From a distance, Enju looked at Nion, who was being held warmly in Tatsuki's arms, her face blossoming into a radiant, happy smile. Almost against her own will, Enju took a step as if to follow.
"Enju…" Rentaro finally came to his senses and called after her. "Can't you give me one more chance?"
Enju, who had already lifted her foot, did not turn around. In a low voice she said, "Thank you for taking care of me all this time."
Then she walked away, leaving Rentaro collapsed on the ground, staring blankly at Enju's departing back, bitterness and sorrow written across his face.
…
"Someone's been tailing us the whole way," Exusiai remarked casually, glancing behind.
"She's Enju," Kisara explained. "A Cursed Child—and Rentaro's Initiator."
Shinobu was curious, "So she's split with that Rentaro kid?"
Exusiai snorted, "That guy? Claims he wants to protect Cursed Children yet just watched Nion being beaten and didn't even throw a punch—total coward." (T/N: Rainbow is Nion now).
Nion, recalling the terror she'd just suffered, shrank closer against Tatsuki's chest; only his warmth made her feel safe.
Reinhard said quietly, "The boy's gentle, but his eyes were full of confusion—and a lazy heart. Not the sort to shout about saving the world. Protecting a small family might suit him better."
Enju suddenly gathered her courage and called out: "Um…"
Everyone stopped.
"Do you really think Cursed Children are just ordinary kids?"
Tatsuki smiled, without the slightest hesitation. "Of course. Cursed Children are purer than more than ninety percent of the humans in this world."
"Oniichan…" Nion's heart leapt with joy. To her, Tatsuki seemed to glow with holy light. Maybe this really isn't a dream…
"Thank you!" Enju gave a relieved smile. She could finally let go. But where could she go now? Having abandoned her Promoter, she'd probably be hunted down.
"If you don't mind," Tatsuki said, "you could be my little sister as well."
Enju stared at him as if he were speaking Martian.
"Will you?" he asked again.
"I… I really can? I just deserted my Promoter—I'm a traitor…" She clenched the hem of her skirt. What she wanted was a bond with no invisible barrier as a Cursed Child. Tatsuki's attitude toward the red‑eyed girls was genuine and equal—something she'd never felt before.
Tatsuki chuckled and beckoned. "Look, flying!"
With a yelp, Enju floated into his arms; he caught her with one hand. Nion watched with round eyes.
"Uuu!" Enju blushed scarlet. "I‑I'm Enju… Aihara"
"I'm Tatsuki."
"Tatsuki‑oniichan!" she squeaked, burying her face in his chest.
"I want a hug too!" Nion wriggled in from the other side.
Shinobu laughed softly. "Children really like you, Tatsuki‑kun."
Reinhard nodded. "Because he truly likes them."
Kisara sighed. "There are countless Cursed Children—almost everywhere."
Exusiai asked stunned. "This many girls like Nion?!"
Kisara nodded grimly. "Most are homeless like her. Only those with outstanding genes become Initiators like Enju."
Shinobu murmured, "All like this… poor kids."
Reinhard's face was solemn. "A world this distorted…"
Tatsuki said calmly, "It won't be long before they can all live freely."
…
He bought Nion a bright red dress and new shoes; the girl had clearly been starving, so Kisara—poor as dirt—had to foot the bill for a hearty meal.
Crossing a pedestrian bridge, they heard a soft, clear singing voice.
"Someone's singing—sounds nice," Exusiai perked up her ears.
"That way," Tatsuki said, and turned a corner—then stopped.
Nion and Enju, holding his hands, instantly looked stricken.
"What's wrong?" the others asked, walking closer—only to see a heartbreaking scene.
A white‑haired slip of a girl so thin she looked ready to topple was singing with all her might. A cracked, dusty bowl lay before her. She held up a wooden sign, the words scrawled crookedly:
"I'm a Cursed Child from the Outskirts. Need money to buy food for my little sister. Please spare some."
