Yui checked the group roster. Indeed, her mom was there. Her face fell:
"II really didn't realize. Mom never said anything"
Megumi Kato suggested, "Then message Yuigahama-san now."
"Oh, okay! I'll"
Just as Yui was about to do that, Rei Ao stopped her:
"No need. I'll go pick her up personally."
Swooshhis figure vanished.
At the same time, Sayuri and Sakurajima Ai exchanged a knowing look, each wearing a subtle smile: that Yuigahama-san might end up having plenty in common with them.
~~~
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Chapter 556: Yuigahama-mama's Feelings...
Yuigahama Residence.
Yuigahama-mama's absence really wasn't Yui's fault.
She had deliberately chosen not to speak in the group at all and, noticing Yui didn't realize her presence there, she just kept it to herself.
That was because she felt guilty deep down.
From back when she and Yui had swapped bodies, she still couldn't get past what had happened with Rei Ao. It remained a thorn in her heart, making her feel she'd wronged Yui. So even when the group was planning a party, she never mentioned it. Now, she sat alone in her room, gloomily downcast.
She did want to mingle with everyone. Hanging around the chat group, how could she not be fascinated by those friends sharing bold, carefree banter? Who wouldn't wish to be a part of that?
"Sigh Yui and her friends must be having a blast right now,"
Yuigahama-mama murmured enviously.
"If you envy them, why not go join them?"
someone asked.
"Because of Yui"
She reflexively tried to answer.
But then she realized something was off: why would a man's voice be here at home?
"W-who's there?!"
Startled, she looked uponly to freeze on the spot. Standing before her, arms crossed and eyes amused, was Rei Ao.
"R-Rei Ao-kun, howhow are you here? Aren't you"
supposed to be at the party?
She had no idea how any of this made sense.
"Yes. The party we organized has technically already started. But we found one member missing, so it's been delayed."
Rei Ao's tone feigned regret.
That made Yuigahama-mama's heart jolt. She instantly realized they must be talking about her.
"That's so terrible! You shouldn't delay on my accountI really don't deserve to go!"
If Yui and the others were excited about the party, it was far too big a burden on her conscience for it to be pushed back because of her.
Yet Rei Ao just stepped forward until he was right in front of her.
"And why do you think you shouldn't attend? Aren't you part of the group, too?"
"N-no, that's not it, I onlyonly"
Confronted by his closeness, Yuigahama-mama's thoughts scattered. After all, this was the man she'd inadvertently ended up thinking or dreaming about so much lately.
"Then what is it?"
He clasped her face so she couldn't avoid his gaze. "Don't tell me we aren't close enough? Did you forget what happened between us back in Yui's room?"
He called out exactly the reason she'd been dodging himand why she'd been reluctant to face Yui.
And it was also what she most secretly longed to remember.
"!!!"
She trembled, eyes awash with emotion. She couldn't deny it:
That day's events were imprinted deep in her mind, something she absolutely couldn't erase.
"Thatthat was only because I was in Yui's body!!!"
She tried using that as an excuse to reject her innermost feelings.
But Rei Ao gave her no chance. He was a seasoned pro at reading the turmoil in her expressionand that was all he needed.
"But I know perfectly well who was inside that body at the time. The one I made love to was you, not Yui. Right?"
"What?"
She looked astonished by the idea. Before she could say anything else, Rei Ao blocked her lips with his own.
"!!!"
In the blink of an eye, her regrets and shame melted away, replaced by a fervent, passionate response. She gave in to that kiss in under three seconds. That was the truth within her heart.
They parted from a long, lingering kiss, and Yuigahama-mama's legs felt like jelly. Rei Ao supported her as she still savored that taste and, apologetic, he smiled:
"Sorry. This was my fault."
"Why is it your fault?" she asked hastily. Plainly, it was her "impure" mindset, her betrayal of Yui, that she considered truly wrong.
"No, it is my fault,"
Rei Ao softly encircled her waist, his expression gentle.
"I didn't make my attitude and feelings clear to you earlier. That left you conflicted, racked with guilt."
"Now, let me tell you, Yuigahama-sanI like you. I want you to be mine, just like Yui, and join my family."
He spoke these words, and Yuigahama-mama looked up at him blankly.
It was her first time realizing how Rei Ao felt. So I, too, am being regarded as a woman. Her messy, knotted thoughts all converged into one. She knew her own mind at last.
