98 [98] Another Member of Eternity
Chapter 98: Another Member of Eternity
—
After Tsukuyomi left, I got up and walked into the room. Since the initial talk was done, the Nishimiya family was laughing tears of joy right now.
"Remember back in the day? I refused to go to school, and you got all mad…"
"Hohoho, did that happen? Hmm, it did. My mind feels clearer now, I can recall it vividly…"
Yaeko Nishimiya and Ito Nishimiya were gossiping and laughing, while the two little girls smiled from the sidelines. How lucky they must be feeling to see their grandmother in her young body.
I learned their names from a family picture in the living room. It held a photo of Shoko's father too, but I knew he and Mrs Yaeko were divorced.
"My hair is so full of color now…" Ito said, looking at the mirror in the room where she caught sight of me. "It's the boy! What are you doing at the doorstep, come inside, come inside!"
Her calls prompted the other three to turn and look at me. Feeling slightly embarrassed, I rubbed the back of my head and stepped inside. To my surprise, Shoko's mother immediately leaped from her spot and hugged me tightly.
"Thank you so much…" she muttered in a soft voice, while I made sure my hands were respectful. "I'm still not sure if this is a dream or not, but thank you."
"It's real, mom, he's a magician," Yuzuru said in support, grinning at me. "I saw him use magic tricks in person!"
"You did?" Shoko frowned. "I've never seen him use magic… well, unless you count this pill-making incident."
"I'm sure it does," I said, while the milf gently withdrew from the hug.
She looked up at me with a smile, "I've been doubting the credibility of the boy Shoko likes, given your questionable act in the show, but now I understand."
"M-mom! What do you mean 'likes'?!" Shoko complained while I stayed silent, unsure what to say here.
Yuzuru playfully hit her older sister on the back, "No need to be so shy! Do you know what he said earlier? He called me his si-"
Before Yuzuru could reveal more, I quickly covered her mouth, smiling awkwardly.
"Don't cause misunderstandings, Yuzuru," I whispered to her while Shoko looked at us curiously.
"What did you say, Aqua…?"
"Hoho, this old lady is curious too…"
Even the grandma, whose laugh sounded weird in her young voice, chimed in. Even the mother was looking at me curiously.
"It's nothing."
"Earlier-" I didn't hold Yuzuru's mouth tightly since she was a normal human, but I had underestimated her strength as she pushed my hand and yelled. "-he called me sister-in-law!"
"Hey, it was a joke!" I shut her up, but it was too late.
Yaeko Nishimiya gasped and covered her mouth with a hand, and the grandma gave Shoko a knowing smile.
I could win a girl's heart with ease, but their family matters were always a little awkward. I coughed and cleared my throat while looking away.
"A… joke?" To my surprise, that was the only thing that seemed to bother Shoko.
"Hoho, Yae, come on, learn to read the room. Let's leave them alone." said the grandma and gently stood up. Her standing up caught the attention of everyone for a few seconds, who smiled seeing her take no effort to stand.
Then, the former old woman grabbed her daughter's hand and also Yuzuru, before pulling them away. The door of the room closed from outside, leaving me and Shoko alone.
"Um, hey, Shoko…" I waved awkwardly as she walked over to me. She gently wrapped her arms around me and buried her face in my chest. "...."
I hugged her too and ran a hand down her back, gently patting her head.
"Don't worry about what Yuzuru said, I know you were joking," she said. "Thank you for saving grandma."
"You're welcome," I ruffled her hair and fell silent.
"...."
I had to make a decision now.
I helped her regain her hearing and voice just because I wanted to, but I also had a secondary reason. I wanted to bring her to my Sect in the future, her power could be very useful. She was using magic, I saw, without any prior training. The voices she told me about came from her Gear must have taught her that. That was a cheat.
Plus I liked her. In my eternal journey, I wouldn't mind her being around.
I started slowly, "You know, although the pill decreased your grandma's age by 20 years, it's just that. 20 years. Your mother is in her 40s too, right? By average human standards, they don't have much time remaining."
"...." She looked up at me in silence.
