š„š„ You can find chapters ahead here
Support link: pat_reon.com/Redon1
Also other exciting fanfic available š„š„
----------------------------------------------------------
No matter how it happened, Mai Shiranui eventually returned the phone to Emiya.
She invited him into the living room and poured him a hot cup of tea.
She played the role of host naturally.
While drinking, Emiya asked, "What year is it?"
"'96," Mai Shiranui replied.
"King of Fighters '96, huh. That's at least better than '97." Emiya recalled that the final boss of KOF '96 should be Goenitz of the Hakkesshu.
Mai Shiranui looked curious. "What's wrong with '97?"
"The final boss of '97 is Orochi. He's more troublesome. Goenitz is easier by comparison."
"Final boss?"
Emiya explained, "The strongest opponent in the KOF tournament. If I remember correctly, last year and the year before were both Rugal, right?"
Mai Shiranui's expression immediately turned disgusted.
"That's right. That pervert."
Rugal liked killing defeated fighters and turning them into bronze statues for his collection.
To Mai Shiranui, that was pure depravity.
"So this year, it's Goenitz," Emiya said.
"Who's Goenitz?"
"He's one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Hakkesshu. Controls wind. Nicknamed the 'Bringer of a Trembling Wind.' For you guys, he'll be extremely strong."
Emiya paused briefly.
"I remember when Rugal was twenty-five, he challenged the eighteen-year-old Goenitz and lost in three moves."
"What?!"
Mai Shiranui was shocked.
Rugal was a top-tier fighter.
Anyone who had participated in KOF knew that.
And yet he lost in three moves.
"Is Goenitz really that strong?"
Emiya nodded.
"What do you think the Hakkesshu are? They're Orochi's people."
After that, Emiya explained what Orochi was.
Mai Shiranui finally understood.
Her expression became heavy.
"Relax," Emiya said calmly. "It's not as bad as you think. Goenitz will eventually be sealed by the Three Sacred Treasures. Even Orochi, who appears next year, won't escape that fate."
He took a sip of tea.
"Instead of worrying about humanity's future, you should worry about yourself."
Mai Shiranui relaxed slightly at the mention of sealing.
But his next words confused her.
"Me? What's wrong with me?"
Emiya smiled.
"You like Andy, right?"
Mai Shiranui's face reddened, but she didn't deny it.
"That's right. I like Andy."
Andy Bogard.
Terry Bogard's younger brother.
Sent to the Shiranui school, where he met Mai when they were young.
They were childhood sweethearts.
"Then you need to be prepared," Emiya said.
"Prepared for what?" She looked even more confused.
"For a long fight," Emiya replied. "If I remember correctly, Andy avoids marriage for over ten years. You two never get married."
Mai Shiranui: "..."
"Are you kidding me?"
"No." Emiya shook his head.
"I wouldn't joke about this. As far as I know, it stays that way for more than ten years. That's why I'm telling you now. Andy doesn't seem interested in marrying you."
Her expression darkened.
More than when she heard about Orochi.
That made sense.
The fate of the world was distant.
Love wasn't.
Marriage was something she took seriously.
Andy running from it for over ten years was a heavy blow.
For a moment, doubt surfaced.
Did she really want to chase him for that long?
Then she realized something.
"Why are you telling me this?" she asked sharply. "Are you trying to shake my feelings for Andy?"
"I'm not," Emiya said, setting his cup down.
"I'm giving you a choice."
"A choice?" She froze.
"I'm telling you the future," Emiya said calmly. "You decide whether to keep chasing Andy for over ten years and remain his girlfriend, or give up and choose someone else."
"As a famous female fighter, you won't lack suitors. There's no reason to waste over ten years of your youth on him."
"In my opinion, he doesn't deserve you."
"If he truly cared, he wouldn't have avoided marriage for that long."
Mai Shiranui fell silent.
She knew he wasn't wrong.
If Andy really loved her, would he have run for ten years?
Was this love one-sided?
"Andy does love me," she said, recalling their memories, as if convincing herself.
Emiya nodded.
"I think so too."
She was surprised.
She expected him to deny it.
"But liking someone and loving them are different," Emiya continued. "He likes you. But not enough to marry you."
"And you want marriage."
"From that perspective, you've already lost."
Mai Shiranui felt numb.
"So you want me to give up?"
"No." Emiya shook his head again.
"This is still your choice. Continue or give up. I won't interfere."
She stared at him for a long moment.
Then asked quietly, "Why... why are you helping me this much?"
"Because you're part of my childhood," Emiya replied.
"Childhood?"
"When I was a kid, I loved arcade games. Street Fighter. King of Fighters. Contra."
"You were one of my favorite characters."
"After all, you're beautiful."
Mai Shiranui's face flushed.
"Later, when I learned your story online, I felt it was unfair to you."
"Now that I've met you, I had to give you a choice."
She hesitated, then asked, "Are you trying to pursue me?"
"No." Emiya answered immediately. "Please don't misunderstand."
The decisiveness irritated her slightly.
"Why not?" she said. "Aren't I your childhood goddess?"
"Childhood goddess?" Emiya nodded. "You could say that."
To be fair, Emiya had several childhood goddesses.
Mai Shiranui.
Chun-Li.
Ada Wong.
Tifa Lockhart.
Bulma.
Rei Ayanami.
Angewomon.
And more.
But above all-
His true childhood goddess.
Belldandy.
After acknowledging that, Emiya continued.
"The reason I won't pursue you is simple. Our values don't align."
"That surprises me," Mai Shiranui said. "What values?"
"Let me ask you something," Emiya said. "Do you prefer a faithful man, or a flirt?"
"That's obvious. A faithful man," she answered without hesitation.
Emiya clapped once.
"Exactly."
"Most women do."
"But I can't be that."
"As someone who travels between worlds, I'll meet countless women. Many of them will be good women like you."
Mai Shiranui once again confirmed that Emiya was dangerously smooth.
"So I'm not confident I can love only one woman forever," Emiya continued.
"I might make many women like me, but love requires mutual happiness."
"If a woman who wants loyalty is with someone like me, she'll suffer. So will I."
"So I draw a line early."
"I'll only get involved with women who can accept that side of me."
"If they can't, I won't cross that line."
"Even if they're my childhood goddess."
Mai Shiranui: "..."
After a long pause, she sighed.
"You're such a flirt. But somehow, what you're saying makes sense."
"Twisted logic," Emiya said lightly. "I'm aware."
She looked at him.
"Then aren't you afraid that someday you'll meet a woman you love so much that you'd give up everyone else?"
"Hm." Emiya thought for a moment.
Then he shuddered and shook his head.
"I can't imagine that. I know myself pretty well. I don't think I'd go that far."
Mai Shiranui rolled her eyes.
"It's just a hypothetical."
"If you really met someone like that, what would you do?"
"I'd be dead," Emiya said.
__________________________
š Boost This Fanfic! š
Every 350 Power Stones gets 2 bonus chapters! š
Want faster updates? Show your support by dropping Power Stones, leaving reviews, and sharing your thoughts in the comments! Your engagement keeps the story going strong!