Frieren: "But if she wasn't ordinary, shouldn't she have been able to handle such a weak spirit on her own?"
Rei Ao: "She's different only in that she has the ability called 'spirit sight,' which lets her see evil spirits."
Rei Ao: "Apart from being able to see them, it doesn't grant her anything else."
Sui: "Huh? So it's basically useless, and it only puts her in danger?"
Mai Sakurajima: "So, how is she doing now?"
Rei Ao: "She's just a bit shaken; she needs some time to recover."
"Ah, so that's it"
Yotsuya Miko began to piece it together.
Everything Rei Ao said lined up with her experienceso the reason she was saved was because of the chat group trade. Otherwise, she really would have been eaten by that evil spirit!
"Thank you for saving me!"
She hurriedly expressed her gratitude.
"It's too soon for thanks," Rei Ao replied.
"Don't forget, this was a trade."
"Umis it money you need? Just tell me how much. I'll pay whatever I can manage!"
Miko took it very seriously.
"Money won't do any good. Check the chat group's 'Trade Details,' which must be fulfilled."
Rei Ao gave her a hint.
"I've already acquired the 'Spirit Sight' ability."
"Oh, right. Let me look"
Yotsuya Miko blinked. "Hmm, there's also something called 'Body Usage Rights (Once).' What is that about?"
She was clueless.
"Let's not worry about that for now," Rei Ao said, not wanting to shock her too much with a blunt explanation. He simply pointed to a spot on her outfit that she herself hadn't realized.
"I think you should deal with yourumpresent situation first."
"?"
Miko was momentarily confusedthen a cold breeze blew by.
"!!!"
All at once, she felt a chilly sensation under her skirt.
She clamped her legs shut, her face turning bright red like a cooked apple.
It seemedshe needed a change of underwear.
" "
Watching her look so embarrassed and on the verge of tears, Rei Ao realized just how disarmingly cute that expression was. Something about it made him want to tease her a bit.
Noting Miko's obvious discomfort, Sayuriwho'd seen plenty of awkward moments taking care of young girlsspoke up, "Rei Ao-kun, we should find a hotel or something first."
"No problem."
They found a hotel.
With a bit of special influence, Rei Ao secured a room, leaving Sayuri there to reassure Yotsuya Miko and let her take a bath. Meanwhile, Rei Ao and Ai went out to buy her some spare clothes.
Having changed into fresh attire, Miko stood before the three of them, her hands clutching the hem of her shirt, head bowed all because Sayuri had explained what "Body Usage Rights" meant as payment.
After understanding, Miko now realized the meaning behind Rei Ao's earlier knowing smile. Could they really dothat kind of thing?
She no longer knew what to do or say.
Rei Ao exchanged a glance with Sayuri.
Sayuri caught the cue and gently pulled Miko to sit beside her. Because of her kindness and care earlier, Miko trusted her deeply.
Then Rei Ao spoke up.
"Mikois it okay if I call you that?"
"Mm."
She gave the faintest reply, like a mosquito's buzz.
"What do you think about this trade? Speak your mind."
"Mm"
Again, Miko shrank in embarrassment. But after a moment, she mustered her courage and lifted her gaze.
"II know the trade is one of the chat group's rules, and you also saved my life, so I'll accept all that I'm supposed to pay."
It wasn't that she was giving upmore that she understood she had made her choice, and there was a cost. If it wasn't for Rei Ao, she wouldn't be alive right now. Besides, she'd overheard some gossip that plenty of her peers had already had their "first experiences," somaybe it would be okay? Even if it wasn't someone she loved, he had saved her life. And to top it off, Rei Ao was handsome with a great presence. Her impression of him was actually quite good.
So Yotsuya Miko resolved to obey the trade's conditions, offering up her "first time."
Yet she twisted her fingers shyly, whispering, "II really don't know anything about that sort of thing. I'm not sure I coulddo it right."
"No experience?"
Rei Ao arched a mischievous grin.
"No worries. I'll have Sayuri and Ai demonstrate for you, and I'll teach you in person, too."
"Eh?"
Stunned, Miko watched as he reached out with left and right hands to draw two very flustered womenSayuri and Aicloser to him.
"Sayuri, Ai, you two will be Miko's instructors from here on."
~~~
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Chapter 254: Touko Yotsuya
"Not dead?"
