REVIEWS
Kamen Rider Sentry: Yet, another story concept? Not so sure, man. Two is as much as I can handle, with Arc of Hell being the only exception.
Alexdel27: I wouldn't say I knew their mindset myself if I were you. Plus, what makes you think Juliet Arc didn't know what she got into when she married Lionel Arc? Trust me, she knows the values of the Arc Family. The question is: Can she, a civilian without an aura, do something to her huntsman husband?
Xerzo LotCN: Midget stuff? Nah, even I have my limits and things I do not do. Also, yeah. I always saw Kyu as the crazy, slutty one. Like, legitimately, we know from her that she has visited other planets. Can you imagine the shapes and sizes of those worlds?! Bull must be the norm somewhere out there. But yeah. I decided to expand on Aiko's character a bit, trying to hit on that Asian Parent vibe from a darker angle. Still, keep tuned here for the rest of the story!
MereC55: Give it a few; there are still six freaking sisters to showcase! Plus, the mother!
smallszay106: The Schnee is a crumbling mess. Not even a shred of family value. The Arcs? The picture is not yet complete.
JNG: Ya think me as some idiot?! Of course that'd never happen the way you are portraying it, if it'd happen in any form at all! But the way Aiko spoke? She spoke from both experience and lack of information, believing Jaune's situation might be similar to hers, whose context you will fully get in this chapter. Aiko spoke out of ignorance. Ignorance is about to be laid to waste.
MultiversalCosms: To be seen. And wait, what about Ren?
As always, here is the Discord: /FVXgdXtMUv
And the link is down below! If you wish to support me, make sure to drop even one Euro from your pocket if you can spare it.
A couple of days after Jaune and Aiko's last meeting, in which he met Beli as well, Jaune had finally managed to get his house in proper order. Furniture, professional cleaning, and even all necessities he might require, such as a television and even a good CCT connection so he can stay in the loop about everything going on, were acquired.
Aiko contacted him some time ago, stating that his investments were booming. Cash was assured, meaning that ten million was definitely a good investment budget. Now, Jaune was preparing some breakfast with Kyu standing on the table, dangling her legs off the edge. "So, are you going to go to Beli's yoga class or use the 'renovations' excuse again?" She asked.
"Kyu, I didn't use an excuse; the house really was under renovation. I might be rich, but I doubt I could afford another deal like this without cutting my bank account in half." Jaune replied, setting the plates on the table.
"When did I mention moving? Dude, you need to start working on that case and crack it wide open. You saw how good she looks; you need to capitalize on the opportunity, stat!" Kyu stated again, with urgency this time around. "Virgins can produce the most amount of passion, which I can use to pump more mana into you and give me more of a battery."
"While making me feel sick in the process," Jaune added as he put the food on the plates, then set the pan aside, sitting down to eat. "But, Kyu, this entire deal is…I don't know. I guess I am starting to have second thoughts."
"What? How could you possibly question our mission now?" Kyu asked.
"Kyu, it looks like I am being a playboy. Like, you want me to get intimate with those women, but after that, what do I do? Leave them for the next stud to breed?"
"Ok, I see what the issue is now. You don't want to go that far in fear you might hurt them, is that right? Look, I get it. Truly. You are not the first romantic I had to deal with, but at the same time, the ball is already rolling. Look at everything you now have, thanks to me! Could you say you would have had this luck had it not been for me?" Jaune slammed his hands on the table, spooking her.
"I don't want you to use that argument as a means to blackmail me emotionally, Kyu!" Jaune sighed. "Look, I get it. You are in a bad spot yourself. You helped me get out of mine. I owe you big time, but I do not want to repay that debt by causing pain to others. Isn't there some way to do this?"
Kyu sighed, rubbing her face as she felt a few of her hair grow gray. "There goes easy mode. Ok, listen, Jaune. There is only one way for both of us to come out of this: getting what we want, how we want."
"Then say it!"
"You need to make yourself a harem."
"And you lost me," Jaune stated, making Kyu sigh again.
"Look, the only way to make things stable, not break hearts, and so on, is by making all girls be yours and yours alone. Last I checked, Vacuo, where we are, has quite the marriage laws that enable that. Surely, with your charm, you can convince them."
"Kyu, that stuff only happens in movies and porn," Jaune replied with a deadpan expression. "How would I even go about this? Just go up to a girl and, before the first date, inform her that I have several other women already?"
"Fuck no! No, no, no. No! You don't start this with just one, either; you need to create the group. Preferably, and this is the most successful strategy, is that before you commit to any of them, you need to introduce them to one another and see if there is peaceful chemistry there. If there is, you must slowly bring everyone together. Eventually, you will get a harem."
"Kyu…That in itself sounds like a recipe for potential disaster." Jaune replied.
"Trust me, if done incorrectly or if something goes haywire, it is a recipe for disaster. There is no way to sugar-coat this. It is all or nothing with this strategy, but the main point is that you must remain uncommitted to any one of those gals until the right moment, and if possible, the group you form is the one you stick with. Adding along the way could make stuff unstable." Kyu explained further. "You already have a start with Aiko and Beli, but you need more."
"And when could I stop?" Jaune asked.
"That's the beauty of it, Jaune. You will know when your dick is dry 24/7."
Following the talk Jaune had with Kyu, the two went about their day. Jaune knew from Beli that her yoga class was later, around five PM, so he was going to join them then. He hadn't seen her anywhere else, but he assumed she just lived somewhere a bit further. His home was not exactly close to the main town either so he could relate.
Still, as Jaune and Kyu were strolling through Bella Dia, the latter riding on his shoulder, Jaune was deep in thought, yet, unaware to him, Kyu was also thinking about some things.
"He is not bad, but his attitude will complicate things. Ugh. Why did I have to find a romantic? The harem option was always reserved for the ones with the actual chances to get one; the ones Love Fairies deemed able to achieve it with low risk. Jaune is a high-risk! How am I going to help him get a- No. Calm down, Kyu, you can do this. Sure, in your entire career, you have only ever succeeded two such scenarios, but a third can't be that hard to achieve, right? I need to look at the positives."
"Jaune is polite, well-raised, good-looking, and now he is rich as well. We should look into getting him a car or something to attract chicks further, but that'd require a license. Surely, there are a few instructors around the island willing to take him on, especially with his budget."
