Wise said it with a gentle smile, leaving Yanagi momentarily stunned. Then the corners of her lips lifted slightly, and the worry in her heart melted away at once.
"Is that so? That's wonderful. I don't think I could ever dislike you either. Of course, if anything I say or do ever bothers you, please tell me directly. If you stay silent just to spare my feelings, and the pressure keeps building until you want to disappear from my life…"
As she reached that point, Yanagi's face turned even redder. Realizing how ambiguous her words sounded, she quickly continued.
"I… I don't want to lose a friend like you… I don't want to lose anyone."
From those few short sentences alone, Wise understood many things. It seemed Yanagi had also gone through painful experiences in the past.
"Alright, since you said that, then I'll be honest!" Wise declared, startling her for a moment.
"Y-Yes, please do. Speak freely. I'll do my best to fix it," she replied with a smile.
"The thing about you, Yanagi, that I can't stand the most... is how you keep working overtime while completely ignoring your own health!"
"Eh? Is that really it?!" Yanagi blinked in surprise, clearly caught off guard by his answer.
At the same time, the tension in her heart eased. Wise's tone had suddenly become so serious that she truly thought she had offended him somehow.
But when he noticed the relieved look on her face, he spoke again.
"Yanagi, don't relax just yet. I'm genuinely angry, not only for myself, but for everyone else who cares about you as much as I do."
At those words, Yanagi's pupils trembled slightly. It was the first time anyone had ever said such words to her.
In the past, whenever the after-effects appeared, she would endure them alone, unwilling to trouble anyone else.
However, this time, the exhaustion from working overtime had caused the after-effects to strike at the worst possible moment, making everything much worse.
She knew her own body better than anyone. Those after-effects alone were not enough to harm her. But Wise's concern for her was real.
"I-I understand."
After a long pause, Yanagi finally nodded.
Seemingly worried she might go back on her word, Wise quickly added, "Then just like we agreed before, do your best to change that habit, okay?"
"Yes. Since it's something I promised, even if I wanted to refuse, I couldn't," Yanagi replied with a smile.
This time, however, her smile was gentler than before. Even the way she looked at Wise had changed, as though she had reached some quiet realization deep within her heart.
[Ding! Target Yanagi: has increased her favorability toward the host by 5. Her current favorability is now 90. Additionally, 500 Emotional Value has been obtained.]
[Current Emotional Value: 28600]
After some time, with Wise's help, Yanagi finally finished all her food. Just as he was about to take the bowl away, she suddenly spoke.
"Oh right, Wise... if you don't mind, can I ask you something? Is there a girl you like right now?"
After asking, Yanagi wasn't sure how to face him, but she knew this question had to be asked.
She had never been good at expressing what she truly felt. She thought that if she heard his answer, perhaps something inside her would finally change.
"Yes, there is."
"I-is that so...?"
The moment she heard his answer, Yanagi visibly lost some of her spirit, her expression turning distant.
Seeing that, Wise smiled faintly before continuing.
"Yes... there is."
As he spoke, Wise suddenly reached out, brushed a grain of rice from Yanagi's lips, and placed it in his own mouth.
"You shouldn't waste food."
After saying that, Wise turned and walked out of the room, leaving Yanagi completely frozen by what had just happened.
Her face flushed crimson in an instant, and she hurriedly covered her burning cheeks with both hands as countless thoughts raced through her mind.
'Wise's attitude just now was far too suggestive, wasn't it? Is this really okay? He clearly said he already likes someone. Wait... could the girl he likes be me? N-no way, right? But... if it really is me, then what am I supposed to do? If I decided to accept... Soukaku would definitely support it. No, she'd absolutely be thrilled!'
At that moment, Yanagi's thoughts spiraled wildly in every direction.
Not long after, she got out of bed and stood up. In truth, her body had already recovered. It was only because Wise had been feeding her earlier that she had been too embarrassed to say anything.
When she came downstairs, Soukaku's eyes lit up the moment she saw Yanagi walking on her own.
"Yanagi, you're already better? That's wonderful!"
Soukaku happily threw herself into Yanagi's arms, and Yanagi gently stroked her head in affection.
"Yes. I'm sorry for worrying you. We'll head back in a little while."
"Eh? You're leaving already? Wise even said he wanted us to stay for dinner."
Soukaku immediately puffed out her cheeks in protest, a tactic that was especially effective against Yanagi.
"I'm sorry, Soukaku. As much as I'd like to stay, I still have work left unfinished."
After all, she still needed to write last night's report. There was no way she could hand that responsibility to someone else.
Just then, Wise's voice suddenly came from beside her.
"If I remember correctly, Yanagi, you just promised me something, didn't you?"
"Uh... well..."
"You should keep your promises. I don't think you'd want Soukaku to think you go back on your word, right?"
"I-I understand..."
In the end, beneath the combined gazes of Wise and Soukaku, the helpless Yanagi could only use some of the vacation time she had accumulated over the years and take half a day off.
Since she personally handled all leave requests within the Sixth Division, the approval process went through without any trouble.
"Yay! Wise actually convinced Yanagi to take time off. That's amazing!"
Soukaku raised both hands in celebration, looking very happy, while Yanagi stood beside her with a hand on her forehead, letting out a soft sigh.
At the same time, inside the Hollow Special Operations Sixth Division office...
"What?! Vice Section Chief Yanagi actually took leave?! Is this real? You're not joking, right?!"
Harumasa's face was filled with disbelief after hearing the news. Even with the facts right in front of him, he could hardly accept it.
"I'm not dreaming, am I? Chief Miyabi, please hit me once... Uh, wait, wait, never mind bothering Chief Miyabi. I'll do it myself," Harumasa said as he gently pinched his own arm.
It stung a little, so apparently he wasn't dreaming.
In that case, was the world about to end?
Or had Vice Section Chief Yanagi finally found herself a partner?
'...Yeah, the first one sounds more likely.'
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Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street
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