Reincarnated as Itsuka Shido: Collecting Spirits as Lovers

Reine's words made Shido fall silent. He cast a glance at Yoshino, but it seemed she was just as embarrassed. Her face turned a deep shade of red as she shyly lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes.

"Well, you should go to the sickbay and proceed with sealing her Reiryoku there. I'll head back to the command room first." After saying that, Reine turned and walk away while maintaining her tired and plain expression.

Watching Reine's fleeting figure, Shido could only let out a wry smile. She was so frank with her words that it left him speechless and couldn't say anything else.

Just as he was feeling helpless, he suddenly felt a gentle tug on his sleeve. 

Turning his head, he saw Yoshino, her face completely hidden behind the hood of her raincoat, though the deep blush peeking from beneath it was impossible to miss.

Shido watched as Yoshino fidgeted, her delicate fingers clutching at the edges of her raincoat. She refused to meet his gaze, her blue eyes darting to the side as if searching for an escape.

Her lips parted slightly as if she was about to say something, but then she hesitated, quickly closing them again. It was clear she had something on her mind, but her overwhelming shyness held her back.

She felt her face was so hot that she might pass out in embarrassment any moment.

Seeing her like this, Shido couldn't help but smile gently. "Yoshino… is there something you want to tell me?" he asked softly, hoping to ease her nervousness.

As Shido knelt on one knee, his gaze locked onto Yoshino's deep blue eyes. He took a moment to carefully observe her delicate features, admiring the soft glow of her porcelain skin and the way her damp hair framed her face.

He observed her beautiful countenance carefully and he couldn't help but sigh internally thinking that Yoshino was truly a beauty.

Even though her current appearance was that of a child, Yoshino was still very stunning. Shido had no doubt that when she grew older, she would become even more enchanting. 

"U-Um... Are we going to... k-k-kiss?" Yoshino mustered up all her courage to say those words. Her face flushed red with embarrassment and shyness, but beneath it all, there was also a hint of excitement at the thought of sharing a kiss with Shido.

"Fufu~ Yoshino is so bold~" Yoshinon, who had been silent until now, suddenly chimed in with a playful giggle, clearly enjoying the moment.

Yoshino was so embarrassed when Yoshinon pointed that out.

She let out a small, embarrassed whimper before puffing up her cheeks in an adorable pout. "Y-Yoshinon! Don't say weird things!" she huffed, glaring at her puppet companion.

However, her attempt at being angry only made her look cuter. Shido couldn't help but chuckle at their antics, finding the sight utterly endearing.

Hearing his laughter, Yoshino's flustered expression brightened for a brief moment, before she quickly pouted even harder. Her cheeks puffed up so much that it looked like they might pop at any moment.

Shido smiled warmly, reaching out to lightly poke her cheek. "You're going to float away if you puff up any more, Yoshino."

"Uuu... Shido-san is mean." Yoshino mumbled, but her voice carried no real frustration, only embarrassment and shyness.

"Alright, alright. I'll stop laughing," Shido said with an amused smile before gently placing his hand on her head, softly caressing her hair.

Yoshino blinked in surprise but quickly melted under his touch. The warmth of his hand, steady and reassuring, made her feel safe. Her pout slowly faded, replaced by a small, contented smile as she leaned into his hand.

"Mmm... Shido-san's hand is warm." she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Shido chuckled lightly. "Well, it's only fair since you got me all drenched earlier."

Yoshino's cheeks turned pink again, and she buried her face in her raincoat, too embarrassed to respond.

"Remember what I told you earlier, Yoshino?" Shido asked gently.

"Earlier?" Yoshino blinked in confusion, tilting her head as she tried to recall his words.

"Yoshino~ Yoshino~ It was back inside the building before we were attacked," Yoshinon chimed in, swinging slightly in her hand.

"...Un." Yoshino answered meekly, stealing shy glances at Shido.

Her embarrassment was clear and her face was as red as a ripe tomato. 

"I have to seal your Reiryoku with a kiss..." Shido felt it was a bit weird when he said that considering that he have to kiss a little girl, but he consoled himself and said to himself that she was older than him and it was just her appearance.

"Or… do you hate the idea of kissing me?" Shido asked with a wry smile, watching as Yoshino remained silent.

"No!" Yoshino suddenly cried out, her voice louder than intended. Realizing what she had just done, her entire face turned crimson. Embarrassed, she lowered her gaze before continuing in a softer voice, "I... I don't mind... kissing Shido-san..."

Hearing her earnest words, Shido knew what he had to do next.

"Then… are you ready?"

His voice was deep yet gentle, sending a small tug on Yoshino's maiden heart. Feeling his warm breath against her face, her body tensed, and she could only nod meekly, too shy to respond with words. The heat in her cheeks spread throughout her entire body, making her feel even more flustered.

Seeing her silent approval, Shido took a deep breath. His gaze softened as he admired Yoshino's delicate, doll-like features. Unable to resist the temptation, he slowly raised his hand and cupped her small, oval face with the utmost care, his fingertips lightly brushing against her damp, rosy skin.

"Mnn~!"

A soft, sweet sound escaped Yoshino's lips as she felt the warmth of Shido's hand against her skin. Her face burned with embarrassment, and she instinctively shut her eyes, too shy to meet his gaze.

Shido chuckled softly, his expression gentle as he studied her features up close. Her skin was very smooth, her cheeks had a subtle, bouncy softness to them, and her long, delicate eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Though her beautiful sapphire eyes were hidden behind closed lids, her expression was utterly captivating. His gaze trailed down to her small, pointed nose, which looked so adorable that, for a fleeting moment, he was tempted to pinch it.

But he held back, suppressing the urge with a light smile as he focused on what he had to do next.

Shido's eyes then gaze lower, to her lips. Shido couldn't help but gulp subconsciously when he look at her glossy lips. 

For some reason, her lips looked… incredibly tempting. A fleeting thought crossed his mind, how they might feel, how they might taste. The idea of taking a small bite and ravaging them flickered through his mind like a dangerous temptation.

Realizing where his thoughts were heading, Shido quickly shook his head, mentally scolding himself. 'What the hell am I thinking?!' He couldn't let himself entertain such ideas about someone as pure and innocent as Yoshino.

Shido couldn't bear to taint such a cute and adorable girl like Yoshino, however, it would be a different matter if she was the one that wanted it, right?

Shido had to admit that Yoshino was devastatingly cute. Her soft sapphire-blue eyes and hair gave her an almost foreign appearance rather than that of a typical Japanese girl.

"Shido-kun~! Your eyes are glowing a strange light~" Yoshinon suddenly teased, her playful voice cutting through the silence.

Shido's conflicted expression must have been too obvious, as Yoshinon let out a crisp laugh, clearly enjoying the situation. She felt oddly proud that her precious Yoshino could fluster Shido like this.

Hearing Yoshinon's teasing, Shido felt a twinge of embarrassment but maintained his composure, keeping his expression neutral.

However, Yoshino, startled by Yoshinon's words, blinked her eyes open, only to find Shido staring at her intently at her face.