Shizuki panted as she sat down while dropping her wooden sword beside her, resting her energy from working too hard on training. Her muscles were sore from the training, it's been a while since she has training like this for the first time, due to her spiritual energy control from making the ground crumbling after several battles.

He lifted up his wooden sword from the ground and swung it at her again while she was sitting on her seat, she quickly grabbed her wooden sword and block it with hers, the Dragon chuckled at her move. "Your movements are so natural and fluid… I didn't expect that from you," he said with a pleased voice and Shizuki blushed at the compliment.

"Thank you for complimenting me..." Shizuki leaned her back against the floor, she took an inhale then exhales, and began to sat up once again. Kazuya walked towards her and sat beside her, placing his hand on her shoulder carefully, making Shizuki flinch--though she knows that it's not because of his intention. There was a short silence between them, after a while she asked him to break the silence between them. This has been her curiosity from last night, she was worried of him. "Kazuya?"

Kazuya glanced at her while waiting for her question, Shizuki gulped in nervous that she want to ask a question last night. "Could you tell me… what nightmare did you dreamt last night?" his smile suddenly faded into a frown, hearing her asked such a question he didn't want to answer. He hesitated a bit with a small sigh, looking back at her. "I don't think I can tell you that very well, are you sure?" she nodded confidently, even though she didn't mean to force him. "I promise I won't tell anyone."

The Dragon closed his eyes as he took a deep breath, gathering his previous memories from last night about his nightmare. He open his eyes with a concerned look, as if he's opening up something. "There was something strange going on in my dream, I remember seeing the image of a man who appeared to be in my nightmare," he said with a serious expression on his face--it was something he would rather forget from his mind completely. "He was wearing dark red clothes with a hood covering his head--he was also dressed in a mask that covered half of his face... I can't seem to see clearly who he is but..."

The mountain god wasn't done explaining, it makes him physically ill to explain it but he keeps explaining. "I can't see how clearly he was, but… his presence is... oddly familiar--I remember that you were fighting together with me--until one of his followers held me forcefully to watch you suffer. You were tortured by him and I could see your tears from your eyes, you were… how should I describe this…" he gritted his teeth, the image still lingers in his head. "I broke free from them and reaching out for you until… I couldn't move, I fell down on the ground… All I heard was seeing you pleaded and begged tearfully, it stopped when I saw you being stabbed into your heart--the pain in my chest was excruciating..." he clenched his fist tightly as he remembered it all, he felt nauseous while he's breathing heavily. "After that, everything became blurry until I woke up," Kazuya closed his eyes tight and took in a deep breath, calming himself down.

Kazuya breaths hardly since the memory was so extremely graphic, playing over inside his head and eventually scarred his mind. The dream affects him physically even him as an immortal, emotionally and mentally-gods can get affected by dreams easily and made them weak. "Kazuya…" Shizuki was facing him frowning, she kneeled in front of him with wrapping her arms around his neck. This made him feel comforted, yet he felt tragically broken down by that sight. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry for asking such thing to you."

Kazuya wrapped his arms around her waist as he pulled her closer with closing his eyes and resting his forehead on her shoulder, wrapping his legs around hers. 'Shizuki, I'm sorry…' he apologized thoughtfully to her even himself, tormented by guilt and the air that makes his nightmare keeps happening. He was afraid that she will get hurt because of him, and he didn't want her to die. This feeling hurts him more than sealed away by Yuzuki since she betrayed him, how could she do this to him? Shizuki was the only person who cared for him despite he had no idea that she loves him since a long time ago--that's why he loved her so much--he knew that this is the reason why he's suffering for so many years.

Shizuki closed her eyes, she also want to apologize for have misunderstood him, she look down at him for a while. "Kazuya… I won't leave your side, I'll protect you even it costs everything and my life."

Kazuya clenched his teeth a little, "I won't leave your side… But, Shizuki… will you do me a favor?" Shizuki opens her eyes slowly and facing him with placing her hands on his shoulders, still kneeling in front of him. "What favor?"

Kazuya tried to be serious with his expression, but he couldn't. "Shizuki… you really don't have to protect me, from now on… I will be the one who protect you this time, even it costs the risk of my life and my immortality. You're not just my bride whom I have chosen, we're partners after all."

