[159] Not A Bad Life, At All

Chapter 159: Not A Bad Life, At All

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The early evening sun cast a warm glow over the Hoshino residence, filling the air with a soft, comforting light. The living room, still humming with the energy of the lively visit of different people, was a cozy place for me, Mai, and Akane as we sat on the plush sofa.

We changed the topic from the concert and I checked in with Akane. "How's the juggle between school and acting going? Enough time to enjoy yourself?" Although she was learning magic from me, she was still doing her job. Instead of judging her for it, I admired her hustle, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.

Akane smiled, a hint of fatigue shadowing her usual brightness. "Well, my schedule is busy, but I wouldn't trade it for anything else. I'm used to it since this suits me. How about you guys?" she looked at Mai, "How are you managing with all the... extras?" Her eyes twinkled with a mix of curiosity and concern.

She knew that she was getting less exposure to supernatural things than the others around me, and it seemed she didn't mind that. Mai, as she just said, had extra magic stuff to worry about besides acting and school.

Mai stretched out her legs, looking more relaxed than I'd seen her in weeks. "There is this project at the studio, it's been eating up all my free time. Last night was a good escape from all of it, thanks for pulling it all together, Aqua."

"My house is your house, I'm glad you enjoyed staying here," I said, hugging both of them by their shoulders. I noticed a slight unease in both of them, experiencing being shared in real-time, but they better get used to it if they wanted to be with me.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, stretching shadows across the room, I felt the moment to wind down had arrived. "I think it's time to head home and get some rest," Mai said, rippling with my thoughts.

Akane agreed readily with a nod. She hugged me tightly, a proper hug, her gratitude genuine. "Thanks for today, Aqua. I really needed it," she said before slipping off my arms and running out the door with a casual wave.

"Wait," I called and she stopped, as I walked over to her. I looked back at Mai and said, "Senpai, I'll be right back after dropping her." Turning back to Akane, who was about to reject my proposal, I said, "No, I am not going to drop you with a car, rest assured. You'll enjoy it."

All my girls loved flying in my arms. In the end, Akane was no exception.

****

Returning home to Mai, I caught a flicker of reluctance in her expression. "Ready to head home?" I asked gently. I loved the idea that she was reluctant to leave, that she wished to stay here for longer. She had truly fallen well into my arms. 

She nodded, her voice carrying a tone of resignation. "Yeah, let's go," Mai gathered her things, her movements slow. I caught her in my arms and led her through the door. Then, I took off into the air. 

The flight was quiet, but I could tell that she loved it. Her body relaxed, and she even fell asleep for a short minute at the top of the sky. It was cute. By the time we reached her neighborhood, she was awake.

Mai's house was quiet, the streets bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. Pulling up to her home, I paused for a moment, and I felt Mai freeze in my arms too. There was someone at the door of her house, standing with her arms crossed.

"M-mom?" Mai asked and I blinked in recognition. Their auras were indeed similar. At the doorstep of her house, Mai's mother waited, her posture stiff, her face an unreadable mask that tightened the air with tension.

'She's pretty,' I landed on my feet as I noted that, allowing Mai to stand on her feet. Mai's mother was a beautiful woman with long dark gray hair and blue eyes. 

In the pictures I've seen of her, she usually wore a business suit, with earrings and a necklace, but right now she wore a black bodycon since she was at home.

[Image Here]

"You're back, Mai," her mother's voice sliced through the calm evening air, her dark blue eyes sharp as they flicked towards me. "I was waiting."

"Uh, hey, Mom," Mai's voice was cautious as she stepped forward, her movements measured.

Following her lead, I faced Mai's mother with a polite nod. "Good evening, Aunty. You have my gratitude for allowing Mai to spend the night in our house, my mother sends you her regards." I greeted, maintaining a neutral tone despite the palpable undercurrents of tensions.

"Hmm," she hummed, and almost instantly, I felt a surge of Qi from her, a subtle but intense challenge. It washed down at me like a tsunami, but I could tell that it was a mere test, rather than an all-out press of willpower. 

I responded in kind, a quiet assertion of my own power, our energies brushing against each other in a fleeting, silent clash that left the air charged.

This world had 10 ranks for Touki Practitioners, as Mai had let me know beforehand, her mother was at the 7th rank. Compared to my current power system, which too had 10 ranks, this lady should be at Overlord rank. 

I had expressed my distaste at this world's lack of creativity with Qi, but I do have to admit that what they lacked in technique, they made up for in reserves. Her Qi pool, as I sensed it, was as large as a typical Sage.

Of course, I was no typical Sage.

I too had a Sage's worth of Qi back in Overlord, and now as a proper Sage, I could break her like a twig. I didn't do so, of course, she was still my mother-in-law in the end, but I showed her enough resistance to let her know that the rumors about me were not false.

Mai's mother dropped the wave of Qi and revealed the smallest of smiles, "Glad to finally meet you, young man. Mai told me a lot about you, so I hope you won't break her heart."

I dropped my Qi and smiled back, "I'd rather break myself than my senpai's heart, you can rest assured."

