"Good sisters"
For some reason, Utaha felt like there was more to Sonoko's words than met the eye.
Still, she didn't dwell on it too much.
Having someone around actually eased the weight on her mind. Keeping everything bottled up had been suffocating.
She licked her dry lips and slowly recounted everything that had happened not long ago.
From being nearly eaten by a demon disguised as a child to witnessing Rei Ao kill the creature right before her eyes, Utaha poured out the details.
Sonoko was both horrified and relieved.
Utaha trembled as she stared at her hands.
"Sonoko-san do you know what it's like to have a headless body right in front of you? To have blood drench your entire body and flow into your mouth I"
The memory of the gory scene made her body shake uncontrollably.
"Alright, stop there, Utaha."
Sonoko interrupted her firmly and pulled the fragile Utaha into her arms.
"Don't worry. Rei Ao saved you, and I'm here now. There's nothing to be afraid of."
"Okay."
Normally cold and sharp-tongued, Utaha now seemed like a fragile rabbit, curling up in Sonoko's embrace.
Sonoko's heart ached for her.
After some time, when Utaha seemed to calm down, she suddenly asked, "Sonoko-san, have you ever killed anyone?"
Utaha remembered that Sonoko had also traveled to another world and even became something like a real superhero.
"Me? No, never."
Sonoko shook her head. "But I've killed terrifying monsters beforethings like goblins, for instance."
Utaha's eyes widened with curiosity. "Were you scared?"
"Of course I was."
Sonoko gave a wry smile. "I'm just an ordinary person. Fear is natural."
"But I knew that if I wanted to stay by Rei Ao's side, I had to adapt and become stronger."
She spoke earnestly.
Sonoko had seen firsthand just how powerful others in Rei Ao's circle were.
Knowing that Rei Ao had the ability to traverse worlds through the chat group, she couldn't even begin to fathom the heights he might reach in the future.
But one thing was clearshe couldn't leave him.
Once someone's horizons expanded, their standards inevitably rose.
After experiencing the kind of connection she had with Rei Ao, Sonoko didn't think she'd ever find a man stronger or more perfect than him.
Nor did she think any other man could possess his sense of balance and endurance.
The thought of leaving Rei Ao and being with someone else? Impossible.
Sonoko had become utterly addicted to the feelings Rei Ao stirred in her. She was irrevocably shaped by him and could never belong to anyone else.
So, with that mindset, she had forced herself to kill monsters.
Even if it meant retching and stepping out of her comfort zone, she chose to embrace a new future.
"."
Utaha gazed at Sonoko, stunned.
It was the first time she had seen such unwavering resolve from her.
"Utaha-chan, are you feeling a little better now?"
"Yes."
Sonoko breathed a sigh of relief but still advised her gently. "If you truly can't handle this world of the unknown, why not pretend the chat group doesn't exist?"
"You mean ignore it?"
"Yes."
Sonoko nodded. "There's nothing wrong with living an ordinary life. Besides, you're already a rising star in the light novel industry."
Utaha had achieved notable success at a young age. Sonoko believed she had a bright future ahead, even without being involved in the supernatural.
But Utaha disagreed.
"Pretending to ignore it doesn't make it go away."
"."
This question didn't need an answer from Sonoko.
"Even if I ignore it, monsters and demons still exist in this world. If Rei Ao hadn't been there that day, you might have died, Sonoko-san."
"And the cause of death? It wouldn't even be explainable."
Utaha's gaze turned complex. "I keep wondering what would happen if something like that occurred to me again"
"Sigh."
Sonoko sighed deeply.
She knew this was inevitable. Once someone learned about these things, they couldn't simply ignore them.
"There are two ways to overcome your fear. Want to hear them?"
"Please, tell me."
Utaha wanted to change her situation.
"First, you can go to Rei Ao. He knows angels who can erase memories. As the group leader, he might even be able to kick you out of the chat group entirely."
"What?"
Utaha blinked in surprise. "You're suggesting I forget everything and go back to my old life?"
"That's the simplest solution, isn't it?" Sonoko countered.
It wasn't wrong.
If she didn't know anything, there would be no fear, no confusion, and no unnecessary worries.
But Utaha wasn't on board with that idea.
"What's the second option?"
"Well the second option also involves Rei Ao."
Sonoko paused before raising her hands.
She made an "OK" gesture with one hand and slid a finger from the other hand into the circle.