Yotsuya Miko slowly regained consciousness, feeling dazed. Her entire body was limp. She recalled that not long ago she'd felt on the brink of deathyet it had been a strangely pleasurable kind of near-death experience. Having never felt anything like it, now that she was waking up, she couldn't help savoring the lingering sensation.
"Die? Haha, I'm not that intenseI wouldn't wear you out to the point of death,"
Rei Ao said with a teasing grin, pinching the little face resting on his chest.
"Eek!"
Yotsuya Miko blushed, burying her face in embarrassment.
Next to them, Ai and Sayuri both regarded her with gentle, affectionate gazes. After all, this girl was the "excellent student" they'd personally guided, one who had discovered how to enjoy herself on her very first time. Her reactions were so endearing that they couldn't help but recall whether their own Mai or Sayuri had been equally adorable back then.
"Oh right, Miko," Rei Ao spoke up, "don't you have a friend with a huge appetite?"
He remembered hearing that aside from Miko herself, that friend of hers was also troubled by evil spirits in her daily life.
"Great appetite"
Miko immediately thought of her best friend.
"You mean Hana? Her name is Yurikawa Hana."
She was puzzled why Rei Ao would suddenly bring up Hana, and how he even knew about her.
Rei Ao simply took out two black crystals and handed them over.
"The reason your friend eats so much is that evil spirits lurking nearby sap her life energy, so she unconsciously compensates by eating extra to replenish it."
"Huh? Hana can see evil spirits too?"
Miko had never noticed any odd behavior in Hana aside from her constant appetite. Hana was timid; if she could see ghosts, she would surely have shown some big emotional reaction.
"She can't see them," Rei Ao replied. "She just has unusually abundant life force, which draws evil spirits inbut that same life force protects her.
"These two crystals can wipe out any evil spirits that come close. One is for you, and the other is for her."
"!!!"
Miko's eyes went wideshe was beyond thrilled. Previously, she'd been at a loss over what to do with her newly acquired spirit sight. Rei Ao had saved her this time, but what if she ran into more evil spirits in the future? Would she have to keep trading? That would mean, well, repeated"weeding expeditions." Though it felt nice, it wasn't something one could do every daywould that even be feasible?
Now Rei Ao was providing these black crystals. She had no idea what they actually were, but she was inclined to trust him. If they really could eliminate evil spirits, that would be fantastic.
"But Are you sure it's okay for me to have something so powerful?"
Miko really wanted them, but worried she might not deserve it.
Seeing her hesitation, Rei Ao slipped an arm around her waist and gently ruffled her hair. "You do deserve it," he said warmly. "We might've only had a trade between us, but I'm a possessive sort of person. To be blunt, I want to truly have you, Miko. If you need me, I'll take responsibility for you."
"Eh?!"
Her face reddened again. It felt like a strange confession, as if they'd already done the deed and he was only now offering a ticket. They had no emotional foundation, but Miko did harbor a certain deep feeling toward the person who'd become her "first." She'd always hoped that her first time would be with someone who'd stay by her side for life.
However, given the special nature of their connectionand the presence of Auntie Sayuri and Auntie AiMiko felt uneasy. Rei Ao noticed her conflicted emotions and didn't push. He wanted not just her body, but her heart as well.
"No hurry. You can take your time thinking about it. Maybe we can spend more time together and see how things go," he said.
"Mmmalright," Miko mumbled, clinging softly.
After bathing and freshening up, Rei Ao asked Ai and Sayuri to wander around this world for a bit, letting them bond and chat. Ai in particular had plenty of questions for Sayuri about how to handle a daughterespecially since she'd yet to come clean with Mai, but would have to someday. Ai hoped to forge a good relationship with her.
As for Rei Ao, he led Miko by the hand, walking her home.
"Ugh, Rei Ao-nii, here we arethis is my house."
Miko was debating whether to let go, worried her mother might see them. But Rei Ao said, "Miko, there's a spirit lingering in your home too."
"???"
She paled. "That's impossible!" Her first reaction was denial. Then she recalled that she'd only today gained the ability to see ghosts. Meaning it could be true that there was a spirit at home.
She suddenly had a thought, her expression turning pained. "Could it be my dad and little brother?"
""
Rei Ao blinked, surprised that her brother had passed away as well.
"On my mom's wedding day, my dad and little brother had a car accident They died," Miko said sadly.
"???"
Rei Ao's lips twitched at the notion of "dying on the way to a wedding." He decided he needed to ask more.
