Pinned against the wall

Looking at the three options, Amahane Byakuya immediately decided what to do.

"I don't think you need to keep running. You have me to protect you, don't you?"

Amahane Byakuya said to Rize Kamishiro.

[Ding! Host has completed option two. Reward obtained: 20 Fusion Points!]

Although the third option offered more Fusion Points, Amahane Byakuya didn't think it was necessary.

Furuta Nimura wasn't the only one watching Rize Kamishiro. There were also Aogiri Tree and the Washuu Clan.

Running wouldn't help, no matter where she went, unless she fled Japan altogether. But that wasn't realistic either.

Customs checkpoints in every country were bound to have things like RC scanner gates. Countries around the world certainly wouldn't allow Ghouls to move freely across their borders.

Even though Rize Kamishiro had Washuu Clan blood and could avoid triggering the RC scanner gates' alarms, that only applied to the gates in Japan.

The Washuu Clan had tampered with the RC scanner gates throughout Japan, making them ineffective against Ghouls with Washuu blood. But the clan had no control over other countries.

The Washuu Clan had even modified the RC scanner gates specifically for Yoshimura Kuzen, who had once served as a "cleaner" for the organization "V." As a result, his daughter Eto could also enter and leave the CCG freely.

"You want to protect me? Are you serious?"

Rize Kamishiro was immediately taken aback.

"Of course I'm serious."

Amahane Byakuya nodded.

"Well, I suppose you have no idea what I'm really up against."

Rize Kamishiro said, "My enemies are terrifying, and many of them are stronger than you. You're nowhere near strong enough to protect me."

Though she belittled Amahane Byakuya's strength aloud, she actually wanted him to give up on the idea.

She didn't believe Amahane Byakuya could withstand the enemies she faced. It wasn't that she underestimated him; the Washuu Clan was simply too powerful.

Having escaped from the Washuu Clan, Rize Kamishiro knew all too well how powerful those people were.

At her words, Amahane Byakuya stepped forward and planted one hand against the wall behind her. His tone was unusually forceful. "Whatever the case, I'm at least stronger than you. No matter what enemies you're facing, I'm confident I can protect you."

Although his current strength was indeed far from enough, he was confident he could keep himself and Rize Kamishiro safe. Besides, with a system and Madara Uchiha's abilities fused into him, how could he not have some pride?

Rize Kamishiro froze for a moment, clearly not expecting Amahane Byakuya to suddenly become so assertive.

Over the past few days, she had grown accustomed to his easygoing temper.

She soon recovered, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. "I didn't expect you to have such a forceful side. Since you're so confident, you'd better take good care of me~"

She still didn't believe Amahane Byakuya could stand against the Washuu Clan.

But she certainly didn't dislike seeing him act so assertively.

Of course, what mattered most was that Rize Kamishiro had never stopped coveting Amahane Byakuya's delicious body. This way, she could take him along when she had to flee, and he could stay by her side.

Originally, she hadn't wanted to drag Amahane Byakuya into this mess. But with him being so adamant, she decided to latch onto him. She had never been a particularly good person anyway.

[Ding! Host has activated a quest. God-Tier Choice initiated!]

[Option one: Can't protect her at all. Go back on your word immediately and avoid any future trouble from getting involved with Rize Kamishiro. Reward: 10 Fusion Points!]

[Option two: Ask Rize Kamishiro to stay overnight, which is safer than going home. Reward: 10 Fusion Points!]

He had already said it, and with Amahane Byakuya's personality, he wasn't willing to go back on his word.

So he decisively chose the second option.

"It's already so late. Why don't you just stay at my place tonight?"

Amahane Byakuya said directly to Rize Kamishiro.

He was thick-skinned enough to say something like that with a perfectly calm face.

[Ding! Host has completed option two. Reward obtained: 10 Fusion Points!]

Rize Kamishiro gave Amahane Byakuya a meaningful look and agreed almost without hesitation. "Sure."

Suddenly, a problem occurred to her. "But I didn't bring a change of clothes. Why don't you come home with me to get some, or we could just go to the mall and buy new ones? I've been wanting to buy some new clothes lately anyway."

Girls naturally liked pretty clothes, and Ghouls were no exception.

"Then let's buy new ones. The mall is pretty close to my place."

Amahane Byakuya said.

After washing the dishes in the sink, Amahane Byakuya went shopping with Rize Kamishiro.

They had only taken a few steps outside when Rize Kamishiro suddenly linked her arm through his.

Amahane Byakuya couldn't help giving her a puzzled look.

"Didn't you say you'd protect me? This way, you can do a better job of it."

Rize Kamishiro explained with a smile.

What she didn't mention was that this also let her smell the fragrance coming from Amahane Byakuya's body more easily.

Amahane Byakuya merely smiled and said nothing.

To anyone watching, they looked exactly like a couple taking a stroll down the street.

Before long, Amahane Byakuya and Rize Kamishiro reached the nearby mall.

Places of little importance like malls didn't have RC scanner gates. Even if they did, they would have been useless against Rize Kamishiro.

With a clear destination in mind, Rize Kamishiro pulled Amahane Byakuya toward a women's clothing store. She seemed to shop there often and knew the way well.

Just then, a female sales assistant at the entrance stopped them. "Sorry, but we only allow boyfriends to accompany customers inside. May I ask whether you two are...?"

Although the two customers were arm in arm, they might have been siblings.

Since nearly all the customers were women, the store had established that rule to protect their privacy.

Amahane Byakuya was about to ask Rize Kamishiro if she wanted to try another store, but she spoke to the sales assistant first. "Of course we're a couple."

Then she turned to Amahane Byakuya and asked, "Isn't that right, darling~?"

"...That's right."

In that situation, Amahane Byakuya could only nod.

It wasn't as though it did him any harm.

"All right. Thank you very much for your cooperation. Please come in."

The sales assistant welcomed Amahane Byakuya and Rize Kamishiro into the store.

The women's clothing store was clearly quite popular, with plenty of pretty girls browsing the clothes.

But the moment Rize Kamishiro appeared, she outshone them all.

"Darling, if you let your eyes wander, I might poke them out."

Rize Kamishiro said with a smile.

"..."

Amahane Byakuya was instantly speechless.

He couldn't understand what Rize Kamishiro was playing at. She was making their pretend relationship seem like the real thing.