"All you need to do is make a deal with Rei Ao and gain overwhelming power from himjust like I did."
"That way, Utaha-chan, you won't have to fear monsters anymore."
"What?"
The overly vivid gestures from Sonoko Machida were impossible for Utaha Kasumigaoka to misunderstand.
"Are you telling me to sell myself?!"
She widened her eyes in shock.
Never in her wildest imagination had she thought her editor would suggest something so outrageous.
No matter what, selling her body was absolutely out of the question!
"Ahem."
Even Sonoko felt that phrasing it that way sounded awkward.
"Let's put it another way. You could make Rei Ao fall for youor fall for him yourself. Wouldn't that make everything simpler?"
"???"
Utaha's jaw dropped in disbelief.
"You realize he's your man, right? Are you seriously okay with saying this?"
"Pfft."
Sonoko laughed nonchalantly.
"He's not exclusively mine, and let's be honest, there's no way I can outdo young ladies like you when it comes to receiving his affection."
"But, if we team up, Utaha-chan"
Realizing the conversation was veering into bizarre territory, Utaha quickly intervened.
"Stop!!!"
She put a firm end to the discussion, instinctively stepping away from Sonoko.
Recalling Sonoko's prior antics, Utaha began to suspect something deeper.
"Don't tell me all your previous attempts to show off were part of some perverted scheme?"
"A tiny bit," Sonoko admitted sheepishly, her expression awkward.
"???"
Utaha was left speechless.
The editor she trusted had actually been plotting to sell her outnot for survival, but for Rei Ao's favor!
And that realization was the last straw.
Utaha promptly kicked Sonoko out of her apartment.
While there was a hint of anger, most of her turmoil stemmed from her own confusion.
Leaning against the closed door, her mind was flooded with thoughts of Rei Ao.
"Ugh, what's wrong with me?"
A long sigh echoed through the silent room.
Due to Tomoya Aki's death, classes had been temporarily suspended.
However, the break wasn't indefinite, and before long, a return date was announced.
The entire school was set to resume next Monday.
For most students, the news was unwelcome.
But for Rei Ao, it was a good thing.
Who knewperhaps he'd cross paths with another beautiful girl.
Today, though, Mai wasn't in her usual calm state.
Seated on the couch, she clutched Rei Ao's hand tightly, her fingers interwoven with his.
She was visibly tense.
Her mother was coming to visit.
The ordeal began when Mai woke up in Rei Ao's arms, as usual.
Not that it was a natural wake-upRei Ao had, as always, been up to his morning antics.
Before she could even complain, a phone call interrupted them.
"Mom?"
Seeing her mother's name on the screen immediately jolted Mai awake.
She patted Rei Ao, signaling for him to behave.
Rei Ao, hearing her call out "Mom," stopped what he was doing.
"?"
Mai was momentarily surprised by his restraint.
He usually intensified his antics when she told him to stop.
Answering the call, she heard her mother's direct tone:
"Mai, do you remember our agreement?"
Without any pleasantries, her mother got straight to the point.
Mai's expression dimmed, and she responded coolly, "I remember. What's this about?"
"Hmm?"
Her mother's sharp ears caught the uncharacteristic coldness in Mai's tone.
'Has she realized I was just stringing her along before?'
It didn't matter.
Her mother didn't think Mai would dare go against their agreement.
"I want to meet that boyRei Ao, was it?"
"Rei Ao?!"
Mai's sudden shout startled her mother.
"Rei Ao You seem quite excited just hearing his name," her mother remarked with a raised brow.
"Uh no, not really."
"Really?"
Her mother's tone was laced with suspicion.
Mai's voice had been trembling with excitement, yet she was trying to deny it.
"I don't care about your reasons or excuses. Send me the address later. I'll visit at noon."
Having stated her intentions, her mother waited for a response.
""
When a minute passed with no reply, her patience wore thin.
Just as she was about to demand an answer, Mai suddenly shouted, "Sure!!!"
The drawn-out tone of her voice left her mother baffled.
Her usually aloof daughter was now brimming with energy.
Before she could question it, the call abruptly ended.
"Rei Ao"
Her mother's eyes narrowed coldly as she whispered his name.
There was no way she'd let her daughter's bright future as a potential superstar be derailed by a mere student.
~~~
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Chapter 126: Mrs. Sakurajima and the God Sword
"Hu"
Mai Sakurajima lay on the pillow, panting heavily.
