Chapter 96: The Goddess of the Sun

—

It's not funny if this situation was karma for that mistake. I had already paid enough for betraying her, I had made it up to her a thousand times.

But that's a story for another time.

"The moon's beautiful tonight," My hand was still stretched forward, trying to hold it, even while I spent hours revisiting old memories.

The night was getting lighter now, and I had to make my decision already.

My mood has significantly improved. It always does when I recall my Emmanuelle. I've also come up with an idea of what to do next.

"Stronger…" I lowered my hand and let out a soft sigh. Whatever the problem was, it could be fixed with strength. Well, not this one, but I'm talking about it in general.

I got up from the bench and yawned. It'd be a waste to go to school today, and I also have a date with Akane tomorrow.

I should first earn some cash, and then find myself a place to stay and cultivate.

I did have some cash in my PayPay, but I intentionally didn't bring cash from home. There was no point in that. If… she ever questions why he took the money in PayPay, I'll just say it's a payment for giving her the Psyker Elixir. Or for saving her life.

I checked my phone and opened PayPay. I intentionally ignored the notifications from messages that came from different people.

"About ¥100,000. Not bad."

Hmm, what's the quickest way to make some money from this?

–X–

When the sun rose, I went to the city of Tokyo and into a music shop. I spent all of my 100k on a good violin and a big hat.

With the instrument in hand, I stood on a morning street in Japan, where salarymen and students bustled back and forth.

I had the [Tiger Icon] gently reigning over me, without taking shape in the sky. Just to change the color of my hair and eye, as well as change my height. I also grew more muscular so that nobody could recognize me.

With that done, I began to play the violin. A Thousand Years played out in a smooth, rhythmic sensation, my uncountable years of experience flowing out as music.

People stopped as the magical sound touched not their ears, but their hearts. A small crowd gathered, and then a big one. My one hat seemed too small in no time, but to the people's surprise, it never filled. It was a minor spell that slightly stung my mana reserves for breaking the promise, but didn't cause any significant harm.

At one point, my voice couldn't hold it anymore. I began to sing along with the music.

"I have died every day waiting for you, Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years, I'll love you for a thousand more…"

The crowd erupted into cheers as my voice carried far. People silently listened and a few began to cry at the feelings I poured into the words.

A minute later, I stopped. There was a silence before applause filled the air.

"Hey, are you a foreigner?!"

"You must be someone famous, can I get an autograph?!"

People yelled different things, rushing to my private space, but I raised a hand and quickly stopped them. I poured a tinge of willpower into the Tiger Icon to make the humans not approach me so easily.

"Who broke your heart?! I'll beat them up for you, just tell me their name!" Someone from the crowd yelled, and I laughed.

"It's nobody, it's just a song." I waved at her and paused. I recognized her. It was a little girl, it was… Yuzuru.

She didn't recognize me, so I stayed silent. "Anyhow, since it's morning and most of you are going to work or school, I can't let you leave with a heavy heart. So I'll play cheerful music now if you let me. Um, and it might be shameful of me to ask, but," I snapped my fingers as party papers burst out near my feet and more hats appeared. "I have prepared more hats just in case."

"Ooh, even magic tricks~"

Under the awe-filled people, the strings of my violin cried and I began to sing.

"Havana, ooh na-na, Half of my heart is in Havana, ooh na-na, He took me back to East Atlanta, na-na-na, ah, Oh, but my heart is in Havana, There's somethin' 'bout his manners, Havana, ooh-na-na…"

I let my voice free and let the girls fall in love while my hats filled with more cash than I could count.

–X–

Sitting on the edge of a bridge, dangling my legs, I divided the notes depending on their type and closed my eyes. The sheen of my Jade Perception helped me count the notes in a second.

"So, in total," I hummed. "210k? Insane."

Who knew the money game was so easy? Well, I knew. Money is easy. I spent half an hour and earned back double what I spent on the violin.

I was in the mood to sing, otherwise I'd have robbed a bank.

"By the way," I looked to the side, at a wall. "How long are you going to hide?"

A figure flinched behind the wall, all of whose movements were caught by my Jade Perception, as a short figure jumped into sight. It was Yuzuru.

"Aqua!" She pointed a finger at my blue eyes and blonde hair. "Yo- you can shapeshift?! So all this magic that Shoko talked about is real?!"

"Well, it wasn't exactly shape-shifting, but sure. Yeah. Why are you skipping school?"

"No, why are you skipping school?! How poor are you that you have to skip school to earn money?! Did… did your Reality Show not pay you?" Yuzuru asked.

I jumped off where I was sitting and let out a yawn. "Oh, I got kicked out of my home. So I was earning some money since I needed money to rent a place."

".…" she stared at me. "You're serious?"

"Well, I didn't get kicked out per se, I left after we had a pretty serious argument. But my parents didn't stop me from leaving. Would you count that as getting kicked out?" I asked with a tilt of my head.

"Depends," she shrugged. "If your parents are trying to call you back right now, then no, you haven't been kicked out, you're just being rebellious. But… I know life can be hard sometimes, some parents would be happy to never see their children's faces. So if your parents haven't reached out to you yet, despite being out here all night long, then yeah, you are kicked out."

I smiled at her. I was just trying to make a conversation, but she gave a nice answer. "Wow, you are smart for a 12-year-old-"

"I am 15!"

"No you're not, your older sister is 15." I scoffed at the little liar who grumbled.

"Ugh. Fine, I'm 14. But that's still not 12." She crossed her arms and frowned. "You sing well, by the way."

"Wait, was that a compliment?"

"Shut up, I'm just being nice."

She checked me up and down, "And you looked better when taller."

"Did you just call me short? I'm still tall, 6"1." I placed a hand on her head. "You're the shorty here, you 4-feet-9 little girl."

"Shut up! I am average!"

"Yeah, sure."

She frowned, opened her mouth, and then closed it. She quickly took off her school bag and began to go through it. If I didn't know better, I'd have thought she was looking for a weapon. Instead, she took out a packet of biscuits and offered it to me.

"You said you were kicked out? Then you mustn't have had breakfast yet."

I took it. "Such a cute little sister-in-law I have, thanks."

"W-WHAT?! I am not letting you marry my sister, you playboy bastard!"

"I am joking," I evaded a kick and undid the packet, pouring all of the biscuits down my throat. That inhumane showing put her on her guard as jumped back.

"Skinwalker!"

"I'm just fucking with you."

I laughed as I took out a bottle of water from my Void Storage, which startled her, and drank from it.

Yuzuru silently stared at me until I was done. Then, she opened her mouth, "Can you teach me m-"

Was she talking about music or magic I didn't get to know as her phone rang and she blinked. She frowned and took it out of her pocket, receiving it.

"Hello, mom?" she asked casually, but a second later her face darkened. Her phone fell from her hand. "G-grandma?!"

–X–

[Third Person Point of View]

In the dimly lit room of their modest home, Shoko and her mother stood vigil beside the bed where the family's eldest member lay, her breaths shallow and labored. The atmosphere was thick with worry and the unspoken fear of impending loss. Shoko's grandmother, a pillar of their small family, was fading fast.

Shoko's heart ached as she watched her grandmother struggle. Her grandmother was 69 this year, and naturally, she was old enough for death to be a common fear. This old lady, Ito Nishimiya, was fine even last night. However, she was oddly late in getting up in the morning. When Shoko came to check on her, she found her groaning in pain while staring at the ceiling.

Shoko and her mother tried to call an ambulance right away, but her grandmother kept shaking her head. "It's time… It's my time… I can see the grim reaper…"

They called the ambulance still, but it was supposed to take a long time. So Shoko called her sister who had left for school hoping Yuzuru would bring a doctor home.

'There is no time…!' Shoko could feel that her grandmother was dying. But she didn't like that, she wanted to stop it. Somehow. Anyhow. Other than Yuzuru, Ito was the person she was closest to. She didn't have a father, and her mother was always out for work, Shoko didn't want to lose her.

Thankfully, her Sacred Gear, [Echo] whispered in her ears about healing spells, urging her to try healing magic. With tentative hope, Shoko placed her palms over her grandmother. When she followed the command of Echo in a desperate attempt, a soft green light came out of her palms, easing the old woman's pain.