"Plus, there is that aura and semblance of his…Stuff went wild when his mana grew; I could sense it! His soul really flared when it got more mana, which is…Honestly, I don't know if that is a good sign or not, seeing how I never did this before. I've never been to Remnant that much, either, now that I think about it."
"There is just…Ugh! Too much to take into consideration, not to mention that the situation itself is so fucking fucked it is not even funny! But so help me, I am not about to give up! I want to grow big again, and Jaune will help me realize that goal! I will make him into the best stud I can, or my name is not Kyu Sugardust!"
As Kyu had her inner rant, Jaune remained blissfully unaware of it, peacefully walking down the streets of Bella Dia.
"Well, now is the time," Jaune said to himself as he walked through the doors of the gym and arrived at the reception. The reception was being handled by a large man, bald, with a chiseled build. Jaune gulped, seeing him, making him remember the guys in Beacon. Most weren't this made since extra muscle meant less speed and agility, which were more valued when fighting Grimm.
All in all, muscles like that were seen as vain and useless. But that was a matter of perspective. If you aimed to be fast and agile, to strike fast so the Grimm couldn't touch you, then avoiding heavy workouts was the perfect choice, but if you were like him, something people describe as a tank, then you must be able to take a few hits for the good of the team.
A team he no longer had, from a profession he can no longer chase. It didn't matter anymore how he sculpted his body. So, he walked up to the man. The time read a little over four PM, so he might be able to get some work of his own before Beli arrives to do her yoga class.
"Welcome to Sun Rock Gym, brother! How can I- Hey, you are that Jaune Arc guy from the news! The one that recently won the lottery and even went big at the casino!" The man stated, apparently recognizing him. However, Jaune was curious about how he knew about the casino.
Jaune laughed awkwardly. "Yeah, that's me. How do you know about the casino, though? Last I checked, it wasn't on the news."
"Island's not that big, and word tends to travel around. That and one of my cousins work at the casino as a bodyguard. He told me all about how the boss of the place himself came down and used his semblance to check if you were legit! He told me the guy drank quite a bit later than evening, laughing his ass off. You did them good, kiddo." The man finished. "But what am I doing? You must be here looking to stay fit, right?"
"And maybe grow a bit. However, I am especially interested in the yoga classes. I met the instructor, Beli, the other day, and she invited me to attend a class or two." The man's expression grew tense upon hearing his words. "Is there a problem, Sir?"
"Say, you're not coming here just to ogle the girls, right?" The man asked, making Jaune recoil in surprise.
"Damn, this guy is sharp!" Kyu shouted.
"No! Gods no, I am honestly here because Beli invited me to attend one of her classes and to work on myself." Jaune defended himself, but the man seemed skeptical still.
"Look, I am not looking to accuse anyone here. Trust me, I can tell you are not the kind to leer over women, but at this place, that kind of distraction is unavoidable. So many young women, in their sportswear, sweating from their workouts. Not to mention the yoga class! Looking to get a spot in the back?" The guy asked.
"Any spot would do," Jaune replied, trying not to sound creepy to the guy. "But, is it…Is it common for guys to come here just to ogle the woman? And not work out at all?"
The man sighed. "More than you can imagine. Usually, if people do not show they are serious and just want to bathe their eyes, I terminate their subscription and kick them out! But I guess I scared you enough. Say, do you wish to join Sun Rock Gym?"
"First, what about the yoga classes?" Jaune asked out of curiosity.
"Yeah, I figured you were gonna ask. Well, Beli handles them for the most part, but they are mainly only for members. So, if you only want those, you still need to pay for the subscription. However, we do give 25% off if yoga is all they want. The fee is 100 Lien a month. That works?"
"Yes," Jaune replied. "Do I pay right now?"
"Sure! Let me get the forms. You do need to put in a 200-lien deposit for this month and the next. But you are rich, so what the heck, right?"
"Damn right," Jaune replied with a smile; then the man brought the forms forward. It was basic stuff, and when he was done, Jaune paid the man his subscription due.
"Nice having you, Jaune! You can head to the lockers now to get changed, and I will see about getting a trainer to check your condition and devise a workout plan for you. You do have an aura so that they might give you something a bit more brutality than the normal folks around here."
"Alright, Sir."
"Drop the 'Sir', shit! Name's Greg Bull. Call me Bull." Bull replied, offering a friendly smile.
"Thanks, Bull," Jaune replied, then went to the locker rooms, where he began getting changed. As he did, however, he did pass through the gym area and saw that this place was quite packed. The guys going there ranged from fat people wishing to get fit to skinny people wanting to gain mass to the pros. And you could not miss them.
True towering giants of muscle who worked out for years to reach where they are right now. Jaune felt intimidated by them but continued onward, entering the locker rooms and coming out in his sportswear. Black shorts and a white shirt, basic stuff. He looked around once again after coming out of the locker room, seeing what Bull meant. The women there certainly grabbed the attention of more than one man in the gym.
Jaune made his way through the gym, looking for a trainer or trying to see if Bull had found someone to check on him and see about drawing up his workout plan. Imagine his surprise when Bull himself came up to him. "Yo."
"Bull? Where is the trainer?" Jaune asked.
"You are looking at him. No one else is available, and I usually work as a trainer anyway. I was manning the station there because our receptionist was in the bathroom, getting her nose powdered. Now, how about we drop the chit-chat and get right to work? Come on, show me what you can do with that fancy aura of yours!"
"I have a bad feeling about this," Kyu stated, and soon after, Jaune would admit she had a point.
Bull was not forgiving in his methods, as he really pushed Jaune quite a bit with his training to challenge his limits and see where more work was required. They did 30-minute sessions, no more, where he carefully graded each of Jaune's strong suits, from lifting capacity to punching strength, based on a device they had in the gym.
By the end of it, Jaune was feeling quite exhausted, but Bull looked pleased. "Not bad! That aura is really doing the work! Do you feel any burning in your muscles?"
"I merely just feel tired, Bull," Jaune replied.
"Then I was right! Your aura is healing your muscles faster than they can start to hurt! It is mostly rumored around here that aura makes you stronger, but I always called bullshit on it! If anything, it helps you recover faster, push harder, and develop faster as a result! Haha! I will draw up your workout plan, so feel free to come here whenever you want! We open at 8 in the morning and close at 9 in the evening! Got it?"
