Chapter 146-147: Alter Ego
<span style="font-weight:400">The next day, Kazuya stepped out of the bath, putting on a gray sweatshirt and cargo shorts—his go-to casual attire. Making his way to the breakfast table, he found Tier looking captivating in her teacher attire, an outfit that somehowbined professionalism with her wild allure. Not even Nami could top the nurturing charm Tier exuded.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Morning, Tier.”
<span style="font-weight:400">As he took his seat, Tier’s hand gently covered his. “I’ll be back by the afternoon. After which I’m free.”
<span style="font-weight:400">After a three-month longing, the thought of spending uninterrupted time with him filled her with anticipation. She even contemted taking a day off, but knowing Kazuya, he wouldn’t appreciate her sacrificing her responsibilities for his sake.
<span style="font-weight:400">{M Rose and Harribel back to back. Partner’s luck is going insane. I wonder what tragedies fate is cooking for us.}
<i><span style="font-weight:400">‘Stop jinxing it.’</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">{It was a jinx to counter-jinx every jinx.}
<span style="font-weight:400">“We haven’t sparred together in a while,” Kazuya suggested, giving Tier’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “How about we head to Kisuke’s underground chamberter?”
<span style="font-weight:400">It’d be a challenge to leave Karakura Town once he made love to Tier. In addition, he had to focus on getting stuff done and work out his Zanpakutō issues.
<span style="font-weight:400">Tier’s eyes gleamed at the idea. “Just like the old days.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yup, just like the old days.”
<span style="font-weight:400">As they shared a moment, lost in each other’s eyes, M Rose cleared her throat and stood up, capturing the attention of everyone at the table. “Attention, everyone! I have an announcement—”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You and Husband fucked for hours yesterday,” Sung-sun yfully interrupted, concealing an evil smirk behind her sleeves. “We already know that, Rose.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Their long disappearance yesterday,bined with M Rose’s affectionate nces at Kazuya at the table, hinted at a new milestone in their rtionship. Sung-Sun couldn’t be happier about M Rose epting her feelings. Now, she won’t have to see M Rose having depressive episodes again.
<span style="font-weight:400">M Rose’s attention shifted to Tier, who verified Sung-Sun’s statement with a gentle smile. Her shoulders drooped, her face a priceless blend of embarrassment and shame. “Ugh, I was so looking forward to breaking the news to everyone...”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun arched an eyebrow. “Rose, never forget that you’re our family, and a real family knows each other like the back of their hands.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Damn yes,” Api agreed. “I’m d Franceska stopped being a stubborn bitch and decided to be with Kazuya.”
<span style="font-weight:400">M Rose blinked at the rare show of affection from Api. “I also love you both… though I love my mate and Harribel-sama more.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Ciri crossed her arms, tapping the floor. “What about me, Rose? You didn’t—”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You idiot,” she said, hugging Ciri from behind. “You’re my bestie. I love you too.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Api let out an exasperated sigh. “Great, now she’s going into full-on sentimental mode.”
<span style="font-weight:400">After the lively exchange at the breakfast table, Kazuya retreated to his room and sprawled across his bed. “Nami, take me to the Inner World. We need to talk.”
<span style="font-weight:400">{Sure, Partner.}
<span style="font-weight:400">In the blink of an eye, he went from the room to a tiny ind, surrounded by an endless sea that stretched as far as the eye could see. Nami stood before him, her presence dominating the surreal environment.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So you went with the ‘it’s lonely at the top’ aesthetic here.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Nami closed the distance and wrapped her arms around him in a surprisingly tame hug, contrasting her intensely horny nature. “Lonely? Not when you’ll be surrounded by your harem and your soulmate — Izanami. Now, what did my alter ego say to you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya sighed. “Tsubasa… she talked to me in your voice, through you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">After the anger over Tsubasa’s maniption had faded, he was more epting of her existence. Yet, there was one condition — Tsubasa inhabited Nami, taking his already unhinged Zanpakutō Spirit to a new level. Out of all the potential developments for a yandere, it had to be the dreaded emergence of a dual personality.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I… I screwed up, Partner,” Nami let out an anxious chuckle. “I thought I devoured her. I should’ve known better. A Shinigami’s Zanpakutō Spirit is part of their soul; how could they die that easily?”
<span style="font-weight:400">He narrowed his eyes sharply, seeing through her feigned surprise. “I understand why you aggressively pushed me on Unohana and Isane. You had an inkling about remnants of Tsubasa’s ego and worried that you might lose the psychic battle against her. They were your backup, to keep me from spiraling into despair if you were gone.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I got caught…” Nami looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yeah, I lied… I was havingpses, nk spaces popping up in my memories. Strangely, they only happened when you were asleep… Partner, will you punish me for deceiving you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">He revealed a soft smile. “Considering how essential a Zanpakutō Spirit is to a Shinigami, you must’ve hesitated inpletely devouring Tsubasa. It’ll be stupid to punish you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Since Tsubasa was part of his soul,pletely annihting her would’ve harmed his soul. How could he have the mind to punish her when she acted with the intent of helping him?