"W-what's that, Shoko?!" her mother, Yaeko Nishimiya gasped, but didn't object. It was easing Ito's pain.

But as the minutes passed, it became clear that the healing was superficial, doing nothing to halt the steady decline of her grandmother's health. It wasn't working.

[Something Greater. Death Can't Be. Cheated With Such Weak Spells.] – was what her Sacred Gear muttered in broken Japanese.

But how could Shoko, with zero magical experience, try such death-defying spells?

'Why isn't Yuzuru back with the doctor yet?' Shoko's thoughts raced; a Doctor was the only hope now.

Well, there was someone else too, but…

Her eyes flickered between the door and her grandmother's frail form. 'Should I... call Aqua?' The idea sprang unbidden into her mind, fueled by desperation. Aqua, her friend, was experienced in Magic. Perhaps he could cast the appropriate spell?

But doubt crept in, clouding her resolve. 'No, I can't. He has helped me enough… I can't keep depending on him. Besides, what will he think of me if I call him only when I need help?' she reasoned, her heart heavy with the decision.

'But still, Grandma…' she was unsure what to do.

Just then, the sound of the door swinging open cut through the silence. "I am home!" Yuzuru's voice screamed.

Shoko's mother spun around, a mix of hope on her face as she expected to see the doctor. Instead, two figures stepped in, neither of whom was the awaited physician.

"Ah, it's not the doctor..." Yaeko began, her voice trailing off as her gaze landed on the unexpected visitors.

"Then who—?" Shoko's question was left hanging as her eyes widened, a wave of relief washing over her. It was Aqua, accompanied by her sister. She smiled, "Don't worry Mom, it'll be alright now!"

Strangely, after looking at the patient from a distance, his head turned to the open window. His gaze locked on empty air for a second before he looked at Shoko. "Looks like someone is dying."

Yaeko Nishimiya frowned at him.

–X–

[First Person Point of View]

I looked at the open window, where a white-haired little girl sat. Her hair flowed in the wind as she smiled at me, tilting her head.

She looked familiar, somehow, but more importantly, nobody in the room could see her. Nobody other than the old lady on the bed.

'A shikigami?'

Still, I shouldn't have said that. Both Yuzuru and that woman, who must be Shoko's mother, were frowning at me. Shoko kept up her healing magic and cried at me, "A-are you saying there is no way to save her life?!"

"Hey, Shoko, why are you listening to him?! Yuzu, where is the doctor?!" Shoko's mother glared at me as I moved closer to the patient.

"Sorry, I didn't mean that." Before Shoko could respond, I stepped forward, my eyes fixed on the patient. "I heard about the situation from Yuzuru. I know I might not be the doctor you were expecting, but I believe I can help."

Shoko's eyes glistened with unshed tears, her voice barely above a whisper. "Aqua, I... I didn't want to trouble you. But since you said that, please, check her."

"Hey, Shoko-" her mother tried to say something, but Shoko pulled her out of the room. Yuzuru too, despite my earlier words, nodded and left. She had seen me shape-shift, and she believed it was me who cured her sister. So she believed in me.

The white-haired child in the window smiled at the situation, speaking in a high-pitched voice. "You think you can save her from death?"

"Ah," I turned to her. I remember. "God of Guides, Yatagarasu?"

The child blinked and then smiled. "No. This is a Yatagarasu's vessel body. But right now, it's not her. I am borrowing it."

Having lived in Japan for 15 years, I knew enough about the Shinto religion to guess who this little girl was. "Amaterasu? Odd for you to come down yourself for a single mortal soul."

"It's not just for her, I knew you would be here."

I ignored her and moved to the patient, who was staring at the ceiling. Looking at her dazed eyes, she was moments away from death. If I had access to my Magic, I could have prolonged that with a single spell, but sadly I didn't.

But for someone like me who pursued eternal life with my loved ones, how could I only have one way to increase a person's lifespan?

I smiled at Amaterasu, "Of course, I can save her from death. Thanks to the herbs you provided last time. Thank you." I slipped my hand into my Void Storage and used the Wind Aura in the air to keep many combinations of herbs afloat.

I hadn't expended all the herbs while making… Ai's Psyker Potion, and that was coming in handy right now.

With a slight nod to Amaterasu, who was looking at the potions she had gifted me last time with a raised eyebrow, I focused on the task at hand. My fingers danced through the air, selecting specific herbs from the assortment floating around me.

The mixture required precise proportions, a knowledge I had gathered over lifetimes of experimentation and study. As the herbs mingled in mid-air, I summoned a gentle, white flame — my [Soul Fire].

Unlike regular fire, this ethereal flame burned as I wished, or didn't at all if I wanted. Right now, I commanded it to meld the herbs together, the mix of their properties would enhance their potency. The flame glowed softly, casting a light in the dim room as the herbs melted.

The herbs began to swirl within the white fire, and in just under a couple of minutes, they gradually formed a single, luminescent pill. The process was delicate, and it took a lot out of me, but the pill was done. Its color shifted from a vibrant green to a deep, golden hue, indicating its readiness.

With a final flick of my wrist, I guided the pill out of the flame and into my hand. The room fell silent, the only sound being the faint crackling of the [Soul Fire] as it dissipated into the air.

Turning to old lady Nishimiya, who lay on the bed, her breaths weak, I approached with the pill in hand. Her eyes, clouded with the proximity of death, flickered with a faint glimmer of awareness as I came closer.

"Here," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "This should help."

Gently, I parted her mouth and placed the pill on her tongue, ensuring she swallowed it. Almost immediately, a subtle change began to take place. The pallor of her skin, once ashen and lifeless, began to recede, replaced by a healthier, more vibrant tone. Wrinkles that had etched deep lines in her face started to smooth out as if time itself was being rewound.

Within moments, old lady Nishimiya's appearance had transformed. Her once frail form radiated with a newfound vigor, her skin had a youthful elasticity as the deep lines of age smoothed away. She looked at least twenty years younger, and the toll of her years significantly lessened.

Her breathing steadied, becoming more rhythmic and less strained. She wasn't going to die anytime soon.

In the back, I noticed the three ladies were peeking into the room. They had been peeking since I started the Soul Fire, as they were worried about the fire burning down their house. That's why I didn't speak to Amaterasu after that, since they'd wonder if I was crazy.

Varied looks of disbelief crossed the family's faces as they witnessed the miraculous change. Shoko re-entered the room quietly and stood frozen in awe. Her eyes, filled with wonder, shifted from her rejuvenated grandmother to me.

"How...?" she began, her voice trailing off in astonishment.

"A magician doesn't reveal his tricks," I replied with a smile. I glanced briefly at the window where Amaterasu's vessel had been. The figure was gone now, as silently as it had appeared.

Old lady Nishimiya's eyes fluttered open, clear and lucid. She looked around the room, her gaze finally settling on me. A faint smile graced her lips, one that spoke of vitality that she hadn't had for decades.

"Thank you," she murmured, her voice stronger than anyone would have expected moments ago.

I nodded, feeling a sense of fulfillment. "Thank your granddaughters, not me," I suggested gently.

As I stepped back, allowing the family to reunite with their matriarch, I felt a gentle sense of satisfaction. Not only had I saved a life, but I had also given a family more time with their beloved member. It was moments like these that reminded me of the beauty of supernatural powers.

I withdrew back to the living room to give the family some alone time, and because I had to be there. Someone was waiting for me there. I found Amaterasu sitting and eating snacks at the dining table, just as my Jade Perception had shown me.

"Looks like you want to talk," I said as I took a seat opposite her.

"Yes," she said, gulping down the chocolate and giving me a creepy smile. "Let's start with… Who are you?"

Chapter 97: Give Her Another Chance…?

—

[Third Person Point of View]

In a room shrouded in darkness, a figure stood motionless before a mirror. The room was dimly lit by the little light that filtered through a narrow slit in the curtains, casting a faint, ethereal glow across the room.

It illuminated the man's face, revealing his deep blue eyes, within which black stars swirled. His gaze seemed to hold entire galaxies within them, yet his messy blonde hair scattered to obscure them.

His reflection stared back at him, his only companion in the quiet room. Time seemed to stand still as he remained rooted to the spot, his eyes locked on his own image. There was an odd, dry intensity in his stare, a depth that spoke of secrets far beyond the ordinary.

