Nine years ago, on a filthy sidewalk soaked in rain and silence, an eighteen-year-old girl sat curled against a brick wall. Her arms wrapped around her knees, her body thin, brittle, forgotten. She hadn't showered in who-knows-how-long. Her name was Kuina.
After her mother died, she ran away. Left school. Slept on benches and behind dumpsters. It had been a full year since she'd heard a kind word.
People passed her like wind, tossing coins into a plastic cup that barely stood upright. Every coin clinked like mockery.
Then came the footsteps.
James.
Flanked by three friends, laughing like the world owed them something. Kuina kept her head down, praying they'd ignore her.
No such luck.
"Hey, homeless," James sneered as he crouched down. "Lemme see your face."
Kuina slowly looked up, eyes hollow, face streaked with grime.
James blinked, then burst out laughing. "No fucking way. Guys, look, it's Kuina Tjorkin. The redhead from school. Damn girl, what happened, finally gave up on me?"
Kuina stared at him. Her voice came out soft and cold.
"Please. Just go. I'm begging you. Don't show your face again."
James kicked her cup. Coins scattered.
Kuina gasped, stunned.
He slapped her hard. "Who the fuck do you think you are, telling me what to do? You got guts now, street rat?"
Shaking, Kuina stood. Her anger boiled up, even in her weakened state.
"Stop it!" she screamed, lunging at him.
He shoved her effortlessly. She hit the ground like paper. His friends started to laugh, stepping closer.
Then a voice snapped through the air.
"Hands up, all of you! Now!"
They froze. A police officer. Gun drawn. Fierce eyes. Tight stance.
James stammered, "Ma'am, you got it wrong, I swear. She attacked us first, I was just defending—"
A Taser hit him before he could finish. He convulsed and collapsed. His friends bolted, squealing like children.
The officer knelt beside Kuina, holstering her weapon.
"You okay, kid? I was just passing by. You can't stay out here anymore. Where are your parents?"
Kuina, shaking, muttered through tears, "They're gone. Both. My dad's alive but... he's dead to me."
The officer glanced at James, twitching on the pavement.
Kuina's stare hardened. Without thinking, she kicked him. Then again.
And again.
"Stop," the officer said, grabbing her wrist gently. "That's enough. He'll be taken care of. I tased him for you. I'll get reprimanded for it. I don't care. What matters is that you get a chance to stand again, okay?"
Kuina nodded slowly.
The officer handed her a crumpled note.
"Here. There's a vacant apartment. Small, but safe. Trust me."
"But I don't have money," Kuina said.
"You don't need any. It's stocked. Everything you need is there."
Kuina turned to go. Her body stiff. Silent.
Behind her, the officer smiled.
Then, in a shimmer of shadow and magic, she transformed.
Kylie.
She looked down at James, curled on the ground, and spat near his face.
"Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic."
Then she flew off into the sky.
Everything turned white.
Then came the light.
In the present, in the heart of ruin, Kuina gasped.
Light burst from her chest.
She saw Clara, smiling down at her, glowing like a pure angel.
But Kuina's first word was, "Kylie. Where's Kylie?"
Her voice trembled.
Clara tilted her head. "No, sweetie. I'm Clara. Nice to meet you, Kuina. I just brought you back from the dead. You were gone for a bit, but I pumped a whole lot of life force into that kiss. It was the only way. I'm a healer, so no worries."
Kuina blinked, staring.
"Why... why are you naked?"
Clara giggled softly. "Oh, right. Curse. I'm allergic to clothes. Tragic, huh?"
Kuina shook her head slowly. "I swear, nothing surprises me anymore."
Then the system voice returned.
System Alert:Welcome back, Kuina.Your mission remains active. Eliminate Michael or create a peaceful resolution.Reward: FLAMEHEART ability, intimacy with Mira, and 500 levels.Current Level: 20,000Penalty for failure: Permanent death.
Kuina groaned and sat up with Clara's help.
"Motherfucker. Goddamn system. But wait, I got fifteen thousand levels out of this? That's... suspicious."
She glanced at Michael, barely breathing a few meters away.
Then—
"Kuina!!"
Lika flung herself onto her, wrapping her in a trembling hug, crying freely.
She kissed Kuina full on the lips without hesitation.
Kuina's eyes widened, but she didn't resist. Slowly, she kissed back, soft, warm.
Then Lika clung to her again.
"I was so scared. So, so scared. Please, don't ever go without me again."
Kuina rested her hand on Lika's shoulder. Her voice was calm.
"I won't, Lika. I promise."
