New Love Nest! A Sense of Crisis!

"Alright, enough with chitchat. My business here is over," said Takami suddenly.

She turns in Shinji's direction and speaks up. "Are you holding Number 37's Card?"

"Huh? What did you me—oh! If you meant that black card with the unlimited money, she's carrying it in her. I only used it to pay up my apartment rent for the next two years and to buy a new laptop and a smartphone. Um, you don't mind it, do you? You want to ask for a refund, right? Please, don't mind it! I can't pay back if you demand a refund!"

We watch him, speechless. This guy is smart. Although he disliked Sanna, he still grabbed the opportunity when it is presented in front of him.

"Sahashi Taicho, I've collected the card from Number 37." One of the doctors reported.

Takami turns in his direction and gives him an affirmative nod. The team walks off to the exit. Then, Takami turns back in Shinji's direction and sees the nervous Shinji in silence.

"Alright, kid. I am not angry at you for spending the money, and we won't demand a refund," said Takami with a calm tone, "Sekirei's money also belongs to their Ashikabi. At the very least, Minaka said so despite our protest. Personally, you should spend more to give him problems…But, I digress. Now, I'll return back to MBI headquarter."

"Excuse me, Sensei," I spoke up, trying to get her attention.

"What's it?"

"I need a small favor from you."

Raising her eyebrow in bemusement, she speaks up. "I guess I don't mind humoring you as long as it's not something outrageous. But, be quick. I need to deal with Number 37's condition as soon as possible."

"Alright…" I told her my plan to help Shinji mend up his relationship with his estranged girlfriend because of Sanna.

Since it is MBI's fault that Shinji has an estranged relationship with his girlfriend, I hope that Takami will not mind helping us out. Besides, I never planned to demand an outrageous thing. I just requested her permission to share the open secret of Minaka's mad game with Shinji's girlfriend, and we promise to make her keep it as a secret.

"Very well. I don't mind as long as that girl won't blabber out. The PR department is already at their wit's end with how easy these birds triggered," said Takami while massaging the base of her nose.

"Um, I'm sorry…"

Yashima seems nervous because she is also one of the wild birds that Takami has mentioned.

"Don't worry about it. Just enjoy your time with your Ashikabi. He looks like a sensible lad," Takami kindly spoke to Yashima.

"Thank you, Sensei." I thanked her normally.

"Alright, kid. Just be careful next time. Try to stay in your place unless you have an important business in the city. This city will become more dangerous with how wild these birds are…" said Takami with a smirk.

"Alright, I'm off." After she bid her farewell, she turns around and walks off. Her armed guards are following her dutifully.

We are watching Takami's back. Well, my gaze is lingering on her sexy posterior. For a woman who is in her late-30s to mid-40s with two children whose eldest son's age is older than me, she still has a tight and sensuous body. Her outfit doesn't really hide it. The only sign of her advanced age is her gray hair, but I bet the stress from Minaka's shenanigans is the reason for that.

I do not know why, but I feel regretful that I cannot bed her. Am I subtly affected by the Harem System?

[Help: Indeed. As the user of the Harem System, your mentality is slightly altered to fit the purpose of the system.]

I am speechless after reading the message screen. I cannot believe what I have read. I silently promise myself that I will control my lust better and will not end up like my predecessor.

Also, I do not want to have sex with a woman just for the sake of sex. At the very least, I want to have sex with someone whom I share a romantic bond with like what I'm presently sharing with Yashima.

We walk to the exit together. Yashima is dragging her heavy hammer as always. After we exited the warehouse, we silently watch the MBI's helicopter flying in the evening sky and returning to MBI HQ in the Central area of Shinto Teito.

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"So, now what?"

Shinji's question breaks the silence. I turn in his direction and speak up.

"Well, we can only wait for tomorrow to meet your girlfriend. It's almost night."

The time is 16:38 of Japan's Time Zone. Shinji nods in acceptance but quickly gives me a troubled look.

"Ano, Onii-san…"

"Rio Kurokami. You can call me Rio." I introduced myself to him suddenly.

"Sekirei Number 84, Yashima. But, you already know that I think." Yashima also introduced herself.

Shinji watches us silently for a short moment. Then, he introduces himself, saying, "My name is Shinji Arisato. You two can call me Shinji."

We nod in acknowledgment. Then, Shinji speaks up again.

"By the way, I don't know where you live, Rio-san, and Yashima-san too, I guess. How can I find you two tomorrow?"

"To be honest, I'm now homeless and going to search for an apartment. However, it's already this late…" I answered.

"Rio-san," he hesitates for a short while, "actually, I live in an apartment complex, and there are some free rooms. If you want, I can introduce you to the landlord. He and his wife are living there too. He should have returned from his job now. You can meet him."

