When I opened my eyes, I saw it again.
That same endless white.
A weightless, hollow space that stretched in every direction. Neither cold nor warm. Just… still.
I sighed, rubbing my eyes with the back of my hand.
"This dream again, huh…"
It was strange—how quickly I recognized it now. The first time had been disorienting, almost terrifying. But now, it felt like revisiting a memory. Familiar. I already knew who I would meet here.
And sure enough—
That soft, sweet voice drifted toward me like petals in the wind.
"Kage Ito-kun~"
I turned.
Standing before me was a woman.
No… not just a woman.
A vision.
She was radiant—otherworldly—just like before. Long, flowing hair the color of fresh snow shimmered behind her, reaching past her hips like a silver river in the light. Her eyes, sharp and glowing with a warm crimson hue, held a kind of timeless knowledge.
Her figure? Beyond description.
Tall. Poised. Maybe around 5'9".
And those curves—dangerously perfect. Her elegant, silken gown barely concealed the generous swell of her chest, nor the way her waist dipped before rising into wide, graceful hips. The fabric clung to her like starlight. She was like a dream sculpted out of beauty itself.
And her smile…
Gentle. Knowing. Mischievous.
The smile of a goddess.
The goddess.
I blinked, then smiled back at her. "Hey."
No irritation. No scowl.
I didn't feel mad this time.
She noticed.
Her smile widened. "Oh my~ You're not yelling this time. You're not even scowling. Is this what love does to mortal men?"
I shrugged. "I guess I'm just… at peace."
Her eyes twinkled with amusement. "Or exhausted. Poor Ito-kun. Taking five soulmates to bed in one night? What stamina. What determination~" She giggled behind her hand.
I coughed. "T-That's…"
She floated closer, hovering slightly above the ground, arms folded beneath her chest—which only made the… assets more obvious.
"Aisha, Mei, Hana, Aoi, and even little ghostly Akemi~ All pure no more~" she teased with sing-song cruelty.
"Stop saying it like that," I groaned.
She leaned closer, eyes half-lidded. "Oh, come now. I'm a goddess. I see everything, remember?"
I stared at her. "You were watching?"
She giggled again, a playful swirl of magic dancing around her feet. "Of course~ From start to finish. Every moan. Every whisper. Every awkward position."
"You could've looked away."
"I could have," she said smugly, flipping her white hair over her shoulder. "But where's the fun in that?"
I sighed. "Seriously… can I get at least some privacy?"
"Nope!" she beamed. "I made your soul. Your fate is my story. That means your body is basically an open novel to me~"
"...Gross."
"Don't be so grumpy, Ito-kun. I'm here to give you good news~" she purred, twirling gracefully in mid-air.
I folded my arms. "What?"
She fluttered to a stop in front of me, eyes gleaming.
"You now have five soulmates," she said proudly, counting them on her fingers. "You're doing so well. Soooo well~ I'm honestly impressed."
"Thanks… I think?"
She leaned in.
"But two more are on their way. Two very… special ones."
I narrowed my eyes. "I already know."
She tilted her head, letting her silvery hair spill to one side.
"Oh, you're going to love this," she said, practically glowing now. "Your teacher—mature, gorgeous, elegant. An I-Cup, I believe."
I coughed. "That's not—! That's not relevant!"
"It is when you're the protagonist of a soulmate legend!" she said brightly. "And the daughter… mm, she's a bit younger than you. G-Cup. Adorable, hot-blooded, and totally your type~"
My face was probably bright red now.
She floated around me slowly, like a cat toying with a cornered mouse. "Oh, I can already see it. The classroom tension~ The forbidden desire~ The daughter getting jealous of her own mother~ Mmm, divine."
"You're enjoying this way too much."
"I'm a goddess," she shrugged. "If I don't make your story interesting, the universe gets boring."
I rubbed my forehead. "You are literally messing with my life."
"No, sweetie," she said, floating back to face me. "I'm giving your life a purpose. A path. A love you never thought you deserved."
Her smile softened. "And you're doing better than anyone ever has. You've made five girls—each broken in some way—feel loved. Whole. Protected. Do you know how rare that is?"
I didn't reply.
She drifted closer, looking at me seriously now.
