Now that she could accept the supernatural, there wouldn't be any barriers in their conversations.
Mai glanced toward the kitchen and said:
"Anyway, if you have questions about Sora and Ilia, you can ask them directly or wait for Rei Ao to come home."
"I need to finish preparing dinner."
"...Oh, okay."
Rio Futaba could tell Mai was busy, so she didn't press further.
"I don't want to talk anymore. I need to rest.
Tohru-nee said I'll need a lot of energy for tonight."
Sora shot a sharp glance at Futaba before transforming back into a magic book and lying motionless on the table.
Ilia bowed apologetically.
"Forgive us. Let's continue this conversation when Master returns."
Then, she too reverted back into a magic book.
"..."
Rio Futaba silently stared at the two books on the table.
Her brain automatically began processing everything she'd seen.
"Could this also be explained by quantum mechanics?"
One Hour Later
Rei Ao returned home.
By then, Mai and Tohru had already prepared dinner.
Everyone took their seatsincluding the now-awake Sora and Ilia.
Rei Ao noticed that Rio Futaba looked like she wanted to say something.
Guessing her thoughts, he asked:
"You're curious about Sora and Ilia, aren't you?"
"Yes."
Rio Futaba didn't hesitate.
"I saw them turn from books into humans and then back into books."
Her scientific curiosity was on full display.
Quantum mechanics alone couldn't explain this.
"Can you tell me what's going on?"
Rei Ao's explanation was simple and direct.
"They're my magic grimoires.
Since they have magic, of course they can transform into humans."
Short. Brutal.
To the point.
Rio Futaba looked even more confused.
"Magic? You're saying magic is real?"
She was a staunch believer in materialismeven though she often used quantum mechanics to explain things.
"Whether it existed before or not"
"You saw it with your own eyes today, didn't you?"
Rei Ao handed her a glass of fruit juice.
"Why overthink it? You already have Puberty Syndrome yourself."
"If you really can't accept it, just think of it as quantum mechanics.
There's not much difference."
"..."
Rio Futaba wanted to argue
Quantum mechanics couldn't explain this!
But in the end, she just gave up trying to rationalize it.
She decided to stop thinking for now and just accept it.
She was exhausted.
She had received too much bizarre information in one day.
Rio Futaba was mentally drained.
She chose to empty her mind.
...
Gabriel also emptied her mind.
As Rei Ao leisurely walked away, Gabriel bolted out of her room and rushed into the bathroom.
"Haaahhh!!!"
The sound of running water filled the space.
Gabriel frantically washed her hands, face, and hair.
She could still smell Rei Ao's scent all over her.
Her mind had gone completely blank in that moment.
She had never experienced something like that before.
After several minutes of scrubbing, Gabriel finally looked up at the mirror.
Her face was as red as a ripe fruit.
A wave of emotion, like countless ants crawling over her skin, made her feel strange and restless.
'What the hell did I just do?!'
"Gabriel, what are you doing in there?"
Suddenly, Raphiel's voice called from outside the bathroom.
Gabriel froze for a second before responding in a stiff voice:
"N-Nothing! Just, uh taking a quick shower!"
"Oh, okay. If there's hot water, I might take a bath later."
With that, Raphiel's presence moved away.
"Haaah!"
Gabriel slapped her cheeks lightly to calm herself down.
But as soon as she moved her hands, she winced.
"Hngh!"
A sharp soreness spread through her wrists and fingers.
"That guy is a monster, isn't he?"
She couldn't believe it.
Her arms ached, her eyes were strained, and she felt completely drained.
She had been forced to keep up for a full hour.
Gabriel never imagined she'd experience something like this in her life.
She sighed deeply.
"Pervert"
Then, suddenly, she became serious.
"That was the last time. No matter what, I will NEVER borrow money from him again!"
Gabriel stared at her reflection in the mirror and swore to herself.
But then
"Huh?"
She leaned closer to the mirror and noticed a glaring red mark on her forehead.
Her eyebrows twitched.
A moment later, she stomped her foot on the bathroom floor, her face turning bright red again.
"That bastard looked so smug back then!"
She gritted her teeth as a certain scene flashed in her mind.
In that moment, Gabriel huffed angrily and spat out:
"Damn pervert!"
She mumbled complaints to herself in the bathroom, completely unaware that someone was secretly listening from outside.
Raphiel, hidden just beyond the door, had heard everything.
