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Chapter 752: Finally Human Again! Home and Father to Amagami Sisters...
The trade began.
Rei Ao took Chiharu's cool hand in his own.
"A wise decision.
"Nowlet's carry out ourdeal."
He led her toward the bathroom. Water started to run, and billows of steam soon blurred the glass door.
"II have no experience"
Chiharu stood beside the tub, her spirit form flickering with tension.
"Should I bathe first?"
"Of coursetogether."
Rei Ao's voice held a smile as he slipped off his robe.
"It's part of the deal."
Chiharu's cheeks flamed scarlet; she turned away, not daring to look at him.
But when Rei Ao drew her into the warm water and droplets slid over the flesh her spirit had become, she had nowhere to flee. Eyes shut tight, she could only let events unfold.
Dawn
Sunlight spilled through a crack in the curtains onto the soft bed.
AmagamiChiharu lay curled in Rei Ao's arms. Her spirit form was far denser than the night before; a faint blush warmed her face, and an unmistakable mature allure rested between her brows.
She awoke to find Rei Ao watching her with obvious interest.
"Awake?" he asked, brushing the hair from her forehead. "How do you feel?"
Heat rose in Chiharu's cheeks. Memories rushed back; she tried to pull away, but his embrace only tightened. After the first flush of panic she grew calm, though her shyness remained impossible to hide.
"II feel real," she whispered. She could truly sense the warmth of his body and the weight of her ownand had never felt it so vividly. The rush of water, their mingled breaths, her first tentative moans
Rei Ao's actions had shown her that "the right to use her body" was not degrading possession but a strange journey of rediscovering existence. As her spirit took on substanceuntil she felt her own heartbeatChiharu knew her choice might not have been wrong.
"This is only the beginning."
Rei Ao kissed her brow. "Cometime to see your home again."
"Home"
Chiharu's eyes shone and she sat uptoo quickly, the sheet falling away in a sudden flare of skin. Rei Ao's gaze sharpened; belatedly she blushed to her ears.
"Wwhat is it?"
Pinching his chin as he admired the view, Rei Ao answered in all seriousness: "Chiharu, let me become the girls' father. I want to give them a family."
"Eh?"
"Soif you agree, don't struggle. Let's rest a little longer."
"Ah?"
Noon
Downstairs, the three sisters waited in the livingroom, dark circles under their eyesnone of them had slept, afraid they would wake to find their mother gone and the whole night a dream.
When MiuraYumiko came in from the beach to change, Yae asked timidly, "Um do you know where Rei Ao-san is?"
"Him?" Yumiko shrugged. Everyone in the chat group had seen the trade notice, so no one had gone looking for him; they were all doing their own thing. Seeing the girls' anxious faces, she patted Yae's shoulder. "Don't wait. He's probably busy. Go enjoy the beach for a while."
"Eh?"
After what felt like ages, Rei Ao and Chiharu finally appeared.
"Mom!"
The sisters rushed over, carefully touching her arms. This time the contact was not the cold illusion of spirit, but warmthreal warmth.
"She's warm!"
"Mom, you're really here!" Asaki cried.
Yae exhaled in relief. "Thank goodness it wasn't a dream!"
"MMommy's still here, yes."
Chiharu shot Rei Ao a shy glance; her heart raced at the memory of his "bad" behaviorand at his earlier words about giving her daughters a home.
Yoru noticed the soft flush on her mother's face, then the small smile tugging at Rei Ao's lips. Questions piled up in her mind, but she held them in, saying only: "Rei Ao-san, you said you wanted to visit Amagami Shrine?"
"I did." He nodded. "Since fate has brought us together, I should pay my respects. As for your mother's situationlet her explain once we reach the shrine."
With mixed feelings the sisters followed Rei Ao and Chiharu out of the villa. Rei Ao used no space magic; he chose to walk through the forest. Morning mist still hung among the trees, the familiar scent of leaves and earth all aroundexactly as the sisters remembered, yet different because of Rei Ao at their side and their resurrected mother.
When the shrine's vermilion torii came into view, Chiharu stopped. She gazed at the familiar gateway and the main hall just visible beyond, tears glimmering in her eyes. This was the place she had guarded for so many years, the bond she had never been able to leave.
"Comelet's go in," Rei Ao said, taking her hand and stepping beneath the torii first.
"?"
The sisters exchanged baffled looks. Was their mother perhaps a little too close to this boy not much older than themselves?
