"Good morning, Yukino."
It was early in the morning.
Yukino seemed to be tidying up the messy, wet-in-places bed sheets.
She didn't want to clean up the aftermath, but that hopeless girl Mabel was so incompetent that who knew how long it would take her. She might even break the washing machine.
With no choice, Yukino had to swallow her extreme embarrassment and handle it herself.
Thus, upon seeing Rei Ao appear out of nowhere, her toes curled with awkwardness.
She hastily bunched the sheets together.
Then she said with a straight face, "Good morning Are you leaving now?"
"Where's Mabel?"
"She's asleep in my room. She's really tired. I hope you'll give her a break."
Yukino forced herself to say those mortifying words, taking on an air of grave responsibility.
"Mm, then I'll head back first. Sorry to trouble you with taking care of Mabel."
Noticing that Yukino's grip on the sheets was trembling from how tightly she clenched them, Rei Ao decided not to tease her further.
He disappeared back to his own home.
" "
Yukino stood motionless for more than ten seconds after he left.
Making sure he wouldn't suddenly reappear, a burning flush quickly spread across her cheeks.
"What am I even doing!"
Looking at the damp stains on the sheets in her hands, she couldn't even tell whose they wereMabel's or Rei Ao's.
All at once, she wanted to sink into the floor and disappear.
"You still know how to come back?"
The instant Rei Ao reappeared at home, he was greeted by a sulky little complaint from Mai.
Rei Ao knew words wouldn't help in that moment.
Action was what counted most.
He didn't say a thing. He simply pulled Mai into his arms and kissed her.
When they finally parted, the sulky look was gone from Mai's face; she even licked her lips in satisfaction.
Hearing the commotion, Tohru and the others gathered around with hopeful looks on their faces.
Rei Ao spread his arms wide and laughed, "Come here!"
It took a good while of his superb technique to soothe them all.
Only then did Mai return to her soft, gentle self.
"Rei Ao, take a look at the chat group. Yesterday, a bunch of people asked about you and the newcomer."
Even if she hadn't mentioned it, Rei Ao could see the stream of chat messages piling up.
Stella: "What's with the newcomer?"
Saeko Busujima: "It's pretty rare for someone to request a trade the moment they join the chat group."
Akame: "If I recall, Saeko, you did the same thing back then."
Saeko Busujima: "Yes. If it hadn't been for that trade, I might never have become Rei Ao's first woman."
Sui: " Are you bragging right now?"
Hiiragi Shinoa: "Obviously! She's totally bragging!"
Yomogawa Ayame: "Ugh, I don't think Saeko is that kind of person."
Mikoto Misaka: "Rather than focus on that, shouldn't we pay more attention to Bibi Dong's dilemma?"
Megumi Kato: "Since Rei Ao-kun is already handling the trade, I'm sure there won't be any issues."
Kasuga Hijiri: "If it's Rei Ao-nii, then I'm not worried."
Miko Yotsuya: "Agreed."
~~~
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Chapter 306: Aftermath Talks
Frieren: "Anyway, let's first ask about the situation. @Rei Ao, @Bibi Dong, please reply if you see this."
Izawa Shizue: "Um maybe they're, you know, busy with that."
Frieren: "Huh? That's quite possible."
Misaka Mikoto: "???"
Rei Ao: "Stop guessingI'm back already."
Frieren: "Looks like we guessed wrong."
Rei Ao: "@Bibi Dong, Dong'er, please say hello to everyone."
Bibi Dong: "Mm, hello everyone. I'm Bibi Dong."
Busujima Saeko: "Hello, Welcome to our ranks."
Kato Megumi: "Let's all look after each other."
Hiiragi Shinoa: "Dong'er that nickname sounds so intimate."
Frieren: "Indeed. And the newcomer hasn't rejected it, either."
Stella: "??? You didn't just charm her in one go, did you?"
Rei Ao: "Not that far. Dong'er and I simply have mutual feelingswe're a little more than friends, but not yet lovers."
Bibi Dong: "I hope everyone doesn't mind me being here. Rei Ao has helped me so very much, but I'd like to wait until I've fully settled down from this incident before giving him an answer."
Sakurajima Mai: "Ah, that's definitely what being in love looks like."
Kato Megumi: "Well, it is Rei Ao-kun we're talking aboutI get it."
Yotsuya Miko: "It's true; a guy like Rei Ao, strong and reassuring, is bound to be popular."
Misaka Mikoto: "@Rei Ao, and you claim you're not a succubus?!"
Rei Ao: "Hah, if you say so, then sure."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "@Bibi Dong, did something bad happen on your side? A really urgent deal, perhaps?"
