Asagao collapses on the spot as what Apollo said crushed and pressured her. Senya and I immediately rush to her and check her condition. I glance over to Casablanca and Hibiscus to see if there are any complications with them. It’s a little relief to see them snoring peacefully even though they are sleeping uncomfortably in a chair.

I hold Asagao in my arms and carry her as I stand up. I look at Senya with a worried expression and brought Asagao closer to her.

“Senya…”

“Don’t worry, she just fainted from overthinking. But I must say…she builds up stress way too fast…”

“Stress?”

“Yes, her stresses catches up to her before she can even relieve herself from it. It’ll be best to let her rest a whole day once a week. Even though let’s say her mind is an adult, her body is still immature. Everything that happened is too much for her mind and body.”

“Are you going to use that Ki again? That did help her eliminate her accumulated stress.”

“No, I won’t. As much as possible, I don’t want her to rely on that. For now, Ichirou, please leave now. I’ll be calling some maids to take them to their rooms.”

“……”

“Don’t worry. I’ll tell you where Asagao’s room is and you can visit her tonight.”

“That’s a big help. Thanks.”

I hand Asagao over to Senya. After that, I walk towards the large window and jump off. This is the only way for me to enter and exit the mansion.

Senya and I really didn’t have a good start.

The way she talks, the way she acts and the way she carries herself, it annoys me. I feel like she is an all-knowing woman. The day we met her, she took Asagao, Casablanca, Hibiscus and Topaz inside the mansion and dumped me in the wooden lodge together with that white tiger.

The wooden lodge was dirty, full of dust and so gloomy that it took me a whole day to clean and arrange things. Good news is that I made friends with Fang, Alpha wolf, and the behemoth.

The trio is actually magical beasts that reached their peaks. They said that they become powerful because of Astlan’s influence. The power that Astlan emanates when he was still living sticks to them for a long time and they reached another level of evolution, enabling them of a sentient mind. I do feel like there are some sorts of power wafting in the atmosphere inside the lodge.

During Asagao’s three day sleep, I tried to enter the mansion…forcibly. It is as Senya said, there are only women in the mansion and some of them have deep hatred against men or traumatized. Some even began firing spells at me and some brandished their weapons and attacked me.

Senya was utterly displeased of the commotion and we had an argument. It’s a relief to know that Casablanca and Hibiscus are safe but for Topaz, it seems they locked her up temporarily until Asagao wakes up.

I argued with Senya about seeing her but she insisted on it so it made me really furious and a friction is made between us.

Even now, I don’t think I can trust Senya that well but I have no one to rely on in this situation. As what she said, I’ll check on Asagao later.

.

.

.

The forest becomes quiet and serene as the night falls. A gentle chilly wind brushes to my skin and the sound of leaves rustling brings tranquility to the whole place. The curtain of darkness appears within the depths of the greenery dyed in shadowy hue, however, with my enhanced senses, it is clear as day for me.

I am wearing a black parka that perfectly covers my arms and the said parka has multiple pockets. Underneath it is a plain buttoned shirt tightly tucked in my leather pants which are dark brown in color with matching boots.

I stealthily snuck in the mansion grounds as I follow the directions indicated in the paper Senya sent me. The place isn’t heavily guarded as Senya said for the reason it is not a place that anyone can easily access and if by chance, people accidently bumps into this place, the guardians will take action.

Hmm…

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I just thought about it but, me, at night, sneaking into a girl’s room suspiciously dressed…

I sound like a criminal considering Asagao’s appearance isn’t any better than a child. I don’t even know how to explain if someone found me out.

Arriving at where Asagao’s window is supposed to be, I readied myself and leaps with light feet. As I arrive at the in the veranda’s glass window, I had the spirits create a convenient tool to unlock the window from the inside.

CLICK

As I heard it unlocking, I quietly open the glass window door. Beyond the door is a dark room with none whatsoever lit to brighten it and wooden furnished furniture is beautifully and neatly placed around. As I set foot inside it, I notice the luxurious bed that magnificently fits the room. A canopy bed with red frilly curtain and a bed foam the looks so bubbly.

However, as my eyes swam there, I saw Asagao. Wearing an oversized pajama shirt with bunny patterns and actually wears nothing below but drawers.

Her eyes are a little surprised as she stares at me while she seats at the edge of her bed. Her white glossy hair sways a little as chilly wind finds its way to the room. Her face is tinged with a little redness and her sky blue eyes as beautiful as diamond moistens. Her sullen expressions immediately gave away she cried a little.

“Geez, Ichirou, sneaking on someone else room is quite a crime you know.”

“Asagao…”

“How do I look like? Pathetic, right?”

“You are not. I know you and you can overcome this.”

