"How did I end up on this sinking ship with you?" Mai groaned dramatically.
"Sinking ship?" Rei Ao teased, hugging her from behind and inhaling the scent of her hair.
"I think you're just scared of how much you want me," he murmured, pointing suggestively toward the bedroom.
"You wouldn't want it to 'break,' would you?"
"Ugh!"
Mai's cheeks burned bright red as she broke free from his embrace.
"Can you not talk like that?! Seriously!" she huffed, glaring at him in embarrassment before storming off to the bathroom.
Rei Ao chuckled as he watched her retreating figure.
He knew her wellbeneath the surface, Mai was straightforward and surprisingly easygoing, even if she liked to act otherwise.
Back at Gabriel's apartment, things weren't going much better for her.
"Gab, why's your face so red?"
The last person Gabriel wanted to see was there to greet her: Raphiel.
"Ah! Uh, it's nothing! I was just out running. Yeah, running!"
"Running?" Raphiel's half-lidded eyes gleamed with amusement.
From what she'd heard, Gabriel had been out for less than two minutes. That didn't exactly sound like a strenuous jog.
Gabriel's avoidance of her gaze only made Raphiel's suspicions grow stronger.
She narrowed her eyes, her tone playful. "This smells like a lie."
Just then, Gabriel's phone pinged with a notification:
[Your account has been credited: 10,000.]
The chime filled the room, punctuating the silence.
Raphiel raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Oh? Since when does running earn you 10,000?"
The heavenly realm didn't send out living allowances today.
So where did Gabriel get that 10,000 windfall?
"Gab, you haven't done anything bad, right?"
Raphiel's sharp tone and slow approach made Gabriel sweat bullets.
"Uh, Raphi, how could I possibly do something bad? Haha, haha"
Her nervous laughter and forced smile couldn't hide her guilt.
Seeing that Gabriel still wanted to bluff her way out, Raphiel decided it was time to lay her cards on the table.
"Really? But I distinctly remember seeing your computer the other day logged into a game."
"!!!"
Gabriel froze, her heart skipping a beat.
Uh-oh. She's onto me!
Raphiel continued, "You've been listless in class lately, your halo's dimmed, and you've been holed up in your room. Could it be you've fallen into the grip of 'gaming addiction'? Staying up all night gaming?"
"I I haven't" Gabriel stammered, trying to refute the claim.
But Raphiel's sharp gaze bore into her.
"Gabriel, lying is a sin, you know. Should I inform your sister, Gab?"
'THUD!!!'
The moment her sister's name was mentioned, Gabriel dropped to her knees in a dramatic 'dogeza' pose.
"I was wrong, Raphi! Please don't tell her!"
Raphiel smirked. She knew Gabriel's biggest weaknessher fear of her sister, Zelel.
"Now, spill it. What exactly have you been up to?" Raphiel asked, crossing her arms.
"I I've been saving the world through gaming!" Gabriel cried, attempting to dress up her addiction as a noble cause.
"Hah. Let's call it what it isa full-blown human gaming addiction," Raphiel retorted, mercilessly cutting through Gabriel's excuses.
"Fine, continue. What's that 10,000 for, and how did you get it?"
"It's for equipment to save the world and I borrowed it from Rei Ao," Gabriel muttered, her voice growing smaller with each word.
Raphiel didn't buy it for a second. But she was intrigued by the money's source.
Reflecting on how quickly Gabriel had returned earlier, Raphiel realized it must have been a visit to Rei Ao's apartment, conveniently located next door.
But Gabriel sensed things might spiral out of control if she let Raphiel keep pressing. If the kiss with Rei Ao came to light, she'd never hear the end of it.
So she clung to Raphiel, tears streaming as she begged, "Raphi, please don't tell my sister!"
"!!!"
Raphiel's expression twistednot out of pity, but from sheer disgust. Gabriel's tears were dripping onto her leg, and she was fairly certain some of it was snot.
"Gab, let go of me first," Raphiel said, trying to pry her off while pulling her leg away.
"No! Not unless you promise not to tell my sister!"
Gabriel's desperation had rendered her shameless.
"You"
Raphiel sighed, exasperated. The Gabriel she once knew had truly changed.
"Fine, I promise I won't tell your sister."
"Really?!" Gabriel's face lit up instantly, her tears vanishing as quickly as they'd appeared.
Raphiel frowned, catching her breath.
"Don't celebrate just yet," she warned. "At this rate, you're bound to fall completely."
"Fall, huh" Gabriel mused.
She raised her hand, summoning her halo. It floated above her head, faintly tinged with black.
