Chapter 55: Mitsuri

(Here’s some dog food for everyone.)

“Zero～ you can’t do that～”

“I’m not ready yet～”

“No no no～ hehe～”

Kanae brought in a basin of warm water and found Mitsuji lying on the bed like an octopus, hugging the still-unconscious Zero, muttering strange nonsense in her sleep.

She sighed helplessly.

As for why…

Uh…

This goes back a few hours.

Zero was heading to the bathroom for another bath when he opened the door and saw Kanae and Mitsuji scrubbing each other’s bodies.

By sheer misfortune, he witnessed this scene again—his nose gushed a torrent of red fluid, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed straight to the floor.

The last time was Kanae.

The time before that was also Kanae.

This time, it was Kanae and Mitsuji.

So his two girlfriends, wrapped in towels, carried the unconscious Zero upstairs and laid him on the bed.

Then both quickly changed clothes and took turns watching over the unconscious Zero.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yue quietly recorded everything, planning to tell Luo Li once they returned to the Starry Sky.

When it was Mitsuji’s turn to care for Zero, the room’s fragrance made her deeply relaxed.

Combined with the bath, her body finally felt the long-missed release, and she grew drowsy.

She thought, just a little nap, and ended up falling asleep without realizing it.

She pressed Zero’s head against her chest and wrapped her limbs around him like an octopus.

Hence this scene.

“Mitsuji-chan? Mitsuji-chan? Wake up!” Kanae patted Mitsuji’s shoulder.

If this continued, the unconscious Zero might suffocate under Mitsuji’s grip.

Seeing Mitsuji still asleep, Kanae had no choice but to deploy her ultimate tactic.

“Mitsuji-chan, wake up and eat something～ if you don’t get up, it’ll all be gone～”

But Mitsuji remained unmoved.

“Mitsuji-chan, Zero made you lots of delicious snacks—wake up now～”

“Really?! Where?! Where?!”

At the mention of Zero’s snacks, she jolted awake, looking around, then noticed Kanae beside her and sheepishly scratched her head.

“Sorry, I just fell asleep by accident～”

“You, if you keep hugging him like that, Zero will suffocate from your two breasts.”

“Aww～ I’m so sorry, Kanae, I didn’t mean to fall asleep—I’ll be careful next time!”

“Lady Katsuki has prepared dinner—go eat something first, I’ll take care of him.”

“Okay～”

After Mitsuji left the room, Kanae placed the basin on the table, wrung out the towel, folded it, and laid it gently over Zero’s forehead.

She replaced and washed the towel every few minutes.

By the time she finished, over half an hour had passed.

She knelt quietly beside the bed, guarding him.

She looked exactly like a gentle, virtuous wife.

Gazing at Zero’s exquisite sleeping face, she couldn’t resist gently poking his cheek with her finger.

“Come to think of it… Zero probably hasn’t experienced that kind of thing yet, has he? Otherwise why would he always faint at scenes like this?!” Kanae thought.

“If that’s true, then he’s…”

The thought made her cheeks flush involuntarily; she dared not look at Zero anymore.

Even though he was unconscious.

She turned back to the sleeping Zero, leaned down gently, and faced him, feeling his breath.

A bold idea stirred in her heart.

While Zero was still unconscious, she brushed aside a strand of hair behind his ear and softly kissed his lips.

But minutes later, she heard movement from the other side of the bed—looked up, and saw a small head resting atop another pink-haired head.

Two pairs of eyes were grinning like mischievous aunts, watching Kanae’s actions.

“Hehe～ I saw it～ When the master wakes up, I’ll tell him that little Kanae kissed him～”

“Kanae-chan, you’re so unfair～ I haven’t kissed him yet～”

The visitors were Mitsuji and Xiao Yue, just finished eating.

Kanae’s face instantly turned bright red, her ears blazing.

“N-no… it’s not like that… you have to listen… I was just… just…”

Kanae, flustered, tried to explain, but her nerves had scrambled her words.

She tried to stand, lost her balance, and toppled straight onto Zero’s chest.

The impact jolted the unconscious Zero awake.

It nearly killed him on the spot.

Otherwise, his funeral a few days ago would’ve been real.

“Pfft… cough… cough…” Zero woke up to see Kanae lying on his chest.

“Cough… Kanae, that’s a pretty unusual way to wake me up～”

Zero spoke with a teasing tone.

