Chapter 86: Unusual Rtionship


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya had a refreshing bath with Sung-Sun first thing in the morning. M Rose, Api, Harribel, and Ciri were already there, nestled around the table in the dining room. Each reacted differently as Sung-Sun walked into the dining room with him, her arm twined possessively around his arm.


    <span style="font-weight:400">A scornful sneer twisted M Rose’s lips as her gaze hardened with clear disdain. Api, on the other hand, attempted to cloak her emotions behind a mask of aloofness. But the subtle twitch of her fingers and a faint furrow of her brows betrayed the jealousy brewing beneath her cool facade. Harribel was visibly tight-lipped, her face creased with a barely perceptible frown of judgment. Ciri, however, appeared utterly indifferent, seemingly uninterested in his love life.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Husband, let me serve you breakfast,” Sung-Sun purred, drawing out his chair and bringing the packed dishes to serve him. “Here. I made you delicious food~.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">M Rose made a disgusted face as if she couldn’t bear to watch Sung-Sun’s housewife act. “Api, will you do me the favor of smacking this bitch in the head? She has clearly lost it.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">M Rose was the type to poke fun at anyone, anytime, anywhere with her unparalleled inability to read the room. She’d have been the type of person who made jokes at someone’s funeral.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Api shook her head. “Let her act… she was moaning all night.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Cyan Sung-Sun stifled a yawn, the corners of her lips curving up. “Husband and I had a fancy night. I’m tired…”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Oi, Skull and Snake,” M Rose yelled. “Can’t you two fuck in moderation? You guys were so damn loud yesterday. I’d have kicked your asses if Ciri didn’t stop me.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya had forgotten to put on the forcefield that suppressed noise to an extent. M Rose’sint reminded him of a crucial w in the mansion. Even though their bedrooms were so far apart, their superhuman senses could easily pick on the noisesing from another floor.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Wait,” Kazuya said. “M Rose sleeps with Ciri? Don’t you two have separate bedrooms?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What’s wrong with sleeping in Ciri’s room? Her wings are so damnfortable pillows.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Oh.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">His suspicions of their rtionship tickled his mind, unsettling him. If they were to take a romantic turn, he didn’t know how he’d handle it.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ciri, you gotta let me try your pillow wings.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ciri rolled her eyes. “Be happy I let you borrow myp. Don’t push the boundaries, Leader.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sleeping with him was different from sharing a bed with a friend. Both of them were aware of it.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“A.” He turned to Api. “Oh, Api. I think your Resurrión form gives you fur on your body.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I’m not using my Resurrión for you to use me as a body pillow!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Come on. Listen to your lover’sst request.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Her resistance crumbled like a castle of sand under a wave. “Fine…” she admitted with a sigh. “Only tonight.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Thanks, Api.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She was trying not to show any happiness at his request but he could see through her facade. She was pleased that she was desired by him.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun tugged at his sleeve. “Can I join you tonight, Husband?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“No!” Api rejected Sung-Sun with a red face. “Sleep in your room.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Miser,” Sung-Sun said with a cute pout. “Selfish, little miser deer.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“...”


    <span style="font-weight:400">The tension dissolved as he focused back on his breakfast, the sound of his lovers’ bickering fading into the background. Once he finished his breakfast, he extended a hand towards Harribel, who was still seated, observing him with a soft smile.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Come with me, Harribel.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She flinched as her smile vanished. Her shoulders slumped slightly, a hint of resignation clouding her features. She knew the reason behind his request. Turning to M Rose and Ciri, she revealed a stern frown. “Don’t try anything weird in my absence.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I won’t!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">He chuckled at her mother-like warnings to the group. “Let’s go.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">…


    <span style="font-weight:400">Minutester, Harribel could be seen sitting on a bed while Kazuya leaned against the window of his room.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Harribel looked at him. “Kazuya?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">His lips curved into a reassuring smile. “I want to talk about you. More urately, I want to know about your inclination to treat me—and others around me like your child.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She hesitated, her eyes wavering with a tinge of guilt. “I don’t know… It’s just my instinct to look after younger people. You’re the only one I may have treated like my… child.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">The confession weighed on her. She’d been fighting this battle within herself, knowing it was wrong to impose such a role without his consent, yet unable to resist. Acting like his mother provided her relief on deeper levels.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t make that face,” he whispered, approaching her andying his head on her soft thighs. “I’d have said no if I didn’t enjoy your care. I’m just conflicted…”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Conflicted about your feelings for me?” she asked softly. “Do you remember the favor I was going to ask in Hueco Mundo?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“What was that about?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">She leaned in, so close that he could see his reflection in her aqua green eyes. “I... I wanted you to ept M Rose as your lover. And for us to... remain the same. With me as... your mother.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Her confession hung in the air, heavy with the weight of her suppressed feelings. She had wished to maintain their existing dynamics, to continue cherishing him like a child. But Api getting attacked by Gillian had stopped her from asking the favor that may have changed their rtionship forever.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I see,” he said, a soft sigh escaping his lips. “What changed your mind?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You openly showed interest in me after you became an Arrancar… I couldn’t bring myself to ask the favor again.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">He reached out and touched her face, tracing her soft skin. “It’s fine. You can continue pampering me as long as you want.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">But she withdrew from his touch, her eyes shutting tight. A shake of her head followed her retreat. “I won’t take things for granted anymore.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Then how about you take up both roles? Act as my mother and my lover…”


    <span style="font-weight:400">The words felt weird in his mind and sounded weirder in reality. He shut his eyes, trying to escape the awkwardness, only to feel a surprising softness against his lips. His eyes snapped open, meeting the sight of Harribel kissing him, her eyes sealed shut in concentration. It was a simple press of lips, but the emotional magnitude of sharing it with Harribel was enough to make his heart pound wildly.


    <span style="font-weight:400">After a lingering moment, she pulled back, her breath mixing with his. “It’s decided then… I’ll cherish you like my child, and also love you... as your woman.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">He could tell she wasn’t immune to the oddness of their situation. The slight hesitation in her voice hinted at the embarrassment she felt about the unusual rtionship he had proposed — their current rtionship.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Say something,” she grumbled. “You’re making it… awkward.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Instead of answering her request, he burst outughing. “It’s refreshing to see Tier’s cute side.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">A yful ruffle through his hair was her retort, but her touch soon softened, her fingertips caressing his scalp with an affectionate ease. Receivingp pillows in Harribel’s Vasto Lorde form was a blissful expression but receivingp pillows in her Arrancar form was apletely different experience. It was an entirely different level offort and intimacy. It was akin to being spoiled by royalty, which they both were going to be at some point.


    <span style="font-weight:400">{Hey, Partner. Mommy Harribel is temporary and our bond is eternal… forever and ever.}


    <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘...’</i>