"Every time you're intimate, I feel it all. I've been torn apart by it."
Having experienced it more than once, Rio had bottled up countless grievances, which now burst forth. Because she knew those intimacies belonged to Futaba alone and had nothing to do with her.
""
It was the first time Futaba had heard of this, and she was speechless. There was no need for further explanation; she already sensed it. The sudden wave of heartbreak within her at this very momentbelonged to Rio.
After Rio's outburst and revelation, the atmosphere grew deathly quiet.
A long time later, Futaba stood up.
"I understand"
She said just that and left the caf.
Rio believed that, after understanding her pain, Futaba had finally agreed with her view. But that wasn't the case at all.
For Futaba, leaving Rei Ao was impossible. She was certain she had already been molded completely into his shape; she couldn't imagine life without him, nor did she want to endure such pain.
Yet she also understood that focusing all attention on herself alone would be unfair to Rio. Soshe wanted Rio to feel that indescribable thrill as well.
""
After hearing Futaba's explanation, Rei Ao didn't know how to describe his feelings. The most straightforward reaction wasthat he felt even more excited.
This was the first time he had learned about this shared-sense condition between them.
And Futaba could sense how exhilarated he was. Leaning against the tiled wall, she curved her lips into a smile, her hands softly stroking Rei Ao's cheek beneath the flowing water. Speaking gently, she said, "Rei Ao, look at me. Right now, you're not just looking at Futabayou're looking at Rio too. Futaba Rio."
"Please, let her know how much you love herhow much you love me."
Rei Ao grinned broadly.
"I understand.
"Rio, please accept my confession."
Back at the home shared by Futaba and Rio.
In the bedroom.
""
Detecting no disturbance, Rio breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed she really had listened to what she said.
"Finally I can get a decent night's sleep."
She pulled up her covers, lay down, and closed her eyes.
""
A moment later, in the darkness, Rio opened her eyes again. There was a hint of doubt in them.
Shecouldn't sleep.
Without the usual nighttime sensations or caresses, things were quieter than ever. Yet she felt no drowsiness at all.
It was as ifsomething was missing.
"Could it be that I'm sleeping in the wrong position?"
She was loath to admit it was because she had grown used to those shared feelings.
She tried shifting her posture. But the instant she turned over
"Mmph!!!"
A familiar sensation swept upward, jolting her from head to toe. Rio curled up.
"Why?"
The intensity made tears spring to her eyes. She didn't understand why Futaba was at it again, nor why her own body responded with such overwhelming excitement, as though returning home.
Suddenly, in her ears, she seemed to hear Futaba and Rei Ao talking. In her mind's eye, she seemed to see his face, so close under the shower's flow.
"Rio, accept my confession!"
As Rei Ao spoke those words, Rio's eyes flew wide. In that instant, from Rei Ao's gaze, she saw not Futaba but RioFutaba Rioherself.
From that moment on, every one of Rei Ao's declarations of love was directed at her, every movement shared with Rio.
Alone under her blankets, Rio's eyes grew hazy.
"Mmmthis is cheating You're cheating"
Leaving only that faint protest behind, Rio's defenses collapsed. She understood thenshe had simply been jealous of Rei Ao's love for Futaba all along.
But now, that love was something she, too, could receive and feel.
"Rei AoI love you."
The words came from Futaba's mouth, but Rei Ao could clearly tell it was Rio speaking. He couldn't help but smile.
"Rio, I got your message."
"In that case, I suppose I should show some sincerity as well."
And nothing demonstrates sincerity quite like cranking the sewing machine up to full speed.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
Currently You can Read 140+ Chapters Ahead of Others!
Chapter 334: Teenage Girl, Idol! Rush!
In an old, run-down house lived a family of three.
Just like the state of the house, their life was very frugal. The beautiful girl Rei Ao had encounteredShirogane Keiwas one member of this household.
The other two were her down-and-out father and her older brother, Shirogane Miyuki. As for their mother, she was already divorced from their father.
When Kei's mother left the Shirogane family, she wanted to take the smarter child. Because Miyuki's grades had been poor when he was young, his mother took Kei and left Miyuki behind.
However, after her mother got a new boyfriend and started living with him, Kei's stress gradually piled up. Although the boyfriend wasn't a bad person, he was still a stranger to herand a manwhich was difficult for a teenage girl to accept.