“S-sorry… I didn’t mean to… I…”

“There, there～ I’m not blaming you, just try to be gentler next time.”

“Oh～” Kanae felt embarrassed—she knew she was at fault.

Seeing this, Zero couldn’t help but smile wryly; he held no blame, but glanced toward the bed’s edge and asked curiously: “Mitsuji, Xiao Yue, what are you two doing?”

“Master, just now little Kanae kissed you while you were unconscious—” Xiao Yue hadn’t finished when Kanae grabbed her and clamped a finger over her mouth.

This was too embarrassing—even though they’d kissed before, this time she’d initiated it, and while he was unconscious…

“Unconscious? Wait, why did I pass out?” Zero frowned, vaguely remembering he’d planned to bathe again, opened the bathroom door, and then…

He’d seen Mitsuji and Kanae rubbing each other’s bodies…

“Uh…” He suddenly understood why he’d fainted.

“I’m… sorry, Kanae, Mitsuji—I’m truly sorry, but I didn’t mean to… please don’t be upset…”

“It’s fine, Zero, I don’t mind,” Mitsuji remained her usual cheerful self, utterly unfazed.

“It’s okay, anyway… anyway, we’ll see it eventually…” Kanae whispered the last part so softly, barely audible.

The air was thick with pink, romantic bubbles.

Only Xiao Yue, cradled in Kanae’s palm, glowed like a thousand-watt lightbulb.

Xiao Yue felt she’d arrived at the worst possible moment—she should’ve just stayed downstairs eating and refueling.

Let’s be honest, Katsuki Kamado’s cooking was truly excellent!

Now she was stuck as a lightbulb.

Still, Xiao Yue clearly sensed her master’s change—he was much better than before.

Perhaps the next time she met Sister Luo Li, it would be a fresh start!

Naturally, she felt happy for Zero.

But…

The dog food around her was overwhelming, and her lightbulb glow was too bright…

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Zero woke early.

The situation beside him remained unchanged.

Mitsuji clung to him like an octopus, again giving him two facial massages.

Kanae lay sprawled across his chest, smiling sweetly in sleep.

As for Xiao Yue…

She lay on the other side of his head, hugging his neck as she slept.

“Another day of pain and pleasure…” Zero sighed helplessly, gently freeing himself from Mitsuji and Kanae’s grips, adjusting their sleeping positions, and pulling the blanket over them.

He carefully lifted Xiao Yue off his neck and placed her on Mitsuji’s chest.

He went downstairs to wash up, when Katsuki Kamado stepped out of the kitchen to tell Zero someone was here for him.

He’d been standing in the courtyard for a long time.

“Someone’s here for me?”

“Yes, he came early, saw you were still resting, and waited in the courtyard.”

“I see, thank you, Aunt Katsuki.”

He walked into the courtyard, wondering who had come to see him.

Seeing that familiar figure, who could it be?

Snake Pillar—Yi He Xiaobanei.

“Xiaobanei? Just now Aunt Kuizhi said you wanted to see me—what’s going on?”

Yi He Xiaobanei merely nodded and said, “Come with me.”

Without waiting to see if Zero would follow, he turned and left the courtyard.

Though he didn’t understand what had happened to Yi He Xiaobanei, he still followed to find out.

They arrived at a spacious training ground, where two wooden swords lay nearby.

Yi He Xiaobanei stopped, turned around, and asked, “Mitsuri… is she with you?”

His voice carried sorrow and a trace of grief.

“Yes.” Zero answered honestly.

Yesterday, Yi He Xiaobanei had gone searching for Mitsuri but found no trace of her.

After asking around, he learned that Mitsuri was at Zero’s residence, staying with him.

At first he didn’t believe it, but now that Zero admitted it, he felt uneasy—and more than that, angry!

He turned and picked up the two wooden swords, tossing one to Zero. The meaning was clear.

Duel!

Zero sighed helplessly—he understood why Yi He Xiaobanei was doing this.

Just like Nishikano Jirou had done last time!

But it had come to this; he could only accept it.

Not for any other reason, but to prove that no matter what happened in the future, since Mitsuri had chosen him just like Kanae had, he would love her well, cherish her, and protect her!

And face every challenge.

He raised his sword forward, assumed a battle stance, and prepared to meet Yi He Xiaobanei’s challenge!

