Yukino and Chika had already lived through one apocalypse and other supernatural incidents, and Tatsuki had even seen them naked before, so their tolerance for the bizarre was much higher. Kaguya, by contrast, fell into a long, silent reverie; beyond knowing that Tatsuki possessed powers far beyond the ordinary, she understood nothing at all about him.
Kaguya had never been happy. Every day felt like existence in a prison, with constant surveillance and crushing pressure. Her father ignored her, her grandfather showed no concern, and her older brother met her with hostility. She had always felt like a superfluous member of the family.
One accident proved the point. She uncovered the truth about her parents and realized she might not be her father's child at all. From then on she understood that pregnancy was far more involved than a simple kiss. Her mother had worked nightlife; the pregnancy was an accident, her own birth an even bigger accident—perhaps she shared no blood with her father. No wonder she was unwelcome: she really was an outsider.
After that revelation she drifted through life in a haze—until the day she wandered the streets, inexplicably drawn to the club where her mother had once worked. Rain poured from a pewter sky, traffic roared, and sorrow, confusion, and despair tangled in her chest. The thought of ending it all surfaced, and she stepped into the road. A truck horn shrieked; death filled her vision—then, at the last instant, someone yanked her into a tight embrace and spun her clear.
"You're only making trouble for the driver."
Those were the stranger's first words. Kaguya's first thought echoed his: Right… I really am making trouble for other people.
Tatsuki guided her into a quiet alley. Black lightning crackled from his hand and shattered the monster lurking behind him. She saw its silhouette break apart and knew she hadn't imagined it.
"It's an evil spirit," Tatsuki explained, his golden eyes studying her. "A monster that amplifies human emotions. It magnified your negativity until suicide felt inevitable. What happened to you?"
Kaguya lowered her head. Ever since being saved by Haru, Tatsuki had grown a meddlesome streak; he tried a series of guesses. "Did a teacher scold you? Break up with your boyfriend?" No response. "Family trouble?" Her shoulders trembled—bull's-eye.
Family quarrels weren't his to solve. He ruffled her hair and offered a warm smile. "Try talking things through. Bottled grudges turn into a double-edged blade that hurts both sides." Silly-sounding words, yet they gave her strength. He pressed an umbrella into her hands and walked off into the rain. She never forgot the warmth lingering on the handle.
…
Bolstered, Kaguya met her father face-to-face and spoke of her mother. She finally understood his helplessness: unsure she was his daughter, he had nevertheless borne every pressure to acknowledge her and had refused any paternity test. He loved her mother deeply but feared the truth and felt lost as well; even so, he still meant to leave her the inheritance.
For the first time Kaguya felt her father's love. The old chill and neglect melted. She told him she didn't need the inheritance; even if she wasn't his biological child, he would always be her father and she would repay the kindness of being raised. Gan'an Shinomiya let decades of guilt fade—the dead are gone; look to the future.
From that day on Kaguya lived for herself. A seed called Tatsuki had sprouted in her heart, grown, and borne fruit—leaving her suddenly unsure how to face him.
…
Silence hung among the three girls until Tatsuki said, "If you need me to, I'll take full responsibility for you."
Chika puffed her cheeks and whispered, "But you already have a girlfriend…"
Kaguya's eyes flew wide. "The president has a girlfriend?"
Tatsuki nodded honestly. "Several, actually." Sincerity is the ultimate trump card.
"Ha?" Kaguya's brain crashed—When did that happen? Why didn't I know?
Yukino's gaze shimmered with complexity; she exhaled to stay calm.
"This isn't Tatsuki‑kun's fault," she said. "I chose to play; responsibility is mine."
Chika bowed her head. "I'm sorry… It's all my fault. If I hadn't suggested the game…" Guilt wracked her: without her idea none of this absurdity would exist.
Kaguya forced rationality. "What's done is done; blaming Chika helps nothing." Neither she nor Yukino were the type to curse fate.
Still avoiding Tatsuki's eyes, she stammered, "Pr‑President, I… I need to know—according to the Life Simulator Game, Yukinoshita‑san won't actually get… p‑pregnant, right?"
Only now did they recall the card that said Yukino would conceive. Could it come true? Kaguya and Chika's gaze snapped to Yukino's belly.
"!" Yukino panicked—she was not ready for that!
Tatsuki cleared his throat. "Relax. Our reason was nudged, but I always keep my powers in check. Nothing happened." Pure habit—muscle memory built over time. The blunt statement reddened all three faces; they stared at the floor, speechless.
The mishap had eaten the afternoon; night had fallen, school long out. Tatsuki healed their bodies, walked Chika and Kaguya home, then accompanied Yukino back. The walk was hushed—first time facing something like this; confusion was natural.
When they arrived home, Yukino turned back, looking a little drained. "Tatsuki‑kun, I need some time to calm down." The tangle of events still left her thoughts in knots. She went upstairs alone, and Tatsuki watched her back until she disappeared.