Inside, the shrine was quiet; only wind chimes tinkled softly. Rei Ao looked around with interest at the rustic buildings and the giant cherry tree in the courtyardout of season yet still exuding a gentle aura. The sisters, by habit, began tidying the grounds, as though yesterday's seaside excursion had been only a brief interlude.
Chiharu stood before the main hall, watching her daughters bustle about, emotions surging within her. She knew that from the moment she accepted the trade last night, her fate had been bound to this man. What the future would bringshe had no idea.
But for now, she could stand at her daughters' side in the sun and feel its warmth. And for the moment, that was enough.
~~~
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Chapter 753: Donation to the Shrine...
Inside Amagami Shrine
Petals on the old cherry tree quivered in the breeze, sprinkling a soft pink rain.
AmagamiChiharu strolled down the little shrine path with Rei Ao and her three daughters, a happiness she had not felt for years lighting her face. Every tile, every blade of grass held a memory.
"Ever since Mom and Grandpa passed, the shrine has survived only because the three of us keep it going," Yae said quietly, a trace of helplessness in her eyes.
"We've worked hard to master a miko's duties, but we still fall short."
"The flow of worshippers keeps shrinking," Yuna added, biting her lip. "Offerings barely cover expensessoon we won't even be able to buy proper tribute for the gods."
"If this goes on, someone else will take the shrine over," she whispered. "We really don't know what to do."
Asahi clutched Yae's sleeve, her eyes full of worry. "But if Mom's here"
"That won't work."
Rei Ao cut in. "To the public, Chiharu is already dead. You can't expect her to resume service as a shrine maiden."
The sisters fell silentthe hard fact they had momentarily forgotten.
"Then the shrine will"
"It's only a money problem," Rei Ao said with a smile. "Problems that money can fix are salvageable."
He pulled out his phone and called ShinomiyaKaguya.
"Hey, Kaguya."
Kaguya was lounging beneath a beach umbrella, sipping fruit juice with perfect elegance. Hearing his voice, she arched an eyebrow.
"Rei Aokun, calling out of the bluewhat do you need?"
"Kaguya, I'd like you to make a donation to the downonitsluck Amagami Shrine in this region."
"A donation?" She blinked, then a mischievous heiresssmile curled her lips.
"Oh? Is our illustrious group master initiating a trade with me?"
Rei Ao paused, then returned the grin. "Exactly. Soare you asking for the right to use my body? I'm willing, you know. Unlimited access, even."
"Wwhat?!"
Color rushed to Kaguya's cheeks; her heart began to race. That he would say something so outrageousshe had not expected it. Flustered, she stumbled over her words.
"Yyoudon't talk nonsense! Who wants that kind of term!"
She stammered. "II understand what you want!"and in panic she hung up.
Not far away, HayasakaAi had noticed Kaguya's odd behavior. She hurried over.
"Milady, are you all right? Did something happen?"
Kaguya jumped up, forcing composure. "Nnothing. Just an insignificant call."
And before Ai could pry further she dashed toward the sea, diving in to cool her burning face and hammering heart. Ai stayed where she was, staring after her, thoroughly baffled.
A short while later
Ding!
Yuna's phone chimed. She glanced at the screenand her eyes flew wide. Shock and delight flooded her face.
"Big Sis! Mom! Look!" she squealed. "A huge donation just hit the shrine accountenough to keep us going for ages!"
Yae and Asahi crowded in. The transfer record seemed almost unreal.
"Is is it really true?" Asahi whispered.
"It must be Rei Ao-sanhe helped us!" Yuna cried, looking up at him.
The three sisters moved to stand before Rei Ao and bowed together. "Thank you so much, Rei Ao-san!"
But Yae's brows knit with suspicion. "Why would you do all this for us?" she asked. "We're not related What do you gain?"
"We are related now."
Rei Ao slipped an arm around Chiharu's waist. Under the sisters' stunned gaze he said, "From today on, I'm your father. Isn't it natural to help one's own daughters?"
A bolt from the blue.
"Eh?"
Three mouths fell open, three pairs of eyes went round. They simply could not process what they'd heard.
Chiharu too had not expected Rei Ao to announce it so bluntly. For a heartbeat she froze; then a shy flush crept up her cheeks. She nodded, tacitly acknowledging his words.
Asahi reacted first, blurting, "Mom! Are you being forced?"
Yae and Yuna, recalling talk of "the price," hurried to add, "If Mom's being coerced, we refuse!"
"Yes! We won't let you be mistreated!"
Their concern warmed Chiharu's heart; her eyes misted. She stroked her hair back and spoke gently:
"At the beginning it was a trade but now I mean it. Rei Aokun is the first man who has ever made my heart beat faster."
It had taken enormous courage to say it aloud, but the feeling was realshe had been conquered, body and soul. To prove it, she rose on tiptoe and kissed Rei Ao.
He drew her closer, deepening the kiss. Beneath the cherry tree, with petals drifting around them, they embracedutterly absorbed in each other.
"???"
The three sisters stood rooted, minds blank from the shock. They wanted to interveneyet realized this was their mother's choice.
Powerless to refute it, they could only watch, dazed, as the scene unfolded before their eyes.
~~~
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Chapter 754: Miracle Garden
After quite a while the two finally drew apart.
Facing the three sisters, Rei Ao spoke earnestly.
"Chiharu can't live under her old identity. I placed a seal on herordinary people won't recognize her as Chiharu at all."
He then left the four women alone so mother and daughters could talk things through, hoping they would eventually accept the shocking truth that he intended to become their father.
As for Rei Ao himself, he vanished in an instant.
Rei Ao did not return to the beach.
Instead, he teleported to a remote children's welfare home called "Miracle Garden."
Fans of Tying Fates at Amagami Shrine would recognize the place: a tranquil compound filled with flowers and greenery.
Hardly had Rei Ao arrived, casting an appraising eye over the surroundings, when a clear voice called out:
"Excuse me, sirwho are you?"
He turned.
A whitehaired schoolgirl in uniform, backpack slung over one shoulder, stood watching him.
Her bright, limpid eyes held both caution and curiosity.
She was Tsuruyama Shirahi.
Rei Ao smiled gently.
"Hello. I'm Rei Ao. I was just passing by, found this place interesting, and thought I'd have a look."
Shirahi frowned slightly, sizing him up.
"Strangers almost never come here, and ordinary people can't even find the place. Are you really just passing through?"
Privately Rei Ao admired her vigilance, but he kept his easy smile.
"Of course. This looks like a welfare homearen't visitors welcome? Or is there some secret you don't want outsiders to know?"
"It's a perfectly legitimate charity!" she answered at once, then hesitated. "We don't reject guests, but there are a lot of children here, so we have to be careful and lately things haven't been very calm."
"Not calm?"
Rei Ao lifted an eyebrow, clearly interested.
"Tell me what's been happening. Maybe I can helpI like children, too."
Shirahi studied him for a moment, deciding whether he could be trusted. At last she said slowly:
"Recently we keep hearing strange noises at nightsometimes like someone crying, sometimes like whispering. Some of the kids say they've seen shadowy figures. Everyone's scared and we don't know what to do."
Rei Ao nodded.
"That does sound odd. I'm quite interested in such mysteries. How about I investigate? Perhaps I can find the cause."
Shirahi hesitated, but the situation had already left her and Sister Mahiru at their wits' end. She bit her lip and finally agreed.
"All rightbut if you try anything shady, I won't let you get away with it!"
"Fair enough," Rei Ao laughed. "By the way, I'm Rei Aomay I know your name?"
"Tsuruyama Shirahi."
"A lovely nameit suits you."
Complimented by a strikingly handsome stranger, Shirahi blushed and turned away.
"Come onI'll take you to Sister Mahiru and explain."
Inside the office
Shirahi introduced Rei Ao to Anekji Mahiru, a pinkhaired woman in a white coatthe doctor who founded Miracle Garden.
Hearing that Rei Ao wished to investigate the hauntings, Mahiru tilted her head in curiosity.
"And what line of work are you in, MrRei Ao?"
He smiled. "Actually, I'm still a student."
"Eh?" Mahiru blinked.
Shirahi was equally surprised. "Really? Talking to you, I thought you were an adult."
"I've just been through a lot. I'm a thirdyear at Shnoin Academy"
"So you're about the same age as Shirahi," Mahiru teased, clapping her hands. "Very wellthe mystery of the welfare home is yours to solve. Please find the cause so the children won't be afraid anymore."
Rei Ao gave a confident nod. "Leave it to me. I'll begin with the dormitorywhere the odd events occur most often."
"I'll go with you," Shirahi said at once.
The dormitory
Rows of small beds were neatly arranged; simple yet full of warmth.
"This is the kids' dorm. They're in the recreation room now, so we can look around freely," Shirahi explained, her gaze lingering fondly on the room.
