That night, Renji Kamisaka spent most of his time immersed in the ocean of his new consciousness, training the abilities granted by the System. His movements in the room, dimly lit by a bedside lamp, were steady yet careful—he began to understand the nature of his new power, how the waves of energy could be used in real conditions, a fusion of the world he knew and the mysteries that had just unfolded.
On the other side of the bed, Ogiwara Sayu was already asleep, curled up gently in his embrace like a tame kitten, her breathing regular. However, entering the latter half of the night, the runaway girl began to stir restlessly. Her body writhed faintly, and her face contorted, as if she was struggling against haunting shadows in her dreams.
Her soft whimpers broke the silence of the night.
"Sorry… sorry… I didn't mean to…" Her whispers, broken and full of regret, drifted through the air.
Renji looked at her with concern, his heart aching at Sayu's suffering. He knew, the nightmare was an echo of Sayu's painful memories, of the girl who had ended her life in front of her. Sayu, already alienated, ostracized, and even bullied at school, now carried such a heavy burden of guilt, deeply embedded in her soul.
Could Sayu be blamed for all that? Renji asked himself.
The girl who became a victim and was ostracized because of Sayu was, essentially, not a popular figure. They both, equally alone in their respective worlds, had once formed a brief warm bond—two souls searching for each other amidst the emptiness. But one of them couldn't bear it anymore, and decided to leave forever.
Sayu was left behind. And that silent accusation, like an invisible stab from a friend, pierced deeper than any knife.
Even upon returning home, her mother had asked coldly, her voice piercing deeper than a stranger's gaze:
"Did you really kill that child?"
Renji took a deep breath, a heavy weariness settling over him. Gently, he stroked Sayu's small head, which was still shaking from the nightmare. His fingers brushed Sayu's hair, a touch that was more than just physical.
"It's okay… everything will be fine," he whispered, his voice trying to soothe, not only Sayu, but himself as well.
His gentle touch seemed to calm the storm within Sayu's dream. Her anxious expression slowly melted away, replaced by tranquility. She fell back asleep, her breathing becoming regular and peaceful once more.
Renji closed his eyes. He realized that to open Sayu's heart and lead her out of the shadows of the past would not be easy. This journey would be long, and could only succeed when Sayu herself was willing to talk about her past, to face those hidden wounds.
However, he was sure… it was possible.
Suddenly, the system's voice echoed in Renji's mind, clear and resonant like a newly discovered melody.
[Ding—Congratulations to the player for completing the task: Comforting a distressed girl. You receive the skill reward: Damage Reflection!]
[Skill: Damage Reflection – When receiving an attack from a living creature, the damage received will be multiplied and returned to the opponent.]
Renji's eyes shone in the darkness. An unexpected surprise, a tremendous reward.
"This skill is amazing!" he murmured, his lips forming a faint smile.
Although he had exercised, his physical strength was still relatively ordinary—he wasn't a swordsman born in a fantasy world, nor a street fighter from a world filled with brawls. But with a skill like this, his chances of surviving in this uncertain crossover world increased drastically.
Of course, this Damage Reflection only applied to attacks from living creatures. If he was crushed by building debris, for example, there would be nothing to reflect. That was a reasonable limitation, but still—this was a huge leap in his abilities.
Unexpectedly, just by comforting little Sayu, Renji Kamisaka could receive such a reward from the System. Living in a world filled with strange elements—from system powers, unimaginable martial arts techniques, to intricate human relationships—was indeed full of surprises, every day a new, unexpected page.
But he began to understand one thing: this System wasn't just about physical power.
This System was guiding him to live a better—and perhaps, happier—life.
For Renji, happiness didn't mean becoming a fantasy world hero or saving virtual worlds. Happiness was when he could live a light and warm daily life with the sweet girls who brought color into his life, like Sayu.
It wasn't just about saving others.
But also about saving himself, from a monotonous routine, from a meaningless solitude.
That night passed quietly, carrying with it the whispers of nightmares and unspoken promises.
