Chapter 18 - Dreams of Milestones

In the Kamijou residence, a delightful fragrance of high-quality incense wafted through the air, a surprisingly uncommon occurrence given the inhabitant's typical preferences. The space had recently undergone a subtle transformation, now with an elegant round table positioned by the balcony, with only two seats arranged side by side

'I'm almost there. If you still have something to prepare as a surprise, this is the last chance.'

Touma grinned as he read that message on his cell phone screen. He imagined the girl smiling and somewhat pensive as she typed it. Did she used to think about how he acted while she was messaging him?

'Everything is ready. Don't expect too much.'

That was the message he typed with one hand as he finished lighting one of the candles around the table. Carefully arranging a bouquet of wildflowers in a small vase, he dimmed the lights, allowing the candles to take center stage. The once plain and unassuming space now exuded an undeniable allure that mirrored the affectionate anticipation in his heart.

'Huh? And here I thought you were trying to impress me.'

There was no doubt that she was right to assume that.

Exchanging messages had become extremely common between them, so much so that this morning Touma was late for school because he had stayed up late. Not that he wouldn't have been late anyway due to non-existent luck, so it was time well spent.

When the doorbell rang, the boy blew out the lit match, straightened his clothes while looking at his image reflected in the window, and then hurried to the door.

"Good evening, Touma-chan, I hope—"

Misaki had started to speak as soon as he opened the door, but stopped abruptly when her gaze focused on something quite interesting judging by the reaction. Her head tilted slightly and her starry eyes even seemed to get bigger.

"Wow," she said, stepping forward. Her gloved finger touched her lip in a rather cute pose. "So that's why you asked me to wear something fancy. And here I thought it was just a whim ability of yours."

"Can I guess that you like what you see?"

The boy was wearing the suit his mother had given him as a present. It was an outfit that was more suitable for other occasions, such as high-class events, but he had other definitions of important matters that required a dignified dress code. Or maybe he was just too eager to show it off to his girlfriend and couldn't wait for an opportunity.

"Ara, Ara... someone's putting in quite the effort to impress," Misaki purred. Smiling, she ran her gloved hand across his chest, reaching up to adjust the black tie of his suit. "But you've tied a rather sloppy knot. Allow me to help."

With a delicacy befitting a queen, she deftly worked on his tie. Before he could fully comprehend what was happening, she removed it and casually hung it alongside her handbag on the hanger in the entrance hall.

The confusion on Touma's face was priceless.

"What's wrong?" she asked with a mischievous smile. "That's much better. And it can be a good time saver too."

"Huh?"

"By the way." She gestured for him to look at her more closely. "I'm still waiting for a compliment."

The outfit she had chosen was undoubtedly stunning, and yet so simple. It wasn't the typical attire one might select for a casual home date, but it seemed she had read the boy's intentions considering that flashy bright gold color on that expensive-looking silk dress. Despite his limited knowledge of fashion, it was apparent that this garment was likely custom-made, perhaps even a unique, exclusive piece.

"Kind of daring," he said as he approached, gesturing to a slit on the side that left her left leg somewhat exposed. "A bit like the one you were wearing at that party in England, but I miss that neckline." He shrugged smugly.

"You're becoming quite demanding over time; I suppose I have a bit of responsibility for that."

With a delicate gesture and a cute smile, she took hold of the boy's bandaged right arm and was guided to the table. She genuinely appreciated it when he pulled out a chair for her and made an exaggerated gesture, playfully whispering 'Milady' in a low tone.

"There are proper ways to treat a queen, you know."

"My behavior is still not appropriate? This Kamijou-san is still not used to royalty, please forgive him." He leaned over and brushed his lips against the back of her hand.

"Consider yourself forgiven. Now, what do we have here?" asked Misaki. She cast a quick glance at the selection of food there. "I hope this has all been prepared—"

"Don't worry, it's all quality and properly prepared, milady."

She frowned at the interruption, which came in a somewhat sarcastic, smug tone.

"Here, open your mouth."

It was a bit strange to be feeding her, considering that this was meant to emulate a fine dining restaurant. However, Misaki pushed her golden hair away from her face and leaned over to be fed by her boyfriend without a hint of complaint. The meal was simple: a Caprese Salad with ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil leaves, drizzled with balsamic glaze. Despite its simplicity, the look on the girl's face made it clear that she didn't mind at all.

"Hmm... that's a proper cooking ability." She smiled with satisfaction and then wiped her mouth with a napkin. "I think that's around 75 to 80 points. With a bit more practice you can reach a level worthy of royalty."