"Got it," Jaune replied, and then a new face greeted them.
"Jaune, hi!" Beli walked into the gym, wearing what Jaune could only describe as her clothing for her yoga class, consisting of bright yellow yoga pants and a purple top. Her midriff was left exposed. "You are here for the yoga classes?"
"I am, though I also got a membership here. Bull here just finished evaluating me and says he is gonna draw up my workout plan." Jaune stated, gesturing to the man next to him.
"Good to see you, Beli. Ready for another day?"
"As always, Bull. I am just going to open the other room and wait for my students to come in, then we will begin. Jaune, you can come in whenever you want, though I suggest you at least re-apply your deodorant." Beli stated, prompting Jaune to check himself. Yeah, he was pretty stinky.
"I'll be there shortly. Thanks for the aid, Bull."
"Don't mention it, kiddo! Now get yourself some spray and go join the ladies in yoga." Jaune nodded, then went ahead to the locker room, leaving Bull behind to talk with Beli. "He seems like a good guy. A bit green, but I doubt he is here to ogle anyone."
"You think? I am still unsure what to think about him, given everything. He just seems a bit…Lost." Beli stated, giving her opinion on Jaune. Bull let out a small chuckle.
"You'd know, Beli, wouldn't you? You could always tell when something was massively wrong with a person. I noticed a bit as well. He is just so tense, and it's like there is a weight on him. Hopefully, your yoga classes can help him loosen up a bit." Bull replied to her, just in time for Jaune to come out of the lockers. "You up."
"Thanks, Bull." Beli headed into her wing of the gym just in time for other people to filter in. Jaune immediately noticed that it was mostly women who seemed to attend, as he was the only male in the room.
"Take a spot in the front, Jaune." He said to himself, then proceeded to take a spot close to Beli in the front.
"What a wasted opportunity. So much ass perfectly shaped by their yoga pants, and you choose to sit in the front? Pff. Yeah, no. I am going to the back." Kyu stated, flying to the back of the class.
"Welcome to another one of our yoga classes, everyone. Thank you for attending. First, I'd like to introduce to you our newest student, who might be joining us from now on. Jaune, please introduce yourself." Beli told him, and Jaune turned to face the others.
"Hi. I am Jaune Arc, and I am new to the island. I hope we can get along during the class." He gave them a friendly smile, which, to his surprise and Kyu's delight, drew quite a bit of attention from some of the women in the class. The more elderly ones, who looked to be in their 30s, were likely to have a husband and kids at home.
Jaune didn't fail to notice either, and he simply turned around and hoped Beli was going to start her class now. "Now that introductions are out of the way, everyone, please repeat after me. Today, we are going to mostly be doing standing positions, starting with the Big Toe position, then transitioning to other poses over time."
"Weird name for a yoga pose." Jaune thought, then faced Beli as she turned around to direct the classroom.
"Remember to relax your bodies and take deep breaths," Beli stated as the class was now officially in session, with everyone mimicking her movement. Even Jaune, although it was a bit difficult. This starting position implied folding your body to a certain degree, meaning that Beli bent down, causing her buns to stick out. Jaune tried his best to focus, managing to pull off the pose.
Though, he had a bit of difficulty.
It must be beginner's woe. His body was not used to stretching too much. Hopefully, there won't be any crazy poses they must attempt to do.
"And so, we reached the end of the class for today," Beli announced, and Jaune couldn't be happier. It wasn't that he had to resist getting a boner, but rather, his entire body was screaming. The workout from before was something, but this was effectively causing his bones to pop! Beli assured him before that the positions they were doing were basic, with just a few intermediary ones mixed in, but that still didn't change things for him.
His body hurt a bit. But he also felt somewhat lighter, strangely.
"Now, before we end the class, as always, we will attempt a more complicated position together. First, get into the Mountain position." Beli instructed everyone, and everyone obeyed, taking a basic standing position. "Now, transition to One-Legged Mountain." Everyone did as instructed again, placing their hands on their hips and lifting one leg into the air. Even Jaune was able to do this pose, finding it easy enough. "Now, Standing Foot to Head!"
Some women were able to do this pose, but Jaune was stunned. Beli had effectively brought her foot next to her head, showing impressive flexibility Jaune didn't think would be possible outside Huntresses with an aura. Well, he was proven wrong. Gulping, he attempted to do the pose, trying to bring his leg up, but the higher it went, the more it began to hurt.
He began getting wobbly on his foot, and sure enough, he lost his balance, resulting in him falling over. "Woah!"
"Ah!"
He ended up falling and ruining the balance of another person in the room, a woman who ended up collapsing over him, causing his aura to flare for a bit. This drew stunned gasps from the women in the room, with Beli putting her foot down and going to them.
"Are you alright? Jaune? Kyanna?"
"I'm fine, Beli. I didn't get hurt." The woman named Kyanna replied, getting up slowly from Jaune as the boy followed suit shortly. The woman before him was a woman with an immaculate and curvy build, large breasts, violet eyes, and black hair extending to her hips. She wore a black sports bra, gold, heart-shaped earrings, a pair of red yoga pants, and black nail polish.
"Jaune?" Beli asked.
"Aura, remember? I can take a fall." He replied with relative confidence. "But I'm sorry about my screw-up there, Miss…"
"Oh! My name is Kyanna. Kyanna Delrio." The woman introduced herself. "You are Jaune Arc, correct? I heard you are some rich guy who made it big on the island."
"Recently rich, yes. I don't know what to do with my fortune, so I try not to let it influence me."
"Well, seeing how the class is over, how about we all go to the lockers to freshen up? Kyanna, you especially have somewhere to be, no?" Beli reminded the woman, who seemed to realize that Beli had a point.
"Oh! Right. Philip! Tiffany is looking after him, but I better get going!" Kyanna said, turning to Jaune. 'It was nice meeting you, Jaune. See you later!" Then ran off to the locker rooms, leaving Jaune behind with Beli.
"Who is Philip?" Jaune asked out of curiosity.
"Kyanna's son. He's one year old."
