Well, she had been watching intently, that was true.
After all, she wasn't the one suffering.
Plus, it's not like she'd ever experienced anything like that herself.
But she didn't recall showing any particular expression.
Turning slightly, she glanced at the scene behind him.
She smirked a little and said, "Now that your trade with Edelweiss is finished, could you send me back?"
"Of courseno problem. But first, let me make sure everything's settled here."
Rei Ao saw no need to keep her around any longer.
He returned Esdeath and the others to the palace, then chose to go back to his own world.
For Saikyo Nene, crossing between worlds was definitely a strange experience.
In the blink of an eye, she was back in Stella's dorm.
But
She looked at Edelweiss, who was leaning on her for support, and for a moment she had no idea what to say.
Rei Ao didn't come back with them.
He merely left a single message in the chat group:
Rei Ao: "@Saikyo Nene, I've returned to my world. Could you do me a favor and help 'clean up' Edelweiss?"
"???"
Saikyo Nene's eye twitched.
Clean up?
How exactly was she supposed to do that?!
"Isn't this the Kuhouin Group's territory?"
Indeed, Tsugumi and Shinomiya Ayase had left the Funeral Parlor under some excuse and arrived at the location specified in Inori's encrypted message.
To their surprise, it turned out to be property of the Kuhouin Group!
"How in the world did Yuzuriha Inori get involved with the Kuhouin Group?"
Sitting in a wheelchair, Shinomiya Ayase looked genuinely puzzled.
Just then, the doors opened.
Arisa, dressed in formal attire, walked toward them with measured grace.
After a subtle once-over, she said bluntly, "You two must be Inori's friends from the Funeral Parlor, correct?"
""
Their eyes narrowed.
Fingers tensed on the wheelchair's armrests.
Shinomiya Ayase hadn't expected that Inori would reveal the Funeral Parlor's affairs to outsiders.
Her gaze sharpened as she asked gravely, "May I ask your name, miss and how exactly are you connected to Inori?"
Tsugumi remained silent the entire timeshe wasn't good at conversation.
"I am Kuhouin Arisa. You may address me as such."
"So it really is the Kuhouin Group"
Now Shinomiya Ayase could confirm that Inori was currently involved with the Kuhouin Financial Group.
"As for my relationship with Inori"
She trailed off.
Arisa paused, as though reflecting on her words, then gave a faint smile. "We could be friends, or we could be sisters. We could also share the bond of going through hardships together."
Being painted and "tended to" by a certain person could indeed be called sharing hardships.
"But if you want to know more, come with me. Inori will explain it to you herself."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving the choice to the two at the gate.
"Sis"
Tsugumi had no idea what to do and deferred to Shinomiya Ayase.
Arisa showed no concern for what they might decide.
In fact, from the start, their decision hadn't mattered to her.
She had only come personally to see if these two were truly fit to serve their beloved master alongside her.
From the standpoint of looks, Arisa was satisfied.
Moreover, they were sisters, which might fulfill some "certain preferences" of her master.
That said
She was slightly displeased that Shinomiya Ayase's legs were paralyzed, forcing her to remain in a wheelchair.
It might require her master's time and energy to heal her.
Then again, Arisa had seen Rei Ao revive people from a near-death stateliterally pierced through the heartso she didn't doubt his ability.
"Hopefully, once she's healed, she'll be able to perform up to standard for Master's passions," she thought.
As expected, Shinomiya Ayase stared at Arisa's receding figure without blinking for a while, then made up her mind.
"Tsugumi, let's go inside. We have to see Inori."
"Alright!"
Tsugumi immediately began pushing her sister's wheelchair into the estate.
Shortly thereafter
Following Arisa without obstruction, they arrived at a magnificent, spotless, tidy villa.
There, they finally saw Inori.
""
But right now, Inori seemed very different from the one they knew.
That innocent, nave Inori was presently sipping red wine elegantly from a glass.
Alluring, mature, graceful, and seductiveall these qualities were fused into one person.
They could hardly believe this was the Inori they knew.
"Well nowyour friends are here."
Sensing their arrival, "Inori" set down the glass with a faint smile.
It was Mana.
The next moment, she closed her eyes.
When she reopened them, Tsugumi and Shinomiya Ayase felt a wave of inexplicable dissonance.
Inori's bearing had reverted to the version of her they recognized.
"Tsugumi, Ayaseyou're here."
""
"Inori just what on earth happened to you?"
