Although Rei Ao had some leisure time lately, that didn't mean he was entirely idle.
For instance, after school each day, he had a new routine: picking up Kanna together with Michiru.
During this time, he also got more chances to talk with Kobayashi and Shin.
Kanna and Shin had smoothly become friends with Anya.
…
"Rei Ao-san, Miss Kobayashi, Miss Michiru, thank you so much for taking care of Anya!"
Yor bowed deeply to the three of them.
Due to her work schedule, she often arrived late to pick up Anya from school. So over the past few days, Rei Ao and company would keep Anya company with Kanna and Shin until Yor arrived.
And everyone knows how sensitive and fragile kids can be—
Especially when they watch other children leave with their parents, leaving them behind all alone.
"No need to be so formal, Mrs. Yor. Anya is not only Kanna and Shin's good friend, she's also incredibly cute—we wouldn't have the heart to leave her waiting here alone."
"Thank you… truly, thank you!"
Rei Ao's classic response made Yor even more grateful.
Since they lived along the same route, they all walked home together.
Yor and Anya were understandably curious about the group—especially their relationship.
Through conversation, Yor learned that Rei Ao and Michiru were students at the same school and in the same class, while Kobayashi was working full-time and clearly old enough to be "Mom."
Yet Rei Ao always came with them and picked up two children.
That was strange.
Stranger still was the arrangement: Rei Ao walking in the middle, holding Shin's and Kanna's hands, while Shin and Kanna were also holding onto Kobayashi and Michiru's hands, respectively.
The scene was both warm… and confusing.
"Um, Rei Ao-san, are you all…relatives, by chance?"
Yor, having warmed up a bit, finally asked.
"Nope." Rei Ao shook his head.
"Hehe, Rei Ao is Papa, and Kobayashi is Mama!"
Shin chimed in mischievously.
Not to be outdone, Kanna echoed,
"Mm, Rei Ao is Papa, and Michiru is Mama."
"EHH?!?"
Their comments left Yor stunned, both outside and in.
"S-So… it's that kind of complicated relationship?!"
"No! Don't listen to Kanna's nonsense!"
Michiru's face turned bright red as she quickly clarified,
"Kanna is a child I took in. Rei Ao-kun and I… are her guardians."
"Oww!"
Shin clutched her head.
Kobayashi had flicked her forehead hard.
"Shin, don't talk nonsense."
With a sharp glare, she explained calmly,
"Shin is a child I took in."
"Oh, I see…"
A relieved Yor finally exhaled. She thought she'd accidentally uncovered someone's hidden family scandal.
"…"
Beside her, Anya blinked her large watery eyes. She really wanted to say,
"Shin and Kanna aren't normal kids—Kanna's a dragon!!"
But… she couldn't.
"Mrs. Yor, I've noticed you always come alone to pick up Anya lately. What about her father?"
Rei Ao asked, quite deliberately.
"Eh?"
Yor paused for a moment, then answered softly:
"Well… Anya is actually adopted…"
"Ah? No way, same as us?"
Michiru was surprised. All three kids were adopted—and they'd just happened to end up together?
Even more surprising was what Rei Ao had told her earlier: that Anya could read minds, just like Kanna and Shin had their own hidden traits.
Rei Ao nodded subtly, having confirmed what he needed.
As expected, since Anya shared Yor's surname, it meant Yor wasn't married—not even in a paper marriage.
They chatted while walking, parting ways at the next intersection.
"Gurgle… gurgle…"
"What's that sound?"
In a certain household's bathroom, someone heard a strange bubbling noise.
But after checking around and finding nothing, they thought they'd misheard and left the bathroom.
Right after—
"Gurgle…"
The faucet at the sink began to loosen unnaturally…
…
"Ahh, finally done!"
Mafuyu Kirisu collapsed onto the sofa, feeling free at last.
No tutoring for Rizu and Fumino today.
They had just finished their exams.
It was finally time to rest.
She would wait for the results.
If the girls had made significant progress—understanding how to approach sciences and humanities properly—then future tutoring wouldn't be as intensive.
The tutoring group wasn't completely finished, but the test results would decide its future.
For now, though, today felt like a liberation.
Ever since the "truth reveal" at Rei Ao's house, the whole group had completely stopped holding back in front of her.
Cuddling, flirting, shamelessness—everything was out in the open.
Some scenes and sounds were so mortifying that she couldn't even bear to sit still while there.
Mafuyu Kirisu was honestly worried she might lose control in front of Rei Ao.
"Time for a shower."
After resting a bit, she got up and headed to the bathroom.
One article of clothing at a time fell to the floor.
When the last piece was removed, she prepared to step into the shower—
"Gurgle…"
Suddenly, her ears picked up the sound of bubbling water.
"Huh?"
She turned toward the sound, confused. It was coming from the sink.
"Drip… drip…"
For some reason, the faucet—closed tightly—had started leaking.
She leaned closer to check and tighten it, but—
Creak!
The faucet twisted unnaturally, as if crushed by invisible force.
"!!!"
Before she could react—
BANG!!!
The faucet exploded.
Water sprayed out violently, drenching her in an instant.
"KYAAA!!!"
Kirisu screamed, shielding her face from the pressure.
But something was wrong—the water felt alive, wrapping around her entire body.
"Guh!!"
Her whole body, nose and mouth, became submerged.
Her feet lifted off the ground as she was engulfed by a massive blue water sphere.
"MMPHH!!!"
A surge of suffocating pressure hit her.
Kirisu's expression twisted in pain and panic.
~~~
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