#cybird

[manunelle]

Close enough...Welcome back, Victor from Ikemen Villains

[lalathemediterraneanmermaid]

Ikemen Prince Real Life Castles

Hi babes! I'm feeling like adding yet another layer of delusion to our already delulu brains, so here’s my take on what IkePrince castles would look like in real life. This way, you can visit them while pretending to be Belle running down the hallways looking for your beloved prince.

Rhodolite

The Rhodolite castle would be grand and ornate, with French Renaissance and Baroque influences. Expect elegant stonework, elaborate gardens with fountains, and decorative elements like balustrades and statues. The interior would feature intricate tapestries, gold accents, and chandeliers, exuding an air of refined nobility and romance.

Some examples could be:

Château de Chambord - France

Palace of Versailles - France

Château de Chantilly - France

Château de Chenonceau - France

Schönbrunn Palace - Austria

Dunrobin Castle - United Kingdom

Lednice na Moravě - Czechia

Château de Ussé - France

Obsidian

The Obsidian castle would have a stern, gothic architecture with imposing towers and stone walls. Think of dark, medieval castles with fortified structures, high walls, and sharp angles. Interiors would be minimalistic and austere, emphasizing function over ornamentation but with a touch of grandeur in public spaces.

Some examples could be:

Hohenzollern Castle - Germany

Edinburgh Castle - Scotland

Moszna Castle - Poland

Burg Eltz - Germany

Garibaldi Castle - Russia

Château du Bousquet - France

Inveraray Castle - United Kingdom

Cologne Cathedral - Germany

Benitoite

The Benitoite castle would be built with Italian Renaissance and Mediterranean styles in mind. Expect warm-toned stone, arches, and decorative columns. Courtyards would be lush, with fountains and intricate tile work. Interiors might have frescoes, marbled halls, and large windows to let in light, creating a grand yet inviting atmosphere.

Some examples could be:

Palazzo Ducale - Italy

Belvedere Palace - Austria

Howard Castle - United Kingdom

Catherine Palace - Russia

Palazzo Pitti - Italy

Miramare Castle - Italy

Swallow’s Nest Castle - Ukraine

The Royal Palace - Spain

Jade

The Jade castle would be charming, integrated with its natural surroundings. Built in a style that’s less imposing and more in harmony with nature, it would be surrounded by gardens and water features. Think of understated beauty, with an emphasis on wooden accents, greenhouses, and large windows overlooking gardens and the forest.

Some examples could be:

Stoke Rochford Hall Leisure Club - United Kingdom

Harlaxton Manor - United Kingdom

Knebworth House - United Kingdom

Castle de Haar - The Netherlands

Château de Villandry - France

Lowenburg Castle - Germany

Brissac Castle - France

Vouzeron Castle - France

Tanzanite

The Tanzanite castle would be exotic and filled with intricate details, such as domed roofs, archways, and extensive mosaics. The castle would feature courtyards with fountains, lush gardens, and reflective pools, creating a tranquil and mystic vibe. Interiors would be lavish, with patterned tile work, vibrant colors, and plush furnishings.

Some examples could be:

La Sagrada Familia - Spain

Alhambra - Spain

Golestan Palace - Iran

Ali Qapu Palace - Iran

Topkapi Palace - Turkey

Alcázar de Sevilla - Spain

Taj Mahal - India

Shrine of Hazrat Ali - Irak

Kogyoku

The Kogyoku castle would have traditional Japanese architecture, with wooden structures, curved tiled roofs, and wide, open spaces for viewing nature. The castle would be surrounded by gardens with koi ponds and sakura trees. Interiors would feature shoji screens, tatami mats, and simple but elegant furnishings.

Some examples could be:

Himeji Castle - Japan

Matsumoto Castle - Japan

Shuri Castle - Japan

Nijo Castle - Japan

Osaka Castle - Japan

Katsuyama Castle - Japan

Nagoya Castle - Japan

Kinkakuji Castle - Japan

Achroite

The Achroite castle would be a blend of Scandinavian minimalism and rugged fortification, built with stone and wood. It would sit atop a hill or near a lake, with a natural and slightly harsh look. The design would be simple, with a focus on functionality and integration with the landscape, including large fireplaces and wood-paneled rooms for warmth.