Coupled with her guilt toward her father and brother, and the pain of not agreeing with her mother's methods, Kei ultimately decided to follow her own wishes and return to live with her father and brother.
Still, she knew she was growing up and naturally understood the concept of maintaining a proper distance between males and females. She kept things respectable with her brother and didn't wear revealing clothes around the house. Her family was currently very poor; even the dishes on their dinner table were incredibly simple.
Shirogane Miyuki was the type of person who studied intensely, gulping down his meal so as not to waste any study time. All of a sudden, he recalled something and said to Kei, "Your bicycle's fixed now. Be sure to take extra care next time you ride it. It's pretty old."
Their father sighed and added, "Once I earn some money, I'll buy you a new one."
"Mm-hmm, okay," Kei replied with a nod.
Hearing mention of the bicycle brought her thoughts back to what had happened that morning. She remembered that her brother was a third-year student too. Out of curiosity, she asked, "Hey, oniichan, do you know a senpai named Rei Ao?"
"Rei Ao?" Instantly, Miyuki zeroed in on that name. Looking shocked, he asked, "You know him?" Their father also paused, looking over in surpriseapparently it was a boy's name. The father's "radar" went off.
"Um..." Kei felt embarrassed by their piercing stares. She shrank back slightly and explained, "My bicycle broke down while I was trying to ride uphill the other day. I ran into a senior named Rei Ao, and he helped me push it to school."
"Oh, so that's what happened. I thought maybe you two already knew each other," Miyuki said, sounding a bit disappointed. Kei grew even more curious and asked, "So, you do know him?"
"Of course!" Miyuki perked up. "He's my idol!"
"Huh?" Kei tilted her head. It sounded like this Rei Ao senior was something special. Miyuki became animated as he told her all about how Rei Ao had risen from obscurity to claim first place across all subjects with perfect scoresan inspiring feat. For Miyuki, who came from a struggling background, Rei Ao was a huge role model. He had always taken Rei Ao as his goal.
"All-subject first place That's amazing!" Kei exclaimed, mouth agape.
Hearing this, their father stroked his chin thoughtfully. If that was the kind of boy Kei had met, then perhaps he really was worthy of his precious daughter. (If his daughter knew he was thinking that, she'd probably give him a good smack.)
Their father said, "Kei, since he's a classmate who helped you, let's invite him over someday to properly thank him."
"Huh?" Kei had also considered thanking Rei Ao, but seeing their rundown home and the meager food on the table, she couldn't help lowering her head in self-consciousness. "Father"
Miyuki also realized how awkward their current financial state was, so he felt a bit confused about his father's decision.
But when he noticed his father's meaningful look, it dawned on him: his sister was a teenage girl who might develop feelings, so their father wanted to see what kind of person Rei Ao was before letting Kei spend time around him.
If Rei Ao ended up looking down on their poverty, then Kei would see the reality, and it would keep her from any farfetched teenage fantasies.
Miyuki could understand his father's thinking, but he didn't like the idea of viewing his idol in such a negative light. Still, their father had made up his mind. "It's settled. When he comes, we'll treat him well."
Kei hung her head, lost in thought.
At the Yotsuya household:
They had just finished dinner when Touko Yotsuya grabbed Miko and asked, "Miko, why hasn't Rei Ao been over to visit recently?" They were a couple, yet were rarely seen together.
"Um" Miko blushed and her heart began to pound. Because if she wanted Rei Ao to come, she'd have to strike another "trade." Each time, she had to go to the field and do the plowingthat was so embarrassing she couldn't say it out loud! She could only gloss over the question with, "He He'll come in a few days."
"Oh, good. We really ought to show him our thanks," her mother said. Rei Ao's protective charm had been so effectiveany evil spirit within a hundred-meter radius was destroyed, so they no longer had to live in constant fear.
"Miko, let me know when Rei Ao is coming. I'll make a special 'husband's meal' for him," Touko said earnestly.
"Ugh, I-I will!" After that, Miko spun around and dashed back to her room. Watching her go, Touko Yotsuya shook her head with a smile, thinking Miko's embarrassed. They might be even closer than I realized maybe they've already
"Sigh, I hope they're taking the right safety measures," she thought, cheeks turning a bit red. She felt she should provide them with something for protection, but she didn't have any personal experience with that herself.
