, but two conflicting urges arose—one to check immediately, the other to draw it out.

She actually thought of me when buying underwear…

His head spun just imagining it. How could she be so endearing? There was no need to worry so much. Whatever it was, if Sugar wore it, it’d be pretty—lovable, at the very least.

Wondering what it could be, Riley undid the third button with his own anticipation.

The way Sugar stiffened was adorable.

Pretending not to notice, he parted her clothes.

And then—

—Sprrooiing!

The moment he saw what lay beneath, a spring—or maybe a thread—snapped in his brain.

He trembled silently. Had he suffered brain damage?

“…Riley?”

Sugar cautiously peered up at her partner.

“Was it… that weird? Does it not suit me? Unlike Ian, my chest is small…”

Her hands grew clammy with sweat, heart pounding in anxious anticipation. Please, just say something—anything.

Even if it wasn’t praise, she’d take a scolding—“What is this, you idiot?”—anything to break the silence and return to their usual rhythm.

But Riley didn’t speak. He simply closed her blouse back up, wordlessly.

Sugar’s heart sank.

He released her, then slumped onto the far end of the sofa, gripping his forehead as his breathing grew ragged. The sight was unsettling.

Watching him, a wave of bitter sadness crashed over Sugar.

“Was it… that bad?”

So awful he couldn’t even muster fake praise? So unbearable he had to stop midway?

The shopkeeper’s effusive compliments and her own pride when she’d checked herself in the mirror flashed through her mind.

What the hell? Seriously, what?

The warm, intimate atmosphere from moments ago had frozen over, leaving her body cold.

“Riley.”

“…”

“Was it… that hard to look at?”

The question spilled out as calm resignation and self-loathing settled in.

Putting her feelings into words only made the hurt sharper, her eyes reddening. This was a first. No matter how much he grumbled or scolded her, he always accepted her in the end. She knew the kindness beneath his rough exterior—which made this all the more shocking.

It was so unbearable, even his kindness couldn’t cover it up.

The lump in her throat tightened, making it hard to speak.

“At the very least… you didn’t have to just cover me up. Without a word, without even… what was that face—”

“Sugar. Wait—”

She buried her face in her hands, still lying on the sofa.

“Never mind. Sorry… I shouldn’t have done this. I won’t wear stuff like this again. Sorry for showing you something so weird…”

The disappointment turned inward, sharp and suffocating.

Why did I even try? I should’ve just stuck to what I always wear. Why did I have to go and do something out of character? A half woman like me…

This is so stupid.

“That’s not it, Sugar. Don’t misunderstand.”

“Uu… sniff…”

“Just—give me a second. A little time.”

“Time for what… hic…”

“Time to… calm down. But honestly? This is partly your fault too.”

“I know! It’s because I’m lacking—”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Riley turned his head to look at her—then immediately covered his eyes again, just as Sugar braced for another blow.

“You’re just… too damn sexy right now.”

“…Huh?”

“You’re so sexy and pretty that… I’m about to lose my damn mind.”

Confused, Sugar pushed herself up—revealing the bra beneath her half-open blouse.

The fabric was sheer, almost like stockings, teasing glimpses of pink beneath. But the intricate lace patterns strategically obscured just enough to leave the rest to the imagination.

Put another way: aside from the lace, it was practically all on display. The kind of lingerie that left nothing about her shape to guesswork.

“Lose your… mind?”

She parroted his words blankly, then—realizing—flushed scarlet.

“W-Wait, Riley, that’s not—we can’t…!”

“Yeah. Friends. Family. Right, right.”

He couldn’t fathom how someone could wear that and still insist on that kind of relationship.

But this was Sugar, after all.

With a sigh, he turned toward her, eyes still shielded.

“Sugar. Like I’ve said before, I care about you a lot. You know that, right?”

“Yeah. I know…”

“And because of that, I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want you to be scared. I’m sorry about earlier. I panicked and the only thing I could think to do was get away.”

“…”

“Ugh… I’m bad at this. I don’t know what to say.”

“…I know that too.”

Bad at expressing himself. Of course she knew. The way he pretended not to care while looking out for her, the gruffness that masked his warmth.

She knew how gently he could cup her face.

“But… Riley, you do hit me a lot for someone who doesn’t want to hurt me.”

“You keep giving me reasons to.”

If the situation weren’t what it was, he’d have already flicked her forehead.

Sugar let out a soft, shaky laugh. This was the Riley she knew—not the man who’d coldly turned away from her efforts, but the one who scolded her like always.

“So… you really didn’t hate it?”

“Really didn’t.”

“…Was I pretty?”

“Insanely.”

“Say it in a full sentence.”

“You were so pretty and cute I nearly lost my damn mind…”

This’ll spoil her. But he answered obediently anyway, heart softening at how utterly wounded she’d looked just moments ago.

“…Hehe.”

Just like that, the tears were forgotten, replaced by a giddy smile. Her mood swung so wildly based on his reactions—what was he supposed to do with her? Riley swallowed a sigh.

Meanwhile, Sugar, now wiping her tears, crawled across the sofa toward him like a determined inchworm before flopping onto his lap.

“Hey… wear normal stuff next time. Calling yourself a ‘pervert’ so much, you’ve actually become one.”

“I’m not a pervert…”

“Do you usually wear stuff like this?”

“N-No! I just—I just felt like trying something different today! A woman’s confidence changes based on her underwear, you know!”

She parroted the shopkeeper’s excuse from earlier.

But if that were true, why had she rushed to Sky Island just to change into it? She’d clearly worn it to show off.

The realization made him dizzy, his expression twisting again.

“Hey… Riley.”

“What…”

As he tried to steady himself, Sugar nuzzled against his knee.

“Does that mean… we’re not doing it today?”

When he hesitated, unsure of her angle, she took it as confirmation—and followed up with something astonishing.

“Then… can I do it instead?”

“What?”