Second Waifu, Getto!

Yashima carries me on her back as she jumps from a rooftop to another. Thanks to her small power-ups so far, she can also manipulate the gravity that affects us too, decreasing our weight. Although I can do the same feat, namely the awesome roof-jumping, and even doing it better and faster than Yashima, I decided to be carried like this to hide my true ability.

MBI satellite is always active 24/7. If I am not careful, some troublesome people will discover my true ability, and they won't leave me alone. They will become wary of me and watch me for a sign of aggression. If they think of me as a threat, they will use everything in their disposal to eliminate me.

Miya is in this category, and I don't want to antagonize her because I have a good impression about her despite we only meet accidentally in the past. Meanwhile, Minaka will become a pain in the ass. He won't accept a wild card that can mess up his grand plan. And I am that wild card.

If I am an unreasonable person who allowed his power to get into his head, I wouldn't care about it. I would have become convinced that nothing can harm me and act tyrannically. I would have believed that MBI wouldn't be able to win if they fight me. However, such a hubris could bite me back on the ass.

I am also a sensible person. Even if I have reached the point where not even Miya can contend against me, the collateral will be insane. I don't want to be the cause of the insane amount of collateral damage because I will have a guilty conscience. Many lives will be destroyed if such a cataclysmic fight happens.

Hiding my true ability unless I am forced to show it off has become a habit at this point. Besides, I have yet to surpass Miya, the strongest person in this Record presently. At the very least, there is an advantage for keeping my power hidden. It can become a trump card when Yashima and I are in a pinch.

"Rio-sama, we almost arrive at the next park," said Yashima suddenly.

Because of the strong wind, she needs to turn her head around slightly and watch ahead from the corner of her eyes. Even so, it looks like she has no problem. With Acuity at SS rank, her spatial awareness is better than before. She can also utilize the full potential of her increased strength.

"I can see it," I replied casually.

"It will be the fourth park. Will she be there?"

"I don't know. I only know that she's staying in a park and won't move until Hayato invites her into his flock at day."

"I hope that she's there. It is annoying to get into the wrong place many times."

"I seconded. It is already at five in the morning. The sun will rise soon."

"Rio-sama, I'm going to land." Yashima suddenly warned me.

"Go ahead."

Soon, we land outside the entrance of the fourth park. I climb down from Yashima's back and guide her inside. Not long after we entered the park, our attention focuses on something, or someone, in this case.

"Is she...?"

"Yup. She is..." I answered Yashima's short question and head for a long bench next to a lamppost.

There is Akitsu, hunching on the bench. She is resting her chin on top of her knee, her expression is blank, and her eyes are distantly looking ahead. She is wearing bloody lab-coat, and there is nothing under it.

Her anime and manga art did not do justice to her exquisite appearance, a fact that I have become numb to. She seems like a woman in her early-to-mid-20s. Her characteristic is similar to how her anime and manga art portrayed her to be.

When I use Status Inspect on her, I see her status, which is as follows:

— — —

Unit Name - Sekirei #07, Akitsu

Race - Homo-Amor (Sekirei)

Tier - F

EP - 90/90

Vitality - SS

Acuity - SS

Strength - S

Energy - SSS

Skills - [Sekirei Physiology - SSS], [Cyromancy - D], [Physical Reinforcement - F], [Marksmanship - F]

— — —

She is strong. Stronger than Yashima. If Yashima hasn't grown stronger in the past month, I won't feel at ease with bringing her here.

When I check out her information, I also discover her abnormal condition. It explains that she has emerged without Ashikabi because of her adjuster. It made her depressed and despaired. Fortunately, the system can fix her condition for a price, of course.

Back to the present. I look at her appearance carefully, trying to ignore the devilish whisper in the back of my mind to claim her as another source of Tantric Points. Her pitiful appearance tugs my heartstring and helps me ignore the depraved influence of the system. I want to do something to help this pitiful woman. Thus, I approach her.

Yashima is holding my hand tightly as we approach the unresponsive Akitsu. Because of our bond, I can feel her sadness for the pitiful Sekirei. For a Sekirei being denied to emerge with a partner is beyond cruel. It is like taking away a person's purpose and reason to live.

After we stopped in front of her, Akitsu tilts her head and raises her face, seeing us unblinkingly. Her dead eyes are creepy, yet it looks so pitiful at the same time. She is silent, unresponsive.

"Hey..." I started unsurely.

I am at loss. I don't know how to deal with this because I never experienced something like motivating a person who has lost their purpose and reason to live.

"Rio-sama…" Yashima called my name softly after we realized that Akitsu won't respond to my greeting. Her voice was sad and full of pity as if she has seen something extremely tragic.

I turn in her direction and see her pleading gaze, begging me to do something. I sigh helplessly and then shift my attention to Akitsu, who is watching us with an unblinking gaze. I think for a little until I have an idea about how to proceed. Then, I speak up.

"So," I start carefully, "You're Sekirei, right?"

Of course, I know about it, but I need to start somewhere, right?

