"Yumiko... I don't understand what you mean..."
Even though Yumiko had clearly seen through her, Yui continued to deny it, clinging to her facade.
~~~
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Chapter 133: Rio Futaba
When faced with Yui's timid personalityalways hiding, always retreating, always yieldingYumiko decided she had had enough.
It was time to lay all the cards on the table.
"Yui, you like Rei Ao, don't you?"
The direct question hit like a thunderclap. Yumiko's sharp gaze bore into Yui, scrutinizing her every reaction.
Yui's expression froze for a moment. Her first instinct was to deny it, to conceal her feelings.
"I"
But Yumiko didn't give her the chance.
"I followed you two the entire day yesterday. I even know about your baking lesson together," Yumiko declared, her tone blunt.
She wasn't holding back. If they were going to talk, they'd talk about everything.
"..."
Yui's eyes filled with tears.
She had just come to terms with her feelings for Rei Ao, only to find out that Yumikowho had once claimed she didn't like him anymorewas now dating him. And now, Yumiko had caught her red-handed.
Yui lowered her head even further, afraid of losing her friendship with Yumiko.
Rei Ao watched the exchange quietly, curious to see where Yumiko was going with this.
Yumiko cupped Yui's tear-streaked face in her hands, her voice softening as she saw the glistening tears in Yui's eyes.
"Come on, I'm not mad at you. Why are you crying?"
"You're not mad?"
Yui didn't believe her. Her actions were no different from trying to steal Yumiko's boyfriend. Surely no friendship could survive that.
"I"
Yumiko was about to explain herself but paused, glancing at Rei Ao. The sight of him stirred her irritation.
If it weren't for his insatiable desires and shameless charm, she wouldn't have to accept this situation.
But she had no choice.
The thought of Rei Ao being the one to benefit from all this made her grit her teeth.
She gave him a light kick in the shin and snapped, "This is girl talk. You, the big man, get out of here."
"...Fine."
Rei Ao, who had been enjoying the drama, was unceremoniously kicked out of the infirmary.
He wandered into the quiet hallways, deciding to kill some time. The nearby clubs didn't seem to be active, and there weren't many people around.
"Ah!"
A startled cry caught his attention.
Peeking through the glass of the science clubroom door, he saw a petite girl in a white lab coat with long gray curls working on an experiment.
Her glasses glinted as she turned, and her eyes briefly met Rei Ao's. Startled, she quickly averted her gaze and focused back on her work.
Rei Ao, respecting her space, stepped away.
But her image lingered in his mind.
"Rio Futaba."
The resemblance was uncannyher appearance, the science lab setting, and her demeanor. She matched the Rio Futaba from Mai Sakurajima's world perfectly.
A chance glance wasn't enough to confirm his suspicions, though.
It wasn't long before he encountered another girl near the stairwell.
This one had the same gray hair, tied into a high ponytail, but her energy was entirely different.
She walked with a confident stride, her outfit more fitted to highlight her figure.
[Name]: Rio Futaba
[Level]: 0
[Ability]: "Puberty Syndrome: Duality"
Rei Ao instantly recognized her. Like Mai Sakurajima, she too suffered from Puberty Syndrome.
Rio Futaba's condition had caused her personality to split, manifesting as two distinct individuals.
The shy, reclusive girl in the science club was the original Rio Futaba.
And the vibrant, attention-seeking girl before him was her secondary personaa manifestation of her desire to be noticed and appreciated.
It was an intriguing encounter.
As they were about to pass each other, Rei Ao called out.
"Rio Futaba."
"Hmm?"
The lively Rio Futaba turned to face him, her ponytail swaying.
"And you are?"
"I'm Rei Ao from Class 3-3."
"Oh, do you know me?" she asked, her tone curious but casual.
Rei Ao shook his head.
"I don't know you, but I just saw the real you in the science club."
"..."
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Don't be so surprised," Rei Ao continued. "I know about your conditionPuberty Syndrome. You're the secondary personality created by her subconscious, and now you've fully split from her."
"!!!"
This time, Rio Futaba was truly shocked.
She knew very well that she was a newly separated personality. But how could this stranger know?
"If you keep appearing like this at school, it's going to cause chaos," Rei Ao said plainly, referring to the fact that two identical people walking around would undoubtedly draw attention.
"Are you asking me to return to her body? Sorry, but I don't know how to do thatand I don't want to," Rio Futaba replied, preparing to leave.
