"Otouto-kun, do you think I should dye my hair to match you?"
"Dyes can damage hair. You don't need them."
"Okay. Do I wear girly dresses or stick to formal clothes?"
"You look fine in anything. After all, true beauty comes from within."
"Hehehe. What about my hair length? Should I grow it or cut it even shorter like you?"
"No need for that. Your current hairstyle is perfect. You don't have to change yourself for me."
"I'm doing it because I want to!"
"..."
Lisa felt like she walked into a lovey-dovey couple's morning regime rather than the house of a divorcee and her adopted brother. Izumi had never been this vibrant. This version of Izumi radiated such contagious energy that she could cure people's depression, and that nothing in the world could make her stressed.
Izumi tilted her head, finally noticing Lisa's arrival. "Welcome back, Lisa. You don't have to cook or clean today. I did everything."
"What happened yesterday?" Lisa blurted out, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Why does it feel like I skipped three arcs and jumped straight into the epilogue?"
"Well. Izumi, can I leave the explanation to you?"
"Of course, Otouto-kun," Izumi cooed. "Lisa, I've abandoned my Quincy mission. It wouldn't have gone anywhere with a single person's efforts."
Lisa turned to Kazuya, whom she had tasked to fix Izumi. He went above and beyond, making Izumi abandon her futile mission. The absolutely fine work earned a thumbs-up from her. "My respect and admiration for you have grown beyond mortal bounds. From today onwards, I'll consider you the greatest man ever to step foot on the three realms."
"Thanks," Kazuya said with a shrug, a subtle grin pulling at his lips. "Why don't you take a seat with us?"
Izumi propped her elbows on the table and gently cradled her face in her palms. Her soft smile oozed with affection. "Others have moved on in their lives, pursuing happiness in lives as normal people. It's time I cast my past and embrace a new future with Otouto-kun."
Lisa crossed her arms. "I have always been against political marriages and even more against the Quincy resurrection. Let Shinigami handle the job of balancers."
Izumi nodded in a trance, her gaze unwavering from Kazuya, as if fascinated by him. "Otouto-kun and I don't need to risk our lives. That reminds me, Otouto-kun, you have yet to reply to my confession. I know you're considering Harribel-san, Apacci-san, and Sung-Sun's feelings… but can you answer me soon? My heart cannot take this suspense."
Kazuya almost spat his coffee. "Which confession are you talking about?"
Her lips stretched into a gentle smile. "Naughty Otouto-kun, don't you play with my heart like that. You were wide awake when I poured my heart out to you."
She had noticed the tiniest of fluctuations in his Reiatsu when she entered his room last night. The fluctuations only became wilder as she expressed her feelings.
He cleared his throat. "I didn't interrupt because it was better to free your emotions than bottle them up in your heart."
"Very true, Otouto-kun. You're so incredibly sweet and caring. It was Kami's blessing that I ran into you that night."
{Partner, it's official that Izumi is balls-deep obse—in love with you. Because you were present at the right place and time. Open your heart and embrace her love, for you're a harem protagonist.}
'I caused this, so I'll take full responsibility.'
Izumi might resort to self-harm if he rejected her newfound purpose of having a normal life with him. It wouldn't be farfetched to say he was her sole reason for existence. She might just break at his rejection. Izumi would've continued a normal life if he hadn't changed her fate to such an extent.
Besides, he had a soft spot for Izumi, who had been nothing but kind to him. If committing to her would ensure her happiness and presence in his life, then it was a price he was more than willing to pay.
{You're just hard to bone a yandere lady who resembles the lover from your past life.}
'Quiet.'
The sheer anticipation in Izumi's eyes made him sigh. "Izumi, if you're fine with the other women in my life, I won't reject you."
Her smile blossomed, and the delicate sheen of unshed tears turned her eyes into reflective pools of emotion. "I won't have any problem as long as others don't have a problem with me."
Her innocence and sweetness suggested she would be content as long as he gave her attention and love, which might be impossible given his mission in the Soul Society.
