(Iris POV)

"So...you're telling me that my sister is now engaged to Kage?" I questioned.

"Yeah." Lily nodded.

Why is my heart hurting...?

It's probably nothing.

"I still don't understand him." I sighed. "I'd like to get along with him, especially since he's going to be my brother-in-law but he's always cold to me. Such a jerk."

"Huh?" Lily replied, confused.

"Huh?" I said, confused at her reaction.

"You said Ken was...cold?" She questioned.

"Yeah." I nodded. "Every time we meet."

"That's strange..." Lily replied.

"How come?" I wondered.

"Well, Ken's never been cold to me or Eric. Sure, he can be an asshole, but he's a kind asshole. I've never seen him be a straight-up jerk to anyone, actually." Lily explained.

"Really? Then it's just me?" I wondered, confused.

"Yeah. Did you do something to piss him off?" Lily asked.

I looked back into my memories, but the first time I can remember meeting him was at the library. He was a jerk back then as well.

"I don't remember doing anything to him..." I replied. "The first time we met he was a jerk."

"Hmmm..." Lily hummed. "What if he's a tsundere?"

"Like...from manga and anime?" I asked for confirmation.

"Yeah." Lily nodded. "He's always been one to deny, like how he denied that he helped with that battle between Cole and Eric even though I know he did."

Kage might have liked me...? Why does that make me feel so...elated?

"Then what about his engagement with Irene?" I asked.

"Well, both you and Irene look very similar, and as her bodyguard he was stuck by her side for quite a while. Maybe he ended up falling for her?" Lily wondered.

Could...that be true?

"And when I asked, he tried to deny that they were dating." Lily added. "I've been having suspicions, but I'm pretty sure he's a tsundere."

Could Kage really be a tsundere?

If so, that means he might have liked me. After all, no matter how much I search my memories I can't find a single reason for him to hate me. And like Lily said, I've never seen Kage act like that towards anyone else. I was the sole exception.

And I know he's kind. He helped me with the situation between Lily, Eric, and Cole. I ended up looking at the usb file and I found that he somehow did get a video.

How he did that still eludes me, but maybe that has something to do with the increase in security that happened the day after?

But if he is tsundere, it would certainly explain his attitude.

But that would mean he would like me...

Like me...

Like me...

"You like him, don't you?" Lily suddenly asked.

"W-what?!" I exclaimed in surprise.

"It's obvious." Lily smiled. "You're like me."

Wait...If you're like me...

"You like someone Lily?" I gasped.

Lily blushed a deep red. "...yeah." She quietly confirmed.

"Who is it?" I asked.

"I'm not telling, not until you admit it!" Lily declared.

"What?" I asked.

"You have to admit that you like him first." Lily smirked.

Kage...

I can't get you off of my mind. No matter what I do, you always seem to be occupying my thoughts somehow.

And when I see you with Irene, it hurts. But I can't do anything, because I love you both.

I love you both....

Both...

I love Kage, don't I?

He's been such a jerk, I never thought I'd fall for someone like him. But if you look past that, you'll see that it's actually just a mask.

He's incredibly kind.

And that's why I fell for him. Because despite how he is, you'll know that he will be there for you, through thick and thin. Not matter what.

Like how despite he acts towards me, he saved Irene, Mother, and even myself. Even though he never had any obligation to. Even as Irene's bodyguard, he still could have run.

But he didn't.

And so as I thought of him more, my affections started to grow. And now I'm here.

"I love him." I stated, my mind finally clear.

Lily gasped in surprise, before smiling. "Now you just have to say that to his face."

"W-what?" I gasped. "I can't! He has my sister!"

"You're right." Lily sighed. "I'm not sure what to do about that. But you shouldn't bottle up your feelings."

"Who's the person you love? You promised." I asked, trying to change the topic.

"Eric." Lily stated with certainty. "He's the one I love."

"I can see why you'd like him." I smiled, thinking about everything Eric did for Lily.

Even if he himself didn't realize how big of an impact his actions were, they likely changed Lily's whole world.

Especially with what she has told me.

"I'm thinking of confessing." Lily added. "Once everything calms down."

"Really?" I gasped.

"Yeah. I'll let everything calm down, and then I'll try. I just...love him so much. And seeing Irene and Ken has made me realize just how much I want that kind of relationship with him." Lily explained.

"Well, I wish you luck." I smiled.

I think Eric and Lily would be a wonderful couple.

"You should go talk to Irene." Lily stated.

"I couldn't!" I argued.

"You should." Lily responded.

But I don't want to break their relationship...

It hurts.

It hurts so much, to know that after I finally realized my feelings, my first love was snatched away by my sister.

I don't hate her, I never could. But it hurts, it hurts so much.

It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts.

I want him.

No.

I need him.

I need him, or else I might just break.

"You're right." I sighed. "I need to talk to Irene, otherwise this will eat away at me while we track down Isaac."

Lily nodded. "Go on."

"Alright. Thank you." I smiled.

And so I walked to Irene's room. Every footstep I took increased the rate at which my heart raced.

I need to tell her.

I just hope this doesn't break their relationship. Our ours.

I knocked on the door to Irene's room. The door opened, revealing Kage in his bodyguard suit.

HE'S SO HOT!!!!

I could feel the heat rush to my cheeks.

Calm down! Calm down!

"Is Irene here?" I asked.

"Yeah." He nodded.

"Can I talk to her? Alone?" I wondered.

Immediately his eyes narrowed at me.

"Tell me something only you and I would know, Aegis." He coldly stated.

Huh? Why?

A thought immediately rushed to my head. That fated meeting, that incidental encounter. What changed everything for me.

"We met for the first time at the Library." I stated.

"Oh, so it is you Aegis. I had to make sure you weren't someone else. You can go on in. I'll wait out here." Ken explained.

So that's what it was about.

He stepped outside of the room while I entered. I closed the door behind me, leaving him out into the hallway.

"Iris? What's going on?" Irene asked.

She was at her desk, currently planning our moves against Isaac's safe houses.

"I need to tell you something important. How sound proof are these walls?" I asked.

"They're sound proof. No one outside will hear us. What is it?" Irene wondered.

"I'm in love with Kage." I stated.

"..." Irene stayed silent, most likely from shock. The pencil in her hand snapped. "...what?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm in love with Kage. I had to tell you." I said again.

"Why?" Irene shortly asked. "Why do you love him?"

"He's...so kind. Despite how much he tried to hide it, he's one of the kindest people I have met. He's helped us so much. And...everything about him is great. I just can't stop thinking about him..." I explained. "I could go on for hours."

"I know exactly how you feel." Irene nodded. "He's incredible. Truly a god among men."

"Exactly!" I agreed.

Irene looked at me, wide-eyed, before smiling. "I have an idea."

"What is it?" I asked.

"I love you Iris, and I also love Ken. So how about we share him?" Irene suggested.

I gasped. "You don't mean..?!"

"We can become his wives. Together." Irene smiled.

"Are you sure?" I asked, uncertain.

"Completely. You love him just as much as I do." Irene stated.

"Yeah...I do." I nodded.

I love him.

I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him. I love him.

"Thank you." I smiled at her.

I then exited Irene's room, my feet light and my heart filled. She'll share him with me!

I better start calling him Ken instead of Kage! After all, he'll be my future husband! Oh, just thinking for the future is making me so excited!

We could make...a family...

"I'll see you later Ken!" I happily said as I passed him.

"Alright..." He responded. "...wait what?"

I LOVE HIM!!!!!!