Maki fears Naoya. Yes, she loves him. Yes, she wants to spend her entire life with him. If one asked her to sacrifice her life for Naoya, she would've done that in a blink, but she fears him. Not in a way that one fears their enemy. Her fear for Naoya is much more sophisticated.
She had never seen Naoya without a smile; no matter the situation, he always smiled. If one told him that all of humanity had died, then he would still smile. It took Maki a lot to find what Naoya is thinking.
So she knew when telling him that Ogi hit him; even though he was smiling and even teased her, he was absolutely pissed.
And that makes Maki fear him. He would do batshit crazy with a smiling face. He is very paranoid and possessive, even though he doesn't know that himself. And for them, he would do anything; Maki, Mai and even that thieving fox Mei Mei know that.
But he also kept them at arm's length; he would do anything for them, but from them he expected nothing. He wanted her or Mai to be the head of Zenin, but she and Mai wanted Naoya to head Zenin and be their husband.
But she knew the moment she or Mai or even that thieving fox Mei confessed, they would be rejected without mercy.
Anyway, just like she predicted, when she came to search for Ogi on Zenin clan premises. A servant gave her the exact reply she feared.
"Naoya-sama took Ogi-sama to the clan's graveyard."
She feared Naoya because he would do things without thinking about the consequences. He is the heir; if he kills Ogi, then his position took a strong hit because of the existence of the ten-shadows technique user, which came to light. Now there is someone who can fill Naoya's position if he were about to replace him; in fact, most elders want to replace Naoya.
Maki didn't want that. Naoya is her dream, her life, her soul; he was with her and her sister when everyone was against them. He taught her how to dream, he gave her dignity, he gave her food, and he gave her shade to lean on. He gives her a big bed for sleep. He hugged her and said it was alright.
She didn't know about Mai but she, without a doubt really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really love him.
She wants Naoya to always be in the top; for that, even if she needs to swallow her hatred for her supposed father, she would do that without blinking and save him from Naoya so that Naoya can be at the top like he was born to be.
"Stop, you crazy bastard; I told you I have already dealt with him." Maki said as she saw Naoya was about to finish her father off.
He still wears his signature smile.
"…You actually brought him to a graveyard," she muttered in disbelief.
"Well, yes." He tilted his head slightly. "The aesthetic felt appropriate."
Maki looked one second away from developing a migraine.
"I told you I already dealt with him." She raised her eyebrows, trying to look serious and angry, but internally she was feeling butterflies in her stomach. She wanted to kiss him on the lips and m-maybe hold his h-h-hand.
Just imagining it causes a blush, but she holds that feeling back and tries to look serious.
"And I respected your wishes," he answered calmly. "Notice how he's still breathing. I was just playing with his."
Lie.
Just Ogi's pale face and trembling hand were enough for Maki to deduce that Naoya was serious. And pressure she felt when she arrived; Naoya already activated his Blinding Vow, but seeing her, he deactivated it.
"That's not the point!"
Naoya blinked. "Then what is the point?"
I love you.
Maki wanted to say that but held back. How can a man be so handsome and cute at the same time? She started to understand Mei Mei's weird preference for gobbling him up, but Mei Mei is still a thieving, perverted fox.
Behind Naoya, Ogi suddenly stumbled backward before collapsing onto the ground, coughing violently as though the momentary interruption had finally allowed his body to remember how breathing worked.
"Hah… hah…"
His eyes locked onto Maki instantly. "M-Maki! This lunatic—"
"Shut up." Normally, Maki wouldn't even think about disrespecting Ogi. Maki always believes if not for Naoya, she would live a life of a pacifist, who wouldn't even look up from the floor.
She wouldn't even be able to hold a sword if not for Naoya.
It was then she noticed the flower ring still hung around Ogi's neck, making the entire situation look increasingly absurd the longer one stared at it.
Maki eventually pinched the bridge of her nose. "…Why are there flowers?"
"It's a wreath. He deserved dignity in death after all. Loyalty has a price, and his price is 20,000 yen. Quite pricey, but I believe his loyalty is worth this much."
Maki didn't know what to say; he just said Ogi's loyalty is just about worth 20,000 yen. An insult of this level should leave a burn mark for Ogi, whose loyalty is everything.
"You were about to cave his skull in!"
"Elegantly."
~~~
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