"Are you are you a stallion?!"
Rei Ao: "No, I'm just giving Shizuku a home."
Stella: "Huh?!"
Mai Sakurajima: "He said Shizuku confessed to him."
Frieren: "Makes sense."
~~~
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Chapter 168: Eriri and Sayuri's pillow talk, Haruno's Dilemma
Shinoa Hiragi: "This sounds like the typical excuse of a playboy who juggles multiple relationships, saying things like 'you're all my wings.'"
After reading the latest developments in the chat group, she couldn't help but voice her thoughts.
Hijiri Kasuga: "Mmm, I feel the same."
Rei Ao: "Completely wrong! We're open and honest about everything. For example, @Mai Sakurajima, @Ayame Yomogawa, @Sui, what do you think?"
Saeko Busujima: "I think it's nice. It feels like gaining a close new sister."
Ayame Yomogawa: "Agreed."
Sui: "Uh I do feel a little jealous, but it's not a big deal."
Megumi Kato: "Sigh, Rei Ao-kun handles relationships in his own unique way. I hope no one minds."
Shinoa Hiragi: "Hmm I don't really care."
After all, it wasn't her business.
Stella: "But this is my dorm room! How am I supposed to sleep with this heavy scent everywhere?!"
She knew she had no right to criticize consensual relationships, but her irritation needed an outlet. The jealousy and dissatisfaction brewing within her demanded release.
Rei Ao: "That's something I didn't account for, but hey, I didn't do anything unreasonable. You can't blame me."
Stella: "What did you do?"
Rei Ao: "For example, Shizuku wanted to use your bed, but I stopped her because I thought it was inappropriate."
Stella: "What???"
Her mind froze.
"On my bed?"
At that moment, a soft noise broke the silence.
"Mmm"
Shizuku Kurogane stirred awake. Stretching lazily, she let out a yawn and said casually,
"Oh, Stella, you're back."
""
"Heh."
Stella's shoulders began to tremble as a cold, dry laugh escaped her lips.
"Shizuku not only did you get ahead of me, but you even dared to set your sights on my bed!"
"Huh?!"
Shizuku, still groggy and bashful from exhaustion, didn't understand what was happening. But Stella's ominous aura made it clear that she wasn't to be trifled with.
Fortunately, something diverted Stella's attentiontheir world group chat.
Touka Toudou: "@Rei Ao, the one who saved me in the arena it was you, wasn't it? Stella told me your name."
Kurono Shinguuji: "Touka Toudou?"
Shizuku Kurogane: "Her?!"
Shizuku's eyes widened.
She hadn't forgotten Touka Toudouthe one who had defeated her so thoroughly.
Shizuku Kurogane: "When did she join the group?"
Stella, momentarily distracted from her anger, added,
"@Rei Ao, this was your doing, wasn't it?"
Rei Ao: "Yes, I added her as a sub-group member. Welcome."
Rei Ao: "By the way, Stella was using my power during your match, so don't feel too discouraged about losing to her."
Stella: "Hmph, as much as I hate to admit it, it was his power. Next time, I'll beat you with my own strength!"
Touka Toudou: "I see."
Touka Toudou: "Thank you, Rei Ao, for showing me a broader world and helping me recognize my own shortcomings."
Touka's expression was one of reverence. The incredible power she had witnessed in the arena remained vivid in her memory.
From now on, Rei Ao would be her ultimate goal to strive toward.
Shizuku Kurogane: "I won't be discouraged either. Next time, I'll beat you myself!"
Touka Toudou: "I look forward to it."
Rei Ao: "@Kurono Shinguuji, your academy's three star studentswhat's your take?"
Kurono Shinguuji: "I'm pleased. They'll go far."
Rei Ao: "Haha, Touka Toudou, if you have any questions about the chat group, feel free to ask the others. I have something urgent to attend to."
Touka Toudou: "Understood."
Rei Ao's "urgent matter" was, of course, Mai.
Unable to just sit idly by any longer, she finally took action, straddling him decisively.
Her face flushed red as she glared down at him, her tone icy yet commanding.
"This is your punishment for being such a philanderer. This time, it's your turn to grasp the future."
Rei Ao was tempted to quip, "What future? You don't have one," but decided against it.
Instead, he smirked and thought, "If it's being served on a silver platter, why not?"
And so, he began.
At the Spencer household.
"Mom, there's something I want to ask you."
It was late at night when Eriri came into her mother's room, looking conflicted.
Sayuri had never seen her daughter so hesitant before, so she responded gently, "Of course. Let's have a long-overdue mother-daughter chat tonight."
Eriri's face lit up with joy. "Okay! I'll grab my pillow!"