"She's a MILF?!" Kyu screamed in shock. "No way, I am calling it bullshit! She looks too young to have a kid, not to mention her…No…Those boobs on her were definitely jiggling with that milky touch! Holy shit!"
"She looks quite young to be a mother," Jaune remarked.
"That's because she is. She is 21 years of age." Beli's words were not lost on Jaune. Sure, his sister, Saphron, and her wife, Terra, are also in their 20s with a son, but even then, they waited until they were stable and out of university to get thinking of one. And even THEN, they often called his mother for aid and to share in her motherly wisdom.
"That young? She must have dated her husband since high school, then." Jaune tried to guess, but Beli shuffled a bit awkwardly. "Beli? Something wrong?"
"Well…Kyanna and I are kind of friends, and I know a bit, but, well, let's just say Philip's father is not in their lives."
"Oh, did something happen to him?" He asked.
"No, as far I know, nothing happened to him. More like he didn't want any responsibility."
"Oh, shit. Now, this is some heavy-duty baggage. A young woman, knocked up by an irresponsible guy, then left to fend for herself? Sounds like someone could use some aid." Kyu remarked, and her hints were not lost on Jaune. True, from a surface point of view, Kyanna seemed like an easy target for a rich playboy. Just offer her some cash and slowly worm your way into her pants. But Jaune wasn't like that.
No, he felt a knot in his stomach hearing about this. "I'm sorry if I pried too much."
"No, it's alright. Kyanna doesn't mind if others know of her situation, so long as you don't bring it up in a bad light. Oh! And don't worry about her being a bad mother or anything. She has experience caring for others." The way Beli worded it raised more questions and answers for Jaune, but he knew better. Beli was not the one who should have asked any of those questions. No, those are the things he has to learn from Kyanna herself. "But enough about her, let's talk about you. I couldn't help but notice that you seemed to have difficulties during your poses, almost like you were in pain in some of them."
A change of subject? Jaune will take it. "Yeah, I guess it is a bit difficult for a first-timer to get everything naturally."
"Well, yeah, but there is more than just that. Some of the poses shouldn't be causing that kind of discomfort, and you seemed to struggle quite a bit. Say, when you were working out before coming to the island, have you ever done massages as well?"
"Getting a massage? What for?"
"They are for helping your muscles and, by extension, yourself. Usually, as people work out, their muscles grow stiff in certain areas, making them less flexible and, in some cases, unable to move as they once did. Yoga helps with this issue somewhat, but only if it is done from the start. You seemed already toned by the time you came, so I don't think you had any done before, correct?" Her explanation sounded pretty in-depth. He doesn't know a whole lot about working out and all of that - besides the basic exercises he has done to develop himself before running away from home.
So, who was he to argue with someone who had more of the know-how on that kind of matter? "Well, I will admit, I never even knew that much when I started. So, I'd guess I am due one such massage."
"Well, I guess you are in luck, then. I am also certified to offer that kind of service, so I could offer you a session or two to help you stretch your muscles better." Beli's gaze went to the side as she seemed to grow a bit nervous. "Of course, only if you'd want me to. You helped Aiko, so as her friend, I do think this is a way for me to thank you as well for helping her."
"You could be thanking us in a far more pleasurable way, considering Aiko's payment for Mister Generous here," Kyu commented, but once again, Jaune ignored her.
"That'd be lovely, Beli. Of course, I could compensate you for them." He offered.
"Oh! You don't have to, really; I am just trying to be nice." She quickly replied.
"Same here," Jaune replied, almost as if he was trying to insist.
"Thanks for being considerate, but I am doing fine. I was never really a big spender or something like that, so I am in the green when it comes to my finances, and my job here at the gym pays me quite well." She explained. "But, if you really wish to pay me for my services, I guess a few extra Lien couldn't hurt. B-but no more than 20 Lien!"
"Alright. I guess I will make my way back to my place now, and I will see you later. When can you come over?"
"How about tomorrow at two in the afternoon? I should be free around that time." Beli replied.
"That is perfect. Here, let's exchange our contacts so we can keep in touch."
"Alright." Beli brought out her scroll, and in almost no time at all, she and Jaune managed to exchange their contact information, followed by the boy leaving the gym and heading back to his place.
Though, on the way there, a certain someone couldn't help but look all smug on his shoulder. "Hmm. Massages. With a hint of luck here or there, your session could become quite steamy."
"Kyu, I am pretty sure Beli is not a woman to dive head-first like that. Shouldn't you be the expert here? From what we know of her, she is a conservative lady."
"Conservative? Pff. Bitch, please, there is no such thing in the sheets. Trust me. When that orgasm hits, every woman has the same reaction. The brain shuts down, and they are left a mess for a few good minutes until they recover. I should know. I've had more than enough of those. Heck, I even blacked out from pleasure a few times!" Another rant the likes of which Jaune didn't wish to hear much of.
"But what about getting there?" his question actually got Kyu to shut up for a moment, making her think for a bit.
"Ok, fair point, you got me there. She is going to take some work, I admit, but once the hard part is done with, then comes the pleasurable part. Now, that girl, Kyanna, though. What we know of her, from what Beli told us, is that she is a lonely, young MILF raising her son all on her own. Not that much older than you, either!"
"MILF…Isn't that-"
"Mother I Like Fuck, yes, that is the acronym. Not to mention her tanned complexion, and her body seems to have not been affected by pregnancy at all! Oh, how I'd just dive into that milky bosom of hers! But, alas, I cannot. And neither can you."
"Wait, what? Hold on, Kyu, I thought you'd want me to chase as many women as possible, correct? Judging from how you were just talking about her, you don't seem to find her repulsive just because she has a child." Jaune reasoned.
"Dude, the fact she is a MILF at such a young age is already a red flag. How do I put this…From what we learned, her man ditched her before her son was likely even born; we know jack shit about her family and how active they are in her life, and to top it all off, there are serious odds she'd want a committed man. You need to get laid with as many women as possible for me to recover! It's counter-productive! It goes against our goal!" She explained.
"Hold on, we barely know her, Kyu! Sure, some of the stuff we did learn from Beli might seem problematic, but again, shouldn't we learn more from the source than go off based only on what we heard from indirect sources?" Jaune countered, once again making Kyu think.
"You might have a point there. But I am also worried about you."