Tatsuki stepped into the dining room and found Eriri staring at him with big, expectant eyes; Chito and Yuuri were waiting too. The moment they saw him, both girls lit up and cried, "Tatsuki-nii, you're back!"
Tatsuki smiled and answered, "Mm."
Kanae condensed from drifting motes of light and deftly helped him out of his coat and shoes. After he washed his hands, he sat down.
Sayuri placed a bowl of rice in front of him and asked, puzzled, "Where's Yukino?"
Tatsuki didn't plan to hide the truth from Sayuri and Eriri, yet with Chito and Yuuri present it wasn't the right time. So he said, "She's feeling unwell and decided to skip dinner. Come on—let's eat; Chito, Yuuri, you must be hungry."
"Okay!" Chito and Yuuri dug in enthusiastically. To them, food this tasty had once been only a dream, and Sayuri's heart warmed to see their delight.
After they finished, the two girls politely helped Sayuri wash every dish and slipped off to their room.
…
Baths taken and pajamas on, Eriri, Sayuri, Kanae, and Tatsuki stretched out on the bed. Eriri had stayed quiet through dinner—she clearly had questions. Lying against his chest, she asked in a low voice, "What were you doing with Yukino this afternoon? I forgot you two even existed at school—only noticed when I got home."
Tatsuki replied, "Well… a little accident happened," and told them the whole story.
Sayuri shivered. "That game's power is terrifying—imagine drawing a card that makes you kill yourself if the game says you died."
"I saw it with my own eyes," Kanae added, still uneasy. "Even Tatsuki was affected."
Truth be told, Tatsuki thought, the influence was minor—mostly desire rushing to the brain and making people act stupid.
"I never dreamed something like that existed," Sayuri said. "We'll have to be careful."
Tatsuki nodded. "Uncertain Apocalypse factors—completely different from Future or Anomalous Apocalypse."
Eriri flashed her little canine tooth. "Mom! You're focusing on the wrong thing—they were four people!"
Sayuri curled her lips. "And aren't we four?"
Kanae laughed softly. "Exactly."
"Ugh…" Eriri had no comeback. With nowhere to vent, she pounced and bit Tatsuki's arm. "Hmph! That's your punishment."
A bite so soft and gentle hardly qualified as punishment—Tatsuki could only think, More, please. Besides, Eriri's exasperated face really fanned his flames.
"W‑wah! Not there!" she squealed.
…
The heat finally spent, Eriri's grievances were soothed, and Sayuri and Kanae looked satisfied. Tatsuki, content, opened the group chat—he still needed to warn everyone about this strange Uncertain Apocalypse factor.
But the very first message made him laugh.
March 7th: "Ugh, what is Stelle doing? She keeps rummaging through trash cans."
Bronya: "I noticed that quirk back in Belobog but never knew how to bring it up."
Silver Wolf: "Huh? Why's she dumpster-diving?"
March 7th: "Asked her—she says the trash cans are glowing. I don't see any glow, okay?"
Tatsuki: "She's carrying a Stellaron—special kid. If she likes digging, let her."
March 7th: "Maybe…"
Silver Wolf: "Kid or not, Kafka'll explode if she hears."
Tatsuki: "If angry Kafka wants to yell, let her come at me. I'll protect Stelle!"
Silver Wolf: "Your abacus beads just smacked me in the face."
…
Kafka: "Silver Wolf, why are you staring at me? Is something on my face?"
Silver Wolf: "You and your kid are being targeted."
Kafka: "?"
…
Kisara Tendo: "It's the middle of the night—none of you sleep?"
Bronya: "Morning here."
March 7th: "Out in space—no day or night."
Silver Wolf: "Same."
Emilia: "It's only dusk for me."
Kisara Tendo: "So everyone's clocks are different."
Tatsuki: "Deep night on my end."
Kisara Tendo: "Then why aren't you resting?"
Tatsuki: "Just finished work, and I need to warn everyone—especially Ainz."
Ainz: "Here! What's up, boss?"
Tatsuki: "Ran into an Uncertain-Apocalypse factor today—seriously creepy."
Nami: "What kind of factor creeps you out?"
Tatsuki: "A tabletop game called Life Simulator. Whatever card you draw forcibly plays out in reality. Draw 'I'm Tatsuki's pet' and you'll believe it completely."
Ainz: "That creepy?"
Tatsuki: "Yep. Even I got hit. And that's only one factor; who knows what else is out there."
Tatsuki: "Your world is the only other one with Uncertain-Apocalypse, so stay sharp."
Ainz: "Understood. Thanks for the heads-up, boss."
...
For every 3 five-star reviews → +1 extra chapter
For every 100 Power Stones → +1 extra chapter.
Read 50+ chapters ahead on Patreon! [patreon.com/METARLN]
Use code FREE2ALL for 30% OFF!