If we reach 100 power stones, there will be extra chapters.
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"Mmhn~"
The next morning, Saya was lying in bed. She was still fast asleep.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and drops of sweat shimmered on her skin.
She was wearing a short pink shirt that barely covered her breasts. Her cleavage was visible, and her stomach was exposed. She also had on short black shorts, showing off her pale thighs that glistened with a thin layer of sweat.
"Mmn~ No... stop..."
She was dreaming.
In the dream, Yuu was kissing her deeply. Then his tongue traced along her skin slowly, her neck, her shoulders, her breasts, descending lower and lower...
She felt like ice cream melting under the heat of his mouth.
When she took the initiative and kissed him back, she woke up.
"Hah, hah..."
She sighed in relief. It was just a dream.
At the same time, she felt disappointed.
What would it really feel like?
'Being licked by Yuu like that…'
She swallowed hard, imagining a scene like the one in her dream, before shaking her head frantically with a red face.
"Wake up, idiot."
Saying that to herself, she got up from bed and walked to the closet. She chose a gothic lolita dress.
Yuu had made a lot of clothes for her. The ones she was wearing now were her sleepwear. He had made those too.
She grabbed a towel and headed for the shower.
"...!"
On the way, she ran into Yuu.
He had just come out of Shizuka's bedroom.
When she saw him, she instantly remembered what happened yesterday. His hands holding her by the waist, pressing her against him, then kissing her...
"Hmph!"
To hide her embarrassment, she adjusted her glasses and huffed at him before walking past.
—Don!
But he cornered her against the wall. His hand hit the wall beside her face.
Saya's heart was pounding fast. She realized something at that moment. She liked this Yuu. The one who did a kabedon on her in the morning.
Of course, she'd never admit it.
"W-what were you doing in Shizuka-sensei's room?"
Without meaning to, her voice sounded pretty accusing. Only after saying it unconsciously did she realize she might've been a little jealous.
He leaned his face closer to hers.
She turned her head to the side, looking at the wall.
"Are you jealous?"
"I-I'm not jealous! I just... just asked, that's all..."
She replied nervously, especially since she could feel his breath on her cheek.
"Shizuka asked me to help with something related to alchemy."
"Hmph. I don't care anyway."
But her hands were gripping the towel tightly.
"You don't care? Then why's your face so red? And your eyebrows all scrunched up?"
"Because it's hot!"
"Really?"
His finger traced a line down her bare arm, making her shiver.
"Your skin's cold."
"T-that's because..."
She had no excuse.
He chuckled softly.
"You're bad at lying, Saya."
She finally looked at him with her orange eyes.
And when they met his golden ones, the warmth in his gaze made her stomach twist.
Then she spoke softly.
"What if I were jealous? What would you do?"
His smile softened.
"I'd make sure you had no reason to be."
He didn't even give her time to complain before leaning in and pressing his lips against hers.
He gave her a soft, gentle kiss.
Saya's brain completely froze.
"Good morning, my dear."
Then he just walked away, leaving her there against the wall.
"Go take a shower. Breakfast'll be ready soon."
She stood frozen, her heart racing uncontrollably.
Did he just call her my dear?
She touched her lips where he'd kissed her. She could still feel the warmth there.
"Idiot..."
Even though she muttered that word, a smile crept onto her lips.
"..."
She hated to admit it, but being in love wasn't so bad after all.
Even if that someone was irritating, teasing, and made her stomach flutter every time he looked at her.
She sighed and walked to the shower.
It would probably take a while for the heat on her cheeks to fade.
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"I have to go back."
Today, Yuu had decided to return.
It was after breakfast. The girls were sitting around the table when he mentioned it.
Saeko stopped cleaning her katana. Saya froze with her cup halfway up, and Jin-ah looked at him, confused.
"Yuu-kun, do you really have to go?" Rei asked, sitting beside him.
"I've got unfinished business there."
Besides, he'd left his little vampire alone. He'd made the mistake of not bringing her with him.
"..."
"I'll be coming regularly. It's not like we won't see each other for a long time."
The girls understood. It made sense. But that didn't mean they wanted to be apart from him.