"But the next two won't be easy, Ito-kun. They'll be complicated. Especially the teacher."
I looked up. "How do I win them?"
She smiled, gently now.
"By doing what only you can. Loving them. Understanding them. Being… you."
"Any advice?"
She paused, then tapped a finger to her lips. "Mmm… for the teacher? Compliment her mind. Not her body. At first~ She's used to being ogled."
I nodded. "And her daughter?"
"Don't treat her like a child. She hates that. But don't ignore her mom either, or she'll explode."
"Explode?"
"Emotionally. Probably. Maybe literally. She's… feisty."
I stared at the endless white surrounding us. "You're really just throwing chaos at me, huh?"
"I'm giving you what you were destined for," she said warmly. "And you're strong enough now."
There was silence between us for a moment.
Then, she reached out.
Her fingertips brushed my cheek.
"You're not alone anymore, Ito-kun."
"I know."
"You're loved."
I smiled, softly this time. "I know."
Then, that teasing grin returned.
The light began to fade.
The vast white around me, the comforting warmth of her presence—
The scarlet-eyed goddess whose voice lingered like the scent of a memory—
It all began to dissolve like mist in the morning sun.
I heard her voice one last time.
"Good luck, Kage Ito-kun."
A soft breeze carried her parting words through the void, curling around me like a final embrace.
And then—
Darkness.
And then—
Warmth.
The warmth of something real.
My senses slowly returned—bit by bit—anchoring me to the world I had left behind.
The weight of gravity.
The scent of faint perfume and disinfectant.
The quiet hum of the clubroom ceiling fan.
I stirred.
My face was resting on the desk.
My arms folded beneath me.
A pillow of crossed limbs and a leftover dream.
"…Ito?"
A gentle whisper brushed my ear.
I blinked. Slowly.
I could feel a hand on my back—feminine, soft, warm.
And hovering just above me… her face.
Aisha.
Bent low, her dark black eyes fixed on mine with worry.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly, voice barely louder than a breath. "You were asleep for a while. You didn't answer when I called."
I met her gaze—groggy, still caught between dream and reality.
For a moment, I couldn't answer.
Aisha tilted her head, her face inching closer, her hand still resting between my shoulder blades.
Then, without another word, she leaned in and kissed me.
Just like that.
A soft, simple kiss.
No hesitation.
No teasing smile.
No blushing.
Just warmth. Reassurance.
A morning kiss.
Like lovers. No—soulmates.
I closed my eyes for that brief second and let it ground me.
"Good morning," she said gently, brushing her fingers through my hair once. "I was worried."
I sat up slowly, rubbing the back of my neck. My head felt a little light—like I'd been away for longer than a nap.
But seeing her eased it all.
"Good morning, Aisha," I murmured. "Thanks for staying with me."
She smiled and pulled a chair beside me, not saying anything more for now.
I glanced around.
Our clubroom was bathed in soft afternoon sunlight, orange beams falling through the window and dancing across the floor.
The atmosphere was peaceful.
Lively in its own, strange way.
To my left, sprawled across the couch in a very Mei-like manner, was Ahane Mei.
Her face was scrunched in concentration as she mashed buttons on her handheld console, her deep blue hair swishing every time she leaned forward aggressively.
"Damn it—! No, you baka AI freak—get stunned when I parry you!" she barked at the screen.
Then a grumble.
"Cheating boss… stupid mechanics… it's not like I wanted to win anyway, you sad excuse for pixelated garbage…"
She didn't even look up as she spewed tsundere frustration at her digital opponent.
In the corner, soft laughter echoed like wind chimes.
Akemi floated mid-air—cross-legged, her translucent form shimmering faintly. She was playing jankenpon with Ayase Aoi on the carpeted floor.
"Rock~ Paper~ Scissors~!"
"Ah!" Aoi gasped, wide-eyed as ever.
"Paper again!" Akemi laughed. "You're too predictable, Aoi-chan~"
"I-I wasn't trying to be!" Aoi pouted, flailing her sleeves.
Akemi giggled and reached over—her fingers somehow phasing just enough to tap Aoi's nose, which twitched in embarrassment.
"C-c-cheater ghost!" Aoi squeaked.
