Growing guilt

It pained Kiryu seeing her cry this way. 'Damn, this is karma. I shouldn't have stuck my nose into this and asked so many questions.'

So what if Kotori was only pretending to be strong? That was her decision. Now that she has broken down like this, she will most likely avoid him.

Kiryu crouched down and pulled her into his arms. "I'm sorry, please don't cry anymore."

"You're contradicting yourself."

"I know, right? I hate it."

"Kiryu-kun, I'm sorry- I won't get in your way. I strengthened my resolve even more after you decided to take me with you."

Now she is just rambling. "If it was any other girl, I would just coldly push them away. But because it's you, I want to think about it."

He only sees her as a friend; he's never entertained any thoughts of them dating. However, he does feel comfortable when she is by his side. It is something small, but perhaps it could turn into something if he gave her a chance. Perhaps it could turn into something?

Nobuhiko is right; he needs to get over Lila. What is he going to do when the world returns to normal? He can put off getting married for how long? He needs to live his life.

But it's hard for him to consider other girls. He doesn't know how to.

"You don't have to!" Kotori exclaimed. "I know how much you love Lila-chan. If you force yourself, it will only cause you more pain."

But he can't just let her cry every night.

"Your very kind Kiryu-kun, but I will be okay. Nobu was just exagerating."

Kiryu exhaled deeply when he heard her words.

'Like hell. Nobu was very serious when he said that stuff earlier.' Before Kiryu could say this, however, he noticed Kotori tilt sideways.

"Hey, what's--"

In the next second, the girl coughed out blood and collapsed. Kiryu reacted quickly and caught her before she fell.

His eyes widened once he saw how pale she was.

"Nobu! Get in here quickly!" Kiryu yelled.

He knew Nobuhiko would still be loitering around nearby. Sure enough, no sooner did he call did Nobuhiko re-emerge through the door.

Nobuhiko rushed over and bent down. He frowned. "I already told her not to push herself too much."

"What's wrong with Kotori?" Kiryu asked worriedly. "No, tell me what you have been hiding."

'I felt like I had no right to ask since I was the one who caused her injuries.'

But if she is going to end up like this. Then he might as well know.

"She is losing her vision in her right eye. No, frankly speaking, her body organs are breaking down. Right now, her organs are only half functioning. Surprisingly, she can still walk."

"I-it's because of me?"

"Her losing her vision is because of you, yes. But the other part is due to receiving a direct hit from one of the infected. The impacts of attacks from the infected differ per person. However, Kotori-chan took a direct hit, so it's more severe."

A direct hit from the infected, but wasn't that because she was protecting him? He had lost his mind and was in a defenselessdefenseless state back then.

"Anaemia, vomiting, hemoptysis." Nobuhiko listed.

'How could I not have noticed.'No matter how focused he is on Lila, he can't neglect his surroundings.

"How long does she have left?"

"If her organs continue to break down like this roughly half a year, or it could be less."

'Even worse than Haruka's situation.' It's a good thing he didn't leave her behind in New York. A part of him wanted to once he realized how bad the situation was. But he couldn't stand the idea of leaving her all alone. What if something happens to her? It's better to go together with everyone else.

Kiryu scooped her up in his arms. "I'll find a spare room for her." He mumbled. "You--"

"I'll get hee medicine."

Kiryu nodded and exited the room with Kotori.

Warning bells were going on in his head long before the world fell apart.

Rosalia is crazy. Rosalia will do anything to women close to him. She will warm any woman who becomes dear to him.

He already saw how she reacted that time Kotori came over to his place.

He knew, and yet he didn't stop meeting with Kotori.

Despite his state during the incident, he recalled it clearly; those infected had Rosalia's scent on them. From the start, she was aiming for Kotori; she knew Kotori would shield him.

That dammed woman, what on earth does she want?

'I only want you, Kiryu-kun, return to my side.'

Does she want him? Fine, she can have him. But even if she did, she would never have his heart. 'Last time I told her that, she flew into a rage.'

He shouldn't have bothered with her at all.

Kiryu quickly arrived in front of Kotori's room. Thankfully it was unaffected by Rosalia's sudden attack.

He placed her down on the bed, and she shifted uncomfortably. Kiryu extended his hand out, and the moment the girl caught hold of it, her expression relaxed.

'She really does like me.' He thought he already knew that, but he finally understood what Nobuhiko said. Kotori could have easily used her condition to make him feel guilty about entering a relationship with her. But she didn't; she kept this information from him.

That alone makes her different from those other women.

He doesn't have much experience with females who aren't Lila liking him other than Rosalia. There were plenty of people who confessed to him before. But how many of those people were sincere?

Only Rosalia, so other than her, there have been no others.

This is frustrating; what is he supposed to do in a situation like this? His gaze fell towards the girl fast asleep on the bed. Ever since he lost control of his powers and hurt her, he has felt guilty towards her, so he treats her kinder than he does others.

But those feelings are not love. No matter how much they get along with each other, for him, the only person he can love is Lila.

But he owes Kotori so much; what does he do?