Bibi Dong: "That's"
Rei Ao: "If you don't want to talk, you don't have to. Nobody here will force you. We're all from different worlds."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Sorry. If it was offensive to ask, just pretend I never mentioned it."
Bibi Dong: "No, it's not that I can't talk about it. It's like this"
She briefly explained what had happened in the Supreme Pontiff's Hall, as well as the matter regarding Yu Xiaogang.
Yukinoshita Yukino: "As a teacheror mentorto do something so despicable?"
This goes beyond violating professional ethics; in the modern world, that's definitely a crime.
Frieren: "At times like this, you could say he deserved to die."
Stella: "Hmph, if someone like that crossed my path, I'd burn him to ash. Lusting after one's own student? Tsk, what a shameless old pervert!"
Akame: "His death was well-deserved."
Kato Megumi: "Yes, exactly."
Yotsuya Miko: "But that Qian Xunji guy was the Supreme Pontiff, right? Doesn't that mean a super high status? Won't Bibi Dong, big sis, have trouble later?"
Rei Ao: "No worries. I've already taken care of any problems for her."
Yotsuya Miko: "Oh! That's great!"
Hiiragi Shinoa: "You say it so casually. Do you have any details?"
Rei Ao: "I think I'll pass. The strongest person there wasn't really strong enough to bother mentioning."
Rei Ao: "The only noteworthy point is that Bibi Dong will soon be the new Supreme Pontiff."
Yotsuya Miko: "Wow! That's amazing!"
Kasuga Hijiri: "Congratulations."
Izawa Shizue: "Sounds impressive."
Misaka Mikoto: "So now our chat group has someone with such high status."
Bibi Dong: "It's all thanks to Rei Ao."
Frieren: "Sigh, Rei Ao always manages to handle things perfectly."
Stella: "Not necessarily. What about that guy who tricked Bibi Dongshouldn't you do something about him?"
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Logically speaking, there's definitely a chance he was deceiving her."
Bibi Dong: ""
Bibi Dong showed a bitter smile.
Seeing how everyone viewed him, she realized she really had misjudged that person.
Luckily, the one she truly cared about was Rei Ao.
Bibi Dong: "From now on, I won't ever listen to his smooth talk or give him another chance to use me."
Sakurajima Mai: "That's the way."
Somewhere in a city district
In a shabby little house
"Achoo!"
A white-haired man, unkempt and with stubble, sat at a desk writing, then sneezed.
He rubbed his nose helplessly.
He wasn't sure why, but he'd been sneezing nonstop all day.
That man's name was Yu Xiaogang.
He was writing new Soul Master theories.
With these theories, he'd become a famous theorist in the Soul Master world, earning the respectful title "Grandmaster."
But the public only knew the theories belonged to "Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang."
They had no idea that the theories he recorded were actually gleaned from the Spirit Hall's library, revised and refined by him.
He put down his pen, frowning slightly.
He couldn't keep writing.
"I should head to Spirit Hall again."
Surely that Saintess, Bibi Dong, would take him to the library again.
Yu Xiaogang was confident about that.
Ambition glimmered in his eyes.
He wanted to become a truly renowned theoretical master, known throughout the continent!
He wanted to make everyone in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan who had looked down on him regret expelling him.
"I am not trash!"
Recalling the past, his eyes went bloodshot, his fists clenching tight.
If he was a "Grandmaster" in theory,
He was absolute trash when it came to being an actual Soul Mastera colossal failure.
His martial soul should have been the continent's mightiest beast martial soul: the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
Yet it mutatedand it was the worst possible kind of mutation.
In a single change, his martial soul became what everyone called a "useless martial soul."
Everyone laughed at him.
Even his father, Yu Yuanzhen, the clan leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, drove him out of the clan.
So Yu Xiaogang hated them.
He wanted nothing more than to shut the mouths of everyone who had mocked him.
He wanted to prove himselfto prove his worth and slap their faces.
He even condensed his thoughts into a maxim: "There is no such thing as a useless martial soul, only a useless Soul Master," to comfort himself.
Yet he had no idea that this very line proved he was the useless one.
Furthermore,
He still didn't realize that in this world, people recognize real power, not just a few lines of theory.
Without strength, everything is just empty talk.
Naively, Yu Xiaogang was completely unaware that Bibi Dong had already changed her stance.
He packed his things, preparing to head to Spirit City.
Excitement sparkled in his eyes.
"Spirit Hall's library, here I come!"
~~~
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Chapter 307: Asumi Kominami (Bonus Chapter)
Weekend.