Shizuki was surprised yet upset, not sure what does he meant by that. "A-Are you serious?" she was speechless at first, before she frowned a little and feeling her vulnerability showing at him-she didn't expect this at all. "What if you died in front of me? We've known each other for three days and… I don't know why, I can't leave you behind even though you're…"

There was a short silence came by and he closed his eyes for a moment before he open it, staring at her dark cherry blossom ones affectionately; the same gaze when he was being empathic. "… Then, I will smile at you, telling you that I will always be by your side, I won't die leaving you… even if I will die someday, and when you die on me in my arms…"

Kazuya reached out his hand as he pushes her dark chocolate bangs behind her ear, her eyes widened at the words and it was genuine from him. Shizuki's eyes watering at the result of this, ended up leaving a tears fell down when she let go of his shoulders and properly sitting before him--she has lost of not shedding a tears in front of people; thinking that she's weak but she's not. Shizuki look down at her lap, not wanting him to look at her--thinking it was hideous. "Kazuya… how could you do that…"

"Shizuki…"

Kazuya looked at her while biting his lower lip at her vulnerability, he held onto her cheeks with both of his hands and lift her face looking up at him, he wiped the single tears from her cheek. This was the first time in his life he saw her cries like this, because of him. "Is it obvious, why I do have to protect you?" he asked sternly as he can be a bit of foolish when it comes to his arrogance, but he can't hold it back when he saw this human girl crying. Shizuki frowned while crying in front of him helplessly, protesting at the god. "Then why would you get yourself in danger, for protecting me?"

The Dragon tried to hold back but he couldn't hold back when he ignored her questions, he wiped her tears with his thumbs gently.

Shizuki looked fragile than ever, she was taught on how to be strong and never show her weakness to people, even she cried for a short moment after her parents passed away, she controlled her emotions to protect herself from losing anyone else. Shizuki was completely changed back to her--this didn't look like her and maybe all along she needs someone who understands her emotions more, and she didn't expect that the god of the mountain would be the one who understands her vulnerability when he was tortured for centuries. This is the first time in her life, for her, a warrior princess will cry in front of someone she loved. "I don't know why I hate to see you crying but, it's my decision to protect you because…" he trailed off, making her confused.

"Because of what…?"

Shizuki questioned him despite her tears still falling from her eyes, why would people protect her when she can defend them selflessly. They're her main priority but they never protect her in return, it truly hurts her when she had to endure her pressures and has the right to be strong. Kazuya look down at her, still resting his hands on her waist. "Because I like you, Shizuki."

Shizuki froze for a second as her eyes widened, hearing him saying that he loved her--but no matter what he said before, she never hear a truth coming from him and why would he say it in her face. She was shocked at first until she felt her stomach fluttered, her heart beating faster than ever. It doesn't matter whether her appearance reminds him of Yuzuki in the past, just that he adored her personality and stubborn nature; how she act serious and strong without showing any vulnerability and can fight back to protect herself. Her heart must've skipped a beat, there is no going back with him. "I like you too, Kazuya… I loved everything about you, even though your arrogance and pride makes you annoying sometimes, you have your own reason to protect the one you love. And... my presence don't bothers you that much...?" she choked, a slight sniffling as she slowly trying to calm down and continue to focus on him.

Kazuya couldn't take it no longer, he can feel his own heart throbbing painfully after he tell his feelings and honesty. "I want to see you happy... Shizuki--I realized that a human girl like you is a good partner for me and even though you can be... stubborn and emotional..." he closed his eyes for a brief moment and lifted his head looking at her seriously. "... and that's what I also like about you. Your flaws may be annoying, your eyes are the windows to your soul, a part of your personality and it shows me how honest you are. I've been in love with you during our first met but I have no idea why--I couldn't accept it because my past got in the way. If my past makes me suffering all the time then it doesn't matter, if I can be with you or make you smiling and protect you then I would be the happiest dragon in the world. I like it when you show your vulnerability to me, being soft and fragile, I don't care what could happen because my life is about me living in the present and what will make me happy."

Shizuki was taken aback by his loving declaration. The way he could see those windows, somehow there's an emotion behind it.

Kazuya leaned closer to kiss her on the lips while he was pulling her closer, she kissed him back with his arms around her waist. his lips was cold but his warmth made her shiver and warm. His kiss was passionate and tender, it made Shizuki blushed and shy away from him--but she can't move an inch from the god, because of his overwhelming power. Shizuki kissed him back in return with his arms around her waist. After a while, they pulled away for some air and he embraced her. Shizuki rests her head on his chest, it feels so right to be hugged by him. "That's why I will be here for you, no matter what happens I will keep you safe forever."

