Chapter 154-155: Heal My Heart
<span style="font-weight:400">“Otouto-kun, do you think I should dye my hair to match you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Dyes can damage hair. You don’t need them.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Okay. Do I wear girly dresses or stick to formal clothes?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You look fine in anything. After all, true beautyes from within.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hehehe. What about my hair length? Should I grow it or cut it even shorter like you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No need for that. Your current hairstyle is perfect. You don’t have to change yourself for me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m doing it because I want to!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">Izumi tilted her head, finally noticing Lisa’s arrival. “Wee back, Lisa. You don’t have to cook or clean today. I did everything.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well. Izumi, can I leave the exnation to you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thanks,” Kazuya said with a shrug, a subtle grin pulling at his lips. “Why don’t you take a seat with us?”
<span style="font-weight:400">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.”
Spoiler
[copse]
<span style="font-weight:400">Lisa crossed her arms. “I have always been against political marriages and even more against the Quincy resurrection. Let Shinigami handle the job of bncers.”
<span style="font-weight:400">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, Api-san, and Sung-Sun’s feelings… but can you answer me soon? My heart cannot take this suspense.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya almost spat his coffee. “Which confession are you talking about?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Her lips stretched into a gentle smile. “Naughty Otouto-kun, don’t you y with my heart like that. You were wide awake when I poured my heart out to you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She had noticed the tiniest of fluctuations in his Reiatsu when she entered his roomst night. The fluctuations only became wilder as she expressed her feelings.
<span style="font-weight:400">He cleared his throat. “I didn’t interrupt because it was better to free your emotions than bottle them up in your heart.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Very true, Otouto-kun. You’re so incredibly sweet and caring. It was Kami’s blessing that I ran into you that night.”
<span style="font-weight:400">{Partner, it’s official that Izumi is balls-deep obse—in love with you. Because you were present at the right ce and time. Open your heart and embrace her love, for you’re a harem protagonist.}
<i><span style="font-weight:400">‘I caused this, so I’ll take full responsibility.’</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">Besides, he had a soft spot for Izumi, who had been nothing but kind to him. Ifmitting to her would ensure her happiness and presence in his life, then it was a price he was more than willing to pay.
<span style="font-weight:400">{You’re just hard to bone a yanderedy who resembles the lover from your past life.}
<i><span style="font-weight:400">‘Quiet.’</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">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 <i><span style="font-weight:400">others </i><span style="font-weight:400">don’t have a problem with me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">{She is dangerous, Partner. Neglect her and she may just attack others.}
<span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun, the weakest of his lovers, could effortlessly floor Izumi. His lovers won’t be in trouble unless Izumi awakens some ridiculous powerup.
<span style="font-weight:400">{She will get one. It’s only a matter of time.}
<span style="font-weight:400">Ignoring Nami, he smiled at Izumi. “Nobody will cause trouble for you. I’ll take care of everything.”
<span style="font-weight:400">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?”
<span style="font-weight:400">{So the maniption begins.}
<span style="font-weight:400">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 manipte him into staying with her forever. As much as he adored her, he couldn’tmit to her alone.
<span style="font-weight:400">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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Seems that way.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s not my ce 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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I know.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Good,” Lisa proimed, 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 screeny begging to be written.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">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 theplicated household, wouldn''t you agree?"
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yet you look excited. I wonder why.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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 ce?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“In a few days.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Her expression grew solemn. “Izumi won’t take your leave lightly.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Otouto-kun is leaving?!” The rmed cry pulled their attention abruptly.
<span style="font-weight:400">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 resisting out to question him.
<span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya pulled her out of the bedroom. “I’ll be leaving for a month.”
<span style="font-weight:400">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?”
<span style="font-weight:400">The moment she saw the possibility of being left behind, she seemingly forgot every one of his promises about being with her.
