Chapter Text
Code gasped when she laid her eyes upon Eida for the first time.
She had never encountered someone so incredibly good-looking in her entire life.
It was as if she had experienced love at first sight.
A swarm of butterflies fluttered in her stomach, and an overwhelming desire consumed her every fiber--she longed to capture his heart.
Despite spending some time frozen, Eida still looked incredibly attractive.
Code yearned to run her fingers through his long blue hair, which featured pink streaks. His mesmerizing turquoise eyes were so beautiful that Code felt as if she could lose herself in them.
Eida possessed an undeniable charisma that captured every aspect of Code.
She found herself blushing profusely, completely entranced by his presence. Her eyes refused to leave him, as if he had cast a spell over her.
Speaking with him proved to be quite a challenge for Code, but she had a plan in mind and needed Eida's assistance.
Despite her nerves, Code managed to speak up to Eida, her face still flushed. "G-Good morning, Eida. I'm Code. Sorry for waking you up so suddenly."
Code felt her heart sink as Eida completely ignored her and walked right past her, as if she didn't even exist.
Her mind raced with disappointment and confusion, trying to make sense of Eida's behavior.
"H-Hold it right there. You can't even bother with a simple 'hello'?"
Eida's nonchalant attitude fueled her frustration.
He didn't even bother to turn around or acknowledge her presence.
Code's eyes narrowed, her tone becoming sharp as she threatened, “I came here to talk to you. However, if you can't be bothered to give me the time of day, fine. I'll deal with you as per Jigen's orders.”
Eida scoffed at Code's threats, not even bothering to turn completely towards her.
With a dismissive glance over his shoulder, he challenged her, saying, "Go ahead and try."
Frustration consumed Code as she clenched her teeth tightly.
She refused to let anyone look down on her.
She was about to unleash her ability to put this handsome guy in his place.
However.. something felt off.
Her body refused to comply with her commands.
Eida, taking note of Code's struggle, remarked, "You can't, can you?"
Code's frustration turned to confusion. Why was her body betraying her? refusing to comply with her commands?
She had never experienced anything like this before.
Was it perhaps one of Eida's abilities?
From the very start, there was something undeniably unique about this guy. His presence had effortlessly stolen her heart, captivating her beyond mere attraction.
Eida's voice suddenly cut through Code's confused thoughts, as he apologized and explained, "I'm sorry, Code. I wasn't ignoring you. You see, I've been asleep for a long time, so... I'm worried I have bad breath."
Code was still confused, but for some reason, his apology made her feel so much better.
Code found herself seated at the bar, as Eida requested her to wait there while he went to "organize himself."
Okay?
Usually, boys wouldn't prioritize things like bad breath or personal appearance.
However, Eida was different.
In a really good way.
There was nothing wrong with prioritizing self-care. So, Code patiently waited for his return at the bar.
Code wasn't alone at the bar. Bug, a facility member, was present nearby.
She looked at him and spoke with a hint of a smirk, "Hey, Bug. Whaddaya think? Is he interested in me?"
Bug appeared nervous while mumbling about being caught in Eida's spell.
Surprisingly, Code didn't dismiss his words. Instead, she voiced her own thoughts, her eyes glimmering with affection. "Yeah... My heart's pounding faster as I wait. Could this be another tactic of his?"
While Eida was preoccupied with grooming himself, Bug took the opportunity to share details with Code about Eida's ability.
Unlike Bug, who expressed concern over Eida's powers, Code found them fascinating. She found the notion amazing, rather than alarming.
With perfect timing, Eida made his entrance and downplayed the glamour surrounding his abilities. He shared that his abilities weren't as great as they seemed, often leaving him feeling bored.
As they talked about Eida's abilities, the conversation took a more direct turn when he questioned Code about her feelings for him.
It was a rather obvious answer for Code.
Yes. Of course, she liked him.
She was crazy about him from the moment she saw him.
Although Code was hopelessly drawn to him, a nagging doubt lingered in her mind. "These emotions of mine, which seem so authenticity real... are they phony, manufactured by your ability?"
Eida chose to address it openly.
"It's not limited to you. Everyone becomes captivated by me. Both men and women. Now do you get it? How absolutely boring and tedious it is?"
Eida expressed that the one who should question the authenticity of their feelings was himself, considering that his abilities made it challenging for him to differentiate genuine feelings from the effects of his power.
Eida then expressed his hatred for Amado, holding him responsible for stripping him of the chance to experience an ordinary, genuine love.
The conversation continued, and Eida shared an interesting detail about his abilities: they didn't work on blood relatives or individuals of the Otsutsuki clan.
Eida then brought up a topic that had been on his mind for some time.
"Hey, Code... That girl, Brooke. She's an Otsutsuki too, right?"
A flicker of something crossed Code's eyes, perhaps a hint of jealousy?
Whatever it was, she answered simply, "Yeah, she's an Otsutsuki, though she's incomplete. She has a Karma."
There was a noticeable change in Eida's expression as he spoke about Brooke Uzumaki.
His eyes softened, and his voice held a hint of fondness. "I've been observing her for a while now. She's incredible. She makes my heart race. It's thrilling. I haven't felt like this in a long time."
Code studied Eida and commented, "I see... so that's how it is. Your ability may not affect Brooke Uzumaki, which means you could have a normal romance with her. She could be your little princess."
"Exactly. You're starting to get it, Code."
"In that case, the same holds true for Kawaki as well. But perhaps he's not your type, am I correct?"
Eida smirked lightly in response. "I almost forgot about him. Don't you need ten tails fodder to cultivate that tree of yours? By all means, take Kawaki. Just keep your hands off Brooke."
Code forced a smile, she playfully mused, "Ha, It seems like she already managed to capture your heart."
Eida blushed, unable to contain himself as he shyly admitted, "Yeah... It certainly feels like it."
Eida then shared some crucial information with Code about the current situation. He revealed that the Kage were currently in discussion, specifically searching for her with the intent to thwart her plans.
Eida smirked confidently, asserting, "But you don't need to worry. I can see and hear everything. You'll never be caught."
Code replied with a smirk of her own, expressing her trust in him. "Nice. You're the best. I was right to trust you."
With a sense of camaraderie, she raised her drink to him and added, "Well then, in salute to each other goals... shall we have a toast? Once again, nice to meet you, Eida."
Eida reciprocated the gesture, raising his own drink in response.
A smirk tugging at his lips, he replied with a hint of playfulness, "Likewise, Code. I'm counting on you."
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