"I'm part of a group, a [Sect]. We're in the pursuit of Eternity, immortality. The timing is kind of awkward, but I'd like to invite you, Shoko, officially to become a part of this. Would you… join me to see the Sun die?"
Shoko stayed silent. "I'm unsure… to be honest, the idea of immortality doesn't interest me." I could have guessed that she was not the type. She smiled. "But how can I reject it if my Aqua asks me to live for eternity and beyond with him?"
She accepted.
I smiled and leaned in to kiss her forehead but, surprising me, she held my face and pulled me to her lips. I didn't resist and enjoyed the small peck.
The kiss ended immediately. Shoko was blushing heaving as she looked away, "I'm sorry, I went too far…"
"It's alright," I yanked her face ahead and pulled her into a deeper kiss. Her pink eyes trembled before she closed them, putting her arms around my neck.
She pulled me down as she fell backward onto the bed. She devoured my lips like a hungry fish until she was gasping too much to do so, smiling at me with a flash of her glossy lips.
"Aqua, I lov-"
"Shh," I put a finger over her lips before she could lock me down with those words. "I want you to enjoy your new life a bit more before making such a decision. So that you don't regret it later."
"I will never regret it,"
I smiled, "I hope so." and leaned over to kiss her again.
I liked Shoko, but she was too innocent. Anyone else and I'd still hit, but I didn't want her to feel betrayed or used in the future when she'd learn more about me, so it was better I took my time with her.
– Knock Knock!
Suddenly, knocks fell on the door, as her mother's voice flowed in. "Um, not that I don't accept you two, but I think it's a bit too early to cross certain lines… I'm just saying. You guys can continue, but just be careful to not take things too fast…"
Even if I could have continued after that, how could Shoko possibly have the nerve to? Blushing as she shouted at her mom that we weren't doing anything "weird", Shoko was too embarrassed to continue.
Regardless, I now had the 6th member of my Sect. I had taken the words of advice from my Venerable self and moved with it.
* * *
"In that case, I'll be leaving now," once we were back outside, I bowed to Shoko's mother and grandmother.
"Ah, already…?"
"Boy, why don't you say for longer?"
"Ah, I can't. I have to find a place to rent and-"
"Oh, that's right!" Yuzuru, the brat, yelled at me. "Mom, you know, he got kicked out of his house! He hasn't eaten breakfast yet! How can you let him go like that?"
"What?!"
"Impossible!"
Even if I could somehow convince the mom, how could I convince a grandma to let me go without feeding me properly…?
After I was well-fed, I raised my hands in a defensive gesture. "I really have to go now. Need to look for an apartment and all-"
"What's wrong with our place? I don't get why a parent would ever kick you out, but you can stay here." Yaeko said in a gentle tone.
"Well…"
A light of recognition crossed her face. "Ah, right, you're a celebrity… Our place must be too shabby for you…"
"Gasp!" Yuzuru made a deliberate gasp. "That's true! What a blunder, I forgot we are too poor for someone like him!"
"...."
"Oh well…" even the grandmother joined with a shake of her head. "What else can we do? If only we could afford a better place, my grandson-in-law wouldn't have to live in the street."
"G-grandma!" Shoko yelled at the subtle 'in-law' that her grandmother slipped in, while I rubbed the back of my head.
It would be rude to slip out now, and it's not as if I couldn't leave after staying for a night or two…
Actually, I have a date tomorrow anyway. I'll roam around the city, so I'll just have to keep my eyes open for a place that I might like. I can spend tonight here…
"Alright, I'll stay," I said weakly as the family burst into a cheer.
"What's your favorite food, Aqua?! I'll cook it for you!"
"I'll order fast food, what do you like?!"
The two sisters surrounded me while the two scheming old ladies left us alone.
* * *
To not bore me to death indoors, the two sisters dragged me out to the small local playground. It was nighttime and the moon was shining high, but I tried not to admire it too much while with the two girls.
"Hey, Aqua, look here!" said Yuzuru as I looked at the camera she held. It clicked and the photo was captured.
"Good?"
"It's fantastic!"