Kazuya closed his eyes for a moment, as he rested his chin atop her head. "Thank you, Shizuki," he whispered to her, his voice was a little hoarse. It feels so warm that Shizuki would cry in front of him and not ashamed of her vulnerability. Shizuki look up at him a bit nervous, but he kept his hands on her waist, holding her close to his chest. "Kazuya... I don't care if my age reached its old, my strength becomes weaker and almost useless--I just want to stay beside you in your best and worst times..." she said quietly before she let out a sob, making Kazuya look at her with an amazed expression. "I want to become human, so I can be by your side..."

Kazuya whispered to her, running his fingers through her dark brunette hair; she closed her eyes with a blush across her cheeks. She is a warrior and a princess who love to defend others--even she doesn't have the same experience that Kazuya had when it comes to fighting--she cares so much about her people, her friends and even the outsider with a kind and caring heart. He can see her vulnerable side and he felt embarrassed to let people watching her like this, there are times she won't be strong and have to be broken; she's just a human being.

"There's no need to become an immortal just to stay by my side, I always wanted to live like an ordinary man for you. I would gladly stay beside you--remember, no matter what--we are partners and nothing can stop us."

Kazuya reassured her with sincerity, Shizuki smiled and began to hug him again and he hugged her back. But they have to stop when heard a loud roar from the mountain and almost causing an earthquake.

Shizuki opens her eyes when she looked behind him into the opened shoji doors, that shows the view of the mountain. The cave has a white smoke coming out from afar, just by looking at the sight of it. "Wait… isn't that?"

Kazuya open his eyes instantly when he let go of her, staring to the direction of the East Mountain. He get up and scowling at the distance, knowing that something bad happened out there. "Something happened in there."

"Then that means…"

Shizuki grabbed her katana beside her and placed it on her left hip, he nodded at her while he clenched his fists. "Yeah, that means there's something going on there, that can't be your uncle nor Yomi did it. I believe someone there or other than that," he stepped out from the training room with her following him, then he walk out and jumped high above the rooftop to the clouds, transforming into a dark purplish-blue dragon. His silver eyes and sharp pupils, a white horns that resembled sea creatures, red scales covering his body from head to tail--it was an intimidating sight to witness. Shizuki gasped at his transformation, unable to control herself from running away from him. She took a deep breath to calm herself before facing him when the water dragon landed in front of her.

The Dragon pointed his black claws toward the mountain, she nodded as she jumps onto his back, holding onto him when he flies off towards the West Mountain.

'Wow… he's so fast…' Shizuki thought while her tied-knot hair with headdress flowing by the wind, holding onto his bluish serpentine scales. The scale's color was mixed with dark purple and blue and his horns were similar to that sea creatures, his eyes were bright blue with his cat-like black pupils. His wings were flapping aggressively and smoothly, once they got arrived there. Shizuki jumps off and landed on the ground in accidentally landing her feet on top of her uncle Ryusei's head, he was preparing his fighting stance but ended up fell on the ground and stomped by her feet. "Ouch…"

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

Shizuki winced painfully while she's hopping off from him, apologized while looking away from him nervously. "Sorry, uncle…" Yomi smiled as if she didn't feel something happening, while watching the statue got broken by the strong force. Ichirō shielded her from the explosion, flapping his black crow wings, "Are you okay, Yomi-sama?" he asked when she nodded with a smile, standing up while holding her ceremonial staff. "I'm alright, no need to get too concerned, Ichirō-kun."

"Kazuya!"

"Kaname!"

Both voices shouting to each other that Kazuya turned back into his human form, kicking his foot onto the warrior monk in his dragon form. Stopping him from attacking Yomi and Ryusei, even the other maidens as well, the Dragon landed on the ground with Kazuya backed away from him, while Shizuki stepped in and standing beside him. "What happened?!" Yomi chuckled, she never panicked after all. "I successfully unsealed Kaname-sama, the land god of West Mountain, he got mad after finding out Yuzuki sealed him-I believe this is the truth he has been seeking for."