Raphiel scoffed. "Gab, you've 'already' fallen."
"Oh."
Gabriel barely reacted. Instead, she plucked the halo off her head, held it in her hand, and blew on it like it was covered in dust.
Then, she casually used the hem of her shirt to wipe it clean.
In a matter of seconds, the black discoloration disappeared, leaving her halo pure and glowing once more.
She placed it back on her head and smiled.
"All fixed. No more falling."
Raphiel: "..."
Noon.
In another part of town, Mafuyu Kirisu meticulously checked her shopping bags.
"Everything should be here, right?"
The sofa was piled high with snacks, fruits, and various gifts.
Why did she buy so much?
Simple: to thank Rei Ao for his help last timeboth for saving her and for cleaning her apartment.
However, she still felt utterly humiliated from that incident. As a teacher, her dignity had been thoroughly trampled.
This time, she was determined to make a better impression.
After confirming everything was in order, Mafuyu steeled herself.
"Alright, time to bring these over."
But when she looked down at her trembling, reddened hands, she hesitated.
She couldn't lift them.
Moments later, things took an unexpected turn.
Rei Ao was standing in her living room, staring at the mountain of bags with a bemused expression.
"So all of this is meant to be a thank-you gift for me?"
"Yes," Mafuyu replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she stood there like a scolded child.
"And you want me to carry it all back myself?"
"I I'm sorry I can't lift them anymore" Mafuyu mumbled, holding out her shaking hands, which were clearly overworked from carrying the bags all the way home.
Rei Ao: "..."
~~~
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Chapter 107: Heal Kurome, Ayame's Trade Request
Regarding Mafuyu Kirisu's behavior, Rei Ao couldn't help but remark:
"Alright then, I've never heard of a thank-you gift requiring the recipient to carry it themselves."
Effortlessly, he lifted the mountain of bags.
This scene left Mafuyu Kirisu utterly speechless.
She'd personally struggled to carry those items and knew just how heavy they were.
But now, he carried them as if they were weightless!
Her gaze involuntarily shifted to Rei Ao's arms.
'Gulp.'
The sight of his tightly toned muscles left her momentarily mesmerized.
No wonder he's so strong And beneath those clothes his physique must be incredible.
"You"
Rei Ao's voice snapped her back to reality.
"Yes!"
Thinking she'd been caught staring at his muscles, Mafuyu instinctively stood at attention.
""
Rei Ao raised an eyebrow, a vein nearly popping on his forehead.
"Why so jumpy? I'm not here to scare you."
"Oh"
Mafuyu lowered her head in embarrassment and guilt.
"Kirisu-sensei, you haven't had lunch yet, have you?"
"No not yet."
"Then come to my place. Mai and I prepared a feast today."
After all, following yesterday's 'strenuous events', Rei Ao had bought an abundance of fish, shrimp, and meat for a hearty meal, prepared by none other than Mai herself.
"Huh?"
Mafuyu hesitated, curious about who "Mai" might be.
But before she could ask or decline, Rei Ao had already walked off with the bags in hand.
All she could do was sigh, her face flushing.
This is so humiliating.
Not only did I make him carry his own thank-you gifts, but now, as a teacher, I'm heading to a student's home for food.
Humiliation aside, Mafuyu's body moved of its own accord, following him.
What choice did she have?
She couldn't cook, and compared to takeout, a home-cooked meal was far more appealing.
'Click'
Hearing movement in the living room, Mai, wearing an apron, peeked out of the kitchen.
Her gaze met Mafuyu's, and both froze.
"Mafuyu Kirisu-sensei?!"
"Mai Sakurajima-san?!"
What a coincidence!
Not only was Mafuyu the homeroom teacher for Class 3-1, but she also taught Classes 3-2 and 3-5.
Rei Ao smiled. "Great, no need for introductions."
"Eh?!"
Though surprised at Mafuyu's visit, Mai was quick to recover. After all, she'd seen far wilder things in her time with Rei Ao.
Returning to the kitchen, she focused on finishing the dishes and setting the table.
At the dining table, the three sat in silence.
Finally, Rei Ao broke the ice.
"Kirisu-sensei, try some of the food. Mai's cooking is quite good."
""
But Mafuyu, still deep in thought, found it hard to muster an appetite. Her curiosity got the better of her.
"Rei Ao, Mai, are you two family?"
Mai hesitated, unsure how to respond, and instinctively glanced at Rei Ao.
Without missing a beat, he replied:
"Yes, we're family."
Hearing this, Mai's lips curled into a soft, happy smile.
