When the thought crossed Wise's mind, he didn't hesitate. He immediately ran toward her.
By the time he reached Jane, her consciousness was already slipping. She leaned against the wall, one hand braced against it, her body swaying as if she might collapse at any moment.
"Miss Jane, what's wrong? What happened to you?"
His voice was filled with concern, but Jane didn't respond.
Her eyes were unfocused, half-lidded, yet her lips moved faintly as she murmured, "Wise... Little Wise..."
As soon as she finished speaking, all strength left her body. She fell straight into his arms, a faint, relieved smile lingering on her face.
Wise stiffened in surprise, then quickly regained his composure and checked her condition. Thankfully, she had only fainted.
Without wasting time, he decided to take her back. Wise wrapped one arm around her waist and lifted her legs with the other.
Jane didn't resist at all, naturally leaning into him, her head resting quietly against his chest.
Not wanting anyone to see them and get the wrong idea, Wise hurried back to the video store. However, as he moved, Jane occasionally let out soft, unusual sounds in his arms.
'Miss, could you please not do that right now? I haven't even done anything!' Wise thought, letting out a silent sigh as he heard her faint noises.
Once inside, he carefully carried her to the bed. He gently removed her boots and settled her down, making sure she was comfortable.
Afterward, Wise paused, his thoughts turning to the situation.
He clearly remembered that when he had seen Jane a few days ago, she had been perfectly fine.
'Did something go wrong during her mission?' he wondered.
Time passed in silence before Jane finally stirred. Her eyes slowly opened, gazing up at a ceiling that felt unfamiliar yet strangely recognizable.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed Wise standing beside the bed. It didn't take long for her to realize where she was.
"How... did I end up here?"
At that moment, every movement she made, every word she spoke, carried a fragile softness, like a young girl who had just endured something painful.
The faint mix of grievance and unease in her expression was something Wise had never seen before. For a split second, he even felt the urge to take a photo.
After all, while he knew Jane had a vulnerable side, this was the first time she had shown it so openly.
"I saw you about to faint by the roadside, so I brought you back. How do you feel? Do you want to go to the hospital?" Wise asked, his tone gentle and concerned.
Even though he had already used his ability to help her recover, it wouldn't hurt to ask again.
"Ah... so that's what happened. I can't believe you had to see me like that... how embarrassing."
Though Jane still looked a little weak, the softness in her voice quickly faded, replaced by her usual calm and composed tone.
"I thought I'd recover after resting for a while, but I didn't expect to actually pass out," she added, a faint, self-conscious smile forming on her lips.
"Is there anything I can do for you? You were calling my name earlier. It sounded like you were trying to reach me."
Wise's words clearly caught her off guard. A flicker of surprise crossed her face, followed by a quiet hint of shyness.
'Did I really call his name before I passed out? That can't just be a coincidence... or maybe it isn't. He really does make me feel safe...'
When people are at their weakest, they instinctively reach for the person they trust the most.
'I suppose that's what happened to me,' Jane thought, gently shaking her head.
"I didn't mean to trouble you... Before I lost consciousness, I kept thinking about the times we met. How easily we talked, how comfortable I felt around you... Those memories were so warm that I ended up calling your name without realizing it."
As she spoke, a soft blush spread across her cheeks, making it harder for her to maintain her usual composure.
Noticing the look on Wise's face, she lowered her gaze slightly, avoiding his eyes.
"Don't look at me like that... it makes me feel a little uneasy. I'm not used to being cared for like this, and I'm definitely not used to... seeing that kind of expression on you," she said quietly.
"Jane, what exactly happened? Is there anything I can do to help?" Wise asked, his tone firm but filled with concern.
He couldn't ignore this. If she was in trouble, there was no way he would stand by and do nothing.
Jane simply shook her head again.
"I've just been overworking myself lately. I didn't realize I'd already pushed past my limits, so I ended up like this. But..." She paused for a moment before continuing, "If you really want to help, then stay here tonight. Let me rest. That should help me recover faster."
A faint smile lingered at the corner of her lips. Even in her weakened state, there was a subtle charm in the way she looked at him.
Wise hesitated and asked, "Are you sure that's okay? We should probably keep some distance..."
"It's fine. I trust you," Jane replied without hesitation. "I'm really tired right now... If I can sleep peacefully, I'll recover much faster."
Without waiting for him to agree, she lifted the covers beside her and gently patted the empty space, silently urging him to lie down.
At that point, refusing would have felt unnecessarily cold. After a brief pause, Wise closed the door and slowly got into bed beside her.
The moment he settled in, Jane moved closer, wrapping herself around him. Her soft body pressed against his arm, and one of her legs slid over his.
She leaned in close, her face near his, her warm breath brushing softly against his neck.
But she didn't go any further.
The tension in her expression gradually faded. Comforted by his presence, her exhausted body finally gave in, and she slowly drifted off to sleep.
For a brief moment, Wise felt his resolve waver—anyone would, with someone like her so close.
But the feeling quickly passed. He already had enough complications in his life, and more importantly, he had no intention of taking advantage of someone in such a vulnerable state, especially not when she trusted him so completely.
With that in mind, Wise closed his eyes.
As he drifted off to sleep, the faint fragrance surrounding Jane brought him a quiet sense of comfort. He had expected the night to pass like this.
But in his dreams, the scent seemed to grow stronger.
Then suddenly, he felt something soft press gently against him. A warm, moist sensation touched his lips.
Startled, Wise's eyes snapped open. Under the faint moonlight streaming through the window, a delicate and beautiful face came into view.
It was Jane.
"Little Wise~ You're finally awake~"
Noticing that he was awake, Jane didn't seem flustered in the slightest. Instead, she smiled softly as she casually reached for her jacket with one hand.
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Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street
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