Reincarnated as Itsuka Shido: Collecting Spirits as Lovers

Just as Shido was about to continue, he was suddenly interrupted by Origami's next action.

She dropped to her knees, prostrating deeply before him, her voice filled with solemnity.

"I'm so sorry for the trouble I caused you!" Her apology was laced with genuine remorse.

Shido was taken aback by her gesture and did not know how to respond. But he hurriedly urged her to raise her head.

"Origami, you don't have to do this. It's not your fault. I was the one who stabbed myself, not you. So please, stop blaming yourself, okay?"

He smiled bitterly as the memory of his reckless action replayed in his mind. Though he had done it to clear her mind and relieve her hatred, he couldn't deny the trouble it had caused for both of them.

"But if it wasn't for me, this wouldn't have happened. You wouldn't have gotten hurt," Origami said, her voice trembling as she remained in the dogeza position.

Shido felt a sharp pain in his chest as he tried to get out of bed to lift her up. However, the sudden surge of pain in his chest forced him to stop.

Fortunately, he bought Pain Resistance (Intermediate Level), which greatly reduced the pain she should have originally felt. 

However, Shido grimaced as he was still not used to this feeling. Having lived in a peaceful world, he had never experienced such serious injuries aside from the occasional slaps from his ex-girlfriends.

Origami noticed the pain in his face and rushed to his side, supporting him.

Her concerned tone filled the air. "Are you okay?"

Shido gave her a small smile and gently patted the hand that supported him. "I'm fine, it's just a little sore" he reassured her. Then, he placed her hand over the spot where his injury had once been, now healed.

"See? There's no more wound."

For a moment, Origami was at a loss for words, staring at his chest in a daze. Her hand rested on his bare skin, and the warmth radiating from him stirred a strange sensation within her.

Though she had helped him remove his clothes soaked in blood earlier, she had been too panicked to pay attention to anything else.

She even scolded herself for bringing Shido to her apartment instead of a hospital. Fortunately, she soon noticed his wound healing at an unusually fast pace, surprising her.

However, considering that he was now a Spirit, it made more sense.

But now, seeing his naked chest, something unfamiliar welled up inside Origami. Slowly and almost subconsciously, she gently caressed the spot where the injury had been.

Yet, Origami felt her body become a bit hot as she began gasping hot breath. 

Shido was speechless by her actions, and could only stare in silence.

"Origami-san... what are you doing?" he asked in an awkward voice looking at her with a wry smile.

It took Origami a second to snap out of it. Quickly, her usual deadpan expression returned. "Nothing unusual. I'm just checking to see if there are any scars left," she replied, though her voice lacked conviction.

Shido knew that her excuse was far from genuine, but he let it slide. "One of my abilities allows me to heal quickly," he explained with a smile. "See? All gone now."

Origami sighed deeply, her expression serious. "So, you really became a Spirit, huh?"

Though she tried to sound indifferent, her words were weighed by the conflict within her. Despite the hatred she had for Spirits due to the death of her parents, Shido held a crucial place in her life.

He was one of the few people who had given her the strength to go on, and she could never hate him, no matter what his nature had become.

Looking at him, her heart ached as she recalled her sudden outburst. She had been so furious and disappointed, that the one person she cared for was now one of the very beings she despised.

The image of Shido stabbing himself with her sword, just to ease her pain, haunted her.

However, when she saw his gentle smile as he almost died before her eyes, her anger disappeared and was replaced by the fear she felt when she lost her parents.

The thought of also losing him made her world collapse.

"Yeah, I'm a Spirit," Shido answered calmly, offering a warm smile.

Origami fell silent, still processing his words. She didn't react with the anger that once consumed her. Instead, she stared at him for a long moment, but Shido could see the disappointment and sadness in her eyes.

He gave her a bitter smile. "I was originally human, but… I accidentally turned into a Spirit."

Origami frowned, skeptical. "How is that possible? How can a human turn into a Spirit?"

Shido shrugged lightly, an amused smile playing on his face.

"Well, just because you don't know doesn't mean it isn't possible, right?"

"I see." Origami became thoughtful and pressed her lips into a thin line. 

Shido then continued and his expression became more serious. "Origami, not all Spirits are evil. I've told you that before."

She hesitated, a faint bitterness in her voice. "Even so, their very existence causes Spatial Quakes."

Shido met her gaze. "That's where I come in," he said confidently. "I can seal a Spirit's Reiryoku."

Origami remained silent, her expression still unchanged.

"Don't worry," Shido added, holding her hands firmly. "You can leave it to me."

Her defenses seemed to finally crumble while her head was slowly lowering and stared at his hand in hers. 'It's warm…' she thought, almost lost in the moment.

Then she looked up at Shido again and saw his eyes that were full of sincerity.

"Origami," Shido continued gently, "you know Spirits come from another world, right?"

She nodded slightly, responding to his words.

"You see, I've actually acquired a spell from another world that can resurrect the dead."

Upon hearing his revelation, Origami's hands shot up to his shoulders with force.

Her eyes flickered as she locked onto his, desperate and filled with hope. "Are you serious?" Her voice trembled with a mixture of disbelief, excitement, and joy. 

Shido was taken aback by her sudden reaction, but he couldn't blame her for becoming so agitated, so he nodded firmly.

"Yeah, I still haven't fully mastered it yet, so I can't use it right now. But I will be able to in the future."

Origami paused, her breath hitching. Her hands loosened from his shoulders as her whole body slumped in relief. She seemed almost deflated.

Fearing she might be disappointed that he couldn't use the power yet, Shido immediately tried to reassure her.

"I'll master it as soon as possible," he promised.

Origami shook her head quickly, her voice was faint as she whispered, "N-No, you don't have to rush it. I-I'm just happy to know that there's a way to bring my parents back."

Her emotions seemed to overflow all at once. Her face fell, her hands hiding her face as tears began to fall. "Thank you, thank you... Shido..." she cried, her voice breaking with real emotion.

Shido stood frozen for a moment, watching Origami, the unbreakable wizard, cry before him.

It tugged at his heart in ways he couldn't explain. He had only seen her cry once before, and the memory still lingered painfully in his mind.

Unable to bear seeing her like this anymore, Shido acted on instinct, pulling her fragile body into a tight embrace. Origami was taken aback, her cries faltering for a moment.

She looked up at him, the confusion fading as his soothing voice reached her ears.

"It's alright," he whispered, holding her tightly. "I'm here. I'll make sure to revive your parents."

Hearing those words, Origami finally let go of everything causing her sobs to intensify as she embraced Shido tightly, feeling his warm body. Forgetting all about the awkwardness of his still-bare chest, she buried her face on his chest, repeating his name with each sob.

And Shido, once again gently held her, offering whatever comfort he could to ease her emotions, for just a moment, her world seemed a little less heavy.