"I thought so. Are you siblings?" Mafuyu pressed further, still oblivious to the underlying truth.
Rei Ao decided to clarify.
"Have you considered that we might be cohabiting lovers instead?"
"What?"
Mafuyu thought she must have misheard. She blinked a few times, trying to process his words.
But Rei Ao's sincere expression left no room for doubt.
A wave of self-pity washed over Mafuyu.
Her students were already in relationships and even living together, while she remained a lonely single woman.
With a wistful look, she glanced between the two before deciding to drown her sorrows in food.
At least the food's delicious!
Between mouthfuls, Mafuyu couldn't resist slipping into teacher mode.
"Love is fine, but don't neglect your studiesespecially you, Rei Ao, with your skyrocketing grades."
She started a small lecture, her tone carrying the same nagging authority of a dedicated teacher.
Rei Ao and Mai exchanged a look but refrained from interrupting.
Mai couldn't help but wonder:
Did I not make the food tasty enough to shut her up?
The Night Raid's secret base.
Another emergency meeting was underway.
"Boss, what's the situation with headquarters?"
Lubbock was visibly excitedhe'd caught wind of some major news. Something big was coming!
Najenda, seated at the head of the table, frowned deeply.
"Headquarters has begun mobilizing forces in an attempt to launch a full-scale attack on the Empire."
"F-Full-scale?"
Mine gasped in disbelief. "How is that even possible? Where would the Revolutionary Army even get that many people?"
"It's true. The Revolutionary Army doesn't have that kind of manpower," Brand interjected, shaking his head. "To attack the entire Empire, they'd need at least a million soldiers."
"And even that might not be enough for a place as vast as the Empire," Leone added with a wry tone. "Headquarters is getting ahead of itself."
Akame's eyes narrowed as she stared at Najenda.
"Boss, you're not telling us everything, are you?"
""
Najenda sighed heavily, her silence confirming Akame's suspicion.
"There's something I haven't told you," she admitted.
"What else is there?" Mine asked, her tone skeptical.
Scanning the room, Najenda spoke slowly and deliberately.
"You're right. The manpower shortage is a serious issue."
"But headquarters has found a temporary solution."
"Huh? A temporary solution?" Mine asked, completely baffled.
Her words made Brand furrow his brow.
"Boss, you're not about to say what I think you are are you?"
Najenda nodded solemnly.
"Yes. They've decided to enlist the help of the Tribes."
"The Tribes?!"
Everyone reacted in shock.
The Tribes were infamous, their notoriety known far and wide.
If the Empire oppressed its people through its ruling class, the Tribes were far more barbaric.
Their relentless invasions of the Empire brought nothing but destruction. Any regions they overran were left in ashescivilians were either slaughtered or enslaved.
They showed no mercy, treating all equally as prey to burn, kill, and pillage.
The idea of allying with them was unthinkable.
Mine was the first to object, slamming her hands on the table as she stood.
"This is insane! Working with the Tribes is just inviting disaster!"
Najenda sighed, sharing their unease.
"Our enemy is Esdeath," she said.
"You all saw what happened when she fought Rei Ao. Regular forces are useless against her."
Leone crossed her arms, considering the situation.
"Esdeath's power is terrifying. If we use the Tribes as cannon fodder"
Mine glared at her furiously.
"They're uncontrollable! You think they'll be our pawns, but what's stopping them from turning on us and using 'us' as cannon fodder?"
"And even if we somehow take the Empire, what's to stop them from attacking us afterward?"
The room fell silent, tension rising.
"Sounds like you're all worried about this plan."
A new voice broke into the conversation.
"Who's there?!"
Leone's sharp gaze snapped toward the source of the voice.
A woman with long pink hair and headphones stood at the entrance.
"Who are you?"
Lubbock didn't hesitate.
Using his Teigu, 'Cross Tail', he quickly immobilized the intruder with threads.
The woman raised her hands in surrender.
"Whoa, whoa, I'm on your side!" she said with a sheepish grin.
Najenda raised her hand, signaling everyone to stand down.
"Calm down. She's one of ours. Headquarters sent her to assist us."
"One of ours?"
In the Night Raid's hideout, another tense situation unfolded.
Through a brief introduction, the group learned the woman's identity.
Her name was Chelsea, an assassin adept at infiltration and disguise, wielding the Teigu 'Gaia Foundation.'
Despite her cheerful demeanor, the group remained cautious around the newcomer.
As they debated whether to continue their discussion about the Revolutionary Army's alliance with the Tribes, the situation escalated.
