NOVEL NEXT Chapter 50: Yuki and Mary
Yuki had taken the siblings to her treehouse. She poured a potion into their mouths to help heal their wounds. "You'll be fine…" she whispered.
Her home was small and somewhat cramped. Power Balls of all sizes were scattered across tables, shelves, and even the floor, glowing faintly with an inner energy.
One entire wall was dominated by an impressive — and slightly intimidating — array of weapons. Guns of various calibers gleamed under the dim light, rifles rested against the shelves, and knives of every shape and size were meticulously arranged.
Swords, some simple and some elegantly curved like katanas, hung in precise lines, their edges catching the light just enough to hint at their deadly sharpness. Among them were strange, unfamiliar instruments of war whose purposes were not immediately clear.
Yuki sank slowly into the wooden chair, the worn seat creaking softly beneath her weight. She leaned forward slightly and her eyes were fixed intently on the siblings before her.
"Why…?" she barked, her voice tight with frustration, almost like a growl. She jabbed a finger toward them, leaning forward. "Why did you have to come to this world?"
Her eyes dropped to the floor, the fire in them dimming just slightly. She let out a frustrated huff, dragging a hand through her hair. "But… you still helped me," she admitted reluctantly, her voice tight but carrying a tremor of genuine acknowledgment. "So I forgive you… for now." her lips curved in the barest trace of a smile. "Thank you… for saving my home."
Kai shifted slightly, wincing as pain shot through him, his voice barely more than a rasp. "No… problem…" he whispered.
Yuki's eyes snapped toward him. Kai's half-open eyes were fixed on her, a weak smile tugging at his lips despite the lingering pain etched across his face. "You're awake?" she asked.
Kai tilted his head slightly, squinting through the haze of his discomfort. "Why are you sitting so far away from me…?" he asked, his tone teasing despite the faint tremor of exhaustion in his voice. His smile grew a little wider, mischievous, and his gaze lingered on her, daring her to react. "Don't you… like me?"
Yuki's face instantly flamed red. She slammed her hands over her chest. "I'm not gay!" she shouted, the words ringing through the small, cramped treehouse.
"Told you!" Mei yelled, her eyes snapping open as a triumphant grin spread across her face. She shot a quick glance at Kai, who responded by puffing his cheeks in exaggerated frustration, making a low, annoyed huff.
"Huh?" Yuki shouted, jumping slightly in her seat. Her eyes darted between Mei's gleeful expression and Kai's clearly irritated one. "W-what is going on?" she asked them, confused.
Kai let out a long, weary sigh. "We made a bet…" he muttered under his breath.
Yuki blinked, her eyes narrowing in confusion as she tried to make sense of Kai's expression. Her gaze darted to Mei, searching for some clue, some logical explanation. Her brow furrowed, and her lips pressed into a thin line as she silently demanded answers.
Mei let out a soft sigh, tilting her head as if she were about to explain something painfully obvious. "Do you remember when you said you liked Kai?" she asked, her tone casual but carrying a teasing undertone. She didn't wait for Yuki to respond, instead continuing. "Well… I bet Kai that it was just a lie, that you only said it to get closer to us."
Yuki blinked a few times, but before she could ask the questions burning inside her, Kai jumped in.
Yuki blinked rapidly, her mind racing with questions she barely dared to form. Before she could voice them, Kai leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and spoke with mock seriousness.
"If I won," he began, his voice calm but teasing, "I could take Lily to bed…" He let the words hang in the air for a moment, watching her reaction. Yuki's eyes narrowed, a hot blush creeping across her cheeks.
"But if she won," he continued, his grin widening, "I'd owe her a kiss…" He paused dramatically, letting the tension build, then suddenly raised his voice, exaggerating every syllable: "ON THE CHEEK!"
"Yep!" his sister declared, her eyes shining with triumph as she nodded firmly, a smug little smile tugging at her lips. "Now give me my kiss!" she demanded, her voice rising slightly, sharp with playful authority.
Kai's eyes darted around the room, scanning every possible escape route, every conceivable excuse that could save him from this mortifying moment. His cheeks tinged pink as he realized just how cornered he was — but then, a sly idea sparked in his mind.
"I-I can't move…" he said weakly, his voice trembling with exaggerated helplessness. He slumped back slightly, letting his body sag as if weighed down by some invisible force, his arms limp at his sides. His eyes widened in mock panic, darting to his sister with the perfect mix of innocence and desperation, hoping his little act would buy him just enough time to avoid the inevitable.
But that only made his sister's grin stretch even wider, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She leaned over him, planting her hands firmly on either side of his body, effectively trapping him with a triumphant air. "Then I can do whatever I want to you!" she declared, her voice dripping with playful menace, every word emphasizing her victory.
Kai's throat went dry, and he swallowed hard, feeling the panic rise in his chest. His eyes darted around, searching desperately for a way out.
"Look… I can move after all…" he said quickly, his voice trembling with faux relief. With a sudden burst of energy, he rolled off the bed, landing on his feet with exaggerated agility, and shot his sister a cheeky, victorious grin. "See? Totally fine!"
"Then kiss me!" Mei shouted, stretching her arms toward him like a child reaching for her stuffed toy. Her eyes shone with mischief and anticipation, and her body practically vibrated with impatient excitement.
Kai let out a long, resigned sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as if preparing himself for a heroic — if slightly humiliating — task.
He stepped closer, careful to match her playful energy, and wrapped his arms around her in a gentle hug. With a careful, deliberate motion, he planted a short but sweet kiss on her cheek, the corners of his lips twitching with the effort of keeping a straight face.
