Rika stepped into the small kitchen, tying her hair loosely behind her head as she began preparing something to eat.
The house was quiet.
Renji remained on the bed in the bedroom while Mizuki stood beside him, her faint pink aura softly illuminating the dim room.
From the kitchen came the sounds of light movement—pots shifting, water pouring, a small flame being lit.
Renji exhaled slowly.
"…Man."
Mizuki glanced at him.
"What?"
Renji stared at the ceiling.
"Everything that happened today feels unreal."
He lifted one arm and examined it.
"First a giant tiger saves me… then I collapse in the middle of town… then Rika breaks a magic seal inside my chest."
He let his arm fall back onto the bed.
"…And now I'm lying in a stranger's house."
Mizuki crossed her arms.
"You complain a lot."
Renji looked at her.
"Well excuse me."
"Yesterday I was just a normal high school student."
Mizuki tilted her head slightly.
"And today you're someone the Demon Kingdom is interested in."
Renji groaned.
"…Yeah, thanks for reminding me."
For a moment, the room fell quiet.
Renji then turned his head toward her.
"Mizuki."
"Yes?"
"…Earlier, Rika said something."
"What?"
Renji frowned slightly.
"She said my dad told her about me years ago."
Mizuki's expression didn't change.
"Yes."
Renji blinked.
"…Wait, you knew about that?"
"Of course."
Renji sat up slightly before wincing in pain.
"Then why didn't you tell me?!"
Mizuki shrugged.
"You never asked."
Renji stared at her.
"…That's such a cheap excuse."
Mizuki remained calm.
"Your father planned many things before he died."
Renji's expression slowly became serious.
"…What kind of things?"
Mizuki walked toward the small window and looked outside.
The afternoon sunlight had begun fading into the warm colors of evening.
"Fourteen years ago," she began quietly, "your father brought me here."
Renji listened carefully.
"He spoke with the guild master and several adventurers."
Mizuki paused.
"And he told me something very specific."
Renji frowned.
"…What?"
She turned slightly toward him.
"When the time comes, take Renji to the Adventurers Guild in this town."
Renji blinked.
"…That's it?"
"No."
Mizuki continued calmly.
"He said someone here would be able to train you."
Renji stared at her.
"…Let me guess."
"Rika?"
Mizuki nodded.
At that exact moment, Rika returned from the kitchen carrying a wooden tray.
On it sat a simple meal.
A bowl of mushroom soup.
And a piece of bread.
She placed it carefully beside the bed.
"Sorry," she said softly.
"There's not much food in the house."
Renji looked at the bowl.
Damn it… mushrooms…
But he forced a smile.
"Ah, no worries."
"This is enough."
Rika smiled gently.
Mizuki sat beside him and picked up the spoon.
"I'll help you eat."
Renji looked embarrassed.
"I can feed myself, you know."
Mizuki raised an eyebrow.
"With two broken legs?"
"…Good point."
She scooped some soup and held it in front of his mouth.
"Open."
Renji sighed.
"…This is humiliating."
"Open."
He reluctantly obeyed.
The warm soup slid down his throat.
Despite his earlier complaint, the warmth spread through his body.
"…Okay, that's actually good."
Rika watched them quietly from across the room.
Her expression was a mixture of curiosity and confusion.
She really can cast magic without incantations…
After a few more spoonfuls, Rika suddenly stood up.
"…I'll step outside for a moment."
Renji blinked.
"Uh… okay?"
She walked out of the room.
Mizuki followed her shortly after.
Outside, the evening air was cool.
The sky had turned orange as the sun began setting.
Rika stood in the small grassy yard behind her house.
Mizuki approached quietly.
"You have questions," Mizuki said.
Rika nodded.
"…Yes."
She turned to face her.
"Mizuki… Yamamoto-sensei never told me anything about you."
Mizuki looked toward the sky.
"That's normal."
"But you said something earlier," Rika continued.
"You mentioned he asked you to bring Renji here."
"Yes."
Rika crossed her arms slowly.
"…Why?"
Mizuki's voice remained calm.
"Because someone here needed to train him."
Rika's eyes widened slightly.
"…Wait."
"You mean—"
"Yes."
Mizuki looked directly at her.
"That someone is you."
Rika froze.
"…Me?"
She laughed nervously.
"That has to be a joke."
"I'm just the guild receptionist."
"You were also an S-rank adventurer," Mizuki replied calmly.
Rika fell silent.
"…You know about that?"
"Of course."
The wind moved gently through the grass.
Rika looked down at the ground.
"…Yamamoto-sensei really planned all this?"
"Yes."
Mizuki spoke without hesitation.
"And there's more."
Rika looked up again.
"What?"
Mizuki said it as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
"He also chose you as Renji's wife."
Rika froze completely.
"…What?"
She blinked several times.
"Wait."
"WAIT."
"You're telling me Yamamoto-sensei decided that fourteen years ago?!"
Mizuki nodded.
"I have no problem with it."
Rika stared at her in disbelief.
"…That's not the issue!"
She rubbed her forehead.
"This is insane…"
Then she hesitated.
"…But Mizuki."
"Yes?"
"You're always inside him, right?"
Mizuki nodded.
"Yes."
Rika looked awkward.
"Wouldn't that be… uncomfortable?"
Mizuki shook her head calmly.
"I'm just a spirit."
Her voice softened slightly.
"If I die, I cease to exist."
"I no longer experience emotions like before."
"I only exist to fulfill my duty."
Rika looked at her quietly.
The weight of Yamamoto's plan slowly sank in.
At that moment—
The door opened.
Renji stepped outside slowly, leaning on the door frame.
"…What are you two talking about?"
Both girls turned toward him.
"What are you doing here?" Rika said.
"Aren't your two legs broken?"
Renji replied, looking down at his feets,
"I don't feel pain anymore."
Mizuki glanced at Rika,
"I healed him while feeding."
Rika's mind exploded with disbelief. "That's impossible…"
Mizuki gestured toward the grass.
"Come sit."
Renji slowly walked over and sat down beside them.
"…So?"
Mizuki spoke calmly.
"From now on, Rika will train you."
Renji blinked.
"…Wait."
He looked at Rika.
"You're going to train me?"
Rika forced a smile.
"…Yeah."
Inside, her heart was racing.
Please don't tell him everything…
The sky slowly darkened as night began to fall.