"I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or not."

Touma had devoted the past few days to honing this dish to perfection. He had crafted it at least 15 times, and each time, Index expressed her gratitude, assuring him that everything was flawless. But that gluttonous little girl would eat the pots if he added a little salt, so it wasn't a good measure to use.

"Don't sulk like that," said Misaki in a sweet voice. "Your queen recognizes your efforts. Is there anything she can do to reward you?"

"For now, enjoy."

A crystal goblet was filled with some red wine, which the girl had been looking at for a while while it rested on the table. Touma knew why she was worried.

"There's no alcohol," he reassured her, pouring himself a glass. "What? You didn't think I'd offer real wine to a middle school girl, did you?"

"I was kind of hoping it really was wine," she responded, her disappointment palpable. "You know, one of those moments where we both discover we have no ability to resist alcohol, end up drinking too much, lose our memory, and wake up the next day wearing each other's clothes."

"Eh?"

She sighed, and the boy grimaced. It was better that he didn't ask any more questions, some fantasies were better off just being fantasies.

Touma had prepared a full meal. Dessert had been the part he'd spent the most time on, so he'd watched with attentive eyes like that of a curious child. Misaki seemed to know this fact, as she took her time, examining that strawberry cake as if it were a sculpture and then finally savoring it.

A tear almost welled up in the corner of her eye.

"Touma..." She seemed momentarily at a loss for words. To confirm the delightful taste, she took another thoughtful bite. "My goodness! Okay, I think you've outdone yourself here."

"Really?"

"Yes." She closed her eyes, savoring each mouthful, allowing the sweetness to envelop her senses before delivering her absolute verdict. "The texture is soft, with just the right amount of moistness and precisely the right level of sweetness. This deserves top marks, a perfect 100. It makes me want to devour the entire cake." She even sniffed the cake, for a moment appearing as though she might faint. "Maybe I should... hehe... I'm not even on a diet."

Touma felt fulfilled now since it had all sounded so genuine. Perhaps he had more of a talent for sweets than anything else, which was strange considering that he didn't often make them. Although dessert ideas did pop into his head from time to time, so it could be some kind of innate talent. Who knows?

"You know, Touma," she said softly. She put down her empty plate and moved to stand a little closer to him at the little table. "You should be careful when you do that sort of thing."

"Careful? What are you talking about?"

The answer he immediately got was her sliding a finger down his chest. There, she was trying to tease him again.

"You've offered me a first-rate dessert here," she said, her face coming closer to his and her warm breath hovering there. "So I think it would be fair if I offered you a quality dessert as well. What do you say?"

"You're going to cook for me, are you? Maybe another day."

"Nobody said anything about cooking here."

"I know." He shrugged. "I'm just screwing with you."

Touma was particularly inspired that day, so rather than allowing the girl to have her moment of enjoyment, he decided to seize the opportunity for himself. With a warm smile, he approached her and smoothly slid a hand down her back, pulling her to him in a sudden, intimate gesture.

"I like that honey smell," he said, moving her hair away from her neck so that he could smell the fragrance more closely. Misaki shivered slightly at the closeness, probably embarrassed, but he didn't mind. "If I remember correctly, you said you'd make sure I felt it before I went to sleep and after I woke up. Do you intend to keep that promise eventually, queen?"

"Maybe I will. I can do it every day, so maybe you'll stop talking in your sleep," she said mockingly. Her tapping foot and the way she anxiously tugged at a loose strand of hair revealed her nervousness. She was trying hard to keep her composure, that much was obvious.

"Oh, I talk in my sleep, do I? It's a bit unsettling to learn that someone else observed me while I was asleep. Maybe I should plan a similar surprise so we can consider it a fair exchange."

"That would be interesting. I often dream about you, so don't be alarmed if you hear me say your name a lot."

"Well, you should know that I've been dreaming about you too. So you must have heard me say your name at least once."

An awkward silence suddenly hung over her, prompting Touma to stop stroking her and turn to observe the expression on her face.

"I like what you've done with the apartment," she said, turning away and suddenly getting up from the table. "Is it bigger or is it just me?"

It turned out that he had received a call saying that the neighboring apartment was vacant and that if he wanted, he could add it as a new room. At first, he was suspicious and doubtful, but in the end, he accepted. Something told him that this was Misaki's doing, so fighting it was a waste of time.

"I have a separate bedroom now," he said, following the girl through the apartment. "No more sleeping in the bath again. That's something I certainly didn't expect to happen so soon."

