Aqua: "Waaah!"
Tatsuki: "We're trying to talk about serious stuff—why are you howling?"
Aqua: "Waaah!"
Tatsuki: "…Speak human!"
Aqua: "I wanna cry! My house, my money—everything's gone, boo‑hoo‑hoo!"
Tatsuki could only sigh. He'd half expected this; she was Aqua, after all—Luck stat in the basement. When she'd bragged about finally living the good life, he'd been shocked already. Retribution always comes, just not until the time is ripe.
Exusiai: "Your money was stolen?"
Aqua: "It was blown up—my whole house got blown up!"
Exusiai: "Oh? Boom details! How big was the blast?"
Mention explosions and a Laterano girl perks right up; her people love a spectacle.
Aqua: "I kindly took in a starving Crimson‑Demon mage today, planning to convert her to the Axis cult. Who knew that once she was full, she had to show off her power—one 'Explosion' spell and my house was rubble! My money's gone too, boo‑hoo‑hoo!"
HongHong Tushan:"So that's what people call repaying kindness with betrayal?"
Saeko Busujima:"Best not help total strangers lightly."
Tatsuki muttered to himself. Crimson Demon, Explosion—that's Megumin. Even without Kazuma, those idiots still cross paths. Idiot plus chuuni: hopeless. Add that masochistic knight and it's the full trio—time to give up.
Aqua had lost everything and was back to zero. Tatsuki closed the chat, checked his phone—Saturday, 3 January. This world's school calendar was bizarre: winter break didn't start until February. He was long used to it. "Given the date…" He mass‑texted everyone in his contacts.
…
Fujiwara residence, night.
Moeha Fujiwara cracked open her sister's door. "Chika‑nee, why're you in bed so early?" Chika was cocooned under the covers; usually she'd drag everyone into a game. Tonight she'd bathed, eaten in silence, and crashed—definitely suspicious.
Chika mumbled that she was super sleepy. Even post‑shower her belly felt oddly warm, as if something were still inside; Tatsuki said his powers "handled everything," but it still felt weird. Moeha smirked, shut the door, and—whip!—snatched the quilt away.
"Eek!"
"Ah!"
Two shrieks echoed. Toyomi Fujiwara opened the door to scold—then froze. Quilt on the floor, Moeha gaping on her backside, Chika kneeling in an incriminating pose. Toyomi blinked silently: my little sister… has grown up. Another scream; Chika died of social embarrassment that night.
…
Shinomiya manor, past midnight.
Thought for a few seconds
Hayasaka, dark circles under her eyes, cracked open the door. "Milady, why are you still awake?" Kaguya was sitting up, clearly not in bed yet. Ever since she'd come home she had demanded Hayasaka's laptop—bizarre, since Kaguya was a total computer novice—and had been clicking away till well past midnight. Something was off.
Kaguya's cheeks flushed. "O‑oh! All… all right! Here!" She thrust the laptop back, darted under the quilt, and mumbled, "I'm going to sleep."
"Very well, Milady. Rest well." Hayasaka closed the door, hurried to her own room, opened the browser, and checked the history—just as she suspected, the 'idiot princess' hadn't cleared a thing. She didn't even know incognito existed.
As Hayasaka focused on the list, her eyes grew huge, her jaw slack—an expression more shocked than if the sky were falling:
How long until a baby forms?
Chance of pregnancy during the safe days?
Beginner‑mom guide to newborn care?
How to choose daily necessities for a baby?
Question marks roared through her head. Milady was supposed to be clueless about sex ed—how did we skip straight to raising a child? Where's the middle step? WHERE'S THE MIDDLE STEP? She sat frozen, lost in a mental hurricane.
…
The next morning Yukino answered her door. "Is something wrong, Tatsuki‑kun?" She still hadn't resolved yesterday's questions.
Tatsuki smiled. "I'm free today—want to go out?"
"With Chito and the others?" she asked by reflex.
He shook his head. "Just the two of us."
