'Forget it. I'll ask Anby about this later, if she's willing to tell me,' Wise thought.
He was quite concerned about the matter. After all, it wouldn't be good if he suddenly got "cleavered" one day.
He then continued his date with Koleda. After the two of them left, the figure in the alley peeked out once more, staring at Wise's retreating back with a somewhat gloomy expression.
That evening, after his date with Koleda had ended, Anby happened to stop by the video store.
Taking the opportunity, Wise asked whether she had gone to Lumina Square that day.
"No, I've been at home all day. Why?"
Anby looked slightly confused. At the same time, there was a subtle change in her eyes. Wise immediately sensed that something was off, but he continued.
"Because I saw someone on the street today who looked a lot like you, but I must've been mistaken."
"I see..."
Anby's tone was somewhat complicated, as though it carried many unspoken thoughts.
Wise wanted to get a glimpse of what she was thinking, but he couldn't see into her true feelings. It seemed Anby had buried that part of her past very deeply.
Realizing this, Wise decided not to press the issue any further. It was better to change the subject and cheer her up than to bring up memories that might only make her sad.
"Oh, right. I think we have just enough ingredients in the kitchen to make hamburgers..."
"Really?"
His strategy seemed to work remarkably well. Though he wasn't sure whether it was the appeal of hamburgers, his company, or both, Anby's mood visibly improved.
That night, she snuggled into Wise's embrace as usual. This time, however, it felt a little different. At the very least, Wise could tell she was being unusually affectionate.
Even Belle, lying beside them, found it a little puzzling.
Her brother hadn't been away for very long this time, so why was Anby acting as though he had just returned from the Outer Ring?
With that thought in mind, Belle subtly sensed that something was going on, so she quietly settled down to sleep beside them.
A few days later, the day after Wise spent the night at Yanagi's house, he was on his way home when he spotted a familiar figure by the roadside.
"Is it just my imagination? I keep feeling like someone's watching me..." Lucy murmured softly.
Noticing the slight furrow in her brow, Wise immediately walked over.
"What a coincidence, Lucy. What's wrong?"
"Who—?! Oh, it's you, Wise. Long time no see. I haven't been coming into the city much lately because every time I do, I feel like... someone's watching me from the shadows."
"Oh? Is it an enemy? Or an admirer?" Wise considered the possibilities.
If it were the former, he could help deal with it. As for the latter, he might as well deal with that too.
While he was thinking that, Lucy looked at him with obvious disdain.
"Hmph. I could never think highly of someone too timid to show their face."
As she spoke, Lucy's gaze inadvertently landed on Wise. Then, as if remembering something, she quickly looked away and continued speaking with feigned composure.
"But it's probably not. I have some guesses about the other party's motive now. Could I ask for your assistance in verifying it?"
"What do you want me to do?" Wise certainly couldn't ignore the matter.
After hearing his reply, Lucy pursed her lips, seemingly finding it difficult to say what was on her mind.
"It's just... c-curse me."
"?"
Wise tilted his head, a giant question mark practically appearing above it.
"Tsk, what I mean is argue with me. The louder and more intense, the better. Let me tell you in advance, since it's an argument, I won't go easy on you either. If my guess is correct, this will definitely prompt that guy to take action."
Because of Lucy's plan, Wise could only choose to go along with it, even though he was well aware of his own lack of arguing skills.
The two then moved to a relatively inconspicuous spot by the roadside.
"Are you ready, Wise? You do have the confidence to win against me, don't you?"
Lucy looked at Wise, who seemed a little awkward standing in front of her, and a smile couldn't help but appear at the corner of her mouth.
However, what he said next immediately made her blush.
"Yes. It's pretty difficult to say hurtful things to a cute girl like you."
"Ugh, honestly, how can you say something like that? We're just friends. Good friends, sure, but at least be mindful of the boundaries!" Lucy warned him with a slight blush.
Finally, she gritted her teeth and snorted coldly, no longer dwelling on the topic.
"Alright, I'll start. Ahem! You shameless, profit-seeking, overcharging profiteer! Twisted sis-con! Terrible taste in music! Do you really like girls that much? Flirting everywhere, harassing people nonstop. Do you really think I'd ever like a philandering guy like you?!"
'Well, Lucy, I know we're supposed to be pretending, but... you're letting quite a bit of your true feelings slip through. And some of those points are surprisingly accurate!'
Wise thought to himself, but he quickly responded.
"What if my taste in music is bad? It's still better than yours, right? And do you think I want to be with you? Every day, you carry around a whip, looking like some sadistic, violent woman with strange fetishes. There are plenty of girls who are prettier and gentler than you..."
Wise suddenly stopped. Looking at Lucy, who had lowered her head and fallen silent, he couldn't help but swallow nervously.
'Did I go too far? I hope she doesn't take it seriously. At this point, it'd be better to comfort her first.'
Just as Wise was about to speak, the silent Lucy lightly coughed twice before casually turning her gaze to the side.
"Ugh... Wise, are those really the harshest insults you could come up with? Even I know my flaws are far worse than that. Do you really think I'd care about those... Ugh..."
'You clearly care a lot! I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said that. Please don't cry, okay?'
Wise thought so, but he certainly couldn't say it out loud. That would only make Lucy even more embarrassed.
However, before he could offer any words of comfort, his vision suddenly darkened. A familiar man in a suit rushed over, waving his arm as he forcefully separated Wise and Lucy.
"You scoundrel! You're just a small video store owner on Sixth Street, yet you dare insult and verbally abuse Miss Lucy! Are you trying to make an enemy of the Montefio Family?!" the man in the suit shouted furiously.
Beside him, Lucy adjusted her hat, looking as though she had expected this outcome all along.
The man immediately turned toward her and said, "Miss Lucy, please don't cry. This guy may be a little handsome, but he's completely unworthy of you. You... Uh, wait, Miss, you're not crying? No, why are you glaring at me? Why are you raising your whip?"
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Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street
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🔹 Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street
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