The Embrace That Changed Everything

The next morning.

"Guardian…"

Yukima Azuma looked up to see Kurokawa Akane standing there, sunlight catching in her hair like a halo. She smiled radiantly—bright, open, vulnerable in a way she had never shown before.

Just like the day before, Akane ran to him without hesitation.

But this time… something was different.

Yukima Azuma instinctively paused.

The scent.

The sharp, metallic smell of blood—once clinging to her like a phantom—was gone.

Not hidden, not covered by perfume or soap.

Gone. Completely.

His eyes widened slightly. Could it be?

Had the light novel truly reached her heart?

If adolescence syndrome was born from emotional pain, then perhaps this—this radiant girl in front of him—was finally free.

He didn't get to ponder the thought for long.

Kurokawa Akane suddenly leapt forward.

"Eh—?!"

Her slender arms wrapped tightly around his neck, pulling him into a fierce embrace. Her fingers trembled ever so slightly, but her grip was unwavering—desperate, even.

In that moment, it was as if she wanted to melt into his chest, erase every trace of distance between them.

Yukima Azuma could feel her heartbeat pounding fast against his own through the soft layers of her uniform.

His mind blanked out. All logical thoughts scattered.

She was warm.

She was real.

She was here.

After a beat, he gently placed his hand on her back and patted it softly.

Akane had so much to say. So much she wanted to express.

To thank him for reaching into the darkness and dragging her back into the light.

To confess how close she'd come to losing herself completely.

To admit how he had become her anchor, her light, her first love.

But when the moment came… no words came out.

Her throat tightened. Her chest heaved.

And then—

Tears.

Akane broke down into sobs, her body shaking as she buried her face in Yukima's shoulder.

Tears soaked his shirt, each drop a release of fear, gratitude, and the deep longing she'd kept buried.

She cried for the girl she used to be.

She cried for the new life she could finally start.

Yukima said nothing, letting her emotions pour out without judgment.

Eventually, her sobs quieted.

Still sniffling, Akane pulled away, her face flushed and eyes red-rimmed but determined.

From her bag, she took out a thick envelope and shyly handed it to him.

"I… I wrote down my thoughts after reading your book," she murmured. "I couldn't say it all out loud. It's too embarrassing now that you have your feelings back… so I—used this."

Yukima took the envelope solemnly and tucked it away into his coat pocket.

"I'll read it later. Carefully," he promised with a small smile. "But first, let's eat something. You have work later, right, Guardian?"

Akane's eyes flickered nervously. She hesitated, biting her lip, then looked up.

"Do… you want a little love before breakfast?" she whispered.

"…My today…"

Yukima was momentarily stunned.

He wasn't sure what she meant. Maybe she didn't either.

But it didn't matter.

They were both willing to believe in this little lie.

He nodded softly.

Akane blushed furiously, then tugged at his collar, making him lean down. With trembling lips, she pressed a kiss to his.

Short.

Gentle.

Heartfelt.

Her first kiss.

Her real one.

After breakfast.

Yukima escorted Akane to the anime studio where she worked.

"Guardian, goodbye!"

"Azuma, goodbye!"

The two waved with an ease that hadn't existed yesterday.

It was a simple gesture—but one that stunned the staff nearby.

Most of them were used to the doll-like girl with the icy demeanor. Always composed. Always distant.

But today—

"Yeah, let's do our best together!"

Akane greeted the director of voice acting with a smile full of energy and life.

The staff froze mid-step. One of them rubbed his eyes.

What in the anime protagonist hell just happened?

Who is this cheerful girl and where did the emotionless android go?

Did someone get hit by Truck-kun and isekai into her body!?

Elsewhere.

Yukima Azuma, now free from his guardian duties for the moment, headed to Tokyo's Chiyoda district.

He had a meeting.

Yesterday, he'd dropped by the studio to check on the anime movie's progress.

Things were mostly smooth… except for one issue.

The lead illustrator.

A legend in the romantic-comedy world.

A genius behind many iconic visuals.

Known only as—

Eromanga-sensei.

The art itself wasn't the problem. It was the artist's existence that was elusive.

They refused in-person meetings.

Only communicated through Line messages.

Didn't answer calls.

Didn't show up to deadlines.

Didn't explain anything unless nagged.

And yet—because their art was just that good—the production team tolerated it.

But Yukima wanted to fix things.

So he reached out.

And to everyone's shock—Eromanga-sensei agreed to meet.

At their house.

He arrived at a small apartment in Chiyoda.

Two floors. Overgrown weeds at the entrance. Plants dying from neglect.

The nameplate at the gate read "Izumi."

Yukima rang the bell.

No answer.

But his phone buzzed.

"The key is on the grass to the left."

Three minutes of digging through weeds later, he found it.

The key had a string tied to it, leading up to the second-floor window.

Classic.

Inside the house, Yukima entered the chilly entrance area. Only two pairs of slippers. Dust lingered in the air.

His eyes landed on a photo frame on the nearby shelf.

A family photo.

A smiling man. A beautiful silver-haired woman. A tiny silver-haired girl.

A warm, happy three-person family.

The woman and girl were unmistakable.

Izumi Sagiri.

Eromanga-sensei.

But what drew Yukima's gaze wasn't them.

It was the man.

"…Izumi-san?"

Yukima blinked. He knew that man. From his early days in Tokyo.

He ran a bookstore.

Yukima used to visit often—especially when trying to get closer to Kasumigaoka Utaha. One-third of the books in Yukima's home came from there.

And now… it all clicked.

That bookstore owner was Sagiri's father.

"No wonder I haven't seen him around lately…"

His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden loud knock from upstairs.

His phone buzzed again.

"Go to the farthest room on the second floor."

"Don't run around in someone else's house!"

"What are you doing?"

"Don't mess around!"

Yukima sighed.

Such chaotic energy.

Still, it was impressive that she even let him in at all. For a shut-in girl with trust issues, this was a major step.

He followed instructions and walked up to the second floor. At the far end was a door with a pink flower-shaped nameplate.

"Izumi Sagiri."

He stood before it and knocked lightly.

"Eromanga-sensei, I'm here."

No answer.

Another message:

"If there's anything, just say it. I'm listening."

Yukima pressed his palm to his forehead, exasperated.

"Come on, this is ridiculous. Why did I come here if you were just going to text from behind the door?! At least open it! I won't come in, I swear!"

Silence.

Then a message.

"Is this… not okay?"

"…Of course not!" Yukima snapped. "You're the lead artist on this film! You need to take your work seriously!"

"But…"

"No buts! You know how much effort we've all put into this!"

More silence.

Then—the sound of scrambling inside. Clatter. A drawer slammed shut. Something fell.

Finally…

The doorknob turned.

And the door slowly creaked open.