At the Yuigahama Household.
After quite a bit of busy work, Yui's mother (in Yui's body) finished preparing dinner.
Under her enthusiastic hospitality, Rei Ao joined them for the meal.
During dinner, Rei Ao also explained to Yui's mother what was happening to them.
Yui's mother first looked like she understood, then showed a worried expression.
"Yui, are you struggling with something? Any problems or worries?"
Because if it was Yui's adolescent troubles—her "Puberty Syndrome"—she must have something on her mind. Showing concern, Yui's mother urged:
"You can talk to Mom about anything."
Yui lowered her head, busying herself with her food. She could never tell her mom about that.
Seeing that Yui refused to respond, Yui's mother could only sigh in resignation:
"Sigh, so Yui's finally at that rebellious age?"
"No way, Mom—just quit asking already!"
Yui couldn't bear seeing her mom wear that dejected look, especially while using her own body—it felt all sorts of wrong!
"All right, all right."
Yui's mother, who knew her daughter was shy, didn't push further. As long as it wasn't about school bullying, that was fine. Instead, she turned to Rei Ao:
"Rei Ao-kun, do you know how we can get back to normal?"
Rei Ao thought for a moment:
"The simplest way is for Yui to resolve her adolescent troubles, which would make the 'Puberty Syndrome' vanish."
From Yui's behavior, though, it was apparent that was easier said than done—she was too embarrassed to talk about her worries.
"Is there any other way?"
"There's one that involves me," Rei Ao said calmly. "I can grant someone a power called a 'Blessing.'"
Both Yui and her mother were unfamiliar with the word.
"Simply put, if Yui obtains this power, she can turn her Puberty Syndrome into a type of superpower and control it herself."
"There's something like that?"
Yui's mother was amazed. So Rei Ao really could give people superpowers—no wonder Kawasaki Saki had wanted to learn from him. Still, she felt it couldn't be so simple.
"Doesn't that cause problems for you, Rei Ao-kun?"
"No, it doesn't," Rei Ao shook his head. "But I only grant my Blessing to people who are as close to me as family."
Put plainly, he wouldn't casually give a Blessing to just anyone.
"As close as family..."
Yui lowered her head further. Yui's mother thought of the fact that he apparently had more than one girlfriend, so she realized this might not be easily resolved. Rei Ao then gave an additional warning:
"There's something else you have to know. Puberty Syndrome can be both minor and quite serious."
"For example, if you two stay swapped too long, you might never switch back."
Both mother and daughter jerked their heads up in alarm. Being stuck in each other's bodies forever would be devastating!
They were about to barrage him with questions when Rei Ao suddenly narrowed his eyes at something. Yui was about to speak, but her mom held up a hand to stop her. Being good at reading the situation, she saw that Rei Ao seemed to be concentrating on something.
Indeed, there was an urgent matter:
[Ding! Eriri has sent a trade request!]
[Trade Content]: Save her!
[Ding! Please choose the trade content!]
"Save her?" It seemed Eriri had encountered trouble. The trade detail was vague, but Rei Ao saw no reason not to take advantage of an open trade. He immediately accepted Eriri's only trade condition. He had thought Eriri might hesitate and confirm details, but to his surprise, she accepted almost instantly.
A trade notice appeared in the group chat:
[Ding! Trade has begun!]
[Trading Partner]: Eriri
[Trade Content]: Save her!
[Trade Condition]: "Body Usage Right Once"
[Duration]: Unlimited
The startled exclamation came from Yui.
"What's wrong?" her mother asked.
"N-nothing... I was just thinking how delicious Mom's cooking is!"
She couldn't reveal the group chat incident, so Yui stuffed food in her mouth, hiding her shock at the chat's updates.
Rei Ao, meanwhile, asked Eriri directly in the group: "@Eriri, what's going on?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "What's with this trade? Didn't Eriri look fine around midday?"
Eriri: "Ugh, I don't know. I just got home, and Mom tied me up—she said she wants to eat me. Please help me—help her, too!"
Kawasaki Saki: "Huh?! Your mom wants to eat you?!"
Late at night in her room, Saki felt all her hair standing on end. She glanced back at her closet—was it still shut or moved?
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "Tsk, you're saying that refined, gentle Mrs. Sawamura Kaori is going to eat you?"
Eriri: "I don't know! She's boiling water, it's super scary! Aaah!!! Mom—she's got a knife now!!!"
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Rei Ao-kun, it looks like you need to hurry over there."
Yuigahama Yui: "Yes, go quickly, Rei Ao-kun!"
It was indeed urgent. Rei Ao stood up: "Yui, I'm heading out. If you need more details, please explain to your mom."
With that, he vanished on the spot.
Yui's mother looked blank:
"Yui, what's happening?"
Yui answered gravely:
"One of my classmates is in danger—Rei Ao-kun went to save her."
It sounded quite serious. After pondering for a few seconds, Yui's mother couldn't help asking:
"Yui, can you tell me who Rei Ao-kun is exactly? He's so extraordinary."
That question left Yui at a loss for an immediate answer. To her, Rei Ao was a classmate, a friend, a complicated crush, and a very powerful person. If she had to describe him to her mother...
At last, Yui came up with a suitable term:
"He's basically...a guardian, I guess?"
That term evoked a grand, righteous image in Yui's mother's mind. Even Rei Ao himself never expected to be described in such a way.
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