After listening to Ryuu's explanation, Yotsuya Miko felt like ice water had been poured over her.
Her whole body trembled—not just from fear, but from the sheer weight of the truth.
She had worked so hard to ignore the spirits, pretending they weren't there—only to find out that, in the end, she would have been devoured anyway.
If she hadn't approached Ryuu…
Miko's golden eyes shimred with unshed tears as she stared up at him.
"Natsukawa-san…"
Ryuu reached out and patted her head gently.
"Don't worry. I'll handle it."
His voice was steady—a promise, absolute.
"But we can't drag this out. Take a day off tomorrow. We'll go and deal with that fox spirit."
Miko nodded furiously.
There was no hesitation.
She had no other choice.
After exchanging contact information, Ryuu noticed she still looked uneasy. He smirked.
"You're safe for now."
Miko blinked in confusion.
"The contract you made protects you—for now. Until you actually return to the shrine, the fox won't act."
"And because of that contract, it won't let other spirits harm you before then."
Miko froze.
Then, she exhaled deeply.
The tension in her shoulders eased slightly.
"Thank you so much, Natsukawa-san. I won't bother you anymore tonight."
"It's no trouble. Just send your address when you get ho."
Ryuu raised his phone.
"Before we deal with the fox, we should handle the spirits in your house."
Miko bowed deeply.
Then, with one last grateful look, she turned and left Miura Yuko's house.
---
Yuko watched Miko's figure disappear down the street.
"Are you sure it's okay to let her leave alone?" she asked.
Ryuu stretched lazily.
"Relax. Reality isn't an ani."
He leaned against the couch.
"Besides, Miko may look fragile, but her ntal endurance is ridiculous. Most people would have broken long ago."
Yuko nodded slowly.
"Yeah… she's tougher than she looks."
If she had been the one seeing those things every day…
She wouldn't have lasted a week.
She let out a deep sigh, then muttered:
"This world used to be normal, but now everything feels… different. Scarier."
Ryuu smirked.
"You don't need to worry about that."
He stepped forward and patted her head.
"As long as I'm here, nothing's getting to you."
His touch was light, teasing—but the weight of his words was real.
Yuko froze for a mont.
Then, her usual pride lted into sothing softer.
She turned to him, her gaze gentler than usual.
Ryuu noticed her expression and chuckled.
"You've got sothing to say, don't you, Yuko?"
Imdiately, she stiffened.
"No! I—It's nothing!"
Her voice was sharper than intended.
She quickly turned away.
"...I just asked you here to check for spirits. That's all."
Ryuu raised an eyebrow.
"Got it. No other reason?"
"None."
"Okay. Then I guess I'll be heading ho—"
"Wait!"
She grabbed his wrist.
Ryuu smirked knowingly.
"You're terrible at hiding things, Yuko."
Yuko bit her lip.
For soone who prided herself on confidence, why did she feel so nervous now?
But she couldn't back down.
Not anymore.
"...Actually, I do have sothing to say."
She clenched her fists, forcing herself to look him in the eye.
"That is… I…"
Her usual boldness wavered.
But—
She inhaled deeply and pushed forward.
"Natsukawa, I like you!"
The words rushed out, raw and unfiltered.
Her cheeks burned, but her voice didn't falter.
"I've liked you since we beca classmates."
"I don't want to stand back and just watch you with Kasumigaoka Shiwa."
She took a small step closer.
"So… will you go out with ?"
---
Silence stretched between them.
Ryuu could see the resolve in her eyes.
He had always known about her feelings.
But knowing and hearing it out loud were two different things.
He took a step forward.
Yuko's breath hitched.
Then, he pulled her into his arms.
Yuko froze.
Her golden curls brushed against his chest.
She barely had ti to react before he leaned down and kissed her.
Soft.
Warm.
A lingering taste of the cake and drinks from earlier.
She forgot how to breathe.
Her mind went blank.
Her hands, which had been trembling monts ago, instinctively clutched his shirt.
The mont felt both endless and fleeting.
By the ti Ryuu pulled away, Yuko was dazed.
"...That's my answer," he murmured against her ear.
Yuko's eyes were glossy.
"Th-That's unfair. What kind of answer is that?"
She wasn't complaining, but…
Her voice sounded more like a flustered whisper.
Inside, she was screaming.
Did she just win?
Did she really just win?!
Her heart raced wildly.
Ryuu grinned.
"Well, you did close your eyes. That's usually an invitation."
Yuko's blush deepened.
She imdiately turned away, trying to regain her dignity.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Sure, sure."
Ryuu chuckled.
After a few monts, Yuko glanced back at him.
"So… does this an we're officially dating now?"
"Of course."
Ryuu smirked.
"Unless you want to go even further."
The way he said it made Yuko's heart jump.
She quickly turned away.
"You're such a perv."
"Am I?"
"Yes."
But she didn't reject the idea.
Instead, after a few seconds—
She bit her lip and muttered:
"…Have you and Kasumigaoka already gone further?"
Ryuu paused.
Then, he grinned.
"...You really want to know?"
========
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