Let go?
How is that possible?
It hadn't been easy to catch Soga Yura back into her arms. How could Su Yuzu possibly let go so easily?
Soga Yura didn't understand at all—who was the prey, and who was the hunter.
When the girl bent her body, arched her neck, and hooked her slender index finger around the collar on her neck, with bright spring waters rippling in her eyes... she was not inviting Soga Yura to enjoy a feast.
On the contrary—
That was a 'trap' tailor-made for Soga Yura, crafted after the girl had seen through the doting affection Soga Yura had struggled to suppress in the depths of her heart all this time.
A trap... using herself as the bait.
Far from letting go, Su Yuzu hugged Soga Yura even tighter.
Her chin pressed against the crook of Soga Yura's neck. The girl's arms clamped down tight.
Although Soga Yura was barren, she... wasn't the skeletal type. On the contrary, the feeling of holding her in one's arms was very light, soft, and moist.
That really was good news. A 'steel plate' is always better than a 'rasp'.
A terrifying tidal wave of a mental storm began to bloom from the place where the two made contact. Su Yuzu, facing that mental storm head-on, felt waves of stabbing pain coming from her head.
It was as if red-hot steel needles were churning inside her brain.
But... biting her lip tight.
The girl simply hugged Soga Yura even tighter.
In a field of vision Soga Yura couldn't see, Su Yuzu almost greedily... inhaled the familiar fragrance from the tips of Soga Yura's hair. That sweet, soft scent seemed to have never changed.
The more it hurt, the tighter she hugged. It was as if Su Yuzu wanted to compensate for all the hugs Soga Yura had owed her over these years, all at once.
[Dominator's Aegis (42%)] -> [Dominator's Aegis (38.2%)]
Originally, Su Yuzu had prepared to play a long game with Soga Yura.
Slowly seducing Soga Yura, giving her a little bit of hope each time, letting her touch her tail. Then maliciously... making it slip away the moment she touched it.
Giving her the hope of seeing her smile, yet always throwing that glimmer of hope to a place Soga Yura couldn't reach.
Like a demon toying with the human heart, making her beg for it but unable to get it, yet always keeping hope just a line away. This was the 'revenge' Su Yuzu had prepared.
Whatever—
Soga Yura didn't have any human heart for her to toy with.
This guy was simply a bit too useless. Giving her a chance was wasted on her.
It was clearly such a good opportunity, yet she couldn't even grasp it, and was even assisting other girls. People who didn't know... might even think she was a wingman.
She couldn't even eat the meat fed right to her lips. In the end, she was left looking miserable, crying her eyes out, looking at Yuzu like an abandoned puppy.
Su Yuzu's biggest miscalculation was... wanting to toy with Soga Yura's heart.
The result was that this guy was so stupid and clumsy she didn't even have the qualification to be toyed with or teased. The meat was practically stuffed into her mouth, yet this guy could still watch helplessly as the meat slipped away from her lips.
And then, with a woo, she bit her lip and cried messily, turning into a total crybaby.
°.o.（□□□□）.o.°
Meeting this kind of 'trash'. What's the point of playing at stirring up hearts?
To think she had been able to maintain that temperament as cold and aloof as a flower on a high peak time and time again before; it must have been really hard for her.
Sometimes Su Yuzu wondered if Soga Yura and the Little Rabbit had their talents swapped.
Looking at Soga Yura's appearance, looking like she would turn into a crybaby at any time and any place.
°.o.（□□□□）.o.°
Su Yuzu always felt that Soga Yura was actually a bit more suited to be the [Dragon King].
The stabbing pain in her head was constant.
Su Yuzu's cheek rubbed against the softest skin on the side of the girl's neck. Her consciousness seemed a bit dazed.
The mental storm erupting from [Dominator's Aegis] would bruise even her.
Perhaps... this was the fundamental reason Soga Yura was afraid to touch Yuzu.
She wasn't afraid of how much she would have to pay to maintain [Dominator's Aegis].
Otherwise, earlier when Sakura Mai asked her if she wanted to send something since Yuzu was injured, Soga Yura wouldn't have decided to make the 'Mental Ascension Elixir' without any hesitation.
And it was the special edition 'Mental Ascension Elixir', the kind that could drain her mental power until she might not be able to get out of bed for a month.
She also didn't worry about how much trouble the erupting mental storm would bring her. She didn't care about those things.
What she cared about... was only whether Yuzu would be in pain because of it.
Soga Yura cried messily, her small hands pushing against Yuzu's chest, struggling weakly, wanting to push Su Yuzu away.
"Let go..."
"Yuzu... let go of me..."
"Sister begs you, begs you to let go of me, okay..."
"Consider it Sister begging you."
"You can make Sister do anything in the future."
"Just this once..."
"Let go of Sister this once, okay?"
But Su Yuzu clamped down very tight.
Even though she was about to lose consciousness, Su Yuzu held Soga Yura very tightly.
Since this jerk... idiot... fool... couldn't even bite the meat delivered to her lips, then she would just catch her herself.
This time—
Don't she even think about running.
The map unrolls... and the dagger is revealed.
Su Yuzu smiled very uglily, but she also smiled very happily.
Soga Yura's tears fell splash splash splash as if they didn't cost money.
To the side, seeing that Su Yuzu's condition wasn't right and that Soga Yura was crying too heartbreakingly, Sakura Mai gently pulled the nearly unconscious Su Yuzu away.
The Little Rabbit, whose legs were so weak she seemed unable to stand, struggled to prop up her body, letting the dazed Su Yuzu lean on her shoulder.
That's right—
They were not affected by the mental storm produced when Soga Yura and Su Yuzu made contact.
On the small earlobe of the blonde girl sitting quietly to the side, hidden by her beautiful hair, a pale pendant swayed, flickering with a hazy light.
"That is..." Sakura Mai looked at Lyudmila with gratitude but also suspicion.
Only after that powerful mental storm stopped did the exquisite earring on Lyudmila's earlobe slowly retract its light.
"Sanctuary of the Sacrificed."
Lyudmila lowered her head.
"Once a day..."
"A 'Holy Relic' capable of breaking one attack."
She didn't hide it.
She just looked at the fair skin of Su Yuzu's thigh beside her with a complex mood.
This time... there was no 'Godmother's Laurel'.
But she felt she couldn't move her gaze away.
When Su Yuzu hugged Soga Yura tight and raised that big smile, Lyudmila suddenly felt... very uncomfortable in her heart.
Inexplicably uncomfortable.
Just like when she was little... seeing others being rewarded. An unhappiness that shouldn't exist in a Saintess's heart, one she should have forgotten long ago.
Just like... jealousy.
How is that possible.
How could she possibly have that kind of... human emotion.
And how could she possibly be jealous of... Soga Yura?
Sakura Mai just looked at Lyudmila, saying nothing.
'Holy Relic'.
The crystallization of thoughts left behind by a Sixth Sequence... or even an ability user or Aberrant above the Seventh Sequence upon death.
The number of 'Holy Relics' that could be named to this day was countable on one's fingers.
How could an 'ordinary' exchange student carry a 'Holy Relic' with her, and... one that could save lives at a critical moment?
Who exactly is she?
And why... does she want to get close to Yuzu?
________________________________________
🌸 Help Love Bloom!
Our girls need a little push... and you can help!
💖 Gift for Everyone: Once we hit 50 Powerstones, I'll release +1 bonus chapter to warm your hearts.
🚀 Community Reward: If we reach 10 supporting members, we'll have a +5 chapter marathon across all stories! The romance won't stop.
👻 Come to our secret corner: Search for GirlsLove on (P). You know that's where the magic happens... 😉