Not long after, the two were sitting together on the bed, leaning against the headboard. The dim light cast a warm glow over the room.
Sayuri took the lead. "So, Eriri, tell mewhat is it you'd like to ask?"
"Um"
Eriri fidgeted with her hands, her hesitation returning. Whatever was on her mind, it was clearly difficult for her to say.
To help, Sayuri tried to guide her gently. "Why don't you start by telling me what kind of question it is? Is it about art? Life? Or emotions, perhaps?"
"It's about the emotional problems in my doujinshi!" Eriri blurted, her face turning bright red.
"Oh?"
From her understanding of her daughter's shy and tsundere nature, Sayuri suspected this wasn't really about her doujinshi. It was probably about Eriri's own emotions.
Still, she played along. "What kind of emotional storyline are you struggling to draw? Is it one of those 'netorare' (cheating) types?"
"Th-that might be somewhat related," Eriri said, thinking carefully.
If Rei Ao already had a girlfriend, wouldn't her involvement make her the "other woman"? But Rei Ao's situation was uniquehe was genuinely building a large harem.
Sayuri was taken aback by this response.
"Eriri a cheating storyline?"
The only person Sayuri could imagine her daughter liking was Rei Ao. But if cheating was involved, who was cheating on whom? She was desperate to know the details but didn't dare ask directly. If she pushed too hard, Eriri might get embarrassed and run off, and she'd lose her chance to find out.
Adopting a soft tone, Sayuri probed delicately. "So, is the male lead cheating on another male lead, or is the female lead cheating on another female lead?"
"It's more like the female lead wanting to cheat on someone else," Eriri replied cautiously.
"???"
Sayuri understood immediatelythis meant Rei Ao already had a girlfriend. And Eriri was aiming to insert herself into his life.
Her thoughts spun in turmoil.
"Wait Rei Ao has a girlfriend?! That won't do!"
Sayuri had been hoping Eriri would bring Rei Ao home one day so they could live as a happy family of three.
Her expression turned serious.
If Eriri was determined to win Rei Ao's affection, Sayuri couldn't let her fail. For her daughter's happinessand maybe her own future peace of mindshe had to teach Eriri how to succeed.
With that resolve, Sayuri began a heartfelt, overnight lesson for her daughter.
Saturday.
Rei Ao's weekends were typically peacefulprovided Mai and the others had nothing planned, and the chat group wasn't buzzing with trades.
He'd initially planned to watch Michiru Hyodo's band's street performance, having been personally invited.
However, a text message temporarily redirected his plans.
It was from Haruno Yukinoshita.
Haruno: "Hehe, hey there, Rei Ao-kun."
Carefully removing Tohru and Mai's soft arms from his chest, Rei Ao got up without waking them and walked downstairs with his phone.
Rei Ao: "Shouldn't you be resting on a weekend? Sleeping in, perhaps? It's pretty early."
Haruno: "I'm not the kind of woman who sleeps in, you know~"
Rei Ao: "Well, I am."
He'd been up late the previous night playing with Mai and Tohru, so he didn't mind sleeping in when given the chance.
Haruno: "Oh dear, it seems my efforts to set up a date for you with Shizuka have gone to waste."
Rei Ao: "???"
Haruno: "Don't you remember? I promised to help you arrange something with your Hiratsuka-sensei. I haven't forgotten!"
Ah, yes. Rei Ao recalled her mentioning that. Though he hadn't needed her helphe could easily arrange something himselfHaruno was one of his own targets, so he played along.
Rei Ao: "Time and place?"
Haruno: "Hehe, you're so eager when it comes to Shizuka. I'll send you the details, but you'll need to read between the lines. If you miss my hints, don't blame me~"
Rei Ao smirked. "Big sister type, huh?"
If Haruno wanted to tease him now, he'd make sure she learned to call him "Daddy" in the future.
But before that, he decided to give her a little shock.
Rei Ao: "Aren't you curious about your sister, Yukino? Have you thought to ask?"
Haruno: "Hmm? Did you discover something about her?"
Rei Ao: "For example, a man has been in her home recently."
That "man," of course, was him.
Haruno: "???"
Haruno: "Who?! What kind of person? How old? Do you know him?!"
Rei Ao: "Tsk, so many questions at once."
Haruno: "Fine! Shizuka's entire schedule tomorrow is yoursdo whatever you want with her!"
Rei Ao: ""
Well, Haruno had practically handed Hiratsuka over on a silver platter.
Rei Ao: "A handsome young man, that's all I'll say. Anyway, I'm off to take a shower."