"Me?"
"You are a VERY good guy, Jaune. How do I know you won't give in and do something like stepping up as a father to her child, hm?"
"Kyu?! I'm not- I can't just become someone's father! I don't even have children of my own - well, there is one exception, but she doesn't-"
"Woah there!" Kyu shouted. "You are speaking via your thoughts, remember? I can hear you deviate and mention an exception! What exception? Did you knock some hoe up before we met or something?"
"No! Look, it's complicated, but you see, my sister, Saphron, yeah? She lives in Argus with her wife, Terra."
"Wife?! Dude, you never mentioned your sister is gay!" Kyu replied in surprise.
"It's not a subject you suddenly bring up in a conversation! Anyway, they eventually reached a point where they wanted a child, and, well…Saphron and Terra agreed not to use a stranger's material since neither of them felt comfortable with it. So, eventually, since I was able, I…"
"Had sex with your sister-in-law?" Kyu guessed.
"NO! I finished in a cup and gave it to them! Roughly nine months later, my nephew, Adrian, was born!"
"Nephew? More like son! Wait…Dude, please tell me it wasn't your sister who carried the kid."
"Again. FUCK NO! It was Terra! Saphron knew full well the risks of incest, even if this was all artificial. Terra was the one who carried Adrian for nine months. Though, I have to be clear, Kyu. This is a secret between me and them, alone."
"How come? I mean, sure, it's not something I'd call common, but on another world called Earth, situations like those are not so uncommon." Kyu replied.
"Do they have to deal with an old-fashioned father who was even against his daughter marrying another woman?"
"Oh!" Kyu realized. "Oh, fuck, it's that kind of situation. He was against the marriage?"
"He was against everything at first when Saphron confessed about herself and Terra. Didn't speak to Saph for an entire MONTH! But, eventually, thanks to my mother and my other sisters pushing me to it, he had to come out of his shell and not do anything that might burn bridges with his eldest daughter. He didn't openly accept things, but I guess he grew tolerant. He was, however, over the moon when Adrian was born. Never saw him that happy before, and I think he forgot about all the bad things for that entire day. He thinks Adrian is the son of a random man, though. A donor from the bank. He has no idea the boy is an actual Arc, and honestly, I don't know how he might react."
"Are you afraid he'd do something reckless to your sister or her son?" Kyu asked, showing honest curiosity. And worry.
"No, I don't think he would. But, overall, I fear for myself. The only reason I was not wholly disowned is because he thinks I am the only Arc male left able to continue the family line. If he learns of Adrian, I might just get fully removed from the family tree."
"I see. It must suck, having to worry about your flesh and blood being used against you. But enough of that. Thanks for the lesson, Mister Daddy, but we still have issues to deal with. Kyanna, her son, what should we do?"
"You are asking me?"
"Hey, I tried to tell you to avoid her, but you seem to think it might be possible, so enlighten me with a plan!"
"I don't have one! Kyu, I just…Let's wait. Let's wait; maybe try to make contact, but I don't know. I will just…"
"Wing it?"
"Yeah. Wing it."
"Well, I guess improvisation is as good as any plan right now. It's not like we have the luxury of being picky with our targets. So, what are you planning to do now? The evening is descending upon us, and I doubt you want to stay in your house, sleeping. Boring!"
"I actually wanted to-"
"Oh no! You are not gonna waste this opportunity! Give Aiko a call, Jaune, and see if she is free right now. Take that girl out into town! You need to work on her and see if you can learn more about her and eventually get in her pants! I need this!"
Accepting the defeat with a sigh, Jaune fished out his scroll, reaching Aiko's contact information and dialing the number. He placed the device to his ear, waiting for her to pick up. It was ringing for a few moments before her voice came on the other end.
"Hello? Jaune? What is it? Is there an issue with the investments?" Aiko asked.
"No, everything is perfect, from what I can see. I was actually wondering if you'd like to go out tonight. " He gazed to the side, seeing Kyu giving him signs of encouragement. "You know, just us, around town?"
"Are you…Asking me out on a date into town?" Aiko asked slowly, making Jaune panic somewhat.
"No! Nothing of the romantic kind. I just wanted to see if you'd be up for a stroll and maybe a snack. You don't need to come dressed in a dress or something like that just for a stroll, right?" Jaune replied, not hiding his panic when Aiko suggested this might be a romantic stroll.
"Oh! Right, sorry for jumping the gun! Sure! I have nothing else better to do other than to lounge around my apartment, at least until my suspension from work is over, so I could use a stroll around the island to help me clear my mind. And hey! I'd be walking around with a guy with an active aura! Safety 100%! Where and when do you want to meet?"
"How about I pick you up from in front of your apartment building in an hour or so? I need to get back to my place since I just finished my first day at the gym."
"Sure, no problem! Give me a call when you are coming, so I know to come down. Later, Jaune!" And with that, Aiko hung up the scroll, letting Jaune absorb the information.
"Hmm. Execution could have been smoother, and you could have taken the romantic date route, but I guess this is the safest option available. Good job overall, Jaune!" Kyu congratulated him, but saw no response. "Jaune?"
"I just asked a girl out." They were in an empty street section. "Girl? Woman! Aiko is, like, ten years my senior, and I'd be going out with her!"
"As friends! As you made it seem like. Relax, dude! Everything will be fine! Just don't expect another blowjob out of her or anything. Be casual about this! Try to imagine you are going out with one of your old pals from Ansel or whatever you once mentioned you were from." Kyu said, trying to reassure him.
"Yeah, yeah, you have a good point. I need to get myself together. Come on, we have to rush back to our place to get ready." Jaune stated.
"That's the way to go, boyo! Now go get yourself ready for a night to remember!"
The Bella Dia nights. Well, could you call them nights? The lights of the city were so bright they illuminated the island, and if it weren't for the dark sky above, one might think it was still morning. Jaune found them quite peculiar but in a good way. He had taken a cab to Aiko's, dressed in a plain black shirt, jacket, and jeans for their outing. He had given Aiko a call on his way, but upon arrival, he didn't see her immediately.
Then she came out of the apartment building. She wore a pair of tight jeans coupled with a crop top and a jacket over it, making for quite an interesting design. Upon seeing him, she waved at him. "Jaune! Good evening!"