"Ah?"
Yukino eventually agreed. After changing into a blue‑and‑white dress, she and Tatsuki walked side by side through the mall. Her gaze kept flicking toward him—two people alone… wasn't this a date? The setting felt unfamiliar. Tatsuki looked her over too and finally asked, "Yukino, aren't you cold?"
It was mid‑winter. Back at Tatsuki's house the thermostat he set kept the air pleasantly warm—even light clothes, even nothing at all, were fine. At school the girls' short skirts were paired with bare‑leg magic stockings.
Yukino lifted her lashes and said softly, "Tatsuki‑kun, did you forget my ability?"
…Right. Ice powers—boosted by the last apocalypse game to nearly level four. If she still felt cold, that would be strange.
They chatted in fits and starts; yesterday's chaos still weighed on Yukino. Suddenly she slowed, falling a step behind.
"Hm?" Tatsuki noticed and turned.
Her eyes were locked on a claw machine filled with black‑and‑white plushies that looked like little pandas. He recalled that she loved cats and Mr. Pan, the panda mascot. So those must be Mr. Pan dolls.
In a low voice he asked, "Do you want one?"
"N‑No…" Yukino's reply wavered.
"Then let's win one." Without waiting for refusal, Tatsuki took her hand and led her over. "Watch the master—people call me the Claw‑Machine King."
With swing‑claw tricks he truly was good. Coin in, joystick… creak—"What? This machine doesn't allow swing‑claw?"
Ten tries later, under Yukino's outward calm—yet expectant—gaze, the claw lifted Mr. Pan, the prongs retracted, clunk, and the doll slipped. No powers; using abilities would ruin the fun. He fed more coins.
Ten plays later—still no guaranteed win. Pocket check… empty.
Yukino tugged his sleeve. "Maybe we should give up?"
Fire flared in Tatsuki's eyes. "This stupid machine will be conquered. Wait for me!" He dashed off, exchanged a pile of coins, and returned.
Ten more tries; Mr. Pan kept dropping. After slotting yet another coin he suddenly stopped, turned to her with serious eyes. "Yukino, I can't catch it because of your problem."
"My problem?" Yukino blinked.
Tatsuki nodded solemnly. "We're missing Yukino energy."
"Yukino energy? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Come here." He guided her hands onto the stick and button, standing behind her, his hands enveloping hers. "Mmh…" Yukino felt his breath and warmth; her heart fluttered.
Button press—claw descended—gripped—rose—moved—released. Mr. Pan fell neatly into the chute.
"Got it!" Tatsuki scooped up the plush and placed it in her arms. "See? We needed Yukino energy—one shot, one catch!"
"!" The lingering heat inside Yukino was replaced by joy; she hugged Mr. Pan, unwilling to let go.
Tatsuki smiled, glad she'd loosened up. Yukino energy was just a line; Observation Haki had told him that try was the guaranteed win, but letting her experience the success mattered more. If you're going to play, play happily—overthinking only ties up your hands.
With spirits bright, he dragged her around for window‑shopping, photos, and parfaits; Yukino's smile never left her face. At least for today, they had real fun.
Dusk deepened; time to head home. Near the exit Tatsuki glanced into the distance and told her, "Wait here a minute."
"Okay." Yukino nodded obediently.
…
"Someone save me… so hungry… am I going to die…?" The little creature staggered through a side alley, vision fading. Its forepaws buckled; the body began to topple—yet warm hands caught it.
"So you're the one praying?" Tatsuki cradled the emaciated black‑and‑white kitten. The faint voice he'd heard had sounded like a girl; he hadn't expected a cat. The Wing of Sin sensed evil; the Wing of Salvation heard prayers. From far away he'd caught the fragile plea and rushed over.
"Meeting you today is fate." Golden faith‑light flowed; the kitten's bones filled out, grime vanished.
"Mew…" (So warm…) Strength returned; it opened its eyes to a human bathed in glow and felt its body healing in those gentle hands.
...
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