Shizuki nodded at her then looking back at the Dragon in careful, but keeping her hand on her katana handle. Kazuya watched the land god struggling tiredly to stand up, panting heavily from what happened to him. "Long time no see, Kazuya… Yomi… Ryusei…"

The presence revealed to be tall and slender young man with fair complexion, with a stern and grumpy expression. The land god--Kaname himself--has a bright orange-amber eyes with glowing yellow pupils, wearing a red paint and black eyeliner on his eyelids. His blonde messy hair has uneven longer bangs, with light and dark shades into the end of his longer hair. The attire he wears is an elegant black long kimono with amber flower patterns, high collars and has ceremonial purple monk garb, a black obi with gold borders and wrapped around his waist and his garb. Lastly his black boots with straps, also silver back heels aligned with the tips and the back. He's quite handsome and can be considered as the most attractive man in the world--at least Shizuki would think so.

Kazuya clenched his fists as he glared at him. "What did you do, you idiot? You almost made an earthquake!" Kaname heard him when he was standing before them, brushing his hands off from the dust even his sleeves. "Where's that woman? The one who have-" when he saw a glimpse of Shizuki, it reminds him of Yuzuki just because of her looks. Kaname avert his golden eyes as he glared at her, mistaken her for that priestess who sealed him away in his entire life. "Yuzuki…!"

"I'm not Yuzuki!" Shizuki shouted at him while implying that she's actually not Yuzuki in fact--whether she's her reincarnation or not--she didn't like being compared, holding onto her katana with her hand. This made Kaname stopped in front of her, Kazuya hold her other hand, just in case to shield her away from him if he's hostile. "This is not Yuzuki, she's already dead." Kazuya reassured him, while he's looking down on her, Shizuki felt her cheeks flushed red and tried to hide herself by bending forward in embarrassment. Kaname gave him an angry gaze that caused him to shiver. "She died long time ago? Then who is she?" he questioned, he was looking at Shizuki for a moment--examining her from his gaze from head to toe--her eye shape was round but it was full of youth, unlike Yuzuki who is sharp and elegant; her face shape is perfectly just like her, but she's much more youthful; she's about her late-teen years. Kaname hummed, somewhat convinced that this wasn't Yuzuki. He stared at her with a thoughtful expression, his hair fluttering with the wind, almost making Shizuki dizzy.

"Who are you? Who are you really?"

Shizuki sighed in relief at him when Kaname asked her, although on the contrary she was conscious and cautious of it. 'Don't compare me to her…' she thought, before she introduced herself. "Kasuga Shizuki, or Shizuki," she answered calmly, making Kaname lifted his eyebrows and nodding--before Kazuya scowling at Kaname again. "Why don't you say who are you, land god of West Mountain?"

"I'm Kaname, the God of Land!" Kaname proclaimed proudly with pride, which caused him to receive a punch in his jaw, causing him to fall back on the floor. "You haven't changed in a while..." Kazuya grumbled, one thing he disliked about Kaname is he was prideful like him and always acting arrogant around them. Kaname's face turned into a red shade with his lip bled out, causing him to glared at Kazuya for hitting him like that.

"Stop calling yourself like that, you idiot! You're a god, not a human!" Shizuki exclaimed, "Gods are supposed to be perfect and beautiful, unlike you and your personality."

Kazuya pulled Shizuki down from behind when he saw Kaname's dangerous glare, using her as shield and protection. He stood up and glaring at Kaname, "Do you know what you've done, you stupid idiot? You have almost caused an earthquake, that can cause damage to everything here in this town."

Kaname punched Kazuya in the stomach, making him coughed for air. "I haven't seen you for a long time! But I knew it… even without seeing your face, I could tell who it was right away. You look so much different from that weakling you are now." Kazuya heard him which made him clenched his fist, before he kicked him in the face. Kaname fell back on the ground, coughing for air. "You've grown stronger than before, but you're still weak. You're just a weakling and a coward."

"What are you guys fighting for...?" Shizuki murmured, while Yomi chuckled when she replied. "You see... Kaname-sama and Kazuya-sama are rivals--since he's an immortal god like him, he has the right to rule over West Mountain and take over its power and treasures."

Shizuki gasped in shock. "Really? I never knew that, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Yomi sighed with a smile, before she whispered to her. "Usually gods are territorial, they will fight each other to get their own land and treasure. They always claim something belongs to them, especially if it's a land or a mountain. It's common for them to do that," Shizuki gasped, seeing the two of them arguing and fighting against each other. "But in this case, he was sealed away by Yuzuki in his entire life, he got angry because of what happened to him, so he decided to make West Mountain his own territory.Just like Kazuya-sama, he's also an immortal god, which means he can't die. So that's why they're fighting."

