Yanagi's delicate body trembled slightly. Wise reached out to comfort her, but she grabbed his wrist before he could.
He then felt something soft press against his chest.
"So... do you like me? Or rather... have you ever liked me?"
Yanagi's voice was filled with agitation. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes, a rare sight for someone usually so strong and composed. She wanted an answer.
"Yes. I've always liked you, Yanagi. I've never lied to you about that."
Wise steadied himself, his voice calm yet firm.
Hearing those words, Yanagi could no longer suppress the emotions surging inside her. Without hesitation, she threw her arms around Wise and kissed him passionately.
However, Miyabi was far from pleased as she watched them kiss.
"?!"
Miyabi wanted to stop them, but the sadness Yanagi had shown just moments earlier still lingered in her mind. Yanagi was her best friend, yet Wise was also the man she loved.
While she struggled over what to do, Yanagi finally released Wise. After taking a deep breath, she grabbed his hand and immediately disappeared around the corner of the alley with him.
Yes, she had repeated the very same thing Miyabi had done earlier.
"!!!"
Meanwhile, elsewhere...
"Yanagi? Yanagi! Something's wrong. Yanagi's communication has been cut off. What's going on?"
Belle checked the communication lines in confusion.
There was clearly no malfunction, so why couldn't she reconnect?
"Hmm? Could it be that woman chose to betray us?"
Lucy's voice echoed through the communicator, only to be met with Soukaku's displeased response.
"Impossible! Yanagi would never do such a thing! Uh... would she?"
"Hey, Soukaku, in a situation like this, no matter what the Deputy Chief chooses, you should answer with confidence."
"Uh, Mr. Harumasa... your communication is still on."
After Billy's reminder, embarrassed and flustered noises immediately came from Harumasa's side.
"Tsk. Can we still track Wise's location?" Ellen asked impatiently.
Belle quickly nodded and said, "Yes, Brother's phone location can still be tracked. No, wait... it stopped?"
"No, it hasn't stopped. He left his phone behind."
Belle was still trying to understand what had happened when Jane's voice suddenly came through the communication line.
She had already arrived at the location, but only a phone was there.
"What?! My brother is seriously trying to escape?!"
Belle's unease grew stronger, while Qingyi, who remained relatively calm, quietly voiced another possibility.
"No. Perhaps, just as we suspected before, Miss Yanagi truly sided with Wise."
As things currently stood, Wise would never intentionally discard his phone, and Miyabi would never think to do something like this.
That left only one possibility.
And indeed, at that very same moment on the other side...
Yanagi had Wise pinned tightly against the alley wall while, outside, a figure swiftly rushed past.
"Phew... we've temporarily shaken off Chief Miyabi. So now..."
Yanagi's gaze returned to Wise. Although her actions earlier had been impulsive, they did nothing to shake her determination.
"Wise, you said you liked me just now. Does that mean you're willing to be with me?"
"Yes," he answered without hesitation.
"Is such a straightforward answer really okay? What I mean is, from now on, cut off contact with those girls and peacefully stay by my side as my husband."
Yanagi placed one hand against Wise's chest while the other rested on the wall behind him as she slowly leaned closer.
Part of her couldn't help feeling that perhaps this situation was partly her fault.
Ever since they confirmed their relationship, the number of times they had truly spent together hadn't been many.
She had always been busy with work, while Wise never once complained during that entire period.
Instead, he always understood her circumstances perfectly and was even willing to help with any work he could manage.
Perhaps it was precisely because of her neglect that Wise had become entangled with other girls.
Her question left Wise at a loss. Just as he finally resolved himself to tell Yanagi the truth, another voice interrupted him.
"I found you."
A cold, clear female voice echoed from outside the alley, accompanied by the faint silhouette of fox ears beneath the moonlight.
"Chief? How did you find us here?"
Yanagi looked genuinely surprised. According to her calculations, Miyabi shouldn't have caught up so quickly.
"I didn't know you were here. I simply searched every possible route based on my understanding of your speed, starting from the furthest point."
Miyabi's calm explanation drew a helpless smile from Yanagi.
"As expected of you, Chief..."
"Yanagi, you've gone too far."
This was the first time Miyabi had spoken to Yanagi with such force, and Yanagi lowered her head without trying to argue.
"Yes..."
She knew her actions weren't exactly right, but matters of the heart were never that simple. Even so, she had no regrets.
"But after what happened just now... I've realized something."
Miyabi slowly stepped forward. Then, to both of their surprise, she reached out, took their hands, and gently placed them together.
"Wise is someone I love. But you're also someone precious to me, Yanagi. So... I've decided to accept this."
"W-What do you mean?"
Yanagi swallowed nervously, hardly daring to believe what she thought she had heard.
Even though she already suspected the answer in her heart, she couldn't truly believe it until Miyabi said it clearly herself.
"It means Wise will marry into the Hoshimi Family. He'll marry me... and you as well."
"Miyabi... are you serious?" Even Wise sounded stunned.
After all, in his understanding, how could a prestigious family like the Hoshimi Family possibly accept something like this?
"Yes. I'll discuss it with my father, but I believe he'll agree. And even if he doesn't..."
"W-Wait a minute, Chief. How can you say something like that so easily? This is obviously..."
Yanagi wanted to say that love was only meant to accommodate two people.
But the moment the words reached her lips, she remembered what Miyabi had said before.
Did she love Wise?
The answer was yes. Very much so.
And it wasn't just her. Even Soukaku liked Wise very much as an older brother figure.
Before today's events, Yanagi had always imagined the happy future she would share with Wise after they got married.
But now...
Miyabi was an irreplaceable companion to her, while Wise was the man she loved. She didn't want either of them to suffer.
"So? Wise already agrees. What about you, Yanagi?"
Miyabi first glanced at Wise before turning directly toward Yanagi, who still had her head lowered.
"I-I agree..."
+- - -+
-[ AD ]-
+- - -+
+- - -+
Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street
+- - -+
✨ 55+ Advance Chapters • Early Access ✨
📚 Read Ahead Here:
[- p - a - t - r - e - o - n . com / DysFiction -]
💖 Enjoying the Story? Support My Work With a Donation on:
[ 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)
+- - -+