If we reach 100 power stones, there will be extra chapters.
×××
They came out of a late-night movie theater.
Yuu stretched his arm behind his head.
"Did you like the movie?"
"Hmph, I guess it wasn't bad."
It was a science movie. Quantum theories, wormholes, that kind of stuff. Yuu knew she was into that, so he picked it on purpose.
'I feel like Yuu's spoiling me right now…'
That's what Saya suddenly thought.
While the other girls were still stuck in the apocalypse world, she was enjoying this little trip.
'I feel kinda bad about that.'
It was already really late. The stars had completely dotted the dark sky.
"I want to go back."
"Are you sure? We could stay a bit longer."
"No. I should go back. I can't relax knowing the world they're in. I have to help the girls. And… find my parents too."
It had been a few hours since Yuu told her that her parents were safe for now. Hearing that had made Saya feel incredibly relieved. And, at the same time, deeply grateful to Yuu.
"Alright, let's go back then."
Then she turned to him.
"Hey, Yuu."
"Hm?"
"I… also…"
While Yuu looked at her with his head slightly tilted, she stopped mid-sentence. Her cheeks turned pink.
"I could also be your follower. I-if you want me to, of course."
Ah.
That word. "Follower."
She said it in such a tsundere way.
"Of course."
Saya's eyes lit up. She looked happy.
"That happy, huh?"
"N-no, I'm not!"
But she quickly hid it when he teased her a bit.
With a smile, he extended his hand to her.
"Let's go."
"Hmph!"
She looked away and took his hand.
And in that moment, they teleported.
×××
The next instant, they appeared in the alchemy room.
Jin-ah jumped back.
"Ah!" She gasped, pressing a hand to her chest. "It's bad for my heart when you appear out of nowhere like that."
She calmed down after a moment.
Saeko was sitting near the window. Her eyes landed on Yuu and Saya's joined hands.
'Interesting.'
Her sharp blue eyes glimmered slightly. Her pink lips curved into a small smile.
Rei noticed too. She looked at Saya, then at Yuu, then back at Saya again.
"Hmm…?"
Saya and Yuu seemed much closer than before.
'Did something happen between them while they were out?'
That thought crossed the girls' minds.
Saya quickly pulled away from Yuu and looked out the window, searching for a distraction.
"Ah…"
When they went to Orario, it was sunrise. Then they went to the alternate Earth, wandered around, visited lots of places in different countries thanks to Yuu's powers, watched the movie… it must've been about twelve hours.
But here…
"It's barely noon."
She looked toward Shizuka, who was focused on tossing flower petals into a cauldron.
"Shizuka-sensei, aren't you tired yet?"
Shizuka looked up briefly.
"Mmm, I'm fine. This is fun."
She went back to focusing.
The ingredients she was using were ones Yuu had given her. According to him, they were rare herbs perfect for beginner alchemists, since using them didn't require much mastery.
'He really likes spoiling his followers.'
That's what Saya thought as she glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
Even she'd been spoiled today. And technically, she wasn't even his follower yet.
Of course, she wouldn't ever admit she'd been spoiled. First, because even if she didn't admit it, she was a tsundere. And second, because if she said something like that out loud, the other girls would probably grab her by the arm and drag her off somewhere private until she confessed everything that'd happened today.
"..."
Leaving those sinister thoughts aside…
She remembered the weapons he'd crafted for the girls. The effort he'd put into each one.
'I feel safe.'
Safe being with him as his follower.
"…Saya?"
Rei's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Huh?"
"I asked if anything interesting happened."
"Ah…" Saya looked away. "Not really."
"Not really?"
Jin-ah walked up to her and grinned like, heh~ heh~, I caught you.
"You sure about that? Your face says otherwise."
"I-it doesn't say anything!"
Saya's cheeks turned bright red.
Rei and Jin-ah exchanged looks.
Saeko stood up and walked toward them with quiet steps.
"Takagi-san seems different."
"D-different? How?"
She tensed up a bit.
"Hm… I'd say you look much more relaxed. Did you manage to sort something out?"
Saya, feeling that Saeko was way too perceptive, turned her gaze aside.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
'Something definitely happened.'
The girls narrowed their eyes at her.
"Anyway…" Saya coughed lightly. "How've things been here?"
"Shizuka's been working on her potions. Jin-ah cooked. Rei and I did a bit of training."
"I see."
Saya nodded as she listened to Saeko's report.
Then she looked toward Yuu.
He was checking some things on a nearby tabl, placing herbs and some notes that probably listed their descriptions and uses.
'Yuu…'
She thought back to everything that had happened today.
('I don't want to be forgotten.')
Those words echoed in her mind.
When he said that, Saya saw in his face the expression of someone broken. And the loneliness in his eyes was unmistakable.
'I don't like that expression. Hmph, since I'll be with him, he better start feeling happy.'
"Hey, Saya."
Rei's voice interrupted her again.
"What?"
"You're smiling."
"I-I'm not!"
But she was. She'd been smiling without realizing it.
"Tsk."
Rei chuckled. Looked like Saya would soon become Yuu's follower too.
Meanwhile, Yuu approached the cauldron. Shizuka was still focused, mumbling about proportions and proper temperatures.
"How's the potion coming along?"
"Good, good… I managed to make a low-grade mana potion."
Jin-ah walked over carrying a tray. There were bowls of rice with fried pork, and two glasses of tea.
"Since you're back, you should rest a bit. I saved this for you two."
×××
Saya was lying on the bed with her head buried in a pillow.
Her ears were glowing red.
Her face was surely not far from boiling point.
She was naked in front of a boy. She was showing him her back. That area that had never been seen by any man.
Now she was showing her naked body to Yuu.
'T-this is just for the ritual...'
"Hiih!"
A cold finger traced strange patterns on her skin.
The touch was careful, and although she hated to admit it, it felt quite good...
She hadn't thought that becoming his follower would lead her to do this kind of thing.
Shortly after, she turned her face slightly.
White blood glistened on Yuu's fingertips.
White blood... he really wasn't human.
Before, she would have been terrified by this sight, but this time, she was fascinated.
The drop slid down and fell onto her back.
Immediately, she felt a chill as the drop rippled across her skin before penetrating deep into it.
At the same time, bright light projected from her back.
From her position, she found Yuu's concentrated face quite attractive. When he frowned, or when his long white eyelashes fluttered, or when he showed those golden eyes completely focused on what he was doing.
"Hmph!"
Then she snorted.
'What the hell am I thinking?'
Yuu ran a white sheet over her back, copying everything that was engraved.
"Done. You can see it if you want."
She was quite curious, so without thinking, she stood up and took the sheet with both hands.
Yuu's eyes moved from Saya's face and fell on her two breasts that swayed with the sudden movement.
Boing! Boing!
Up and down, and from right to left.
The pale skin contrasted with the pink tips, and the rounded shape seemed to defy gravity. Perfect for grabbing, caressing, and gently pinching those pink tips.
It was especially stimulating and attractive.
Saya, who was about to read the sheet, stopped abruptly when she noticed the direction of his gaze.
She followed her eyes down.
"...!!!"
She froze completely.
A bright red began to rise from her neck, climbing until it completely covered her face.
"KYAAAAAAAH!!!"
—Puff!
Smoke came out of her head.
She had completely forgotten that she was naked.
The sheet fell from her hands as she frantically covered herself with the pillow.
"D-don't look, you idiot! Pervert! Why didn't you say anything?!"
Yuu simply blinked.
"But... you were the one who got up..."
Then he flashed an innocent smile.
"SHUT UP!!"
×××
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