-136- Please take responsibility

Afterward, not only Karyusai but also the other residents of the mansion came to see Rozen.

"Please rest well and recover soon."

Irori, just like before, attended to Rozen's daily needs. She changed his bandages, swapped his bedding, brought him food and necessities, performing each task with impeccable precision. However, for some reason, Rozen felt that Irori had become much gentler than before, and she often gave him advice like this.

Komurasaki, on the other hand, wasn't as cheerful as usual. She showed concern for Rozen's condition, her little face filled with worry. She alternated between showing care and concern, and she brought various books to help pass the time. She was no longer the hyperactive girl from the past, and her eyes sometimes held a gentle gaze towards Rozen.

"I heard from Yaya that you helped heal her. Thank you, Nuragami."

Komurasaki had said this to Rozen, leaving him puzzled.

"Heard from Yaya? Did she say something?"

What exactly was said?

"Does this refer to helping Yaya recover from her injuries?"

But it was Rozen who had caused her these serious injuries.

If it weren't for Rozen, Yaya wouldn't have traveled all the way to the Akabane residence and lent her power to Rozen. It was because of Rozen that she could confront Akabane Tenzen, and in the end, due to Tenzen's superior skills, she ended up getting severely hurt.

So, Rozen was just doing what he should have, taking responsibility for the injuries Yaya sustained due to helping him. There was no reason for this to become a form of gratitude.

Rozen had told this to Irori and Komurasaki, but the two just shook their heads and didn't say anything. They continued to treat Rozen with the same gentleness.

This actually made Rozen a bit uncomfortable.

However, that wasn't the main issue.

What truly made Rozen uncomfortable was undoubtedly Yaya.

"... What is going on?"

Sitting on the bedding, Rozen muttered these words, dazedly.

"Thank goodness... Thank goodness..."

Yaya was half-kneeling next to Rozen, tightly hugging him, her face filled with emotions of extreme joy.

Feeling the warmth of Yaya, which was completely unlike that of a doll, her soft and delicate body pressed against him, and being enveloped by the faint fragrance that would occasionally reach his nose, Rozen couldn't help but lose his composure.

"Um... Yaya..." Rozen said somewhat awkwardly, "Can you please let go of me first?"

In response to Rozen's request, Yaya gave just one answer.

"No!" Not only did Yaya not loosen her grip, but she also held onto him even tighter. She spoke in a righteous tone, "Shouko said that while Nuragami's condition has improved a lot, he still needs careful care. As Nuragami's doll, of course, I have to take on this responsibility and take good care of Nuragami!"

At first glance, this seemed to make sense, but the issues behind it were countless, causing Rozen to quickly stop her.

"Wait a minute!" Rozen said with a headache, "Leaving aside the question of why are you being this close, let's talk about you. When did you become my doll?"

Indeed, in the battle with Akabane Tenzen, Yaya did claim that she wanted to become Rozen's doll.

"But wasn't that just a 'one-time thing'?"

Rozen brought up this point.

Unfortunately...

"...Did Yaya ever say 'one-time thing'?"

After blinking her eyes for a while, Yaya actually said these words.

That was clearly acting like she didn't understand when she actually did, right?

And, she was being unreasonably stubborn about it.

"Anyway, Yaya already said she wants to become Nuragami's doll. Since Yaya said it, Yaya absolutely can't go back on it. So, let Yaya take good care of Nuragami~~~(kyunn)"

Yaya concluded her words with a sugary tone that seemed to carry an emoji-like heart, clinging to Rozen with a determination that made it seem like she wanted to meld into him.

"...Alright, I'm bewildered."

Rozen could only feel that his head was spinning.

Recalling Yaya's attitude towards him before and now, the drastic difference between the two, how could Rozen not be bewildered?

Rozen even worried if something happened to Yaya during their previous battle that caused her emotional system to malfunction, leading to her current behavior.

If that were the case...

"Then I would be at fault."

Rozen muttered in a somewhat worried tone.

It seemed that Yaya had heard Rozen's murmur.

So, Yaya's pretty face turned red, and she hesitated before speaking.

"Yes, Nuragami stole Yaya's most important thing. It's a sin, so please take responsibility for it."

After saying this, Yaya's eyes became moist as she looked at Rozen.

From those moist eyes, Rozen didn't see touching emotions; instead, he saw a possessiveness that resembled that of a carnivorous animal, as if she wanted to devour him whole.

Rozen shivered and felt a sense of unease different from before, like a kind of danger approaching him.

Rozen even had a feeling.

If he continued with Yaya's topic, he would definitely be devoured completely.

In various senses, devoured completely.

"Right... by the way, Yaya!"

Rozen quickly changed the topic.

"Where is Raishin? What happened to him?"

When they were at the Akabane residence, Akabane Raishin did appear. He suffered severe injuries at the hands of Akabane Tenzen and his life or death was uncertain.

After Rozen was also defeated, he didn't forget his foster brother, apart from thinking about himself and Yaya.

So, while Rozen maintained the "Fire-rat summon", he not only prevented himself and Yaya from being engulfed by the flames but also used it to protect Akabane Raishin.

Now that Yaya had brought Rozen back, how was Akabane Raishin?

This question finally brought Yaya back to a semblance of normalcy.

"That..." Yaya hesitated for a moment, then continued, "Actually..."

...

Time rewinds to when Yaya found Rozen amidst the ruins of the Akabane residence and made a pledge.

"Please hold on, Nuragami. Yaya will take you back to Karyusai."

Yaya carried the unconscious Rozen on her back and activated the "Kongouriki" magic circuit, intending to rush back to the mansion as quickly as possible.

Although Rozen had fallen unconscious, the magical energy Yaya had infused in him still remained, allowing her to travel even faster than before, thanks to the additional energy. She will be able to reach their destination swiftly.

However, just at that moment...

"...What are you planning to do with Nuragami?"

An extremely faint voice came from a corner.

"Who's there!?"

Yaya's alertness immediately surged to its peak. She swiftly turned her head towards the direction from which the sound came.

There, a young boy covered in wounds, his kimono tattered, and a hint of despair in his eyes, struggled to rise from the ground.