Shoutout to Max, you share a name with my little brother... Thank you for your support.
On another note, I'll make it up to y'all for all the missed chapters if nothing unexpected happens.
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Frieren and Fern quickly immersed themselves in the world of the internet.
For two people from a world steeped in magic, everything here was fresh and fascinating. The sleek electronic devices, the self-propelled metal carriages, the towering buildings—it was all so different from the world they knew. Even the food, though lacking the mystical properties of magical ingredients, was exciting in its own way.
"So, this is fried chicken... It's delicious, but isn't this much oil bad for the body?" Fern muttered, eyeing his plate skeptically.
Frieren took a bite, her expression calm as always. "Food here is just food, no special effects or enhancements. It's simply made to be enjoyed."
Still, no matter how interesting this world was, it was different from the one they'd spent centuries in. They had lived as wandering magicians, taking on commissions, solving problems, and earning rewards. Here, such work wasn't possible. Magic had to be conserved, and their purpose in this world was yet to be determined.
Meanwhile, Nozomi made his way up to the third floor, heading towards Mashiro's room as usual.
Knocking a few times, he called her name. When no response came, he sighed and pushed the door open.
At least, after some repeated lessons, Mashiro had stopped turning her room into a disaster zone. But expecting her to properly organize her clothes? That was still wishful thinking.
His gaze shifted to the bathroom, where yesterday's clothes had been tossed into the laundry basket—a small victory. However, right next to her bed, a familiar sight made the corner of his mouth twitch.
A single, crumpled pair of panties lay on the floor.
Again?
So she had slept naked.
Nozomi sighed deeply. If she didn't have someone looking after her, what would become of her? A genius artist, yes, but completely hopeless when it came to taking care of herself.
"Mashiro, wake up." He leaned in and gently pinched her soft cheek.
A sleepy "Nn..." escaped her lips as her golden eyes fluttered open, staring at him blankly. Then, with a slow, almost automatic motion, she sat up.
The blanket slipped from her body.
Nozomi's breath hitched.
Snow-white, flawless skin, like a masterpiece crafted by the gods—no, that was too poetic. He forcibly wrenched his gaze away, heat creeping up his neck.
"Mashiro," he scolded, voice strained. "You can't be so defenseless."
She tilted her head slightly. "Why?"
"Because—! You can't just let anyone see you like this!" Nozomi ran a hand through his hair, exasperated.
"It's okay. Nozomi is my owner."
He groaned. "I'm a man, too! This isn't about ownership, Mashiro, this is about basic decency."
Unbothered, she simply blinked at him.
"Here." He pulled out a pair of fresh panties from the drawer and handed them to her. She took them without hesitation and began sliding them up her legs, moving at her usual leisurely pace.
Then she looked up at him, blinking innocently. "Nozomi, are you angry?"
"I'm not angry." He sighed, reaching out to gently brush his fingers through her silky golden hair. "I'm worried."
Mashiro leaned into his touch.
"I'm happy that you trust me, Mashiro, but you can't be so defenseless forever. I don't want some other guy walking in and—"
"No." She hugged his waist suddenly, pressing her cheek against his chest. "Mashiro is only defenseless with Nozomi."
His heart skipped a beat.
Lowering his head, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Why?"
"Because Nozomi gave Mashiro a Baumkuchen."
His expression darkened. "Wait, so anyone who gives you a Baumkuchen gets to be your 'owner'?!"
Mashiro pouted, puffing up her cheeks. "Baka."
He winced. "That was fast."
She cupped his face, her golden eyes locked onto his, her forehead pressing lightly against his.
"Listen carefully."
He held his breath.
"Mashiro's owner will only be Nozomi."
A smile broke across his face. "And Rita?"
"Rita was my former owner. Now, she's just a friend."
"So, only one owner, huh?"
Mashiro nodded. "Only Nozomi."
Nozomi couldn't help but grin.
She really knew how to make him happy.
"Then it's a deal. Mashiro can only be defenseless against me and only let me, a boy, see her body."
"Mou~ only for you."
"Oi, time to wake up, little Mashiro."
"Nozomi, clothes."
"Can't you at least try to get them yourself?"
The girl simply pouted, her big, glassy eyes staring up at him expectantly.
