Lucy's fierce demeanor clearly startled the man, and he spoke with visible trepidation.
"I still remember you as a gentle, princess-like child... Even if you're wearing a studded leather jacket now, you wouldn't really do that to me... right?"
"Careful, or I'll shove those studs into your..."
Before Lucy could finish her sentence, the man already knew she was serious. Losing all hope, his expression turned complicated.
"...Understood. You've truly changed."
He looked like a parent lamenting that a child he had watched grow up had gone astray, but Lucy paid him no mind.
"Hmph. Good that you know."
"As Mr. Montefio expected, you are indeed very much like him. He never told anyone, but he also went through a rebellious phase in his youth."
The man continued speaking as if to himself, but Lucy looked thoroughly uninterested, as though it had nothing to do with her.
"...What does that have to do with me?"
"Mr. Montefio once ran away from home for a full ten years. After those ten years, he returned as a prodigal son and took on his responsibilities. Those years of fighting his way up with his bare hands gave him a lifelong gift: a resilient character and the cunning to think outside the box. Those became his unique advantages in the business world."
Lucy raised a finger to her lips, looking somewhat puzzled.
"How come I've never heard about that...?"
"Not to mention, during those ten years of wandering, he met the soulmate he would spend the rest of his life with... your mother."
"..."
Perhaps because her mother had been mentioned, Lucy couldn't help but fall silent.
The man continued his story.
"It is precisely because of this that, when Mr. Montefio learned of your mutual affection with this young man who runs a video store, he specifically instructed me not to interfere. As he said, whether between lovers or good friends, truly profound relationships can only blossom in their earliest stages."
For a moment, silence hung in the air.
"When you are ready to shoulder responsibilities in the future, you will find yourself dealing with countless affairs, and during those late nights of endless toil, you will need a warm embrace..."
"...Grassy, Woody, Bricky!"
Lucy's face flushed bright red, and her body trembled. Before the man could finish, she waved her hand.
Three little Wild Boar Thirens immediately leaped into the air and stomped all over his face.
The man fled in a panic, leaving behind only Lucy, still panting furiously, and Wise, who looked both surprised and thoughtful.
After all, judging from the man's words, Lucy's father seemed to have already acknowledged his relationship with Lucy.
Did that count as earning parental approval?
Wise pondered the thought before turning to comfort the indignant girl beside him.
"Lucy, are you alright?" he asked, looking at her flushed face.
"I'm still very angry. My father should know he has no right to send a mouthpiece to dictate things to us. Empty adults always fantasize about reliving their lives through their children, but I am not anyone's replica."
After saying that, Lucy's tone softened slightly. Then she spoke with unusual seriousness.
"I am Lucy. I know what I hate and what I love. I will never surrender to the things I hate. I will always stand by what I love... the Outer Ring's starry sky, motorcycles, eternal victory, and my companions... I-Including you. T-This... I'm only saying this once, so don't you dare pretend you didn't hear it!"
After finishing, Lucy immediately turned her blushing face away.
Seeing this, Wise couldn't help but chuckle.
"Mm, I heard you very clearly. I also want to be with you forever~"
"Ah! Y-You, you, you! Saying something like that all of a sudden... I-I won't be happy about it either!"
She was clearly very happy. In fact, she looked so excited that she could barely control herself.
Thinking so, Wise stepped forward and gently embraced the slightly trembling Lucy. Then, before he could say anything else, she cupped his face with both hands and kissed him.
However, because of their height difference, Lucy had to stand on her tiptoes. Even then, Wise still had to lower his head.
After a long while, Lucy finally pulled away.
Although the mixture of shyness and indignation left her feeling thoroughly embarrassed, she still looked at Wise with determination.
"In that case, it counts as a confession, right?!" she asked, mortified.
"Eh?"
"I don't care! Anyway, my first kiss has been given to you. No matter what, that counts as a confession, understand?!"
"Mm."
Only after Wise nodded did Lucy finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Then she covered her face with both hands and began reflecting on her impulsive actions.
'Darn it! How could I have been so impulsive just now? I kissed him like that without even confirming our relationship. What if Wise didn't like me? Wouldn't that have been super embarrassing?'
Although she was reflecting on it, Lucy didn't seem to regret it.
She didn't like doing things without certainty, but this time...
Well, the outcome was good, wasn't it?
"Phew... Remember that kiss just now. I demand that you remember it very deeply, understand?!"
"Mm. That will be one of my most precious memories," he muttered.
Wise's words were full of affection, and Lucy, still caught up in her emotions, apparently missed the significance of that final word.
So she nodded in satisfaction.
Only when she noticed the people around them still watching did she suddenly realize what had happened. Overcome by embarrassment, she allowed Wise to lead her out of the video store.
As for the customers inside, although they were curious, they quickly returned to their own business after the pair left.
One person, however, was an exception.
Heddy: "I was here first!"
Meanwhile, outside the store...
"W-What are you doing? Bringing me out all of a sudden."
Lucy, whose hand was still being held by Wise, seemed somewhat awkward.
Seeing this, Wise smiled and said, "Lucy, are you free today? If you are, would you be willing to accompany me on... a date?"
"A d-date?! Hmph... fine. Since you're the one inviting me, how can I be so unromantic? Where are we going? You decide."
Lucy feigned composure as she accepted Wise's invitation.
Soon, the two arrived at Lumina Square. By now, Wise had accumulated enough dating experience to know exactly what to do.
"Simmer Hot Pot? These shopkeepers are really good at disguising marketing campaigns as challenges. But has anyone actually succeeded in this challenge?"
Lucy looked at the hot pot restaurant in front of her with obvious interest.
Seeing that, Wise seized the opportunity and asked, "Has your competitive spirit been piqued?"
"...But, Wise, you wouldn't happen to be very good with spicy food, would you?"
"Me? Of course. No problem."
Seeing Wise's confident expression, Lucy immediately decided to take on the challenge.
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Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street
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🔹 Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street
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