♡Prologue♡

by YamaBlood

The woman strides down the lengthy corridor, surrounded by a sea of faces that can't help but turn their attention toward her. Nonchalant in her demeanor, one hand leisurely rests in the pocket of her black denim jeans jacket, which is nonchalantly left slightly ajar, adorned with miniature red hearts in various spots. A vibrant red shirt peeks from underneath. Black jeans and sneakers complete her casual ensemble—so unassuming that those unfamiliar with her wouldn't spare her a second glance.

Her free hand ascends to tousle her shoulder-length, tousled, strawberry-blonde waves. Loose strands cascade into her gray eyes, framing a face blessed with a sun-kissed complexion.

She strides away from the bustling crowd of fellow workers and enters a spacious room. Shutting the massive wooden door behind her, she pivots to survey her surroundings. The room exudes an air of warmth, its walls crafted from rich wood adorned with arrows sporting bows, each arrowhead embellished with dainty hearts. The office emanates coziness, with two large windows currently draped in crimson, casting a subdued ambiance across the space.

Her attention shifts to a substantial desk a few paces away, where a man in his late thirties, with short gray hair, brown eyes, and a tan complexion, engrosses himself in perusing some documents, oblivious to her entrance. Despite the sizable windows, the room carries a shadowed undertone.

Rolling her eyes at his lack of acknowledgment, she strides up to the desk and emphatically slaps her palms onto its surface.

"Hey, big boss, don't tell me you're developing hearing issues in your old age," she grins mischievously as he startles in his seat, shooting her an irate glare.

"Cupid," he says, his tone as chilly as ice water.

"Big boss" she grins, her hands go into her pockets as she leans away with a satisfied smirk.

He fixes his gaze on her, letting out a sigh. "Whatever. I would appreciate it if you'd stop barging into my office like that. I don't have time for it, so let's get straight to the reason I sent you here," he says.

Cupid raises a mocking eyebrow. "Oh, big deal? What is it? Another guy needing someone new after failing his tenth date because his social interaction sucks?" she says, holding up a hand when he opens his mouth. "Wait, no, I know what it is. It's Theo? You know, the rock star? My client. He switches his girlfriends so often, like me, mine shocks-"

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Cupid," he interrupts with a sigh.

She grins. "Yes, yes, please go on."

He stares at her, assessing whether she's serious, before proceeding.

"As always, I have another client for you. But it's more...unique. However, I don't know what's going on with the other matchmakers, but every one of them gives up on this one. As I don't have any other male matchmaker, you're the only one left."

Cupid frowns. "Wait, what? You mean my client is..."

"A woman," he ends the sentence as if it's nothing, still reading the papers as he speaks. "It shouldn't be too hard for you to find her a soulmate. Her love radar is quite strong, so I don't know why everyone gives up on that one. Anyway, you're tasked to find a soulmate for her. I think you've got this," he looks up slightly at Cupid with a raised eyebrow. "You're the number one in Soul-link, so I see success there, Cupid."

She hums before grinning at him. "Never had a woman as a client" she shrugs, then laughs, "Should not someone with more knowledge get the task? Is it not like..." She thinks for a moment before shrugging, "Forbidden or something for me to do it, as my clients are only male ones?"

"It's not forbidden" he says. "It's more like a proposition to make your job right. "

Cupid continues to laugh. "I want to see the one who said that."

Boss takes the paper he was reading and holds it out to Cupid. "If you would now read the needed information. You begin tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?!" she exclaims.

"Yes," his face is flat. "I want to be done with this task as soon as possible."

Cupid looks down at the paper, starting to read it.

"Masaki Hakanata, 21 years old, from Japan, working in a coffee café as a..." Cupid starts to giggle. She puts a hand to her mouth to muffle the sound, but the shaking of the paper in her hand is very visible.

The boss raises an eyebrow. "Yes?"

She takes her hand away, grinning from ear to ear. "As a maid. Working as a maid. Oh my gosh, do you mean, like, in that manga I read yesterday? Is she clothed in that maid outfit too? I saw something like that on the internet-"

The man in front of her looks more tired now than usual as he pinches the bridge of his nose. "Cupid...just, go and prepare, for love's sake."

Cupid grins. "Sure. Where exactly am I going?"

"Tokyo."

"And for how long?"

Boss takes out a big red book, opens it, and starts to read before saying, "The rules say, one week to find your client a soulmate. For most, it doesn't even take a whole week to succeed..." He then looks up at her, tired eyes. "But this one would need more. I would say, try everything to succeed in one week, Cupid."

Cupid hums and puts the paper in her jacket pocket before grinning up at him. "I feel special to assist in your little problem." She bows dramatically before turning around and walking out, hearing just a silent sigh behind her before she closes the door.

Now alone, he leans against his big, comfy chair.

"I hope you solve this, Cupid."