Some examples could be:

Neuschwanstein Castle - Germany

Château de Ferreries - France

Château de Boismorand - France

Château de Vigny - France

Château d'Haroué - France

Hallgrimskrikja Cathedral - Iceland

Bojnice Castle - Slovakia

Pierrefonds Castle - France

And that’s everything for now! I’m planning to continue this exploration with possible traditional dances, music, customs, fashion, food, and festivities each kingdom might have. What do you think? What would you like to explore next?

See you on the next post my dears!!!!! XOXO

[neerons]

I want to thank everybody who shared their cute and inspiring comments on this piece, it warms my heart 🥰

Sympathy For the Devil | Gilbert Von Obsidian

"There's no way I'd ever let anyone else kill you. It has to be me." (—Gilbert Von Obsidian)

So happy about this piece!! I spent so much time on it my wrist hurts hahaha, but it was so worth it 💜

Happy Halloween to anyone who celebrates it!

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

My Yakuza Man

Translations may not always capture the exact nuances or tone of the original text. Expect grammatical errors and inaccuracies.

One night, after missing the last train due to overtime, I chose a different route home and found myself frozen on a pedestrian bridge.

Nobunaga: "To think I'd run into the likes of you in a place like this."

Ahead, a group of men dressed in black stood at the top of the stairs, glaring at each other.

Shingen: "Pretty weird coincidence, isn’t it? Though, I would’ve preferred meeting a lovely lady rather than a bunch of scruffy men."

Kenshin: "Stop talking nonsense."

Kenshin: "It's not just the executives; even the leaders of the clans are here. This is a perfect chance for a fight."

Masamune: "The same goes for us in the Azuchi clan."

Mitsuhide: "Yeah. Shingen and Kenshin of the Kasugayama Clan. And Kennyo, who's rising as a third power."

Mitsuhide: "Plus, we have the arms dealer Kicho and Motonari. Quite a gathering, I must say."

Kennyo: "The location isn't ideal, but it looks like there's no avoiding a fight."

Motonari: "Ha! If we're going to do this, let's do it with a bang."

Kicho: "Seems there's no escaping a clash."

(Are those swords they're holding? Are they filming a scene?)

(There's no one around right now, but…)

Mai: "Ah!"

I backed away and lost my footing on the stairs.

???: "Whoa!"

A strong arm reached out and caught me from behind.

Keiji: "You alright, miss?"

Mai: "Y-Yes."

Keiji: "If you stay on the edge like that, you might fall again. Come here."

The man who helped me smiled brightly and guided my confused self to the center of the pedestrian bridge.

Keiji: "You're lucky I'm here, huh?"

Hideyoshi: "You’re late."

Kanetsugu: "If anything, this woman is unlucky for ending up in a situation like this."

Keiji: "Hey, don't be like that! We'd all feel bad if an innocent woman got hurt because of us, right?"

Sasuke: "You have a point."

Ranmaru: "True!"

Mai: "Um, excuse me."

Mai: "Are you guys civilians?"

They looked at me with blank expressions.

Mitsuhide: "Oh? Do we look like ordinary citizens to you?"

(Ugh, now that I look closer, they're all pretty handsome but have an intimidating vibe.)

Ieyasu: "If you think we're just regular, law-abiding citizens, then you're seriously off the mark and not paying attention to the danger around you."

Mai: "So, in other words, you're not ordinary, law-abiding citizens?"

Mitsunari: "Yes. That's how it is."

(He's the kindest-looking one, and he confirmed it!)

Kenshin: "Ridiculous. Woman, get back. You're in the way."

Hideyoshi: "Lord Nobunaga, please step back!"

Nobunaga: "I'll leave it to you, Hideyoshi."

The man called Nobunaga was about to strike, but Hideyoshi unsheathed his sword and blocked the blow.

Yukimura: "Hey, you! You're gonna get hurt!"

(What am I supposed to do with that warning!?)

Keiji: "Don't panic, princess."

Keiji: "We need you to stay here until we're done, okay? We need a witness."

With a sharp breath, he thrust a spear from behind me.

I was startled, but the tip of the spear was stopped by a man standing in its path.

Yoshimoto: "Good grief."

The spear's sharp trajectory was expertly deflected by an iron fan.

