A large private room.
All sorts of beautiful women sat around an oversized rotating banquet table, each chatting about their own topics.
Even Haruno felt as though she was in another world, seeing a roomful of dozens of people.
Although she already knew from the chat group that there were many, many women in a romantic relationship with Rei Ao, it was still completely different to see them here in real life, conversing face to face.
Young girls, older women, mature ones, bewitching ones, heroic ones—various types of beauties from their world's group.
Even Haruno herself didn't feel entirely confident in her looks among them, and she couldn't help but marvel at Rei Ao's ability to gather so many women in one place without any apparent conflicts.
And these weren't even all of them; there were also some from other worlds.
At the same time, she felt a flicker of doubt.
"Yukino-chan."
She addressed Yukino, who was quietly sipping fruit juice, waiting for Rei Ao to arrive.
"Mm?"
Yukino turned her head. She wasn't sure why her sister was talking to her out of the blue.
"Ahem, Yukino, I have a question for you. Check your private messages, okay?"
Because what she wanted to ask was a sensitive matter, she couldn't say it out loud.
In private message:
Yukinoshita Haruno: "Yukino, do you and Rei Ao-kun, when you do that…do you use protection?"
"???"
Even just seeing those words made Yukino's face flare crimson.
Yukinoshita Yukino: "N-nee-san, what are you talking about?!"
Yukinoshita Haruno: "Aw, don't be shy. As your sister, I'm just concerned about your health. If you get pregnant, I'd like to help you raise the child, after all."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Ugh… Don't say strange things!"
It felt way too weird for Yukino to be having such a conversation with her sister.
Yukinoshita Haruno: "Well, there's nothing wrong with a big sister worrying for her cute little sister, is there? Of course, if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine, since you're no longer really 'yours but someone else's Yukino'—boo hoo hoo~"
Yukinoshita Yukino: "…"
Haruno's words hit Yukino's biggest sore spot. Gritting her lip, Yukino eventually responded:
Yukinoshita Yukino: "We…we haven't used…anything."
Haruno narrowed her eyes in a smile; her Yukino-chan was so easy to toy with. But hearing they weren't using protection also gave Haruno a pang of frustration: her precious sweet "yukino" had been claimed by someone, thoroughly "tasted." She sighed and got to her real question.
Yukinoshita Haruno: "So, about that—Rei Ao-kun is involved with so many women here. Doesn't that cause problems? I mean, can he really handle it all?"
Yes, that was what truly puzzled her. With so many women, was Rei Ao really okay? She couldn't blame herself for wondering.
Even though she'd seen certain parts of the chat group's streams—like Rei Ao with Frieren and Aura—Haruno felt that might not be enough. Just in this room, there were more than twenty. She didn't see how anyone could satisfy them all.
Even ancient emperors with harems of three thousand concubines had to rotate them. Royal harems were full of competition, too.
She worried that eventually, if Rei Ao's stamina failed him, they'd start competing for favor, and Yukino could get bullied because of her personality.
But Yukino lowered her head even more. She really had no way to answer such a question. From her personal experience, she knew Rei Ao was extremely powerful in "that" sense.
She was often rendered weak and helpless under his prowess. But as for the others…how would she know? She was too shy ever to join in with them.
Just as Haruno was about to say something else, Rei Ao arrived. After returning to their world, he hadn't lingered at home; he came straight to the previously reserved venue.
The instant he appeared, the room quieted down. Nobody spoke first, but all eyes turned on him.
Eriri jumped to her feet with a harrumph:
"You jerk, you were the one who organized this party, but you showed up at the very last minute!"
"Eriri, Rei Ao-kun helped Frieren with something urgent. Don't be rude," Sayuri said, annoyed, as she lightly bopped Eriri on the head. Now was no time for disrespect. How could Eriri become a good wife if she couldn't be more gracious? She realized she still had a long way to go in educating Eriri.
"Mooom~"
Eriri had only been trying to tease Rei Ao a bit, but instead she got scolded in front of everyone. Plus, she ended up embarrassed.
Rei Ao just smiled and said:
"Eriri's right—I really am late. I'll punish myself by drinking a cup."
He gave Eriri a playful wink, then reached for the wineglass near Hiratsuka Shizuka and drained it in one go.
"Rei Ao-kuuun~"
That small gesture moved Eriri so deeply that she practically sparkled with hearts in her eyes.
Seeing Rei Ao finish that drink, both Hiratsuka Shizuka and Kirisu Mafuyu looked a bit concerned.
As teachers, their instincts were to stop him. But, remembering who he was—and their relationship to him—they held back.
Having downed the glass, he set it aside and glanced around, noticing something odd: someone was missing. Everyone else had come—Michiru, others…
"Yui, where's your mom?"
He quickly realized Mrs. Yuigahama was the key. He'd invited Yuigahama's mother. So why wasn't she here?
"Huh? Mom?" Yui looked puzzled. "She's…at home, I guess?"
"…"
Rei Ao wore a peculiar expression. Observing Yui's blank look, he realized:
"Yui, let me ask you something: Did you never notice that your mother—Mrs. Yuigahama—is also a member of the group?"
"Whaaaat?!"
Yui gaped, stunned. She honestly had no idea.
"Yui, you really never noticed?" said Yumiko, equally astonished.
"Isn't that the account name 'Yuigahama Yui...ai'? I've never seen her say anything in the group, though," Sayuri explained.
"Mmm…"
Yui checked the group roster. Indeed, her mom was there. Her face fell:
"I—I really didn't realize. Mom never said anything…"
Megumi Kato suggested, "Then message Yuigahama-san now."
"Oh, okay! I'll—"
Just as Yui was about to do that, Rei Ao stopped her:
"No need. I'll go pick her up personally."
Swoosh—his figure vanished.
At the same time, Sayuri and Sakurajima Ai exchanged a knowing look, each wearing a subtle smile: that Yuigahama-san might end up having plenty in common with them.
~~~
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