[98] Another Member of Eternity
<span style="font-weight:400">Chapter 98: Another Member of Eternity
<span style="font-weight:400">—
<span style="font-weight:400">After Tsukuyomi left, I got up and walked into the room. Since the initial talk was done, the Nishimiya family wasughing tears of joy right now.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Remember back in the day? I refused to go to school, and you got all mad…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hohoho, did that happen? Hmm, it did. My mind feels clearer now, I can recall it vividly…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Yaeko Nishimiya and Ito Nishimiya were gossiping andughing, while the two little girls smiled from the sidelines. How lucky they must be feeling to see their grandmother in her young body.
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">“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,e inside,e inside!”
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It''s real, mom, he''s a magician,” Yuzuru said in support, grinning at me. “I saw him use magic tricks in person!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You did?” Shoko frowned. “I''ve never seen him use magic… well, unless you count this pill-making incident.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m sure it does,” I said, while the milf gently withdrew from the hug.
<span style="font-weight:400">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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“M-mom! What do you mean ‘likes’?!” Shokoined while I stayed silent, unsure what to say here.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yuzuru yfully 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-”
<span style="font-weight:400">Before Yuzuru could reveal more, I quickly covered her mouth, smiling awkwardly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don''t cause misunderstandings, Yuzuru,” I whispered to her while Shoko looked at us curiously.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What did you say, Aqua…?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hoho, this olddy is curious too…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Even the grandma, whoseugh sounded weird in her young voice, chimed in. Even the mother was looking at me curiously.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It''s nothing.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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-inw!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey, it was a joke!” I shut her up, but it was toote.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yaeko Nishimiya gasped and covered her mouth with a hand, and the grandma gave Shoko a knowing smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">“A… joke?” To my surprise, that was the only thing that seemed to bother Shoko.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hoho, Yae,e 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.
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">“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. “....”
<span style="font-weight:400">I hugged her too and ran a hand down her back, gently patting her head.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t worry about what Yuzuru said, I know you were joking,” she said. “Thank you for saving grandma.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’re wee,” I ruffled her hair and fell silent.
<span style="font-weight:400">“....”
<span style="font-weight:400">I had to make a decision now.
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">Plus I liked her. In my eternal journey, I wouldn''t mind her being around.
<span style="font-weight:400">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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“....” She looked up at me in silence.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m part of a group, a [<b>Sect</b><span style="font-weight:400">]. We''re in the pursuit of Eternity, immortality. The timing is kind of awkward, but I''d like to invite you, Shoko, officially to be a part of this. Would you… join me to see the Sun die?”
<span style="font-weight:400">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?”
<span style="font-weight:400">She epted.
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">The kiss ended immediately. Shoko was blushing heaving as she looked away, “I''m sorry, I went too far…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.
<span style="font-weight:400">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 sh of her glossy lips.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Aqua, I lov-”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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 itter.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I will never regret it,”
<span style="font-weight:400">I smiled, “I hope so.” and leaned over to kiss her again.
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">– <i><span style="font-weight:400">Knock Knock</i><span style="font-weight:400">!
<span style="font-weight:400">Suddenly, knocks fell on the door, as her mother''s voice flowed in. “Um, not that I don''t ept 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…”
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">* * *
<span style="font-weight:400">“In that case, I''ll be leaving now,” once we were back outside, I bowed to Shoko''s mother and grandmother.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah, already…?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Boy, why don''t you say for longer?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah, I can''t. I have to find a ce to rent and-”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Impossible!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Even if I could somehow convince the mom, how could I convince a grandma to let me go without feeding me properly…?
<span style="font-weight:400">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-”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What''s wrong with our ce? I don''t get why a parent would ever kick you out, but you can stay here.” Yaeko said in a gentle tone.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well…”
<span style="font-weight:400">A light of recognition crossed her face. “Ah, right, you''re a celebrity… Our ce must be too shabby for you…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“<i><span style="font-weight:400">Gasp</i><span style="font-weight:400">!” Yuzuru made a deliberate gasp. “That''s true! What a blunder, I forgot we are too poor for someone like him!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“....”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh well…” even the grandmother joined with a shake of her head. “What else can we do? If only we could afford a better ce, my grandson-inw wouldn''t have to live in the street.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“G-grandma!” Shoko yelled at the subtle ‘inw’ that her grandmother slipped in, while I rubbed the back of my head.
<span style="font-weight:400">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…
<span style="font-weight:400">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 ce that I might like. I can spend tonight here…
<span style="font-weight:400">“Alright, I''ll stay,” I said weakly as the family burst into a cheer.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What''s your favorite food, Aqua?! I''ll cook it for you!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I''ll order fast food, what do you like?!”
<span style="font-weight:400">The two sisters surrounded me while the two scheming olddies left us alone.
<span style="font-weight:400">* * *
<span style="font-weight:400">To not bore me to death indoors, the two sisters dragged me out to the small local yground. It was nighttime and the moon was shining high, but I tried not to admire it too much while with the two girls.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey, Aqua, look here!” said Yuzuru as I looked at the camera she held. It clicked and the photo was captured.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Good?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It''s fantastic!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Shoko moved to her, “Let me see,” she said and blushed slightly. “Yeah, he looks good here…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“My Insta page will skyrocket with this!” Yuzuru cheered.
<span style="font-weight:400">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 ce. Their mother wasn''t exactly joking when she said those things earlier.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘How can I let someone from my Sect live a poor life?’ That was uneptable.
<span style="font-weight:400">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?”
<span style="font-weight:400">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?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Huh, was the question that obvious? I didn''t mean to offend you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“....”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You know, they say a daughter is the reflection of her mother. And as you must have noticed, I in particr 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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.
<span style="font-weight:400">A minuteter, 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 thest month. You have a great voice, you sang for me before, I think it will do you good if you join B-Komachi.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Shoko looked up at me, “I don''t think I am an idol material…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She blushed softly, “Are you sure…?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Suddenly, Yuzuru popped out from behind us. “It will! B-Komachi was<i><span style="font-weight:400"> big</i><span style="font-weight:400">, 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!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Were you eavesdropping?” I shot her a look. Now that we are outside, should I beat her up a little?
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“....”
<span style="font-weight:400">“....”
<span style="font-weight:400">I cleared her throat while Shoko decided to think instead of being embarrassed.
<span style="font-weight:400">“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 inte things, you just have to sing. We''ll be rich. <b><i>Rich</i></b><span style="font-weight:400">!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Iughed and ruffled the little girl''s hair. She is weirdly reliable. “At least you have food knowledge about the current world despite skipping school.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Shh,” she grinned but didn''t push my hand away.
<span style="font-weight:400">“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.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I''m nervous, but… if you think I can do it, I''ll give it a chance. Let''s do this.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yay!” Yuzuru cheered. “So when do we go? First thing tomorrow?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No,” I stood up. I was busy tomorrow. “We are going right now.”
<span style="font-weight:400">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.
<span style="font-weight:400">However, I guess I''ll need to talk to Ruby, as she is the leader of B-Komachi…
<span style="font-weight:400">With that, we left for my home.
<span style="font-weight:400">**
<span style="font-weight:400">**
<span style="font-weight:400">**
<b>.</b>
<b>Link: /Master4thWall</b>