[ DISCONTINUED ] Reborn: Runaway Bride

Chapter 11: Hozaka Weaponry

Ai wiped away the sweats that formed on her forehead as the burning waves of heat surrounded her body. Silently, she took note of the melting metal in the mould and checked the temperature of the heat chamber. "Just nice", she muttered to herself.

It had been a few weeks since Ai had started working at Hozaka and she had explicitly requested to learn how to craft weapons herself. She wanted to further expand her designs and there was no better way than getting right down to the process of it.

Though slightly shocked, Shion had agreed to it eventually and allowed Ai to work in the Hozaka blacksmith workshop. Speaking of Shion, she had realised that the young master of Hozaka Trading rarely appeared in the shop premises and the one that often frequent was his best friend and heir to Yunes Industry, Tamaki Yunes.

Ai scrunched up her face in distress as she thought of the bothersome man. She didn't know why but during her working hours at Hozaka, Tamaki Yunes had stuck to her like a glue and followed her everywhere she went while occasionally making unnecessary encouragements as if to inform her he was there.

As of now, Tamaki Yunes clapped his hands excitedly as Ai took out the metal mould from the heat chamber. She didn't know what he was clapping for since her latest weapon was far from completion and it was just a slab of melted metal in this current state. Yet suddenly a voice whispered in her ears, "Ai, that was impressive!".

Out of reflex, Ai moved away immediately and her hand almost got burnt in the process. She gave him a scorching glare and proceeded to say, "Young Master Yunes, please refrain from standing too close to me, I'm handling a dangerous equipment!"

Ai felt slight anger towards Tamaki for standing too close to her and shocking her and she wanted to reprimand him greatly.

"But Ai, the only dangerous equipment here is you! You are a danger to my heart!" Tamaki yelled out suddenly, catching the attention of Hozaka employees around. Some of the employees whistled, while some clapped as if some sort of celebration and Ai felt baffled by their responses.

This was the cheesiest pick-up line she heard so why were they celebrating it?

Ai decided to ignore the annoying puppy-like man and continued her work. As if sensing her choice to ignore him, Tamaki made a sound that strangely resembled a whine. If he had dog ears, they would probably be flattened by now.

Dear god, doesn't this man have anything better to do?!

After a while of repeatedly ignoring him, Tamaki seemed to become bored and lost interest as he walked away suddenly. Ai let out a breath she had been holding. She didn't like the constant attention on her while she was working and Tamaki was doing exactly just that. This was also the reason why she had left Kit at home and proceeded to work here alone. She didn't want any distraction or attention at work and as much as she was caring to her family, Ai was pretty much a lone wolf when it came to socialisation.

Speaking of Kit, Ai's heart did a somersault at the way the young boy had been behaving. A few days after her decision to collaborate with Shion, she had found Kit, intoxicated and drenched in rain.

That day was the start of monsoon season. Kit had briefly mentioned he was going out. She didn't know what exactly had happened outside but when he was back, Kit was highly intoxicated and had walked through the pouring rain in his drunken stupor.

Ai was studying her weapon books in her room when she heard the raspy knocks at her door. She immediately went to open, only find a very drunk Kit falling at her feet. His blonde hair matted and clothes drenched, the sight was truly heart wrenching to behold. Yet the excited grey eyes looked up at her, chanting her name over and over.