"Miko, explain the situation in detail. I'll see about dealing with their spirits."
"Okay."
Clutching Rei Ao's hand tightly, Miko trusted him deeply, and slowly recounted her family history. Before long, Rei Ao realized the story was even more convoluted than he'd imagined.
Turns out her family was a stepfamily in the making. Her father had been a single dad, raising a younger brother. Her mother was a single mom, raising Miko alone. After some matchmaking, they decided to form a new family and soon arranged a wedding. But on the way there, the father and younger brother were killed in a car accident, both of them dying.
Rei Ao found the story extremely melodramatic. And he had a feeling that Miko's mother, Yotsuya Toyoko, might not be so simple either.
"Rei Ao-nii, if it really is them, how will you handle it?"
"I'll send them on," Rei Ao said calmly, then rang the doorbell.
"Miko, you're back. And this is?"
The door was opened by a woman with a layered side-part hairstyle draped around her shouldersTouko Yotsuya, Mrs. Yotsuya. She looked curiously at the young man standing with Miko.
"Hello, Mrs. Yotsuya. I'm Rei Ao, Miko's friend,"
he greeted with a smile.
"Yes, that's right. Rei Ao-nii is my friend. He came over to our house to hang out today," Miko said, nodding repeatedly.
"I see"
Mrs. Yotsuya looked a bit taken aback. She only remembered Miko bringing home a female friend onceYurikawa Hanaand this was the first time she'd seen her bring a boy. Although surprised for a moment, she soon smiled and welcomed him in. Yet Rei Ao noticed, behind that smile, a faint tiredness in her eyes.
~~~
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Chapter 255: Cleansing... (Bonus Chapter)
"This is some fruit, Rei Ao-kuntake as much as you like."
Mrs. Yotsuya brought over a plate of fruit. Meanwhile, Rei Ao cast his gaze about the room's layout, pausing when he noticed a closed-off chamber.
From what Yotsuya Miko had explained, that was the room where her father's and younger brother's memorial tablets were kept. Miko sensed what Rei Ao intended and knew what to do next. She went to her mother and coaxed her cutely:
"Mom, could you go back to your room for a bit? There's something private Rei Ao-nii and I need to talk about."
"Huh?"
Mrs. Yotsuya was puzzled by what private matter they might haveuntil she recalled that both of them were a teenage boy and girl. Realization struck: maybe it was some kind of budding romance issue. Indeed, her daughter was at the age where such feelings start to develop, so it'd be awkward for her to linger. Nodding in understanding, she returned to her room.
Alone in the living room, Rei Ao stood and headed toward the room with the memorial tablets. Miko followed, nervous and uneasy, aware it likely held the spirits of her father and brother.
When Rei Ao slid the door open
"Wah!!!"
Miko gasped in alarm. She saw two faint, human-shaped figures hovering in midair above the pair of memorial tablets set on a small tableone large, one small: her father and her younger brother.
"Gotta go back Gotta go back"
They both muttered blankly, eyes empty.
"Rei Ao-nii They don't seem monstrous, butsomething's off," Miko said, confused about what was happening.
Rei Ao explained, "They haven't turned into evil spirits yet. Right now, they're just restless souls in a chaotic, half-awake state. They have no clear consciousness, but they also haven't been tainted by negative energy."
"But if that goes on, they'll eventually become evil spirits?"
"What do we do, then?"
Frightened, Miko clung to Rei Ao's sleeve.
"Physical deliverance."
With a glance from Rei Ao
"!!!"
A crimson flame instantly engulfed the two incomplete souls, burning them away completely. He made sure there was no painpartly out of kindness, and partly because, while they weren't truly Miko's father and brother anymore, they had almost become his future father-in-law and brother-in-law, in a sense.
"Isis it over?"
In the brief moment Miko blinked, her dad and brother were gone, reduced to nothing by fire.
"Haha, that's physical deliverancequick and direct. But you might need to explain things to your mom now."
"Huh?"
Following Rei Ao's line of sight, Miko turned. Standing there was her mother, looking utterly stunned, her mouth trembling at the scene.
The three of them sat in the living room, the atmosphere somber. Miko stood, fidgeting apologetically:
"Mom, I'm sorry I opened that room! I know you told me never to do that!"
Mrs. Yotsuya had warned her many times not to go in there. Now, not only had she opened it, she'd also been caught.