"That's terrible..." Shizuki muttered, looking at Kaname who was still lying on the floor, coughing for air. Kazuya watched him trying to stand up, before he spits on the ground beside him. "So that's how it is, you idiot! You've caused damage to the town because of your stupid action!"

Kaname looked at him with his golden eyes, watching him as he's about to stand up. “That’s because of that dead-priestess Yuzuki!” He snapped at Kazuya, which made both Shizuki and Yomi sighed altogether--seeing them arguing endlessly and Kazuya huffed at him. "Can you guys stop fighting? This is getting ridiculous," Shizuki told them, while Yomi preparing her shakujō--a ritual ceremonial staff that used as her main weapon.

"This is a sacred place, you're making a mess out of it."

"We have to make sure everything is clean," Kazuya retorted to her, causing her to glared at him. Both of the girls were pissed upon hearing this, Yomi smiled darkly before she used her staff to knock out both of them in swift succession.

***

Shizuki was washing dishes for the dinner tonight, with Yomi who's cutting the vegetables on the tray. "Have you ever done this, Shizuki-kun?" she asked while standing beside her, she nodded with a smile, "Yes, I always doing housework when I was in my hometown," she sighed with shaking her head, looking at her. "Even when my parents aren't around, first I have lost my mother and my father was exiled… I missed them, both of my childhood friends are the only ones I have trusted."

Yomi frowned, but insisted to keep smiling to comfort her, "I feel sorry for your parents, the Emperor wasn't caring over his own people. He cares for concubines and specifically-treating someone badly who disrespects him," she explained, remembering what happened that day. "The first person who saw it was Juri-sama, she told everything to me."

"I see…"

Shizuki look down at the washed fishes, including the ones she caught from the river while fishing with Ryusei. "How long have you known Kaname-sama?" she asked while taking the tuna fish from the tray then washing it, before she could handing the amberjack to her. "It's already long time we've known each other, before they were being sealed, how unfair is it?"

Yomi began to sigh with her eyes closed, looking down. "I don't know why, but there's something that she hide from me-"

A pair of arms suddenly wrapped around Shizuki's waist that causing her to jump in surprise, it was Kazuya who stood behind her and leaning his chin on her shoulder--nuzzling his cheek against her hair. His arms made her back shiver and an awkward shiver goes through her spine and her skin. Shizuki glanced at him lazily with a narrowed gaze, thinking how can a god has a low sense of personal space from her, when she's busy with housework. "What are you doing, Kazuya?"

Kazuya open his eyes to looked at her while remaining his flirtatious side, leaning his chin on her shoulder. The princess giggled at their recent interactions, thinking that they were cute together. "Kazuya-sama, what did you do to her?"

Kazuya hummed while closing his eyes, a bit sleepy and quite hungry. "Nothing, why do you want to know, Yomie~?" he open his eyes with a smirk, teasing her to make her angry at his teasings. Yomi's face darkened into a gloomy gaze, smiling 'innocently' at him. "Kazuya-sama, please do not address me that… it's disrespectful," he smirked at her, folding his arms at her. "But Kaname called you that."

"…"

While she was putting down the cabbage, she hold her knife while heading out from the kitchen leaving them alone. Kazuya grinned at her as he moved away his chin from her head, then he leaned down his lips onto her neck and nuzzling it gently. Shizuki clenched her hand into a ball of fist, trying not to punch him in the face. "S-So… ?"

The Dragon let go of her neck, hummed with his eyes closed. "Kaname is taking a long bath, I don't want to make fun of him yet."

"Could you let go of me?"

"Fine."

Kazuya reluctantly let go of her, scowling at her with a mumble. "You're lucky I'm not scolding you this time."

Shizuki grinned teasingly, snickering at him. "You think so?"

Both of them saw Yomi came inside the kitchen, with herself drenched her hair and her main attire by the water. "Yomi…" Shizuki began to drop her fish on the table as Yomi smiled as usual, pretends nothing happened and two of them were puzzled of what's going on with her. That night when the dinner began with Yomi joining them along with Ryusei, Kaname, Kazuya and Shizuki. "Kasuga Shizuki, right?"

Kaname asked her while wearing his kimono he wore but was cleaned, Shizuki nodded while chewing her dinner. "Right, you must be Kazuya's best friend, Kaname... right?" she asked, before Kaname grinned at Shizuki. "Yup! Izayoi Kaname, that's my human name--Yomi gave it to me," he answered happily. "It suits me well, don't you think so?"