"Hello to you as well, Aiko," Jaune replied. "Ready to go? I got this here cab waiting for us."
"Don't rush, lady! This guy is loaded with cash, and my counter is running!" The driver shouted, reminding Jaune of their little deal. Yeah, he pretty much rented a cab for a bit.
Aiko ignored the man. "Where are we going?"
"How about we just walk around? From what I gather, there are plenty of shops open in Bella Dia during the night, so we might find something that draws our attention. We could even get a snack later." Jaune said.
"Sounds great! I actually know a pretty nice place downtown. Best fries on this side of the island." Aiko replied, and as she got into the backseat of the cab, with Jaune following suit, the driver drove them to the downtown area. Once there, Jaune paid the man and sent him on his way, returning to Aiko, who was looking around.
"Man, I never get tired of this." She said as she walked with Jaune. "The lights, sounds, the activity of the people around - this is what a dream place looks like right here!"
"Huh. I actually imagined mine with a bit more medieval flare." Jaune replied jokingly.
Aiko actually snorted, hearing him. "Dude, really? Not that kind of dream! But fine then, I'll play along. And pray tell, what kind of medieval flare are you looking for?"
"Oh, the classics. Dusty roads, thatch roofs, the works. Then again, the Grimm are a problem." Jaune continued. "They didn't have a lot of defenses back then, but then again, a dream place would be a place without Grimm, right? Even now, it seems those people are living without worrying about them."
"True to that," Aiko added. "Bella Dia is one of the safest places on Remnant due to very low Grimm activity. This allowed it to develop independently like no other island colony out there! I actually substituted for one of my colleagues once for history. This island has quite a rich history."
"Really? Tell me something I don't know then." Jaune asked.
"Well, did you know this used to be a port for Dust traffickers? Back then, to them, Dust was just some fancy gem, and it wasn't until later, when its true use was discovered, that they began to amp up their operation. Buildings were built, and shops were established. Slowly, it developed into a settlement."
"I guess it goes to show you can never know what to expect, right? I mean, to them, the island was just a temporary stop, but look at it now!" Jaune gestured to the surrounding area. "A far cry from some smuggler's den."
"I wouldn't say that, but best to leave the ugly parts for another time," Aiko added, the two of them continuing on their road. Eventually, however, something caught Aiko's eyes. "Look! There, in the shop's window!"
Getting Jaune's attention, he looked to where Aiko was pointing and saw some kind of game store. "A game store?"
"This is a place for more physical games, where they sell poker cards, chess sets, and so on. But I never thought they'd have a Shogi board! I haven't seen one of these in ages!"
"What is Shogi?" Jaune asked genuinely.
"Right, different areas of Anima. Shogi is a game from my corner of Remnant, like chess, but with its own rules. I used to play from time to time when I was young before entering college. Damn! It's a bit expensive…"
"Want me to buy it for you?" Jaune offered.
"Are you sure? Oh, what am I saying? Of course, you are. This much is chum change for you at this point." Aiko replied. "Well, I don't want to say no. Mainly because I really want it. But at the same time, Jaune, don't you think you are being a bit too generous with me? Like, dude, I won't blow you again if you just throw money out the window for me."
Jaune blushed a bit. "T-that wasn't what I was thinking. I am also curious about how it differs from average chess. I used to play quite a bit with my grandfather when I was younger, and maybe you could teach me how to play Shogi? You know, give us something to do from time to time."
"Sure, I guess I could teach you how to play. Alright, you got me. Go ahead, buy it, and later, when we have the time, I will teach you how to play."
"Deal." With that, Jaune entered the store and purchased the Shogi board. The clerk was kind enough to give them a fairly large handbag to carry it in, and after he was done, Jaune returned to Aiko, who took the handbag.
"I cannot wait to try it out. Come on! The night is young!" Aiko urged Jaune to follow her as she walked away down the street.
Jaune would have to admit this felt nice. He and Aiko were mainly going around, looking around through the shops and seeing if anything caught their eye. He didn't know a lot about Aiko, but frankly, something did seem to click. She seemed to be somewhat detached from things around her. As if there was nothing that really caught her eye, and she just went with the flow of things.
Jaune believed it might relate to the things about her mother she had told him about before, but he was not about to pry more into that than he already had. Mostly because she might expect him to talk about his past more as well. It was too early for him to be opening up about that kind of stuff, so he had to try and avoid the subject as much as he could.
Eventually, he and Aiko found themselves a place to relax. Namely, at the small diner, Aiko mentioned before. They had several bags with some shopped items, like clothing and a few trinkets. Once they sat down, a waiter came to ask for their order, and Aiko was quick to ask for the fries, something he mimicked since he wanted to see if they were as good as she said they were.
And by the Gods, were they good…
"Oh!" Swallowing the food in his mouth, then drinking from his soda, Jaune spoke. "Those are really good! The serving is not small either!"
"I know!" Aiko replied. "They make the best fries on the island, and trust me, I checked. This place is doing stellar, thanks to those, but the other items on the menu are nothing to scoff at, either. This is also a nice, cozy place to be in. I often come here after classes to enjoy myself and destress after a long day trying to teach those kids. Could you believe they are not that much younger than me, yet it feels so different?"
"Considering I am the same age as those supposedly in your first-year classes?" Jaune replied rhetorically, which Aiko caught on.
"Oh, right! Sorry, I forgot you are not that much older. Frankly, you don't really act like those kids."
"How so?"
"For one, you are more polite, don't smoke pot from what I can see - trust me, years of being around the stuff refined my sense of smell - and, well…I guess they lack the maturity you have. I don't know if it is from fighting actual Grimm or whatever it was you did, but you give off a more mature aura. No pun intended there." Aiko stated, giving her opinion about him.
"Well, I guess I did have a taste of the real world. Most youths don't really go for the huntsman profession if they don't have families who are huntsmen themselves, from my understanding. In my case, I guess it was somewhat the opposite. But let's not go there. If we are saying what we think of the other, I guess I could also say a thing or two about you."
"Oh, really? Well then, go right ahead!"
"First off, you are clearly smart. From what you told me, you did six years of superior studies, which is more than a good amount of people can claim. The case and point here is that you are basically my investment agent. Though, you do seem to have a bit of a rusty judgment, seeing how we met. Or rather, the situation you were in when we met."
