Then, something caught her attention.
Mabel's mouth was slightly open, and a thin trail of drool lingered at the corner of her lips.
Sighing, Yukino grabbed a tissue and reached over to wipe it away.
However, just as the tissue touched Mabel's skin, she furrowed her brows and murmured in her sleep:
"Haa no more I can't eat anymore please let me go"
"..."
Yukino's hand froze mid-air.
A not-so-innocent image immediately formed in her mind.
Her gaze drifted back to Mabel's lips and the very obvious stain of drool
She couldn't unsee it.
Her face visibly flushed red.
That wasn't just a random drool stain.
She knew exactly what it meant.
Despite her embarrassment, Yukino steeled herself and quickly wiped it away, muttering internally about Rei Ao's shamelessness.
After finishing, she immediately rushed to the bathroom to wash her hands.
...
Meanwhile
Rei Ao had actually done a good deed for once.
He had helped a certain half-orc hero find his family.
With the information he remembered, it wasn't difficult to locate the right place.
"Takafumi Takaoka, this should be the apartment where your nephew lives."
Rei Ao pointed to the apartment building and turned to Yousuke Shibazaki.
"Go talk to your nephew yourself. I can't help you with the rest."
"Thanks."
Yousuke Shibazaki gave him a sincere nod of gratitude before entering the building.
Rei Ao hadn't bothered explaining much about Yousuke's ability to use magic.
He simply advised him to be careful not to use it recklessly in this world.
One confirmed discovery from his trip to Sui's world was that her worldGranbahamalwas indeed beginning to connect with this one.
However, it wasn't as deeply linked as the Dragon Realm.
Right now, only a single, one-way spatial rift had been found.
Since it wasn't a major issue yet, Rei Ao decided not to mention it to Raphiel and the othersno need to create unnecessary worries.
Just as he was about to leave, something in his peripheral vision caught his attention.
At the far corner of the street, a speeding car was approaching.
Not far ahead, a black-haired girl with glasses was walking directly into its path.
She hadn't noticed the vehicle behind her at all.
It was only when bystanders began screaming in panic that she turned around.
And by then, the car was already too close.
Boom!!!
The car smashed into a fire hydrant, finally coming to a stop.
"Did I just get hit by a car? Am I flying?"
The girl's feet had left the ground as she was sent airborne.
But when she looked up, instead of seeing the afterlife
Her gaze met a pair of deep, sapphire-blue eyes.
"An angel?"
She murmured dazedly.
"Sorry, but angels in this world don't look like me."
Rei Ao responded flatly.
Splash!!!
The damaged fire hydrant erupted, sending a stream of water into the air.
Rei Ao, standing closest while holding the girl, got completely drenchedalong with her.
The sudden chill of the water shocked her fully awake.
She gasped, eyes wide.
"I I'm not dead?!"
Rei Ao carried her a few steps away from the flooding area and gently placed her down.
"As you can see, you're still very much alive."
Then, without hesitation, he removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
The reason?
She was wearing a white blouse.
And thanks to the water, it had turned completely transparent, making it impossible to ignore the very prominent figure beneath.
"!!!"
Realizing this, the girl's face flushed bright red.
She quickly pulled the jacket tightly around herself before bowing deeply.
"Thank you so much for saving me!"
She had no idea how or when Rei Ao had appeared, but she was certain he had just saved her life.
Rei Ao merely nodded.
But his gaze lingered on her face.
Being stared at by her handsome savior, the girl felt even more embarrassed.
She hesitated before asking nervously:
"U-Um is there something on my face?"
"No. You're just really beautiful you remind me of someone I know."
"Eh?!"
Her face turned even redder.
Still, she composed herself and replied,
"I'm sorry, but I don't think we've met before."
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she introduced herself:
"Oh! My name is Sumika Fujimiya. Can I ask for your name and your contact information?"
Hearing this, Rei Ao raised an eyebrow slightly.
Before he could say anything, Sumika quickly explained:
"I just want to borrow your jacket for now. I'll return it properly later! And I also need to thank you formally!"
She was still completely soaked and couldn't walk home like this.
The jacket was necessary.
"Rei Ao. Let's exchange contacts."
Unlike the classic "helping but not leaving a name" hero trope, Rei Ao had no issue giving his name.