Her mother chuckled, and I had a feeling that she was holding back a comment about my character just now. "Won't you come inside for a while?" she asked a moment later, her voice smoother now, though her gaze flitted between Mai and me, probing.

"He's busy, Mom," Mai said and I nodded.

"Thank you, but I have other commitments tonight," I declined, my tone respectful yet final. "But I'll surely want to visit your house soon enough, if only for your famed cooking."

Mai's mother giggled, while Mai looked between us, a silent understanding passing through her gaze before she turned to me. "Thanks for the ride, Aqua. See you soon," she said, her gaze direct.

"Of course, Mai. Take care," I replied, pulling her closer in front of her mother, to leave her a soft kiss on her lips. Then, I stepped back into the air, feeling the older lady's gaze on my back for a long minute.

****

After saying goodbye to Mai and feeling the warmth of her lips dissipate in the cool evening air, my night was far from over. I still had other commitments, other farewells to oversee as I helped my other friends return to their respective homes after the celebratory aftermath of the concert.

First on my list was Kana. To reach home faster, with a quick hand gesture of my hand and a murmured command, I cleaved the very fabric of space around me, creating a shortcut through the cosmos—a fold in reality that allowed me to bypass the mundane journey. 

I reached home, and then I used the exact same technique to take Kana home. The process was swift, efficient, and devoid of the usual pleasantries. One moment we stood inside the Hoshino residence, and the next, we were in front of Kana's residence.

"Thanks, Aqua," Kana said, her voice a mix of awe and a trace of disappointment at the brevity of our interaction. "That was... fast." She must have loved the flight through the air I gave her last time and was looking forward to it. I felt a little bad that I couldn't give her the same treatment this time, too.

"Yes, sorry. Just trying to save some time," I replied with a nonchalant shrug, my smile not quite reaching my eyes. "Get some rest, Kana." I'd give her flight, and much more now that she's ready to cooperate with me using her power.

With a quick wave, Kana turned and disappeared into her house, leaving me alone with my thoughts for a brief moment before I moved on to my next task.

I returned home through the same cleaved space and then found my Memmy to send back. I found her chatting with my mom when I walked over with a wave, "You sure you can't stay for a few more days? We'll love to have you."

"He's right," Ai looked at me and agreed, turning back to Mem. "I'll teach you how to cook a dish or two, yeah? Stay."

May blushed and shook her head, "I'm really sorry, Aunty, but I need to go meet my family. I'll first return to my apartment, and then tomorrow I need to meet my mother and brothers. They want to celebrate a little due to the concert's success."

Ai sighed but nodded, "Haah, I understand. And I told you to not call me Aunty."

Mem blinked and blushed further, "Ah yes… mother…"

I raised an eyebrow but said nothing. It seems Ai liked Mem the most, so far. It made sense since they met every day for the last couple of months while she rarely saw Mai and Akane. 

After that embarrassing scene was done, I took Mem and flew off to the sky. Kana didn't get the treatment, but Mem was different. Her house was quiet and uneventful, unlike Mai, as we landed on the balcony and stepped inside through the parted glass doors. I appreciated these moments of calm, a rare commodity in my usually tumultuous existence. 

As we landed, however, a figure emerged from the shadows near Mem's home, her presence commanding yet serene.

"Haah…! It's the pair of celebrities," said the commanding, yet teasing voice of the Dragon God of Aztec as she chewed on a bunch of chips, wearing an oversized white shirt and black underwear. What is this?

Is this woman really capable of planetary destruction?

"Quetzalcoatl," I acknowledged with a nod as I recognized the old dragon lady. She's been living together with Mai for a while now, and from the looks of it, she was really comfortable with it too. Her skin shimmered under the moonlight, and from a certain angle her normal skin shone with an iridescent tapestry of colors of her true form.

"Yes, babyboy," Quetzalcoatl greeted, her voice rich and resonating with a depth that vibrated through the very air. "I heard of your group's success. Congratulations are in order, both for your sister and Memmy-chan. I really liked the concert."

Mem, who had been quiet during the ride, enjoying my embrace, stepped forward, her wide grin with a mixture of reverence and pride. "Thank you, Quku. It means a lot coming from you."

I watched the exchange with half my attention, while my other half observed the currents of energy flowing around the legendary creature before me. What's up with her today? Is she drunk or what? I shouldn't normally be able to see the color of her true form, her polymorph was perfect, and now her aura too had an odd dance to it. She seemed a little different, although not in a bad way.

"It's always a pleasure to see the young ones rise, of course, of course," Quetzalcoatl continued, her gaze piercing as it landed on me. "Don't worry about what you see, young Sage, this is an Aztec calendar thing, I'm going through special days, it'll pass."

"Ah, alright," I responded, my voice even, betraying none of the caution I felt. "In that case, take care, both of you. I'll see you two soon."

"We sure will," the dragon lady nodded, her gaze softening slightly. "I shall not keep you. The night is still young, and I imagine you have more stops to make."

"Indeed, I do," I said, glancing toward Mem. "Alright then, Memmy, see you," I said, and she leaped forward to place a sloppy kiss on my lips. I returned it and ended it with a smile.

With a final nod to the dragon, I stepped back into the sky. One more stop and I'm done for the day.

