Yanagi didn't respond to his gesture, simply letting her body weight rest against Wise.
For some reason, she always felt safe around him, like he was the kind of guy many girls had leaned on before.
Actually, ever since getting close to him, Yanagi noticed her condition getting way better, like some warm current was flowing into her body, making her feel much more energetic.
But surely this was just her imagination, wasn't it? After all, how could something like that even be real?
Maybe it was just Wise's easygoing nature making her feel that way.
Still, because of this sensation, Yanagi found herself leaning even closer against him without thinking, close enough to catch his scent.
What she didn't know was that it wasn't imagination.
Wise really was transferring something to her. It wasn't warmth or comfort, but healing, using the talent he had only recently gained.
The power of Dennies slowly worked through her body, helping her recover from her weakened state.
However, Wise kept a close eye on how much he used, making sure she didn't recover too quickly and notice something was wrong.
While helping Yanagi heal, Wise discovered that her symptoms weren't merely hypoglycemia, though they didn't quite match any injury he knew of either.
With his current ability, fully restoring her would require substantial time and Dennies.
Dennies weren't the problem, but time certainly was.
How was he supposed to maintain prolonged contact with her?
After thinking it over, Wise decided to set the matter aside for now. Without realizing it, the two had already arrived at the station.
Their intimate display naturally caught the attention of several passersby, some of whom recognized the woman resting against Wise.
As they sneakily took pictures on their phones, some kind of theory started popping into their heads.
But Wise couldn't worry about that right now and gently reminded her.
"Miss Yanagi, we've arrived at the station."
"Ah? Oh! I'm sorry, how improper of me..."
Yanagi looked around, startled by her surroundings. She quickly stepped back, her cheeks flushed, her expression slightly stiff.
'What on earth just happened? When did I start leaning against him like that?' she wondered silently, simultaneously deciding that since Wise wasn't mentioning their earlier proximity, she wouldn't bring it up either.
"Miss Yanagi, will you be alright heading back alone?"
"Yes, don't worry. I've already asked Soukaku to meet me at the station."
With that reassurance, Wise decided not to follow her any further. Being overly attentive now would only backfire.
After she left, Wise headed straight back to the video store, and the moment he walked in, he spotted Belle looking confused.
"Huh, why are you back so fast, Brother? Didn't you take Miss Yanagi home?"
From Belle's perspective, this had been the perfect chance for him to deepen their relationship.
"Belle, what's going through that head of yours? Miss Yanagi and I barely know each other yet, and she already has someone meeting her at the station."
He stared at her, unsure whether to laugh or sigh.
Since when had she become so invested in his love life? Had he perhaps been too overbearing recently and frightened her somehow?
Though thinking about it more carefully, that didn't add up. Anby, Nekomata, Koleda, Ellen, and Rain had all been dropping by quite often these days.
"Sigh, fine. I was really hoping that if you managed to charm Miss Yanagi, her status as Vice Section Chief of Section Six could work in our favor."
Belle sounded slightly regretful, but Wise found that way of thinking unacceptable.
"Didn't I say that Miyabi is the Section Chief?"
"Yes, you did. But Chief Miyabi doesn't actually deal with the administrative side of things as Vice Section Chief Yanagi does. So honestly, to play it safe, wouldn't it be better to charm both of them?"
She gave an earnest nod as she finished speaking, only for Wise's hand to come down in an exasperated chop right on her forehead.
Even though he barely put any strength behind it, Belle still winced as if it hurt.
"Ow!"
"Good. It should hurt. No matter how desperate I get, your big brother will never compromise his dignity or feelings. That's where I draw the line," Wise spoke with absolute conviction.
Belle, still covering her forehead, couldn't help but grin mischievously.
"Hmph, don't get too cocky. You're gonna look real dumb when you end up eating those words."
"Won't happen, not a chance."
Wise's voice remained just as resolute, but though he kept quiet about it, Belle's remark had irritated him enough to decide she needed a proper 'lesson'.
At first, it was nothing more than a stern scolding. But by the time night came and their usual exchange was over, Belle was left so exhausted she could hardly move.
<<>>
The following days were relatively calm. With the main matters settled, Wise focused on completing the occasional commission from Venus, carefully maintaining the image of a beginner.
Yet when he returned after finishing one particularly challenging job, he realized that keeping a low profile wasn't as easy as he thought.
"You completed that commission already? And so fast, too! You're amazing! The client even said your efficiency was exceptional and gave you a perfect review."
In some quiet spot in the coffee shop, Venus had a big smile as she showed Wise what the client wrote.
She looked way more pumped about it than he did, like she was the one getting praised.
Wise just gave a small nod and smiled a bit.
"I said I would complete it. I didn't disappoint you, did I, Miss Venus?" Wise's reply caught Venus off guard.
She hadn't expected his first concern, after receiving such praise, to be whether he had lived up to her expectations.
A subtle warmth spread through her chest. She had always enjoyed guiding newcomers, but no one had ever put it that way before.
"Yes, yes, you exceeded expectations. Since you handled the commission so impressively, I've brought you a little reward."
With an air of mystery, Venus rummaged through her bag. After deliberately building up his anticipation, she proudly pulled out another commission.
"Well? Exciting, right? I figured an enthusiastic newcomer like you would be thrilled."
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