Yoshimoto: "Keiji, you're a scary man."

Keiji: "I’ll probably lose to you, for sure."

Despite their gentle, almost otherworldly voice and bright smiles, the two men kept fighting.

(These two are really scary!)

Motonari: "An opening!"

At that moment, a crack suddenly appeared in the concrete beneath my feet.

I cautiously peeked down and saw a bullet lodged in it, making my blood run cold.

(There's no sound, though. A silencer?)

(But the power behind that shot—wait, this isn't fake!)

Ranmaru: "Geez, that was close."

The young man who avoided the gunshot jumped up onto the railing.

However, his slender body seemed to wobble for a second.

(Watch out!)

Instinctively, I forgot my fear and jumped toward him.

Ranmaru: "Whoa!?"

I pulled him with all my strength, and we both rolled to the ground.

Mai: "Are you okay!?"

Ranmaru: "Y-Yeah."

Mai: "Thank goodness."

Kenshin: "What are you doing?"

Mai: "I should be the one asking you that! What the hell are you all doing!?"

Mai: "You have to value your lives!"

A wave of relief hit me, followed by intense anger.

Seeing them stop their fight in shock, I came back to my senses.

(I yelled without thinking.)

(But I don't think I said anything wrong.)

Kennyo: "This young lady has a point."

Mai: "-----!"

Kennyo: "If we continue fighting in a place like this, we might end up involving others."

With those words, the others started nodding in agreement.

Kicho: "I agree. We've gotten a bit too carried away; perhaps we should save this for another time."

Motonari: "Tch, guess the moment's ruined."

Mitsuhide: "Value your lives, huh?"

Mitsuhide: "To bring up such a normal principle in this situation is interesting."

Yukimura: "It's so normal that it actually makes her stand out."

(Wait, am I being teased? Or are they just exasperated?)

Nobunaga: "You're an amusing woman. I like you."

Nobunaga: "How about becoming the woman of the Azuchi Clan?"

Mai: "What?!"

Everyone: "----!"

Mai: "N-No, thank you!"

Masamune: "Now, now, hold on."

(Ah!)

The man with an eye patch casually lifted something from my chest.

(My employee ID! I forgot I still had it on!)

Masamune: "Mai, huh? Cute name."

Mai: "G-Give it back!"

Masamune: "Nah, don't feel like it."

Mitsuhide: "Not only are you a witness to tonight's events, but you've caught Lord Nobunaga's interest."

Mitsuhide: "We can't just let you go."

Hideyoshi: "You guys, take it easy on her. Hey, are you hurt anywhere?"

Hideyoshi: "We owe you for helping Ranmaru. We'll have to thank you properly later."

Ieyasu: "You're way too reckless. Are you an idiot? I've never seen anyone like you."

Mitsunari: "Indeed. Your brave actions really moved me. I want to know more about you."

Ranmaru: "Thanks for saving me earlier, miss! I was so surprised."

Mai: "U-Um."

Keiji: "Haha, you've become quite popular! I'm feeling a little jealous."

Shingen: "You're a brave and kind-hearted young lady. It must have been fate that we met tonight."

Kenshin: "Hey, woman. Mai, was it? I'll remember you."

Sasuke: "Lord Kenshin, you're scaring her. Sorry about my boss. Maybe I could apologize on his behalf sometime?"

Yukimura: "You're like a wild boar, huh? No offense."

Yoshimoto: "Indeed. The look on your face as you ran to protect him was beautiful—captivating, even."

Kanetsugu: "You're a reckless woman. You should've just ditched everything and run for your life. Are you a little pup who acts without thinking?"

Kennyo: "But that honest spirit of yours shines brightly to people like us."

Motonari: "Agreed. You're so pure and sweet that I almost feel like crushing you underfoot."

Kicho: "You poor thing. You're getting all the attention from these troublemakers. You've even got me curious now."

(This can't be happening.)

They spoke to me one after another, leaving me in shock.

Nobunaga: "Don't think you can escape, Mai."

Mai: "…..…"

I finally realized that these men, clearly part of the underworld, now knew my face, name, and workplace.

(What's going to happen to me now!?)

[lichtluv]

⊱ ─── ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ ─── ⊰

𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙬'𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣?

𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙗𝙖𝙧

𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙜𝙪𝙮𝙨

𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙬 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙨.

⊱ ─── ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ ─── ⊰

︵ 𝘭𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘳𝘥.

[cyikemen]

🦋🎂Happy Birthday Kicho🎂🦋

What would you like to do with Kicho on his birthday?🎁🎈💖

[lucyw260]

Victor, you are my worst nightmare!

[ndoandou]

Mirror mirror on the wall,

Who’s the fairest of them all?

[ana-thedaydreamer]

Virtue & Vice - Ikemen Revolution ✨️

Here are the close up arts of each one of them, enjoyyyy 💖💖💖💖

[cloudcountry]

SUMMARY: to blanc, you are the change he needed, and your pressing secret won't change that.

WARNINGS: mentions of mortality, blood. Vampire stuff.

COMMENTS: ok ok so @vivislosingitagain here is my thought process YOU like biting people and sucking their blood so YOU are a vampire. and HEY GUESS WHAT vampires are IMMORTAL kind of. and im pretty sure blanc is really fucking old so i think mortality angst would work great with him BUT WHAT IF HIS PARTNER WAS AS OLD AS HE WAS AND BIT HIM. that's the post.

also im so sorry if blanc is out of character i have seen this man three times in the routes ive played + the prologue oops.

It’s a clear night. The stars are bright in the sky, just as they were hundreds and hundreds of years ago. Blanc doesn’t know if they’ll ever change, but he takes comfort in their consistency. They’re stationary, unmoving, unshifting, just like him. He’s always been in Cradle, long enough to see the shattering of bonds between the armies and the first Alice fall. He’s seen the skirmishes and the blood and the carnage.

And he’s seen you, the one who followed him into the rabbit hole and into Cradle.

He remembers thinking you were cute. He remembers Oliver scolding him for speaking his mind, and he remembers you tearing your eyes away from him, a shy smile on your lips. You’ve always been alluring, in a way he never anticipated, and it makes him wonder if someone from the Land of Reason can really be magical like the people of Cradle.

It’s no use though—he knows the passage of time will take you away. He knows love (what he feels for you, there’s no doubt about it) is a powerful force, but it cannot break the way the sun and moon rise and fall, it cannot stop the stars from dying light years away, it cannot stop your inevitable aging.

He knows this, and yet he can’t let go. He greets you in the morning with a soft pat on your head, leaning over your bed as you stretch and yawn. His gaze softens when you rub your eyes and look over at him, and you’re looking at him like he’s the only thing you ever want to see.

He’s so selfish—he wants so badly for you to only look at him.

For someone so keenly aware of how mortal you are, he knows he's being awfully flippant about it. It’s the folly of man, to be so foolish as to yearn, but there’s always the possibility that fate will take pity on his poor soul and listen to its cries for his love to stay.

And so, the next night, a night that should be no different from any other, he breaks his routine. He keeps you up late, chatting over tea as the full moon rises in the sky, asking you if you want to go home. He watches you as you go quiet, your previously bright smile fading into a thoughtful frown. You’re staring into your tea as if it can give you the answer, and Blanc hopes the tea will give you the same answer he would.

I wish you would stay. I wish you would stay with me. I wish you would think I’m worth it. I wish that if I had to be hurt then you would be the one to hurt me because I’ve never loved anyone like you and I doubt I ever will. I wish you would be the one to thrust this dagger into my heart so fate doesn’t have the chance.

“...I want to stay with you.” you say, and Blanc knows you’re hiding something from him but he can’t bring himself to ask when you already look so worried.

“Are you sure?” he asks, reaching across the table to place a hand on yours.

Your head jerks up and you meet his gaze with parted lips—almost like you want to tell him but are far too scared.

“You can tell me anything.” he stresses, squeezing your hand gently.

“I’m not...” you purse your lips, looking away again as you choose your words carefully, “I’m not having doubts about staying here, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

Blanc holds back his sigh of relief in favor of another inquisitive glance. Your brow furrows and he knows you feel his stare, your cute canines poking at your lower lip as you gnaw on it pensively.

“I have a secret I don’t think I’m ready to share yet.” you say softly, turning back to him, “I will someday. I just...need time.”