I expected her to ignore me, but she responds back and steals a glimpse of me from the corner of her eyes, to my and Yashima's surprise.

"Yes…" She pauses for several seconds, "But… I am broken."

She averts her eyes and looks at the ground, apparently despondent. Her dull voice is heart-wrenching.

As if unable to hold herself, Yashima suddenly speaks up heatedly.

"No! You're not broken!"

She is boldly holding Akitsu's hand, which is previously resting on her thigh. Akitsu twitched at the contact, and the temperature dropped. However, she didn't attack us. Perhaps, she has sensed no ill-intent from us. Or maybe, she just didn't care.

Since Yashima has opened her mouth first, I decided to watch how it goes and puts my faith in Yashima. She is Sekirei, and she can empathize better with Akitsu's state.

"I…can't have Ashikabi…" Akitsu replied.

"I am sure that you can meet your Ashikabi!"

"Impossible… I have lost my ability to emerge… My adjuster has done something… I became broken because of that…" That was Akitsu's longest speech.

"Then, become Rio-sama's Sekirei! Rio-sama is special, and he can help you regain what you lost!"

Akitsu reacts to Yashima's bold declaration. Her posture straightens, her head rises up, and she looks at Yashima with an intense gaze. She watches Yashima for a short while as if trying to find a sign of lies. When she finds none, she then turns in my direction and gives me the same intense stare.

"If…I become your Sekirei, can you…really fix me?"

I meet Akitsu's intense gaze. There are hope and desperation in her eyes. I nod firmly and speak up.

"I can."

"Will you…accept a broken Sekirei like me?"

"You are NOT broken. I swear I can fix your condition, but there is a catch." I decided to be upfront.

"What's it?"

"I need to collect Tantric Points, quantified tantric energy. I can fix you after I collected enough Tantric Points. To collect Tantric Points, I need to have coitus. You know what coitus, right?"

She nods slowly and speaks up haltingly.

"Mmm…I know. If you really accept me, you can do as you please with me." She easily gave her consent and oath.

I feel complicated, no, I feel like a scum who took advantage and manipulated a desperate woman to get under her skirts. And it is the truth, no matter how I try to justify my action.

Sensing my anguish, Yashima releases one of her hands on Akitsu's hand and uses it to hold my free hand. Then, she speaks up in a soothing and reassuring tone.

"Please, don't be sad, Rio-sama. You were doing no wrong. What you're doing is just, not something despicable. You want to help Akitsu, and I am sure that it is the correct thing to do."

I smile wryly at her. "But, we can't deny that what I'm doing is taking advantage over Akitsu, who is desperate," I pointed out the truth.

Yashima sighs in exasperation and gives me an unamused glare. A few seconds later, she turns in Akitsu's direction and speaks up to her.

"Akitsu, do you think what Rio-sama did is wrong and despicable? Do you think you're being taken advantage of?"

Akitsu who has been watching me intently shifts her attention to Yashima, seems absentminded for a short while, and then shakes her head in denial.

"No," she answered curtly and the returned her attention to me.

"See!" Yashima looks smug as she sees me, "Akitsu didn't think that you are despicable, or you are taking advantage of her. You're making it hard for yourself, Rio-sama. Believe in me and Akitsu," she turns in Akitsu's direction, "Right, Akitsu?"

"Ah…Yes."

I alternate my helpless gaze between them. I keep doing that for a short while and then sigh heavily, fully resigned. I spend a minute or so to collect my resolve and then nod at them.

"I understand. Thank you for your help, Yashima, " I turn in Akitsu's direction, "I will accept you as my Sekirei."

"Ah…really?" Akitsu asked.

"Yeah…" I nodded firmly.

"Come, Akitsu! Let's go, to your new home," I invited her and offered my hand.

She accepts it silently, and I pull her carefully. As if understanding my attention, Yashima also pulls Akitsu's other hand. We help her leave her seat with a wide smile.

Standing in front of us, Akitsu alternates her gaze between us, apparently touched. Her eyes become misty before she closes them, spilling a single tear. After she opened her eyes, she presents an almost unnoticeable smile to us and says "Thank you."

Yashima's smile widens. I can't help but mirror her reaction. At the same time, the heavy feeling in my chest disappears. Akitsu's faint yet sincere smile helps me realize that I have done no wrong, that I am not breaking the moral I want to uphold.

Suddenly, her lab-coat falls away. Perhaps, it happened because Yashima and I have pulled her hand, and there is nothing to keep it on her body. Maybe, the wind makes it happen, or both of those reasons are the cause. Either way, I become conscious of Akitsu's sinful figure. She has a tall figure with an ample breast, thin waistline, and a pair of tantalizing long legs. Her skin is fair. Akitsu's height is taller than Yashima, but I'm taller.

"Ah…" she begins with a deadpan, "It fell off…"

Yashima and I are speechless by her lack of modesty and her nonexistent shame from being nude in front of us. Yashima bursts into a fit of a giggle while I release an amused chuckle. Akitsu just tilts her head in befuddlement.