"Let me take a look."

Misaki seemed overly interested in his room, but there was nothing of interest there. Apart from the shelves full of manga, school materials, a closet and a bedside table, the decoration was practically non-existent, something he would change soon. Having his own room was something new, at least for this new Kamijou Touma, who was also the other one. He would get used to it eventually.

"At least you took the trouble to buy a spacious bed," said Misaki. Without ceremony, she sat down on the bed and used her hands to squeeze the mattress to test it. "Not very comfortable, unfortunately. You should have asked for my recommendation."

"And then you'd force me to buy something that would leave a hole in my bank account. Thanks a lot, rich girl, but no."

"It's strange that you keep referring to me as if our social positions were still so far apart." She leaned slightly from where she was sitting and began to swing her long legs. "Since you're going to keep acting like you're inferior to me, then do your queen a favor and bring her bag over here. And while you're at it, bring that bottle of wine too."

"As you wish, Milady."

No matter how much he teased her, she usually responded with a gentle smile instead of rolling her eyes or getting angry. Occasionally, she would even give a cute pout, which he found to be even more endearing. Perhaps she was genuinely annoyed at times, as evidenced by her teasing comebacks, but her patience and gentle demeanor prevented her from scolding him outright. This dynamic felt slightly different from their past interactions. Upon reflection, he realized that he used to take it a bit harder with her back then, or at least, everything seemed more serious. Could that be why she appeared to enjoy it now?

After a quick trip to the living room, Touma handed a cheap crystal goblet to the girl still sitting comfortably on his bed and put her handbag on his bedside table.

First, the boy flicked the switch on the wall, dimming the lights in the room. He then approached her, finding her gaze suggestive, as if conveying a hidden message.

"Let me serve you, princess." He poured some wine into her glass.

"That's not the right title."

"I haven't seen you complain about 'Milady.' So inconsistent."

"I think I need to find a way to shut that smart mouth up." Misaki tossed her hair aside, revealing the pale skin of her neck. "I wonder how."

Before taking a sip from her wine glass, she smiled and paused, as if recalling something.

"Here. Let's have a toast," she said, raising her glass in front of his face.

"To what?"

"The future, of course. Something tells me it will be bright. And you're doing it wrong, here." She intertwined their arms, a gesture Kamijou had only seen in movies. "I've always dreamed of doing this."

"You have strange dreams."

"You haven't seen anything yet." That mischievous smile was almost permanently there now. "Since the day we started dating, my head has often put us in very... interesting situations."

Kamijou knew where this was going, but he didn't know whether to clear his throat and change the subject or encourage the girl to continue. Normally he would choose the former, then...

"Interesting situations, huh? Tell me more."

This was clearly not a normal situation, so he didn't really give a damn. He watched her as she began to gracefully swirl the wine glass, its contents almost spilling over in a mesmerizing dance.

Misaki put one of her fingers on her lip as if thinking before continuing.

"I dreamt a few days ago that I had transferred to your school."

"You're in middle school, dreamy little girl." His comment was accompanied by an icy stare coming his way. "Well, I've got nothing against alternate universes. Go on."

"I'm almost in the third year of middle school, which means I can transfer next year. And... considering that you're failing miserably at your study ability, there's a chance you'll be my senpai for at least two years, if you're lucky."

"This Kamijou-san would prefer it if you weren't so cruel, but I kind of deserved it."

He took a sip of the wine to disguise his nervousness, and also the moisture forming in the corner of his eye. Judging by the mischievous smile reappearing on her face, it seemed to be a part of her subtle revenge. He liked her somewhat aggressive side. She exuded an air of mystery and elegance, yet her charm was accompanied by a surprising kindness, albeit occasionally veiled by a touch of cruelty. It was this combination that captivated him: a demanding girl who also knew how to strike a balance, exhibiting both assertiveness and reason, qualities he truly admired.

"So, as I was going to say," she said, fiddling with her hair nervously. "I was a new transfer student, and of course, Komoe-sensei asked you to show me around. And you did a great job."

"Oh, thank you. Very good Kamijou Touma from the dream world—"

"Locking us both in the first empty room you found."

He almost knocked over his glass of wine. Fortunately, he hadn't taken a sip recently, but he felt like he really needed it after this revelation.

"And I actually lied," she said, refilling his glass as she continued to smile. "I was the one who pulled you into the first secluded spot I could after easily fooling you with my manipulation ability."

"Now this story seems more realistic. Keeping everyone in character is important."

