Chapter 458: reverting to generic Chapter names for a while… |
Rin peeked around the corner, watching Meggie march off with both Emma and Tsuki.
Next to her, Yuri watched too and said, "Wow. I guess it runs in the family, huh? A flower in each hand..."
Rin giggled and said, "Mister John and his daughters DO have a habit of being attractive to girls..."
Onee-chan and Betty nee-chan were both super popular even before Project MirAIs became big. And they were both super beautiful too.
It didn't surprise Rin that it was true for Meggie too.
Yuri hummed and said, "But huh. I didn't think that little Tsuki was getting involved in that sort of thing." She sighed and said, "I should have been paying closer attention. Uncle Kai said to keep an eye on her..."
Rin shook her head and said, "It's fine! School is pretty vicious. It's good to learn how to go through it yourself!"
"...You say that. But aren't you the one who caused an incident because school was rough for you, Senpai...?"
Rin stuck out her tongue.
It was Saturday morning. Still before the first class bell.
Rin had noticed Meggie and the others earlier, so she dragged Yuri over too in case they needed to do something.
It seemed like Mister John had already thought about it though.
As expected of him! Mister John was always prepared for everything!
Yuri reached up and stretched before saying, "Should we head to class then, Senpai?"
Rin giggled and said, "You're still calling me Senpai even though we're in the same class, Riri?"
Yuri shrugged. "I gave up trying not to. It's a hard habit to break considering everything, you know?" She frowned. "...To be honest, it's hard enough keeping it under wraps." She adjusted the hi-tech watch on her left hand and said, "I know that Mister Titor gave us these to help with slip-ups, but I still get worried."
"Mm... I get it. But you should have more faith!" Rin winked and said, "It's like magic, you know?"
"...You say that like a joke. But I'm starting to think you aren't joking about it..."
Rin wrapped her hands around her back and started walking down the hall, giggling again. "Well~ Betty nee-chan said it! Sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic~"
"That doesn't make me feel ANY better, Senpai. Especially considering the creepy IDOL bodies we can VR into..." Yuri paused. "Those, uh. ARE robots, right? Not like... homunculi? From Full Steel Alchemist?"
Rin just smiled.
"...You're doing that again. You're doing the creepy thing on purpose." Yuri shivered. "...Do you just like messing with me that much, Senpai?"
"Maybe~" Rin giggled again and started walking off to class.
Since it was still early in the morning, most of the other high schoolers weren't around. But the younger students were starting to show up for their classes.
'It's pretty cute!'
Rin smiled as she watched the younger kids mill about. It was also nice to see that there were kids who could just live normal lives without worrying about things.
Yuri walked besides Rin and followed her gaze. "...You aren't planning on kidnapping anyone, are you, Senpai?"
Rin puffed her cheeks and said, "Rude! I would never!"
"You say that, but I know how you look at baby Aurora. And at Xuan and Wu." Yuri hesitated and cautiously said, "No offense, Senpai. But you give off lots of yandere 'I want to take you home with me' vibes..."
Rin huffed and said, "I wouldn't do that! Mom would yell at me sooo much. Plus, I'm too young to be a mom!" She paused and said, "Even if babies are cute!"
"...Right." Yuri shook her head.
Sunlight filtered in through the nearby windows, lighting up the empty hallways. Paired with the warm weather, there was a cozy atmosphere in the air.
A bit ironic, considering the drama that almost went down earlier with Meggie, Emma, Tsuki, and those bullies. But it was nice.
'Just like always, good things come after bad things~'
It really was a good reminder.
Like how Rin had almost given up on everything and resorted to compensated dating... and maybe more, just to get enough money for her mom's treatments, only to run into Mister John.
And like how her life was amazing after all the initial struggles of figuring out streaming, meeting the Ohana, and more.
"Oh," Yuri said. "Speaking of your mom... Has she talked at all yet with Uncle Kai and Auntie Elise?"
Rin stumbled at the unexpected question and let out a nervous laugh. "Ahaha... that... It's, um... messy?"
Kai, Elise, and Rin's own mom, Sakura...
Rin remembered how her mom had talked about growing up with Kai. And Rin remembered the whole situation around how Rin was born too.
...She tried not to think about it a bit much. But objectively, Rin wasn't a baby that her mother planned or even wanted to have.
Sure, Rin's mom wanted her now... and Rin's mom would do anything for her too. They were each other's best friend when Rin was growing up, after all.
But the situation around it all, and the exact reason why Asako was Rin's older half-sister...
Yes. Messy.
Then there was the fact that Miss Elise existed, along with Tsuki. And then the fact that Mister Kai had just found out about Tsuki last year with everything going on involving... well, all of Project MirAIs...
Rin sighed. "...They probably should talk about it though. Mom's been burying herself in work these days."
Yuri sighed as well and said, "Her too? Uncle Kai has been pretending not too, but it looks like he's been going through it. Chi-chan's been complaining about him being stricter with approving things." She paused, her ears turning red. "W-Well, after the onsen incident, it's understandable. But still..." She cleared her throat and said, "I think he's trying to avoid the situation."
Rin nodded. "It must not help that Miss Elise is living with him now too. And Tsuki."
Mister Kai was in a similar situation with Mister John and his sisters.
Miss Zhaojun, Miss Daji, and Miss Xuannu all really, really, REALLY like Mister John.
But Mister John chose to love Miss Yue. And he made it clear to the other girls who liked him. Because he did, they took a step back, just happy to be a part of his life and still family.
...Well, Rin felt that it probably helped that Onee-chan and Betty nee-chan looked a lot like Miss Zhaojun and Miss Daji.
They never confirmed it, but Rin quietly wondered if Onee-chan and Betty nee-chan were actually Mister John's kids with Miss Zhaojun and Miss Daji.
Rin had noticed they always acted a bit weird around each other...
But anyway!
Mister Kai was in a similar situation with that between Miss Elise and Rin's mom.
'He should really talk with them about it...'
Rin could tell. Although her mom was being cool and aloof about it, she was still hung up about Mister Kai. While it wasn't completely 'love' anymore, Rin could tell that her mom hadn't quite moved on from him either.
And Mister Kai clearly felt the same way.
But Miss Elise DEFINITELY adored and loved Mister Kai. And considering Tsuki was there too, and Mister Kai was a father...