The room was so silent that the soft whisper of the air felt like a thunderous event.

"It has... happened, the expected and long-awaited separation." the wind murmured in his ears, causing his hazy eyes to regain focus. "He has left the house for good. It's safe to execute the plan now."

At those words, a subtle change came over the man. His starry eyes, which had been calm and reflective, now sparked with a newfound intensity. It was as if those few words had ignited something within him, a purpose that had been lying dormant, now awakened.

The man's eyes glowed brighter, reflecting his inner fire. The stars in his eyes seemed to dance, swirling with a mixture of psychotic determination. With a final, lingering look at his own reflection, the man turned away from the mirror, his silhouette melting into the room's shadows, as he began to plan his next actions.

–X–

[First Person Point of View]

"Aquamarine Hoshino," I replied to Shinto's Chief God, Amaterasu, as I stared at her with a deliberate, confused look. "That's who I am, why do you ask?"

She sighed. With a snap of her fingers, a Bubble of Silence formed around us. Even if the ladies were to hear anything from their room, they wouldn't hear anything.

"You can speak freely now," she said.

"Fine, you got me. I'm Gorou Amamiya."

"I already know that… I'm the one who reincarnated you." she smiled gently, not allowing a frown to cross her face; I held back a snicker. "I'm asking who you were before that. I wouldn't claim to have noticed your very unique soul the first time I saw it, but I did notice it wasn't exactly normal. So over time as you showed feats unsuited for a man who was just a doctor in his last life, I began to realize why your soul was like that. You have lived other lives before the Gorou one."

"Why will you think that? That's entirely untrue," I shook my head.

Naturally, I had no intention of coming out to the Chief God of a Pantheon. There was no promise that the news wouldn't travel far and wide, only a fool would believe that.

"Indeed my soul is special, and that's why an ancient Cultivator from mainland China took me in. I wouldn't be surprised if you said you didn't know who he is or that you never sensed someone like that around me, but it's true. He taught me many tricks and such; that's how I'm what I am today."

"Hmmm," Amaterasu frowned. "I see. It's not impossible, but… Haah never mind, that is indeed more probable than a soul coming here from some other world, traveling the gap between dimensions, and swiftly entering the Cycle of Reincarnation without any Gods noticing it."

"Damn," I commented dryly while she just stared.

"What is the name of this benefactor of yours? May I know?"

"Immortal Venerable Over Heavens," I said, gently pointing at the sky, which made her eyes narrow.

"Hmmm," she covered her face with her sleeves and frowned in thought. That kind of gesture seemed to be a habit of hers, but it just looked silly, and somewhat cute too, in this little body she inhabited.

"You wouldn't recognize the name. He has rarely shown his face to the world; I wouldn't be surprised if he used other names while doing so." I said to ease her worry. "Regardless, from what I can tell, he does not wish harm to Shinto. You can rest easy."

"If you say so," she nodded. "In truth, I've been wondering about this for years now. Decades, to be specific. But the reason I've only reached out to you today is-"

"Ai Hoshino?"

"Ai Hoshino." She agreed. She hesitated and then spoke, "Haah. Yatagarasu is more about riddles when guiding people, but I can't help but be direct. I suggest you go back to her. Nothing will work out, and nothing will end well if you abandon her."

I knew why she was here. In the original Oshi-No-Ko timeline, this white-haired kid would pop out to help the main cast with their problems. Now was a good time of any in this particular timeline.

"She abandoned me, I got kicked out."

"Stop being stubborn, you abandoned her. How in the world can she ever abandon an entity like you?" She scowled. "Even if I believe you're not a million-year-old soul, you are still one of the strongest morals in this realm. On top of that, your stacked-up age is more than hers. She's just 31. You should be closer to 50 by now."

I yawned and stretched my arms at those words, quite deliberately too as her frown deepened. "And why should I care? It's not my problem if things don't work out or end well for Shinto." I said.

"I don't mean Shinto… I mean you, your sister, and your mother." She specified.

I let out a snicker, "You're saying things will get worse than this between us?"

"Death," she looked into my eyes.

"They wouldn't kill themselves."

"I didn't say suicide. Murder."

"There is not one entity in this entire realm who can harm them so long as I breathe."

Her frown melted and she smiled. "That is quite an arrogant thing to say. It's almost like challenging the authority of us Gods and asking us to prove you wrong. I can't help but find that claim of yours funny."

"That's because you don't have any idea who you are talking to, puny god." I grabbed empty air and she was yanked toward me by the wind, as I held her by her collar over the table. "You talk too much for a mere planetary deity. I can wash the floor with you and your pantheon if I just so wish."

She didn't let her smile drop, opening her mouth, just as a voice came from outside the Bubble of Silence.

"Um? Aqua? Who's that-?" Shoko asked as she looked at me holding a child by the collar.

"Supreme Deity of Shinto, Amaterasu." I said after snapping the Bubble with a burst of my Qi so that she could hear. "Go back to your room, I'll explain later."

"...Alright." She looked confused, but still agreed and went back inside.

I put Amaterasu back on her chair and took my seat too, as she erected the bubble back up. "She's a nice child."

"Explain what you meant. Who could threaten their lives when I exist?" I asked.

"While I admit you're strong, and you don't stay in that house anymore. There is a… certain God that is after your mother's life. You have been the only reason they have stayed away, your complex and potentially dangerous soul makes them cautious. But now that things have grown sour between you and your mother, and you have cut ties with each other, that person will take this chance to-"

"Quit the riddles, didn't you say it's not your style? Tell me who it is."

"Your father."

"Hikaru Kamiki? He's a God?"

I raised an eyebrow. That couldn't be true. If my biological father was a God, I would have been a Demigod. Yet I have noticed zero traits in my body that'd suggest that.

"Hikaru Kamiki is a vessel body, just like the body I am using currently. Specifically, he's the Vessel of [Yggdrasil], the World Tree from Norse Mythology."

My biological father was a goddamn tree? I knew the name, Hikaru Kamiki, would mean "Radiance above the Trees" or "Light Shining on the Upper Tree" if translated to English, but could a name be that literal?

"You said he's a God, not a tree," I said.

"That tree is more powerful than any Gods, and it's a Divine Tree, therefore now that it has sentience, it is a God, yes." she explained while I kept my brows furrowed.

I sighed, "Why would a world tree want Ai's demise? And why would he conceive children with him anyway?"

"Besides the personal humane feelings he holds, thanks to his vessel body, one other reason I can think of is— he's farming Faith Energy," she said. "I only know these as I am a Chief God, so this is highly classified information and theory for the most part. As you might already know, Gods can gain Faith Energy and grow stronger based on the number of their believers, along with the quality of the devotion the believers have. Many of today's humans are like that too, being celebrities and such, but since they aren't Gods, all the Faith Energy is wasted."

"As a Divine Tree, he might have ways to farm those humans for energy. Perhaps he kills famous people to gather that energy and to gain a permanent body instead of a vessel one? Mayhaps." she finished.

"Hm," I chewed on my lips. "That does seem probable. I can believe that."

"Then are you willing to return?"

"I can stop him anytime as long as I'm in Japan, moreover in Tokyo. I don't need to stay in the house to keep them safe." I argued as she frowned again. "Besides, the house has protectors already, my tiger cubs and the Shinto Pantheon itself. I'm sure you wouldn't allow a God from Norse to descend fully on Japan, would you? Plus I'm confident that my Tiger Cubs can take care of a God's Vessel at least."

"You can't be sure of all of those probabilities. There can always be variables."

"Fine, I'll make sure to visit the house once every week to paint the image that I'm always lurking around," I said and she sighed.

"Why don't you just return? Come on, she is a child compared to you. I'm sure she'll be a lot more understanding if you tell her who you were in your last life. You took care of her for months as her doctor, as Gorou, she'll be a lot more gentle toward-"

"Then she'd see me as Gorou, and not her son." I pointed out. I have thought of this myself. "If you're telling me to go back to her, I can, but then she'll just be another girl in my life. Not my mother. I wouldn't like that outcome. So instead of doing that, I have decided to cut ties before we truly break out of that bond and become strangers. Not that we are very far off from that anyway."

"But…" Amaterasu went silent, hesitant. "Isn't that what you wanted? You wanted to bed her. Do keep in mind that I am not judging you, incest is a common thing in my Pantheon too, I used to be married to my brother in the past. All I am saying is, you wanted Ai to be your woman. What's the issue now?"

