Starting With The Sefirah Castle In The Anime World-Chapter 164: Promise

"Are you really that nervous?"

Yoko could feel the tension in Ren's hand.

"I'm just... not used to it."

That was all the confirmation Yoko needed.

This guy really didn't see her as a woman.

He had done so much for her, yet he still only regarded her as a friend or family member.

What could she even say about this?

Ren's thought process was definitely different from most people.

"You really just think of me as a sister, huh?"

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"...A little bit."

"Do normal siblings kiss each other on the cheek?"

"I think so."

"Then technically, we're still within the boundaries of sibling affection, right?"

"I guess... so."

"And you're okay with that?"

"Yeah... I suppose it's fine."

"But I'm not."

Seeing how seriously he was trying to rationalize it, Yoko rolled her eyes.

"I'm obviously older than you. Why am I the little sister in the end?"

"And besides, can you really just brush off what happened as a simple sibling gesture?"

"..."

True, their relationship wasn't quite the same as before.

Noticing Ren's brief look of disappointment, Yoko smiled and gently squeezed his hand.

"So, did you think our relationship was always that 'pure'?"

Her question caught Ren off guard.

"Wasn't it?"

He genuinely believed their relationship was just friendship.

Seeing his confused expression, Yoko sighed.

"Not at all."

"Think back—our first meeting was when I was nearly strangled to death."

"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even be here."

"Yeah."

Ren nodded slightly.

That night, he had just finished crafting the Eye Bracelet and was relaxing at home when he heard a commotion next door.

On a whim, he had decided to intervene—kicking that intruder in the face and saving Yoko from a near-death crisis.

"The second time we met was the very next night. I came over to thank you."

"Then, I found out you lived alone, so I started visiting more often. I wanted to be the 'big sister,' but somehow, you ended up treating me like a little sister instead."

Honestly, Yoko felt wronged by this.

She had fully intended to take on a protective role.

But Ren, despite being younger was far more capable and reliable.

And his tendency to listen rather than speak made it easy for people to confide in him.

Somehow, the roles had been reversed.

"Since then, I started coming over all the time."

"I cooked for you—potato stew, pork rib soup hoping to regain my 'big sister' status."

"But instead, you were the one comforting me about work."

"Recently, you've even been helping me with my career."

"Two to three hundred million yen—just like that, you didn't hesitate to support me."

"You even went out of your way to pull strings and stand as my backing in my contract termination."

"Siblings might help each other out, but let's be honest—real siblings don't do all that."

She had a point.

Looking back, Ren felt like he had been investing too much effort into Yoko.

Why had he gone so far for her?

"But I never had that kind of intention."

"I know."

And judging by his reaction tonight, if he did have those thoughts, he would've shown some kind of response earlier.

"Your reaction makes it pretty clear—you really do see me as a little sister."

That... actually frustrated Yoko.

She had always wanted to be the older sister in their dynamic.

Yet, somehow, she had ended up on the other side of that equation.

Still, there was one thing she was certain of.

"But we can't always be siblings."

"I don't want to be your sister forever."

Yoko had long since come to terms with her own feelings.

She never reacted this way with any other man.

She and Ren could talk for hours, joke around, and just be themselves.

She liked the way she felt when she was with him.

But before the conversation could continue, she abruptly changed the subject.

"By the way, the person I contacted last time, the one who helped me get through to you."

"They have a special relationship with you, don't they?"

"Otherwise, they wouldn't have agreed to help so easily."

Ren hesitated.

"It's... complicated."

"There are things I can't explain to you yet."

"It's a secret."

Hearing this, Yoko relaxed slightly.

"Yeah... I had a feeling."

"I always thought you had some kind of secret, but I never asked."

"And now, I get the sense that this secret involves other people too."

She wasn't wrong.

There were things connecting Ren to other individuals, and those things couldn't be shared so easily.

Yoko didn't pry any further.

Instead, she asked something else.

"Then... can I know your secret someday?"

Ren was silent for a moment before shaking his head.

"I'm not sure."

"Only three people know about it right now. I don't know if more will learn about it later."

"Some things can only be understood after you experience them yourself."

"I see."

Yoko wasn't disappointed at all.

In fact, just from his response, she gained insight into the nature of his secret.

"So, it has something to do with a special power?"

Ren hesitated before nodding slightly.

That confirmed it.

Now, she understood why the person she contacted had been willing to help so easily.

This was indeed a complicated connection.

"In that case, until I gain whatever it is you're talking about, let's just keep things the way they are."

"But you're not allowed to start avoiding me, alright?"

Ren nodded.

"Alright."

(To be continued.)

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