Another Risk for Evolution

"Listen, the main reason why it's hard for you to get stronger is not that your bodies are already strong from the start, but because the compatibility between your own souls and bodies is only crudely synced. Even with the best of my research, this is the final result." explained Kisuke before giving them the documents that listed his findings when he regularly checked their condition.

Akeno, Irina, and Yoruichi went through it and although the former two couldn't understand most of it, the conclusion at the bottom of each finding helped them understand it.

"As you might have already noticed long ago, while you two did get stronger thanks to your new bodies, their durability and strength were far from the origin of the flesh, Great Red and their energy retention and capacity were far from Ophis who granted her own permanent power to further strengthen them. And not just far but very, very far. You could actually only use less than 1% of what they are supposed to grant."

Irina and Akeno were silent and looked down, nevertheless, Kisuke wasn't done yet, "This is the reason why those who could use another body couldn't get any stronger even if they acquired the strongest one out there. The real way is to further evolve your own body and your own soul would happily follow it."

From this, Akeno finally understood why they had to talk in private, "So we're in a different situation than everyone else? We aren't just stuck on the 'first boss' but we 'played' wrongly that our characters are essentially useless?" Just after saying that, Akeno couldn't help but smile wryly in frustration and helplessness and it was the same as Irina.

Kisuke's answer was silence, but that's already telling everything. Silence covered the room for a minute more before Kisuke suddenly asked, "Aren't you going to blame me? After all, I'm the one who half-forcefully put you in this situation, and even though I gave you an option before, I failed to warn you about all of these."

After he said that, Akeno and Irina immediately looked up to him with a scowl, "Please don't look down on us." Akeno softly replied, but with a grave tone, "We haven't forgotten that all of this started because you saved our lives and we attempted to return the favor. But far from returning said favor, we forced you to bring us with you and only became luggage that slowed you down."

"Not to mention, all of that was our own decision. You might have started it, but we willingly walked into it." Irina added, "So please don't ever think that this is your fault, as we've never thought of it that way ever. You're looking down on us if you do so."

Kisuke already knew how they thought about the whole situation from the start, but it would be honestly easier for him if they were to blame him. Sighing, he ended up asking, "Really... Just what's pushing you to go this far?..." It was already too late that it was a mistake to ask that.

"Are you asking that because you're expecting an answer? Or...", replied Irina while narrowing her eyes.

Akeno covered her mouth with her hand and smirked, "Fufufu, you don't strike me as a dense one, but I can give you an answer now if you want to be sure of it."

Kisuke immediately waved his hand in dismissal, "Save it... But I'm not going to deny it.", he then looked straight at them and said with a serious expression while pointing to the girl beside him, "However, if you're trying to be useful to be accepted, please stop it. The moment I accepted you for such a shallow reason, the first one who'd murder me is Yoruichi."

With a smile that didn't reach her eyes, Yoruichi replied, "Of course~ I'd be the first one to straighten him up if he thinks both of you are convenient women."

Irina and Akeno's mouths could only twitch as they knew that they weren't joking.

Inwardly, however, although they felt relief and respect at Kisuke's stance, they were also feeling lost as all this time, ironically, they were betting on being useful. Being shut down on the only path that they could see, they didn't know what to do next.

Yoruichi knew what they were thinking and raised her voice, "Listen up! Affection isn't that cheap. You might hate to hear it from someone in my position, but there's really nothing you can do to earn it."

As she had said, Irina and Akeno didn't really want to hear it from her, nevertheless, Yoruichi still continued, "I know you're feeling at a loss but just let go of your obsession and just act naturally without thinking everything is for him. Be it accidental, coincidental, or whatever, affection should come naturally and it would if it's meant to be."

Irina and Akeno understood what Yoruichi was saying, but were still confused about what they should do.

Raising her finger and waving it in front of them, Yoruichi added to clear up their minds, "However, that doesn't mean you can't grind for affection. As long as you're thinking about yourselves too when you make an effort, then that'll be fine. Forgetting to put importance to yourselves would be the worst thing you could do."

Kisuke witnessed the light returning to Irina and Akeno's eyes and thought, 'Bringin in Yoruichi was really a wonderful decision. Thanks to her, she was able to address and point out their skewed perspective.'

However, Kisuke didn't like Yoruichi's next words, "And there's really nothing you should be worried about. The moment he got together with Sona and Kuroka, he became a lot easier compared to his past self."

"...I don't think that's true...", despite denying it, the tone of his voice doesn't have its usual power as he himself wasn't very confident. Seeing that it'll only be awkward for himself if this went on, Kisuke immediately changed the subject, "Ehem... Anyway, although both of your situations aren't very good, that doesn't mean your past efforts didn't mean anything. In fact, thanks to that, an option has opened up for the both of you, albeit, it won't be easy."

Kisuke was successful at diverting their attention as Irina and Akeno's eyes shone with the former immediately asking, "There's something we could do!? Please tell us!"

Satisfied with how it turned out, Kisuke answered with a small smile, "There are actually two options for you. An easy one and a hard one."

Little did he know that Irina and Akeno were actually more excited with what Yoruichi said and just choose to not say anything about it, 'He can tell what his opponents were thinking most of the time, but too bad for him they aren't his enemies, but are young girls aiming for his attention. I can tell that he's misunderstanding their reaction again.', Yoruichi thought while having a mysterious smirk plastered on her face as she watched the three of them.

"The hard one please~", answered Akeno with her usual sultry voice that came back to life.

"I would really appreciate it if you were to listen to me first... But if you're thinking that there's more to gain the hard way, then you're correct."