Wrapping her arms around his sturdy frame, she buried her face in that warm chest:
"Rei Ao-kunyou won't think I'm just some weak-willed, unchaste woman who's only good at wallowing in self-pity?"
She used the harshest words to describe herself, which drew a rebuke from Rei Ao:
"Yui's mom, that makes me mad."
"I won't let anyone belittle a woman I lovenot even if that someone is herself."
Even scolded like that, she felt only joy and comfort in his answer. Slowly, she lifted her head, parted her lips:
"Rei Ao-kunI like you, too. Please let me stay by your side. Let me feel even more and more of this 'liking.'"
"Mhm, that's a given."
Rei Ao bent down and kissed her once more
"Yay, Mom, you finally made it!"
Seeing Rei Ao arrive with her mother in tow, Yui sighed in relief. Then she clung to Yuigahama-mama's arm, complaining:
"Mom, you were in the group all alongwhy not tell me?!"
"Sorry, Yui, II kinda forgot."
A flimsy excuse spilled from her lips. She truly wasn't very good at lying, so quite a few folks overheard how forced that sounded. But Yui, in her usual naive way, believed it wholeheartedly:
"All right, next time, please don't forget! Our group does all sorts of stuff, so you have to join us."
"Mm I won't,"
Yuigahama-mama replied, awkwardness in her voice. She was happy, but also uneasy.
She realized she still had a secret to keep from Yuiwhat she and Rei Ao had done. Even now, she planned to hide that for the time being to spare Yui any shock, hoping to find a better opportunity to explain.
Rei Ao chimed in:
"All right, everyone, let's sit."
"Gruu"
Over at the table laden with dishes, Kanna-chan's stomach was growling.
Rei Ao chuckled:
"We're starving Kanna here. Everyone, dig ineat and drink as you like!"
"Ooooh!!!"
~~~
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Chapter 557: Fumino's Birthday...
The gathering began.
At first, some of the participants who hadn't met each other were still a bit reserved, but three little gluttons quickly loosened up the atmosphere.
Shin, Kanna, and Sora started up a sort of big-eater showdown, shoveling huge bites into their mouths. It shocked everyone yet also made them laugh, relaxing the mood.
Coupled with four mature individualsSayuri, Ai Sakurajima, Shizuka Hiratsuka, and Sonoko Machidawho actively guided the conversation, everyone became more at ease.
Even the normally socially awkward Yukino got pulled along by Haruno to build friendships for herself.
In fact, Haruno was doing this on Yukino's behalf. Now that she was acting as Yukino's big sister, she was very worried about Yukino's future happiness.
Even if there really were situations like "battling for attention," she hoped Yukino would have her own "allies."
Of course, Haruno also had a last resortan idea her mother had mentioned: she herself could be Yukino's strongest ally. Yet she was still conflicted about that.
Watching everyone happily chat together put Rei Ao in a good mood.
"Pff, why are you smirking so sleazily?"
Noticing the slight curve of his lips, Hiratsuka Shizuka, who was sitting by his side, spoke bluntly.
"Ah."
Rei Ao gave a faint laugh. How could his handsome face look sleazy? Though, admittedly, his thoughts were a bit indecentlike possibly hosting a group "party" right here. But it wouldn't be so simple.
"Hey, why won't you respond? Aren't you going to look after your lovely girlfriends more?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka elbowed him lightly.
"Uh!"
The next moment, her body flinched. She looked down. She was wearing a skirt today, and now there was a big hand on her thigh. Already feeling a bit flushed from the drinks, her cheeks grew even redder.
"W-what are you doing?"
She panicked slightly, but in front of everyone, she had to appear calm and hoped no one else noticed.
"My dear Shizuka, I'm just following your suggestion to take good care of my lovely girlfriends," Rei Ao murmured meaningfully, stretching out the phrase "take good care" in a strange tone.
"?"
At first, Hiratsuka didn't get what he meant, but upon reflection, she realized her wording had let him twist the meaning, and her pupils quivered.
"You"
A perfectly normal sentence sounded downright dirty when he said it. Even if she glowered, Rei Ao wouldn't remove his hand. In fact, he took it further. And his gaze shifted away from her, moving instead to Fumino and Rizu.
He said, "Fumino, Rizu, you two ought to be the main characters here. But we messed it up and turned it into all this. Let me say sorry."
"Eh!"
They waved their hands frantically.
Ogata Rizu: "It's okay. I don't mind."
Furuhashi Fumino also nodded quickly.
