AM N. NOT.
(゜ロ゜)🖕🏻
Isane then smiled at her mother. Isane had talked about wanting a father when she was still a child, but who would have thought her mother would still remember it? Someone who could protect them?
She then asked, "Is that why you always said no to the men who came asking for you? Those people are known for their strength and reputation, yet you always rejected them."
Unohana calmly replied, "It's not as simple as they think. For me, combat is the only way to truly communicate with another person. Finding someone who can fill that place in my life was like searching for a diamond in a land full of gold."
She paused slightly before continuing.
"But who would have thought the diamond would come and fall right into my palm? I feel that this one can give me everything I need… and of course, for you as well, Isai."
Isane looked at her mother and smiled.
"Well, what kind of daughter would I be if I stopped you from your happiness?"
Unohana chuckled softly.
"Now, now, Isai. I have watched you grow, and I know what lies inside your mind. So tell me… what kind of mother would I be if I stopped you from your happiness?"
Unohana had simply returned Isane's own words to her.
Isane blinked in surprise.
"W-what… what are you saying, Mom?"
Isane was clearly shocked by this, but Unohana simply sipped from her teacup and smiled calmly at her.
While they were talking about things that only the two of them could truly understand…
Mei had just woken up.
Her bed was also a large four-poster bed, though her room followed a soft light-blue theme. Mei, or Terumi Mei, was a princess of the Mizu Clan of the Mist family. She was royalty, the future head of the Mizu Clan, yet she never behaved like one.
She never considered herself a woman of high status. Mei was as carefree as ever.
Her situation with relationships was also similar to how most clans handled things. She could either choose a weaker man with decent authority, or the family would eventually choose someone for her within the Mizu Clan. Most clans worked that way.
But for Mei, marriage was something sacred.
Those people in her clan couldn't control that decision. Mei was a powerful authority user with a rare bloodline ability. There was no doubt that if they ever tried forcing her to marry someone she didn't want, she would retaliate—perhaps even leave the clan entirely.
Losing her would be like losing the future of the clan itself.
They knew her personality well. She would absolutely do it.
That was why no one dared force such a thing upon her.
Mei slowly opened her eyes and scanned her room. She then grabbed the phone that was resting under her pillow and pressed the power button.
Her wallpaper appeared.
It was a picture of Maki with braided hair while casually chewing on snacks. She had secretly taken the photo back in Unohana's office.
Mei smiled at the wallpaper before checking the time.
7:09 AM.
Mei sat up and removed the blanket.
She was wearing only a large blue polo shirt that reached her upper thighs. The polo wasn't fully buttoned, revealing part of her cleavage. When she slept, she refused to wear restrictive garments.
Her nipples lightly pressed against the fabric while the polo hugged the curves of her chest and slim waist. She also didn't wear panties when sleeping so she could feel more relaxed.
After stretching her body lazily, she walked toward the kitchen area of her room.
Mei didn't keep a maid. She disliked having other people inside her personal space. It showed how she preferred living her life without relying on her noble status.
She entered the kitchen and prepared a cup of morning tea.
Then she sat on the sofa in the living room while scrolling through her phone.
Soon she opened Maki's page on Hero-Net and played the latest song he had uploaded.
This had quietly become her daily routine—listening to Maki's music while enjoying her morning tea.
Her hair was tied into a ponytail, showing her beauty clearly.
In her mind, many thoughts were forming, but most of them were about Maki.
They had met in the most bizarre way—when he had mistaken her for Nemuri.
Normally, she would have become angry and used her boiling ability to punish someone for such a mistake.
But she couldn't do it.
Instead, she had felt strangely calm.
Was it just coincidence?
If she hadn't been the one assigned to the Black Ribbon Chamber that day, would they have ever met under those circumstances?
She fell deeper into thought.
Was everything really just coincidence?
After meeting him, she had slowly become entangled in something much bigger. More and more mysteries seemed to surround him.
Things around Maki were not normal.
Mei might act playful and cheeky on the outside, but inside she had already formed her own suspicions about him.
Then she remembered how easily everything had progressed. In such a short time they had gone from strangers to people who now knew each other.
Things around him were mysterious, yet exciting.
And whenever she was around him, it felt like everything was exactly the way it was supposed to be.
Perfect.
Softly, she whispered the nickname he had given her.
"Mei-Mei…"
While they were still enjoying their quiet moments…
Nemuri's car had already reached the UA bridge.
She was playing the full collection of Maki's music while driving.
Yet her mind was still thinking about Maki.
She knew he couldn't recover quickly from emotional things the way others might.
But she also knew he simply needed time. Eventually things would settle the way they always did.
It wasn't pride that troubled him.
In fact, it was the opposite.
Nemuri understood that Maki felt ashamed of himself, no matter how many times she tried explaining things to him.
So she quietly wished that the day would pass quickly…
So she could return home again.
(゜ロ゜)
Meanwhile, in the basement of the condo, Maki was sitting on the parking lot floor.
His eyes had never left the entrance where Nemuri's car had driven away.
!!ヽ(ﾟдﾟヽ)(ﾉﾟдﾟ)ﾉ!!
AM N. NOT.