Mei's face immediately flared crimson, and she lowered her gaze, her hands still brushing against his arms as if to steady herself. "Thanks…" she whispered softly, releasing him from the embrace.
"Thank you!" Yuki said once again. Her eyes flickered between Kai and Mei.
"You've already thanked us a few times…" Kai remarked.
"I know, it's just… I'm really grateful…" Yuki said, her lips curving into a small, genuine smile that softened the usual intensity in her eyes. For a moment, the room seemed quieter.
"You know…" Kai began, scratching the back of his neck, his brow furrowed. "I'm not sure whether I should address you as male or female…"
Yuki's eyes dropped, and she tugged her skirt lower, her fingers twisting the fabric nervously. A faint blush crept across her cheeks, betraying the embarrassment she felt even as she tried to maintain her composure. "Well… I'm not sure either…" she admitted softly, her voice trembling slightly. After a pause, she looked up, her eyes meeting Kai's, and confessed, "You see… I-I became a girl…"
"We know!" the siblings said in unison, their voices overlapping with almost playful certainty.
Yuki froze, blinking rapidly as the words sank in. "How?" she demanded, her tone sharp with confusion. But then the realization struck her. Her eyes widened, then narrowed into a glare so fierce it could have burned holes straight through Kai.
"Y-you…" her voice trembled with rage as she jabbed a trembling finger at him, every muscle in her body tensing. "You wished for me to become a girl?!" The air around her seemed to vibrate.
Her eyes blazed, glowing like molten gold, her breath quickening as the room itself seemed to shrink under the weight of her wrath. The playful atmosphere from seconds before shattered, replaced by the oppressive tension of a storm about to break loose.
Kai simply nodded, calm and unbothered, as if accepting her accusation without a shred of guilt.
"You demon!" Yuki roared, her voice echoing through the treehouse. In an instant, her legs erupted into violent green flames.
With a feral scream, she lunged at Kai, her legs engulfed in fire and her fist poised to strike him down. The wooden floor beneath her feet cracked under the sheer force of her dash.
But before the fiery blow could land, Mei appeared in a blur of motion. She seized Yuki by the neck, twisting her momentum against her, and slammed her to the floor with a bone-rattling thud.
"You're so predictable when you're angry!" Mei snapped, her voice sharp with confidence. She sat firmly on Yuki's stomach, pinning her down with effortless precision, her legs locking Yuki's arms so tightly she couldn't move.
"You ruined my life!" Yuki screamed from the floor, her voice raw, cracking under the weight of rage and despair. Her eyes, normally so sharp and fiery, now burned with something darker — a mixture of hatred, pain, and helplessness.
"Calm down," Kai said evenly, his tone so composed it almost sounded cold. He lowered himself to one knee beside her, his gaze steady, refusing to be shaken by her outburst.
"I won't calm down!" Yuki roared, her voice shrill with fury. Tears welled in her eyes but refused to fall, her face twisting with anguish as she fought against Mei's grip. "Y-you RUINED MY LIFE!!!" she screamed again.
"How?" Mei asked, her tone still calm, as if Yuki's rage didn't faze her in the slightest.
Just then, the door to Yuki's house creaked open. Mary stepped inside. But the moment her eyes landed on the scene — Yuki pinned to the floor, Mei straddling her, Kai kneeling close — she froze. Her lips parted in shock, ready to say something.
But Kai lifted a hand instantly, his sharp gaze locking onto her. The silent gesture was enough — Don't speak.
Mary's breath caught in her throat. She shut her mouth and slowly pressed her back against the doorframe, eyes wide but obedient. She didn't move, didn't even breathe too loud.
Yuki's arms finally stopped struggling. The fire around her wrists flickered out as exhaustion set in. Her chest rose and fell quickly, but her eyes glistened — not with rage, but with something far more fragile.
"I only wanted to…" Her voice cracked. "I only wanted to… propose to Mary…"
Mary gasped, her hand flying up to cover her mouth. A joyful tear welled in her eye and slipped down her cheek, shining in the dim light. She couldn't stop the trembling in her hands as she whispered, barely audible, "Yuki…"
Yuki trembled, overcome with emotions — most of all, sorrow. Tears poured down her cheeks as her voice cracked. "N-now she'll never say yes!" she sobbed, her body shaking under Mei's hold.
Mary's breath hitched. Slowly, she stepped forward, kneeling beside Yuki. With trembling hands, she cupped Yuki's cheeks. Their eyes locked — Yuki's full of despair, Mary's shimmering with love.
Then, without hesitation, Mary pressed a soft kiss to Yuki's lips.
"I'll say yes!" she exclaimed happily, her voice breaking into laughter through tears.
Yuki stared at her for a few moments, her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened as if she couldn't believe what had just happened.
Then, slowly, a deep blush spread across her face, coloring her cheeks. "R-really?" she asked, her voice trembling, desperately trying to maintain eye contact, though her gaze kept wanting to drop from the intensity of the moment.
Mary didn't answer with words — she simply smiled, her eyes soft, filled with warmth and certainty. That smile alone was enough to make Yuki's chest ache in a way she'd never felt before.
Mei got off Yuki and walked over to her brother, eyes sparkling with mischief. "When are you going to propose to me like that?" she teased, leaning in close.
Kai's face twisted in pure disbelief. Without a word, he smacked her lightly on the head.
"Ouch!" Mei yelped, rubbing the spot with a pout, though the grin on her lips betrayed she was enjoying every second of it.