After all, the moment he heard her name, he immediately confirmed his suspicion.
Sumika Fujimiya.
The heroine of Isekai Herothe perfect example of a "girl who becomes stunning at 18."
Now that he saw her up close
Her exquisite features, her perfectly shaped figure, and those absolutely outstanding proportions
Rei Ao couldn't help but wonder:
How in the hell did she used to look like that?
If he remembered correctly, her younger self was nearly identical to Yousuke Shibazaki.
That is, awkward, ugly, and unpolished.
A complete mystery of evolution.
Her younger brother was just as bizarre.
He was adorable as a child but grew up horriblyturning into someone just as goofy-looking as Yousuke.
After exchanging contact information, Rei Ao casually offered,
"You don't seem to be in a condition to walk home like this. I'll call a cab and drop you off."
"Eh?! T-That's too much trouble for you!"
"It's fine. I have free time today."
And so, without further discussion, Rei Ao hailed a taxi.
They both got into the back seat, and he personally escorted her home.
At this moment, Rei Ao had only one thought in mind.
She may have looked like a disaster before
But now that she's a fully grown beauty, there's absolutely no reason to hold back.
~~~
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Chapter 184: Rio Futaba
"..."
Inside the car, silence filled the air.
The driver kept his eyes straight ahead, focused on the road.
Sumika Fujimiya, on the other hand, was extremely tense, worried that her pounding heartbeat might be audible.
Stealing a glance at Rei Ao's profile, she compared him to her friend Takafumi.
Way more handsome.
Not to mention, he was a genuinely kind person.
And on top of that, he was her savior.
A surge of curiosity about him welled up inside her.
Just as she was completely lost in thought, Rei Ao suddenly turned his head to meet her gaze.
With a smile, he asked:
"Is there something interesting about my face?"
"You're really handsome."
Sumika blurted it out before she could stop herself.
Immediately afterward, her hands flew up to cover her mouth.
What the hell am I saying?!
She wanted nothing more than to slap herself for acting like a lovestruck fool.
Rei Ao, however, took the compliment in stride, his expression completely composed.
Casually, he changed the topic.
"Are you a university student?"
"Mm-hmm! I'm in university."
Sumika nodded eagerly.
Then she turned the question back on him:
"What about you, Rei Ao? Are you a university student too?"
"Not yet. I'll start next year."
"Eh?"
Sumika was genuinely surprised.
Rei Ao carried himself so maturely, she had assumed he was older than hernot younger!
"Wait you're younger than me?!"
A phrase popped into her mind:
"Younger guy?!"
W-Wait, what am I even thinking?!
Sumika, you perv!
Mentally, she scolded herself harshly.
On the surface, however, she continued chatting with Rei Ao in a relaxed manner.
After a while, she noticed something strange.
She glanced at Rei Ao, then back at herself.
After a few seconds of hesitation, she finally voiced her confusion:
"Rei Ao, how come you're not wet at all?"
"Maybe I just got lucky."
Rei Ao gave a vague response.
If ordinary water could soak him, that'd be a real problem.
"Ohh, I see."
Sumika didn't press further.
Not long after, they arrived at her house.
Before stepping out of the car, Sumika looked at Rei Ao seriously.
"I promise I'll clean your jacket properly and return it to you."
She stood outside, watching as Rei Ao's taxi drove off into the distance before heading back inside.
Originally, Rei Ao had planned to return home after leaving an impression on Sumika.
But on the way, he received a surprising message.
Rio Futaba: "Are you there?"
"She's texting me?"
Rei Ao was momentarily caught off guard.
Still, he quickly replied.
Rei Ao: "Yeah, what's up? Just tell me directly."
Rio Futaba: "Alright."
Rio Futaba: "'I' have been replaced by 'me'."
At first glance, the message was bizarrely phrased.
But given what Rei Ao knew about her situation, he instantly understood what she meant.
Rei Ao: "You mean you've fully taken over her life?"
Rio Futaba: "That's right."
Rio Futaba: "You can call me selfish, but I wanted to experience what it really means to be alive."
Rei Ao: "I wouldn't call that selfish. Everyone has things they want to do in life."
Rei Ao: "As long as you're not posting questionable pictures online for attention, I won't judge you."
Rio Futaba: "Oh? So you're really that possessive about other people seeing me?"
Rei Ao: "Of course."