Her clothes were rags held together by a grimy shawl; a strip of cloth covered her eyes. Her voice was pure and pleasant, but not a single passer‑by paused. People merely frowned in disgust and hurried away—because the sign clearly said she was a Cursed Child.
Nion's fingers clenched Tatsuki's sleeve. Food… She had picked up a piece of bread only because hunger was unbearable—and fell into the enforcers' trap.
Enju stepped forward, frowning. "Can't you see?"
The girl stopped singing and smiled, nodding. "Yes."
Kisara, puzzled, said, "Cursed Children heal quickly—they don't get sick. How can she be blind?"
"Ah…" The girl lifted her hand and untied the cloth.
"—!"
Shinobu covered her mouth. Inside the sockets were no eyes at all—only lumps of uneven, silvery metal.
"Lead," Exusiai said gravely.
The girl answered lightly, "Yes, they're filled with lead."
They understood: the sockets had been flooded with molten lead to stop the eyes from regenerating.
Enju trembled with fury. "Who did this to you?"
The girl shook her head gently. "No one else did. I did it myself."
"W‑Why?!" Enju blurted.
"Because my mother, who abandoned my sister and me, hated my red eyes."
Silence dropped.
She re‑tied the cloth and reached out, fingertips brushing Enju's face. "You're a Cursed Child too, aren't you?"
Enju answered blankly. "How did you know? And why are you always smiling? Don't you feel pain?"
The girl withdrew her hand. "If I don't rely on others, I can't survive. So except for smiling, I don't know what face to make."
Unable to work, unwilling to steal, with a sister to feed—begging was her only way.
Clink!
A crisp sound: something landed in the bowl. The girl beamed, lifting her head. "Thank you!" She could buy food now.
The two men who'd tossed the donation slung arms over each other's shoulders, sneering.
"Haha! Look how grateful she is."
"A monster begging? Should just die."
The air instantly froze. Everyone saw the aluminum can‑tab in the bowl—and anger flared.
Reinhard's hand touched his sword; even he couldn't bear it.
The blind girl sensed the truth but said nothing, preparing to sing again.
Just then—
"Somebody's dead!" a scream came. The two men lay in the distance, bodies crushed flat like meat patties, unrecognizable.
Kisara's pupils contracted—what had happened? Shinobu and the others knew exactly, and remained calm: scum had simply died.
Tatsuki now spoke for the first time. "What's your name?"
The girl was puzzled—no one had ever asked before. "I… I'm Aya."
Tatsuki glanced at Nion. "Aya… Nion… must be fate." He touched her eye‑cloth. The lead crumbled to powder; a streak of golden primordial energy flowed into the empty sockets. Aya felt a strange itch—and suddenly color flooded back. She could see—and the first thing she saw was an impossibly gentle face.
"My eyes… I can see again?"
Kisara gasped. She had seen golden light pour from Tatsuki's fingertip and restore Aya's eyes.
Aya looked at each of them; none held disgust or contempt. Especially the oniichan before her—and beside him, two red‑eyed girls like herself.
"Oniichan… why would you help me?"
Tatsuki tried to pat her head; she dodged, flustered. "My hair's filthy—I'll dirty your hand!"
Such a thoughtful child… He ignored her protest and scooped her up.
"U‑uh! Oniichan, you…" Aya panicked.
"I'm Tatsuki," he said softly. "Take your sister and come with me. This place isn't right for you."
"Eh?" Aya faltered, not grasping his meaning.
Nion grinned adorably. "Tatsuki‑oniichan is super kind! Enju and I are his sisters—Aya, be our sister too!"
Aya looked at Enju, whose face flushed red, but she nodded earnestly.
...
Guys, you asked for a bigger harem and faster heat—here my new book: Awesome! Kill the Pervert, Steal the Dragon, Claim the Girls!New girls every arc, real chemistry, and steady growth across new worlds.Expect more frequent R-18 chapters and cliffhangers that hit hard.