"…"
After quite some time,
Tsugumi and Shinomiya Ayase were looking at Inori with great doubt in their eyes.
"Inori, are you sure you're not just messing with us?"
Tsugumi couldn't help but ask.
She couldn't help it. Everything Inori said sounded too outrageous.
Supposedly, Tsutsugami Gai was secretly in love with a woman named Ouma Mana, who was the first person exposed to the Apocalypse Virus and who created the Lost Christmas incident.
And that everything Tsutsugami Gai had done was for a single purpose: to resurrect Ouma Mana and then set her free.
Funeral Parlor, in turn, was merely a transitional tool to achieve that goal.
That… that sounded like complete nonsense, right?
Shinomiya Ayase narrowed her eyes.
"Inori, it's not that we don't trust you, but what you're saying differs too drastically from what we know."
In other words, they didn't believe her.
"If you had some concrete evidence, that might be more convincing."
Inori nodded.
"I'm a clone—a clone of Ouma Mana—and I'm also her vessel for resurrection."
She calmly spoke of her past.
In the next moment, her aura changed.
Her pupils took on a more aggressive shade of wine-red, and her gaze turned keener.
"Heh heh, that's right. She's my container, you know~"
Stretching her body, "Inori" emphasized her flawless curves.
"???"
The shift happened so suddenly that Tsugumi and Ayase didn't react right away.
"My, my, you look surprised. Did you think the usual, gentle Inori couldn't strike such a pose?"
Mana gave a lazy, husky laugh.
Her eyes were languid yet deeply penetrating.
"Too bad, I'm not Inori. My name is… Ouma Mana."
…
Some time later,
Tsugumi and Shinomiya Ayase left the estate.
They turned back to look at the Suemori mansion.
Tsugumi asked blankly, "Sis, do you think what Inori said is all true?"
Seeing Inori transform into a completely different person had rattled her. It didn't feel like an act at all. She had truly changed from one aura to another.
"Tsugumi, let it go."
Ayase spoke gravely. "We don't know if what Inori or Ouma Mana said is real. But as for Tsutsugami Gai… we can verify that with our own eyes."
"Huh? Sis, don't tell me you plan on testing the leader?"
Tsugumi was shocked, her expression instantly changing.
Shinomiya Ayase gave a faint nod.
"Let's go back."
"They're gone."
…
From the window, Kohouin Arisa watched the two fade into the distance.
"So, Inori, do you think your persuasion worked?"
Arisa folded her arms.
Inori didn't reply. Instead, she opened the group chat.
Inori: "@Rei Ao, are you there?"
Rei Ao: "Of course. As soon as any of my loved ones want me, I'm right here."
Sakurajima Mai: "You've got some nerve. You come back in the middle of the night and don't even return to our room, huh?"
Rei Ao: "Heh, didn't want to disturb your sleep."
Sakurajima Mai: "I was starting to think you'd gotten bored with me and Futaba and the others."
Sakurajima Mai: "Fine then. Futaba and the others are still asleep, so just stay in the living room until morning."
Frieren: "Haha, Rei Ao, you got kicked out."
Rei Ao: "What do you know? That's called 'distance makes the heart grow fonder.'"
Rei Ao: "Anyway, let's not banter too long. Inori, what did you need?"
Inori: "It's about Tsugumi and Ayase."
Rei Ao: "Oh, them."
Misaka Mikoto: "??? So late at night, and you're having a secret conversation?"
Rei Ao: "We're just chatting. Why are you rushing?"
Misaka Mikoto: "I'm stressed lately. Can't I enjoy a bit of gossip to decompress?"
Rei Ao: "Heh, after that huge stress-relief livestream I just did, don't tell me you didn't watch. Maybe you even got hands-on, huh?"
Misaka Mikoto: "???!"
Her face went bright red in an instant.
How did he guess?!
Even if she had used it for stress relief, she'd never admit it.
Misaka Mikoto: "I-I did not! Quit making things up!"
Rei Ao merely smirked. Her flustered denial gave it all away.
Frieren: "So that's another way to relieve stress. No wonder Aura's been going so wild."
Sakurajima Mai: "What did she do?"
Frieren: "She was lying on the floor, watching the livestream, calling out Rei Ao's name while… you know, stirring up a personal 'sea.'"
Sakurajima Mai: "…"
Misaka Mikoto: "…Pervert!"
Rei Ao: "Okay, we're drifting off-topic. We're here for serious matters, so keep it relevant."
Mabel: "Hmph. Then why can you interrupt us whenever you want?"
Mabel: "Plus, whenever we watch your live broadcast, it's always—"
Frieren: "Uh, well…"
Sakurajima Mai: "???…"
Misaka Mikoto: "???…"
Rei Ao: "Mabel… are you half asleep or something?"
He wore a strange expression. Clearly the conversation had gone totally off track.
Mabel: "Oh… I got up to use the bathroom. Hahaha~ I'll keep sleeping now. Goodnight."
Rei Ao: "…"
She was indeed half asleep.
He rubbed his brow in exasperation.
Rei Ao: "Inori, please continue. If anyone else interrupts, I'll 'interrupt' them, got it?"
No one dared interrupt further.
Inori: "Alright."
Inori: "So here's the situation: I told them the truth, and Mana showed herself, but they still didn't believe it."
Rei Ao: "That's natural. Hearing words alone isn't enough; they need to see it. Makes sense."
Rei Ao: "Do you believe they'll come to understand everything and choose to join you in the end?"
Inori: "I believe so. They're quite capable."
Rei Ao: "Haha, if you believe it, then that's all that matters. Just keep waiting."
Inori: "Alright."
"…"
Frieren: "So you're done now? Can we talk again?"
Inori: "Report finished."
Rei Ao: "Now you can speak your minds. Interrupt away."
Misaka Mikoto: "Hmph, stop making it sound so gross!"
Because of Mabel's random remarks, she couldn't help associating that word with something else.
Sakurajima Mai: "So what exactly were you all talking about?"
Rei Ao: "Basically, Inori plans to bring two old friends from the Funeral Parlor—where she used to be—into our group."
Sakurajima Mai: "Let me guess: both are cute girls, right?"
Inori: "Yes. According to Arisa, it's about providing a new 'sex slave' for Rei Ao."
Misaka Mikoto: "??? @Rei Ao, this 'sex slave' stuff… isn't that going too far?"
Rei Ao: "It's not like I said it. Why blame me? Besides, I don't see the problem with building a 'sex slave.' If there's one thing I do well, it's taking good care of my own women."
Rei Ao: "@Misaka Mikoto, interested in giving it a try?"
Misaka Mikoto: "Go to hell!!!"
Rei Ao was just teasing her.
A bit of banter kept the group chat lively, though definitely a bit… off-color.
~~~
Sex slave is kind of strong any suggestions for renaming it?
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