"Not always." Misaki approached him and leaned in, one of her gloved hands resting on his thigh. "But the point is that it was a fun foray into high school. We should try this in real life. Of course, I'd prefer not to be rudely interrupted by that girl with the prominent forehead just when things were starting to get interesting."

"Fukiyose found us? What happened then?"

As casual as he sounded on the outside, inside he was actually bubbling over, his heart starting to race. It was hard to keep his composure when the girl started drumming her fingers on his thigh, and then her fingers drifted upwards, stopping at his chest where she circled her index finger.

"We had to use our improvisation skills," she said, almost whispering. "You're a good actor, you pretended perfectly that you were alone in there and that the door had jammed." Her smile was almost evil now. "Holding a conversation with your classmate while your girlfriend is doing everything she can to get in the way is impressive."

"Get in the way? Like you... no, never mind."

Touma made a nervous gesture with his hand as if to ward off something undesirable. Misaki preferred to keep smiling and leave everything to the imagination.

Turning away from the boy, much to his disappointment, she poured herself another glass of wine. There was definitely no alcohol in that drink, but you could tell that Touma was starting to feel "drunk". Strong emotions have that effect.

"So," she said. The girl's sweet breath lingered close. "You mentioned having dreams about me as well. Are they as captivating as mine?"

"I haven't heard anything interesting from you, to be honest." He shrugged and took a long sip from his glass, downing it all in one go. It was like a ritual to get up the courage. "Mine far surpasses yours, in terms of boldness at least."

"Ara, ara... I'm all ears. Let's delve into the mind of an older boy."

That casual comment and the way she leaned in were a bit intimidating, even if it wasn't her goal. He needed more wine, the strong kind.

"In my dream, I had just woken up in my bathtub as usual, and you were there, right next to me."

"I'm sure that wasn't a dream ability. How boring."

"Quiet. Be a good girl and listen to the rest." He touched her lip with his index finger and only removed it when she nodded. Sometimes he was surprised at how meek she became when he touched her. "As I was saying, you were right next to me, sleeping peacefully in that lewd outfit. I decided to wake you up, but you were sound asleep. I called and called, shook and shook, but you refused to wake up."

"So you kissed me like a prince in a fairy tale and I finally woke up?"

"Didn't I tell you to be quiet?"

"I'm not an obedient girl, hehe." Once again the girl leaned towards him, her hand now gently touching his shoulder. "And you lied to me, there's nothing of daring ability in that dream. Where's your burning adolescence? You should be more creative."

When Touma stiffened his posture, the girl licked her lips and set the wine glass aside, as if realizing something.

"Hmmm... something tells me you've been creative." Misaki was now closer than ever. She grabbed his hand and then pulled him towards her. "I bet the kiss failed and you were 'forced' to do something like this."

Misaki guided his hand, which ended up on her exposed thigh in that daring dress. Someone was losing control in the face of that sudden attack. The boy felt no need to try to resist, instead he took advantage of the situation and did the same as she had done to him earlier, giving that exposed skin a gentle caress. That soft, milky sensation sent his heart into marathon mode.

And Touma was feeling rather greedy today.

His hand squeezed her thigh, which deformed satisfactorily in his palm as Misaki gave him a surprised look. Not because he had done it, but because his hand then began to move up her inner thigh.

Smiling again, she leaned over to blow a whisper in his direction.

"I would have woken up by now."

"Maybe you were enjoying everything and were just pretending to sleep so I'd go a little further."

"I really wouldn't mind if you went further." She sounded more serious than before, but continued with an inviting smile. "I mean... something like this."

Touma felt that hot breath on his face just before the girl pressed her lips to his with an eagerness he had never seen before. Misaki didn't stop there, she pressed her body as tightly as she could to his and pulled him close by the back of the neck as if she didn't want to give him any room to pull away. Something had invaded his mouth at that moment, in a not very gentle way, it was her tongue, making room as if it belonged there. And of course the boy, already full of excitement at this point, returned the favor.

Drawing in a sudden, unexpected breath, Misaki abruptly pulled away from him and locked eyes, a gaze so intense that he couldn't quite decipher its meaning, though he was willing to hazard a guess.

"Misaki—"

She didn't allow him to try anything. Touma was silenced once again by another kiss that seemed even more intense than the previous one, as this time the girl didn't care anymore and climbed onto his lap, one leg on either side of his waist. This maneuver cost her something, as her tight dress audibly ripped, but she didn't care.

"Hey, Misaki, wait—"

"No. I've found an effective way to keep your mouth busy, so you don't say unnecessary things."

