A single tear rolled down Emilia's cheek.
And it was Rei Ao who had taken it.
But that tear wasn't shed for the reason one might think—she was simply in pain. For the first time in her life, the hero Emilia found herself crying because of pain. It was a sensation more confusing than being stabbed by a sword or dagger.
Rei Ao's gaze softened. He gently wiped the tear from the corner of her eye.
"Emi, I'm sorry. There are some things I just can't change."
Emilia looked at him quietly, biting her lip, then hooked her arms around his neck.
"You jerk. You already have so many women—why go after me too?"
"Heh, because I can't just ignore the Emilia who's right in front of me. You standing there was all the invitation I needed."
"Not having you, Emilia, would've left me with regrets."
His words carried genuine feeling, though they also sounded a bit like he was sweet-talking her out of his own possessive nature. Mai and the others seemed satisfied, looking on silently. Rei Ao was being gentle with Emilia.
Hearing his confession, Emilia's heart quivered. She glared at him harshly.
"You're obviously just a huge perv trying to deceive women with flowery words!"
"Hahaha, can't argue with that," Rei Ao said, not denying it. He gazed at her intently.
"So tell me, Emi—are you going to let me trick you?"
Emilia's cheeks were a rosy pink.
She let out a tiny, almost inaudible squeak of agreement.
Mai and the others smiled in contentment. Emilia had officially joined their ranks.
"But—but I'm still kinda scared…"
She shrank back a little. Even a hero had things she feared.
Tohru popped up behind Rei Ao, grinning.
"I'll give you a hand!"
The Shinomiya Household
In Ai Hayasaka's room, Kaguya Shinomiya let out a long sigh.
"Ai still hasn't come home yet? Ah, Ai… Ai… please come back soon…"
Having not seen Ai all day, Kaguya was both worried and bored to tears.
Just then, she noticed a flash of light from Ai's room. Looking carefully—
A figure materialized in the previously empty space. Kaguya's eyes went wide with shock.
Ai Hayasaka, who had just returned, stood there.
Why is Lady Kaguya in my room?
Kaguya rubbed her eyes, then looked again.
"Ai, is it really you? Am I hallucinating?"
Ai responded with a flat tone:
"Yes, Milady, it's a hallucination. I'm not really here."
Kaguya nodded, then stood and walked out of Ai's room, shutting the door behind her.
Ai silently counted: "Three, two, one…"
The door flung open again. Kaguya burst in excitedly.
"Like I'd believe that! You really are Ai!!!"
Ai realized things had gotten complicated. Sighing in exhaustion, she put on a dead-fish look of surrender.
"Yes, that's right, I'm Ai."
Kaguya leaned in to poke and prod: feeling Ai's body temperature, her skin, listening to her heartbeat, and even pressing on her chest—bigger than Kaguya's own. After a few embarrassed pokes, Kaguya concluded:
"You're definitely Ai!!!"
Ai just didn't know what to say. She can be such a goof, but only in front of me, Ai thought.
"A-Ai, just now…did you seriously appear out of nowhere, like magic?"
Kaguya's eyes were round with curiosity. She was sure she hadn't been imagining it.
Realizing she couldn't bluff her way out, Ai nodded.
"Yes, Milady, you saw correctly. I appeared all of a sudden."
Kaguya's eyes went wide with shock.
"Ai, are you a magician?!"
"Sorry, Milady, I'm just a normal person."
"Well, there is a reason…"
Ai knew she couldn't talk about the chat group. She tried a different approach:
"Let's just say I got involved in some sort of supernatural phenomenon. It also has something to do with Rei Ao… but I really can't say more. If you're curious, you could ask him yourself."
Ai deliberately brought up Rei Ao's name for Kaguya. She had her own motives; she hoped Lady Kaguya could receive help from someone as extraordinary as Rei Ao. Maybe then, Kaguya could finally be free.
That said, it was dangerous, too—Kaguya might end up, well, "all his." Knowing Rei Ao's near-succubus-like appetites from the chat group, Ai thought it was highly likely. But everything depended on Kaguya's own choices.
"Huh? Rei Ao? I don't get it…"
Kaguya's mind spun. Supernatural phenomena… and somehow it is related to Rei Ao?
Her whole worldview felt rattled. She'd been raised to believe in logic and science, and now she'd seen something that defied those principles.
Seeing Kaguya spaced out, Ai spoke up:
"Milady, how about we take a bath together?"
"Eh? If it's with you, Ai…of course I don't mind!"
"Great, let's soak for a bit. I'm tired, and I'm sure my words have you all confused. Why not relax?"
Kaguya really did have a headache.
"Sure! But, Ai, you have to sleep in my room tonight—and you're telling me everything that happened!"
She couldn't reveal the truly critical parts, but she could at least talk vaguely about the otherworldly things she'd seen. Storytelling, after all… that, she was pretty good at.
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