{She is dangerous, Partner. Neglect her and she may just attack others.}
Sung-Sun, the weakest of his lovers, could effortlessly floor Izumi. His lovers won't be in trouble unless Izumi awakens some ridiculous powerup.
{She will get one. It's only a matter of time.}
Ignoring Nami, he smiled at Izumi. "Nobody will cause trouble for you. I'll take care of everything."
Izumi nodded her head in a daze. "Otouto-kun, my heart is beating hard… it's making me dizzy." She stretched her arms. "Can you carry me to bed?"
{So the manipulation begins.}
He carried his spoiled lover to her resting quarters, her sweet murmurs nearly breaking his resolve. It took every shard of his courage to repel her attempt to monopolize his affection. He needed to stand firm, or she would manipulate him into staying with her forever. As much as he adored her, he couldn't commit to her alone.
Exiting the room, he found Lisa barring his way, her eyes still wide with bewilderment. "I take it Izumi and you are a thing now."
"Seems that way."
"It's not my place to question your decision…" She shook her head. "Izumi had no expectations from her previous marriage, which isn't the case with you. Don't break her heart is what I'm saying."
"I know."
"Good," Lisa proclaimed, the corners of her mouth lifting into an impish smile. "I'm quite pleased to be honest. I foreshadowed this forbidden romance from day one. A frustrated housewife takes in an incredibly handsome stranger under her roof and then suddenly she wants a divorce from her husband. It's almost like a screenplay begging to be written."
"..."
Lisa watched him with a mix of amusement and curiosity, her hands perched on her hips. "Well, if I ever fall for you, it's going to be quite the complicated household, wouldn't you agree?"
"Yet you look excited. I wonder why."
"Charming husband dominating his sexy wife and busty maid — that story may or may not be my favorite erotica." She chuckled. "Let's put the horniness aside for the moment. I have an important question for you: when will you go back to that place?"
"In a few days."
Her expression grew solemn. "Izumi won't take your leave lightly."
"Otouto-kun is leaving?!" The alarmed cry pulled their attention abruptly.
Izumi peeked through the door, unable to resist her urge to eavesdrop on them. When the topic of his leave came up, she couldn't resist coming out to question him.
Kazuya pulled her out of the bedroom. "I'll be leaving for a month."
Izumi paled, her eyes welling up. She bit her lip in an attempt to stabilize her emotions. "Have I... have I done something wrong? Why are you leaving me?"
The moment she saw the possibility of being left behind, she seemingly forgot every one of his promises about being with her.
{First stage of yandere: Tame. She will whine, shed tears and try everything to appear vulnerable to manipulate her significant other. It's merely the start of a toxic relationship like no other.}
'Don't badmouth my Izumi.'
Lisa placed a hand on Izumi's shoulder. "Izumi-sama, it's not like that. He's not leaving because of you."
"But…"
Kazuya kissed her forehead, which made her tremble. It was just his lips touching her forehead, yet she gained immense happiness from the gesture. "It's the nature of my work that makes me travel a lot."
"Then take me too. I promise I won't interfere with your job."
Rather than convincing her with words, he took action — leaning down and pressing his lips against her. Her very first kiss made her weak in the knees. She clung to him so tightly that she might've broken a normal person's back.
As he drew back, she hungrily chased him, eyes glazed with lust and face reddened beyond imagination. "Nn~, Otouto… don't tease me…"
His gaze softened at her raw display of passion. "I can't take you with me, but I'll be doing my best to return as quickly as possible. Can you try enduring for me?" He reinforced the thought by giving her another kiss on her lips. "Please, Onee-chan. Can I rely on you?"
"A-Ah, of course." She nodded, trying to appear more mature as the bigger sibling. "I won't cry anymore."
"I love you."
{Heavens… if Izumi is Level 1 yandere, then you're Level 5.}
Ignoring Nami's compliments, he coddled Izumi and indulged her with hugs. For some reason, she loved hugging him.
After ensuring that Izumi was emotionally stable, he left her in Lisa's care.
{So, when will you come clean to her?}
'Not anytime soon.'