Shinomiya Ayase skipped over any greeting, urgently wanting to get to the root of the dissonance emanating from Inori.
Inori's gaze stayed calm from beginning to end.
In the same collected tone, she spoke words that mystified the two even further.
"Tsutsugami Gaihe's the very first betrayer of the Funeral Parlor."
"???"
That made no sense.
All of the Funeral Parlor had been founded by Tsutsugami Gai.
What reason would he have to betray it?
Before they could voice their questions, Inori continued, "From the very beginning, the Funeral Parlor existed only as a tool for him to accomplish another goal."
""
Tsugumi and Shinomiya Ayase looked at each other.
If that was true it wasn't entirely impossible.
This time, they planned to hear out everything Inori had to say, and only after that would they judge its truth for themselves.
~~~
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Chapter 393: Off Topic but Fun... (Bonus Chapter)
""
After quite some time,
Tsugumi and Shinomiya Ayase were looking at Inori with great doubt in their eyes.
"Inori, are you sure you're not just messing with us?"
Tsugumi couldn't help but ask.
She couldn't help it. Everything Inori said sounded too outrageous.
Supposedly, Tsutsugami Gai was secretly in love with a woman named Ouma Mana, who was the first person exposed to the Apocalypse Virus and who created the Lost Christmas incident.
And that everything Tsutsugami Gai had done was for a single purpose: to resurrect Ouma Mana and then set her free.
Funeral Parlor, in turn, was merely a transitional tool to achieve that goal.
That that sounded like complete nonsense, right?
Shinomiya Ayase narrowed her eyes.
"Inori, it's not that we don't trust you, but what you're saying differs too drastically from what we know."
In other words, they didn't believe her.
"If you had some concrete evidence, that might be more convincing."
Inori nodded.
"I'm a clonea clone of Ouma Manaand I'm also her vessel for resurrection."
She calmly spoke of her past.
In the next moment, her aura changed.
Her pupils took on a more aggressive shade of wine-red, and her gaze turned keener.
"Heh heh, that's right. She's my container, you know~"
Stretching her body, "Inori" emphasized her flawless curves.
"???"
The shift happened so suddenly that Tsugumi and Ayase didn't react right away.
"My, my, you look surprised. Did you think the usual, gentle Inori couldn't strike such a pose?"
Mana gave a lazy, husky laugh.
Her eyes were languid yet deeply penetrating.
"Too bad, I'm not Inori. My name is Ouma Mana."
Some time later,
Tsugumi and Shinomiya Ayase left the estate.
They turned back to look at the Suemori mansion.
Tsugumi asked blankly, "Sis, do you think what Inori said is all true?"
Seeing Inori transform into a completely different person had rattled her. It didn't feel like an act at all. She had truly changed from one aura to another.
"Tsugumi, let it go."
Ayase spoke gravely. "We don't know if what Inori or Ouma Mana said is real. But as for Tsutsugami Gai we can verify that with our own eyes."
"Huh? Sis, don't tell me you plan on testing the leader?"
Tsugumi was shocked, her expression instantly changing.
Shinomiya Ayase gave a faint nod.
"Let's go back."
"They're gone."
From the window, Kohouin Arisa watched the two fade into the distance.
"So, Inori, do you think your persuasion worked?"
Arisa folded her arms.
Inori didn't reply. Instead, she opened the group chat.
Inori: "@Rei Ao, are you there?"
Rei Ao: "Of course. As soon as any of my loved ones want me, I'm right here."
Sakurajima Mai: "You've got some nerve. You come back in the middle of the night and don't even return to our room, huh?"
Rei Ao: "Heh, didn't want to disturb your sleep."
Sakurajima Mai: "I was starting to think you'd gotten bored with me and Futaba and the others."
Sakurajima Mai: "Fine then. Futaba and the others are still asleep, so just stay in the living room until morning."
Frieren: "Haha, Rei Ao, you got kicked out."
Rei Ao: "What do you know? That's called 'distance makes the heart grow fonder.'"
Rei Ao: "Anyway, let's not banter too long. Inori, what did you need?"
Inori: "It's about Tsugumi and Ayase."
Rei Ao: "Oh, them."
Misaka Mikoto: "??? So late at night, and you're having a secret conversation?"
Rei Ao: "We're just chatting. Why are you rushing?"
Misaka Mikoto: "I'm stressed lately. Can't I enjoy a bit of gossip to decompress?"
Rei Ao: "Heh, after that huge stress-relief livestream I just did, don't tell me you didn't watch. Maybe you even got hands-on, huh?"