"Me neither."
"And actually, I really like it when everyone's happily mingling It feels likefamily."
Talking about family, Fumino's expression dimmed slightly. She'd hardly seen her father in a while. She'd forgotten what a real family felt like.
Sayuri noticed her shift and guessed there might be some backstory in her family. Heart aching for her, Sayuri hugged her:
"There, there. We can be a family, too~"
"Umm, if it's a family, maybe our group's name should be something like 'One Big Loving Family'?" Eriri joked out of habit.
"One Big Loving Family, huh? Sounds good to me," Rei Ao said with a laugh, going along with it.
Then he waved his hand. Suddenly, the lights in the room went dark.
"Hmm? Did the lights go out?"
No one understood what was happening, until a faint glow appeared at the center of the dining table.
"That's"
By the candlelight, they saw it was a four-tier cake.
"Cake?"
Kasumigaoka Shiwa blinked. "Is today someone's birthday?"
They looked at each other, all confused. Then Rei Ao looked at Fumino:
"Today should be our One Big Loving Family's Fumino's eighteenth birthday."
Everyone's gaze fell on Fumino.
"Eh?"
Fumino was stunned.
"Today's my birthday?"
Yumiko: "You didn't even know your own birthday?"
"Ugh"
Fumino hunched her shoulders, did some quick mental math, and realizedit really was. But
"Rei Ao-kun, how did you know it's my birthday?"
With her mom deceased and her dad obsessed with math, it had been so long since anyone celebrated her birthday. She'd forgotten the exact date.
"As a family, I should at least know everyone's birthdays, right?"
He didn't bother explaining more. Being this world's sole god, it was easy to figure out. "Anyway, happy birthday. Sorry it was so last-minute."
"No"
Fumino pressed her hands to her chest and shook her head.
"I'm not upset at allI'm incredibly grateful."
She never expected anyone to remember her birthday or to do something for it. Just hearing "happy birthday" was enough to fill her with warmth.
"Hold on!" someone said. "If it's her birthday, we gotta sing 'Happy Birthday!'"
Sonoko Machida exclaimed, "Let's all sing for Fumino, okay?"
Sayuri clapped her hands, "Sure, I'll start us off!"
"Happy birthday to you"
Amid the crowd's chorus, Kanna and a few others who didn't know the words simply mumbled or hummed, but to Fumino it was the best sound in the world. A tear sparkled at the corner of her eye.
When the song ended, Kanna couldn't help but ask, "Michiru, what was that about?"
"We're celebrating Fumino's birthday. Next she'll make a wish and blow out the candles," Michiru whispered, clarifying.
"Go on, make a wish, Fumino," Rei Ao said, moving the cake in front of her.
"Mm."
Surrounded by everyone's expectant faces, Fumino took a deep breath, laced her fingers, closed her eyes, and made a wish. Three seconds later, she opened them and blew gently at the candles.
Whooshthe candles went out.
Popthe lights came back on.
"Fweh, what did she wish for?" asked Shin.
"Shin," Kobayashi scolded, covering her mouth. "If you say your wish out loud, it won't come true. Don't ask."
"Heh-heh"
Shin blinked, acting like she understood.
"All right, it's time to cut the cake and hand out slices!" called Mai Sakurajima, approaching with plates. She started helping pass them around.
Fumino quietly watched everyone bustling about, looking soft and peaceful.
"Fumino, what was that wish? If you tell me, I can help make it happen." Rei Ao had slid beside her, apparently not wanting anyone else to hear.
As the world's unique god, making a wish come true would be easy.
But Fumino shook her head.
"No need. I'm certain my wish will come true anyway. Hehe~"
She smiled impishly at him. Her wish was:
May everyone remain one big loving family forever.
Fumino believed that wish would be fulfilledbecause she believed in Rei Ao.
~~~
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Chapter 558: Flame...
After the party ended, Rei Ao made sure to escort everyone home one by one, ensuring they were safe.
In return, he received a kiss from each person at their farewells. Among them was Furuhashi Fumino, which surprised him a bit.
"Thank you, Rei Ao-kun."
She spoke from the heart, then rose onto her toes and gave him a swift peck on the right cheeka touch-and-go kind of kissbefore hastily running back inside, face aflame. Rei Ao was somewhat taken aback, but not excessively so: at least she hadn't kissed him on the lips.
He lingered there a moment, giving a small smile and a wave toward the lit-up second-floor window before disappearing into the night.