"Mashiro already knows how to wear them."
Good grief.
That's not the issue here, right? She said she knows how to wear them, but not how to get them. Classic Mashiro logic.
Nozomi sighed. Well, he had no choice. It wasn't a big deal, anyway—just think of it as dressing up a life-sized doll. He simply had to choose the outfit, and Mashiro would handle the rest.
True to her words, she was well-behaved. She really did know how to wear clothes.
Once she had changed into her school uniform, Nozomi took her small hand, led her to wash her face and brush her teeth, and then they headed downstairs. After escorting Mashiro to the school gate, he set off for the train station with Mahiru.
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This time, Sakurajima Mai had joined them.
Nozomi found himself sandwiched between Sanshokuin Sumireko on his left and Shiina Mahiru on his right, both of whom were clinging to him. Meanwhile, Mai-senpai was giving them the stink-eye.
Nozomi suddenly felt a light pressure on his foot. Looking down, he saw that Mai's slender leg, wrapped in black stockings, was stepping on his shoe. Her polished black leather shoe pressed down just enough to make a statement.
"Uh, Mai-senpai, your foot?"
"Hm? What about it?" she asked nonchalantly, arms crossed and giving him a sharp squint. Then, applying just a bit more force, she smirked.
"Ah... no, nothing. I'm honored to be stepped on by you."
"Baka, are you a masochist?"
She huffed, taking two steps back, feigning disgust. However, Nozomi caught the faint flush on her cheeks. He simply chuckled, deciding not to push it further.
After all, if she didn't care, she wouldn't have bothered expressing her dissatisfaction in such a roundabout way. Maybe she was annoyed by his fickleness, but Nozomi had no intention of changing.
When they got off the train, Mai pulled Sumireko aside, whispering something to her. Nozomi didn't pry—he wasn't about to interfere with whatever those two had to discuss.
As he reached the school gates, a sleek private car pulled up. The door opened, and out stepped Yukinoshita Haruno, wearing her usual teasing smile.
"Ohayou, kouhai~ Ohayou, Shiina-san."
"Good morning, Miss Yukinoshita. But... kouhai?"
Mahiru responded politely but tilted her head in confusion.
Haruno giggled, stepping closer. "Because I'm also a graduate of Sobu High, of course."
Before Nozomi could react, she slid her arm around his, pressing herself against him. The warmth and softness made his brain momentarily short-circuit, and the faint scent of her perfume lingered close.
"Ano, can I borrow your boyfriend for a moment, Mahiru~?"
Mahiru blinked, flustered. "Nozomi isn't my boyfriend..."
But Haruno's knowing smile made Mahiru sigh in defeat. "Fine. You two talk, I'll head to class."
With that, she left, and Nozomi found himself unceremoniously pulled into the waiting car. Once inside, Haruno released his arm, still grinning.
"You really have a way with women, kouhai. Shiina-chan has already accepted your... shall we say, unorthodox tendencies."
Nozomi smirked. "Of course. I'm very sincere about it, after all."
"Fufu~ I can tell. So, how many hearts are you planning to collect?"
"Haruno-nee-san, I'm not deceiving anyone. I just want to live happily with the people I care about."
"Ara, if you ever regret getting married, let me know, okay?"
Nozomi raised an eyebrow. "Pfft, you wish. I'm not giving up."
Haruno sighed dramatically, leaning back against the seat. "And here I am, bound by my mother's arrangements. Resistance is futile."
Nozomi's expression grew serious. "If you want, I can help you."
For a moment, Haruno looked genuinely surprised. Then, she leaned her head against his shoulder, letting out a soft chuckle.
"I think I get why Shiina-san is so taken with you."
"Because I'm ridiculously handsome?"
"Baka. You're ridiculously shameless. But yeah, I guess you're kinda handsome, too."
"If any normal guy told Yukinoshita Haruno that he wanted a harem, would it be a hatchet... or a hatchet?"
"Are those my only options?"
"Well, how else would you stab me?"
Haruno burst out laughing. "Pfft, don't worry, I won't let you get stabbed... yet."
Yukinoshita Haruno playfully poked Nozomi's cheek before reaching into her bag and pulling out a file folder. With a teasing smile, she handed it over.