Shoko moved to her, "Let me see," she said and blushed slightly. "Yeah, he looks good here…"
"My Insta page will skyrocket with this!" Yuzuru cheered.
I let the two sisters chat and looked at my surroundings. I could see their apartment from here, it was a four-story old building. It could have been a better place. Their mother wasn't exactly joking when she said those things earlier.
'How can I let someone from my Sect live a poor life?' That was unacceptable.
After Yuzuru moved to a corner of the park to capture bug pictures, Shoko sat near me and I spoke. "What does your mother do for work, Shoko?"
She seemed surprised at that, blinking at me as she smiled weakly. "She works at a hospital, why…? Ah, is it our poor living conditions?"
"Huh, was the question that obvious? I didn't mean to offend you."
"No, it's alright," she leaned into my side, hesitantly, and put her head on my shoulder. "You know, I hated her. She's never been a good mother. For my entire life, she was only capable of expressing her anger and resentment, it's as if no other emotion existed inside her. She shouted at people and sometimes even physically hit them. I… was no exception to that."
"...."
"You know, they say a daughter is the reflection of her mother. And as you must have noticed, I in particular resemble my mother a lot. Same hair color and eyes. So I guess that's why she saw me as a failed version of her," Shoko said slowly, and I gently put an arm around her. She smiled. "But that changed when I was cured. It's not been long since then, but she has made an effort to apologize to me. I also got to realize just how hard she works for us, fulfilling both the role of father and mother. I don't hate her. She might not have been a great mom before, but she is a good one now."
"You're a nice girl," I kissed the side of her head while squeezing her shoulder. She didn't say anything and I stayed silent too.
A minute later, I got to the point. "Shoko, would you like to ease the burden on her shoulders? I am offering work. I think you know about this, but my sister is an idol. She's leading the famous B-Komachi, and despite not having made her debut with a concert yet, she has earned quite a bit in the last month. You have a great voice, you sang for me before, I think it will do you good if you join B-Komachi."
Shoko looked up at me, "I don't think I am an idol material…"
"Of course you are. Idols are people we look up to." Well, I don't. "Few people are worth looking up to more than a girl like you, who fought for her entire life and was working to do better. People will love it."
She blushed softly, "Are you sure…?"
Suddenly, Yuzuru popped out from behind us. "It will! B-Komachi was big, you have no idea about it since you haven't listened to their songs before, but this is a big chance. Take it, take it, agree to it!"
"Were you eavesdropping?" I shot her a look. Now that we are outside, should I beat her up a little?
"No? I was just listening to make sure you weren't saying weird stuff to Shoko. Mom told me to watch out and make sure you guys don't cross the line."
"...."
"...."
I cleared her throat while Shoko decided to think instead of being embarrassed.
"Agree already, Shoko!" Yuzuru urged. "If the contract is flexible after we gain a bit of fame, we can run our own YouTube channel where you'll cover famous songs. I can manage all the internet things, you just have to sing. We'll be rich. Rich!"
I laughed and ruffled the little girl's hair. She is weirdly reliable. "At least you have food knowledge about the current world despite skipping school."
"Shh," she grinned but didn't push my hand away.
"Yeah, Shoko. I can promise you to make the contract flexible. My uncle and aunt run the Strawberry Production, so you can rest assured." I looked at her as she let out a sigh, nodding.
"I'm nervous, but… if you think I can do it, I'll give it a chance. Let's do this."
"Yay!" Yuzuru cheered. "So when do we go? First thing tomorrow?"
"No," I stood up. I was busy tomorrow. "We are going right now."
I don't think I want to meet Ai just yet; she needs time to think, and so do I. But like I told Tsukuyomi, I'll show my face around that area just enough to put anyone lurking off the grid.
However, I guess I'll need to talk to Ruby, as she is the leader of B-Komachi…
With that, we left for my home.
**
**
**
Author Note: 🙏 Stupidly busy week, posting this chapter with a terrible headache. Hopefully the suffering ends soon. Don't forget to vote!!
Read the next chapter right away, along with an entire month's worth, ahead in my Patreon.
Link: Patreon.com/Master4thWall