And he wanted to test that ability: Transparent World.

Snake Breathing: Second Form—Slender Fang Poison!

Yi He Xiaobanei instantly surged behind Zero, his wooden sword striking like a snake at the nape of his neck.

The angle was cunning, vicious, and the strike ferocious!

Clearly, Yi He Xiaobanei had unleashed his full strength.

Yet in Zero’s eyes, Yi He Xiaobanei’s entire body structure was laid bare—the flow of blood, the movement of bones—all visible.

His movements seemed slowed, and Zero accurately predicted the attack’s trajectory!

Snap!

Zero swung his wooden sword backward, colliding with Yi He Xiaobanei’s.

Immediately, a downward strike followed, executed in one seamless motion.

Snake Breathing: First Form—Winding Cut!

At the moment Zero’s strike descended, Yi He Xiaobanei spun his wooden sword counterclockwise, unleashing a curved slash.

This move seemed within Zero’s prediction—he struck Yi He Xiaobanei’s sword with his own, twisted his wrist, and used the opponent’s force to neutralize the blow!

Then he swung upward, forcing Yi He Xiaobanei back, and with a powerful leg thrust, followed with a sweeping slash.

Snake Breathing: Fifth Form—Winding Long Snake!

As Yi He Xiaobanei was pushed back, he immediately activated another technique, lunging forward rapidly!

His wooden sword moved like a flexible venomous snake, carving a sinuous slash!

Zero instantly shifted his technique, bending his body ninety degrees backward to evade it.

Then he twisted again, supporting himself with one hand and delivering a kick that sent Yi He Xiaobanei’s sword flying.

His other foot struck straight at Yi He Xiaobanei’s chest.

Seeing this, Yi He Xiaobanei crossed his arms before his chest to block—the force was immense, and he was pushed back again!

His pet companion wrapped around his neck—Kabamaru—rose up and bit the wooden sword the instant Yi He Xiaobanei was thrown back.

The coordination between man and snake was seamless.

Snake Breathing: Third Form—Nest Constriction!

As he was thrown back, Yi He Xiaobanei caught the sword in Kabamaru’s jaws and lunged forward again, tracing a serpentine curved slash around Zero!

Multiple slashing trajectories coiled like a giant python, as if ready to crush Zero at its center.

Unfortunately, to Zero’s eyes, it all unfolded at several times slower speed.

He struck back just as swiftly, meeting each blow head-on!

His wooden sword struck each slashing trajectory with perfect precision!

Neutralizing Yi He Xiaobanei’s attacks, he flashed forward and appeared before him, striking Yi He Xiaobanei’s wrist with blinding speed.

Then, just as he had done against Nishikano Jirou, he used the tip of his wooden sword to deliver three heavy strikes to Yi He Xiaobanei’s shoulder blades, elbows, and knees.

Half of Yi He Xiaobanei’s body went numb, paralyzed.

Even with half his body paralyzed, Yi He Xiaobanei still tried to raise his wooden sword to counterattack.

But Zero’s figure had vanished before him—he had appeared behind Yi He Xiaobanei without warning.

His wooden sword rested against Yi He Xiaobanei’s neck, as if declaring this sparring match over—he had lost.

“You lost.”

Though unwilling, Yi He Xiaobanei clearly felt just how strong Zero was—even stronger than when he first met him!

And every one of his attacks had been predicted—yet Zero had never revealed it, choosing instead to keep fighting him.

During the fight, Yi He Xiaobanei realized one more thing: Zero had held back.

Even with him holding back, Yi He Xiaobanei still lost.

Zero walked up to Yi He Xiaobanei and extended his hand.

Yi He Xiaobanei did not refuse—he reached out, grasped it, and stood up.

His paralyzed limbs had already recovered.

“Take good care of Mitsuri. Don’t think being with her gives you license to act recklessly! If I see her cry, I’ll kill you.”

Even now, Yi He Xiaobanei couldn’t resist a venomous warning.

“I don’t need you to tell me—I’ll love and protect her with my life, even if it costs me everything.”

“Hmph! Get lost, trash! Don’t act like you’re on familiar terms with me!”

Yet Zero remained unmoved.

“What? You’re still here? Get out now!”

“Xiaobanei, I want to ask you—why do you think you’re a sinner?”

“…”