She had already suspected something was wrong, but now she was sure.
"..."
Her mind was racing.
What she just witnessed wasn't a hallucination.
Even if she didn't know whether Gabriel and Rei Ao had gone all the way
At the very least, Gabriel had used her hands.
That fact alone was shocking enough.
In human culture, it was just considered a "little fun".
But Gabriel was an angel.
An angel.
An angel had done something like that.
Raphiel felt like her entire worldview was collapsing.
If Gabriel's angelic sisters ever found out about this
Things would get VERY ugly.
Raphiel clenched her fists, her eyes flashing with determination.
"I can't let this continue."
"Gab-chan, I won't just sit by and watch you fall deeper into corruption!"
~~~
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Chapter 190: Mabel Tired and Satisfied Sleep, Haruno and Shizuka Talks
Next Door to Rei Ao's House
After an entire day, Mabel finally woke up from exhaustion.
"Ugh..."
She half-sat up, blinking groggily. The first thing she saw was Yukino, calmly reading a book.
"Yukino"
Hearing her name, Yukino glanced up from her book, seeing Mabel's pained expression.
"What is it?"
Mabel's face turned red as she hesitated, mumbling shyly:
"I... I don't feel well. I want to take a bath."
Yukino's eyelid twitched.
She already knew what was going on.
After a little investigation, she had learned the truth.
It was obvious that Rei Ao hadn't used any precautions.
Her thoughts became a tangled mess.
She was genuinely worried about Mabel.
What if she got pregnant?
That was a whole new problem she didn't want to think about.
She quickly responded:
"Then go take one now. And... make sure you wash properly!"
"Uuuu my legs are weak, Yukino"
Mabel looked at her pitifully, clearly too sore to move properly.
Yukino sighed, finally noticing other marks on Mabel's body.
She reluctantly got up, helping carry her to the bathroom.
At the same time, she sent a private message to Rei Ao.
[Private Message]
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Aren't you even worried about the consequences of your 'trades'?"
She had phrased it carefully, at least in a way that wouldn't make her feel embarrassed.
Rei Ao: "Emmm, I'm eating dinner, and you're asking me this?"
Rei Ao: "You mean Mabel, right? Don't worry. It's not that simple. Even if something happens, I have ways to handle it."
Rei Ao: "I take responsibility for every woman involved with me. That's my bottom line."
Yukino: "..."
Rei Ao's words left her speechless.
She glanced at Mabel, who was now soaking in the bathtub, looking tired yet oddly satisfied.
Yukino wasn't sure if she should envy or pity this foolish girl who had completely fallen into Rei Ao's grasp.
...
At the Yukinoshita Household
In the living room, Mrs. Yukinoshita sat elegantly on the couch.
Across from her, Yukinoshita Haruno sat with perfect posture.
Mrs. Yukinoshita was reading through some documents, while Haruno remained silent.
The room was deathly quiet.
But Haruno was already used to this kind of atmosphere.
Finally, after finishing the last page, Mrs. Yukinoshita took off her glasses, placing them aside.
She calmly asked:
"Haruno, how has Yukino been living outside?"
Though it sounded like a question of concern, Haruno knew the truth.
Their mother already knew she had been keeping an eye on Yukino.
Haruno kept her expression neutral, replying smoothly:
"She's fine. Everything is normal."
She didn't mention Yukino's social life or her interactions with a certain boy.
"I see."
Mrs. Yukinoshita nodded, then simply said:
"You may go rest now."
"Yes."
Haruno stood up quickly, leaving without hesitation.
Being around her mother always felt suffocating.
The pressure was something she had long grown accustomed to, but it never got easier.
Returning to her room, she locked the door and finally relaxed a little.
She collapsed onto her bed, closing her eyes for a moment.
She had covered for Yukino, hoping to give her some freedom.
But she knew their mother wasn't easily fooled.
Would she investigate anyway?
"Sigh I just hope she doesn't dig too deep."
Haruno let out a tired sigh.
There wasn't much she could do.
Bored, she pulled out her phone.
Then she remembered something.
The situation with "Shizuka".
That day, Shizuka's reaction had been too suspicious.
And Haruno was still curious.
"Shizuka, Shizuka~ Let me dig into your secrets a bit."
She quickly sent a message to Hiratsuka Shizuka.
[Private Message]
Yukinoshita Haruno: "Shizuka, what are you doing right now?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "Nothing much. Just finished dinner. Why?"