"I don't want to ruin our relationship as a mother and son."

"You can't have her as your mother, and your woman at the same time. You should accept that by now. Perhaps it should have been possible before, but now that she found out the secret, there is no way that'd happen. You either try hard to make her accept you as her son, or as her man. The second option might not be that hard in comparison to the first one, as long as you admit to her that you were Gorou."

"..."

"It's not as if you've ever seen her as your mother anyway. Have you ever referred to her as 'my mother' in your head? Be honest."

I fell silent. It was true, I have referred to her as 'my mother' a few times, but I mostly called her 'Ai' in my head. But calling her by her name and not her title was my preference, as I have had more than one mothers, I'm more used to using their name instead. The reason was not because I had never seen Ai as my mother. If I hadn't, then she wouldn't have received the special treatment I gave her.

But Amaterasu had made her point. I can't have her as both, so I should choose one and make Ai accept that. If it's just one route, it's not impossible to fix this situation. It'd be hard, but not impossible.

"I just want you two to be together again," Amaterasu said, then she hesitated. "Last night… you had your hand stretched toward the moon for the entire night. You know I am a Goddess of the Sun, right? My brother is the God of the Moon, but due to a little mistake he made, I'm governing over both the Sun and the Moon right now. So the compassion for the moon you held, and the pain you hold in your heart… I could feel them both."

She said, "It can't come from a man who's only 50. But that's not the point, I don't care who you are, or how old you are. I'm just asking you to give that foolish child another chance. She's just a lost little girl, she'll never recover if you don't take the initiative."

"..."

Shinto's Chief Goddess hopped off the chair and nodded at me. "The choice is up to you. Take your time and when you are sure which route you want to take, return to the Hoshino Household. That's your house. Don't let it crumble down."

Amaterasu gazed into my eyes for a long moment, then walked out the apartment door. Her presence vanished immediately, which left me alone, thinking in silence.

Chapter 98: Another Member of Eternity

—

After Tsukuyomi left, I got up and walked into the room. Since the initial talk was done, the Nishimiya family was laughing tears of joy right now.

"Remember back in the day? I refused to go to school, and you got all mad…"

"Hohoho, did that happen? Hmm, it did. My mind feels clearer now, I can recall it vividly…"

Yaeko Nishimiya and Ito Nishimiya were gossiping and laughing, while the two little girls smiled from the sidelines. How lucky they must be feeling to see their grandmother in her young body.

I learned their names from a family picture in the living room. It held a photo of Shoko's father too, but I knew he and Mrs Yaeko were divorced.

"My hair is so full of color now…" Ito said, looking at the mirror in the room where she caught sight of me. "It's the boy! What are you doing at the doorstep, come inside, come inside!"

Her calls prompted the other three to turn and look at me. Feeling slightly embarrassed, I rubbed the back of my head and stepped inside. To my surprise, Shoko's mother immediately leaped from her spot and hugged me tightly.

"Thank you so much…" she muttered in a soft voice, while I made sure my hands were respectful. "I'm still not sure if this is a dream or not, but thank you."

"It's real, mom, he's a magician," Yuzuru said in support, grinning at me. "I saw him use magic tricks in person!"

"You did?" Shoko frowned. "I've never seen him use magic… well, unless you count this pill-making incident."

"I'm sure it does," I said, while the milf gently withdrew from the hug.

She looked up at me with a smile, "I've been doubting the credibility of the boy Shoko likes, given your questionable act in the show, but now I understand."

"M-mom! What do you mean 'likes'?!" Shoko complained while I stayed silent, unsure what to say here.

Yuzuru playfully hit her older sister on the back. "No need to be so shy! Do you know what he said earlier? He called me his si-"

Before Yuzuru could reveal more, I quickly covered her mouth, smiling awkwardly.

"Don't cause misunderstandings, Yuzuru," I whispered to her while Shoko looked at us curiously.

"What did you say, Aqua…?"

"Hoho, this old lady is curious too…"

Even the grandma, whose laugh sounded weird in her young voice, chimed in. Even the mother was looking at me curiously.

"It's nothing."

"Earlier-" I didn't hold Yuzuru's mouth tightly since she was a normal human, but I had underestimated her strength as she pushed my hand and yelled. "-he called me sister-in-law!"

"Hey, it was a joke!" I shut her up, but it was too late.

Yaeko Nishimiya gasped and covered her mouth with a hand, and the grandma gave Shoko a knowing smile.

I could win a girl's heart with ease, but their family matters were always a little awkward. I coughed and cleared my throat while looking away.

"A… joke?" To my surprise, that was the only thing that seemed to bother Shoko.

"Hoho, Yae, come on, learn to read the room. Let's leave them alone." said the grandma and gently stood up. Her standing up caught the attention of everyone for a few seconds, who smiled seeing her take no effort to stand.

Then, the former old woman grabbed her daughter's hand and also Yuzuru, before pulling them away. The door of the room closed from outside, leaving me and Shoko alone.

"Um, hey, Shoko…" I waved awkwardly as she walked over to me. She gently wrapped her arms around me and buried her face in my chest. "..."

I hugged her too and ran a hand down her back, gently patting her head.

"Don't worry about what Yuzuru said, I know you were joking," she said. "Thank you for saving grandma."

"You're welcome," I ruffled her hair and fell silent.

"..."

I had to make a decision now.

I helped her regain her hearing and voice just because I wanted to, but I also had a secondary reason. I wanted to bring her to my Sect in the future, her power could be very useful. She was using magic, I saw, without any prior training. The voices she told me about came from her Gear must have taught her that. That was a cheat.

Plus I liked her. In my eternal journey, I wouldn't mind her being around.

I started slowly, "You know, although the pill decreased your grandma's age by 20 years, it's just that. 20 years. Your mother is in her 40s too, right? By average human standards, they don't have much time remaining."

"..." She looked up at me in silence.

"I'm part of a group, a [Sect]. We're in the pursuit of Eternity, immortality. The timing is kind of awkward, but I'd like to invite you, Shoko, officially to become a part of this. Would you… join me to see the Sun die?"

Shoko stayed silent. "I'm unsure… to be honest, the idea of immortality doesn't interest me." I could have guessed that she was not the type. She smiled. "But how can I reject it if my Aqua asks me to live for eternity and beyond with him?"

She accepted.

I smiled and leaned in to kiss her forehead but, surprising me, she held my face and pulled me to her lips. I didn't resist and enjoyed the small peck.

The kiss ended immediately. Shoko was blushing heaving as she looked away, "I'm sorry, I went too far…"

"It's alright," I yanked her face ahead and pulled her into a deeper kiss. Her pink eyes trembled before she closed them, putting her arms around my neck.

She pulled me down as she fell backward onto the bed. She devoured my lips like a hungry fish until she was gasping too much to do so, smiling at me with a flash of her glossy lips.

"Aqua, I lov-"

"Shh," I put a finger over her lips before she could lock me down with those words. "I want you to enjoy your new life a bit more before making such a decision. So that you don't regret it later."

"I will never regret it,"

I smiled, "I hope so." and leaned over to kiss her again.

I liked Shoko, but she was too innocent. Anyone else and I'd still hit, but I didn't want her to feel betrayed or used in the future when she'd learn more about me, so it was better I took my time with her.

– Knock Knock!

Suddenly, knocks fell on the door, as her mother's voice flowed in. "Um, not that I don't accept you two, but I think it's a bit too early to cross certain lines… I'm just saying. You guys can continue, but just be careful to not take things too fast…"

Even if I could have continued after that, how could Shoko possibly have the nerve to? Blushing as she shouted at her mom that we weren't doing anything "weird", Shoko was too embarrassed to continue.

Regardless, I now had the 6th member of my Sect. I had taken the words of advice from my Venerable self and moved with it.

–X–

"In that case, I'll be leaving now," once we were back outside, I bowed to Shoko's mother and grandmother.

"Ah, already…?"

"Boy, why don't you say for longer?"

"Ah, I can't. I have to find a place to rent and-"

"Oh, that's right!" Yuzuru, the brat, yelled at me. "Mom, you know, he got kicked out of his house! He hasn't eaten breakfast yet! How can you let him go like that?"