<span style="font-weight:400">She cradled her own face in her hands as her eyes widened and her lips twisted into the signature smile of a yandere. “You cannot know how happy I’m to be understood by my beloved. It means the world to me!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Others might find her level of obsession creepy and unnerving, but he held a different perspective. Her love, however twisted, was undeniably sincere — a dangerous mix of passion and devotion that he found adorable in its own unique way.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I can never predict the inner workings of a woman, much less a yandere like you,” he mused, eyes locking onto hers. “But when you began pushing women on me, I knew something was off. You said it yourself that the other women in my life meant nothing to you — you were indifferent to them.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah, my Partner’s love made me touch more… amodating to others.” Nami spun in an elegant pirouette, herughter echoing like a haunting melody around the isted ind. “I’ll still call Tsubasa my Alter Ego. She is, after all, my pr opposite. The life to my death. The light to my shadows. I exist to protect and elevate my beloved to his righteous position in Heavens, while she exists to protect your loved ones. In short, Tsubasa and Izanami are two sides of the same coin. Weplete each other.”
<span style="font-weight:400">His theory about the antithetical rtionship between Tsubasa and Nami was astute. In theory, with Tsubasa, Nami represented an ideal yandere — one driven by the desire to protect him and the other driven to protect those around him. It epassed everything he needed to enjoy his life. The only dreadful oue of their continued existence was the possibility that Nami may transform into a stranger or lose her sense of self.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, what happened to Tsubasa being our daughter?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No longer possible. Moreover, I’m not old enough to be a mother—oops, I forgot Partner loves milfs. It’s unfortunate that Tsubasa can’t be my daughter with her living in my head and all.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You live in my head, and Tsubasa lives in yours…” He chuckled. “We’re one fucked-up trio.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Perks of being the main characters,” she cooed. With a graceful gesture, she ced a hand on her chest and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, her demeanor had shifted, eyes solemn and tinged with reverence. “Master… we meet again.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Tsubasa, you’re one stubborn Zanpakutō Spirit to survive the wrath of a yandere.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Tsubasa’s lips curled into a soft smile. “That may be truer than you imagine. I almost died when Nami devoured me, but Nami was gracious enough to preserve my essence and merge her soul with it… My specialization in restoration allowed me to reconstruct my ego. It was made possible by staying close to you, physically and spiritually.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I guess the saying about Shinigami and their Zanpakutō Spirit being inseparable is true.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She kneeled on the ground and touched her head on the floor, performing a dogeza — a gesture used to show deference to a person of higher status or express deepest apologies. In Tsubasa''s case, it was thetter. “Master, I apologize for the harm I caused… and for my despicable actions against Izanami. I never intended to mock your strength during our battle… I was swept away by the fantasy that Master would get more motivated to grow strong and ovee me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">His brows arched in surprise. “You sound like one of those side viins whose real goal is to help the protagonist, so the protagonist can kill the main viin.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“They were my inspiration to fuel your growth. I… never considered you would leave me to die in a battle against Izanami.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She had taken her defeat into ount, but not the possibility of a Shinigami abandoning his Zanpakutō Spirit. She severely underestimated his rage and his adoration for Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’re so weird,” he said, shaking his head. “Then again, you’re just the reflection of my desires. It was a little stupid of me to let you die. So, we’re even.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She raised her head, surprise painted across her features. “Thanks, Master… I swear I’ll never act without your permission.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You better, because I’d hate to see you die again.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She happily nodded her head and rose to her feet. Her eyes fluttered close before she fell towards him. Instinctively, he reached out to catch her, supporting her weight as she transitioned back to Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Partner, I’m back!” Nami’s eyes twinkled as she looked at him. “What did Tsubasa say?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Before that, I have a question: do you hate Tsubasa?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Despite having an inkling about her feelings, he needed to hear it straight from her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I had nothing but hatred for her until I burned her soul with my mes, leaving just her essence. While she mayck maturity, her heart was in the right ce: to assist you. How could I loathe someone aiming for the same goal as I do? So yes, I’ve forgiven her, even for trapping me like a caged bird.”
<span style="font-weight:400">His eyes crinkled in a pleased smile. “You were a bird when it happened.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I WAS A PHOENIX. Get that right, Partner.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yandere bird.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Watching her huff and puff about being called a bird, he gave her a brief rundown on Tsubasa’s apology and her promise to Nami. Her arms tightened around him, her entire weight leaning against him. “I’m absolved from the guilt of ying my blood and flesh daughter.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“That makes the two of us.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I long for the day Tsubasa separates from me. I want my head full of Beloved’s thoughts, not her!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Me too. I think we should refrain from fucking while Tsubasa is merged with you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Nami pouted, sulking, but not pushing the issue. “Mom incest is fine. Daughter incest is not. I see.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Now that the problem is solved, let’s go train.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fucking finally!”