"Uh"
Shirogane Miyuki, cowed by his sister's fierce glare, realized how overboard he'd acted:
"Er, sorry about that. Rei Ao-san, thanks for coming."
Then he shuffled over a rickety chair:
"Our house is a bituhsimple. I hope you won't mind."
Standing by, Shirogane Kei bit her lip. That chair had been repaired multiple timesdefinitely not suitable for hosting a guest.
So she tried pulling on Rei Ao's hand:
"Senpai, maybe it'd be better if you come rest in my room. I'll prepare dinner soonDad's probably not home yet."
"No need."
Rei Ao lightly patted Kei's hands away with a smile:
"I can sit anywhere. It's no big deal. Everyone has tough times."
"Senpai"
Shirogane Kei felt so grateful for his understanding.
Shirogane Miyuki nodded too. He'd worried about being looked down on. It was a relief Rei Ao was so easygoing.
But his curiosity flared:
"Rei Ao-san, from what you said, maybe you went through a rough childhood as well?"
"Brother, what are you saying?!"
Kei glared at him again.
"Ohuh, sorry, guess I'm being nosy."
Realizing it might touch a sensitive topic, Miyuki shut his mouth.
But Rei Ao didn't mind:
"It's fine. Everyone faces hardships. I'm an orphanI used to live in cheap rentals. I was just lucky enough to get where I am."
Kei and Miyuki both fell silent, not expecting him to have such a past.
Sensing he was genuinely unbothered, they chose not to pry further, lest they open old wounds.
~~~
200 Powerstone Bonus Chapter!
For Every 100 Powerstone = 1 Bonus Chapter! Please Vote for more Chapters!
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
Currently You can Read 200 Chapters Ahead of Others!
Chapter 565: Dio Dad, Rebellious Sister...
In the kitchen, Shirogane Kei was busy cooking.
Meanwhile, in the living room
Shirogane Miyuki chatted excitedly with Rei Ao, mainly asking him countless questions about studying. Rei Ao patiently answered, but as the conversation went on, the topic somehow shifted to Shirogane Kei.
"Rei Ao-san, you probably don't know what my little sister Kei was like when she was a kid"
Just as he was about to reveal some embarrassing childhood story, Shirogane Kei's head popped out from the kitchen doorway.
"Hey! We're out of soy saucego buy some, right now!"
"Soy sauce?"
"But I recall we still had a bottle left yesterday"
"I said we're out, didn't I?! Hurry up and go!"
Shirogane Kei shot him an icy glare.
For Miyuki, that was a sure sign she was in a very bad mood, not to be provoked.
"O-okay, I'm going! I'm going right now!"
He had no choice but to comply.
Once Shirogane Miyuki dashed out the door, Shirogane Kei let out a breath of relief.
She had overheard everything and was determined not to let her brother spill all her embarrassing childhood tales in front of Rei Ao.
"Shirogane-san, do you need a hand?"
At some point, Rei Ao had quietly appeared next to her in the kitchen.
"How could I possibly let you, the guest, do any work, Senpai?"
"It's no trouble. I'm free anyway."
Without waiting for her to protest, Rei Ao had already rolled up his sleeves and entered the small kitchen.
"These vegetablesshould I rinse them first, then chop them?"
"Ahum, yes."
"Alright, leave it to me. I can handle washing and chopping."
Seeing that Rei Ao was already at itand with surprisingly practiced easeKei no longer tried to stop him.
"By the way, Shirogane-san, you and your brother both have the surname Shirogane. It's a bit confusing when I talk to you, so may I call you Keior maybe just 'K'? Is that alright?"
"Eh?"
Such a closer form of address flustered her a bit.
But Rei Ao was rightit would be simpler.
"O-okay, that's fine."
"Kei, then," he repeated with a slight smile.
"Alright, Kei."
"Yes!"
Once again, hearing him call her by name made her heart thump with nerves.
"Haha, don't be so tense. I just wanted to mention that the soy sauce is right over there."
Rei Ao pointed toward a corner on the kitchen counter, where a bottle of soy sauce was sitting in plain sight.
Thinking back to the scene of her ordering her brother to buy more, Kei blushed bright red.
"Ugh, II see it now"
She grasped the bottle, feeling so embarrassed she couldn't find any words to say.
After Kei discovered the "missing" soy sauce, she fell into an awkward silence.
Yet the cramped kitchen forced them to work side by side. Between the occasional bumping elbows and Rei Ao's casual attempts at conversation, the two eventually got used to working together.
Before long
"I'm back! Kei, here's your soy sauce!"
Shirogane Miyuki announced as he returned from the store. He walked to the kitchen, but Kei snatched the bottle from him in annoyance.
