They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 290: I Will Do Anything For You Chapter 290: I Will Do Anything For You He stared at her back, then at the empty space beside him.

His expression shifted, disappointment first, then a mix of something unspoken.

Jealousy?

Hurt?

Maybe just understanding.

He looked away.

Karen reached Abuchi and sat down beside him without asking.

The space between them was quiet.

Abuchi didn’t look at her.

In truth, he hadn’t wanted company.

His mind was running wild, plans, backup plans, what ifs, and all the ways this mission could fall apart.

He needed space.

He needed silence.

But she was already here.

And he couldn’t just chase her off.

Especially not Karen.

She had put herself in danger for him and Ruth.

She had no reason to help, no obligation.

Yet here she was.

Sitting beside him like a quiet shadow in the night.

“How are you holding up?” Karen asked softly, not looking directly at him.

“I’m fine,” Abuchi said quietly, eyes fixed on the dark sky that was slowly bleeding into shades of early morning.

“Just thinking about our next move.” Karen nodded, but she did not move away.

She did not catch that hint of “I need some space right now,” or maybe she did and chose to ignore it.

She kept talking anyway, her voice softer now, as though trying to break through the wall he was building around himself.

“That’s why we’re going to rescue her.

Everything will be fine,” she said, as if saying it enough times might make it true.

Abuchi blinked at her words.

“We.” She said we like it was all of us.

Like this was her fight too.

A warm feeling passed over him.

you,” he said, almost under his

being part of this mission.” Karen’s eyes lit up slightly, and she leaned in just

“Of course.

she said, her voice trembling on the edge of something more, something

gaze locked on his, steady and

Anything for you.

the words clearly, but something about the way she said

did that sound… too

Too deep?

He glanced at her.

was close now,

eyes held something heavy, something

Maybe affection.

Hope.

Longing.

that what she meant this whole

his mind was too full, of Ruth, of escape,

thought away, unwilling

he said, meaning it, but not

“You’re my friend, Karen.

proven your loyalty

my life for you either.” His voice was calm, sincere… and completely unaware of the

Karen’s smile faltered.

Friend.

He said friend.

not from the words themselves, but from the

Like it was obvious.

was ever

something like that from him, I’d risk my life for you, should’ve made

it did, in a

But not enough.

it wasn’t what she wanted to

not that kind

yet, she

could she

want to be just his

talked about his

No.

say any

didn’t have

still loves his fiancée,

all this

is still

confessed now, she might

just his trust, but

Completely.

she couldn’t bear

smiled faintly and nodded, pretending like

a little more

okay, she told

love… I’ll settle for being

long as I don’t lose that,

his gaze

had just passed in

going to

Not now.