[Multiverse] Reincarnated Into A Mixed Anime World!

Kosuke Kurosaki spent the majority of the night in deep focus, honing his newly acquired skills. His satisfaction with the progress he made was clear as he finally took a breath and relaxed.

Beside him, Ogiwara Sayu had fallen asleep from exhaustion, her small, delicate form curled up like a kitten in his arms. The soft rise and fall of her chest marked the peacefulness of her slumber.

But as the night deepened, the serenity was disturbed. Sayu began to stir, trapped in a nightmare. She murmured apologies under her breath, tears trailing down her cheeks.

Kosuke watched her, a slight frown knitting his brows. The girl's past was haunting her. It wasn't hard to imagine why. She was constantly pushed aside, bullied, and abandoned. One of her only friends, someone who also struggled with isolation, had taken her own life, blaming Sayu for it in the process. In the depths of her guilt, she couldn't shake the weight of that tragic day.

She had even been betrayed by her own mother, who'd accused her of causing her friend's death. It was a cruel weight to carry, one that pushed Sayu into fleeing her past.

Kosuke let out a soft sigh and gently stroked her head, his touch soothing. "It's okay, Sayu. Everything will be fine."

His words seemed to reach her. The tense muscles in her face relaxed, and a peaceful expression settled over her features. She drifted into a deeper, sweeter sleep.

Kosuke too closed his eyes, the mental and physical exertion of the day leaving him comfortably weary. But he knew that for Sayu to heal, it would be a long, gradual process. There was a barrier in her heart, one that could only be broken when she felt ready to face the truth. But for now, all he could do was wait, offering her comfort as best he could.

He was aware that there was something inherently cruel about the way her past had unfolded. People were quick to shift blame, and Sayu had borne the brunt of it. Still, Kosuke knew that it was not her fault, that the tragic event was something outside of her control. Life might be painful, but as long as you were alive, there was always the possibility of finding happiness again.

[Congratulations to the player for completing the task: Comforting the mentally disturbed girl. Skill reward obtained: Damage Rebound!]

Kosuke blinked, hearing the system's prompt as his eyes lit up with excitement. "Now, this is a nice reward," he murmured to himself.

The skill, Damage Rebound, was exactly what he needed. It would reflect twice the damage back onto whoever caused him harm. While he wasn't a martial arts expert, this skill would certainly be a game-changer in a fight.

Kosuke's mind wandered briefly to the limits of the skill—only living beings could trigger it, meaning it wouldn't work against objects or buildings. But for anything with a pulse? He'd be able to return the pain twice over.

It seemed like every task, no matter how small, rewarded him with something that would improve his life.

He was not yet sure what the "perfect" life looked like, but he had a pretty good idea. It was living a fulfilling, action-packed life while surrounded by cute heroines. Sure, saving others mattered, but it was just as important to experience redemption and joy for himself as well.

Kosuke fell asleep quickly, feeling satisfied. His night's work hadn't left him drained; rather, he felt refreshed both mentally and physically.

By morning, when Sayu woke, the bed beside her was empty. She immediately clutched the blankets around herself, a hint of warmth lingering in the fabric. The scent of Kosuke was still there, and it gave her an odd sense of comfort. She breathed in deeply, closing her eyes for a moment as she tried to push away the feelings stirring in her chest.

The night she spent in his arms had been the best sleep she'd had in ages. She had finally felt safe, something she hadn't experienced in a long time. Her own family had only brought her doubt and judgment, but with Kosuke, there was nothing but warmth and care.

She found herself unwilling to leave. How could she? This rare tenderness felt like something worth holding onto.

The thought made her blush as she wrapped herself tighter in his blanket, almost as if she could keep his presence with her a little longer. Her body felt warm, as though she were still in his embrace.

But then she froze. Wasn't it a bit strange to be sniffing his blanket like this? What if he thought she was some kind of weirdo?

She flushed at the thought, and in that moment, the door opened, revealing Kosuke, two bowls of steaming noodles in his hands.

"Ahem..." he cleared his throat.

Sayu's face went bright red. She had been caught in the act. "Ahhh! I'm so sorry!" she stammered, her face hidden behind her hands as she scrambled to sit up, looking utterly mortified.

Kosuke's amused smile softened as he stepped into the room. "Don't apologize. I'm not mad at you." He set the noodles on the table. "But if you don't get up soon, the noodles will stick together."

Sayu kept her eyes on the floor, utterly embarrassed, but she obediently got dressed and joined him at the table. They ate together, the meal light but comforting.

Afterward, as she was washing the dishes, she hurried to him, bowing deeply.

"I'm so sorry, Kosuke. I said I would do the housework, but you made dinner. Thank you."

Kosuke smiled and gently patted her head. "It's fine. You've got your chores. But last night wasn't normal, so if you're feeling lazy today, it's okay. Life is supposed to be as easy and happy as possible."

Sayu smiled shyly, her face softening with gratitude. Without thinking, she leaned in and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Thank you, Kosuke."

Kosuke chuckled, clearly enjoying the affection. "Be good and just focus on living here at Sakurasou."

"Yes," Sayu replied with a soft, contented hum as she rubbed her cheek against his arm, basking in the warmth of the moment.

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