That was a surprise. Not the bad kind, but a good kind. I am certain that he's not renting a room in Izumo Inn.

Since I know Miya would not accept MBI's card and money, I cannot rent a room there. To be honest, I am tempted to rent a room there because that fine MILF lives there, but I quickly banish that idea.

My chance to bed Miya is zero because she is stubbornly keeping her status as Takehito Asama's widow as the symbol of her devotion, loyalty, and love for her late husband. It's regretful that I cannot add that fine MILF in my harem…

Alright! I need to stop thinking with my lower head! I reprimanded myself mentally before questioning Shinji: "Can you tell me more? Also, how much is the rent?"

Somehow, Shinji's glasses glint dangerously like a typical glasses-wearing villain in anime and manga.

"Well, it is a fine place with good security and a parking area. The room is spacious with a living room and a small kitchenette, a bedroom, and a bathroom. There are no problems with plumbing and electricity. There's also WiFi. The monthly rent is only 100,000 yen. A good and cheap place, does it not?"

I look at him weirdly because he has turned into a salesman who was promoting his product skillfully. I cannot help but wonder if he wants to become a salesman in the future. He'll become a successful salesman with how skilled he is…

"Alright, Shinji, lead us to your apartment complex, please."

"Leave it to me!" Shinji replied positively.

Then, Yashima and I follow Shinji to the North.

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"By the way, if you don't mind answering my question, why are you living in an apartment? Do you have problems with your family?"

On our way to our destination, we are talking about some meaningless topics to kill time. I suddenly asked him that sensitive information to satiate my curiosity. I don't mind if he does not answer my question, but Shinji replies positively.

"Oh, no! There's no problem with me and my family. We're very close, actually. I'm here because I'm attending the best highschool in Shinto Teito. I've gotten a scholarship to pay the tuition, you see."

"Wow! You're very smart if you got a scholarship."

"Hahaha…It's nothing amazing, Rio-san. I was lucky to get it." He deflected my praise abashedly.

It looks like he is weak to honest praise. Suddenly, he looks up with a distant gaze.

"You see, I'm attending that place because I want to graduate from a good high school. I'm trying hard to enter Tokyo University and graduate from there…" He paused and turned in our direction.

"Truth be told, I'm very serious in my relationship with Rei-chan. Hence, I was very pissed at Sanna because she just came in and wrecked our harmonious relationship." He scowled for a short while before dismissing his anger, shaking his head. Then, he continued:

"You know, me dating Rei-chan is like a plot of rom-com novels. My family is only middle class, but Rei-chan comes from a rich family. It's a miracle that I can date someone like her without being rejected by her family." He paused to take a breather.

"However, this is reality, not fiction. Unlike what happened to a poor male lead who could end up happily ever with no problems after with the rich female lead, I need to graduate from good alma mater to court Rei-chan. Although her family doesn't openly reject our relationship, they implied that they only accept someone with a good background. Thus, I'm trying my best to turn my dream into reality…"

I am moved by Shinji's story. He is that serious with his girlfriend, and from the sincerity, ambition, longing, and love for his girlfriend, I do not think of him dating his girlfriend for her family's money.

"Shinji-san! Such a powerful love needs support! No! It's worthy to get all support! I'll give my all in helping you! I will bend many iron rods until she accepts you back tomorrow!" Yashima declared spiritedly after feeling moved by Shinji's story.

"I seconded."

I give him a firm, supportive nod.

"Ehehehe…Thank you for supporting me, Rio-san, Yashima-san…" said Shinji abashedly.

We continue our casual talk until we arrive at our destination. As we stand in front of the gate, I am watching the building in approval while Yashima is looking at it excitedly.

The build is L-shaped and is several stories tall. There are five rooms horizontally and three rooms vertically, forming the L-shape. There is a parking area with two cars, a few motorcycles, and several bicycles. The area of this apartment complex is clean. I can also see a small garden next to the parking lot.

"I'll lead you to the Landlord's room," said Shinji.

He opens the gate. We place Yashima's hammer at a small alley between the building and the fence within the housing area. Despite her unwillingness to part with her weapon, she follows my instruction obediently. Personally, I want to store it in my Storage, but there is no space for it.

Shinji leads us to a room on the first floor. We wait for a short while after Shinji pushed the doorbell button. After the door opened from inside, an attractive lady greets us. She is another fine MILF… Okay! I need to stop complimenting and desiring each pretty and sexy woman I see!

After exchanging pleasantries with the landlady, Shinji goes to his room on the third floor. He has pointed his room to us when we were at the gate. Yashima and I follow the landlady inside. We meet the landlord in the living room.

