The receptionist hesitated, her fingers lightly pressing against the fabric of her uniform. For a brief moment, she seemed to debate whether or not to answer.
UltSans didn't push.
He simply continued eating, unbothered, indifferent.
Finally, she exhaled softly, setting her hands in her lap before answering.
Receptionist:"Clara."
UltSans didn't react much—didn't nod, didn't acknowledge it in any way except for the slight way his eyes flicked up to her, as if filing the name away.
UltSans:"Alright, Clara."
His tone was neither warm nor cold—just neutral, as if the name was nothing more than another piece of background noise.
Clara, on the other hand, shifted slightly, still unsure of why she was here.
She had expected him to take the money, take the breakfast, and dismiss her like every other rich guest she had served.
Instead, he had invited her to sit.
She wasn't sure if that was better or worse.
After a moment, she glanced toward him.
Clara:"You don't ask people their names often, do you?"
UltSans smirked faintly, poking at his food with his fork.
UltSans:"Nope."
Clara:"Then why ask mine?"
UltSans took a slow bite, chewing as if contemplating his own reasoning.
Then—he simply shrugged.
UltSans:"Dunno. You're here. Seemed fitting."
Clara exhaled through her nose, shaking her head slightly.
Clara:"You really don't care about much, do you?"
UltSans didn't even pause.
UltSans:"I do."
He took another bite, chewing slowly.
UltSans:"But when it's about people… I'm just a very straight person. I say what I think, straightly."
He shrugged slightly.
UltSans:"I simply don't care what others think, nor anything else."
His tone was so matter-of-fact, so final, that it left no room for argument.
Clara studied him for a moment longer, her expression unreadable.
Then, she looked away.
Her mind was still turning over everything that had happened.
Why was she still sitting here?
Why was she talking to him like this?
She had planned everything last night.
She was supposed to be in control. She had thought of a way to get what she wanted—yet, in the end, he had outsmarted her without even trying.
Now, she didn't know what to do.
Should she excuse herself with a lie and leave?
Should she stay?
For now, she remained seated.
Watching him eat.
And for some reason, UltSans let her stay.
A quiet stillness lingered in the air as UltSans placed the last forkful of food into his mouth, chewing with an almost lazy indifference.
With that, breakfast was done.
He set the tray aside, exhaling slightly before leaning back on his hands. His gaze flickered toward Clara, who was still sitting beside him, looking unsure of why she was still here.
Then, casually, he spoke.
UltSans:"I'm Raziel. But I'm more known as UltSans."
His voice was flat, uninterested in formalities.
Then—he tilted his head slightly, his tone shifting into something almost playful.
UltSans:"Now... since when was the last time you went on a shopping spree without caring about a budget?"
Clara blinked.
Her brows furrowed slightly, as if she didn't fully process the question at first.
Then, after a brief moment, she answered.
Clara:"Since never."
Her voice was steady, but there was something else beneath it—something unspoken.
Clara:"Even when I was a kid, I always had a budget to worry about. Because of my parents. Especially my mother."
She hadn't meant to add that last part.
But the words slipped out before she could stop them.
Clara shook her head slightly, clearing her thoughts.
Then, she noticed something.
UltSans was holding out his right hand.
A clear offer.
She hesitated.
But after a moment, she placed her left hand into his right.
UltSans gripped her hand firmly but without force, helping her stand with ease.
Then, he smirked.
UltSans:"Well, girl. Do you know any place for a shopping spree without a budget? 'Cause I'm taking you in."
Clara froze, her expression unreadable.
For a moment, she just stared at him.
Then—
Clara:"Why would you do that? You don't know me. And you already gave me way too much. No customer has ever given me a tip worth mentioning—let alone something like that briefcase. And now you're just... offering more?"
Her tone wasn't suspicious—just genuinely confused.
UltSans shrugged, tilting his head slightly.
UltSans:"Well, I'll be clear. I'm bored. Haven't interacted with a human in... way too long."
Then, without warning, a smirk curled at his lips.
His voice dropped just slightly—a teasing edge creeping into it.
UltSans:"And, by the way, in case you didn't catch the very subtle hints in my jokes using the word 'straight'—I'm straight. So, cutie, you're in danger of getting flirted with."
Clara's breath hitched slightly.
But he wasn't done.
UltSans:"And, yeah, I think my body is overheating right now. So I think you should answer quickly before I go overheated to flirt—with the very real intention of taking you to this bed we literally have right beside us."
Clara visibly tensed.
UltSans:"And yes, the fact that we're in the same room, very close to each other, with a bed right next to us, makes the heat very easy to grow. And at this rate? It's growing to dangerous levels."
Then, he leaned in slightly, his smirk widening just a little.
UltSans:"So... answer before disaster?"
Clara felt her entire brain short-circuit.
Her body locked up for a second—her face slightly heating up in reflex.
She was good at handling difficult customers, manipulative businessmen, arrogant rich men who thought they could buy anything.
But this?
This wasn't that.
UltSans wasn't being pushy.
Wasn't trying to trap her in an uncomfortable situation.
No—he was warning her.
As if he himself was the danger.
As if she had a few seconds left before things escalated into something way beyond her control.
Her fingers twitched slightly, still caught in his grip.
Then—
She suddenly jerked her hand away, taking a half-step back.
She wasn't scared.
She wasn't offended.
But she was definitely not risking testing his words.
Clara:"Shopping sounds good."
Her voice came out faster than she intended.
She cleared her throat, regaining her composure.
Clara:"Let's—uh—do that. Yes. Shopping."
She mentally kicked herself.
UltSans simply chuckled, stepping back with an amused look in his eyes.
UltSans:"Smart girl."
He turned toward the door, motioning for her to follow.
UltSans:"C'mon then. Time to blow some money."