Keeping Izumi forever in the dark was possible but something he'd avoid. He had to wait for the time when Izumi's heart was healed and ready for that type of surprise. Else, the reveal might just push her over the edge again.
…
Back in Kazuya's mansion.
"Apacci, I got a gift for you."
Mila Rose, Cirucci, and Apacci — all watched in anticipation as Kazuya unfurled the maid dress out of the bag. The dress was a byproduct of Sung-Sun and Lisa while his input refined some aspects like the frilly choker and the low neckline — all in effort to suit Apacci's style.
"But why this?" Mila Rose asked, skeptical. "Surely there are better dresses out there for Apacci. She'll be happier with an Adjuchas soul than this—this crappy dress."
"You mate's fetish," Cirucci whispered. "He's a freaky leader alright."
Sung-Sun snorted. "You two have shitty taste. The classic black and white contrasting dresses have been alluring for centuries. They have caused thousands of divorces in Japan alone."
Mila Rose blinked. "You collected the most useless knowledge…"
Kazuya tossed the dress at Apacci. "It has to do with your evolution. That's all I can say at the moment."
She had to embrace her Aspect of Death on her own. His help might achieve the opposite in pushing away her 'Devotion' side.
Apacci's eyes gleamed. "Okay."
She didn't question his decision. Taking his hand, she dragged him to her room. As he tried to come inside, she closed the door in his face.
"Wait outside!"
He couldn't help but shake his head at her weird embarrassment. During their intimacy, he had seen her naked over a dozen times. She had even shared a threesome with Sung-Sun.
{Be patient. The reveal is a delicate bloom, best when unrushed.}
All the rustling inside the room raised his anticipation. After what felt like an eternity, Apacci let him open the door. His heart skipped a beat when he found her standing with crossed arms. Her frown was firmly at odds with the maid headdress resting on her head.
He found himself captured by her unexpected charm, feeling his heart sinking deeper for her.
There was an innocence in the frills and folds of her outfit, a sharp contrast to her untamed intensity spirit.
'Something is wrong with me.'
{It's the gap moe. The contrast of her innocent frills and her untamed spirit.}
His silent admiration made her more conscious of her dress. She loosened up, fidgeting nervously. "Wearing this is embarrassing enough," she huffed, the corners of her lips twitching downwards in a pout that was too cute to be real. "I don't need you gawking like that."
"It looks great on you. I mean really great," he reassured her, closing the space between them with a warmth in his smile. "Why is this embarrassing?"
"It's just..." she started, her voice trailing off into a murmur as if she were revealing a vulnerability she hadn't planned on sharing. "It's like I'm running around as a servant, and not... not your lover."
Although she was one of his lovers, she took great pride in her current status. It meant everything to her. The thought of being perceived as a family maid—especially as Sung-Sun's maid—was a straight blow to her pride.
He held her hands. "You'll be my exclusive maid. A maid solely devoted to serving me."
He watched her, seeking any sign of distaste or disapproval. He'd drop the whole idea if it caused her any discomfort. Instead, what he saw was the furrowing of her brow, a look of perplexed contemplation.
"I should be infuriated," she whispered, a trace of astonishment in her voice as her fingers subconsciously grazed her neck. "And yet, I'm... okay with it. What is this bullshit? And how is it related to my evolution?"
He pointed at her chest. "The obstacle in your evolution isn't physical but mental."
"Huh?"
"Don't worry too much. It'll be solved in time."
Mila Rose's departure to Hueco Mundo made her realize about her denseness and impulsiveness to say hurtful things. Rather than dealing with the matters of the heart on her own, she chose to take his help.
"So what are my duties... as your maid?" she inquired, her tone a mix of sarcasm and genuine intrigue. "I'm not cleaning the whole mansion just so you know."
His gaze drifted to Apacci's bed, where a plush panda rested against the wall. "We'll talk after I reward you for your cooperation."
Her cheeks flushed at the realization. "I'll take these off. Don't want them getting dirty—"
"No! Leave it on. It's perfect."
"..."
...
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