Luke "Dark Swirl"/Rewards

Story Summary

This story takes place in Year 2. Luke has confessed to the MC, and the two are a romantic couple.

It has been a while since the MC last saw Luke after he asked her to stay at his place; he said that he feels more at ease because his place has better security. While spending the night in a banquet party, the MC chances upon Luke, currently using his alias Raven, in the middle of an active NSB mission. Luke starts to act out as if she is his woman.

Luke is seemingly negotiating with a businessman, Bright Paddon, related to some shady goods. To avoid further suspicion, Luke pretends to be drunk and tried to seduce the MC, and as such, Bright Paddon sends them to a hotel room to rest. In the room, Luke warns the MC of the two-way mirror installed and they start to act intimately for show. Luke asks her to leave and escape. Knowing that the mission can be dangerous, she refuses because her leaving too early would appear more suspicious. Later, Bright Paddon tells Luke that some rats arrived and they have to leave now.

In Bright Paddon's villa, the negotiation continues. While waiting for Luke alone in a room, the MC is approached by Blake Thomas, a henchman of Bright Paddon. Trying to convince her to betray Luke and split the money 50/50 after getting the goods, Blake shares the surveillance camera capture of the conversation between Luke and Bright Paddon. She overhears that Bright Paddon knows Luke as a child and that Luke's father worked for Bright Paddon. As Blake Thomas starts to get confident, the MC screams and calls for Luke. Luke hurries to her and subdues Blake. Bright Paddon reveals that he is just testing the MC as he doubts her identity.

Bright Paddon receives a call that the police is investigating his dummy warehouse, making him worry of a leak. Luke presses him for wasting his time probing the MC when he should be watching his own men. Luke tells him to bring the goods to him now. After they are left alone, Luke takes care of the MC and explains that his "father" was actually his senior who went undercover near Bright Paddon. His senior used Luke's childhood photo as a reminder of his "son". Luke narrates of a time when he was training, and a senior of his advised him to use "fear" to drive his training. After visiting a comrade that ran into an accident during a mission, Luke started to understand this advice. From then on, "fear" forced him to learn to act more cautiously. Luke started to fear failure and he started to fear that the MC would be sad if something bad happened to him. He also feared that she will not be sad if anything happens to him and will eventually forget him.

After a while, Luke starts to feel the side-effects of the drug he took to prevent him from getting drunk. It's a pill that he usually takes when on special missions like this. The MC suggests that he takes a hot bath in the nearby bathtub in the room to feel better. Initially awkward, she approaches Luke while he's in the tub. Luke reassures her that he's feeling much better and mentions that he has high pain tolerance. She starts to wipe Luke with a towel, telling him that shifting his attention elsewhere can help relieve the pain. Luke remarks that the next time he feels the same side-effects in the future, he will recall the same stimulating sensation he's feeling at that moment.

Bright Paddon was successfully arrested. Apart from the knee wound that the MC accidentally got during that incident, Luke and the MC are able to return home safely. They start to organize the box that was sent to Luke. It was his senior's belongings. They found the childhood photo of Luke that he used as his pretend-son. It was a photo of 3-year-old Luke holding a bouquet of origami flowers. Recalling the gift, they reminisce of the time when Luke gave her those flowers, which was during his birthday back then. She tells Luke that all this time her parents are waiting for him to return with the photo. She also tells him that she has been waiting for him. Accidentally hitting her wounded knee, she tells Luke that it will be helpful if someone shifts her attention elsewhere...

Illustrations

Hot SteamThe steamy humidity hangs in the air, covering your obvious emotions with a thin, misty layer of ambiguity.

Video Call

Video Call		Luke: Dark Swirl (After Story 6)

Video Call script

Luke: You finally answered...! I thought something happened to you and almost went looking.

Luke: You didn't have time to check your phone during the party? Okay... So what did you eat? Did you go with close friends?

Luke: Just some work friends...? That's good.

Luke: Huh? Nothing. I was lying in bed earlier wondering when you would visit again.

Luke: ...Where? My place, of course.

Luke: You came over for a few days, right? After you left, I realized that there were traces of you all over the place.

Luke: ...Even the pillow has your scent on it. It's making me miss you a bit.

Luke: Am I being weird...? I didn't drink anything, except for what you left in the fridge.

Luke: ...What...? There was booze in it? No wonder I've been feeling a little dizzy. I thought I was going crazy.

Luke: ...What are you laughing at...? By the way, you know I can't drink. Are you trying to get back at me?

Luke: Just kidding... I know you forgot to take it with you. You wouldn't have waited til now if you were intending on doing that from the start...

Luke: ...Sorry for rambling. I'm going to take a nap. I should be fine when I wake up.

Luke: Huh? You'll stop by after the party? Why so sudden...?

Luke: No, that's okay with me... I'm just a little curious why you'd suddenly want to come to visit me. Is there any reason other than you worrying about me?

Luke: ...Anyway, I'll wait for you. Drive safely. You have the key, so just come straight in when you get here.

Token

Token examination

Luke in the Photo

You: Luke, I didn't expect you to give flowers to a girl at such a young age.

Luke: Is that bad? They were for you, anyway.

Luke: It's so that... the first bouquet you receive in your life is from me...

Luke: That would make for an unforgettable memory, wouldn't it?

You: Well... Yes.

Handmade flowers

You: You've always been so good at making thing ever since you were a kid. This artificial bouquet is really lifelike.

Luke: As a matter of fact, I wanted to send you real flowers at that time.

Luke: But it was winter, so I couldn't pick the bright-colored wildflowers I wanted and had to learn how to make artificial flowers instead.

Luke: Looking back now, it seemed like a pretty good idea. These artificial flowers last forever.

Picture frame

You: The bird on top of this frame looks like Peanut...

Luke: Back then, I was always talking about raising a myna. Sadly for me, I was too young at the time so your parents didn't let me.

You: But they must have been hopeful about it. This picture frame looks like a custom-made one.

Story Locations

Hotel
Showroom

Time's Antiquities
Luke's Home

Hotel
Guest Room

Bright Paddon's Villa
Suburban Mansion

Bright Paddon's Villa
Suburban Mansion

Main Character's Parents' Residence
Old Attic

Story Characters

Luke Pearce

Luke Pearce

Bright Paddon

Blake Thomas