Clara let out a small exhale, shaking her head before following him—not entirely sure how she had gotten herself into this.
Freedom in the Form of Kidnapping
UltSans and Clara made their way down to the hotel lobby, the heavy briefcase still in UltSans' grip as they walked. Clara had tried to carry it herself, but the weight had nearly pulled her arm out of its socket, so UltSans had taken over without effort.
The morning crowd filled the lobby—businessmen in tailored suits, wealthy tourists checking out, hotel staff moving swiftly through their routine.
Behind the front desk, Clara's supervisor was already tending to customers, her expression sharp and businesslike.
But then, her gaze snapped toward Clara.
Her brows furrowed, and without hesitation, she called out:
Supervisor:"Clara! Come back here! You have work to do! Customers to attend!"
Clara tensed slightly, but before she could even open her mouth—
UltSans answered for her.
Without even slowing down, he waved a lazy hand over his shoulder, his voice casual and completely unbothered.
UltSans:"She's under custody. I'm kidnapping her from you, bud. Call the police if you want. The military. The government. Don't care. Let's go, girl."
Clara blinked.
Her supervisor's mouth opened, then closed.
The sheer audacity of what he had just said stunned the woman into silence.
UltSans walked straight out the doors.
Clara hesitated for a split second—but then followed.
She knew she was about to lose her job.
But... maybe this was for the best.
If this man could casually open a portal to an unknown void, what else could he do?
Maybe—just maybe—he was the answer to a solved life.
No more worrying. No more fake smiles, fake politeness, fake professionalism for people who didn't even see her as a person.
And strangely enough—walking beside him felt different.
It felt like she was being taken away from her problems.
Like she was hanging out with her boyfriend, and he had just casually rescued her from something she didn't even realize she needed saving from.
For the first time in years, Clara didn't feel like an employee serving customers.
She just felt like a girl being spoiled.
Shopping Without a Limit
After some time, Clara led UltSans to a high-end clothing store—large, stocked with every style imaginable.
The moment they entered, she felt it.
The lack of concern.
The absence of hesitation.
Most of her life, shopping had always come with a budget—always calculating, always second-guessing, always checking price tags before even daring to admire something.
But now?
Now, it didn't matter.
UltSans didn't even glance at the prices.
He just walked, looked, and approved or dismissed things with ease.
And—much to her surprise—he actually had a good sense of style.
With casual wear—shirts, coats, pants—he had opinions. He could tell if something matched her properly, if a certain color worked better with her hair, if a certain fit was too loose or too tight.
But then—
It was time for underwear.
And that was where she drew the line.
Clara:"Wait here. I'll handle this myself."
UltSans didn't argue.
Didn't even tease.
He just nodded, stepping aside as she walked toward one of the store's workers.
Clara:"Excuse me, where are the bras?"
Worker:"Of course. If you'd like, I can accompany you?"
Clara gave a simple nod, and the two women walked off into the store.
Meanwhile—
UltSans stood waiting.
Then—Abyss slithered out from his back.
The symbiote hovered beside him, shifting slightly as it stared at him.
Abyss:"Are you seriously trying to seduce her?"
UltSans barely glanced at Abyss, his voice casual.
UltSans:"I mean… I'm a man with needs."
Abyss tilted its head.
UltSans:"And one of those needs is to have 'activity.' You know. The fun kind."
Abyss stared.
UltSans smirked slightly.
UltSans:"I'm a very 'active' kind of guy. But, funnily enough, I've never actually been active in that kind of 'activity.' So…"
Abyss hummed, as if processing.
Then—its tone took on a slightly amused edge.
Abyss:"I see what you're getting at. And you sound like you know what you're doing."
It paused, then let out something that could only be described as a dark, amused chuckle.
Abyss:"I think we both might enjoy this more than I expected. You from the 'activity'—and me from watching."
Then, without another word, Abyss slid back into him.
UltSans let out a low chuckle.
UltSans:"Well, you'll get some first-row views, after all..."
Time passed.
Eventually, both women returned—Clara now holding multiple selections of bras.
Without a word, she stepped into a fitting room, pulling the curtain shut behind her.
UltSans remained where he was, waiting.
Then, after a brief moment—Clara peeked out, grabbing another bra.
And that's when he decided to strike.
Without missing a beat, his voice came out smooth, casual—yet just loud enough for her to hear.
UltSans:"I didn't know there was a top model in here."
Clara paused mid-step.
Then—he continued, smirking.
UltSans:"Oh wait—it's just Clara."
His tone was mocking—playful, but just sharp enough to make her feel it.
UltSans:"Oops, my bad. I confused you with a top model. Guess I'm too straightly blinded."
Clara's Reaction
Clara froze completely.
Her entire brain stalled.
Then—
A sudden, violent coughing fit.
She covered her mouth, struggling to swallow down a sharp intake of air.
Her entire face heated up—
Because what the hell was that?!
She hadn't even seen it coming.
She had spent years working around rich men, enduring fake compliments, forced interactions, uncomfortable advances—and yet, somehow, this one stupid comment nearly killed her.
Why?
Because it wasn't forced.
It wasn't fake.
It was annoyingly smooth.
And worse—he was enjoying her reaction.
She coughed once more, forcing herself to recover, forcing herself to clear her throat.
Then—with as much composure as she could manage, she muttered:
Clara:"...You're the absolute worst."
UltSans simply grinned.
UltSans:"And yet, here you are, still standing in front of me, flustered, struggling to come up with a comeback."
Clara exhaled sharply, forcing herself to turn away.
Clara:"I hate you."
UltSans leaned against the nearby wall, crossing his arms.
UltSans:"Liar."
Clara yanked the curtain shut again, her face burning.
And UltSans?
UltSans just smirked.
Because for the first time since he arrived in this city—
He was actually having fun.