"Why!?"
Hikifune Kirio was startled, her heart skipping a beat as if an invisible hand had gripped it.
Her confession just now had used up her once-in-a-lifetime courage, overdrawing all the bravery she had left for the rest of her life.
Aozaki Reiji had also said that he liked her.
He had done so much for her, indulging her whims these past few days, accommodating her patiently.
Yet, this was the answer she received; it seemed she had gone too far…
Aozaki Reiji continued to look into Hikifune Kirio's eyes, his deep gaze reflecting her disappointed expression.
His voice was low and gentle:
"I want to be more selfish. Although I can't be sure it will come true yet, I want to be with you for much longer."
"Not just for tonight, as you said, but even longer, forever and ever, I want to selfishly possess you."
Hikifune Kirio's eyes widened, her lips trembling slightly, unable to speak for a moment.
Her mind was a jumble, and the whole world became blurry.
A complex emotion surged within Hikifune Kirio.
She felt both surprised and scared, both expectant and worried.
This man, this man she deeply loved, had expressed his desire for her so directly.
Aozaki Reiji continued:
"So I cannot agree to your proposal. A greedy scoundrel like me, even if I've only possessed something once, I don't want to give it up."
A strong sense of shame welled up in Hikifune Kirio's heart, making her feel utterly mortified.
Compared to Aozaki Reiji's attitude towards love, she found herself far inferior, practically an unqualified lover.
She realized she hadn't trusted Aozaki Reiji enough with the love he would give her.
He said, how could just tonight be enough? We should be together forever!
However, Hikifune Kirio hadn't realized her own deep-seated desires, always believing she was already very happy.
As long as she could be with Aozaki Reiji and take that crucial step, she would be content.
Therefore, she had hoped to fully entrust herself to him before Aozaki Reiji left.
Only at this moment did Hikifune Kirio suddenly realize that this was what she had always wanted.
But just then, Aozaki Reiji reminded her.
He made her understand that this alone was far from enough.
They were almost at the luxurious mansion on the mountaintop, but Aozaki Reiji suddenly stopped halfway.
He turned his head, gazing deeply into Hikifune Kirio's eyes, and gently cupped her face.
"I'm sorry, I cannot accept your proposal, because I am unwilling to possess you only once."
"..."
"I won't let you leave me so easily. I want to possess you for much longer, to make you mine. And I will never tire of you, nor will I ever let you go."
Aozaki Reiji's voice echoed in her ears, as if carrying a magical power that pierced the heart.
Hikifune Kirio tilted her head slightly, looking at the man before her, her eyes shimmering with complex emotions.
She understood; she craved more, not just a single night of happiness, but a love that would be etched in her memory for a lifetime.
However, Aozaki Reiji also told her that this was how it should be.
Hikifune Kirio felt her fingers begin to tremble as well; she tightly gripped Aozaki Reiji's hand that was touching her cheek, as if trying to hold onto that warmth.
"Can you… always satisfy me? Can you make me feel that even after waiting for hundreds or thousands of years, letting you go would still be unbearable?"
Her voice was filled with anticipation and unease, like a child seeking comfort.
Aozaki Reiji smiled slightly, a hint of slyness flashing in his eyes.
"Who knows. Besides when necessary, I generally don't like to force things. However, I do know a way to make you unable to leave me."
Hikifune Kirio couldn't help but feel a little annoyed; this man was always so cunning, and at crucial moments, he would reveal that uninhibited demeanor.
He was always inscrutable, yet irresistible.
"You scoundrel…" Hikifune Kirio whispered, but there was a hint of sweetness in her heart.
Tears shimmered in Hikifune Kirio's eyes, her face beaming with joy, her breathing quick and fervent.
She whispered:
"Kiss me… and give me happiness I'll never forget."
"Understood, my love."
Aozaki Reiji responded affectionately.
On the path to the mansion, they gazed into each other's eyes, as if time itself had frozen in that moment.
Aozaki Reiji slowly leaned closer to Hikifune Kirio, their lips gently touching.