"Here. The ID card of that 'distant relative' you asked for," she said, her tone laced with amusement. "It's got the seals of several congressmen and high-ranking officials. With this, you can prove your identity anywhere."
Nozomi's eyes lit up. "Sasuga, Haruno-nee! You're as efficient as ever."
Haruno chuckled. "Of course. What did you expect?"
This level of competence was exactly why Haruno-nee was the perfect example of a yamato nadeshiko. Truly, the epitome of a capable woman.
As a token of appreciation, Nozomi reached into his own bag and pulled out a document, handing it to her with a smirk.
Haruno's brows furrowed as she skimmed through it. "Wait… These are shares for the SAO Virtual Reality Game Company? Hold on—why is this registered under your name?!"
"What do you think?" Nozomi grinned, folding his arms smugly.
Haruno's expression flickered between shock and curiosity. "Are you telling me… you actually own these?"
"Bingo."
Haruno exhaled deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose before breaking into a wry smile. "So, what's your angle?"
"It's simple. We're partners now. I'm giving these to you. Handle them however you like. Just remember to send me half of the profits when the time comes."
Haruno narrowed her eyes. "You're basically saying, 'Here, take my money and make me richer.' That's pretty bold, even for you."
"Who are we, Haruno-nee? What's yours is mine, and what's mine is still mine."
"…You're so full of yourself, it's actually impressive." She rolled her eyes before flicking his forehead. "I should charge you interest."
Nozomi laughed but then, without hesitation, wrapped an arm around Haruno's waist and pulled her close. The sudden contact made her tense slightly, though she didn't pull away.
"I'm serious," he said softly. "This is for you. You once joked about marrying into my family, but I don't just want to gather a harem—I want to give a proper wedding to every girl I love."
Haruno blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Then, recovering, she smirked. "If you're really that ambitious, you should start thinking about building your own nation."
"Not a bad idea," Nozomi mused. "How about this? We buy out the Yukinoshita family."
Haruno burst into laughter. "You've got guts. If my mother ever hears that, she'll have a heart attack."
"But wouldn't it be fun to outmaneuver her and take control of the family yourself?"
Haruno's eyes gleamed with something unreadable. "Hah… You make it sound tempting."
"I'll leave it to you, then." Before she could react, Nozomi leaned in and placed a light kiss on her cheek.
Haruno's breath hitched for just a moment before she smirked again, this time more naturally. "You really are something, Nozomi."
Nozomi grinned as he leaned back. To him, Haruno-nee was someone worth supporting. She had spent her whole life playing the perfect socialite, carefully maintaining appearances, managing relationships, and balancing expectations. But at her core, she was still a woman who wanted something more.
In a way, she was bound by the same chains that had ruled her family for generations. Even her father was under the thumb of their formidable mother. Haruno, Yukino, and their father were all just part of the 'governed class' in their household, while their mother remained the undisputed ruler.
Nozomi could tell Haruno was trying to carve out a different future—not just for herself, but for Yukino as well. Maybe that was why she always acted so playfully, as if to mask the weight of her responsibilities.
And if Nozomi could give her the leverage to break free, he'd gladly do so.
The SAO VR company wasn't just any business. With its cutting-edge technology and backing from multiple governments, it had the potential to become a cornerstone of the global economy. If Haruno could use its influence to shift power dynamics within the Yukinoshita family, she could finally break the mold she had been forced into.
Strangely enough, Haruno didn't ask how Nozomi had acquired the shares in the first place. She simply accepted them with a knowing smile before pressing a quick kiss to his cheek in return.
"See you later, Nozomi," she said as she shooed him out of the car.
Nozomi waved as he stepped onto the pavement, watching as Haruno's car disappeared down the road. He then turned and made his way toward the school building, a lazy smile on his lips.
Professional matters should be left to professionals. He had no doubt that Haruno-nee would more than double the value of those shares in no time.
And since it had already been decided that she would be his, he would naturally bring her home one day.
Of course, there was still the matter of her younger sister, Yukinoshita Yukino.
Nozomi wasn't about to let her slip away, either.
The mental image of pressing Yukino against a wall, her face flushed as she glared at him with those icy-blue eyes, crossed his mind for the hundredth time.
He smirked to himself. Someday, he'd make that fantasy a reality.