"Yeah, thanks. Now go study or something!"
Without even a glance, she turned back to the stove.
"But I still wanted to discuss studying with Rei Ao-sa"
Miyuki started to say, but Rei Ao, holding a kitchen knife, shook his head and smiled wryly:
"Sorry, but I promised to help Kei a bit. I can't just let her handle all this dinner prep alone."
At that, Miyuki noticed Kei's threatening aura emanating from behind Rei Ao.
Swallowing hard, he took a step backward.
"R-right, I get it. You two carry on!"
And so he fled in defeat.
Once Rei Ao and Kei had just about finished making a simple dinner, their father came home.
Seeing Rei Ao, the father's excitement soared.
He poured a couple of drinks and insisted:
"Come on, Rei Ao-kun, have a drink with me!"
"Dad, what're you doing? Rei Ao-senpai is still a student. He can't just drink alcohol!"
Kei hastily intervened.
"What? It's just a little. C'monone or two cups won't hurt."
"Dad!"
Kei frowned exasperatedly at her father's behavior.
"Miyuki, take Dad to his room! He's drunk!"
"O-oh! Right away!"
Shirogane Miyuki hurried over to haul his inebriated father away. Kei could only sigh.
Tonight's dinner had been nerve-wracking enoughshe'd dreaded her brother or father letting slip some embarrassing story about her in front of Rei Ao. Now, her father's drunken performance was the last straw.
"S-sorry about that, Senpai. My dad can't hold his liquor. That's why he acted like that."
"It's fine. He's just happy, that's all."
Rei Ao casually brushed it off, gazing at how late it'd gotten outside.
Noticing his glance, Kei realized what it signified.
"You're leaving now, Senpai?"
She sounded reluctant. The two had gotten closer, after allalmost like actual friends. Kei didn't have many friends, partly because she was self-conscious about her family situation.
"It's late. I should head back."
Under the moonlight, Rei Ao turned and said gently:
"Thanks for inviting me over, Kei. Next time, come visit my place if you'd like."
"Eh? I canreally?"
Her eyes lit up in surprise.
"Of course. I'm more than happy to have a cute kouhai like you visit."
"S-senpai"
Hearing such a compliment, Kei felt her cheeks heating again.
"See you next time, then."
Rei Ao departed. Kei stood under the streetlight, watching him until he vanished, before heading back indoors, humming cheerfully.
"You're back, Kei. Where's Rei Ao-san?"
Miyuki glanced over.
"Hmph! Don't talk to me."
Kei spat irritably, still miffed at the day's near slip-ups. Then she stomped off to her bedroom without another word.
"Uh"
Left behind in puzzlement, Shirogane Miyuki could only wonder:
"What'd I do this time? Man, how can I get along with Kei's teenage mood swings?"
He pondered gloomily. All he knew was that his once-adorable sister seemed to get on well with Rei Aobut around him, she still acted like he was an intruder in his own house.
"Gah, I miss the days when she was just my sweet little sister."
~~~
For Every 100 Powerstone = 1 Bonus Chapter! Please Vote for more Chapters!
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
Currently You can Read 200 Chapters Ahead of Others!
Chapter 566: Being a Good Person...
Returning to the apartment, Rei Ao did not head straight home.
Instead, he went to Yukino's place.
Seeing him at the door, wearing her pajamas, Yukino's expression was odd. She coldly said:
"If I don't go looking for you, will you actually show up to find me?"
Rei Ao blinked.
"Hm? Could it be that I'm actually here to see Alicia?"
He was telling the truth. His main reason for coming was to check on Alicia and see how she was doing.
""
Realizing she had misunderstood, Yukino felt embarrassed; her face turned even darker.
"Fine, come in. Just as well, I have some things I need to discuss with you."
In the living room, under bright lights, the three of them sat on different sections of the sofaalmost like a three-way stand-off.
Alicia felt like the mood was tense, with Yukino silently radiating a dangerous aura.
Could this be what Mabel described as "Demonic-Mode Yukino" Alicia wondered, shrinking down a bit.
"Do you want to speak first, or shall I go first?"
Yukino asked.
Rei Ao had already guessed why Yukino seemed so on-edge. He answered calmly:
"Let me go first."
"Fine. I'll wait until you finish talking."
She folded her arms, silently giving the floor to them. But Rei Ao did not start talking to Alicia. Instead, he got up and walked over to Yukino.
Caught off guard, she watched him approach. Suddenly he leaned down and kissed her.
"?!"
Not only did Yukino herself get taken by surpriseAlicia's eyes widened as well.
"Mm!"