****

The night deepened, and the city lights blinked like distant stars below as I flew through the sky, holding Shoko and Yuzuru close. The cool breeze was a gentle companion on our flight back to their home. The silence was comfortable, filled only by the whoosh of air as we cut through the atmosphere. 

Shoko clung to one arm, her body tense with anticipation, while Yuzuru held onto the other, his expression a mix of awe and slight nervousness.

"We're almost there," I announced as the familiar outline of their apartment building came into view. It wasn't much—it was a wide and big apartment, but had a very shabby structure that stood in stark contrast to the vibrant lives of those I held. But tonight, the usual gloom that seemed to hang over the place was absent, replaced by a flicker of something hopeful.

Landing softly on the pavement outside their apartment, I set Shoko and Yuzuru down. They straightened their clothes, a mixture of excitement and relief painting their young faces.

"Thanks for the ride, Aqua," Shoko said, her voice trembling slightly. She may not have expressed it, but she was the happiest out of the four girls who performed last night. Just a few months ago she was less than a nobody, a cripple, and now she was a country-famous celebrity. I felt happy for her. "And... could you come up for a minute? Mom and Grandma really want to thank you."

I hesitated. I had other things to do after this, but the earnest look in Shoko's eyes was hard to ignore. "Alright, just for a minute," I conceded, curiosity and a sense of obligation nudging me forward. I liked her family, and her mother certainly wouldn't press her Qi against mine unlike a certain someone else.

We ascended the creaking stairs to their apartment, the faint smell of old concrete and a life lived in simplicity filling the air. We stopped in front of the door of her apartment, and she rang the bell. We waited as the door swung open, a warm light spilling out into the dim hallway, and there stood Shoko and Yuzuru's mother, a woman of modest height with a strong face that bore the marks of hard years. 

Beside her, a woman who looked no older than Shoko's mom—making it impossible to believe that she was her grandmother—stood with a supportive hand on her shoulder. The grandma smiled brightly seeing me, she was grateful for life since I had saved her life and granted her youth.

"Aqua, come in, please!" Shoko's mother greeted, her voice rich with gratitude. As I stepped over the threshold, she enveloped me in a tight embrace, surprising me with the strength and warmth of her hold. "Thank you, thank you so much," she murmured, her words muffled against my shoulder.

As she stepped back, her eyes shone with unshed tears. "Because of you, Shoko had an opportunity that we never dreamed of. With this paycheck, we can finally move out of here, and find somewhere better. Thank you."

Her words struck a chord, reminding me of the tangible impacts of my actions on the lives of those I helped. It wasn't just about giving them a chance to shine on stage; it was about changing their entire world.

"It was all Shoko's hard work," I replied, feeling a rare flush of humility. It was not a lie either, she was a golden singer. "She earned every bit of it."

Shoko's grandmother shook her head. "Yes, but you gave her that chance. For that, we are forever grateful. How much have you changed our lives in the last few months?"

I rubbed the back of my head in slight embarrassment. I found it unnatural to tap into my arrogant side when around this family, how embarrassing. We moved into the small living room, a cramped but cozy space filled with mementos of their life. Photos of Shoko and Yuzuru at various ages adorned the walls, they were cute.

We hung out for a few minutes, but I had to return home soon. Before I could make my way to leave, however, Shoko's grandmother insisted, "You must try some of the dishes we've prepared today. It's not every day we have such an honored guest."

Despite my reluctance to stay longer, the earnestness in their invitation and the delicious aromas wafting from the kitchen made it impossible to refuse outright. I allowed myself to be led back to the dining table, where an array of homemade dishes awaited—simple yet made with care and seasoned with the joy of their recent good fortune.

Shoko's mother served a plate with a small sample of everything: some hearty stew, freshly baked bread, and a vegetable pie that reminded me subtly of my own grandmother's cooking. Well, not in this life, but in another. 

"Please, eat," she urged with her voice in a mixture of command and kindness that brooked no argument.

As I tasted each dish, the flavors rich and comforting, their faces lit up with pride and pleasure. It was clear that they didn't cook this food just to nourish the body but to celebrate their girl's victory in life, a sentiment I found universally powerful.

"We hope you enjoy it," Shoko's grandmother said with a gentle smile, watching me with a satisfied expression as I complimented the stew. "It's not much to someone like you, but it's our way of adding a little extra thanks."

Their hospitality warmed me more than the food, and as I ate, I listened to them share stories about their family, the neighborhood, and their hopes for the future. This brief interlude of sharing and laughter enriched the already meaningful visit, they were nice people.

I didn't stay long after that, and they understood that I was a busy man. As I left, the weight of their gratitude and an odd sense of happiness lingered in my heart. 

This life isn't bad at all.

|| Season 1, Eternal Samsara ||

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Author Note: We can say Season 1 of the book has ended. I'm cooking frfr with the next season and it's arcs 😔 Vote rn for two chapters tomorrow. Top 3 is goal, it's easy just a hundred stone ahead. Go!

Read the Next Season right away starting chapter 160, along with the entire month's, on my Patreon. 

Link: Patreon.com/Master4thWall