Haruno: "Tsk tsk, Shizuka~ You're not being honest with me, are you~?"
Shizuka: "Haruno, what are you talking about?"
Haruno: "Hehe, didn't you always say you'd never date younger men? That 'older women shouldn't chase young boys'? But what's this now~?"
"!!!"
Shizuka froze, almost dropping her phone.
"Did she figure it out?!"
Her face flushed red as she panicked.
She was too embarrassed to admit anything.
But now
Shizuka: "I have NO idea what you're talking about."
She typed back quickly, pretending she didn't understand.
She was testing to see how much Haruno actually knew.
Haruno: "Oh my~?"
On the other end, Haruno saw Shizuka's delayed reply and couldn't help but grin mischievously.
This was unexpected.
If she had only been 50% suspicious before, now she was 80% certain.
"Well, well looks like I'm about to uncover a big secret, Shizuka~"
Haruno's smirk deepened, her fingers dancing over her phone keyboard.
[Private Message]
Yukinoshita Haruno: "Shizuka, you're really not being honest with me. You don't treat me like a friend at all, do you?"
"!!!"
Shizuka froze, alarm bells ringing in her mind.
This was bad.
She could already sense impending humiliation.
Haruno: "You know, I actually saved a recording of our call that night the one with you, me, and Rei Ao."
Haruno: "Something about it felt off, so I replayed it a few times and guess what? Hahaha, you actually turned me into part of your 'play'!"
"I'M DOOMED."
Shizuka's eyes filled with despair.
She had completely exposed herself.
She wanted to die.
Haruno: "How about I send the recording back to you? Let's all enjoy listening to how breathless and... enthusiastic you were, Shizuka~"
Shizuka: "PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON'T!!"
Shizuka: "I WAS WRONG!"
Haruno: "Oh? And what exactly did you do wrong?"
Shizuka: "I shouldn't have given in to temptation and engaged in older woman seducing younger man behavior."
Shizuka: "And I especially shouldn't have asked you for advice on rejecting Rei Ao."
Shizuka: "BUT! Let me clarify one thing I SWEAR that the whole 'play' situation was unintentional!"
Shizuka: "We were... caught up in the moment! We NEVER expected you to call right at that time! You have to believe me!"
"PFFT!!!"
Haruno burst into laughter.
She hadn't expected Shizuka to confess everything so quickly.
But damn, she really had caught some juicy details from this.
Still, she wasn't done yet.
Haruno: "Wow, Shizuka. I should tell you a secret too."
Shizuka: "...What?"
By this point, Shizuka had completely given up.
Her secrets were already laid bare.
Nothing else could make this worse.
Haruno: "The truth is I NEVER actually recorded anything~!"
Haruno: "I knew NOTHING. I was just testing you. And guess what? You confessed to EVERYTHING! Hahahaha~"
Shizuka: "???"
Shizuka: "WHAT?!"
Shizuka froze.
Her brain short-circuited.
Was that even a thing?!
Did she just self-destruct for no reason?!
"Damn it!!"
Shizuka collapsed onto her bed, face buried in a pillow.
This was beyond humiliating.
[Private Message]
Haruno: "Ahaha! Okay, okay, I know you're mad, but let's focus on the real issue here."
Haruno: "Shizuka, I am happy that you found someone you like and who likes you back. As your friend, I truly wish you happiness."
Shizuka, who had been fuming, suddenly calmed down.
Shizuka: "Thanks."
But Haruno wasn't done.
Haruno: "However, there are some VERY real problems you need to face."
Haruno: "First, the age gap."
Haruno: "Second, your very dangerous profession."
Haruno: "The age gap? Whatever. Older woman, younger man who cares? I personally don't think that's an issue."
Haruno: "But your job? That's the real problem."
Haruno: "You know that if this relationship gets exposed, you could be in SERIOUS trouble, right?"
Shizuka: "I know."
She had always been aware of the risks.
That's why she had resisted for so long.
She had held onto her professional boundaries
Until Rei Ao completely shattered them.
Shizuka: "But Rei Ao is different. He told me that even if this gets exposed, it wouldn't be a problem."
Haruno: "???"
Haruno narrowed her eyes.
"What the hell does THAT mean?"
Was Shizuka really trusting a high school student to handle something this serious?
Haruno: "Wait. Does he come from a powerful family?"
Shizuka: "No, he doesn't have any family."