With a little yelp, she covered her eyes with her hands. She felt overwhelmed.
(They're kissing right in front of me?! That was so sudden!)
Despite blocking her vision, Alicia couldn't help peeking through her fingers.
Wow is that how kissing works? Yukino is amazing!
Moments later, the cold aura around Yukino had melted away. The stern questioning she'd intended to do was derailed. Now slightly breathless, she slumped against Rei Ao.
"W-what do you think you're doing?!"
"I'm showing you that, even though I like Haruno too, I very much like you."
So that was Rei Ao's claim.
""
Yukino stared at him for a moment, then said in a slightly low tone:
"I asked around with Mai and the others. It seems after you escorted my sister home, you never came back. So it happened then, right?"
"Right."
Rei Ao admitted directly. He didn't bother with "it was an accident" or "she provoked me." Since he intended to have them all, there was no need for excuses.
"Yukino, I assume you'll accept Haruno being part of this, right?"
He held her gently as her shoulders trembled.
"She is my sister, after all"
"Exactly, and I get that. But I still plan to ensure you two can both accept it. I want to make you all happy."
""
Yukino went silent. Alicia, thoroughly out of the loop, blinked anxiously, thinking they were on the verge of some big fight or even breaking up.
But after a short lull:
"Hah"
Yukino exhaled, shattering the tense silence.
Tilting her snow-white neck to meet Rei Ao's eyes, she spoke:
"Even if you know I might feel hurt, you're still doing this?"
"No."
He shook his head.
"It's precisely because I don't want you or Haruno to be hurt that I'm doing it. Yukino, if I now forced Haruno away, would you really be happy?"
Yukino opened her mouth, but words failed her momentarily. The answer was, in fact, "no." Haruno obviously had feelings for Rei Ao; pushing her away would only make Haruno sad.
And since Haruno was also someone who deeply cared for Yukino, Yukino herself would feel guilty if Haruno were driven off on her behalf.
"I imagine Haruno feels similarly about you," Rei Ao continued softly, holding Yukino's chin for another gentle kiss. "So I choose to make you both happy."
""
Those words completely knocked down the walls Yukino had been putting up. She never intended to really oppose him, only to vent her displeasure briefly.
Seeing his righteous, if mischievous, expressionclearly having gained an advantageshe couldn't help rolling her eyes.
"All that talk about making us happydon't you just want yourself to be more'blessed'?"
Rei Ao laughed, undisturbed.
"Heh, Yukino, you do know me best."
He moved in, as if to kiss her again. But she put a hand up, stopping him:
"My mood's still foul. So, mm you're banned from kissing me for for a whole day! And don't come into my room either!"
Having said that, she turned away, retreating quickly back to her room.
"Haha."
Rei Ao watched Yukino's departing figure with a grin. He knew his attempt at comforting her had succeeded, and that her anger was all but gone.
He turned to Alicia.
"And now we come to you."
"Eek?!"
The silver-haired girl jumped, face turning red.
"I-I don't have any I mean, I'm not ready for that sort of thing!!"
She thought he meant the same intimate act she'd just witnessed between him and Yukino.
But Rei Ao's expression looked puzzled.
"What are you talking about?"
"Huh?"
"I just want to ask whether you've reached a decision: whether you plan to go home to your own world, whether you still want to trade, etc."
"Oh! That's what you meant"
Realizing her misunderstanding, Alicia's face reddened all the more.
"Ahhhh, how embarrassing!" she wailed inwardly. "I practically admitted I was thinking about that!"
Feeling her cheeks burn, Alicia wanted to bury her head in a hole.
Embarrassing
~~~
For Every 100 Powerstone = 1 Bonus Chapter! Please Vote for more Chapters!
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
Currently You can Read 200 Chapters Ahead of Others!
Chapter 567: Mabel being a Lazy Bum as Always... Ai Hayasaka joining the CG (Bonus Chapter)
Alicia, after her embarrassing misunderstanding, finally calmed down somewhat.
"Feeling calmer now?"
"Mm"
Alicia nodded like a little pecking chick, still looking quite ashamed.
"In that case, let's talk about your considerations and conclusions."
Rei Ao's tone was unhurried, as if worried he might frighten her off again.
"I"
Alicia momentarily didn't know what to say. Her party might still be waiting for her, so logically speaking, she should go back. Yet, she didn't want to pay the price required to do that.
"Could Istay here for the time being?"
She ventured cautiously.
"So, that's the choice you've made."
Rei Ao showed no surprise and spoke simply:
"This place is Yukino's apartment. If you want to stay, you'll have to ask her. As long as she agrees, you can stay here."