When dawn broke, the morning light gently seeped through the gap in the curtains of the Sakurasou room—a unique haven that served as a temporary home for various people from different worlds, a beacon for searching souls.
Ogiwara Sayu woke up, her eyelids blinking slowly to adjust to the light. She turned to the side of the bed, her heart pounding. Empty. A faint disappointment flickered.
She hugged her blanket tightly, taking a long breath, filling her lungs with the lingering warmth.
Renji's scent still clung there, faint but intoxicating.
Last night… was the warmest night she had experienced in a long time. Not because she was exhausted or forced to sleep. But because she felt protected. Given a sense of security she had never felt from family or friends, a warmth that permeated her bones.
He stroked my little head…
So gently…
Sayu's face flushed at the memory of that touch, a memory so contrasting with what she had experienced so far.
Her mother always doubted her, her gaze cold and accusing.
Her brother, though caring at first, gradually just threw money at her and pushed her away, as if money could fix unseen wounds.
But the way Renji looked at her was different. There was tenderness in his eyes. There was a zest for life. Perhaps because he was attracted to her appearance, Sayu tried to convince herself, but…
She was reluctant to leave this place.
Reluctant to leave that rare gentleness, the warmth she had just found.
The girl, still wrapped in Renji's blanket, rolled around in bed, trying to hold on to the fading scent. She wrapped herself tightly, as if embracing the warmth that would soon disappear, delaying the farewell to last night's beautiful dream.
However…
Is sniffing his blanket like this… perverse?
Her cheeks flushed pink, deepening. She bit her lip, embarrassed.
Just then—the door opened.
Renji appeared, carrying two steaming bowls of instant noodles, the steam rising, carrying a savory aroma.
Upon seeing Sayu hugging one of his shirts tightly and sniffing it in a daze, Renji's expression stiffened. A faint, amused smile appeared at the corner of his lips, though he tried to hide it.
"Ahem, ahem…" he cleared his throat, holding back a laugh.
"Ah! Aaaaaah!! Sorry!!"
Sayu immediately got up, her face flushed like fire. She genuinely wanted to disappear from the face of the earth, vanishing in a cloud of shame.
She hugged Renji's clothes and… sniffed them. And he saw it.
Oh goodness, what should I do now?
He must think I'm a perverse, unreliable girl! Sayu thought, panicked.
But Renji just smiled faintly, reassuringly.
"It's alright. I'm not blaming you," his voice was gentle, without the slightest reproach.
He placed the noodles on the table, their fragrant aroma immediately filling the room.
"The important thing is that you're awake now. Otherwise, the noodles might stick together and taste bad."
Sayu lowered her head, terribly embarrassed. However, there was a relief that slowly washed over her heart.
She quickly got dressed, took a bowl, and began to eat the noodles quietly, trying to hide her still blushing cheeks.
After finishing, without being told, she took the dishes to the kitchen and washed them, the automatic movements of someone accustomed to independence. Then she returned and bowed deeply in front of Renji.
"Sorry…" she whispered, her voice almost inaudible.
"I said I'd help take care of the house… but you still cooked…"
Renji touched her hair gently, a touch so soothing.
"It's okay. You were just… not in your normal state last night."
"Normally that would be your responsibility. But when you need time to recover, you can be a little lazy."
"Life, Sayu, isn't about who does what. It's about comfort, and… happiness." Renji's voice was low and meaningful, as if uttering a spell.
Sayu smiled shyly, a small, sincere smile. Then, suddenly, she stepped forward and hugged Renji's neck. A spontaneous hug, unburdened, full of gratitude.
"Thank you… Renji-kun." Her whisper was muffled against the man's chest.
Renji couldn't hide his smile. This girl was indeed sweet when she wasn't crying.
"From now on, just focus on your life at Sakurasou, okay?"
"Un," Sayu replied softly, with an adorable, nasal sound, a sweet and innocent form of agreement.
She rubbed her cheek gently against the man's chest—as if to ensure that this warmth, this safe place, was truly real and not just another illusion that would vanish in the morning.