Ren couldn’t sleep.
It was long past midnight, and Aoi had finally drifted off beside him, curled against his chest, one hand resting on her belly. But Ren’s mind kept racing—playing the mont from earlier in front of her office over and over again.
Saki.
She had crossed a line. She wasn’t hiding in shadows anymore—she was making herself known. That one smile she gave Aoi wasn’t the smile of soone unhinged... it was worse. It was the smile of soone with a plan.
Ren’s fingers tightened slightly on Aoi’s waist.
He slowly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her, and walked into the ho lab beneath their countryside house. The dim glow of Lucia’s standby mode flickered as he sat at his desk.
"Lucia," he whispered. "Run periter checks. Update Saki Kamizawa’s behavioral model. Estimate possible actions within the next 72 hours."
Lucia blinked awake, her tone low and focused."Periter sensors have been triggered four tis this week. No visual confirmation, but consistent with high-grade cloaking. Updating model... Threat potential: High. Next expected action: attempt to approach Ren or Aoi alone."
Ren’s jaw clenched.
He brought up his latest defense design: a secondary AI-controlled drone that would hover invisibly near Aoi at all tis. He called it Watcher One. Unlike Lucia, it wouldn’t interact or talk. It would just watch, record, and intervene when necessary.
"She’s getting too close," Ren muttered. "Too bold."
Lucia responded, "Should I initiate ’Wife-Shield Protocol’ for Aoi Hoshizaki?"
"...Yes. Keep it discreet."
—
The next morning, Aoi blinked awake to find breakfast already made, the kitchen gleaming, and Ren humming quietly as he finished wiping the counters.
"You didn’t sleep, did you?" she asked, walking slowly over to him.
"I’ll nap later," Ren replied casually. "You and the baby co first now."
She smiled warmly but noticed the tiredness in his eyes. As they sat together, she gently placed her hand on his chest.
"You’re worried about her, aren’t you? Saki."
Ren hesitated, then nodded. "She’s unpredictable. But I’m not letting anyone hurt you."
Aoi looked at him for a long second, then leaned in and kissed him."You’re my ho. And our daughter’s future. So don’t just protect —promise you’ll co back to , no matter what."
"I will."He kissed her forehead, then whispered:"I’ve already planned for everything. She won’t win."
Outside their ho, unseen to anyone, a silent Watcher One drone hovered just beneath the clouds—its lens focused on every possible angle of their house.
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