Rei Ao, however, stopped her with his words. "I have no intention of forcing you two to merge back together."
"Why not?" Rio Futaba finally looked curious.
"It's simple. I've taken a liking to Rio Futababoth of you. If you merge, wouldn't that mean I lose one potential wife?"
The words were like a bombshell.
Rio Futaba was stunned. Her first thought was that this guy had serious problems.
Not only did he claim to like the gloomy and socially awkward original Riosomeone often seen as strangebut he also wanted both versions of her?
But Rei Ao wasn't joking. If he liked Rio Futaba, why not like both?
For now, however, he had a more pressing question.
"If I'm not mistaken, you're the personality born from her desire to be noticed, correct?"
""
Rio Futaba didn't respond but her silence was telling. This man seemed to know far too much about her.
"So, you've been trying to attract attention by intentionally standing out?"
"I had that thought," she admitted, biting her lip. She did want people to notice herthat's why she had these ideas.
"Stop that," Rei Ao said abruptly.
"Why?"
"Because you've already caught my attention. I don't want the Rio Futaba I've set my eyes on to be appreciated by anyone else."
He stepped closer, his piercing gaze locking onto hers.
"Because I'm selfish."
""
Rio Futaba froze under his intense gaze.
In his eyes, she saw a fiery passionfor her and for the original Rio.
It was the kind of attention she had always craved.
And yet, now that she had it, she found herself too shy to meet his gaze.
Unconsciously, she looked away.
"Are you serious?" she asked softly.
Although he was a stranger, something about him made her want to believe.
"Absolutely. I like Rio Futababoth of you," Rei Ao said with disarming honesty.
"...You're shameless, you know that?"
Her tone was mocking, but there was a hint of joy in her voice. At least this proved that she could still attract someone's attention.
"Can't help it. That's just who I am," Rei Ao said with a shrug.
"I can handle your troubles. What about you? What do you want?"
""
After a brief silence, Rio Futaba extended her hand.
"Give me your contact information."
Rei Ao handed her his phone, letting her save his number.
When she handed it back, she gave him a bright smile.
"Instead of helping me, why don't you focus on helping her?"
With a wave of her hand, she turned and left.
As she walked away, she added, "Don't worry, I promise not to post any photos online."
Rei Ao chuckled.
It seemed she had her own plans.
"Man, being a hopeless romantic is tough. Now I've got two more girls to keep an eye on."
Meanwhile, in the infirmary, Yui and Yumiko were sitting face-to-face.
This was their first genuine heart-to-heart conversation.
Yui couldn't hold back any longer. "Yumiko what did you mean earlier by"
She trailed off, unable to finish her question. She still couldn't believe Yumiko wasn't angry with her for liking her boyfriend.
Yumiko rolled her eyes, crossing her arms with a faint smile.
"What? You think this whole thing is ridiculous?"
"...Yeah," Yui admitted weakly.
If she were in Yumiko's position, she would never forgive herself.
"Well, let me tell you thisthings are even more ridiculous than you think."
Yumiko took a deep breath before delivering the bombshell.
"Rei Ao likes you."
"Eh?!"
The words hit Yui like a lightning bolt.
Rei Ao liked her? Then why was he dating Yumiko?
Yumiko's expression turned bitter.
"Have you considered that he doesn't just like you? He likes me too and probably others as well."
"What?!"
Yui felt like her brain was overheating.
But Yumiko wasn't done yet.
"And to be honest, I came after you."
"What do you mean?"
"If I hadn't followed you that day, it would've been you in a relationship with him first, not me."
"Huh?!"
Three sentences in, and Yui's brain had completely short-circuited.
For the first time in her life, she realized that her already not-so-bright mind wasn't equipped to handle this level of chaos.
Chapter 134: New Chat Group Function!
"Yumiko, what are you even saying?"
Yui's overwhelmed mind desperately tried to convince her that Yumiko was joking, that this was all a prank. How could anyone knowingly settle for being "the third"? Yumiko had always been so proud and independent.
But the truth is often stranger than fiction.
What Yui didn't know was that the current Yumiko was not the same as the one she had always known. Her usual pride had always carried a hint of performative confidence, but deep down, she was also grappling with her own vulnerabilities.
Yumiko rolled her eyes, exasperated.
"Don't think I'm jokingI'm being completely serious."
She added pointedly, "And don't use normal standards to judge someone like Rei Ao. For example like this."
