Kapitel 90: Mom Sayuri

The next morning.

Since they got up late, it was already past 9 AM by the time Eriri and the others finished breakfast.

During this time, Aoi Kujo had returned to the Sawamura household from the Kujo family. Upon learning from Mrs. Sayuri that Eriri had returned that morning, Aoi had been excited for a long time and rushed back without delay.

However, when she saw Shea and Reina, even her usually composed face couldn't hide her shock. The clearly visible animal ears on their heads and the tails at their backs were unmistakable—they weren't ordinary humans.

This, coupled with the mysterious disappearance of Eriri and Megumi a few days earlier, prompted Aoi to finally voice her doubts to Eriri.

"Miss, I apologize. When you went out with your classmate a few days ago, I was actually following you from a distance, but you suddenly vanished from my sight without warning. Is there a special reason for this?"

She then looked at Shea and Reina, continuing, "And these two young ladies, could they be the legendary yokai?"

Sitting on the sofa, Eriri couldn't help but laugh upon hearing Aoi's questions.

"Aoi-nee, Shea-chan and Reina-chan aren't yokai. They're demi-humans, not much different from humans, except they have some animal features."

Pausing for a moment, Eriri continued, "Actually, I was aware of you following me all along, and my sudden disappearance was deliberate. I was waiting for you to bring it up. Did you want to ask me about it back at the station?"

"Yes, I thoroughly searched the area around the station, but I couldn't find you anywhere, Miss. I couldn't believe something so unnatural was possible, so I held back from asking."

A wry smile appeared on Aoi's delicate face. "I didn't expect everything was under your control..."

"By the way, Aoi-nee, would you like to know how Megumi-chan and I disappeared from your sight?" Eriri asked with a mischievous grin.

"Thank you, Miss, for being willing to tell me," Aoi said, nodding with curiosity.

Instead of answering directly, Eriri stood up from the sofa and walked over to Aoi.

Looking up at Aoi, who was about half a head taller, Eriri grabbed her smooth left hand and immediately activated her teleportation ability, bringing Aoi to an altitude of 10,000 meters.

"Aaaaah…"

Seeing the tiny city far below and the few white clouds floating around them, a slight dizziness overtook Aoi. Despite her usual composure, she couldn't help but scream, instinctively clutching Eriri tightly with her free hand.

"Aoi-nee, it's okay. We won't fall," Eriri reassured her.

Hearing Eriri's comforting words, Aoi quickly realized that they weren't falling. It felt like they were floating in zero gravity, and despite being so high up, she didn't feel any lack of oxygen.

Reluctantly, Aoi released her hold on Eriri, though she continued to cling tightly to Eriri's right arm with both hands.

"Miss, could it be that you are a goddess?"

At that moment, Aoi's heart was filled with awe. She had always been a staunch atheist, believing that superpowers and mythical beings were mere fantasies. But what was happening now completely shattered her beliefs.

"No, I'm just an ordinary sixteen-year-old super cute girl."

Feeling her arm deeply nestled between a pair of soft mounds and inhaling the fragrance of Aoi's body, Eriri couldn't help but squint her eyes in satisfaction.

"Ordinary..."

Aoi was at a loss for words. Someone who could teleport to 10,000 meters high without falling couldn't possibly be ordinary.

Shaking her head slightly, Aoi dismissed the thought. She had more pressing questions for Eriri.

"Miss, does this mean our world is not as ordinary as it seems? Do those old legends actually have some truth to them?"

"Those legends don't exist."

Eriri then spent the next few minutes explaining Arifureta, Shea, and Reina's origins, as well as the changes she had made to this world.

Upon learning that Eriri had turned this world into one filled with mystical energy, Aoi was once again struck by Eriri's incredible power. Even the gods of legend couldn't compare.

This made Aoi, who had always wanted to protect Eriri from the shadows, laugh bitterly. Forget protecting Eriri—once the world's superhuman powers began to emerge, Aoi herself would probably need Eriri's protection. It seemed her role had been reduced to handling Eriri's daily affairs.

Ignoring Aoi's low spirits, Eriri brought her back to the living room of the villa, where Arifureta and the others were watching TV on the sofa, and Mrs. Sayuri was happily petting Reina's tail.

"Sister."

Seeing Eriri return, Reina gave her a pitiful look, as if asking to be rescued from Mrs. Sayuri's sinful hands. While she had grown accustomed to Eriri's touch, she wasn't yet comfortable with Mrs. Sayuri's affection.

Eriri smiled charmingly at Reina and walked over to where she and Mrs. Sayuri were sitting.

But to Reina's surprise, instead of rescuing her, Eriri bent down and placed her hands alongside Mrs. Sayuri's, joining her in gently stroking Reina's fox ears.

Seeing Reina's dazed expression, Eriri couldn't help but burst into laughter. Then she moved her hands from Reina's ears to her pitiful little face and gave it a gentle pinch.

"It's getting late; we should go meet Megumi-chan," Eriri said, standing up and addressing Arifureta and the others.

Upon hearing Eriri's words, Reina's eyes lit up. She quickly looked up at Mrs. Sayuri and said, "Mom Sayuri, I'm going out to play with sister."

"Ah, I see. I've had my fill, so you can go play now. I have some things to take care of anyway," Mrs. Sayuri replied, stopping her actions and letting Reina hop off her lap.

In just a short time, Mrs. Sayuri had somehow managed to get Reina to start calling her "Mom Sayuri."