Kill da Zombie

The next day, Lucas waited in front of the school gate. He wore casual clothes: a plain black T-shirt, a denim jacket, and comfortable pants. This time, he wanted to make sure his date with Saeko went smoothly, especially since he knew Saeko wasn't the type of girl who cared too much about romantic things like Takagi.

Before long, Saeko appeared, wearing an outfit that surprised Lucas a little. She had on a simple dark blue blouse, paired with a long white skirt and elegant sandals. Her long hair remained tied up as usual, but there was something different about her aura—softer, more relaxed.

Lucas smiled. "Saeko Busujima in casual clothes? Now that's a rare sight."

Saeko gave a small smile. "I'm still human, Lucas. I don't always wear a kendo uniform."

Lucas chuckled. "Of course, of course. Let's go."

They started their date with a walk through the city park. Unlike his date with Takagi, which had been filled with intellectual discussions and a bit of debating, the atmosphere with Saeko was more peaceful. They simply enjoyed the scenery, talked about small things, and shared light laughter.

"I'm curious," Lucas suddenly said, "have you ever been on a date before?"

Saeko shook her head slightly. "No. I was never really interested in things like that before. Besides, most guys who tried to approach me were only interested in my looks or my status in kendo."

Lucas nodded in understanding. "Yeah, I can see that. You have quite an intimidating aura for most guys."

Saeko chuckled. "And you? Did you feel afraid?"

Lucas thought for a moment, then smiled. "Honestly? At first, maybe a little. But now, I just see a strong girl that I deeply respect."

Saeko looked at him with an unreadable expression, but there was a faint blush on her cheeks.

After their walk, they went to a small restaurant for lunch. Saeko seemed to genuinely enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, something she rarely experienced.

However, as they finished their meal, Lucas noticed a change in Saeko's expression. It was as if she had something on her mind but was hesitant to say it.

"What's wrong?" Lucas asked.

Saeko remained silent for a moment before finally speaking in a soft voice. "Lucas… I want to tell you something about my past."

Lucas wasn't surprised. He had always known that Saeko was carrying something heavy inside her. "I'm listening."

Saeko stared at the table for a moment, then took a deep breath. "When I was in middle school, I was attacked by an upperclassman. He tried to… do something horrible to me."

Lucas clenched his fists without realizing it.

"I managed to fight back and hurt him pretty badly," Saeko continued. "I should have felt relieved that I was able to protect myself… but at that moment, I felt something strange. I enjoyed watching him in pain."

Lucas looked at Saeko seriously. He could see the hesitation and fear in her eyes.

"You're afraid of yourself," Lucas finally said.

Saeko nodded slowly. "I'm afraid that one day, I'll lose control. That I… might not be a good person."

Lucas let out a deep breath, then gently took Saeko's hand. "Listen, I don't care how dark your past is. I accept all of it. You're not a monster, Saeko. You're just someone who has been hurt, and that's not your fault."

Saeko's eyes widened slightly. "Lucas…"

Lucas smiled. "And if you're ever afraid of losing control, I'll be there to stop you."

Saeko stared at him deeply, then, without warning, she pulled Lucas into a brief but meaningful kiss.

When they pulled apart, Saeko's eyes sparkled. "I love you, Lucas."

Lucas stared at her in silence. He had already suspected it from the way Saeko treated him, but hearing those words directly still made his heart tremble.

However, Lucas wasn't the type to give a half-hearted answer.

He took a deep breath before speaking honestly, "Saeko, I love you too. But…" He looked at Saeko seriously. "I also love someone else. I love Takagi too."

Saeko looked at Lucas for a moment, her expression unreadable. But instead of getting angry or disappointed, her lips curved into a small smile.

"In that case," she said softly, "I only have one condition."

Lucas looked at her, slightly confused. "Condition?"

Saeko met his gaze directly, her eyes filled with determination. "You have to be fair to us. Don't take sides and don't make either of us feel neglected."

Lucas fell silent, considering her words.

Then Saeko continued in a softer yet resolute voice, "And I hold firmly to one principle… a wife must be obedient to her husband."

Lucas nearly choked on his breath. "Wife? Husband?"

Saeko smiled, her expression slightly teasing. "Do you think I'm joking?"

Lucas scratched his head, feeling a bit nervous. "You're really serious about this, huh?"

Saeko nodded firmly. "I don't mind sharing your love with Takagi, as long as you remain fair. I won't ask for more because I trust you."

Lucas let out a sigh, then gave a small smile. "I don't know if I deserve that much trust, but I'll do my best not to disappoint you."

Saeko smiled gently, then without hesitation, she leaned in again and gave Lucas a brief kiss on the lips.

"I'll be waiting to see how you handle all of this, Lucas."

Saeko smiled happily, but before Lucas could say anything else, she softly added, "And as I told you before… a wife must obey her husband."

Lucas could only chuckle. He knew his life was going to get even more complicated, but strangely, he didn't feel burdened at all.

He felt… happy.