"Phew" Safely escaping her mother's questioning, Miko let out a breath of relief. She was really worried her mother would insist Rei Ao come over right this second.
Flopping onto her bed, she took out her phone and noticed messages from Hana:
Hana: "Miko, have you had dinner yet?"
Miko: "I havejust finished, actually."
Miko: "Hey, Hana, have you had any more sudden hunger attacks lately?"
Hana: "Nope! Ever since you gave me the protective charm, they're totally gone! It's really working!"
Miko: "That's good."
Seeing that her best friend was no longer being harmed by evil spirits (which had been making her constantly starving), Miko felt relieved.
Hana: "Hehe, so I want to thank that friend of yours who gave me the charm. When can I meet him?"
Miko: "Uh"
She started to sweat. She was trying to dodge her mom's request, and now Hana was pressing her too. This felt more stressful than going to some scary place!
Miko: "Cough, in a few days, in a few days."
Hana: "Alright."
She'd brushed her off yet again.
Hana: "Oh, by the way, tomorrow's the weekendwant to go draw fortunes at the shrine?"
Miko: "Hmm sure."
Miko was planning to draw a love fortune to see how things might go between her and Rei Ao. Imagining walking down the aisle with him made her so embarrassed that she buried her face in her pillow.
Hana: "Great, that's settled then!"
~~~
For every 100 Powerstone = 1 Bonus Chapter! Please Vote for More Chapters!!
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
Currently You can Read 140+ Chapters Ahead of Others!
Chapter 335: Hero and the Demon King... (Bonus Chapter)
Heavenly Realm!
"Have you heard? The diplomatic mission sent to negotiate with the Dragon Realm seems to have safely returned."
"Of course I've heard. It was led by Zelel."
"The strongest Seraph! How enviable."
Several angels were heatedly discussing this on the side of the road in the Holy City of the Heavenly Realm.
They completely failed to notice a striking golden figure passing leisurely right beside them.
"..."
Her name was Zelel White Tenma.
That was her name.
She was also the Seraph those angels were talking about.
Having just returned from the Dragon Realm, she had no mind for anything else right now. She went straight home.
"I'm back."
The moment she stepped through the door
"Welcome home."
Knowing she was returning, her parents had already been waiting for her.
There was, however, one person missingher younger sister, Gabriel.
"Where's Gabriel?"
"She's been assigned to the Human Realm to observe a certain awakened one there."
"Oh, really?"
Zelel was a little surprised.
"The Human Realm, huh"
She appeared to be thinking.
Perhaps she should find some time to visit her sister in the Human Realm?
On the Holy Cross Continent of Ente Isla.
Amid the ruins of the Demon King's castle
A silver-haired young girl in silver armor, gripping a holy sword, had cut down numerous demons along the way to get here.
She was the Hero.
A hero who existed for the sole purpose of slaying the Demon King.
She had come here with a single objective: defeat the Demon King.
Without a doubt, she had just done so.
The evidence of her victory could be seen all around: the signs of destruction everywhere and the Demon King's broken horn on the ground.
But after leaving a harsh vow that he would return, the Demon King leapt into a dimensional rift and fled.
Normally, the Hero would return home at this point.
However
Unwilling to let him escape, she clenched her fist tightly and stared at the still-closing dimensional rift.
Her thoughts went back to her past.
Her name was Emilia Justina.
She was born in a poor village on the Western Continent of Ente Isla.
Her father was Nord Justina, a farmer.
She lived with her father in the countryside until she was twelve, when one day the priests of the Grand Holy Church took her away to train her as a future Hero who would defeat the Demon King.
On the very next day, she learned that her hometown had been destroyed by the Demon King's army and her father's whereabouts were unknown.
Having seen how cruel demons could be, Emilia, upon witnessing her ravaged home, concluded that her father was dead. Driven by revenge, she vowed to bring down the Demon King's forces.
At thirteen, she joined the Border Defense Forces.
In her first battle, she was too terrified to be of any use.
Afterward, she gradually grew strong enough to lead the Church's knights to capture various strongholds of the Demon King's army, becoming a knight-captain recognized among humans by titles like "Holy Knight."
During this time, she gained the allies who would later help her in the decisive battle at the Demon King's castle.