Today, Sumika Fujimiya has dressed up nicely.
She did this on Sawae's advice.
Because she's going to meet someone.
After getting off the train
She heads to the appointed location.
There, she sees Rei Ao already waiting.
She quickly walks over to him and apologizes, "Sorry, I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long?"
"Not at allI just got here myself."
Rei Ao replies.
His gaze sweeps over her white dress.
He compliments her: "Fujimiya, looks like you took this seriously. You look stunning."
"Eh?"
Being praised like that, even though she'd been hoping he'd notice her outfit, Sumika Fujimiya can't help feeling happy yet shy.
"Well, I'm here to see you, after all."
She blurts out her true feelings before she can stop herself.
"!!!"
And then she regrets it immediately.
Externally, she tries to stay calm, but inside she's screaming, "Aaaah, dang itwhy'd I make myself sound like some total fangirl?!"
"Haha, well, I feel honored to witness this gorgeous side of you, Fujimiya."
Rei Ao smiles.
"Ugh!"
He's doubled down on it, leaving Sumika a little lightheaded.
Fortunately, she hasn't forgotten why she's here.
She hands him the elegant paper bag she's been carrying.
"Rei Ao-kun, here's your jacket. I made sure to wash it thoroughly."
"Great."
He takes it naturally without even checking it.
So Sumika reminds him: "Aren't you going to see if everything's okay?"
"No need. It's just a jacket, and I don't think a beautiful girl like you, Sumika Fujimiya, would do anything weird to it."
"!!!"
She's happy to be called 'beautiful' again
But the second part of his statement makes her face go red.
Because she did do something to it.
Like sniffing it, almost like a crazed fangirl.
Suddenly, the mood becomes a bit awkward.
Luckily, Rei Ao doesn't let the conversation stall. He promptly suggests, "Thanks for going out of your way to bring me my jacket. Let me treat you to some coffee. A friend of mine works part-time at a place that does great hand-drip coffee."
"Mm, sure That'd be nice."
Sumika answers, somewhat stiffly.
And so
Rei Ao takes her to the caf where Gabriel works part-time.
Ding-a-ling!
Pushing the door open triggers an old-fashioned door chime, producing a crisp ring.
Hearing the sound, a waitress immediately comes to greet them.
"Welcome, both of you. Please take a seat over here."
""
The waitress isn't Gabriel.
She's a petite girl with long purple hair, braided into two triple-twists.
What catches Rei Ao's attention is that she looks familiar.
His keen gaze fixes on her.
He has a guess as to who this familiar-looking girl might be.
But he keeps that to himself for now.
"Rei Ao?!"
At that moment, Gabriel, passing by from the other side, notices him.
"Gabriel, you know this gentleman?"
The purple-haired girl looks at Gabriel curiously.
"Yeah He's my friend and neighbor, and a senpai at school."
Gabriel lazily introduces him.
"Oh? So you're also in third year at the Shuchiin Academy?"
The girl's eyes light up.
She smiles mischievously and introduces herself. "Hi, I'm Asumi Kominami, Class 5 of the third year. Nice to meet you."
"Rei Ao, Class 3 of the third year. Nice to meet you."
Rei Ao responds courteously.
Meanwhile, he can't help thinking how coincidental it is to run into her here.
Kominami Aisumishe's that senpai character from "We Never Learn" who isn't really one of the main heroines.
Kominami gives Gabriel a pat on the shoulder.
"Since he's your friend, I'll leave this to you, Gabriel."
With that, she leaves without giving Gabriel a chance to refuse.
""
"Tch."
Gabriel clicks her tongue, eyes half-lidded, then asks, "What would you like to drink?"
Rei Ao doesn't mind her attitude.
After all, he's seen an embarrassed, tearful, bright-red Gabriel before.
He says casually, "I'll have the house specialty."
Then he suggests to Sumika Fujimiya, "The owner's signature hand-drip coffee is really good. I recommend you try it."
"Oh, then I'll get the same."
Gabriel writes down the order on a slip.
"Two cups of the signature hand-drip coffee."
Rip. She tears off one copy, sticks it on the table, and slouches off.
After she leaves
Sumika Fujimiya leans in curiously and asks, "Those two just now they're also students at your school?"
"That's right. Gabriel is my underclassman and lives next door to me. Kominami Aisumi is in the same year as me."
"Wow, impressive."
Sumika marvels.
Rei Ao says, "Impressive? That's an odd way to put it."
"Haha, I mean it feels like your school is full of handsome guys and cute, beautiful girls. I only know you three, but all of you are so strikingit's really something"