"I don't think so," Kazuya retorted while he was eating his food, sitting beside Shizuki while Kaname is sitting beside Yomi. Kaname twitched his eyebrows at his rival Kazuya, since both of them are immortals they have been fighting each other for a long time, so their relationship wasn't as friendly as they thought.

Kaname noticed Shizuki looking at him, she asked him, "So how old are you?" he heard her question, before he sighed. "I'm just like Kazuya, I'm over thousand years old but in my human form like this? Probably around twenties?" Kaname answered, before he huffed with a smirk. "Well, Kazuya is older than I am since he lived more than I do," Kazuya twitched his eyebrows when he heard him said that. "But he's still a weakling compared to me. He's just an ordinary mortal, and he's still a coward!"

"Hmph..." Kazuya snorted at him, Shizuki sighed when they continue to argue like a children while Yomi was whispering to Shizuki quietly. "They always like that, always fighting with each other. I wish they would stop arguing and start talking to each other nicely."

Shizuki giggled at her, before she whispered back to her. "That's what I've been trying to tell you, Yomi-chan~"

Few hours later...

"That was ridiculous of him..."

Kazuya leaned his head on the pillow on his futon beside Shizuki's, sighing while waiting for her to get on the bed after taking a bath. She was brushing down her long hair with her comb, sitting and facing the mirror in front of the drawer after washing her dried hair. Kazuya did let his hair down while he was reminded of Yuzuki always taking care of her own hair and giving the comb to him, along with the hairpin with a cherry blossom on it. "Stay there for a while," Kazuya stands up with his usual home attire, even Shizuki wear one with their haori.

"What are you doing?"

Shizuki asked with a frown when he sat behind her back, telling her while his legs were on her sides. "That comb is ugly, put it down." he reached his arms as he pulled out the comb and throws it beside her, grabbing a better comb and combs her hair again. Shizuki's hair is soft and smooth, her hair covered most of her back. Kazuya took out the black comb that Yuzuki used to give him as a gift of rememberance from his haori, he brush down her hair gently. The warrior princess blushed slightly when he does that, his height doesn't match her because he's taller than her--making her look small to him. 'Strange… he never done this before..' she thought, before she heard him saying to her. "Yuzuki loves to take care of her hair… that was the only memory she had left to me."

Shizuki was surprised when she found something in common that Yuzuki liked to do. "Yuzuki… do you know, that day when you fell sick I decided to stay here at your chamber just to look after you. You're taking a long time to recover so… I tried to clean your hair because it was getting messed up, however, you're still asleep," he whispered to her ear, still embracing her from behind.

Shizuki slowly turn her head at him slightly, blushing at the story--in the first time he was vulnerable and opened up to her about the story. Kazuya smiled bitterly, giving him the look of vulnerability. "I thought you're jealous or something, why didn't you react?" he asked, wondering about what did she think of him. Shizuki shook her head and smiled. "No, I was just embarrassed about it. It's very cute of you," she replied, turning back her head to him--looking at him in the mirror as she watched the vulnerable side of him.

Kazuya took out the cherry blossom hairpin from his haori, he styled her hair in traditional ponytail with the hairpin on it. "You look like a beautiful girl," he said, smiling at her while she gazed at him with her eyes wide open. "It's pretty… but you know, I don't think it suits me…"

"No, it's beautiful, this suits you." Kazuya assured her, he sounded honest and serious about it.

Shizuki was trying to endure her embarrassment with covering her face, why is he so sweet? In her whole life, she never been in relationship and it's not like she ever have one before. Kazuya tilted his head, trying to see her face. "What's the matter? Why are you so shy? Is it because I'm handsome?"

Shizuki groaned when she uncovered her face, growling a little. "Tch! Whatever, it's silly and embarrassing."

Kazuya chuckled and wrapped his arms around her waist, laying her down on the futon with her stomach facing it. Shizuki groaned in annoyance, turning her head slightly as he rested his chin on her neck; he began to yawn as he snuggled into her chest. Shizuki's face turn red and her voice started stuttering when she pushed him gently but he still has his arms on her waist, not wanting to let her go. "What the heck are you doing?"

"Don't you get it? I'm hugging you," Kazuya said with the tone of annoyed yet sleepy, closed his eyes and his arms will move higher to her waist.

Shizuki's heart beat faster with his command, she did as he said.