"What?!"

"Impossible!"

Even if I could somehow convince the mom, how could I convince a grandma to let me go without feeding me properly…?

After I was well-fed, I raised my hands in a defensive gesture. "I really have to go now. Need to look for an apartment and all-"

"What's wrong with our place? I don't get why a parent would ever kick you out, but you can stay here." Yaeko said in a gentle tone.

"Well…"

A light of recognition crossed her face. "Ah, right, you're a celebrity… Our place must be too shabby for you…"

"Gasp!" Yuzuru made a deliberate gasp. "That's true! What a blunder, I forgot we are too poor for someone like him!"

"..."

"Oh well…" even the grandmother joined with a shake of her head. "What else can we do? If only we could afford a better place, my grandson-in-law wouldn't have to live in the street."

"G-grandma!" Shoko yelled at the subtle 'in-law' that her grandmother slipped in, while I rubbed the back of my head.

It would be rude to slip out now, and it's not as if I couldn't leave after staying for a night or two…

Actually, I have a date tomorrow anyway. I'll roam around the city, so I'll just have to keep my eyes open for a place that I might like. I can spend tonight here…

"Alright, I'll stay," I said weakly as the family burst into a cheer.

"What's your favorite food, Aqua?! I'll cook it for you!"

"I'll order fast food, what do you like?!"

The two sisters surrounded me while the two scheming old ladies left us alone.

–X–

To not bore me to death indoors, the two sisters dragged me out to the small local playground. It was nighttime and the moon was shining high, but I tried not to admire it too much while with the two girls.

"Hey, Aqua, look here!" said Yuzuru as I looked at the camera she held. It clicked and the photo was captured.

"Good?"

"It's fantastic!"

Shoko moved to her, "Let me see," she said and blushed slightly. "Yeah, he looks good here…"

"My Insta page will skyrocket with this!" Yuzuru cheered.

I let the two sisters chat and looked at my surroundings. I could see their apartment from here, it was a four-story old building. It could have been a better place. Their mother wasn't exactly joking when she said those things earlier.

'How can I let someone from my Sect live a poor life?' That was unacceptable.

After Yuzuru moved to a corner of the park to capture bug pictures, Shoko sat near me and I spoke. "What does your mother do for work, Shoko?"

She seemed surprised at that, blinking at me as she smiled weakly. "She works at a hospital, why…? Ah, is it our poor living conditions?"

"Huh, was the question that obvious? I didn't mean to offend you."

"No, it's alright," she leaned into my side, hesitantly, and put her head on my shoulder. "You know, I hated her. She's never been a good mother. For my entire life, she was only capable of expressing her anger and resentment, it's as if no other emotion existed inside her. She shouted at people and sometimes even physically hit them. I… was no exception to that."

"..."

"You know, they say a daughter is the reflection of her mother. And as you must have noticed, I in particular resemble my mother a lot. Same hair color and eyes. So I guess that's why she saw me as a failed version of her," Shoko said slowly, and I gently put an arm around her. She smiled. "But that changed when I was cured. It's not been long since then, but she has made an effort to apologize to me. I also got to realize just how hard she works for us, fulfilling both the role of father and mother. I don't hate her. She might not have been a great mom before, but she is a good one now."

"You're a nice girl," I kissed the side of her head while squeezing her shoulder. She didn't say anything and I stayed silent too.

A minute later, I got to the point. "Shoko, would you like to ease the burden on her shoulders? I am offering work. I think you know about this, but my sister is an idol. She's leading the famous B-Komachi, and despite not having made her debut with a concert yet, she has earned quite a bit in the last month. You have a great voice, you sang for me before, I think it will do you good if you join B-Komachi."

Shoko looked up at me, "I don't think I am an idol material…"

"Of course you are. Idols are people we look up to." Well, I don't. "Few people are worth looking up to more than a girl like you, who fought for her entire life and was working to do better. People will love it."

She blushed softly, "Are you sure…?"

Suddenly, Yuzuru popped out from behind us. "It will! B-Komachi was big, you have no idea about it since you haven't listened to their songs before, but this is a big chance. Take it, take it, agree to it!"

"Were you eavesdropping?" I shot her a look. Now that we are outside, should I beat her up a little?

"No? I was just listening to make sure you weren't saying weird stuff to Shoko. Mom told me to watch out and make sure you guys don't cross the line."

"..."

"..."

I cleared her throat while Shoko decided to think instead of being embarrassed.

"Agree already, Shoko!" Yuzuru urged. "If the contract is flexible after we gain a bit of fame, we can run our own YouTube channel where you'll cover famous songs. I can manage all the internet things, you just have to sing. We'll be rich. Rich!"

I laughed and ruffled the little girl's hair. She is weirdly reliable. "At least you have food knowledge about the current world despite skipping school."

"Shh," she grinned but didn't push my hand away.

"Yeah, Shoko. I can promise you to make the contract flexible. My uncle and aunt run the Strawberry Production, so you can rest assured." I looked at her as she let out a sigh, nodding.

"I'm nervous, but… if you think I can do it, I'll give it a chance. Let's do this."

"Yay!" Yuzuru cheered. "So when do we go? First thing tomorrow?"

"No," I stood up. I was busy tomorrow. "We are going right now."

I don't think I want to meet Ai just yet; she needs time to think, and so do I. But like I told Tsukuyomi, I'll show my face around that area just enough to put anyone lurking off the grid.

However, I guess I'll need to talk to Ruby, as she is the leader of B-Komachi…

With that, we left for my home.

Chapter 99: Realization and Acceptance

—

In a room where darkness was almost tangible, Ai Hoshino sat motionless, her form a mere shadow slumped against the bed frame. The dim moonlight filtered through a narrow slit in the curtains, casting a ghostly glow across the room.

It touched her face, highlighting her hollow, haunted eyes, where black stars whirled in endless orbits. Her lips were parched and cracked, making anyone ponder when she had last hydrated herself.

The room was eerily silent, disturbed only by the occasional whisper of the night wind against the windowpane. Time itself appeared to have come to a standstill within these four walls, creating a pocket of gloomy reality where Ai was lost in her own world of torment and betrayal.

"Haah…" Intermittently, she let out sighs punctuated by hollow laughter, devoid of any real mirth, as if mocking her own desolate state.

Lost in her thoughts as she was, pondering over memories she was unsure of the truth of, she barely registered the sound of her phone as it began to ring.

The device lay forgotten on the floor, she had been canceling and ignoring calls all day long. So she subconsciously ignored these calls too. The first ring went unnoticed, as did the second ring, a faint echo in the distance of her mind.

By the third ring, a flicker of awareness began to pierce her stupor. On the fourth ring, her hand twitched involuntarily, a reflex born from habit as a celebrity was trained to give her calls immediate attention.

With a slow, almost reluctant movement, Ai reached out and picked up the phone. Her sunken eyes squinted against the harsh light of the screen. "An unknown number…?"

A spark of curiosity nudged at the edges of her despair. 'Could this be…' she quickly shook her head. It couldn't be him, and even if it was, it's not like she wanted to talk to him. He had left, and she was content with it.

Still, her heart was pounding in a rhythm of dread and anticipation. With a hesitant finger, she swiped to answer the call.

The voice behind the phone sent chills down her spine.

"Hello, Ai," came the voice from the other end, startlingly familiar yet unwelcome.

Ai's eyes widened in shock, and a rush of emotions flooded through her. "…Hikaru?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. Even after this long, she recognized his voice. Not out of love, any remnant of that had been killed 11 years ago, but out of pure fury.

"Oh, you recognized me. Yes, it's me. I've been thinking about you. How have you been?" Her EX's voice was calm, almost soothing, but it only served to fuel Ai's growing anger.

"Where are you now? Would you like to meet?" he continued when she only offered silence. "Ai? Hello?"

Ai's grip on the phone tightened, her nails digging into the plastic. "This pathetic bastard! How dare you call me now, after all these years!?" she hissed, her voice laced with venom.

"…"

"You have some nerve, you monster! You think I am unaware of what you did 11 years ago?! The only reason I stayed quiet and didn't call the police is because of the lack of evidence, and the possibility that you'll leak out our secret—and that my children will grow up knowing their father is a fucking criminal rotting in jail! Fuck off!"

