When Yanagi heard that he was even thinking about Soukaku, the tension in her heart instantly faded and was replaced by a quiet sense of peace.
After Wise helped remove her shoes, gently lifted her legs onto the bed, and covered her with a blanket, Yanagi could not help but feel a little embarrassed. It was the first time a boy had ever taken care of her so attentively.
"Thank you... and I'm sorry for troubling you again," she said gratefully.
"It's fine. More importantly, are you alright?" Wise asked, his voice filled with concern.
Now that he no longer had a proper reason to keep touching Yanagi, his innate ability ceased to take effect. Hearing his question, Yanagi lightly shook her head.
"It's an old problem. I'm feeling much better now."
She didn't want Wise to worry too much. In truth, while he had been holding her, she genuinely felt far better than before.
That warm current had flowed into her body through every point of contact, greatly easing her symptoms.
"That's good. Here, drink some water first," Wise said as he handed her a freshly poured glass.
Yanagi reached out to take it, but with her blurred vision, her fingers missed the cup several times.
Seeing that, Wise gently took her hand and guided the glass into her grasp, but he didn't release it right away.
Her body was so weak at the moment that he honestly felt she might drop it the moment he let go.
Yanagi seemed to understand his concern as well, so she said nothing. Instead, she held the cup with both hands and slowly drank from it.
After taking a few sips, she opened her mouth to thank him again, only for Wise to stop her.
"Yanagi, you don't need to be so formal with me. You're Soukaku's older sister... and you're my friend too."
"Mm... you're right, Wise.. I don't know why, but this just feels a little unfamiliar to me. Of course, it's not because of you. It's just..." She trailed off, unable to find the right words.
"Is it because you're not used to being taken care of by others?"
Wise's words made Yanagi pause.
She thought about it carefully, and the more she considered it, the more it seemed true. She had always been the one looking after others, rarely ever receiving care herself.
"It must be just as you said."
"Yanagi, you're really amazing."
"Huh?"
Yanagi blinked in surprise, caught off guard by his sudden praise, but Wise continued naturally.
"I've always thought so. You take care of Soukaku, oversee your colleagues in the Sixth Division, and even go out of your way to help strangers. Yanagi, you're incredibly kind and dependable... almost like a mother figure."
Wise spoke with sincere admiration, making Yanagi feel even more embarrassed.
'What did he mean by "like a mother figure"...? If that's true, then he, who's helping take care of Soukaku too, would become...'
As the thought formed in her mind, Yanagi's already flushed face grew even redder. She lowered her head slightly, not even noticing that her hands had unconsciously folded together in front of her lower abdomen.
"Wise, you're giving me too much credit. These are simply things I should do."
Yanagi's humble response only made Wise like this lovable older sister even more. After all, who wouldn't?
"Actually, I was thinking... you've been carrying too much pressure lately. Maybe you should try leaning on others once in a while. It might make things easier for you."
'Lean on others...?'
Yanagi couldn't help but reflect on Wise's words.
Lean on others... But who could she lean on? Her colleagues in the Sixth Division?
No, if anything, they were probably some of the biggest causes of her stress.
In that case, the only person she could rely on was...
Yanagi's eyes unconsciously turned toward Wise. Though her vision was still blurry, she could clearly feel the warmth surrounding him.
Before she realized it, she was already relying on him now. Soukaku was the same. Ever since Wise entered their lives, everything had felt far more relaxed than before.
[Ding! Target Yanagi has increased her favorability toward the host by 5. Her current favorability is now 85. Additionally, 600 Emotional Value has been obtained.]
[Current Emotional Value: 28100]
"Thank you, Wise. I will," Yanagi answered with a soft smile, her tone gentle and sincere, as though entrusting him with something deeply important.
Even she didn't understand why those words came out so naturally.
Still, setting work aside from time to time and simply accepting Wise's care... didn't sound so bad.
For someone as devoted to work as Yanagi, such thoughts were incredibly rare.
Afterward, Wise noticed it was nearly lunchtime, so he headed downstairs to prepare a meal. Soukaku would probably arrive soon as well.
Left alone in the room, Yanagi chose to lie down and rest. Her coat had already been removed, and the warm quilt was wrapped snugly around her.
She unconsciously inhaled the scent lingering on it.
There was the familiar fragrance of her own body, the comforting scent of Wise nearby, and... another girl's perfume?!
Downstairs, just as Wise was about to start cooking, the video store door suddenly flew open.
Soukaku rushed inside with a panicked expression.
"Wise, Wise! I heard Yanagi collapsed, so I came as fast as I could! How is she now? Is she okay?"
Tears were already gathering in her eyes. Because of certain experiences in childhood, Soukaku treasured family more than anything, especially the only family she had left.
"Calm down, Soukaku. Yanagi is fine now. She just hasn't fully recovered yet and is resting in my room. You can go upstairs and see her," Wise said, trying to soothe the emotional girl.
Her loud voice had already drawn the attention of several customers in the store, though thankfully nothing seemed unusual.
Hearing his reassurance, Soukaku finally calmed down. After letting out a relieved sigh, she hurried upstairs.
"Yanagi, are you okay? Huh? Yanagi, what's wrong?"
The moment Soukaku pushed open the door, she saw Yanagi sitting on the bed, clutching the quilt while staring blankly ahead, as if lost in thought.
Noticing Soukaku's arrival, Yanagi quickly came back to her senses. Realizing she had been absent-minded, she promptly composed herself and replaced her blank expression with a gentle smile.
"Soukaku, you came so quickly."
"Of course. I was worried about you, Yanagi. I rushed over without even eating the lunch prepared at the division."
Soukaku nodded as she walked to the bedside. Yanagi reached out and affectionately stroked her head.
"I'm sorry. As your older sister, I've been careless enough to make you worry so much."
"It's okay, Yanagi. Besides, with Wise here, I know that nothing bad will happen."
When Yanagi heard that, her thoughts immediately began to wander.
'Soukaku trusts Wise that much...? In that case, if I were together with Wise, she would definitely approve, right...? No... why am I even thinking about that?'
+- - -+
-[ AD ]-
+- - -+
+- - -+
Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street
+- - -+
✨ 40+ Advance Chapters • Early Access ✨
📚 Read Ahead Here:
[- p - a - t - r - e - o - n . com / DysFiction -]
💖 Enjoying the Story? Support My Work:
[ ko - fi . com / dysfiction ]
+- - -+
📖 Available Novels
🔹 Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street
↳ (Translation)
🔹 Azur Lane: Don't Fight! You're All My Wives!
↳ (Translation)
🔹 Zenless Zone Zero: Death in White
↳ (Original Story — Exclusive Until Chapter 30)
+- - -+