<span style="font-weight:400">{First stage of yandere: Tame. She will whine, shed tears and try everything to appear vulnerable to manipte her significant other. It’s merely the start of a toxic rtionship like no other.}
<i><span style="font-weight:400">‘Don’t badmouth my Izumi.’</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Lisa ced a hand on Izumi’s shoulder. “Izumi-sama, it’s not like that. He’s not leaving because of you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“But…”
<span style="font-weight:400">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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then take me too. I promise I won’t interfere with your job.”
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">As he drew back, she hungrily chased him, eyes zed with lust and face reddened beyond imagination. “Nn~, Otouto… don’t tease me…”
<span style="font-weight:400">His gaze softened at her raw disy 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?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“A-Ah, of course.” She nodded, trying to appear more mature as the bigger sibling. “I won’t cry anymore.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I love you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">{Heavens… if Izumi is Level 1 yandere, then you’re Level 5.}
<span style="font-weight:400">Ignoring Nami’spliments, he coddled Izumi and indulged her with hugs. For some reason, she loved hugging him.
<span style="font-weight:400">After ensuring that Izumi was emotionally stable, he left her in Lisa’s care.
<span style="font-weight:400">{So, when will youe clean to her?}
<i><span style="font-weight:400">‘Not anytime soon.’</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">…
<span style="font-weight:400">Back in Kazuya’s mansion.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Api, I got a gift for you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">M Rose, Ciri, and Api — 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 Api’s style.
<span style="font-weight:400">“But why this?” M Rose asked, skeptical. “Surely there are better dresses out there for Api. She’ll be happier with an Adjuchas soul than this—this crappy dress.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You mate’s fetish,” Ciri whispered. “He’s a freaky leader alright.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sung-Sun snorted. “You two have shitty taste. The ssic ck and white contrasting dresses have been alluring for centuries. They have caused thousands of divorces in Japan alone.”
<span style="font-weight:400">M Rose blinked. “You collected the most useless knowledge…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Kazuya tossed the dress at Api. “It has to do with your evolution. That’s all I can say at the moment.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She had to embrace her Aspect of Death on her own. His help might achieve the opposite in pushing away her ‘Devotion’ side.
<span style="font-weight:400">Api’s eyes gleamed. “Okay.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She didn’t question his decision. Taking his hand, she dragged him to her room. As he tried toe inside, she closed the door in his face.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Wait outside!”
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">{Be patient. The reveal is a delicate bloom, best when unrushed.}
<span style="font-weight:400">All the rustling inside the room raised his anticipation. After what felt like an eternity, Api 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.
Spoiler
[copse]
<span style="font-weight:400">He found himself captured by her unexpected charm, feeling his heart sinking deeper for her.
<span style="font-weight:400">There was an innocence in the frills and folds of her outfit, a sharp contrast to her untamed intensity spirit.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">‘Something is wrong with me.’</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">{It’s the gap moe. The contrast of her innocent frills and her untamed spirit.}
<span style="font-weight:400">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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It''s just...” she started, her voice trailing off into a murmur as if she were revealing a vulnerability she hadn’t nned on sharing. “It’s like I’m running around as a servant, and not... not your lover.”
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">He held her hands. “You’ll be my exclusive maid. A maid solely devoted to serving me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">He watched her, seeking any sign of distaste or disapproval. He’d drop the whole idea if it caused her any difort. Instead, what he saw was the furrowing of her brow, a look of perplexed contemtion.
<span style="font-weight:400">“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 rted to my evolution?”
<span style="font-weight:400">He pointed at her chest. “The obstacle in your evolution isn’t physical but mental.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Huh?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t worry too much. It’ll be solved in time.”
<span style="font-weight:400">M 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.
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">His gaze drifted to Api’s bed, where a plush panda rested against the wall. “We’ll talk after I reward you for your cooperation.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Her cheeks flushed at the realization. “I’ll take these off. Don’t want them getting dirty—”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No! Leave it on. It’s perfect.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”