"I've never been married. Before I was twelve, I had a fianc whom I met only a few times, arranged for political reasons. However, that engagement was annulled when I turned twelve due to certain circumstances."
"I see."
Rei Ao lowered his gaze with a slight nod. He knew many aspects here must be different from what he had assumed. He couldn't help wondering about Shiba MiyaShiba Miyuki's mother, who was supposed to be deceasedand whether there were surprises surrounding her as well.
Seeing Rei Ao lapse into thought, Yotsuba Maya did not dare interrupt. She merely stood quietly by his side. After a while, Rei Ao spoke again.
"I'll give you the opportunity to learn about another world."
"?!"
Before Yotsuba Maya could react, a vast amount of knowledge surged into her mind.
[Ding! You have selected the sub-group of the Trading Chat Group to be bestowed upon: Yotsuba Maya!]
~~~
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Chapter 329: Maya's Shocked! Miyuki Embarrassed, Miya's Thoughts... (Bonus Chapter)
Bedroom.
"Mom, are you sure you're feeling all right?"
Shiba Miyuki was still worried about her mother's health.
"I can't say for sure, but at least it's a lot easier than before."
Shiba Miya wasn't happy, however. On the contrary, she was concerned about Miyuki.
She could tell that Miyuki was deliberately changing the subject.
"Miyuki, can you tell me about the deal you made with that person?"
""
Miyuki's expression went rigid.
She realized she probably couldn't hide it any longer.
Lowering her head, she found herself momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
Seeing this, Shiba Miya offered:
"Shall I ask, and you answer?"
"Mm."
Miyuki nodded.
"Is it about money?"
"No"
"Does it have something to do with the Yotsuba family?"
"No"
""
Shiba Miya stopped her questioning.
Just from those two answers and Miyuki's embarrassed look, she basically understood.
"So the price is you?"
""
Miyuki nodded, feeling as though she could no longer face her mother.
She bowed her head even more, her fingers twisting together anxiously.
It was unexpected, yet also felt inevitable.
After all, her daughter was clever as ice and beautiful as snow.
For a moment, Shiba Miya didn't know what to say.
Taking a deep breath, she continued:
"Miyuki, do you know this person well?"
"Um I guess you could say we're friends?"
All right.
Miyuki herself wasn't sure what their relationship really was.
They had only actually met once.
"Friends, maybe"
Shiba Miya couldn't help rubbing her forehead. Things seemed more complicated than she had expected.
On the one hand, the deal was already made.
And she truly had been miraculously healed.
She didn't want her daughter to be in a difficult position, but she also didn't want her becoming someone who breaks her word.
Because of that, Shiba Miya was willing to offer her own life in exchange.
But given how far Miyuki had already gone, she wouldn't agree to that.
If Miyuki knew that man well and actually liked him, Miya wouldn't mind trying to persuade her daughter and match them up.
But now
"Miyuki, tell me honestly. What impression do you have of that man? What do you think of him?"
"Eh?"
That question caught Miyuki completely off guard, leaving her mind momentarily blank.
She had never actually considered it before.
Seeing her at a loss for words, Shiba Miya followed up:
"Your first impression?"
"My first impression he's really mysterious."
He's the owner of a chat group that spans several different worlds, mysterious and powerful.
"What about his character?"
"His character I guess he's helpful to others?"
Miyuki wasn't sure if it counted as "helpful" that he liked teaching and assisting people.
But even when there was no deal involved, he often answered basic questions for other members of the chat about their own worlds.
"What's he like personality-wise?"
"Free-spirited and cool, but sometimes has a sense of humor."
Normally, Rei Ao was calm and spoke his mind, but he could joke around with the others in the chat group if he felt like it.
And one more thing
Miyuki pressed her lips together, her voice turning heavier:
"He's also a total pervert."
"?"
Shiba Miya looked at her daughter in surprise.
Knowing Miyuki, if she met a pervert, she'd normally be cold, scornful, and full of disgust.
But here she only seemed slightly annoyed. That was out of character for Shiba Miyuki.
A spark flickered in Shiba Miya's eyes: Perhaps there was still a bit of hope.
After a moment of reflection, Yotsuba Maya's eyes were filled with unconcealed shock as she looked at Rei Ao.