Those words were accompanied by heavy breathing, as if the girl had just come back from a run. It wasn't long before she kissed him again, really determined not to let him speak.

And since the girl had her own plans, Touma decided to change his.

"Whaa—"

The girl emitted a startled yelp as her body was abruptly lifted into the air, landing in the center of the bed moments later. It must have been disorienting for her, especially considering her eyes were closed as she kissed him, as if savoring the moment, and the next thing she knew, the world was spinning around her.

"Sometimes I forget that I'm dating a superhuman," she complained, slightly annoyed. "Cruel way to ruin the mood, Touma."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Now it was his turn to mount the girl, holding her wrists gently and making her keep her arms above her head. She obviously didn't resist, it would have been a futile effort anyway. Touma leaned towards her, pushed her honey-colored hair away and then brushed his lips against her neck. The girl froze in place, shivers probably running through her body. He was sure he heard her moan softly. It was a mistake on her part, technically, as that sparked something in him, prompting an increase in the intensity of his lips on her neck. If he persisted, he would undoubtedly leave a mark on that delicate skin.

"You were being too greedy," he said. For some reason, he moved his right arm horizontally in a very striking way, which made the bandage there twitch and then unravel as if it had a life of its own. "Maybe I should teach you a lesson."

His sky-blue arm was now revealed with the bandage removed. He didn't need to see his own face to know that there was a rather mischievous smile there.

His right hand approached the girl lying there helplessly, his index finger with its draconic nail touching her dress.

"Huh?!"

It was so fast that the girl's reaction was slightly delayed.

He had ripped her dress.

That retractable claw had made for a dangerous path, but that silky skin now exposed hadn't received any damage. The precision had to be millimetric considering how tight the dress was, which probably freaked the girl out once she realized the danger.

"Okay," she said, looking at that work of surgical precision. "That was actually kind of hot."

Misaki bit her lip in excitement as she said it. She didn't seem at all worried that he had completely ruined such an expensive-looking dress.

Finishing what he had started, he grabbed what was left of the dress and threw it like a piece of unnecessary wrapping that had already served its purpose.

And the sight he saw now was undoubtedly a spectacle. Misaki was wearing a white lingerie set with intricate details that resembled spider webs, and of course, all this time she had been hiding the golden whistle he had given her. She didn't lie, which was nice.

"Yes... that's the reaction I wanted to see," she said, puffing out her chest proudly. "Take a good look and repent for your past mistakes."

Maybe the girl grew up so much out of sheer anger, who knows?

In any case, Touma had plenty to work with there, and it was a miracle that he didn't blush after the momentary surge of courage. In fact, the two of them were already comfortable enough with each other for something like this to happen, any embarrassment he might have felt in that moment was replaced by a sudden desire.

The boy licked his lips without even realizing it, his gaze slowly analyzing the work of art his girlfriend called her body while his brain gradually switched off any self-control it had.

His hand traveled, slowly, with no clear direction at the moment. He just wanted to feel that clear, soft skin, his fingers running up her long legs, Misaki looking at him with her heart racing.

"If I remember correctly," he said, his left hand going up to her hip, "these panties are no stranger to me."

"Are you trying to ruin the mood again? Yes, I still wear the same style of lingerie, is there a problem ability with that?"

"So childish."

Actually, he was just teasing her. To be honest, anything would look great on her, but those spider web details were strangely sexy.

However, the girl gave a childish pout at the provocation and then pushed him forward with both hands, pulling him off her. Obviously, Touma had to throw himself back, what a good boyfriend he was.

As he turned to gaze at her, still reclining on the bed after being playfully "tossed off", he observed her tinkering with her golden handbag. Swiftly, she returned to the bed, clutching a remote control. Her smile had returned, albeit with a slightly eerie undertone.

"You want to play, don't you?" she asked, the roles now reversed as she found herself in the dominant position. Worth noting, she still breathed heavily, and the sight of a particular area bouncing with each movement was truly captivating. "Allow me to return the favor." She pointed the remote control at her own head and got serious. "Multiple categories, starting with #433. Absence of pain, regulated breathing, elimination of physical restrictions caused by fear, cutting of muscle limiters, repeated experiences of success, expanded processing capacity for the senses, temporary decrease in the feeling of fatigue."

Her head tilted to one side as if she had been punched in the temple. The way she looked at him now even seemed like someone else. Before he could process what was happening, the girl used nothing but her bare hands to rip open the shirt he was wearing under his suit in a move that was too fluid for someone so unathletic.