Closing the chat, Rei Ao smirked. He could already imagine Haruno pacing anxiously, pulling her hair in frustration.
~~~
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I need more Stones! Haha, thank you, guys! There will be moreand even more beautiful girlsjoining the chat group in the future. I promise you'll all like it
Chapter 169: A Date with Sensei
"He's not replying to my messages!"
Haruno angrily tossed her phone aside.
A young man had been in her sister's apartment? A young man?!
She didn't completely believe Rei Ao, but better safe than sorry. This was something she needed to investigate to ease her mind.
Determined, she decided to keep a closer eye on Yukino in the coming days. If necessary, she would uncover whether this "young man" really existed.
At the mall entrance.
Hiratsuka Shizuka stood next to Haruno, looking puzzled.
"Haruno, what's brought you out today? Why'd you ask me to meet up?"
Haruno, who had been lost in thought about Yukino, quickly replaced her contemplative expression with a radiant smile. Hooking her arm around Shizuka's, she teased, "Of course, it's to enjoy some young man together with you, Shizuka!"
"young man"
The word struck Shizuka like a hammer.
Her expression faltered as she mentally crumbled.
Young man? At her age? Haruno was seriously overestimating heror rather, that comment had hit a sore spot.
Forget now; she hadn't even experienced much "young man" during her actual young man. She had never even held hands with a man before. What kind of young man was there to enjoy?
Damn it.
Sure, Haruno wasn't much better in some ways. Despite her cheerful demeanor, she always kept people at a distance. But at least Haruno still had her young man to hold onto.
And herself?
"Sigh."
Shizuka let out a long sigh. "Fine, let's just go."
But Haruno didn't move.
"What now?"
"We're waiting for someone," Haruno said with a sly smile.
"Someone else?" Shizuka guessed. "Is it Yukino?"
"Nope. He's here."
Haruno pointed forward, grinning.
Shizuka followed her gazeand froze.
"R-Rei Ao?!"
It was indeed Rei Ao, walking toward them in a sharp, professional outfit.
"Good morning, Miss Haruno, Shizuka-sensei," he greeted with a warm smile.
Shizuka blinked. It really was him. Turning to Haruno, she tried to ask what was going on, but before she could speak, Haruno suddenly withdrew her arm from Shizuka's and exclaimed:
"Oh no, Shizuka, I just remembered I have urgent work at the office!"
"You two enjoy yourselves today. It's on me!"
With that, Haruno hurried off, her steps deliberately exaggerated.
Shizuka's mouth twitched. Could she have been any more obvious?
She watched Haruno until her figure disappeared before turning to Rei Ao with a scowl.
"What kind of game are you two playing?"
Rei Ao met her gaze calmly and confessed outright:
"Nothing complicated. Haruno set this up so I could take you out on a date."
"What?!"
That single sentence sent Shizuka's mind racing with countless speculations about shady deals and backdoor arrangements.
"Why?!" she exclaimed, unable to believe that her friend would essentially "sell" her out.
"I helped her with something simple, so this is her way of returning the favor."
Rei Ao's tone remained casual as he added, "So, Shizuka-sensei, are you going to head home, or will you join me for this date?"
Shizuka stared at him, stunned. Slowly, she processed the situation and forced herself to respond.
"Can I say no?"
Rei Ao smiled. "Of course. But if you do, I'll just start openly pursuing you at school."
"!!!"
That was not an option! She could already picture how disastrous that would benot just for her reputation, but for her pride. Even Fuyumi would look down on her!
"Fine, fine," she relented with a bitter smile.
But she warned him sternly: "No funny business. Hands off the teacher!"
"Shizuka-sensei, I'm not that kind of person," Rei Ao replied, though her warning seemed to sting his pride a little.
Before they began, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully and said, "By the way, since this is a date, shouldn't we drop the formalities? Calling you 'sensei' during a date feels weird."
"Huh?" Shizuka was caught off guard. She hadn't even thought about how they'd address each other.
Rei Ao took the lead, his voice soft and warm: "Shizuka, how's that?"
"!!!"
The single word sent an electric current through her entire body. Her mind reeled.
No onebesides her fatherhad ever called her by her given name in such an intimate way.
An unfamiliar sense of shame and embarrassment flooded her, tingling across her skin.
"Shizuka?" Rei Ao repeated, a hint of amusement in his tone.
Her stiff posture and flushed face didn't escape his notice, and he smiled, sensing victory.
"Stop"
"Shizuka."
"!!!"
She was about to lose it.
It was so embarrassing, yet for some reason, she didn't entirely want him to stop.
Caught in the conflicting emotions, she finally snapped, throwing out a quick excuse:
