Suddenly she remembered.
"Right!"
"I once saw her nodding toward a corner where no one was, like she was talking to someone!"
Ritsu and Tsumugi exchanged a glance.
"And then there's that Rei Ao who suddenly showed up"
Ritsu lowered her voice. "Do you think Mio really might be haunted by something?"
Tsumugi shook her head.
"I don't think so."
"Rei Ao saved Yui, gave us a place to stay, even provided hot water."
"If he were a malicious spirit, why bother with all that?"
"Then what is he?" Ritsu scratched her head. "He can't be some celestial being come to earth, right?"
So far, Rei Ao didn't seem humanperhaps he was the "ghost" Mio met.
Yet he hadn't harmed them.
Splash!
Yui suddenly stood up in the tub, sending water everywhere.
"Why don't we just ask him?"
She said it innocently, unaware she was stark naked.
"Yui! Sit down!" Ritsu yanked her back under the water.
"Huh? Don't we have questions?"
Yui blinked at them.
""
The other two were speechless.
Is that something you can just ask like that?
"At least wait until we're dressed!"
The three girls finished bathing in a hurry and put on the yukata prepared in the upstairs wardrobe.
To their surprise, the garments fit perfectly, as if tailored for themanother sign that Rei Ao was no ordinary person.
"What now?" Ritsu asked while tying her sash.
"Do we go straight to Mio?"
Tsumugi nodded.
"Find Mio first; then we'll face Rei Ao together."
Though her voice was calm, a flicker of worry shone in her eyes.
"No matter who he is, we have to be sure Mio is safe."
The three girls stepped out of the bathroom, determined to unmask Rei Ao's mystery.
What they didn't know was that at that very moment, AkiyamaMio was experiencing something entirely unprecedented.
~~~
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Chapter 793: Mio-chan?! Guilt!
The night at the mountain villa was tranquil and peaceful.
Bright moonlight, like a gauzy silver veil, filtered softly through the windows and spilled onto the floor, lending the room a hint of mystery.
The air was filled with the fresh scent unique to mountain forests, and the occasional chirping of insects made the silence feel even deeper.
"Swoosh!"
The bathroom door slowly swung open.
Billowing steam poured out like white clouds.
YuiHirasawa, TsumugiKotobuki, and RitsuTainaka emerged, chatting and laughing.
Ritsu stretched broadly, her face full of contentment.
"Ahnothing like a hot bath to relax every muscle!"
She shook her damp hair, droplets scattering like tiny pearls that sparkled in the moonlight.
Yui rubbed her round cheeks, her eyes a little drowsy; her "socuteithurts" expression made it hard not to smile.
"I just want to drop into bed right now haa~"
She yawned, her lazy manner underscoring a young girl's charm.
But
The very next second she frowned, confusion filling her eyes.
"Wait, Miochan came out ages ago. Where did she go?"
"Mio"
Tsumugi also looked puzzled.
She cast an elegant glance around. The living room was empty, save for a soft lamp in the corner whose light flickered on the wall.
The three girls exchanged looks; a vague uneasiness crept into their hearts, winding like tiny vines.
Just then
A faint sound drifted from the room at the end of the corridorso soft it was like leaves rustling in the wind, or someone murmuring.
Ritsu asked, "Did you guys hear that?"
Tsumugi and Yui both nodded. The mysterious noise had hooked their curiosity.
Ritsu took the lead, muttering, "Don't tell me something's happened to Mio"
Worry tinged her voice and quickened her steps.
Yui followed close behind, clutching Ritsu's sleeve, eyes wide and wary.
Tsumugi brought up the rear, brows knit, her face tense.
Noticing that Rei Ao was missing too, countless guesses and worries welled up inside her.
When they reached the tightly shut door, the sound was clearerit had to be coming from inside.
Yui tilted her head and pressed an ear to the door, wearing the blank, earnest look of a curious child.
The next second
"Eh?!!!"
Her cheeks went crimson, like a ripe apple.
Eyes round, she let out a small "Ah!" and stumbled back a few steps as if frightened.
"What is it?"
Still baffled, Ritsu pressed her own ear to the door.
Almost instantly her expression froze.
Her mouth dropped open, a blush spread rapidly, and her eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
She straightened stiffly, clamped both hands over her burning face, and stammered, "Ththat's Mio?"
Her voice shook with astonishment; her body trembled.
"???"
Tsumugi bit her lipone of her suspicions seemed confirmed.
Taking a deep breath, she too placed an ear to the door.
After a moment her face darkened, anger flashing in her eyes.
She balled her fists, her body quivering slightly; questions and fears whirled through her mind.
"What do we do now?"
Ritsu and Yui were in a panic.
Only Tsumugi forced herself to stay calm.
Exhaling, she gave the door a long look and said,
"Given the situation we wait."
Night deepened.
All was still in the mountains, broken only by the occasional chirp of insects.
Rei Ao gently pushed the bedroom door open.
He glanced back at the sleeping MioAkiyama, a tender smile on his lips.
Closing the door behind him, he walked into the living room
only to find Ritsu, Yui, and Tsumugi dozing on the couch.
His footsteps roused Tsumugi from her light sleep.
She shot upright, eyes sharp on Rei Ao.
Confirming who he was, she strode forward imposingly.
Her gaze was accusatory.
"What did you do to MioAkiyama?"
Her voice was icy, threaded with suppressed anger.
Rei Ao paused; from her tone he realized she both knew something had happened and had misunderstood it.
He smileda playful curve that only made Tsumugi warier.
"Haven't you already guessed?"
The teasing note in his words inflamed her further.
Tsumugi's face went white.
Convinced Mio had been forced, she could no longer hold back her fury.
"How could you!"
Her voice shook with anger and concern for her friend.
Rei Ao waved a hand dismissively, speaking evenly:
"You've misunderstood one thing.
"Everything between us was voluntaryor, if you like, a transaction."
His tone was calm, as though stating something utterly ordinary.
"A transaction?"
Tsumugi blinked, confused.
"What transaction?"
Eager for the truth, she pressed him.
Rei Ao's gaze deepened. He said slowly,
"MioAkiyama asked me to find YuiHirasawa. The price was herself."
His words exploded in Tsumugi's heart like a bomb.
"What?!"
The cry did not come from her, but from Yui behind her.
Already awake, Yui sat there in a daze, eyes reddening.
"So it was because of me that Miochan"
Her voice caught in her throat; tears pooled as guilt and selfreproach flooded in.
Because of her, Miochan had ended up in this situation.
~~~
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Chapter 794: ToyohamaNodoka's Dream...
TainakaRitsu, who had also been awake for some time, frowned.
"Why didn't Mio tell us?"
She could not understand why her friend had chosen to shoulder everything alone.
Rei Ao rubbed his hands awkwardly. "There are some things she doesn't refuse to sayshe simply cannot say them."
As he spoke, he swept both arms outward.
A strange light flashed.
Three faintly glowing chatgroup windows appeared in front of the trio.
[Ding! You have granted subgroup access to: KotobukiTsumugi, TainakaRitsu, HirasawaYui!]
In that instant, knowledge about the chat group poured into their mindsvast and sparkling like a galaxy.
Rei Ao was already used to the look of shock on people's faces.
"This group links different worlds. I'm the group master, and AkiyamaMio summoned me here through a transaction."
"Now that the deal is complete, it's time for me to go."
"As for this houseonce you all leave, it will vanish as well."
With that, his figure flickered and disappeared, leaving only a faint, uncanny ripple in the air.
"He's gone!"
The sight made HirasawaYui's eyes widen; she flung herself into Ritsu's arms.
Shaking, she cried out, "A ghost!"
Her small body trembled in Ritsu's embrace, terror filling her eyes.
Ritsu herself was badly frightened.
Although her face had gone pale, she forced calm and patted Yui's back.
"Don't worry, Yui. He probably isn't a ghost."
Her voice quavered, yet she tried hard to stay composed.
KotobukiTsumugi regained her composure quickly.
Her eyes narrowed in serious thought.
After a moment, she spoke slowly: "He shouldn't be some evil spirit."
"You both saw that chat group interface, right?"
"Chat group"
Now calmer, Yui and Ritsu exchanged a look and nodded.
They too had seen the glowing screen and received the same flood of information.
With this, Tsumugi stated her conclusion:
"He's the master of that mysterious chat group, and he himself comes from that world."
"Mio made a deal with him through the group to find Yui. Now that he has finished the job and collected his payment, he's left."
Her orderly analysis helped the other two recover from their fear.
Ritsu and Yui fell silent.
As if by tacit agreement, they looked toward Mio's room, their eyes filled with mixed emotions.
Yui muttered, "Miochan so it really was all for me"
A pang of guilt left her at a loss.
"Sigh"
Tsumugi patted her shoulder gently.
After more discussion and thought, the three gradually calmed down.
They decided to check on AkiyamaMio to make sure she was all right.
When they entered Mio's room, they found her still sleeping soundly on the messy bed.
Though a trace of weariness lay on her face, there was also a hint of peace.
Yui tiptoed to the bedside, took Mio's hand, and tears slipped down.
"Miochan, I'm sorry. This is all my fault."
Her voice was soft, overflowing with apology and affection.
Ritsu and Tsumugi also stepped to the bed.
Looking at the sleeping Mio, their hearts were laden with guilt.
Tsumugi whispered, "When Mio wakes up, we must thank her properlyand tell her that from now on, we'll face everything together."
Elsewhere
A seaside villa.
The night sea breeze blew gently; waves lapped the shore in a steady rhythm.
"..."
ToyohamaNodoka was sleeping peacefully, a serene smile on her face as she dreamed a beautiful dream.
She was having a strange dreamin which she had become SakurajimaMai.
Once, she had longed to be Mai, drawn by the dazzling spotlight and overwhelming fame, by envy and jealousy.
In her imagination, becoming Mai meant standing centerstage, basked in countless people's love and praise, finally earning her mother's approval.
But this dream was completely different.
She wanted to be Mai not for famebut for Rei Ao.
Seeing the tenderness and care in Rei Ao's gaze whenever he looked at Mai filled her with endless envy.
That gaze seemed to radiate the warmest light in the world, and she yearned for it.
She longed to be looked at that wayto receive that wholehearted concern and affection.
In the dream she chased Rei Ao's figure, yet could never touch him, forced to watch helplessly as he drew farther and farther away.
She ran desperately, calling his nameher voice echoing through the dream, but gaining no reply.
Her heart brimmed with loss and pain; tears flowed uncontrollably.
Because she was not SakurajimaMaishe was ToyohamaNodoka.
As the dream deepened,
Nodoka found herself in a strange, mysterious world.
The sky glowed with uncanny colors; purple clouds drifted above; the ground teemed with bizarre plants emitting a bluish light.
She searched everywhere for Rei Ao's trace, each step a mix of hope and unease.
Suddenlyshe heard a familiar laugh, as heavenly as music, making her heart race.
She ran toward the sound, through a forest of shimmering trees, and finally saw Rei Ao.
He stood side by side with SakurajimaMai; both wore blissful smiles.
The scene was so harmonious and beautifulyet it cut Nodoka's heart like a blade.
She wanted to rush forward and confess her feelings,
but an invisible force bound her bodyshe could not move.
She could only watch as Rei Ao and Mai walked farther and farther away, until they vanished into that mysterious glow.
"!!!!"
ToyohamaNodoka awoke with a start, her face wet with tears.
She sat on the bed, her eyes filled with confusion and sorrow.
Moonlight spilled over her, draping her in a shawl of melancholy.
She did not know what the dream meant, but her feelings for Rei Ao had grown even stronger.
Silently, she made up her mind:
Whatever happens, she must hide her feelings well
SakurajimaMai must never know.
~~~
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Chapter 795: Bunny Girl Senpai...? A Sudden Switch!
The night was thick as ink, so dense it could not be dissolved.
From afar, the lighthouse's beam cut through the darkness and traced a silver arc across the sea.
The salty, humid wind slipped in from the coast and lightly stirred the sheer white curtains on the villa's second floor, making them rustle.
It felt like a secret invitationor the telling of a story no one else would ever know.
"Coming home to a view like this really puts me in a good mood~"
Rei Ao's slender fingers paused on the bedroom door handle.
The "view" he spoke of was hardly limited to the seascape.
As he eased the door open, a fragrance entirely different from the one he had left behind rushed out to greet him.
The cold pine scent that belonged to him was now laced with a faint hint of roseteasing his nerves, subtle yet unmistakable.
That fragrance silently announced that something inside the room had changed.
"You finally made it back?"
A figure on the bed stretched languidly.
Her long legs, sheathed in black stockings, glimmered seductively under the moonlight.
MaiSakurajima propped herself up.
The black bunnyear headband swayed playfully with her movements, equal parts cute and dangerously alluring.