"I am a ghost," Akemi said proudly. "Mischief is in the contract~"
I chuckled quietly. Somehow, the sound of their joy brought me fully back to life.
The door opened with a familiar creak.
Hana stepped inside, damp strands of her hair still clinging to her cheeks—clearly just returned from the washroom. Her shirt clung slightly to her curves.
She stretched once—arms raised, chest pushed out like she didn't even realize it—and then flopped down onto the couch beside Mei.
"You look grumpy~" she teased, ruffling Mei's hair.
Mei groaned. "Ugh, you're loud."
Hana tilted her head. "Love you too~"
"B-Baka… y-you were the one moaning the loudest last night—!"
"WHAT WAS THAT, MEI?" Hana shot back instantly, eyes wide.
"I SAID NOTHING!" Mei blurted, her face turning red.
I watched all of it from my seat, a smile creeping up.
This… was chaos.
Our chaos.
I stood up slowly, stretching. My body was still a little sore from everything, but my heart was strangely light.
I turned toward the girls.
Aisha gave me a curious look, watching as I made my way across the room—specifically toward one girl.
Aoi.
Still kneeling by the corner rug, now nervously fidgeting with her fingers.
She glanced up just as I reached her. "S-Senpai…?"
I crouched beside her, letting my voice drop gently. "Are you okay?"
She nodded—but then lowered her head. "…I-I… still feel a bit… embarrassed."
Akemi floated behind her, raising a ghostly eyebrow. "Ayase-chan, didn't we all just become corrupted sinners together last night? You're in good company."
Aoi blushed. "T-that doesn't help!!"
I smiled and reached forward, brushing her bangs softly.
"You're so cute," I said. "You're mine. All of you. That's what matters."
Her eyes shimmered.
And without warning, I leaned in and kissed her forehead.
She froze—completely.
Steam practically erupted from her head.
"Uwaaaa—S-Senpai kissed meeeee—"
I stood back up quickly, turning toward the couch.
Mei was watching from the corner of her eyes, pretending not to.
I walked toward her next.
"Wh-What do you want now?" she snapped, not looking up from her game.
I leaned down until my mouth was inches from her ear.
"I wanted to tell you…" I whispered.
Her eyes flicked toward me suspiciously.
"…You're a terrible gamer."
"W-What?! YOU WANNA DIE?!"
She swung her console like a club, and I ducked just in time.
But before she could go full berserker—
I caught her by the chin, tilted her head toward me, and kissed her.
Her mouth was mid-insult.
Her whole body locked up.
When I pulled away, she made a noise I had never heard before.
"W-W-W-WHA—?!"
"I love you too, Mei," I grinned.
"S-STOP BEING SMOOTH! Y-YOU THINK YOU CAN FLIRT JUST 'CAUSE I—?! BAKA! STUPID HANDSOME DUMBHEAD!"
I left her to self-combust.
Hana was already smirking as I walked to her.
"You're on a kissing spree, huh?"
I shrugged. "Might as well finish it."
I grabbed her cheeks gently and planted one on her lips before she could react.
"Mm~! You taste like mint," I teased.
"Well, excuse me for being clean!" she laughed, shoving me playfully.
I turned to Akemi, who had floated down now, watching with amusement.
"You're gonna kiss a ghost next?" she asked.
"Why not?"
I stepped closer.
She leaned in with a smile. "You better not phase through me, lover boy."
And I didn't.
Our lips touched—cold and warm colliding.
Soft. Brief. Real.
When I pulled back, Akemi's eyes were glowing a bit brighter.
"I'm glad I can be touched," she whispered. "Even now."
"You're not just a ghost, Akemi. You're mine too."
"I know," she said, brushing back her translucent hair. "And I'm never leaving."
I looked at them all.
The room felt so full.
Of warmth.
Of teasing.
Of laughter.
Of life.
Of love.
Aisha stood beside me now, watching with pride.
"Look at you," she said softly. "Gathering your girls."
I chuckled. "It's getting harder to keep up."
She leaned on my arm, wrapping hers around it.
"But you're doing it. Because that's who you are."
I closed my eyes for a second.
This was my life now.
This strange, chaotic, beautiful life.
And I wouldn't trade it for anything.
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END OF CHAPTER : 61 : MEETING AGAIN!
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