Chapter 179: Sakurajima Ai

Seeing the mutual understanding and bond between Hiratsuka Shizuka and Machida Sonoko as two middle-aged women, many people in the group couldn't help but feel relieved that they hadn't lived their youth in a repressed way.

Everyone hoped that, when the time came, they would experience true fulfillment in their first intimate encounters. Otherwise, they feared ending up in their middle years like Shizuka and Sonoko, seemingly pitiful and craving such experiences.

For them, it was enough to gradually immerse themselves in this newfound fulfillment.

But for Rei Ao, who needed to ensure they adapted to this indulgence, there was much to consider.

Even just helping them overcome their initial fears required Rei Ao to prepare the setup with great care.

For those who already had similar experiences, these moments would seem familiar.

But for those who hadn't, it was an endless source of intrigue and gossip.

Utaha Kasumigaoka: "This is…"

Utaha Kasumigaoka had plenty of commentary but didn't know whether she should say anything.

The main issue was that Machida Sonoko's current behavior contrasted so starkly with her previous image.

Yumiko Miura: "I've only heard rumors about what happens in middle age, but I didn't think it was this intense."

Yui Yuigahama: "But my mom doesn't seem to feel like that at all."

Yumiko Miura: "Well, maybe it's because your family is happy and complete."

Yui Yuigahama: "Hmm… but I've never had a dad since I was little."

Yumiko Miura: "Huh?"

Yumiko almost dropped her teacup, startled.

She hadn't meant anything by her comment!

Seeing Yui's reply, she immediately regretted her words and felt a wave of guilt.

As Yui's good friend, how could she not have known this about her?

Yumiko Miura: "Yui, I'm so sorry. I didn't know about that."

Yui Yuigahama: "Haha, it's okay, really."

Yui smiled and tried to reassure her friend, but in truth, her mood wasn't as light as she made it seem.

Deep down, Yui felt a twinge of sadness because she knew that Rei Ao would never come looking for her.

There was no relationship between them at all.

"I'm so jealous…"

Her expression dimmed.

Yui genuinely envied Yumiko and the others.

Despite being young, she felt unusually lonely.

"If only I could be as mature and understanding as my mom, maybe Rei Ao-kun would like me?"

Yui Yuigahama: "By the way, back to the main question, Yumiko, did Rei Ao-kun come to see you?"

For some reason, Yumiko felt as though she could sense Yui's bitter, longing gaze through her message.

Yumiko Miura: "No! Absolutely not!"

Yumiko quickly assured her.

Yumiko Miura: "That guy can reshape entire worlds. How am I supposed to know where he went?"

Eriri Sawamura: "Then it's just down to @Megumi Kato and @Hiromi Kato, right?"

Hiromi Kato: "???"

Hiromi was completely confused.

What did this have to do with her?

Megumi Kato: "Rei Ao-kun hasn't said anything about coming to see me."

Hiromi let out a huge sigh of relief after seeing Megumi's reply.

Her parents were still at home right now.

She was used to turning a blind eye to things and pretending not to notice, but her parents wouldn't be able to handle even a little bit of that.

She was genuinely worried that if Rei Ao came over to spend time with Megumi, and her parents found out, it would cause utter chaos.

But now, the question remained.

Sakurajima Mai: "Where could Rei Ao-kun have gone?"

...

"Why did I do such a thing?"

Sakurajima Mai's mother, lying on her side in bed, couldn't sleep at all.

Every time she closed her eyes, all she could think about was Rei Ao.

His handsome face.

The contours of his muscles.

His athletic and powerful figure.

Every detail seemed to be deeply etched into her mind, engraved into her memory, impossible to forget.

Especially the moment when she looked up at him from the floor, the vivid sensation of embracing the "sun's child" burned into her very being.

"Gulp!"

She unconsciously swallowed hard.

When she had responded to Mai about the food being delicious and wanting more, it hadn't been a joke.

Her body was screaming at her, telling her she wanted it—not just wanted it but craved more and more!

"No! Absolutely not!"

Her dazed eyes suddenly regained focus.

She thought about Mai.

This was a line that should never be crossed!

For the sake of Rei Ao, Mai, and herself, she had to control her emotions.

Otherwise, things would spiral into an irreparable mess.

But Rei Ao was undoubtedly the first man she had ever been so intimately close to—a man so exceptional that she couldn't forget him.

Her only option was to bury her feelings deep in her heart, to lock them away.

Rather than searching for someone else or dwelling on what she couldn't have, she decided that her heart and body would belong solely to Rei Ao, even if she had to spend the rest of her life alone.

