Life In The Limelight : I Married A Gamer Girl-Chapter 33: You Need A Pick Me Up

The clock ticked softly in the background, but the room was otherwise silent, save for the faint sound of Masako's pencil scratching against paper. She sat at her desk, her golden eyes fixed on her sketchpad, her brow furrowed in concentration. The looming deadline for Spirit Walker had her pushing herself harder than usual, and it was starting to take its toll.

Her desk was cluttered with papers, discarded sketches, and empty coffee cups—a stark contrast to her usual tidy workspace. She bit her lip, erasing a line for the third time, muttering under her breath. "It's not good enough," she said to herself, her voice tinged with frustration.

Kazuma, sitting at his own desk across the room, glanced up and noticed the tension in her posture. Her usually vibrant energy seemed dimmed, her movements stiff and uncharacteristically hesitant. He knew that look—Masako was overwhelmed.

He set aside his own work, his light blue eyes softening as he watched her. Masako always gave her all to their projects, but sometimes, she forgot to take care of herself in the process. Kazuma couldn't let that happen. Quietly, he stood and left the room, hatching a plan to ease her stress.

Masako barely noticed when Kazuma disappeared, too caught up in her own spiral of self-doubt. She flipped through her sketchpad, frustration mounting as nothing seemed to match the vision in her head. She sighed heavily, running a hand through her dark brown hair. "Why can't I get this right?" she muttered, her golden eyes glancing at the clock. Time was slipping away, and the pressure was becoming unbearable.

Just as she was about to crumple another sketch, Kazuma reappeared, holding a tray filled with her favorite snacks. Her favorite chocolates, a small bowl of strawberries, and a neatly arranged plate of cheese and crackers were all there, along with a steaming cup of her favorite herbal tea.

"Sweetie," he said softly, setting the tray on her desk, "I think you need a break."

Masako blinked, her golden eyes widening in surprise. "Kazuma? What's all this?"

He smiled, pulling up a chair beside her. "You've been working nonstop, Masako. I can see how stressed you are. I thought you could use a little pick-me-up."

Her lips curved into a small smile, though her expression was still tinged with doubt. "I don't know, dear. There's so much to do, and I feel like I'm running out of time..."

"Which is exactly why you need to take a moment for yourself," Kazuma interrupted gently. He reached over and pressed a few buttons on his phone, and a soothing playlist began to play. The soft, melodic tunes filled the room, instantly making it feel warmer and calmer.

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"See? Doesn't that help already?" he asked, his light blue eyes searching hers.

Masako hesitated, but the tension in her shoulders began to ease as she reached for a strawberry. She took a bite, the sweetness spreading across her tongue. "This is... really nice," she admitted, her voice soft.

Kazuma smiled, leaning closer. "Good. Now, let's talk about what's bothering you. What's making this so hard?"

Masako sighed, setting the strawberry down. "I just feel like nothing I draw is good enough. The characters aren't coming out the way I envisioned, and with the deadline so close, I'm afraid I won't have time to fix everything."

Kazuma placed a hand on hers, his touch warm and reassuring. "Sweetie, your work is amazing. It always is. And even if it doesn't feel perfect right now, you're allowed to take your time and trust the process. You've been through this before, remember? You always pull through, and the results are always incredible."

Masako's golden eyes softened as she looked at him. "You really think so?"

"I know so," Kazuma said, his tone firm but affectionate. "You're the most talented artist I know, Masako. You just need to give yourself a little grace. And if you need more time, we'll make it work. Deadlines aren't more important than your well-being."

Her lips quivered slightly before she broke into a smile, her cheeks tinged with warmth. "Thank you, dear. I really needed to hear that."

Kazuma chuckled, leaning forward to kiss her forehead. "That's what I'm here for. Now, eat some more snacks, listen to the music, and let yourself relax for a bit. You deserve it."

Masako nodded, taking another strawberry and letting the music wash over her. The stress that had been weighing her down began to lift, replaced by a sense of calm and reassurance. With Kazuma by her side, she felt like she could handle anything.

As the evening went on, Masako slowly returned to her work, her confidence restored. Kazuma stayed nearby, offering quiet encouragement and stealing a snack or two from her tray. Together, they made progress, their shared laughter and teamwork turning what had been a stressful day into one filled with love and support.

By the time they wrapped up for the night, Masako turned to Kazuma, her golden eyes glowing with gratitude. "You always know exactly what I need, dear. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Kazuma smiled, pulling her into a warm hug. "You'd be just fine, sweetie. But I'm glad I can help."

As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the storm of deadlines and stress seemed like a distant memory. With Kazuma's unwavering support and Masako's renewed determination, they knew they could face anything—together.