A/N: Sorry for the super late update! These past few months have been hectic! I've been working on this update for some time now and wanted to release it now that Rio has gotten her dentist appointment pending (after a TON of convincing).

This chapter was wayyyyyy too long so I separated it into two! Hehe~ Second part will be uploaded once Rio actually goes to her appointment!! 

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"I'm already involved with you." Rio uttered. 

Ryosuke furrowed his eyebrows when he heard Rio's statement. His past resentment towards her had caused him to completely overlook the fact that her involvement in his dilemma could cost both of them their careers if they weren't careful.

"It's not too late you know." He began, pausing to lean back in his chair. "You can still call this entire arrangement off." 

Rio frowned almost instantly, rolling her eyes before letting her gaze land on the meal in front of her. "So that's what this was?" She asked in a disappointed tone. "You're only trying to get me on your side so that I'd be the first to break the contract." 

"Do you still not trust me, Rio?" Ryosuke sighed, folding his arms. "If that was my plan then you would've been seeing a lot more of what my fans want from me."

His answer was enough to quiet the girl for a while. Not having the courage to look him in the eye, Rio decided to take a bite of the dinner that he prepared, yet was quickly stunned by the taste. "Well, whatever it is that your fans want- it's too bad that a taste of your cooking is something that they won't get." She mumbled, going for another bite. 

Regardless of how hard he tried to suppress his smile, Ryosuke couldn't help but to let the corners of his lips curve upwards. "You know, I never met someone who challenges me as much as you do." 

"Well, that's a surprise." 

"Actually, I lied. The only person close to ever picking fights with me is Dai-chan but more than often, I still have the last word in our arguments." 

"I'm sure he only lets you have the last word out of pity."

"Ouch." Ryosuke winced in an exaggerated tone. The two exchanged glances before letting their gentle laughter echo throughout the room. They continued on their dinner while poking fun at each other through different stories. 

After their meal came to an end, Rio offered to clean up dishes and the kitchen on her own but Ryosuke insisted on pitching in to help since he made a mess while cooking this time around. After all, he was still getting accustomed to where everything was in the kitchen.

The two stood next to each other by the sink with Rio washing the dishes and Ryosuke drying them. As silence began to fill the air, the boy couldn't help but think back to their conversation earlier and questioned why Rio agreed to his manager's plan in the first place.

"You know, you don't have to go through this arrangement if it makes you unhappy." Ryosuke began, taking another dish from Rio's hands to dry. "Is there a particular reason why you're putting up with this?"

"I didn't really have a choice,” Rio answered. She took a brief moment to glance at Ryosuke to see if he was even interested in hearing what she had to say. However, she wasn't expecting him to already be gazing at her with a concerned expression.

“What do you mean?” He asked but this time, with a much softer tone.

“I'm not originally from here... I'm from the UK." Rio paused. "A few years ago, I took out a loan from a Japanese bank so that I complete my doctoral studies in Japan and start a new life here. However, just last year, a new law was put into place for non-citizens stating that the full amount must be paid within three years or they could take my permanent residence card away.” 

"When do your three years end?"

"In two months and I haven't found a way to come up with the money yet," Rio answered. "Promise me you won't tell Amu about this. She has a lot on her plate and I don't want to add onto it."

Ryosuke nodded. "I’m assuming that my manager is offering you a hefty sum?”

“Half a year of my salary. It's more than enough to cover it."

"Ah" The boy nodded again, this time at a much slower pace. Everything finally clicked for him- they were just two pawns in Saito's little game. The only thing he has left to figure out is exactly what kind of game they're in. "Well, I hope that he sticks to his word."

"What do you mean?" Rio asked in a concerned tone. "Has he gone back on his words before?" 

"Rather than going back on his words, he has a tendency of pulling strings to get what he wants."

The latter couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at Ryosuke's strange answer. “Speaking of which, why did you agree? Did he offer you something as well?”

“Not quite-" He paused. "He actually took something from me.” 

“What could possibly make you agree to live with someone you despise so much?” 

“An engagement ring.” Ryosuke answered, his eyes lowering so that they wouldn't meet her's. "And he won't give it back until this arrangement is over."

"Oh."

Not knowing how to react to his answer, that was all Rio could find herself saying. Even Ryosuke seemed to have noticed her troubled reaction from the corner of his eyes. Taking the next plate from Rio's hands, he began to dry it while offering her the explanation she waited for.

“We've been dating for almost 5 years now so I thought that it was finally time for me to pop the question." Ryosuke paused. "I had plans to propose after the concert that day so I brought the ring with me in my bag... But as soon as I stepped away from it, the arena suddenly collapsed and the next thing I knew, I woke up in a hospital room."

"So that's why you were uneasy when you regained consciousness," Rio noted out loud. After washing the last plate, she turned off the faucet before turning to offer him her full attention. "Sorry for the outburst that day... I didn't know you were going through all that."

Ryosuke shook his head. "You had a rough a few days too and there's no way you would've known about my situation. I mean, if you did, then that would be an issue, right?" He added, chuckling just briefly. "But that's also the thing. I was more uneasy about losing the ring than losing her. The possibility of my girlfriend being alive didn't even come across my mind until after you pointed out my phone. They might as well award me for being the world's worst boyfriend."

Rio dropped her shoulders after hearing Ryosuke confess everything to her. She firmed her lips and filled her lungs with air before letting it escape with a short exhale. Then in the spur of the next moment, she reached for the kitchen faucet nozzle and sprayed him with water for a quick second.

"What on earth, Rio?!" Ryosuke exclaimed, using the towel to wipe his drenched face, hair, and shirt. 

"I still don't know much about you, Ryosuke, but I ca