Saya looked at him with raised eyebrows. She wanted to go with him. She was sure the others felt the same.
But they knew they couldn't.
As Yuu's Pathstriders, they had to stay in this world. They had to fight and level up to grow stronger, without being a burden to him.
Only then could they truly stand by his side someday.
They were destined to live forever now, so they had plenty of time ahead to be with him.
Only after thinking that way did the girls feel calmer.
Yuu looked toward where Hirano was standing near the window, aiming his sniper rifle outside.
"Hey, Hirano. Wanna come?"
Hirano turned and raised his hand like a student in class.
"I heard you're going on a trip, Izumi-kun, but... where exactly are you from?"
"I'm just a homeless traveler. But right now, I'm staying temporarily in another world."
Hirano's eyes lit up.
"What's that world like?"
"Like Earth. Though they also have supernatural beings, ghosts, demons, dragons, gods."
"I wanna go! I have to see that place!"
Yuu didn't mind taking him. After all, that had been his plan from the start.
Yuu was pretty possessive and wouldn't allow another man to live in the house where his followers stayed.
And now that Hirano was leaving, the girls sighed in relief.
"Oh, right, Izumi-kun, will I be able to come back after?"
He just wanted to satisfy his curiosity. He was like any other otaku who dreamed of visiting another world. And now the opportunity was right in front of him.
Besides, if it was like Earth, there had to be anime there, right? He could even bring stuff back! This world had gotten pretty boring since all technology stopped working.
"Just say my name if you wanna come back. I'll bring you."
"Really? Awesome!"
Hirano was already imagining all the things he could do in that world.
Yuu stood up from the table. At the same time, the girls also stood up.
Saya looked at him and huffed.
"Don't cause trouble over there."
"Me? Cause trouble? I wonder what kind of person you think I am. I never cause trouble."
"..."
The girls didn't believe a word of it.
Rei stepped closer to Yuu.
"Yuu-kun, be careful."
Saeko also approached.
"Then... see you soon, Yuu-sama."
Shizuka suddenly hugged him.
"Wahhh~ Sensei's gonna miss you."
"Yuu-ssi... I'll be waiting."
Saya stayed behind, looking away.
Yuu walked up to her.
"Not gonna say goodbye?"
"I-it's not like I'll miss you or anything..."
Her hands fiddled with the hem of her dress.
Yuu smiled. He pulled her in and hugged her.
"I'll be back soon."
"...You better."
Her voice was muffled against his chest.
He tilted her chin up and kissed her softly on the lips.
When they finally parted, Saya quickly wiped her lips.
"Go already. Before I change my mind and don't let you leave."
Yuu chuckled.
"Alright."
He looked at Hirano.
"Ready?"
Hirano had been watching the whole scene, mouth wide open.
As expected of Izumi-san... He tamed Takagi-san.
He immediately snapped out of it and struck a military pose.
"Ready, sir!"
"Good. Take this, you'll need it."
Yuu made a backpack appear and handed it to Hirano, who held it, unsure what was inside.
The next moment, there was a flash of light, and they were gone.
The house fell silent.
Saya stared at the spot where he'd been standing a moment ago.
"He really left..."
The girls looked on with sad eyes.
"He'll be back soon," Saeko said calmly. "As Yuu-sama said, this isn't a farewell to be sad about. As his followers, we must stay united and increase our strength quickly so we can accompany him and not be a burden."
"I know."
But even so, the house felt emptier now that Yuu was gone.
Saya sighed and walked toward the window, wanting some air. But at that moment, Rei grabbed her arm.
Huh? Saya looked at her with raised eyebrows.
She saw a cold smile on her face.
"So then, Saya-san, care to explain that kiss just now?"
"Huh?"
Saya froze.
The other girls quickly surrounded her.
"Who would've thought Saya would get ahead of us like that…"
Saeko had a gentle smile, but her blue eyes were sharp.
Saya couldn't help the goosebumps running up her arms under their gazes. These girls are terrifying!
Still, she soon huffed and looked at them arrogantly.
"Hmph. You probably don't know this, but I'm the one who took Yuu's first kiss."
"..."
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