Their kiss was filled with love and warmth, as if the whole world consisted only of the two of them.
Hikifune Kirio felt Aozaki Reiji's passion and care, an inexpressible sense of happiness welling up in her heart.
She greedily savored the kiss, wishing time would stop, allowing her to be immersed in this sweetness forever.
However, Hikifune Kirio knew this was just a beautiful moment, but she had grown more greedy, wanting to continue loving this man.
Not just until he left, nor just until they met again.
She yearned to love him for hundreds of years, for thousands of years, even to bind him for a time beyond a single lifetime.
Hikifune Kirio realized she was a very, very greedy bad woman, but she readily accepted this fact.
......
"…When will Reiji and Hikifune Kirio finally come back?"
Senjumaru hugged her knees, swaying from side to side, sitting like a child on the cold stair steps.
The sun was about to set, and the entire stairwell was unusually dim and cold.
But Senjumaru didn't want to go back to her room or the living room.
As Aozaki Reiji and Hikifune Kirio's senior, she believed that even if they went out to play, she had a responsibility to constantly look after them.
Even if they left her alone to guard the house, she had to do it well.
Moreover, it was a senior's duty to greet her juniors immediately when they returned home.
However, this embarrassing senior didn't realize that her current behavior and expression completely resembled a pitiful, unfortunate child waiting for her family to return.
It wasn't until she sensed Aozaki Reiji's Reiatsu nearing the hillside that her face instantly brightened.
Aozaki Reiji didn't fully release his Reiatsu, but he also didn't deliberately hide it in his daily life; he simply let it out casually in a normal state.
Even so, that powerful Reiatsu was still shocking.
However, Senjumaru, as a member of the Zero Division, had extraordinary Reiatsu after obtaining the Royal Key.
Even facing such powerful Reiatsu, she could still perceive it clearly.
Senjumaru quickly stood up from the ground, patting the dust off her skirt and bottom, then hastily tidied her hair.
She couldn't help but complain to herself.
Why wasn't she always in her best state? This wasn't the first time…
She always felt her preparations weren't thorough enough.
Then, the moment the front door opened, a brilliant smile bloomed on her face, and she said enthusiastically:
"Welcome home! Reiji, Hikifune Kirio!!"med she had gone too far…
Aozaki Reiji continued to look into Hikifune Kirio's eyes, his deep gaze reflecting her disappointed expression.
His voice was low and gentle:
"I want to be more selfish. Although I can't be sure it will come true yet, I want to be with you for much longer."
"Not just for tonight, as you said, but even longer, forever and ever, I want to selfishly possess you."
Hikifune Kirio's eyes widened, her lips trembling slightly, unable to speak for a moment.
Her mind was a jumble, and the whole world became blurry.
A complex emotion surged within Hikifune Kirio.
She felt both surprised and scared, both expectant and worried.
This man, this man she deeply loved, had expressed his desire for her so directly.
Aozaki Reiji continued:
"So I cannot agree to your proposal. A greedy scoundrel like me, even if I've only possessed something once, I don't want to give it up."
A strong sense of shame welled up in Hikifune Kirio's heart, making her feel utterly mortified.
Compared to Aozaki Reiji's attitude towards love, she found herself far inferior, practically an unqualified lover.
She realized she hadn't trusted Aozaki Reiji enough with the love he would give her.
He said, how could just tonight be enough? We should be together forever!
However, Hikifune Kirio hadn't realized her own deep-seated desires, always believing she was already very happy.
As long as she could be with Aozaki Reiji and take that crucial step, she would be content.
Therefore, she had hoped to fully entrust herself to him before Aozaki Reiji left.
Only at this moment did Hikifune Kirio suddenly realize that this was what she had always wanted.
But just then, Aozaki Reiji reminded her.
He made her understand that this alone was far from enough.
They were almost at the luxurious mansion on the mountaintop, but Aozaki Reiji suddenly stopped halfway.
He turned his head, gazing deeply into Hikifune Kirio's eyes, and gently cupped her face.
"I'm sorry, I cannot accept your proposal, because I am unwilling to possess you only once."