“However, breaking down and fainting like that…it is utterly laughable…”

“It is not.”

“……”

“……”

“……”

“Can’t sleep?”

“Un…I just had…a nightmare…that’s all…”

“Have you talked to Senya yet?”

“Yes. I was dismissed for tomorrow’s training…”

“……”

“It seems to Senya, I am mentally unstable and proceeding won’t bear anything.”

“I don’t know how Senya thinks but I don’t think that’s the case.”

Asagao was about to speak again but she halted herself. She just hangs her head down with a crestfallen countenance. She lightly grips the sheet of her bed as bitter expression surfaces from her face.

What’s on Asagao Lionheart’s mind right now?

I bet it is filled with things I cannot even comprehend, I cannot understand and mostly, I cannot solve for her. Inside that tiny body, she carries a lot of responsibilities and pressure that breaking down isn’t even questionable.

What fills her mind right now?

“Ichirou…”

Asagao looked up to me and patted the space beside her. I suddenly realize that she is beckoning me to seat beside her. Without a shred of hesitation, I walk towards Asagao and seats on her left side. As I sat down, without hesitation, Asagao leans her head towards my arm. It did surprise me but I dare not to move a single muscle.

“Asagao?”

“Such big and robust arm…it gives me a sense of comfort. Maybe this is what a reliable arm is. There are times that I yearn for my old body however, I came to accept my current form and decided that I will live with it.”

“What’s wrong with it? It’s cute and adorable.”

“That’s exactly why. There are times I fantasizes that I can also be manly and reliable…like you are now.”

“Thank you…for relying on me.”

“I thought to myself, maybe if I am a man I am not going to be this kind of wimp and weak.”

“I think you are pretty strong willed yourself.”

“I hope you are right and not only sugarcoating…”

Asagao hugs my right arm and snuggles to it. Her warmth is transmitted to me and her milky young scent penetrated my nostril. There’s a flowery smell mixed with it and her soft, squishy cheeks brush to my arm. Because of my heightened senses, I could also feel her chest thumping as she keeps hugging me.

I feel like it is okay to embrace her in my arm and keep her body touching to mine. I feel like it is fine to taste her cherry lips and take advantage of her vulnerability. I feel like it is okay to push her down and do lewd stuff with her.

Such is being transmitted to me by my lust and carnal desire. Such immoral and unrighteous acts started playing inside my head. It can’t be helped… I was really backed for this past few weeks. As a sole guy in a group of adorable and pretty girls, I can’t help not to get arouse.

It’s really hard for me. I can already hear an inner voice tempting me to do it with Asagao.

However, I don’t want to be that kind of monster.

“Ichirou…”

“What?...?!”

In an instant, Asagao pulled in her bed and had me lay down next to her. She dives her head into my chest and snuggles again into it. I have no choice now but to wrap my hands around her. I gently place my hand on her head and pats and rub her back.

There’s a sense of complexity when I see Asagao being rough but brave, however, this vulnerable Asagao is enticing too.

My heart started pounding thinking that she is inviting me. I contemplate if I should proceed or not. My backed lust seems to be winning though…

In the midst of my brief daydreaming, something warm and wet flows into my chest…

“I’m…really scared…”

“!!”

“I’m scared…and confused. I don’t know what to do anymore…! I…*sob*…whenever…I think that…I do something *hic*, I might do it wrong…and leads to the destruction of this world…”

“……”

“I thought I became strong. I thought I have my resolved hardened. Those are only I thoughts… I am…faltering right now…*hic*…it’s…crushing me…”

My lust, my imagination and all the immoral thoughts I had in my mind shattered. When I heard Asagao’s saddened cries and felt her trembling small shoulders, regrets flooded me. I can only bite my lips in anger towards myself as I only thought of relieving my carnal desire.

What the fucking hell are you thinking, Ichirou!?

This girl in my embrace sought to find her sole enemy, however, in the midst, a problem involving saving the world is suddenly dumped on her. With a mind to help people, she is burdened with a task that crushed her with pressure.

She wasn’t ready for this or even expecting this. She wasn’t trained or even notified of it. It just happened.

It’s painful…it’s painful for me to see her like this. But whatever I do, I cannot lighten her woes and even become one of those worries.

“Asagao…I’m sorry…”

“……”

“Asagao?”

I glance at her who is deeply buried in my chest. She fell asleep while crying. Her sweet innocent countenance dampens with tears breathes slowly and steadily.

If being a shoulder to cry on for her help, then I am happy. I hope I can do more for her but even I don’t have any ideas. I’ll just watch her and her sisters from afar and try my best to keep them away from harm.

And also, being her hugging pillow, I hope I can stave her nightmares away.