Hikaru tried to interject, but Ai was beyond listening. Her anger boiled over, and with a scream of rage, she hurled the phone against the floor. It shattered on impact, pieces scattering across the room. A few hit her too, but her awakened body was too strong to be hurt by that.

"Haaah…"

Silence once again descended upon the room, oppressive and heavy, like a thick blanket smothering every corner of Ai's existence. Her chest rose and fell with ragged, uneven breaths, each one a struggle against the overwhelming emotions that threatened to consume her. Her gaze, hollow and desolate, was fixated on the remnants of the shattered phone that lay scattered on the floor.

The dark room felt like a tomb to her, sealing her within its unyielding walls. The faint glow of the moonlight did little to dispel the gloom that had settled deep within her soul.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. The weight of the silence was almost tangible, pressing down on her, suffocating her with its intensity. In this void of sound and light, Ai's thoughts spiraled, each one a piercing arrow of bitterness and sometimes… regret.

A flicker of doubt crept in, 'Should I have confronted him more calmly?' she wondered. 'No, no, no… He was guilty and had nothing to say to redeem himself. That's why he left… But still…'

She remembered when he kissed her navel to recharge her butterfly tattoo. That made her feel disgusted. Then she remembered when she was about to get a Mana Circuit; he said he had to kiss her chest. That made her disgusted too. But… when she disagreed and he did nothing to object, casually cutting his wrist to take the pain for her sake, her heart felt complicated.

Ai was unsure about everything. Just what did he think of her…?

– Knock!

Suddenly, a soft knock at the door sliced through the silence like a knife, startling Ai from her dark reverie. Her body tensed instinctively, a cold shiver cascading down her spine as the room seemed to contract around her. A sense of dread, long buried in the recesses of her mind, resurfaced with a vengeance.

'What? Who…' Her mind raced. Naturally, she was inside her house so it should be safe, but she was just called by her Ex. The same man who had sent a hitman to kill her last time.

Flashes of a traumatic memory bombarded her – the sharp, excruciating pain of a blade piercing her skin, the feeling of utter helplessness, and the chilling realization of her vulnerability. The memory of being stabbed, an event that had become a distant nightmare, now felt frighteningly close.

She was stronger now, she knew she was stronger than the strongest non-magical humans, yet she felt unsafe. Hikaru had always been weird, there was an odd aura around him. When she first saw that her son had magical powers, she theorized that it came from Hikaru. So who's to say that he couldn't overpower her and kill her?

Her heart pounded in her chest, a frantic drumbeat echoing the fear that gripped her. The knock at the door, so innocent and mundane, had become a harbinger of terror. Ai's breath hitched in her throat as she fought to regain control over her racing thoughts.

Who could it be at this hour? The safety and security she had once taken for granted felt like a distant dream, shattered by the absence of the one person who had always been her protector – Aqua. She hadn't done that consciously, she just subconsciously thought she'd be fine as long as her son was around. But now…

– Knock!

The knock at the door persisted, a gentle but insistent reminder of the world outside her cocoon of darkness. Ai's throat felt dry, her voice a mere whisper as she mustered the courage to respond, her entire being on edge.

"W-who...?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Mama, it's me, Ruby... I have brought dinner," came the gentle reply from the other side.

Ai remained silent for a moment, the weight of her isolation completely vanishing into thin air. Then, with a heavy sigh, she whispered, "Dammit..."

Ai Hoshino felt a pang of longing, a yearning for the peace that she had lost. In this world full of secrets, her confusion and desperation only grew as she opened the door and brought Ruby into a tight hug.

At the very least, she shouldn't push this child away.

–X–

Ai ate dinner, with Ruby sitting by her side throughout it. After that, she took a shower. Now she and Ruby sat down in the living room, drinking herbal tea with her shoulders drooping low. Neither of them talked, but Ruby sat right next to her, gently hugging her.

"It's going to be alright…"

"…."

In this situation, Ai felt extremely guilty that Ruby had to console her instead of the other way around. She just nodded and sighed, though she was unsure if it would. The problem lay in her, and not Aqua – she was the one who pushed him away and not the other way around. So she couldn't console Ruby back.

After finishing the tea, she put the cup down and brought Ruby's head to her lap. She ran her fingers through the girl's hair, as she came to realize something. Oddly enough, she didn't feel like Ruby wasn't her daughter. She didn't feel cheated. At first, she did a little, but after what Aqua told her, she found Ruby just fine.

Was it because Ruby was more innocent?

"Sarina," she started as Ruby's body froze. This was the first time they were talking since the incident. "Was that your last name?"

After a short silence, Ruby nodded. "Yes."

"How did Aqua know? Did you two share details with one another?" Ai asked. She was hoping to learn more about Aqua, and if Ruby knew that would be fantastic.

"Not really. I never even told him my name. He did tell me his, well, it was more of a title, but yeah. But as you saw, he somehow knew my name. I think he read my mind and learned it. There was an incident like that back when we were kids. He… touched my forehead and all of a sudden I saw everything from my previous life, like a flashback."

She blinked, "Oh, and before you misunderstand, I already knew I was reincarnated before that; that magic didn't awaken my previous life's memories or anything like that." Ruby clarified. "But I think maybe from there, he saw bits of my memories too…"

Ai frowned. So she didn't know much? That was a pity. Ai was curious about his show of multiple personalities. She hadn't bothered to think too much about it as Sherlock Holmes since she was busy stabilizing her emotions after realizing he was a reincarnator. There were multiple possibilities to what that might indicate, but she didn't know for sure. She lacked evidence to reach a proper conclusion.

"Wait," Ai looked into Ruby's eyes. "You said he told you his name?"

"Well, not quite. It was a title. I asked who he was like in his past life, out of curiosity since he knew all this magic stuff, and he said…" Ruby hesitated, "The Emperor of Mankind, Sage of Humanity. And recently, he told me he ruled over 150,000 worlds. But I am not sure if he was telling the truth…"

"…."

That sounded absurd, but strangely enough, Ai believed it. Now it seemed funny when she called him a weebo bastard who could never touch a woman's hand. Naturally, she was lying back then, she had seen him flirt with two Goddesses and at the same time stand his ground without being intimidated. That was a giveaway that he was someone big in his last life.

However, didn't he say he was a fan of hers in his past life? Both of them together sounded contradictory, which would make it that one of them was a lie. Yet she was sure that he wasn't lying at all during their last talk. When she recalled his split personality, it made sense why, and she realized the truth.

"So that's how it is," she sighed, leaning back on the couch. "No wonder he couldn't see me as his mother." Ai let out another sigh, this one sounding harrowing.

"Mama… he cares about you. A lot. Trust me when I say that." Ruby looked up at her while tears ran down her face, yet she reached out to continue patting her hair.

Now that Ai was calm, she didn't feel angry at him anymore. She just accepted things as they were. He wasn't at fault, he probably didn't choose to be reincarnated as her son as he said, but… it's not as if she was at fault either.

She couldn't see a man who had lived multiple lives, with multiple mothers, as her own son. Just like how he didn't see her as his mother.

– Ding Dong!

Her moment of sad acceptance shattered abruptly with the sudden, jarring ring of the doorbell, and Ai frowned again. Ruby looked at the door, and her words relieved her, "It's Tsubasa."

Ruby got up, leaving Ai, and opened the door. Ai's heightened perceptions could catch their conversation from here, but her mind was unfocused, so she missed it.

A moment later, Ruby returned with a hesitant look on her face, "Um, Mama… Onii-chan is here."

"…." For some reason, Ai's heart quickened.

Chapter 100: Surprising and Dangerous Encounters

—

"Couldn't we have gone flying? Can't you fly?" Yuzuru asked, her tone brimming with impatience. "Why would you use public transportation when you can fly!"

We were inside a mostly empty bus, with seats that were worn and the hum of its engine a constant background noise. I looked at the little girl with a raised eyebrow as she kept talking.

"How am I supposed to carry both your sister and you without looking indecent? I mean I don't mind carrying your sister in my arms, but…" I stared at her.

"Ugh, w-whatever!" she snapped her head to look outside the window with her arms crossed.

Shoko giggled beside me. The two sisters sat to me on either side, with Shoko on my left, as she leaned into my shoulders.

"She's too interested in magic and the supernatural," Shoko murmured thoughtfully. "Maybe it's because she's still quite young?"