Her misty gaze landed on Rei Ao, who was casually holding her phone.
"Rei Ao-kun, you're going too far!"
Rei Ao just chuckled. "A little sprint every now and then is good for the heart."
"But could you at least check the time? I was on a call!" Mai retorted in exasperation.
"Heh, it's over now anyway."
Rei Ao handed the phone back to her.
Rather than dwelling on it, he added with a smirk, "You should focus on this instead."
Mai saw that he had already sent the address to her mother. Her expression immediately grew complicated.
"Rei Ao, be honest with mehave you met my mom before?"
"Why do you ask?"
Rei Ao raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
"Because it feels like you're unusually invested in my mother. Given your track record with women like Yuriko Takagi, Kuroko Shinguuji, and Sonoko Machida, I have every reason to suspect ulterior motives."
""
Rei Ao stayed silent for a moment before asking, "Is your mom very beautiful?"
Mai froze, then growled, "You scoundrel!"
Whap!
A pillowstill soaked with traces of Mai's earlier ordealhit Rei Ao square in the face.
By midday, a cool breeze tempered the warm weather.
In Rei Ao's home, however, the atmosphere was tense.
Mai's mother, dressed sharply in a business suit, sat at the dining table across from Rei Ao, her gaze scrutinizing him intently.
When he had opened the door for her earlier, her eyes had lit up.
Rei Ao exuded an exceptional aura. His well-proportioned figure and striking features made him impossible to ignore.
The moment her gaze met his otherworldly, iridescent blue eyes, she felt her heart skip a beat.
The longer she looked, the more satisfied she became.
With looks that could captivate girls and women of all ages, combined with his undeniable charisma, this young man could achieve greater fame than her daughter!
While Mai's mother assessed Rei Ao, he did the same to her.
Meeting her up close, he was genuinely taken aback.
His faint recollection of her from Mai's stories sharpened into a clearer impression.
Rei Ao couldn't help but marvel silently: "No wonder anime moms are always portrayed as stunningly gorgeous. It's absurd, really."
Finally, as Tohru brought out the last dish and the four of them sat down at the table, the tension in the room reached its peak.
Tohru, having pieced together the situation, wisely chose to stay silent, busying herself with food.
Beneath the table, Mai's hand was tightly clasped around Rei Ao's, betraying her nerves.
She was steeling herself for the inevitable confrontation with her mother's opposition.
But just as she braced herself for battle, Mrs. Sakurajima spoke.
"I agree to your relationship."
""
The room froze in silence.
Mai blinked, her mouth falling open. "Huh?"
She had been ready to unleash every argument, every countermeasureeven to reveal her powers as a last resort if necessary.
But her mother's calm declaration of approval completely threw her off balance.
"You agree?" Mai asked again, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Mrs. Sakurajima calmly took a bite of food, chewing slowly before placing her chopsticks down.
She crossed her arms, her full figure subtly emphasized, and smiled warmly.
"Yes, I agree to your relationship."
At that moment, she seemed every bit the understanding, supportive mother.
Mai almost felt touched.
But Rei Ao's composed expression never wavered.
He didn't buy it for a second.
"Mrs. Sakurajima," he said evenly, "why don't you just lay out your conditions? I'm curious to hear them."
"Conditions?"
Mai blinked, still too naive to suspect her mother's motives.
A flicker of something dark crossed Mrs. Sakurajima's eyes, though her expression remained calm.
"The conditions are simple. In fact, they're mutually beneficial," she said, her smile widening.
"I want to turn you both into superstars!"
Her ambition was laid bare.
"With Mai's fame and your natural charisma, Rei Aoand with my expertisewe could create the most dazzling celebrities this world has ever seen!"
In her mind, she already envisioned rivers of money flowing into her pockets.
"Mom"
Mai's initial hope crumbled into bitter disappointment. Her mother hadn't changed at all.
Rei Ao, however, cut straight through her delusions.
"Sorry, Mrs. Sakurajima, but I have no interest in becoming a celebrity."
"What?"
Mrs. Sakurajima stared at him in disbelief.
She leaned forward, trying to entice him. "I'm not joking. You should know the opportunities this could bring. Mai's career as a star is my creation, and I can see that you have the potential to surpass even her. Your future could be magnificent!"
Rei Ao shook his head calmly.
"That's not the life I want."
Unfortunately, the allure she offered was worth less to Rei Ao than a fleeting indulgence.
