Bits of Love, Lines of Code
Chapter 116: “Cracks in the Calm”

Chapter 116: Chapter 116: “Cracks in the Calm”

The warmth of summer had settled over the Tokyo countryside, where Ren’s home sat quietly amidst acres of golden fields. The morning sun filtered through linen curtains as the sound of Hikari’s laughter filled the air.

Inside the living room, Aoi was brushing Hikari’s soft hair while Ren prepared breakfast in an apron that read "World’s Most Overengineered Husband."

"I feel like I’m living in a domestic anime," Aoi giggled, watching him from the couch.

"You mean like the ones where the guy secretly builds satellites while flipping pancakes?" Ren smirked, flipping a perfect golden-brown one onto a plate.

"Exactly like that," she replied, cheeks pink with adoration.

They all sat for breakfast—Ren, Aoi, and Hikari sharing fruit, omelets, and stories of future adventures. It felt peaceful. Whole.

Until...

Later That Day — Tokyo Urban Plaza

Ren had an award committee meeting for sustainable tech innovation at a luxury hall. Aoi and Hikari came along, dressed beautifully but casually, blending into the elegant crowd.

As Ren spoke with some international partners, a tall foreign woman with platinum hair and piercing green eyes walked up to him.

"You’re Ren Kisaragi?" she asked smoothly. "The genius behind the AI-controlled reactor. I’ve heard your mind is as beautiful as your design sense."

Aoi was nearby, holding Hikari and sipping tea, when she noticed the woman leaning a little too close to Ren. Her eyes narrowed as she adjusted Hikari gently on her lap.

Ren noticed.

He didn’t move away just yet.

"Thank you," he said calmly. "But I have someone who handles all my beauty concerns now." He glanced over at Aoi.

The woman blinked. "Oh? Is she here?"

"Yes," he smiled. "And I think you’ve just triggered something dangerous."

Aoi stood up.

She walked over slowly, heels clicking softly on the marble floor. Every step she took was elegant — and deadly calm. When she reached them, she gave the woman a radiant smile.

"Hello. I’m Aoi. Ren’s wife."She tilted her head slightly. "And the reason you should leave now."

The woman blinked, nervous now.

"Oh—I didn’t mean to—"

"But you did." Aoi’s smile didn’t fade. "And Ren... you were enjoying that a little too much."

Ren tried to hide a smirk.

"Guilty," he said playfully. "You’re adorable when you get jealous."

Aoi’s eyes glinted.

"Careful. Or I’ll show you how much I love you in a way that leaves bite marks."

"Tempting," he whispered back.

The woman excused herself awkwardly and disappeared into the crowd.

That Evening — Back at the House

Ren had Hikari asleep in his arms. Aoi curled up next to him, arms wrapped around his waist as they lay in bed under dim golden light.

"You like teasing me too much," she murmured.

"Because I know I’m yours," he whispered. "And I love seeing how protective you are."

Aoi leaned up and kissed him softly.

"You’re everything to me... and now, with Hikari here, we’re a family."

Outside, beneath the quiet stars, Lucia quietly whispered to herself from the surveillance dome:

"Threat proximity: 0. But anomaly detected in Eurasian data net. Possible activation of synthetic consciousness."