Blanc laughs, a sound that's full of relief and love and sounds like the wind chimes that hang in your no longer temporary bedroom’s window, the ones that have been there since you came and will be there when—if—you leave.

“Darling.” he breathes, staring straight into your eyes with so much love, “I have all the time in the world.”

The full moon sinks beneath the horizon and the sun comes up again. The teacups from the night before have been cleaned and placed back on their shelves, and the cake you two cut slices out of remains in the fridge. There are still traces of you within the house—your skincare is still in the bathroom, your toothbrush is next to his, and your chair still has a cushion of your favorite color. None of those things have been removed because you didn’t leave.

You’re still in your bedroom, sleeping soundly, but this time Blanc is there with you, his arms wrapped around you. His body is tangled with yours, your legs intertwining as the bed sheets knot themselves around your limbs. Your head is resting right over his heart, the part of him that’s pounding away for you. Gently, he tucks a strand of hair behind your ear and stares down at your sleeping face, the face that shows him all of your thoughts and emotions, the face that belongs to the person who loves him enough to stay.

He wakes you up with a kiss on your forehead, a kiss on the bridge of your nose, a kiss on your left eyelid and a kiss on your right, a kiss on your jaw—

He sighs when you start to stir, propping yourself up on your elbows. The bed sheets fall off your body like water cascading down the side of a cliff, and your bleary eyes have never looked more beautiful. He lays there, admiring you in the morning light as the wind chimes chime, the soft breeze from the cracked open window ruffling through your hair.

You shiver.

“Darling,” Blanc calls, placing a hand on your shoulder, “Good morning.”

You smile when you turn to look at him, and you allow yourself to fall back against the mattress next to him.

“Good morning.” you murmur, your nails tracing the curve of his cheekbone before tucking a strand of hair behind his ear, “You look so handsome.”

Ever the charmer, he’s rarely been charmed himself. And so he does the only thing he deems appropriate, and thanks you with a kiss on the back of your hand.

Weeks pass, and Blanc finds himself growing into this new routine. You're a sign of change, that he knows for sure. His own room remains vacant for the most part unless you decide to pull him into his room instead of your own when you’re ready for bed. It makes no difference to him where you go, only that he can follow you like the lovesick fool he is.

Except you’re not leading him to either of your bedrooms tonight.

You’re leading him outside, under the pale moonlight and into the chilly nighttime breeze. He looks up at the full moon and holds your hand a little tighter.

“Thank you for giving me time.” you say, the wind swelling as it passes between the two of you and further into the night, “I’m ready to tell you what I’ve been hiding from you now. It’s...not fair to keep it from you any longer.”

“I understand,” he smiles softly, cupping your cheek, “Go ahead.”

“I’m a vampire.” you say, and it takes his brain a few moments to catch up, “I’ve...found it hard to get blood in Cradle but since meeting with Kyle’s he’s managed to get me blood when I need it. I don’t like drinking from animals or people but it...has to be done for me to stay alive.”

Blanc’s brain is whirring as you spill your guts to him, your mouth moving faster and faster as you explain how despised vampires are in the Land of Reason, how people view them as monsters and how you’re certain you’re cursed.

Cursed. What a funny word to say to him.

“Is that why your canines are so sharp?” he blurts, leaning closer to your face.

You stop talking, bending backward just a bit at his sudden closeness.

“I—I’m sorry, what?” you ask, looking confused.

“Ah, well....I always thought they were cute.” he smiles kindly, brushing his thumb over your cheekbone.

“I...” you blink owlishly before shaking your head in disbelief, “Blanc, I just told you I’m a vampire.”

“Indeed you did.”

Your mouth falls open as if looking for the right words to say, and yet you come up with nothing.

“You can feed from me if you wish. I don’t want you to suffer any longer.” he offers like its the most natural thing in the world.

Still, you say nothing.

And then he murmurs your name, as soft as the flower petals brushing against your ankles.

“I don’t want to use you like that. I don’t want you to be a food source for me.” you grit your teeth, staring at the ground like you couldn’t be more ashamed, “I don’t want to be the monster the Land of Reason made me out to be.”

“You’re not. I give myself to you willingly, and I'll do it over and over again.” Blanc murmurs, hands slipping away from you.

