The late afternoon sun cast long, lazy shadows across the back of the Sainan High school building. Away from the bustling courtyards and the chattering crowds of students heading home from their club activities, a quiet, secluded pocket of shade offered the perfect space for a private conversation.
The only sounds were the rustling of the leaves in the gentle summer breeze and the rhythmic, droning min-min-min of the cicadas hidden in the nearby trees.
Rito stood with his arms crossed around his chest, leaning slightly against the cool concrete wall. Beside him stood Haruna, her hands clasped neatly in front of her skirt. Floating a few feet away, looking incredibly small and overwhelmingly guilty, was Murasame Shizu.
Oshizu kept her spectral eyes glued to the dirt, her translucent fingers fidgeting nervously with the purple sash of her centuries-old white kimono.
Rito let out a soft breath.
"Oshizu-san," Rito began, his voice smooth, steady, and entirely free of malice.
Oshizu flinched slightly, her shoulders hiking up toward her ears. "Y-Yes, Rito-kun?"
"Please don't be so nervous. I'm not going to yell at you or anything," Rito reassured her, offering a small, comforting smile to ease the tension before his expression turned serious again. "But we really need to talk about what happened today. Possessing someone without their consent... it's both wrong and incredibly dangerous, Oshizu-san. And it's not just for the person you're possessing, but for everyone around them."
Oshizu nodded profusely, her ghostly form bobbing in the air. "I know... I know. I completely messed up."
"When you take over someone's body, even if your intentions are good, you are taking away their choices," Rito explained, his golden-brown eyes locking onto hers to ensure she understood the gravity of the situation. "And beyond that, the physical toll it takes on the possessed body can be unpredictable. You saw what happened today. My body reacted defensively, and I ended up losing control completely. Someone could have gotten seriously hurt in that rampage and that includes you. My energy could have permanently damaged your soul."
Hearing the genuine concern in his voice, worrying not just about the people he accidentally terrorized, but about her safety as well, made Oshizu's chest ache with a heavy guilt. Her cheeks flushed a little, and she bowed her head so deeply that her long blue-violet hair cascaded over her shoulders.
"I am so, so sorry," Oshizu whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I didn't think it through. I was just... I was being impulsive."
Rito uncrossed his arms, taking a small step forward. "I know you didn't mean any harm, but that doesn't change the fact that you tried to possess someone's body against their will. Also, I have to ask... why exactly did you try to hijack my body today?"
Oshizu peeked up through her bangs, looking nervously at Haruna before bringing her gaze back to Rito.
"I... well..." Oshizu stammered, rubbing her spectral arm. "When I accidentally possessed Haruna a while ago, I felt everything she was feeling. I felt how deeply she loves you, Rito-kun. And... I felt how much she truly wants to be with you. But she always holds back! She never demands extra time with you, even though her heart is practically bursting with affection!"
Oshizu clenched her fists, her passion flaring up for a brief moment. "I felt indebted to her for hijacking her body back then. I just wanted Haruna to have more exclusive time with you! I wanted her to assert herself instead of always putting Lala's feelings first! So... I thought if I possessed you, I could walk you right up to her and force you two to have a proper, private talk about it and even have a good date!"
The lingering blush on Haruna's cheeks darkened, but a soft, incredibly tender smile quickly replaced her surprise.
She stepped forward, closing the distance between herself and the floating ghost. She reached out, her physical hand hovering gently over Oshizu's translucent one.
"Oshizu-san," Haruna said, her voice dripping with warmth and sweet sincerity. "Thank you. I truly appreciate your intentions. It means a lot to me that you care so much about my happiness."
"But Haruna..." Oshizu sniffled.
"I already have everything I could ever want," Haruna interrupted gently, shaking her head. She turned to look at Rito, her eyes shining with unwavering devotion.
Rito smiled back, the unspoken connection between them radiating with a comforting heat.
"You don't need to worry about me, Oshizu-san," Haruna continued, looking back at the ghost. "I know I can be a bit shy, and sometimes I do hesitate. But like I had said to you, my trust in Rito-kun is absolute. I know that he loves me, and I know he will always make time for me. And as for Lala-san... she is my dearest friend. I don't feel like I'm competing with her, or with anyone else in the household. Our family... the harem... it works because we all genuinely love and respect each other."
Haruna stepped back to Rito's side, and without a shred of hesitation, she reached out and intertwined her fingers with his. Rito gave her hand a firm, affectionate squeeze.
"We don't need to force things," Haruna smiled brightly. "We are already perfectly happy."
Oshizu stared at the two of them. Seeing the unbreakable bond between the boy and the girl and feeling the overwhelming warmth radiating from their joined hands, the ghost finally understood. There was no jealousy to fix. There was no tragic longing to cure. They were already exactly where they needed to be.
"I... I understand," Oshizu said, offering a small, final bow. "Also, I promise, I will never possess anyone without permission ever again. I swear it!"
"Thank you, Oshizu-san," Rito smiled, the tension completely leaving his body. "I appreciate that."
With the air finally cleared and the misunderstandings resolved, Oshizu waved goodbye, floating upward and phasing through the school wall to return to the old building, leaving Rito and Haruna alone in the shade.
Rito let out a long sigh, running his free hand through his spiky orange hair. "Man, today has been exhausting. First the possession, then facing Kotegawa's firing squad... I feel like I've run a marathon."
Haruna giggled softly, leaning her head against his shoulder. "You handled it very well, Rito-kun. But we shouldn't linger too long. Didn't you say you needed to go to the market?"
"Ah, right!" Rito perked up. "Tomorrow is our sukiyaki dinner with Yami and everyone else. I have told Lala to go home without me; I need to buy all the ingredients before the good stuff sells out."
"Would you mind if I joined you?" Haruna asked, looking up at him through her long eyelashes, her thumb gently stroking the back of his hand. "We can make it a little shopping date."
Rito's heart skipped a beat. He looked down at his beautiful girlfriend, his chest swelling with affection. "I would love nothing more, Haruna."
*****
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✓ Killed For 100 Years in Hueco Mundo, Aizen Invited Me To Soul Society!
✓ Naruto: Senmei Asahi
✓ Naruto: Uchiha's Intelligence Dealer
✓ Naruto: The Fifth Hokage Is Naruto's Uncle
✓ Naruto: Who Made Him a Ninja?
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✓ To Love-Ru: Spoiler Route [R-18]
✓ Naruto: The Accidental Incubus [R-18]