Chapter 115: A Troublesome Bond

In the quiet living room, Reiji sat there exhausted. He didn’t know why, but he felt Aoi’s attitude lately had been off.

’I hope it’s just me getting paranoid and nothing else.’ Reiji let out a long breath. He couldn’t possibly think about the consequences.

He turned on the TV, trying to numb everything else. He sprawled across the couch, watching short brainrot videos on his phone.

As he continued watching, his mind suddenly drifted to the plan, then another idea struck him.

"Nah, that won’t work." Reiji murmured, "But I need her to act fast. Because the faster, the better. Who knows when the Military’s gonna break down my door?"

Reiji’s eyes lazily drifted toward the time. "It can’t be helped. Tomorrow, I need her to act so the plan can be put into motion."

Reiji messaged Aoi that same night. It started with a greeting, and Reiji didn’t even beat around the bush. He laid it straight to her and told her about his plan and everything, including the fact that Aoi practically owed him a favor.

Meanwhile, Aoi lay sprawled on the bed, her eyes fixed on the screen. At first, she was happy that she was chatting with Reiji, but after seeing why he had messaged her, she felt a little gloomy. Though she knew it would be hard to win Reiji over because he already had a girlfriend.

’But does liking him make me a homewrecker?’ Aoi thought to herself as she held her pillow tightly in her arms. She didn’t know why she had started liking him. ’I guess my loneliness might be another cause of this.’

But Aoi didn’t want to let the warmth she had found from Reiji go away. So she sent him a message agreeing to go along with his plan, but under the condition that she stay with him.

Reiji was dumbfounded. But Aoi just came up with a random excuse that working together at home with him would be the best course of action. Reiji strongly disagreed with this, thinking it might lead to many complications, but Aoi immediately went offline, and the next day she moved to his house.

"Hey, now this is not good. Staying together might cause some unwanted problems if Hina finds out."

"Relax. It’s not like I brought my whole luggage to move in. I’m just staying here until we finish the plan. Nothing attached."

Reiji raised an eyebrow. ’Nothing attached? With what she’s wearing right now, I feel like she’s trying to seduce me.’

Aoi tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and carried her small bag upstairs.

"Hey, now where do you think you’re going?" Reiji quickly stepped in front of her. "That’s a private area."

’Plus, if you stay in the bedroom, Hina would skin me alive!’

"What? I told you nothing attached. Let me just put my bags upstairs, unless I’m going home."

"You’re such a headache. Fine!" Reiji said helplessly, scratching his head.

"Thanks for welcoming me." Aoi gave him a bright smile as she went upstairs.

’Your Grace, who may that beautiful female creature be?’

’None of your business. And you better not say anything when she’s around.’

’My Lord, how can I succumb to such temptation after you have poured your strength into training me?’

’This little sweet talker.’

’You flatter me, my liege.’

---

Reiji stared blankly at the door. The sound of his phone ringing snapped him out of his daze.

He picked it up and answered.

"Hi, baby." Hina’s sweet voice came through the phone.

Her words made Reiji blush, and he replied quietly, "Hey."

"I just wanted to hear your voice. I really, really, really miss you, Rei-kun."

"I miss you too. I told you about the plan, right? I promise you and I will be together soon."

"Hmm. So don’t let anyone know you’re still alive, Rei-kun." Hina said with a caring tone, but only Reiji could feel the threat behind those words.

"I promise I won’t do anything reckless."

Reiji couldn’t help imagining Hina’s smiling expression as she heard his words, though he felt a little bad for lying to her.

"I’ll talk to you later, Rei-kun." Hina said with a longing tone. Reiji knew how much she hated ending the call every time, but it couldn’t be helped.

"You too. Take care."

Beep!

Reiji placed a hand on his stomach, ran a hand through his hair, and let out a long sigh. After talking to Hina, he felt an overwhelming urge to go bring her back himself.

But he knew that would certainly be nothing less than pure stupidity. After all, he wasn’t that strong to face off against powerful Awakeners.

’I need those Bond Points.’

And just as if listening to his thoughts, the green system interface suddenly popped up.

[Bond Target Acquired!]

[Bond Target: Aoi Tachibana]

[Does Host want target to become a bond partner? (Y/N)]

Reiji stared at the familiar screen for a while and decided not to answer.

