Chapter 92: So-Called Responsibility
Yu had just lain down on the bed when Sasuko rustled over, maintaining a small distance but close enough to feel the faint warmth emanating from her.
She hummed softly with a hint of coquettishness. "Yu clearly said he'd stay with me..."
Yu kept his eyes closed without making a sound, working to calm his emotions while repeatedly reminding himself internally.
'She's only just graduated...'
Seeing no reaction from him, Sasuko huffed lightly with some dissatisfaction.
She quietly moved a bit closer, voice softly speaking again:
"Yu~~"
Yu's breathing paused. The girl's familiar presence was right beside him, carrying complete trust that made his heart tighten.
Yet he still didn't open his eyes, only his voice becoming lower than usual. "Sasuko, it's late. Sleep now."
But she refused to give up, extending a finger to lightly tug his sleeve, tone carrying habitual dependence. "You promised you'd stay with me~"
As she spoke, her hand gently rested on Yu's arm, able to feel his body's tension.
"You seems... a bit nervous?" She tilted her head slightly, tone carrying curiosity and probing. "I've already graduated—I'm an adult now. Sleeping a bit late doesn't matter."
Yu's Adam's apple moved slightly. Her completely trusting approach and words made him feel a sweet burden.
He sighed inwardly—this girl had no idea what kind of test such trust meant for him.
"Sasuko..." His voice carried a barely perceptible hoarseness. "Stop fooling around. Be good and sleep."
But she seemed not to understand the restraint in his voice, instead lightly resting her forehead against his arm and saying quietly, "But I just want to talk with you~"
Yu closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Reason told him he should maintain distance, yet deep in his heart he coveted this unreserved closeness.
Seeing he still didn't respond, Sasuko said in an even softer voice, "Anyway, there's just the two of us... like when we were little, can't we even talk?"
Yu's voice carried helpless tenderness. "Sasuko..."
Sasuko's eyes crinkled, tone affectionately soft with some playfulness. "Besides, what Yu did to me before... was way more excessive than now." She actively moved closer, letting him touch that soft rise and fall. "When I woke up that morning, I saw it—the marks you left... especially here, there were particularly many."
Yu's palm encountered warm, full softness, making his breathing suddenly catch.
He clearly felt that an impulse always suppressed was trying to break free from reason's cage, ambiguous images from that night involuntarily surfacing in his mind.
Yu's inner self struggled intensely.
This can't continue.
Sasuko had just graduated. Once he let himself go, things would spiral out of control step by step like that night: first just embracing, then kissing, then...
He wasn't sure if he could still hold that line.
Thinking this, Yu abruptly withdrew his hand sunken in softness and suddenly rose.
"Yu?" Sasuko made a puzzled sound, eyes looking at him uncomprehendingly.
He didn't explain, only extending a finger to extremely gently tap her forehead.
A strand of gentle and pure chakra slowly seeped in, carrying soothing intent.
Sasuko's lashes trembled lightly a few times, eyes gradually becoming hazy before finally quietly closing, falling into peaceful sleep.
Yu carefully tucked in the blanket corners, ensuring she slept comfortably.
Moonlight filtered through the window lattice, gently falling on her peacefully sleeping profile.
He gazed for a long while before finally sighing softly and turning to exit.
Night wind carried coolness as he stood alone in the courtyard, raising his hand to withdraw a bamboo sword from empty space.
The blade cut through air with crisp sounds, each swing meant to sort through his chaotic thoughts.
Yet certain images kept surfacing—her completely trusting gaze, sleep-laden soft words, and her unreserved approach...
Over these years, Yu's state of mind remained mostly calm as an ancient well.
However, as Sasuko gradually grew up, complex emotions had slowly mixed into that calmness.
Having experienced two lifetimes, aside from Sasuko, he'd never established such deep bonds with anyone—moreover, she was nominally still his little sister.
Yet once certain attachments took root, they became difficult to sever.
Even though Yu constantly reminded himself to maintain restraint, every night when darkness fell, Sasuko instinctively sought his presence, breathing steady, sleeping face serene, as if his existence was the greatest reassurance.
Sometimes she slept obediently, other times unconsciously moving closer to him in dreams, occasionally releasing indistinct sleep talk from her lips—yet calling only his name.
Yu often woke in the deep of night, gazing at her completely unguarded sleeping face by moonlight, heart full of contradiction.
Even though he considered his disposition firm, maintaining rationality before such complete trust and dependence required constant vigilance.
Even though Yu had long surpassed ordinary people in power and realm, facing this increasingly complex emotion, he still found it troublesome.
Especially when the subject was someone he cherished—that struggle became all the more profound.
In this world, many people his age had already married and established careers.
Yet in Yu's perception, Sasuko remained family he needed to protect. He'd personally watched her journey from innocence to maturity. Her purity and trust were treasures he absolutely wouldn't easily betray.
Whenever she approached with complete dependence, looking at him with trusting eyes, an indescribable sense of responsibility would rise in his heart.
This sense of responsibility was now entangled with desire.
Once certain relationships changed quality, returning to the past might become impossible.
And he had already...
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