"Nah, it's perfectly natural. Nowadays, interest in the supernatural and magical is quite common." Superhero movies started popping off two decades ago, and though it lost its hype for a bit during the 2020s, it had regained its fire recently. Along with supernatural movies in general. The new generation was a lot more interested in these. I guessed Shoko wouldn't know since she must have rarely seen movies.

"Do you want to catch a movie next weekend?"

"Tomorrow?" She perked up. Tomorrow was Sunday.

"How about after that? I have got a date tomorrow." A second later, I realized I shouldn't have said that. She frowned at the air and looked away.

I decided not to comfort her and enjoy the silence instead. The bus continued for two more minutes before we got off.

–X–

As we continued our walk, the bustling city gradually gave way to a more serene, residential area. The streets were lined with neatly trimmed hedges and blossoming cherry trees. Each home we passed seemed to outdo the last in elegance and design, which spoke volumes about the neighborhood's class.

We had to walk from here since naturally buses couldn't enter this neighborhood. Yuzuru was shocked by the scene, "I should have expected it, but you are rich!—if you are living in this neighborhood… No wonder you called us poor!"

"What the- I didn't call you poor." I shot the little girl a shocked look as I flicked a finger on the back of her head.

With an 'ouch!' she glared at me but I ignored her and focused on Shoko.

"By the way, since you're a part of the Sect now, I should be teaching you magic soon. We can do that movie date and I can teach you there." I said and her face went flushed.

"D-date…?" She looked away from my eyes and played with her hair. "Well… i-in that case, next Sunday is fine."

"Hey, I wanna tag along! I can't let you be alone with Shoko, you'll take advantage of her." Yuzuru suddenly snapped at me and continued, "And what's that Sect thing? Can I join?"

"You're too young to join," I said, glancing at her. "And, let's be honest, a bit too short."

"WHAT?! That didn't just come out of your mouth-!" Yuzuru attacked me, but how could I let a little girl disrespect me? I held her head with a hand and she couldn't take a single step forward.

As I did that, I decided to check her body condition. She was very excited to learn magic, and it's as if I couldn't teach her if she had the affinity to.

"Oh," I blinked, genuinely surprised. "What is this, you have the weakest magic affinity I've encountered." In recent times, anyway.

"Liar! Liar." She glared at me, not believing me at all.

"But worry not, you have decent spiritual veins. Black Flames Veins…? Seems like it." Humans with special elemental veins were rare, which should be especially true for this planet. But I suppose since her sister had enough magic to store a Sacred Gear, she wasn't normal either.

Personally, magic affinity and spiritual veins didn't matter to me. Neither did it matter when I chose to train someone. Due to my expertise, I could overcome the type of affinity my students had. But there was no need to do that if it was strong enough already. Black Flames are strong.

I hummed, "I can teach you Martial Arts if you're willing. But not next Sunday. How about you don't third-wheel the date?"

Her eyes lit up with a spark of hope and determination. "Alright, deal! But if you're lying, I'll give you a good beating!"

Shoko's blush deepened a little knowing that the date wouldn't be interrupted, and she'll be alone with me. Unfortunately for any dreamy expectations she might have, I don't plan to touch her during the date.

….

Finally, we reached our destination. The Hoshino mansion stood proudly at the end of a cobblestone path, its architecture a harmonious blend of traditional Japanese design and modern luxury. The exterior walls, painted a warm, inviting cream color, were complemented by dark, lacquered wood trim. Lush greenery surrounded the house, with a meticulously maintained garden featuring a small, burbling koi pond, adding to its beauty.

Yuzuru and Shoko paused for a moment, their eyes wide with awe as they took in the sight of the abode. The house's imposing entrance, adorned with intricate carvings, seemed to beckon them in, while the soft glow of lights from within hinted at the luxurious warmth and comfort that lay beyond its doors.

I stared at it too but for a different reason. After a while, I let out a sigh and moved to the house just by our side, equally high class. The two girls followed behind me as I rang the bell and waited.

The door opened, and a yawning Tsubasa appeared. "Who is-" she started before her eyes snapped open at my sight. She stared at me for a second, then at Shoko, before she processed the situation and launched herself into my arms.

"Stupid Aqua, You know how worried I was when I heard you ran off somewhere? Why haven't you replied to my messages?!" she demanded with a frown and a pout. "Just how much did you two fight that you had to leave your home? And even if you had to leave, you know I live just here. Why did you go out to find some other place instead of coming to me?"

The two girls behind me knew Tsubasa from school, though they probably had no idea that my cousin and I were this close. I kissed her head and hugged her back.

"I needed some time alone too," and from the looks of it, the time alone did me good. Shoko's Sacred Gear had noticed my mood change last time in school, but this time she hadn't. Well, naturally, since I got a flashback of my Emmanuelle. It's hard to be sad or mad after remembering her.

"Are you back now…?" She looked into my eyes, unsure. She was doubtful since I had come here instead of returning to my own house.

"I'm not," I said honestly. I moved to the side a little to let Tsubasa notice Shoko and her sister. "I'm here to talk to Ruby about letting Shoko join B-Komachi. I think her singing talent surpasses all the members we currently have."

Tsubasa blinked. "Oh. Hello, Shoko, and Yuzuru. Uh, please come inside, we should discuss this with a cup of tea."

"Nah, we gotta leave again right away," I stopped Tsubasa from dragging us in. "Can you just call Ruby out? I need to talk to her first. I'm sure she wouldn't have objections to my recommendations, but I'll give her a demonstration too. By the way, where are uncle and aunt?"

"They're asleep," she said with a frown. "You're lucky they are. They are pretty mad at you. Well, both you and A- your mother." She stopped when she realized she had almost name-dropped Ai in front of two outsiders. "Anyways, I'll go call Ruby. Wait here."

"Yeah," I nodded as Tsubasa ran out of the house.

A silence fell upon us. A moment later, Shoko couldn't stop her curiosity. "I… didn't want to ask since it's personal, but is everything alright between you and your mother?"

"It's not… Not at all." I rubbed the back of my head and didn't expand on that. She had the sense to not ask for details.

–X–

Ruby appeared just a minute later. She looked mad, as expected, but contrary to my expectations, she leaped into my arms instead of continuing to glare at me.

"Hey," I greeted her as I hugged her back. Tsubasa did me a favor by dragging the two girls inside her house. Ruby put a Bubble of Silence around us before speaking.

"I feel cheated," she said and raised her head, looking into my eyes. I felt nervous, had she found out that I was Gorou?

Logically speaking, there was no real reason to feel nervous. In the first place, I hid it from her because to me, Gorou's memories felt foreign—barely any emotion attached to it. I was entirely the Venerable One back then, and couldn't be bothered dealing with a clingy child.

Now though, my memories were more vibrant. The damage that the Order of the Crimson Abyss had done was mostly repaired, and so my 10th life's memories came with memories attached to it. I didn't mind Ruby - Sarina - finding out my identity, even if she would be a lot more clingier than ever.

"All these times, I held back from asking you details about your life because I didn't want to give you details about mine. But what's this, you always knew who I was, you read my mind, didn't you?" she said while I blinked. "Let me read your mind too! It's not fair otherwise, you cheating asshole!"

Aha, so she hadn't found out. I suppose this explanation made more sense to her than me somehow, conveniently, being her last life's (one-sided) lover. Plus, even if the possibility might have occurred to her, she didn't want to believe that Gorou was dead. Gorou's current status was Missing - a small Google search showed that, something that Ruby had done. The body was tossed down a mountain and into a cave, so it was unfound to date. Ruby wanted to believe that he was alive somewhere.

"Well," I hesitated. She just asked to read my mind, and I could show her a glimpse.

But was this the right time…? I can't even live in the same house with her, so she'll miss me like crazy—knowing that I was alive, yet not beside her. She might even want to come with me, leaving Ai behind, though I'm not exactly sure. Plus, I'd have to tell her about my other life too for things to make sense to her.

"No, let's put that for another time," she cut the silence and looked deep into my eyes. "Since you saw my memories anyway, I don't have to be ashamed to ask this or burdened too. Consider this payment for reading my mind without permission, okay?" She had a request. Her eyes trembled, "Will you… help me find Doctor Gorou?"

