Yatogami Tohka: "What's wrong?"
Tohka didn't really understand why everyone was reacting so strongly to what she said.
Hiiragi Shinoa: "Generally speaking, a girl asking a guy to flirt with her is either…err… bold or downright wild."
Kasuga Hijiri: "I don't think so. I've interacted with Tohka, and she doesn't come off that way at all."
Rei Ao: "She really isn't that type of person."
Rei Ao: "@Yatogami Tohka, what do you think 'flirting' means?"
Yatogami Tohka: "Isn't it just the act of making someone like you? I think Rei Ao is a good person, so I like him. Did I say something wrong?"
Akame: "No, you didn't. We just misunderstood."
Megumi Kato: "I guess Tohka's just very…pure?"
Frieren: "Right, I recall Rei Ao said Tohka's world has these special 'Spirits' and a 'Neighboring Dimension.' Tohka probably hasn't had much human contact or exposure to such knowledge."
Izawa Shizuka: "She's so innocent. I'm kind of jealous."
Frieren: "Ah, youth really is wonderful."
Miko Yotsuya: "Why is everyone suddenly sounding nostalgic…?"
Saeko Busujima: "It's nothing. Let's just say Tohka's little misunderstanding is cleared up."
Ai Hayasaka: "Hey, @Rei Ao, I have something I'd like to ask you."
Hiiragi Shinoa: "Hmm? A confession, maybe?"
Erica: "But she's only met the King once, hasn't she?"
Yomogawa Ayame: "Meeting him once and finding everything about Rei Ao irresistible is perfectly normal, isn't it?"
Erica: "…You know, you have a point."
Realizing she herself had done the same, Erica couldn't argue.
Mikoto Misaka: "Hehehe, why assume it's a confession? Let's hear her out first."
Rei Ao: "Go ahead, I'm listening."
Ai Hayasaka: "It's …about how I got back here, but someone found out. What am I supposed to do? Could you explain it to me, Rei Ao?"
Sakurajima Mai: "Someone found out about your return?"
Bibi Dong: "Why were you so careless?"
Ai Hayasaka: "I'm very sorry. She's the young lady I serve. I never expected her to be waiting in my room."
Saeko Busujima: "Sounds like an unavoidable accident."
Rei Ao's eyes flickered. He already knew about Ai's identity.
Rei Ao: "You're talking about Shinomiya Kaguya, right?"
Ai Hayasaka: "Rei Ao, you knew?"
Rei Ao: "Mm, it's not difficult to figure out. I'm sorry you ended up exposed like that."
Her heart sank. As expected, I should never have let that happen.
Ai Hayasaka: "Am I…going to be punished for my mistake?"
Rei Ao: "Yes. Want to know what it is?"
Rei Ao: "Basically, we'd erase your very existence from the world—body, soul, even your name and every memory of you. That would be the punishment for being discovered."
She clutched her sheets, turning pale at the severity of it. She had never expected such a penalty for appearing under mysterious circumstances.
Rei Ao: "If I said 'just kidding,' would you be relieved?"
Everyone realized the situation might have reversed.
Ai Hayasaka: "I…wouldn't be."
After a brief hesitation, that was her answer—surprising everyone.
Miko Yotsuya: "Uh, I have a question—our chat group has a punishment like that?"
Akame: "I've never seen such a thing. No idea."
Frieren: "So it probably doesn't exist?"
Yatogami Tohka: "Then why'd Rei Ao say that?"
Mikoto Misaka: "Because he's a twisted joker who likes messing with people! That's so mean!"
Yatogami Tohka: "Oh."
Rei Ao: "Hahaha, indeed. Just a prank."
Shiba Miyuki: "But Ai Hayasaka's reply is rather concerning, isn't it?"
Bibi Dong: "She wants…to die?"
Aihara Enju: "Why would she want that? Everything's fine, isn't it?"
Ai Hayasaka: "It'd be a kind of…release."
Her expression was full of sorrow. Her very presence would bring a bad end to Lady Kaguya, who cared about her deeply… In turn, Ai was tormented by guilt.
Sakurajima Mai: "Rei Ao, so that's…?"
Rei Ao: "Simply put, the young lady she serves is from a powerful conglomerate family. Her older brother is competing with her for control of the family business. She's an obstacle, so Ai Hayasaka was assigned by that brother to spy on her—despite also being her friend. That's why Ai feels guilty and wants to be free of it all."
Rei Ao: "Not sure if I missed anything. Feel free to add if you want."
Her mouth fell open. He'd described it succinctly but accurately.
Ai Hayasaka: "How do you know all this…?"
She realized that with Rei Ao's abilities, it might not be hard for him to find out, after all.
Ai Hayasaka: "Sorry. I asked too many questions."
Hiiragi Shinoa: "Wow, that's quite a complicated situation. But family feuds among nobles are always nasty."
Miko Yotsuya: "Ugh, hearing all that, I pictured myself as Ai, and my friend as that lady. I'd feel awful too, like I was betraying a friend. That's definitely guilt-inducing."
Fubuki: "You're kind, Miko. Not everyone is that nice. Some betray their friends on purpose and don't lose any sleep over it."
She'd seen too much ugliness in life.
Izawa Shizuka: "Still, wanting to die over it is too pessimistic. Ai Hayasaka, have you considered just telling her the truth?"
Ai Hayasaka: "I can't…"
Her entire family was under the Shinomiya household. She had no power at all.
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