Nearby, Mira knelt on the ground, her face buried in the dirt, silent with shame.
Molly still stood frozen, her back turned, unable to move. Kylie stared at Michael, charging up something vicious.
Then Clara cried out.
"Kylie! Everyone! She's back! I brought her back!"
Gasps echoed.
Kylie, Piper, Mortis, Mira — even Molly.
Michael's eyes widened, his bloodstained jaw slack.
Kuina waved weakly, embarrassed.
"Hey... I'm back. Kinda. Heh."
Kylie didn't move at first. She just stared.
Then her lips quivered.
"My love... my life... you're alive? My princess... is alive?"
Tears ran down her cheeks. She rocketed forward.
Piper stood frozen. Mira didn't move.
Kylie hit Kuina with a crushing hug, sobbing.
"I was so worried, you idiot. So much."
She kissed Kuina's cheek.
Then her lips.
Deep. Passionate. Desperate.
Kuina pulled back gently, laughing.
"Whoa, easy, Kylie. I'm still dizzy."
Kylie blinked, breathless.
Kuina smiled. "I'm happy to be back. With you. With all of you. I... I dreamed about you. I had a vision... from long ago. Were you... the officer who helped me?"
Kylie blushed. "Yeah. I didn't want you to know. But I've been watching you for ten years. Before the potion. Before everything. You didn't deserve that pain."
Kuina didn't answer.
She just kissed her.
Lika gasped softly, but smiled. Clara beamed. Piper stepped closer.
When the kiss ended, Kuina whispered, tears in her eyes.
"Kylie, you changed my life. I love you."
Silence.
Everyone stared.
It was the first time Kuina had said those words to anyone in the harem.
Kylie whispered, "You mean it? You really..."
"I do," Kuina nodded. "It's not just romance. It's love. Real love. Trust. Sisterhood. Everything. Thank you for never leaving me."
Kylie cupped her cheek, whispering, "My girl... I love you even more."
They kissed again.
Then Piper cleared her throat.
"Okay, okay, Kylie, we get it. Can I have my turn now?"
Kylie growled, "Don't interrupt! She's mine."
Kuina laughed. "Kylie, relax. I want to hug her too."
Piper ran in for a full-body squeeze, her lips crashing against Kuina's several times like pecks from an excited aunt.
"Don't you ever fucking die again, got it, you maniac?" she said, slapping her playfully and then kissing her cheek. "You're my dream, my woman. Even if you told Kylie first, I'll wait. Say it to me when you're ready."
Kuina chuckled. "Alright, babe."
Then Mira stood.
Fully naked.
She didn't care.
Her eyes welled up.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm so sorry. I'm pathetic, weak, arrogant. I let you die. Hit me. Kill me. I deserve it."
Kuina walked toward her, slowly.
Mira winced, expecting a punch.
Instead, Kuina hugged her tight.
"You're not my enemy, Mira. I wanted you to fight on your own. The system forced me to step in. It wanted me to interfere. It's using me, just like it's using all of us."
She lifted Mira's chin gently.
"Next time, don't hold back. Give me everything. No mercy between us. Got it?"
Mira nodded, tears streaming.
She kissed Kuina, softly.
"You're right. I'll remember that."
Kuina snapped her fingers.
Cloth Control: Activated.
A glowing crimson outfit appeared on Mira.
"Much better," Kuina smiled. "You were a little... naked."
Far above, Namo soared, approaching the ruined kingdom.
"It's time to erase them," he muttered.
Back on the ground, Kuina approached Molly, still stiff.
She touched her shoulder.
Molly whispered, "Please... ask Kylie to release the spell."
Kuina nodded, signaling silently.
Kylie released the lock.
Molly fell into Kuina's arms.
"You want to hug me too?" she asked, cheeks red.
Kuina smiled. "We'll get to know each other. In time."
She kissed Molly's forehead.
"Don't," Molly stammered, "don't show me love. I can't handle it."
"Whenever you're ready," Kuina said softly. "I'm here."
Mortis stepped in. Kuina stroked his mane.
"I'm not perfect," she whispered. "But I'm still me."
He neighed, eyes twinkling.
"I missed your pets, Kuina. I mean, you. Of course."
Suddenly, Namo burst through the sky.
"What? She's alive? What the fuck?!"
He scanned the field. His eyes flared.
"Michael. Good. Still breathing."
Molly looked up, jaw dropping.
"Shit... he's here."
Michael staggered toward Namo, broken.
Kuina stepped forward.
"Everyone, listen. Michael is mine."
She turned to Namo.
"But that bastard? Do with him whatever the hell you want."
To be continued.