Misaka Mikoto: "???!"
Her face went bright red in an instant.
How did he guess?!
Even if she had used it for stress relief, she'd never admit it.
Misaka Mikoto: "I-I did not! Quit making things up!"
Rei Ao merely smirked. Her flustered denial gave it all away.
Frieren: "So that's another way to relieve stress. No wonder Aura's been going so wild."
Sakurajima Mai: "What did she do?"
Frieren: "She was lying on the floor, watching the livestream, calling out Rei Ao's name while you know, stirring up a personal 'sea.'"
Sakurajima Mai: ""
Misaka Mikoto: "Pervert!"
Rei Ao: "Okay, we're drifting off-topic. We're here for serious matters, so keep it relevant."
Mabel: "Hmph. Then why can you interrupt us whenever you want?"
Mabel: "Plus, whenever we watch your live broadcast, it's always"
Frieren: "Uh, well"
Sakurajima Mai: "???"
Misaka Mikoto: "???"
Rei Ao: "Mabel are you half asleep or something?"
He wore a strange expression. Clearly the conversation had gone totally off track.
Mabel: "Oh I got up to use the bathroom. Hahaha~ I'll keep sleeping now. Goodnight."
Rei Ao: ""
She was indeed half asleep.
He rubbed his brow in exasperation.
Rei Ao: "Inori, please continue. If anyone else interrupts, I'll 'interrupt' them, got it?"
No one dared interrupt further.
Inori: "Alright."
Inori: "So here's the situation: I told them the truth, and Mana showed herself, but they still didn't believe it."
Rei Ao: "That's natural. Hearing words alone isn't enough; they need to see it. Makes sense."
Rei Ao: "Do you believe they'll come to understand everything and choose to join you in the end?"
Inori: "I believe so. They're quite capable."
Rei Ao: "Haha, if you believe it, then that's all that matters. Just keep waiting."
Inori: "Alright."
""
Frieren: "So you're done now? Can we talk again?"
Inori: "Report finished."
Rei Ao: "Now you can speak your minds. Interrupt away."
Misaka Mikoto: "Hmph, stop making it sound so gross!"
Because of Mabel's random remarks, she couldn't help associating that word with something else.
Sakurajima Mai: "So what exactly were you all talking about?"
Rei Ao: "Basically, Inori plans to bring two old friends from the Funeral Parlorwhere she used to beinto our group."
Sakurajima Mai: "Let me guess: both are cute girls, right?"
Inori: "Yes. According to Arisa, it's about providing a new 'sex slave' for Rei Ao."
Misaka Mikoto: "??? @Rei Ao, this 'sex slave' stuff isn't that going too far?"
Rei Ao: "It's not like I said it. Why blame me? Besides, I don't see the problem with building a 'sex slave.' If there's one thing I do well, it's taking good care of my own women."
Rei Ao: "@Misaka Mikoto, interested in giving it a try?"
Misaka Mikoto: "Go to hell!!!"
Rei Ao was just teasing her.
A bit of banter kept the group chat lively, though definitely a bit off-color.
~~~
Sex slave is kind of strong any suggestions for renaming it?
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Chapter 394: Accidental Encounter...
The next day.
Back to their normal routine, Rei Ao went to school together with Mai.
They parted at the entrance to their respective classrooms.
Turning a corner in the hallway
Rei Ao raised an eyebrow, showing an amused look.
So early in the morning and there's already "action."
Norather, someone was trying to "ambush" him.
He knew someone was lying in wait up ahead, yet Rei Ao didn't stop walking.
He took one step past the corner
"Wahhh!!!"
A delicate yelp rang out.
A girl with a petite mouth holding toast between her lips was about to slam into Rei Ao.
Though her entire body was tipping over, the corners of her eyes held a gleeful look that said her plan was succeeding.
That girl was none other than Iroha Isshiki.
This was her "super-romantic first heartbeat encounter strategy"!
More precisely, it was a plan she'd devised together with Yukino, Yui, and a very disgruntled Yumiko, all to make a memorable first impression on Rei Ao.
The idea sounded perfect:
A flustered Kouhai with toast in her mouth, rounding the corner and colliding head-on with her senpai.
Physical contact, a bit of pain, some sympathyquickly closing the distance between them.
A lovely idea.
Reality was also lovely!
It worked even better than she'd imagined so well that it went a bit too far!
"Hmph!"
Iroha Isshiki, having lain in ambush, did indeed crash into Rei Ao.