It takes you a moment to realize he’s slowly undoing the buttons on his shirt, leaving his collarbone open to the nighttime breeze and your eyes.

“My love.” he opens his arms for you and his shirt slips off his shoulder, leaving his skin vulnerable—

“I give myself to you.”

And he pulls you into his chest, as he whispers words of love telling you that you can bite him, drink from him, take all that you need and that it will be okay because he’d give you everything if you asked for it, and that you changed his life for the better, you brought springtime’s flowers and winter’s shimmering ice and summer’s warm sunlight and autumn’s delicate, beautiful leaves to a life that was so repetitive and boring until you arrived—a life that belonged to the man you see before you but not anymore because its yours and it will always be yours.

Tears prick your eyes as you kiss his skin, worshiping each freckle and small scar you can reach. Your canines poke insistently at his skin and you ignore the urge for one, two, three, four, five seconds before your mouth opens and you bite down, hoping the small gasp that leaves his lips isn’t one of pain. You’re careful not to take too much but it tastes so good and who knew drinking from the one you loved could make you feel so happy and full.

Blanc looks up at the moon as you feed, happiness and adoration blurring his vision as he thinks about you, you who trusted him enough to bite him, to tell him who you were, you who stayed behind for him even though you could have left.

He stares up at the moon and sighs because he’s in love. He’s in love with you.

And after you’re done, after you pull away and lick the puncture marks to soothe them, after you press a dozen more kisses to his skin, Blanc still loves you. His blood is smeared around your mouth but he pulls you in anyway, kissing you with everything he has because you deserve nothing less than that.

And he loves you.

Over and over again, he loves you.

He doesn’t know how long he’ll be aging or how long you will have by his side, but he knows that if you will forever be his constant, he’ll come out okay in the end.

[arthurs-puppygirl]

LOOK AT THEM 🩵💙💜🧡

[mobageheroine]

Kate - ケイト

【Ikémen Villains】

[kissmetwicekissmedeadly]

😔

(template by mhuyo on twitter)

[neerons]

Yet another reason to kill Chevalier…

Let’s just pretend Clavis invented smartphones and tried to impress Chev with his camera skills

There's also no way he would ever call himself ugly

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

My Yakuza Man (Kenshin)

Translations may not always capture the exact nuances or tone of the original text. Expect grammatical errors and inaccuracies. Not proofread.

Prologue

A few days had passed since I got involved in an unexpected dispute with the Yakuza.

(I missed the last train again today. I guess I'll walk home.)

(I don't want to get dragged into any more weird fights, so I'll stick to my usual route.)

Mai: "Please, let me get home safely without any incidents!"

Man's voice: "Hah! He really came here alone!"

Mai: "Huh!?"

Just as I wished for this, a rough voice echoed from a nearby alley.

(W-What was that!?)

I nervously distanced myself from the alley, sneaking a glance as I walked past.

There, about five rough-looking men were surrounding a man.

Thug 1: "You seriously think you can beat us five-to-one!?"

Kenshin: "Noisy little pests."

Kenshin: "If you're so confident in your skills, hurry up and come at me."

(Wait! Isn't that…?)

My eyes were glued to the blond-haired man being confronted by the thugs.

(This is bad. I need to get out of here before I get dragged into this again.)

(Okay. Mai, just blend into the background.)

Kenshin: "........."

(Huh?! Did he just look at me?!)

(N-No, it must be my imagination! I have to run!)

Thug 2: "I'll wipe that smug look off your face! Take this!"

The thugs finally lunged at the man.

I tried to flee, but...

(At this rate, he's going to be in serious trouble.)

(He might be strong, but five against one? That's just unfair. There's no way he can handle that.)

Mai: "If that's how it's gonna be!"

With trembling hands, I fumbled with my phone, raised it high, and shouted at the top of my lungs.

Mai: "What do you think you're doing over there!?"

Mai: "I've already called the police!"

Kenshin: "Hah!"

Thugs: "Wha—gah!?"

But in the very next moment, the man kicked off the ground and took down four of the thugs in just a few seconds.

Mai: "W-What!?"

I stood there, dumbfounded by his almost godlike strength.

Thug 3: "Damn it!"

Mai: "!!"

One of the thugs, who narrowly avoided his attack, suddenly turned his eyes to me.