"What?!" He was a bit perplexed, but the girl took off her glove and placed her bare hands on his chest, the warm sensation instantly calming him.

"Hehehehehe... haha... I hope you're ready, my king, I've waited so long for this moment that I can't allow myself to hold back. Try to keep up if you can."

"You're quite confident. Do you know what typically happens to those who underestimate me?"

Instead of saying anything, she decided to shut him up by starting to kiss his chest, gently, while holding him firmly by the wrists, as if she expected him to try to escape. As if he could. It wasn't a case of strength, those soft lips touching his skin were sending waves of pleasure straight to his brain, and that had nothing to do with the girl's powers. The girl kissed her way up his neck and then finally took his lips once more. When he closed his eyes, the pressure on his wrists gave way, and soon after, his heightened senses heard something, so subtle that it would escape anyone.

"Misaki... that was..."

With his eyes still closed, he gave up talking when he felt something too soft against his chest. It was as if clouds were caressing him now, and that warm sensation made it clear what he suspected.

"Sorry," she said. Touma saw her smile when he opened his eyes and focused on that face so full of desire. "I couldn't resist and ended up taking it off. I hope you don't mind."

Averting his gaze, he watched as she twirled her bra around her index finger before casually tossing it into one of the corners of the room, all while lying on top of him. Even though he couldn't get a good view, all that softness caressing him made up for it.

"So," said Misaki, whispering in his ear. "I'm feeling generous, so I'll let you choose this time. Will you serve your queen first? Or would you prefer her to serve you for the rest of the night?"

The boy gulped as he listened to the options. His mind was working at 200% right now, but it was hard to process anything as he felt that sweet smell of honey so close, the soft sensation of as something was melting on him, and also that spring breath so close. Had all the stupid choices in his life led him to this point? Such fortune!

"You took too long," she continued after no more than two seconds. "I expect an exemplary job of servitude ability. Be less indecisive next time, my king."

He would keep that in mind.

There were no interruptions this time. The two of them had an eventful night.

The whistle stayed on.

Author's notes: Happy New Year! I think this is a good chapter to start the year off on the right foot, don't you think?

I've been quite busy over the last few days, end of the year, you know. This chapter was supposed to be a bit longer, but I wanted to post it on this particular date. I had to shorten a scene, but this is still a relatively long chapter. I also wanted to add more descriptions, but I hope that was enough. And before you ask, this fanfic will continue to be rated T, sorry.

One thing I also wanted to comment on is that I did everything I could to try to keep the two of them in character, but at the same time show the evolution of the relationship in terms of "comfort". In this case, the two already feel very comfortable with each other, so I avoided describing their nervousness too much and let them enjoy the teasing in a more romantic than comic way. Was it a good choice? And for those of you who read my fanfics, you've probably gotten used to my style of not trying to make everything so "realistic", and focusing more on the fun of it all.

That's enough, let me see the reviews:

Mrui2002: You're welcome. Thanks for reading. I'm trying to balance the updates of the two stories, so it's good to know that you like them both, even though they have very different atmospheres. I focused more on comedy and Kamijou's revenge, but in the future, we'll still have that kind of interaction. And now these two have gone very far in their relationship, it will be an interesting conversation, hehe.

Starmegalo: Unfortunately, we won't have any in this story. Nothing prevents me from writing something like this later, of course, but that depends...

amad0: I'm glad you're so excited. It didn't take me as long as last time, but unfortunately, I can't say whether the frequency of updates will increase. Good that you enjoyed the comedy of the chapter. And yes, we'll still have interactions of that style, it's not the last time Shiina will appear, and Kamijou's father will also show up soon. That's a great idea, I'll add it to my notes.

SuddenBetrayal: Always happy to have you here reading this story.

Markoz89: Thanks. The conversation will come up soon, and it was more serious than it sounds.

5queso: I tried at the same time not to make it too obvious, but to put in absurd things to make readers suspicious, so I'm glad it had the right effect, LMAO. This new chapter didn't have as much comedy, but I tried to keep the mood light. Thank you very much for reading, I wonder if you're happy about the step the two of them have taken today.

Jose Blas: I missed you too. Sorry for the delay.

Cainabel201X: It's always good to see people excited about the new chapter. Did you like this one? Let me know.

See you next time!

And with that, Mental Out's last quest has been completed. But there is still a secondary quest. Remember that secret conversation in the last chapter? By the way, I think I should make it a tradition in my stories for people to tear each other's clothes off with their powers. Got the reference? That's all for the moment. Nio leaving.