Her dim eyes gazed forward as she turned over, only to meet the very person occupying her thoughts—Rei Ao.

He lay there calmly, facing her.

"Have I started hallucinating because I desire Rei Ao so much?" she murmured with a bitter smile.

"Hallucinations… I guess I can at least confide in them, right?"

Her expression softened, and she whispered to the "illusion," "Rei Ao-kun, why does it have to be you? Why is the only man I've fallen for you?"

Her voice carried a hint of sorrow, and her expression grew even more bitter.

"What am I doing? Complaining to a hallucination?"

She reached out her hand, intending to dispel the phantom that was disturbing her thoughts.

But instead of touching air, her fingers met warm, firm skin.

Rei Ao's amused voice broke the silence.

"Sakurajima-san, I heard your confession loud and clear."

"..."

She froze.

Was he… real?

In her panic, she tried to withdraw her hand, but Rei Ao firmly pulled her into his arms.

"Rei Ao-kun, no, we can't do this!"

Feeling the warmth of the "sun's child" against her stomach, she panicked and tried to push him away.

But her strength was like an ant trying to move a tree.

Ignoring her protests, Rei Ao silenced her with a deep kiss.

The kiss worked wonders.

Within three seconds, Sakurajima Ai went from resisting to relaxing, and finally to responding eagerly.

When their lips parted, her face was flushed, and she couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze.

Her heart raced uncontrollably, and she dared not resist his advances.

Seeing that she was no longer resisting, Rei Ao moved on to the next step: breaking down the walls of her heart.

Holding her trembling body in his arms, he made no further aggressive moves aside from the warmth of his embrace.

He spoke softly, "Sakurajima-san, I know what you're worried about. It's Mai and the situation between us."

"..."

That was the core of her concerns—the unbreakable chain binding her heart.

Rei Ao gently lifted her chin, meeting her gaze with his serious eyes.

"But don't forget," he said, "I'm not an ordinary person."

"And if I could make Mai accept this, would that ease your worries?"

"Eh?"

She stared at him, stunned.

Mai… accept this?

"How… how could that be possible?"

It wasn't that she didn't want to believe him, but it was so far beyond her comprehension. She couldn't imagine the Mai who once threatened her own life ever agreeing to something like this.

Rei Ao smirked.

"Then let me show you."

[Ding! You have granted a target access to the group chat!]

Rei Ao selected her as the target.

"Th-This is…"

Sakurajima Ai was overwhelmed as new knowledge flooded her mind and the group chat interface appeared before her eyes.

"Sakurajima-san, most of the people in this chat are my girlfriends. Mai knows about them—and she's okay with it."

"Ah?!"

Rei Ao calmly explained the situation to her, particularly highlighting the unique case of Sayaka Takashiro and Yuriko Takashiro, a mother-daughter pair.

Most shockingly, Mai was fully aware of their relationship and had accepted it.

"Mai actually…"

Ai was utterly dumbfounded.

She couldn't believe that Mai had agreed to share Rei Ao with so many other women, including a mother-daughter pair like the Takashiros.

The revelation left her in awe, and she failed to notice how Rei Ao had slowly dissolved all of her remaining defenses.

When Rei Ao moved closer, her body trembled, and her eyes wavered.

"You…" she whispered.

Rei Ao brushed a strand of hair from her face and whispered in her ear, "I understand your feelings. I swear I'll never let you down."

"And as for Mai, I'll tell her everything and ensure she accepts it."

"Sakurajima-san, don't overthink things now. Trust me and leave everything to me."

"Mm!"

Rei Ao's words and actions filled her with an overwhelming surge of emotion and courage.

Click!

The final chains binding her heart shattered.

Sakurajima Ai decided to stop thinking so much.

There was only one thing she wanted to do now: follow her instincts—her most primal instincts.

But she had one small request.

With misty eyes and a trembling voice, she said, "Rei Ao-kun, my name… it's Sakurajima Ai."

"Mm?"

"Sakurajima Ai… That's my name. Can you… say that you love me?"

She bit her lip, struggling to hold back her overwhelming shyness.

Rei Ao paused.

It was the first time he'd heard her name.

Sensing the deep longing in her voice, he decided to fulfill her wish.

Gently, he said, "Ai, I will love you more than anyone else, and you will belong only to me."

"!!!"

The effect of his words on Sakurajima Ai was far greater than he anticipated.

Before he could even continue, she clung to him even more passionately, her actions growing bolder.

~~~

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