"..." No, at this point if I hid the truth from her only to reveal it later, it'd be a crime to this poor child. It doesn't matter if this isn't the right time, I'll make it be.

"Ruby."

"Yes?"

"Gorou is dead."

"..." Ruby stared at me blankly, before her face drained of color, her eyes welling up as she processed my words. A second later, she pushed me back immediately. "Watch your mouth! How dare you say that, you bastard! Stay away from me."

I yanked her closer and grabbed her face, "It's kind of dumb that I have to kiss for this, but, I have proof. Proof about not just that, but something else. Forgive me." I said and pulled her into a kiss.

As I couldn't use magic, I couldn't simply cast a spell to show her my memories. I had to use my [Soul Reflection] for it but to share it with someone else, I had to 'connect' with them. Kissing was the 2nd best way for that connection, and before anyone asks what the 1st best way is, I'll just say it's a lot more intimate.

Ruby struggled, angry at me, angry at the man who dared to claim her love of life, the only person who was by her side till the end, was no more. Until my memories began to flash through her brain.

Her struggle stopped. Ruby stared into my eyes with her body limp as I carefully chose what to show her. I couldn't make the same blunder I did with Koneko, so I started by showing her Gorou's memories with her. Then memories after her death, where Gorou, as a grown-up man, had cried. I showed split but important flashes until my very death, where I was stabbed to death.

Ruby was crying by then, tears trailing down her cheek, yet her ruby-red eyes were filled with affection as she stared into mine. I decided to give her a glimpse of my life as the Emperor of Mankind, just to prove to her that I hadn't lied before. I could only show 5 seconds before I was interrupted.

"This bastard!" a hand yanked me away from the kiss by the collar until another fell on my cheek. Sounds of continuous, endless slaps filled the air as a screaming Ai hit me. Ai had arrived unnoticed, my attention wholly absorbed by the flood of memories. "That's your sister! You gross lunatic!" Each of her sentences were accompanied by a slap. "You couldn't take your mother, so now you are after your sister?! And here I was feeling regretful for you!"

While it's understandable that she'd misunderstand the situation given what she saw, as well as since Ruby was crying, I felt my ears heat up in anger. Luckily, the Bubble of Silence covered the entire front yard, so these accusations didn't reach outside ears.

I scowled deeply, about to stop her hands, but someone did it before me. "D-don't you dare hit him!" Ruby jumped into my arms, protecting me, as I fell on my back with her on top of me. Ruby glared back at Ai, "Leave us alone, you don't know anything, you stupid woman!"

Even I was taken aback by her outburst, I had never expected Ruby to say something like that to Ai, whom she always treated like a Goddess. Ai herself looked devastated hearing that from her only child whom she expected good treatment from all.

'Huh, what a mess.' I sighed while Ruby hugged me tightly, so tightly that I doubted a normal human would have died. She wept as she buried her face into my chest, and Ai looked at the scene, confused and hurt.

Though my anger had slightly abated, it wasn't enough for me to extend any comfort to her at that moment. I'll do that later, it's not as if we don't have time on our hands. She needs to learn-

The world came to a halt.

My danger senses screamed like a Red-Level tsunami warning, and my instincts moved to touch an unconnected Icon. This will leave my body in shambles, and chances are I might even die. I have talked about how connecting to too many Icons in the Underlord Rank might cost me, and now it was serious. But my mind proceeded with that information later and connected with the Icon first.

"Arghh-!"

The [Time Icon] manifested over my head—no, it had already manifested a while ago, that's why the world had paused to begin with. It wouldn't last for long, I knew, even as blood burst out of my ears and nose. I pushed Ruby out of the way and leaped toward Ai, to her away from the attack's path.

A sharp, elongated arrow made out of pristine white divinity was rushing toward her, and I knew for sure her entire existence, down to her soul, would be consumed by that. I was the only one who could stop it, and I tried. But it was too late, the Time Icon was blinking out of reality, and my body was too wrecked to handle it. I forced it to stay and managed to push Ai out of the way.

I sighed in relief until I realized the Time Icon has had enough as it blinked out, and left me directly on the arrow's path.

The Divine Arrow hit me in the chest, slamming me into the wall behind me with a loud thud that cracked the wall. I spat out blood but my eyes remained focused, I grabbed the arrow and pulled it out. It began to erode, unable to consume my soul, as a peal of laughter left my lips.

"Who… who is it?!" my voice boomed, despite my body's condition. I summoned the [Crown Icon], failed, and then forced it to appear anyway. It bloomed into a dark coronet, as my hair went black and my eyes turned a fiery red.

This was like using drugs to appear stronger, while it'd only harm my body in the long run, but I had no choice. I had to annihilate the bug that dared to attack my home before I fell.

My [Aurelius Bloodline] power unfurled like an invisible, expansive net. Tendrils of Qi, thinner than strands of hair, radiated out from me in a pulsating wave. They reached outward, permeating the air and the ground, extending my senses far beyond the limits of flesh.

Everywhere these tendrils touched, I became attuned to the world in an extraordinary way. I could see without seeing, hear without sound, feel without touch, and smell the very essence of the environment. I could feel the unfelt. It was as if the world around me became an extension of my own body, a vast sensory network that connected me to the smallest vibrations of life and matter.

A few hundred meters away, atop a small hill barely visible to the mortal eyes, the tendrils of my bloodline power made contact. I immediately found the culprit there. Amidst the quiet rustling of leaves and the gentle pulse of the earth, I felt the presence of a strange tree. It was not just a physical sensation but a deeper, more profound awareness. The tree stood out like an anomaly in the natural order, its essence different and unsettling. The culprit was there, hiding in plain sight, within the tree. Or the tree itself?

My senses honed in on it, every fiber of my being focused on this singular point, ready to unveil the hidden threat that lurked within. I glared at it. "You? A tree?!" I knew who it was, it didn't take a genius to figure that out.

My feet blurred against the ground, and suddenly I was in front of it. The tree's spirit trembled, as if alive, and an 'essence' escaped it. I was too unstable to stop it, so I let out an attack to burn it asunder instead.

Summoning the depths of my dark Crown, I reached into the realm of Limbo, where the rules of reality bend to the will of the mighty, I pulled out a skill from the Path of the [Hollow King].

With a gesture, I called forth the [Hollow King's Spear, Dance of the Starlit Sky] – as a wave of power left me, burning all my Soulfire, and a million ghostly spears, each a shimmering phantom, forged overhead.

The sky above Tokyo transformed into a luminous white canvas, as the Spectral Spears materialized, covering the expanse with their spectral glow.

The spears hovered ominously, before in unison, a million points of light rushed toward a single fleeing enemy. The blades descended, tearing through the veil between the physical and the spiritual, striking the fleeing essence, the part of a God's soul, with unerring precision. Each hit was a thump of spectral energy, resonating through the realms, inflicting wounds not just on the physical form but deep within the spirit of the entity.

The sky lit up with the brilliance of a thousand suns, each strike a call back to the power I once wielded. The Hollow King's Path was the blandest, yet most powerful of all, especially against souls. It was the greatest treasure in the first world of my 9th life, my first introduction to the 'Path' power system.

The essence, unable to withstand the onslaught, wailed in agony as it suffered injuries that transcended physical boundaries, the very core of its being under siege.

As the last of the Spectral Spears found their mark, the essence faltered, its energy dissipating under the relentless assault. The spectacle above Tokyo slowly faded, leaving behind a silent testament to the battle that had transpired – a battle where the line between the physical and the metaphysical was blurred, showcasing the might of the Spectral Spears.

That little soul had been eradicated, dealing much unrecoverable damage to the main soul, and the battle had ended. But I couldn't celebrate.

The [Crown Icon] vanished, and I fell to my face.

More than the damage the arrow did—which amounted to almost zero; after all, how could a mere tree do me damage?—my own Icons had harmed me more. My body was too weak to handle the weight of the Time Icon, and then I went ahead and used a powerful ability from my Crown Icon.

I was on the verge of death, my breathing was barely there as I tasted the soil under my face. I'm unsure if I'll survive even with immediate medical support. To make it worse, I didn't know anyone in this world with enough medical expertise who could help me in this state.

I had backup plans for this type of situation, but my consciousness gave in before I could try any of them.

At least… I hadn't failed the Time Icon this time.

I've saved her.