Through the chat group, she had learned of Rei Ao's identity:
He was the master of a group that linked different worlds, someone who could travel between them by making trades.
She finally understood why he was here: it was part of the agreement with Shiba Miyuki.
But as for the details of that deal
Click!
Just then, the bedroom door opened.
Only Shiba Miya came out.
She walked gracefully over to Rei Ao and bowed.
"Rei Ao-san, thank you for healing my damaged body."
From Maya's point of view, the healing effects were obvious.
Not only was Miya's complexion visibly healthier, but she also moved more freely.
Her sister no longer looked like someone whose body had been drained by overusing magic.
Before Rei Ao could respond, she knelt down just like her sister had moments ago.
Shiba Miya pleaded, "Rei Ao-san, I, Miya, ask that you change the terms of your agreement with Miyuki."
"No,"
Rei Ao replied bluntly.
""
Shiba Miya lifted her head but didn't back down. She spoke in earnest:
"Rei Ao-san if you wouldn't mind, please let me take Miyuki's place."
"Sister? What in the world are you saying?!"
Yotsuba Maya's expression changed drastically.
That was unthinkable!
Shiba Miya didn't care what Maya thought.
This was the best solution she could come up with, aside from repaying the debt with her own life.
Pointing to her cheek, she continued:
"Look, I resemble Miyuki a lot. She's too young, doesn't understand anything, and can't satisfy you. I"
Rei Ao raised a brow and interrupted:
"You're very experienced, then?"
"I"
As though it was something difficult to admit,
her expression twisted, and she said with difficulty:
"I Even though I'm married, my marriage is only nominal. I'm still"
"Oh? So that's how it is?"
Rei Ao sounded surprised.
He hadn't known that Shiba Miya's marriage was a sham.
"Sigh"
Yotsuba Maya heaved a deep breath at this point.
"It's true, Rei Ao-san."
Noticing Rei Ao's curious look, she offered an explanation:
"One day, out of the blue, a newborn baby appeared in Sister's room: that was Miyuki. Logically, an unknown child like that should have been handed over to the proper people. But the Yotsuba family discovered that Miyuki possessed tremendously strong magical talent and wanted a legitimate reason to keep her as part of the family."
At that, Rei Ao suddenly understood:
It was part of the Yotsuba family's plan to make her Miya's daughter.
But to do that, Shiba Miya had to have a husband.
"And so the family selected Shiba Tatsurou as Sister's husband, to join the Yotsuba household.
In reality, they're only husband and wife in name, never in truth."
Yotsuba Maya glanced around the empty room and sighed:
"He's never even set foot in here."
~~~
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Chapter 330: Emotions Brewing, Family Bond... (Bonus Chapter)
Even though she knew her older sister was revealing the secret so that Rei Ao would understand she was still pureand also out of fear that Rei Ao might have certain "special interests"
She understood.
It felt awkward.
But she still took the initiative to explain and reassure him.
She really was still as pure as ever.
After listening to Yotsuba Maya's bizarre explanation,
Rei Ao's heart remained unruffled.
He had already seen too many such cases.
Sawamura Sayuri, Sakurajima Ai, Takagi Yurikoone after another, all of them had experiences very similar to Shiba Miya's.
He would have been a fool not to notice something fishy by now.
In his mind, he silently asked, "Chat group, do you think this matter might be related to me?"
[]
Unfortunately, there was no response.
Rei Ao could not be bothered to dwell on it.
After all, it was only something that benefited him without doing him any harm.
"However, in that case, why do you think you have so much experience?"
"Uh"
Shiba Miya caught her breath.
This topic made her feel deeply embarrassed.
She replied in a trembling voice, "B-becauseI occasionally use my hands"
""
Yotsuba Maya felt as though the image she had of her sister was falling apart.
She herself had tried it before.
"Uh."
Rei Ao gave a short snort of laughter. "You're oversimplifying it. Experience? Actual practice isn't something you can just simulate with your hands."
"Ugh, I-I can learn. Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it!"
Shiba Miya spoke words that made her face redden.
Having learned the rules of the chat group, Yotsuba Maya felt so awkward she almost wanted to bury her face.
She never would have imagined her older sister had such a side.
Rei Ao, amused by Miya's earnestness, reached out his hand.