With a simple thought, Yumiko's outfit transformed into a dazzling black-and-white gown, shimmering with an otherworldly glow.
Yui froze, captivated.
The ethereal aura surrounding Yumiko made her appear almost like a goddess of day and night descending to earth.
"See? Rei Ao isn't an ordinary person, and honestly, neither am Ior a lot of us."
With another thought, Yumiko dispelled her powers, returning to her usual appearance.
She looked at Yui and said sincerely, "If you really like Rei Ao, then go for it."
"Ah I"
Yui's mind spiraled further into confusion, more chaotic than it had ever been.
Did she truly like Rei Ao?
The answer was obvious.
Her fluttering heart, the way his relationship with Yumiko had pained her so deeplyeverything pointed to the truth.
She liked him.
But
Now Yumiko, someone who was already with Rei Ao, was encouraging her to pursue him.
"I I don't know"
Yui felt utterly lost.
Suddenly, even Yumiko seemed like someone from a different world. If that were true, what was left in Yui's own world?
Sensing that Yui was overwhelmed by too much information, Yumiko decided to stop pushing.
"I'm not asking you to decide right now," Yumiko said gently.
"But no matter what you choose to do, I'll support you. Still if you want to understand Rei Ao better, I think there's something you need to know."
Yumiko wanted Yui to fully understand Rei Aojust as she had. Only then could Yui make an informed choice.
She discreetly opened the chat app.
Yumiko Miura: "Rei Ao, can I ask you something?"
Rei Ao: "Ask? Sounds more like you're making a request."
Yumiko Miura: "Can your intuition not be so sharp for once?"
Rei Ao: "Haha, whatever you're asking for, I'll agree to itbut on one condition."
Yumiko Miura: "Huh? You're setting conditions for your girlfriend now?"
Rei Ao: "It's just something to bring us closer, that's all."
Yumiko Miura: "Tch. Who wants to get closer to you?"
Her face flushed red as she typed the reply.
Yumiko Miura: "Fine, say it."
Rei Ao: "Stay over at my place this weekend."
Yumiko Miura: "That's it?"
Rei Ao: "That's it."
Yumiko Miura: "I have a feeling you're up to no good."
Rei Ao: "What could I possibly be scheming? I just want to spend time with you."
Of course, he conveniently left out the part about trying to ease her into a closer relationship with Mai and Tohru.
Yumiko Miura: "Fine, I'll agree."
Rei Ao: "Alright, what's your request?"
Yumiko Miura: "Can you create a subgroup for Yui?"
Rei Ao: "Huh?"
Yumiko Miura: "I have my reasons!"
Yumiko Miura: "Look, I know you've already set your sights on Yui. She's practically a juicy steak sitting on your plate."
Rei Ao: "Wow, Yumiko, has anyone ever told you how sharp your observations are?"
Yumiko Miura: "Tch, I just see right through your perverted nature!"
Yumiko Miura: "I'm not going to stop you from going after Yui."
Yumiko Miura: "She's my best friend, and I want her to understand everything about you before she makes her choicejust like I did."
Rei Ao: "Oh? So you fully understood everything about me before deciding to join me in the bedroom, making waves and stirring storms?"
Yumiko's eye twitched.
Why did he have to describe it like that?
Yumiko Miura: "Idiot! Stop talking about methis is about Yui!"
She couldn't stand the self-inflicted embarrassment. Just thinking about "that" made her body tingle.
It was the clearest sign that she'd already been shaped into something entirely his.
Rei Ao: "Fine, fine. I'll do as you ask."
[Ding! You've joined the chat group's subgroup!]
"Yumiko, did you hear something just now?"
Yui looked up in confusion.
Yumiko nodded. "That was the subgroup notification, wasn't it?"
"Uh-huh."
As Yui nodded, a wave of information about the chat group flooded into her mind.
Seeing Yui's wide-eyed expression, Yumiko began to explain.
"First of all, everything about the chat group is real."
"I asked Rei Ao to add you. He's the group admin."
"And just so you know, most of the members are womenand a lot of them are Rei Ao's women."
The last two words were emphasized heavily.
"Eh?"
Yui blinked, dazed.
World travel? Trades?
Rather than feeling shocked or upset, she found herself brimming with excitement.
It meant she, Yumiko, and Rei Ao weren't from different worlds after all!
"???"
Yumiko noticed the subtle smile forming on Yui's face and didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.
Who could be happy hearing that their crush has multiple partners?
This girl truly was a hopeless romantic.
