Yukinoshita Yukino sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers unconsciously gripping the bed sheet.
Haruno took out a tablet from her bag, pulled up a few photos, and handed them to her.
"These were taken secretly by me."
In the photos, Mrs. Yukinoshita was wearing her signature kimono as usual. But her usually immaculate up-do had a few strands fallen loose.
She was looking down at some documents, and even makeup couldn't hide the dark circles beneath her eyes. Tension at the corners of her mouth betrayed a fatigue unlike anything Yukino had ever witnessed.
Yukino felt her heart clench abruptly.
She had never seen her mother —always so composed and dignified, now looking so…vulnerable.
"Since last month, several companies have teamed up with foreign enterprises to launch a systematic attack on our Yukinoshita family's business," Haruno said calmly.
"Three major projects have been forced to halt, and Mother has been handling it all alone. She has no easy breakthrough."
"Why out of nowhere…"
Yukino's voice trembled.
"They obviously dare."
Haruno sneered. "In an ordinary person's eyes, the Yukinoshita family is big. But from a broader perspective, we're small."
Yukino's fingers dug into the sheets.
Haruno continued: "Mother doesn't want me getting tied down by the Yukinoshita enterprise. She never intended for me to step in."
Yukino bit her lip, imagining what her mother's face would be like saying that—her pride and obstinacy, refusing to show weakness even in dire straits.
"So your reason for coming here is…"
Yukino locked eyes with her sister. Haruno took a deep breath and made the proposal she had turned over in her mind many times:
"First, I want Rei Ao-kun to get involved."
She paused, her voice turning oddly gentle:
"I think Rei Ao-kun should make a move on Mother, like he did with Mrs. Koharu and Ms. Ai Sakurajima."
Yukino froze, as if struck by lightning. Her first instinct was to reject Haruno's preposterous idea. But Haruno placed a hand on her trembling one.
"Hear me out, Yukino.
"Number one: it ensures Mother's mental and physical well-being.
"Number two: you know what Rei Ao-kun's capable of. He can restore her youth, free her from the mortal coil."
Haruno's eyes flickered with a vulnerability Yukino had never seen in her sister.
"This way… we can actually be a real family for once. Don't you want to see what Mother's smile looks like?"
A childhood memory flashed through Yukino's mind—her mother's eternally upright posture, never turning back. If there were another possibility…
"This is insane…" Yukino mumbled, but her tone had lost its firmness.
Haruno smiled like she'd already won. She knew that once Yukino started hesitating, her resolve was wavering.
Next came her trump card. Pulling out her phone, she played a short video.
"Watch this before you decide."
Mrs. Yukinoshita stood alone on a rooftop. Night wind tore at her hair. Gazing out at the brilliant city lights, she slowly sank to her knees, burying her face in her hands—displaying a collapse nobody, not even her daughters, had seen before.
Yukino's irises shrank sharply, and a tear of heartbreak slipped down her cheek.
At that moment, a startled cry came from the living room.
"Rei Ao? You suddenly…"
The bedroom door opened quietly.
A tall figure leaned against the doorway. His black hair still short, his iridescent eyes shining mysteriously, wearing that lazy smile.
"Sorry for barging in on sisterly bonding," Rei Ao's voice was smooth and comforting like warm honey. "But I think since you're discussing me, the person in question should have a say, right?"
Yukino and Haruno both froze. Rei Ao smirked softly, walking over to sit next to Yukino, sliding an arm around her shoulders as though it were the most natural thing.
His gaze slid over the tablet in Haruno's hand.
"Those who dared bully my future mother-in-law vanished from this world one second ago."
Silence thickened in the room. Haruno recovered first and blinked.
"When did you get back?"
Rei Ao smiled. "Just now." After leaving Mikoto and the others with a few matters, he'd returned.
Yukino finally found her voice.
"You… you're really willing to accept Mother? She's so stubborn, so proud…"
Gently wiping the tears from her face, Rei Ao said:
"Yukino, have you forgotten my abilities?"
He paused with a sly grin.
"Though, I'm more interested in Haruno's other suggestion."
Haruno laughed aloud.
"Aha, I knew it. You had this idea from the start."
Rei Ao stood, stretching languidly.
"Well, ladies, let's pay a visit to Mother tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Academy City was far from calm after Rei Ao's departure.
Morning light slipped through a gap in the curtains, cutting golden geometric shapes across the bed sheet.
Mikoto Misaka, sitting on the bed, stared at the nanoscopic 'Hovering Particle Lines' floating near the ceiling. These devices—smaller than dust—projected real-time images of the entire Academy City onto her iridescent pupils.
Rei Ao was gone, but someone still had to run the city. He'd left that to Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki. The Hovering Particle Lines were little helpful tools he'd left behind. Of course, their biggest "boost" was still the power from his blessings that had greatly raised their personal abilities.
In a corner of the room, Shokuhou's blonde hair crackled with arcs of electricity from Mikoto's swirling power, yet no harm befell her. Originally, Mikoto would have just cast lightning down from afar to deal with a few troublemakers. Now it was easier than ever.
[Name]: Mikoto Misaka
[Abilities]: [Electro Master], [Rei Ao's Blessing]
The blessings from Rei Ao didn't just enhance one's strength, but transformed the nature of their abilities. Even a regular Level 5 was no match for her now.
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