"Yeah, I don't have any excuses for that. Gambling has been my vice for a long time."
"Have you been gambling since I paid off your debt?"
"Gods, no! No, I am trying to stay clear of it. I play some games on my scroll that simulate gambling, but without actual Lien being involved, you know?" Aiko replied. "I don't want to get myself in that situation again if I can help it, nor do I think it'd be fair to you seeing how it was out of your pocket that the money came from."
"That's good. Though, it does make me wonder how you managed to fall into the vice of gambling. Again, I think of you as being quite an intelligent person, so how could you make such a bad call?" He asked.
"My mother," Aiko replied plainly. "I didn't finish the tale last time, so I guess I could continue. I gave it some thought, and you are right. My stuff is old and mostly healed, and yours is fresh. So I won't ask that you share your story with me in exchange."
"Alright. Well, in that case, from what I recall, you had run away from your somewhat abusive mother, who was very controlling. You had two years of high school left, and you were pretty much crashing with a friend. Am I on point so far? Your mother had also given up searching after a while."
"Yeah, you are. Well, my mother gave up on searching for me after three or so months. I don't know what she was thinking back then if I was worth the bother or not, but I guess I was never to find out. I stayed off her radar until I finished high school. She found me there during graduation, and I shit you not, I never heard her shout that loud in my life."
"Was she happy to see you?" He asked.
"She was foaming at the mouth, mad," Aiko added. "Two of the jocks from the football team had to restrain her as she began cursing and shouting at me, calling all kinds of hurtful names. I guess she couldn't keep herself from blowing up in public, as that ruined her image. I don't know what I was thinking either…"
"Hmm?"
"I went back to her." Aiko's words really surprised Jaune. "I know, sounds like a bunch of stupid nonsense, but after getting admitted into a good college, I found myself struggling with the money mid-way through my second year. The savings I had made during high school from part-time jobs were drying up faster than expected, and it wasn't due to gambling either! No, it was a rise in prices for stuff. The bills, groceries, you name it. I had to cut down on some costs somehow, and moving back with her was the perfect solution."
"Did it go well?"
"After she was actively shamed for an entire year? My mother actually took me back, but…I could tell she was affected. She was still bossy and whatnot but didn't dare lay her hands on me again. Heck, she seemed just to mind her own business, leaving me to my own, but as time went on…" She sighed. "I don't know how I should put this, Jaune. I really don't, as there is no nice way to put this, but I think my mother was trying to change for the better. Like, she was trying to actually be a good mother for once in her life, yet as time went on, I just saw it as her trying to worm her way back into control of my life. I shut her out."
"We'd talk, yes, but I never let her in as much as she'd want, you know? I guess that makes me the asshole in that situation. Took me time to eventually conceive the idea she was trying to change for the better, but by the time I began to see it, well…She didn't give me the time."
"What do you mean by that?" Jaune asked with curiosity.
"She died in an accident. Some freak accident, as in, someone's vehicle went out of control and smashed itself right into a shop. My mother, along with a few others, didn't make it."
"Aiko…" Jaune said softly.
"Suddenly, I was alone. And I was no longer afraid my freedom would be taken from me. It happened during my third year in college, and after the funeral and whatnot, I just went wild. I spiraled, in a way. After finishing my studies, I got myself hired, and it was not long after that I just discovered the addictive feeling of gambling. With no one there to stop me, I just went wild, I guess."
"Did your mother leave you anything? As in, did she leave a will of some kind?" He asked.
"We weren't rich or anything. She did leave a will in which she left me the house, but I had to sell it to pay off some of my debt. That is part of the reason I came to Bella Dia. Ugh. Speaking about it like this sometimes makes me wonder if she had a point somewhere, but it's hard to tell. Most of what I can recall of her telling me are criticisms, threats, insults - nothing positive to really focus on."
"Ok, dude, you need to pick up her morale. The fact we have more insight into her past is good, but if she keeps going, she might dip and leave us with a dead end." Kyu warned Jaune, who took her words to heart.
"Hey now, try to relax. It's alright, Aiko. You are doing fine now; you are out of debt and-"
"Only thanks to you!" She cut him off.
"Shit, you messed up!" Kyu swore.
"I've never done anything with my life. Becoming a teacher? It seemed like the obvious thing to do with my education and the safest option. They don't check your financial background, meaning I could hide my gambling addiction and have an income that'd let me slowly pay off my debt! I just…" She sighed, dropping her head onto the table. "I am twenty-eight, Jaune. My youth is already behind me, and what do I have to show for it? Barely a thing."
"Aiko, you are putting yourself down too much," Jaune told her. "You are- I mean…It is not too late. You sound like you just need direction, that's all. You are a smart woman, Aiko, so I am sure you will do just fine with whatever you put your mind to. Just relax."
Aiko sighed. "You know what is even more fucked up? My mother also left me a letter. Her lawyer said that in her will, it said to open it at my own leisure, and I've been sleeping with that damn thing for years now, always keeping it close. Everything is just fucked up. I don't know what to do with myself, nor how to do it; I'm just…I don't know."
Silence. Everything the two of them could hear was silence as Aiko finished her little tale. Of course, it was only silent for her. Jaune, on the other hand, was processing things over with Kyu perched atop his shoulder. "She is lost. Her mother has been so controlling her entire life that when she got free, she didn't know how to handle the real world. She might be a functional member of society now, but she has no direction. Always following what her mother said…"
"And now, she cannot think of anything to do. She has no direction! She doesn't know what to do with her life, which ends her in some serious shit. Damn. You know, at first, I thought of her as an easy one, with her showing up at our door offering services for cash and such, but now I kinda feel for her. It's hard to be young and don't know what to do with your life. Her mother dying likely didn't help. Sure, they had as much of a relationship as you do right now with your father, but something there seems…off. For example, there is either something she is not telling us or a piece missing, even if she is unaware of it. Maybe that letter of hers is the answer. I don't know."
"Any advice on how to advance? From the looks of things, this tale of hers really made the mood take a nose dive." Jaune asked.
"Be supportive. She is doing decent, but mentally, she is at rock bottom. She needs direction but cannot seek it herself."
