Hearing Ren's voice, Yoshida immediately stood up from her chair, her movements abrupt as she prepared to leave.
But Haruto was faster.
He grabbed her wrist firmly, his serious gaze locking onto hers.
"Don't," he said, his voice low but commanding. "Stay here with me."
"But... he called," Yoshida stammered, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "I can't just ignore him."
Her hesitance made his resolve harden. Without another word, he tugged on her wrist, pulling her away from the direction of Ren's voice.
"Hayase! Let go of me!" she cried, struggling against his grip.
Her resistance was met with unyielding strength as Haruto continued walking, his steps hurried and purposeful.
"If you don't let go, I'll scream!"
Haruto halted abruptly and turned to face her, his expression intense. "Scream if you dare."
The words were a bluff, but his tone carried weight. He knew the risk—if Yoshida screamed, the situation could escalate into something ugly.
An accusation of harassment could ruin everything.
Still, he couldn't back down.
Not now.
Because if he didn't save her, who would?
Haruto's jaw tightened as his thoughts spiraled. Questions buzzed in his mind.
How had Yoshida fared in his first life? Was she alive? Was she happy? Or had Ren destroyed her completely?
Yoshida hesitated, her lips trembling as her body stiffened. But the scream never came. She simply stood there, her expression conflicted, as if waging a silent war within herself.
Haruto exhaled in relief and gently guided her to the back of the library, weaving through dimly lit shelves until they reached a secluded corner.
The towering bookshelves cast long shadows, enclosing them in a quiet, hidden space.
Yoshida leaned back against one of the shelves, and Haruto placed his hand beside her, blocking any path of escape.
"Shh," he whispered, his voice soothing yet firm. "Let him go. If he dares to do anything to you, tell me. I'll be the one to deal with him."
Their proximity was palpable. Haruto could catch the soft, delicate scent of jasmine lingering around her, while Yoshida's gaze was fixed on his emerald eyes, unreadable and distant.
"But... Can you really win against him, Hayase?" Yoshida asked, her tone laced with something unsettling.
"Nothing!" she chirped, stepping back. Her smile faltered, replaced by a downcast look. "Haruto, please... protect me from Ren from now on. I just... I just can't reject him."
His heart ached at her sadness, but an unsettling doubt still lingered, her change was so fast, it made him suspicious.
But in the end he decided to hide it beneath his tender face and use a more soft approach.
"Ayaka," he began, his voice gentle but probing, "why the sudden change? You've been pushing me away until now."
She hesitated for a moment before her face softened. "Haruto, you made me realize that Ren is a bad person. I don't have to follow him anymore or do... dirty things because I owe him my life."
Her voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes. "Thank you. Without you, I might've stayed... dirty."
Her tears, glistening in the dim light, tugged at something deep within him. Haruto's arms moved almost on their own, pulling her into a comforting embrace.
"It's fine," he murmured. "I'm glad you've changed."
Yet even as he held her, his mind churned. The transformation in her attitude was too abrupt, her affection too sudden.
And her tears—were they real? They seemed to be hollow, as if she was just acting, but for what?
But she had been through so much. Tortured, abused, harassed... Even if there was something off about her, Haruto couldn't ignore the pain she'd endured.
'And besides... isn't this good?'
A sly grin tugged at his lips.
'If she's with me now, I can rub our relationship in Ren's face. Teach him a lesson.'
Unbeknownst to him, Ayaka's lips curled into a smile of her own, her expression just as calculating.
For a brief moment, their eyes met, and though their faces wore a kindness mask, it was just to hide something from each other.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations!]
[You have successfully completed the quest: A Damsel In Distress.]
[Target Status Update:]
[Obsession: 60/100]
[Emotional Bond: 65/100]
[Host Status Update:]
[Level 30 → Level 31]
[New skill unlocked: Navigating The Sweetheart!]