Surprisingly, he has a handsome and tidy appearance, unlike the typical image of a landlord with a potbelly and sleazy personality. He is also polite and does not ask for sensitive information. He only talks about business with me. He even keeps his polite expression when I mention Yashima's obscenely heavy hammer.

After paying upfront for a full year's rent with Yashima's "unlimited" fund via mobile banking, the couple leads us to our room. We get a room on the third floor, which is also the floor of Shinji's room. Our room is in the far corner.

I check out the interior of the room and feel satisfied with what I have found. Despite its empty state, it is still a good place to live. We can fill it with new furniture tomorrow. After the landlord lent us two spare futons, he leaves us to our business.

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"Well, this is our new home for a foreseeable future. We need to fill it with new furniture. Fortunately, we have your " unlimited" fund." I said as I sat down on the tiled floor of the living room.

"So, we're going out shopping tomorrow?" asked Yashima excitedly.

"No…I'll borrow Shinji's laptop to buy what we need via online shopping."

"Why?"

Yashima is sitting on my laps and is leaning her back on my chest. My arms are wrapping her thin waist. My left hand is rubbing her right thigh while my other hand is holding her waist. I feel blissful as I hold her close to me.

Alas, my bliss is disrupted when I mention shopping. I want to shut ourselves indoor. Call me a coward if you want, but I'm terrified of losing Yashima when we finally met a more powerful Sekirei.

I remember how Yashima lost to Shiina in the source materials. There's also Karasuba. I am scared that we will accidentally meet a bored Karasuba in the city.

Karasuba is very dangerous because she is powerful and bloodthirsty. But, a bored Karasuba is worse. I remember clearly how Sekirei #87 Kaho ended in the manga. Karasuba utterly brutalized her.

When I picture Yashima in Kaho's place, I feel terrified. I do not want to lose Yashima. And then, I realize that our bond has affected me deeply.

Anyway, I want to become shut-in while grinding for TP. Unless I become powerful, I will not stop worrying. At the very least, I must reach Tier D.

From inspecting Yashima's and Sanna's stats, I am assuming that a single-digit Sekirei's stats are at the high end of Tier F. These Sekirei have the potential to enter the low end of Tier E. I am assuming that Miya, the Sekirei Pilar and the strongest being in this record, is at the mid-to-high level of Tier E.

I can only stop my worry and fear after surpassing Miya. Although I don't think I can surpass Miya's experience that she is accumulated as the leader of the 1st Generation of the Disciplinary Squad and the skills she has refined to her limits, I feel confident to best her using a raw stats. Thus, my minimum requirements.

"Rio-sama…" Yashima called me, snapping me out of my depression.

I lower my gaze and see her looking up to see my face. She has a worried expression. I guess she has felt my emotions due to our bond. Since I know that Yashima will find out if I lie to her, I opt to keep my silence.

"Rio-sama…" Yashima called my name again. This time, she continued, saying, "I don't know why you feel anxiety and fear, but I'm here. Don't worry for the pledge of my hammer shall shatter all of your nightmares and enemies."

I cannot smile at her. Not with how sharp she is if it is about my emotions. There is nothing to ease my worry unless I surpass Miya's prowess. Even so, I still give her a response.

"Really?"

"Yes! Really! So, you must believe in me, Rio-sama!"

She smiles sweetly at me.

"Even if the enemy is Black Sekirei or the present or former members of Disciplinary Squad?"

Her expression stiffens, creating a strange expression. Soon, her smile drops, and she looks uncertain. It feels hurt to see her with that expression. A positive and cheerful smile suits her better, but I can't deny reality.

"I'm sorry, Rio-sama," Yashima apologized with a teary expression.

The pain in my chest intensifies. I cannot help but want to cheer her up. The bond has affected me this far already. It is scary. I do not know why my Mental Protection skill ignores this bond. Fortunately, the Mind of Void allows me to control Mt emotions better.

I hug her tightly and let her lean on my chest.

"For the time being, we will hunker down like a turtle and avoid a fight. After we become stronger, we can walk out freely. Not even the Black Sekirei, the Disciplinary Squad both at present and past, and MBI's whole force can stop us."

I said with absolute confidence. The Harem System has told me that raising my stats and Tier is easy in the beginning. But, it becomes harder later. I cannot normally raise my stats and Tier, except for using drugs and treasure that give me power-up. I need TP. And I can only obtain TP from sexual activities.

"I don't know where you get that confidence, Rio-sama. But, I believe in you. Always. Forever and ever."

"Thank you for your faith in me, Yashima. I promise, no, I swear that we will become so powerful that nothing in this world can stop us."

"Yes…" Yashima agreed wholeheartedly.