""
Realizing his intention, Shiba Miya placed her hand on his. Then he easily pulled her to her feet.
She had not even steadied herself
Suddenly, he moved in close to her, stopping barely a palm's width away, so that their gazes met.
Rei Ao said, "Mrs. Shiba, you really do present a tempting proposition."
"Ugh!"
Shiba Miya's face took on a faint flush.
He was talking about her
Even Yotsuba Maya standing behind them couldn't help feeling startled, because she had exactly the same appearance as her sister.
"But"
Rei Ao abruptly changed his tone.
"The terms of the trade are set in stone for now and aren't up to me to change, so I'm sorry."
"Though it sounds self-absorbed, if you've fallen in love with me at first sight, you can just tell me directly."
By the time a stunned Shiba Miya processed his words, Rei Ao had already slipped past her toward the bedroom.
She, on the other hand, raised her fingertips to her lips in amazement.
"Just now"
"Sis, he just kissed you."
Yotsuba Maya walked up and said quietly.
Yes.
Mortified and furious!
Only she knew what a special person Rei Ao was
But the one who'd caught his attention was this naive older sister.
"Wha?!"
At Maya's words, Miya realized the feeling on her lips was real.
Her cheeks flared red like a ripe apple.
Embarrassing as it was, that had indeed been her first kiss!
"Stop yellinghe's already gone in."
Yotsuba Maya cut short her shock.
"!!!"
Only then did Shiba Miya remember there were pressing matters.
She turned, about to stop him.
Just as she reached for the door, Yotsuba Maya grabbed her wrist.
Sighing, she said, "Sis, you can't stop this."
"Maya Do you know something I don't?"
The abruptness of her restraint made Miya realize something was off,
As though Maya had known all along what was about to happen.
"I do know something that you, Sister, don't."
In this world's group chat, it was only Maya and Miyuki. Miya wasn't part of it.
"But I can't tell you. You can only ask Rei Ao yourself."
""
Miya studied the Maya standing before her.
Although she did not truly think of Maya as her younger sister, she believed Maya would not lie to her.
So she slowly lowered her hand.
Right then,
Both Shiba Miya and Yotsuba Maya heard sounds coming from inside the room.
"Did you hear all of that?"
After Rei Ao entered the bedroom,
He saw Shiba Miyuki sitting on the bed with dull eyes, quietly weeping.
"Yes."
Shiba Miyuki nodded, looking aggrieved.
Knowing her mother could not help her, and having finally faced reality, she had grown so nervous she could not stay calm.
So she ended up eavesdropping at the door.
It was her first time learning that she was not actually her mother's biological daughter.
This was undoubtedly a heavy blow for her.
No wonder she had never met her father.
No wonder her father had not come, even when her mother was on the brink of death.
So her so-called father was never really her father at all.
Everything fell into place.
At some point, Rei Ao had already sat down beside her
And gently wiped away her tears, speaking softly: "Whether she's your real mother or not doesn't matter."
"Itdoesn't matter?"
Shiba Miyuki was at a loss.
"What matters is that she loves you. She treats you as if you were her own daughter. She was even prepared just now to 'take your place' in paying the price."
Rei Ao gave her a hug and a shoulder to lean on.
"So, knowing how deeply she cares for you, do you still think it matters whether or not you're her real daughter?"
An onlooker sees clearly.
If Shiba Miya was willing to give herself up for Miyuki, wasn't that love?
His words woke her from her confused daze.
In that instant, the knot in her chest was untangled, and Shiba Miyuki suddenly understood.
"That's rightMom does love me. Even if I'm not her real daughter, she's still my mom."
She had briefly been thrown off by the series of shocking revelations and lost her usual rationality.
Had it not been for Rei Ao, she could not have come out of that dark mindset so quickly.
Now she thought of her mother's situation again
And the impression she had of Rei Ao.
It seemed she could add "warm and dependable" to it.
Even entrusting herself to himwell, she wouldn't mind.
Outside,
Hearing the conversation between the two,
Shiba Miya covered her mouth and burst into tears.
But they were tears of joy and relief.
""
Yotsuba Maya felt a twinge of envy at that kind of love, butshe believed she was unworthy of it.
She was only another person carrying Maya's memories and experiences.