Thug 3: "Hey, woman! Get over here!"

His bloodshot eyes locked onto me as he charged forward.

Before I could even think of escaping, he grabbed me and pinned my arms behind my back.

Mai: "Ugh, ah!?"

Thug 3: "Stop right there! Don't move, or she's done for!"

Frozen in terror, my vision blurred, and my legs felt like they would give out. My shallow breaths echoed in my ears as fear took hold.

The blond-haired man squinted at the thug holding me, his expression filled with disdain.

Kenshin: "Using a woman as a shield? How utterly pathetic."

Kenshin: "Did you really think such a cheap trick would work on me?"

Without glancing at me, the man delivered a sharp roundhouse kick to the thug's side.

Thug 3: "Gah, ugh!?"

The thug, unable to dodge, took the full brunt of the kick.

Mai: "Kyaah!?"

As he lost his balance, I was almost dragged down with him when—

Kenshin: "Hey."

Mai: "Ah!"

The blond-haired man grabbed my arm firmly and pulled me into his embrace.

Kenshin: "Are you hurt?"

Mai: "Uh, um…"

(Did he just save me?)

Kenshin: "Answer me quickly."

Mai: "N-No! I'm fine. Thank you very—kyaah!?"

Before I could finish my sentence, he suddenly let go of me and placed his hand against the concrete wall behind me.

Trapped between him and the wall, my mind spun in confusion.

Kenshin: "Your name is Mai, right?"

Mai: "Huh!? Y-Yes, that's right. And you?"

Kenshin: "Kenshin Uesugi."

Kenshin: "You've interfered in fights twice now. Are you truly reckless, or are you hiding some skill?"

Mai: "S-Skill?"

He asked calmly, but I was too flustered to give a proper response.

Then he leaned in so close that I could almost feel his breath, his sharp eyes glinting with a feral light.

Kenshin: "If you're skilled, then you can be my opponent."

Mai: "O-Opponent!?"

(Is he seriously asking me to fight him!?)

Mai: "No, no, no! That's impossible!"

Mai: "I can't fight! I don't have an ounce of skill for that!"

Kenshin: "I see. So you're just a thoughtless woman."

His piercing gaze shifted, clearly losing interest in me.

(This guy is unbelievably rude!)

Anger bubbled up inside me, but I bit my tongue, afraid of provoking him any further.

Mai: "Thank you for saving me."

Mai: "Well then, I'll be on my way—"

Kenshin: "Who said you could leave?"

Mai: "Kyaah!?"

Desperate to escape as quickly as possible, I tried to pull away from him, but he yanked my arm sharply, causing me to lose my balance.

As I nearly fell backward, my back collided with his chest.

(----!)

A shadow fell over me.

I quickly looked up, and he was gazing down at me with an unreadable expression.

In that proximity, our eyes locked.

Kenshin: "You're coming with me."

Mai: "Why?"

Kenshin: "The Azuchi group showed interest in you recently."

Kenshin: "If I use you, I might get a chance to fight them."

(Wait, does that mean I'm just bait to lure them in?)

As I stood there in shock, he let out a soft laugh.

Kenshin: "Mai. You're already mine."

Kenshin: "Don't even think about trying to escape."

The proximity and his whisper, which almost felt like that of a lover's, felt unsettling.

Mai: "..........."

(This guy's a tyrant.)

The dangerous aura around him, along with his perfectly composed appearance, sent warning bells ringing in my head.

Just then, a rustling sound came from the ground.

Thug 3: "Damn it! There's no way I'm letting you leave unscathed!!"

Mai: "!?"

The thug, who had been knocked down earlier, desperately lunged for my legs.

But just before he could reach me, my body was lifted effortlessly.

Kenshin: "Don't touch what’s mine without permission."

Thug 3: "Gah!"

As he hoisted me onto his shoulder, he kicked the thug away, knocking him unconscious.

Kenshin: "Mai."

Mai: "Yes?"

Kenshin: "If you choose to stay with me, I'll ensure your safety. Just like now."

His words were spoken with absolute confidence in his power.

(I just want to live peacefully, though.)

Despite the overwhelming power he exuded, I couldn’t turn away from him.

And so I found myself captivated by this man, who was like a god of war.