Reincarnated as Itsuka Shido: Collecting Spirits as Lovers

"Before we leave, there's something we must do first." Shido said, lowering himself onto one knee so he could meet Yoshino's height.

"Something we must do first?" Yoshino tilted her head, confusion evident in her innocent blue eyes.

She wasn't sure what Shido meant, but she trusted him. No matter what, she knew he wouldn't do anything to harm her.

"I'm curious too, Shido-kun~" Yoshinon chimed in, bouncing slightly in Yoshino's hand. "Are you about to do something bold? Are you perhaps going to propose to Yoshino for real this time?"

"Y-Yoshinon!" Yoshino, who had just calmed down, turned red again, flustered by Yoshinon's words. She quickly looked away, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Shido let out a small sigh, shaking his head before turning his attention back to Yoshino. His expression was warm yet serious.

"Yoshino… I want to seal your power." he said gently.

Yoshino blinked, her expression shifting from confusion to mild surprise. "Seal... my power?"

Shido nodded. "Yes. If I do, you won't have to worry about accidentally hurting anyone, and you won't be hunted by AST. You'll be able to live peacefully."

Yoshino lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening around Yoshinon. She understood Shido's intentions, he wanted her to be free from the struggle that she had been enduring.

However, a different kind of worry settled in her heart. If her Reiryoku was sealed… then would Yoshinon disappear?

Yoshino's grip on the rabbit puppet tightened, her fingers trembling slightly. Yoshinon had always been with her, comforting her, speaking for her when she was too afraid, giving her the courage she lacked. The thought of losing Yoshinon, of being alone without that presence, made her chest tighten.

"But… if my power is sealed… will Yoshinon…" Her voice trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Noticing her hesitation, Shido reached out and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Yoshino," he said with a gentle smile. "Even if your Reiryoku is sealed, you won't lose Yoshinon. She's your hero after all, right?"

Yoshino lifted her gaze, her blue eyes searching his for confirmation.

Shido nodded. "You'll still be able to maintain Yoshinon, even without your spirit power. She's not just a manifestation of your Reiryoku, she's someone precious to you. As long as you want her to be with you, she will be."

Yoshino's breath hitched, and after a moment of silence, she let out a relieved sigh. The tension in her shoulders eased, and she looked down at Yoshinon.

"You hear that, Yoshinon?" Yoshino whispered softly.

"Obviously! As if we'd ever be separated~" Yoshinon replied with a playful huff. "You're stuck with me forever, Yoshino!"

A gentle smile formed on Yoshino's lips as she held Yoshinon close. Even if her powers were sealed, the bond they shared would never fade.

Then she turned back to Shido, the fear of losing Yoshinon had made her hesitant, but now, with Shido's reassurance, she felt ready.

"Thank you, Shido-san…" she said softly. "Then… I'll do it."

"But… how do you seal it?" she asked softly.

Shido hesitated for a moment before answering. "It requires… a kiss."

The moment those words left his mouth, Yoshino's face turned completely red.

"A-A k-kiss?!" she stammered, her hands instinctively pulling her raincoat up to hide her flustered expression.

Meanwhile, Yoshinon wasted no time bursting into laughter. "Oh my! Shido-kun, so direct! I didn't think you had it in you~"

"It's not like that, okay" Shido quickly defended, feeling helpless by Yoshinon's remark. "It's just how the power-sealing process works."

Yoshino peeked at him from behind her sleeve, her heart racing. A kiss…? With Shido-san…?

She knew what a kiss was.

Once, Yoshino and Yoshinon had been watching a drama series on a store's TV from outside. A scene played where the protagonist and the female lead shared a kiss. Instinctively, Yoshino had covered her eyes with her tiny hands, yet curiosity got the better of her, and she peeked through the gaps between her fingers.

For some reason, she couldn't look away. The strange yet heart-pounding action had captivated her.

 Yoshinon laughed at Yoshino's cute reaction, it was just then that Yoshinon explained to her what their action was called and why they do this kind of intimate action.

That was the first time Yoshino had learned about kissing.

She gripped the fabric of her coat tightly, taking a deep breath. If this was something that would help her, if this was something that would allow her to stay by Shido's side, then…

Slowly, she lowered her raincoat and nodded, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I… I trust Shido-san."

Yoshino felt like her face was burning. She was so embarrassed that she wanted to disappear and find the nearest hiding spot where no one could see how red she had become.

Shido's breath caught for a moment as he watched Yoshino's bashful expression. She looked so adorable that anyone would subconsciously want to protect her. But he quickly shook off the thought, regaining his composure.

With a reassuring smile, he gently cupped Yoshino's cheek, but his action startled her, causing her to let out a soft, involuntary squeak. The sound only deepened her embarrassment, and for a moment, she wanted to run away and hide. But she was already within Shido's grasp, there was no escaping it.

Shido's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes were steady and filled with warmth. He traced her quivering gaze before shifting to her slightly parted, glossy lips. Her face was like a fine and delicate porcelain and looked even more enchanting under the dim glow of the surroundings.

Gently, he caressed her blushing cheeks, his touch both soothing and warm. Then, with a quiet resolve, he slowly leaned in.

Seeing this, Yoshino knew what would happen next. She was both bashful and expectant, recalling how the girl on TV had looked so happy when she kissed the protagonist. Now that it was her turn, she couldn't help but feel both shy and eager, especially because it was Shido who would kiss her.

Subconsciously she slowly closed her eyes and waited.

As their lips were about to meet, a sudden loud explosion rang out, shaking the entire building.

*BOOM!*