Rei Ao: "I told you before, from the moment I laid eyes on you two, I decided to have you both. So yeah, I'm very possessive."
Rio Futaba: "Wow, you're really a confident and domineering bastard."
Despite her words, the real Rio Futaba was lying on her bed, smirking as she texted.
His direct and unapologetic attention was far more exciting than any generic admiration from random strangers.
And between being "popular" and being desired by Rei Ao
She chose the latter.
After a pause, she sent another message.
Rio Futaba: "The other 'me' is too softhearted. She's homeless now, totally pitiful."
Rei Ao: "Heh. So that's what you really wanted to tell me?"
Rei Ao: "Just say it. What do you want me to do for her?"
Rei Ao didn't believe that the "outgoing" Rio Futaba had intentionally kicked out her "introverted" self with any malicious intent.
After all
The "shy" Rio was kindhearted, to the point that she chose to leave home herself rather than expose the truth.
Likewise, the "outgoing" Rio wasn't cruel either.
Apart from their personalities, they were still the same person.
A person's behavior might change, but their nature did not.
Rio Futaba: "I know I might disappear someday. But while I'm here, I want to really live."
Rio Futaba: "So I guess the other me has to suffer a little for now."
Rio Futaba: "She should be at XXXX location right now."
Rio Futaba: "You said you wanted her too, right? Well, if you really dothen you can't let her be in danger, Rei Ao-kun~"
Rei Ao: "You sure about handing her over to me? Don't regret it later."
Rei Ao chuckled.
She was basically hand-delivering a lamb to the lion's den.
He couldn't believe she was doing this voluntarily.
Rei Ao turned to the driver and said:
"Change of destination..."
...
"Regret?"
Rio Futaba put down her phone.
She stretched out on the bed in a starfish position, staring at the ceiling light as if she could see another version of herself reflected there.
"I won't regret it."
"Sorry, other me, I don't know if love at first sight is real, but I want to respond to him."
At the Park
The creaking of a swing echoed softly in the quiet night.
A lone figure sat on it, gently swaying back and forth, occasionally sighing.
Rio Futaba felt lost.
She had seen another version of herself.
And that version had completely taken over her life.
Now, she was homelessshe had nowhere to go.
"Where should I even go?"
She still had some money on her, enough to stay at a motel or an inn for a while.
But then what?
How would she face her other self?
How could she see her again without causing a scene?
And most importantly
Where should she even begin trying to analyze what's happening?
Why had another version of herself appeared in the first place?
The sheer complexity of the situation gave her a headache.
"Rio Futaba."
A voice suddenly called her name, breaking her train of thought.
She looked up in confusion.
Standing before her was someone she didn't recognizeyet, at the same time, he seemed vaguely familiar.
"Were you calling me?"
Rei Ao glanced around.
"It looks like there's no one else here but us.
From a scientific perspective, wouldn't that mean I must be the one talking to you?"
"..."
Hearing the word science, Rio Futaba instinctively adjusted her glasses, her expression turning serious.
"Not necessarily."
"Oh?"
"There's a probability that this is just my auditory hallucination or perhaps quantum mechanics at play."
"..."
Rei Ao twitched the corner of his mouth.
"Classic. When in doubt, blame quantum mechanics."
"Hmm?"
Rio Futaba found his words strangely familiar and couldn't help but ask:
"Who are you? How do you know my name? And why do you act like you know me so well?"
"You have a lot of questions, and I can answer every single one of them."
Seeing the intense curiosity in her eyes, Rei Ao smiled and suggested:
"But this isn't the best place for a proper conversation. Why don't we go somewhere else and talk?"
Rio Futaba instinctively stepped back, wary.
"Relax."
Rei Ao reassured her casually.
"I was thinking a caf. It'll be full of peoplenothing to be afraid of."
Then, with a teasing smirk, he added:
"Besides, if I really had bad intentions, wouldn't an empty park like this be the best place to act?"
"..."
Her eyes flickered behind her glasses as she thought it over.
A moment later, Rio Futaba nodded.
"Alright, let's go."
Meanwhile
While Rei Ao was "picking up" another girl, Sumika Fujimiya had just finished her shower.
She stood in her room, staring blankly at Rei Ao's jacket in her hands.
Her mind wandered back to every moment she had spent with him earlier.