Ding!

[No response from Host. Automatic procedure initiated!]

"What the..." Reiji’s eyes suddenly snapped open.

Ding!

[Target accepted! Host is advised to build genuine bond with Bond Partner within 7 days.]

"You can’t be serious."

[Warning! Failure to build genuine bond within a week would result in the loss of the Host’s Crown Jewels.]

"You sick motherfucker!"

Just then, the front door was pushed open, and Aoi stepped inside.

"I’m back." She said with a smile as she patted Vel’s head, naturally slipped on her apron, and went into the kitchen.

Reiji stared at her the whole time. Though she wasn’t bad-looking, in fact, she was beautiful, but Reiji knew the consequences if Hina were to find out, and now this damn system wanted him to get with her.

Now it was either he loses his balls, which he definitely wouldn’t want, or dies by the hands of Hina, which he didn’t want either.

Reiji rubbed his temples in frustration as he muttered to himself, "I don’t know when this damn system became a matchmaking system."

Reiji pushed himself up and walked toward the kitchen. "I guess either way, I’m dead. At least I can beg Hina and not this damn system, but the problem is, is she willing to accept another woman?"

Reiji let out another deep sigh. Everything was now becoming frustrating.

"You’ve been sighing a lot lately. Am I really bothersome?" Aoi asked with her ears practically drooping.

’She’s cute. I guess this can work, right? I just hope this doesn’t become a one-sided thing...’

Reiji reached over and patted her head. "No, I was just thinking about the plan and how to execute it without any errors."

Reiji said it so sincerely, but to Aoi, she understood it differently.

’He’s thinking of her and how to bring her back. He wants to kick me out as soon as she comes, right? I guess I was expecting too much.’

Seeing that she only got more gloomy, Reiji suddenly pulled her into a hug. ’Why does my body always do this?’

Reiji thought she was going to resist or push him away, but she didn’t do anything.

’He’s hugging me? Wait, is this out of pity or... I don’t care.’ Aoi muttered inwardly. She wanted to hug him back, but wouldn’t that be too direct? After all, they weren’t at that level of closeness yet.

"Aoi, you should finish cooking."

"Oh, okay." Aoi said as she left Reiji’s embrace.

"After we’re done eating, why don’t we watch a movie?" Reiji said with a smile.

Aoi was dumbstruck and blurted out without thinking, "Shouldn’t we work on the plan?"

"Yeah, but that will be tomorrow. Let us rest today."

Aoi’s eyes widened slightly. "Okay."

She muttered quietly as she went back to continue cooking.

[+1 BP]

"Huh? It’s been a long time since I received a Bond Point. This can’t be from Hina, right?" Reiji glanced at the girl in front of him, her back facing him, and he couldn’t see the blush on her face.

Reiji decided to test the waters. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "I’ll be upstairs."

Aoi’s body suddenly jolted as her whole face turned bright red, and right at the same time, a system notification rang out in Reiji’s head.

[+2 BP]

’Knew it. Though it’s little, it’s still something.’

He looked at the notification for a few seconds before a small smile appeared on his face.

He didn’t want to force anything, especially when he still had Hina waiting for him. If this system wanted him to build a genuine bond, then he would do it properly.

He turned around and headed upstairs, but after taking a few steps, he stopped and glanced back at Aoi.

"Don’t take too long."

Aoi looked over her shoulder. "Hmm?"

"With dinner. I’m hungry."

Her cheeks puffed slightly.

"You could’ve just said that instead of whispering in my ear and scaring me."

Reiji chuckled. "I didn’t scare you."

"You did."

"Then I’ll make it up to you with the movie."

Aoi’s expression softened.

"Fine. But I’m choosing what we watch."

Reiji immediately frowned.

"Absolutely not."

"Why?"

"Because the last time you chose a movie, you made me watch some depressing romance where everyone ended up crying."

Aoi crossed her arms.

"That movie was good!"

"It was emotionally exhausting."

She couldn’t help laughing.

"Fine, then you choose."

Reiji nodded in satisfaction before continuing upstairs.

’Maybe this won’t be as troublesome as I thought.’

He didn’t notice the faint smile that remained on Aoi’s face as she watched him disappear up the stairs.