After the tutoring session ended, Mafuyu Kirisu and her two students left. Each departed in a hurry, their expressions either perplexed or brimming with a strange mixture of emotions.
"Pfft! Rei Ao, it looks like Fumino and the others have caught on that you're a scoundrel."
The moment they left, Emilia flicked her gaze at Rei Ao and launched straight into teasing.
"What's this, are you upset because I didn't kiss you?"
He slipped an arm around Yukino on one side and Mai on the other, raising his eyebrows as though the matter were self-evident. By his tone, he could tell she was jealous.
"J-jealous? Who's jealous? Why on earth would I be jealous of you?! Don't be ridiculous!"
Just like that, Emilia's voice rose an octave, her string of exclamations betraying her agitation.
"See, Yukino, that's called a 'tsundere.'" Rei Ao turned to Yukino. "You could try acting like that once in a while—I'd like to see it."
Yukino realized he was deliberately provoking Emilia, so she merely rolled her eyes.
"Pervert! Creep! Hentai!"
Flustered, Emilia's cheeks reddened. Rei Ao's playful touches did nothing to calm her; in fact, it emboldened him to tease her more. Finally, utterly unable to handle it, she fled back to her own room, her face burning.
"Rei Ao, aren't you pushing it by tormenting Emilia like that?" Mai asked quietly. One of her slender hands had, at some point, found its way to his side, attempting that dreaded "waist pinch" many men fear—though on Rei Ao's tough body, it did little.
"Haha, don't you think a flustered Emilia is really cute?"
He was clearly having fun, while Yukino and the others just exchanged wry looks. Emilia's reaction reminded them of their own flustered states back when Rei Ao's affections first caught them off guard...
Martial Hall City, Martial Hall Hall
"Your Holiness, the preparations for the enthronement ceremony are almost complete. Most of the important guests have already arrived," reported Chrysanthemum Douluo respectfully.
In the seat of the Supreme Pontiff, dressed in gleaming platinum vestments, sat Bibi Dong. She opened her eyes.
"Very well, we can begin."
Back at Rei Ao's place, just as he was about to "help Yukino adapt" to certain activities, she suddenly exclaimed, cheeks red, "R-Rei Ao, look at the chat group!"
Rei Ao stopped. He'd been on the verge of some serious intimacy with Yukino, but now he glanced at the group chat—and saw a new message from Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong: "@Rei Ao, my enthronement ceremony is about to begin. Will...will you come?"
She was clearly full of anticipation. Rei Ao had no choice but to pause.
"You got lucky this time, Yukino," he teased. "Looks like you're off the hook for now."
Still blushing hard, Yukino hastily adjusted her disheveled clothes. She'd nearly sunk too deep... Feeling everyone else's gaze on her, she flushed even more.
"H-hurry up, go! Bibi Dong clearly has something urgent!"
Seeing the anxious look on her face, Rei Ao could only shrug. Mai let out a small sigh; it was obvious that Bibi Dong's request had effectively saved Yukino for the time being.
Rei Ao took the coat Tohru offered him and typed in the group chat:
Rei Ao: "Sure, send me a trade request."
[Ding! Bibi Dong is initiating a trade request with you!]
[Trade Content: Attend her enthronement ceremony!]
[Ding! Please select the trade terms!]
Bibi Dong would surely agree to any terms he chose, so:
[Ding! Trade initiated!]
[Trade Target]: Bibi Dong
[Trade Content]: Attend her enthronement ceremony!
[Trade Terms]: 'Unlimited body usage rights'
Frieren: "Ooh, at last the enthronement is happening?"
Yomogawa Ayame: "So in this chat group, we'll soon have someone like an empress."
Mikoto Misaka: "The Supreme Pontiff... sounds intimidating."
Stella: "Ahem, and don't forget there's also this Imperial Princess – me – watching."
Saeko Busujima: "So when will you inherit your throne, Stella?"
Stella: "Uh...my father is still young, you know... Besides, I don't actually want to inherit the throne so soon. I'd be happy if my father lives to a hundred."
Hiiragi Shinoa: "So you want your dad to work forever? Poor guy."
Stella: "Ack! That's not what I meant!"
Shiba Miyuki: "Hahaha. Speaking of which, I'd love to see a livestream of the Pope's enthronement. Is it possible..."
Miko Yotsuya: "Yes, a livestream, please!"
At the mere suggestion of such an event, Miko all but jumped from her bed, rummaging for snacks and drinks before scrambling back:
Miko Yotsuya: "Soda, chips, all set!"
Rei Ao: "Haha, you move fast. Alright, I'll stream it."
He turned to Yukino with a smile. "I'm off. Next time, we'll continue." Leaning in for a quick kiss, he then activated the trade to travel to Bibi Dong's world.
"I—I'm heading home!" sputtered Yukino, mortified by how close she'd come to succumbing. In a fluster, she scurried away.
Mai watched her go, frowning slightly. "It seems Yukino still feels guilty about this. Shouldn't we help persuade her for Rei Ao's sake, Futaba?"
Futaba looked thoughtful, wanting to assist. But Mai just sighed. "Futaba, you used to be so shy. Now you sound completely open-minded. We were partners from the start, and now you want to add even more people?"
She glowered a bit, recalling how she herself had slowly been pulled into Rei Ao's "deep waters," thoroughly devoured in every sense.
Now she found herself unexpectedly proactive too. But the truth was: everyone here had been molded to Rei Ao's shape.
In the next apartment over...
"Yukino, I'm hungry~!"
Poor Mabel, who'd only had instant noodles, perked up as soon as she spotted Yukino returning.
She tried to act cute and beg for a proper meal. But Yukino threw a packet of instant noodles in her face and dashed off to her room:
"If you're hungry, make your own instant noodles!"
Mabel stood there, letting the noodles slide off her face, completely stunned.
"Yukino...doesn't spoil me anymore...? Noooooooo!"
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