"What if we gave her direction? She is doing a good job as my investment agent, so maybe she could do that as her full-time job. Could offer her part of the profit as a salary and everything!" He suggested, which got Kyu thinking.
"True, that money is also part of her hard work, but there is an issue with her workplace. She mentioned working at the local university, so perhaps we should put the option on the table, but ultimately let her decide if she wants to take that step or not."
"Well, only one way to find out." Jaune finished his talk with Kyu and then turned his attention to Aiko. "You know, you could work for me."
"Say what?" Aiko lifted her gaze to him.
"I mean, think about it: It's a direction. You could become an investment agent - MY investment agent. I'd let you keep a fair percent of the profits, netting you an income, and you would be working for a friend."
"Dude, don't friend-zone yourself!" Kyu warned.
Aiko snorted. "Become your investment agent? With a salary possibly getting into the millions? I…I don't know. Don't get me wrong that is a killer deal. Like, holy shit, dude. But it just…I don't know; it just seems a bit too good to be true. Do you know? Usually, that only means something shitty is about to happen and ruin things."
"Or nothing is going to happen, and everything will be fine," Jaune replied optimistically.
"You sound like an optimist right now. Huh. I had you pegged for a cynic or a realistic person, not gonna lie, with what you apparently went through." Aiko replied, using the little amount of information she had on him. "But, I guess…" She sighed. "I really didn't want to say this, but…Jaune? Do you think you could call your father?"
Jaune nearly froze hearing her. "W-what?" He asked, his voice shaking.
"Jaune, look. My mother and I…We didn't have the best relationship, that much, I will admit full-heartedly. But I think that, in the end, she was trying to make an effort to be better. Maybe, I don't know…You could fix things with your father? Before it is too late."
"Stop," Jaune said, not wanting to hear more from her. "Just…Aiko…My father and your mother couldn't have been more different. His reason…the mistake was with me alone. He did what he knew. What his own father taught him, I guess, to do. Was it the right thing to do? Maybe. Was it something the public would condemn if they learned? Maybe. I cannot be sure. Aiko, our situations are just…" He raised his hand, trying to think on his words. "Too different!"
"Too different?" Aiko echoed his words. "How come? You had a falling out with your father, like how I had with my mother! You said the mistake is yours, right? Surely, you can just-"
"There is no amount of apologies that'd get me welcomed back into my own family!" Jaune shouted, making more than just a few sets of eyes look at them. Realizing this, he began to panic, looking at Aiko, who seemed more than just a bit shocked.
"Dude…You blew up." Kyu spoke first.
"I'm sorry…I'm sorry, everyone. It is just a touchy subject, but I am all right. I am alright." He told everyone in the diner, yet in the last part, he said to himself. Yet, Aiko, who was sitting with him, looked at him with a guilty expression.
"You were…Oh, my Gods. And I tried to push for you to-? Jaune, I am so sorry; I didn't know better!" Aiko said to him, realizing she had pushed too far.
"It's alright. I didn't exactly say it aloud for you to know either, did I? But yeah. As I said, things are fresh. Lots of details I'd rather leave to the past to heal and scar. But I cannot just mend things with my father, Aiko. I might have made a stupid mistake. I might have paid the price for it. But my father doesn't want a son who makes such mistakes." Jaune told her. "In all but official documents, I am his no longer."
"Jaune…" She said softly. "Shit, and I thought I had some baggage. Look, I'm sorry for probing. How about we pay and leave? I don't think the night can continue like this, seeing how tense things are right now."
"Fuck." Kyu swore, having hoped for more.
"Actually…Could you stay over? My place has some extra rooms, and I made sure they were furbished. Just basic stuff, nothing personalized. I don't blame you, Aiko, but…I think I need some company. Even if we are not in the same room, I think knowing there is someone down the hall who can give me some kind words may just be what I need to get a good night's rest tonight. Or, well, this early in the morning. Holy Dust, it's already two in the morning…"
"Never been up so late?"
"I used to live with seven sisters. Trust me, the most I was able to push it before any of them barged into my room was midnight." Jaune replied, bringing a bit of positivity into the fray.
And with that, their night came to an abrupt end, which Kyu didn't like. However, all in all, it did yield great amounts of information, and even though it didn't go to any sexy time, as she'd have hoped, it did seem to help bring them closer. Now that she considered things, both of them had issues with their families, and both of them were pretty much looking for something to set their lives straight.
Compatibility is just as important as being good-looking or well-hung. Or, well, in the case of being a woman, knowing how to play men with honeyed words. Kyu would take tonight's events with a hint of sugar, knowing that, even if it failed to result in any sexy time, it did lay the foundations for some stuff later. Aiko now had her options, and she could think about them. Besides, this might be good for Kyu as well. She didn't think Jaune's own issues would be, well, issues for their mission.
His own baggage can become an issue if not dealt with. But she knows better than to advise him to forget about his family. The name Arc was enough to remind him every time he recalled who he was. Can't just change it either. No, she'd have to help him beat that little weight on his ankle, dragging him down. But one thing at a time.
The two of them arrived at Jaune's place without trouble, with Aiko setting their shopped trinkets on the couch in the living room and then heading to their respective rooms. Jaune wasn't lying when he saw he had extra rooms, as this house had three bedrooms, the master bedroom being his. The other two were for anyone to get.
Nothing happened all night. Yet, Kyu sneaked into Aiko's room to check on her. The woman was sleeping in her underwear since the invitation was a bit sudden. She didn't have any PJs with her, but she must have come to be there for Jaune. Kyu knew the signs. It might have been a little bit of time, but it seems Aiko was genuinely caring for him, not wishing to see him hurt. Especially when she brought upon that hurt.
Regardless of Aiko going to sleep, Kyu returned to Jaune's side and saw him already asleep in his bed. No time to have a chat to review what had gone down, meaning they would just talk tomorrow. Still, as Kyu stayed close to him, something felt off to her.
Mana was added to Jaune's reservoir. Yet, that was strange to her. From her knowledge, only acts of passion, like the sexual kind, could do this, yet this was definitely a weak stream of mana coming in, thanks to her magic. How? Well…
Acts of passion can be seen as many things. Such as simple acts of love, where you simply stay there for the person you care about.
P$tre0n: www.p$ /Inanis484
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