"..."
"I won't let you leave me so easily. I want to possess you for much longer, to make you mine. And I will never tire of you, nor will I ever let you go."
Aozaki Reiji's voice echoed in her ears, as if carrying a magical power that pierced the heart.
Hikifune Kirio tilted her head slightly, looking at the man before her, her eyes shimmering with complex emotions.
She understood; she craved more, not just a single night of happiness, but a love that would be etched in her memory for a lifetime.
However, Aozaki Reiji also told her that this was how it should be.
Hikifune Kirio felt her fingers begin to tremble as well; she tightly gripped Aozaki Reiji's hand that was touching her cheek, as if trying to hold onto that warmth.
"Can you… always satisfy me? Can you make me feel that even after waiting for hundreds or thousands of years, letting you go would still be unbearable?"
Her voice was filled with anticipation and unease, like a child seeking comfort.
Aozaki Reiji smiled slightly, a hint of slyness flashing in his eyes.
"Who knows. Besides when necessary, I generally don't like to force things. However, I do know a way to make you unable to leave me."
Hikifune Kirio couldn't help but feel a little annoyed; this man was always so cunning, and at crucial moments, he would reveal that uninhibited demeanor.
He was always inscrutable, yet irresistible.
"You scoundrel…" Hikifune Kirio whispered, but there was a hint of sweetness in her heart.
Tears shimmered in Hikifune Kirio's eyes, her face beaming with joy, her breathing quick and fervent.
She whispered:
"Kiss me… and give me happiness I'll never forget."
"Understood, my love."
Aozaki Reiji responded affectionately.
On the path to the mansion, they gazed into each other's eyes, as if time itself had frozen in that moment.
Aozaki Reiji slowly leaned closer to Hikifune Kirio, their lips gently touching.
Their kiss was filled with love and warmth, as if the whole world consisted only of the two of them.
Hikifune Kirio felt Aozaki Reiji's passion and care, an inexpressible sense of happiness welling up in her heart.
She greedily savored the kiss, wishing time would stop, allowing her to be immersed in this sweetness forever.
However, Hikifune Kirio knew this was just a beautiful moment, but she had grown more greedy, wanting to continue loving this man.
Not just until he left, nor just until they met again.
She yearned to love him for hundreds of years, for thousands of years, even to bind him for a time beyond a single lifetime.
Hikifune Kirio realized she was a very, very greedy bad woman, but she readily accepted this fact.
......
"…When will Shinji and Hikifune Kirio finally come back?"
Senjumaru hugged her knees, swaying from side to side, sitting like a child on the cold stair steps.
The sun was about to set, and the entire stairwell was unusually dim and cold.
But Senjumaru didn't want to go back to her room or the living room.
As Aozaki Reiji and Hikifune Kirio's senior, she believed that even if they went out to play, she had a responsibility to constantly look after them.
Even if they left her alone to guard the house, she had to do it well.
Moreover, it was a senior's duty to greet her juniors immediately when they returned home.
However, this embarrassing senior didn't realize that her current behavior and expression completely resembled a pitiful, unfortunate child waiting for her family to return.
It wasn't until she sensed Aozaki Reiji's Reiatsu nearing the hillside that her face instantly brightened.
Aozaki Reiji didn't fully release his Reiatsu, but he also didn't deliberately hide it in his daily life; he simply let it out casually in a normal state.
Even so, that powerful Reiatsu was still shocking.
However, Senjumaru, as a member of the Zero Division, had extraordinary Reiatsu after obtaining the Royal Key.
Even facing such powerful Reiatsu, she could still perceive it clearly.
Senjumaru quickly stood up from the ground, patting the dust off her skirt and bottom, then hastily tidied her hair.
She couldn't help but complain to herself.
Why wasn't she always in her best state? This wasn't the first time…
She always felt her preparations weren't thorough enough.
Then, the moment the front door opened, a brilliant smile bloomed on her face, and she said enthusiastically:
"Welcome home! Shinji, Hikifune Kirio!!"