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Chapter 362: Chapter 358 ~ Her New Home

”Ah, Yuu-kun~ Good morning~”

As Yuuji stepped into the dining room, the gentle clatter of utensils and the comforting aroma of miso soup greeted him. 

Mira stood in the kitchen, sunlight filtering through the window behind her, illuminating her soft smile as she stirred the pot.

”Good morning, Mira.”

His voice carried warmth he didnʼt bother hiding. Seeing her again—after everything—made something in his chest loosen.

He walked up behind her without hurry and slipped his arms around her slender waist. Resting his chin lightly on her shoulder, he nuzzled against her neck, breathing in her familiar scent.

”I missed you.”

Mira blinked in mild surprise, then her expression melted into something tender. Her eyes softened as she turned her head slightly.

”Did you just return from a mission with that group chat?”

She set the ladle aside and placed her hands over his, leaning back comfortably into his embrace.

He nodded against her shoulder.

In response, she turned fully in his arms and wrapped him in a proper hug, pressing herself against him with quiet affection, her chest squished against his.

”I missed you too. Fufu~ Even if itʼs only been a night for me~” 

She said softly. 

”Are you alright?”

His arms tightened instinctively.

”Mm. Iʼm okay.”

”Fufu~ Good.” 

She brushed her fingers lightly through his hair. 

”Tell me all about your adventure later, alright? But for now, go sit down. Breakfast will be ready soon.”

”Mm.”

He let her go—reluctantly—and took a few seconds just to look at her. To memorize her expression, the warmth in her gaze, the way morning light framed her silhouette.

”I love you… Mira.”

Her composure faltered for a brief second. Her eyes widened, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks.

Even if she heard it often, hearing him say it so directly always made her heart skip.

”Mm. I love you too, Yuu-kun. Soooo much~”

He leaned down and kissed her gently, unhurried and sincere.

”Iʼll set the table.”

”Mm~ Thank you, dear~”

After pressing one last kiss to her forehead, Yuuji moved to the dining area and began laying out plates, bowls, and utensils. Eight sets in total—for himself, Mira, Aika, Yuna, Nina, Aria, Alice, and Eset.

Halfway through, he paused.

Ophis.

She was still resting inside his [Kingʼs Treasury], along with the twins when they wished to stay there.

”Ah, Mira. Thereʼs… one more person joining us for breakfast.” He said. 

”Someone I met during the mission. Sheʼs a bit of a glutton, so Iʼll take out some extra food I prepared.”

Mira raised a brow playfully. 

”Ara? Is that so? Then Iʼll make a little more as well. Fufu~ Youʼll introduce her properly, right?”

”Of course.”

He added another set to the table.

ʼWe might need a bigger dining table soon…ʼ

With Aria, Alice, Est, and now Ophis—who all had rather healthy appetites—it was becoming increasingly necessary.

Not that they didnʼt often end up sitting on his lap anyway.

Before long, footsteps echoed down the stairs.

”Good morning…”

”Good morning, Mama, Yuu-kun!”

”Good morning, Mother, Yuuji.”

Aika, Yuna, and Nina entered the dining room, still carrying traces of sleepiness. Although she had slipped out of the bed earlier, it seemed like Aika slept again after returning to her own room. 

”Good morning, girls~ Come sit. Breakfast is ready.”

”Good morning.” 

They took their seats as Mira brought out the food—miso soup, tamagoyaki, sunny side up eggs, french toasts, and fresh fruits.

”Before we start, thereʼs someone Iʼd like you to meet.” 

Yuuji said, drawing their attention.

Curiosity immediately lit their expressions.

A golden ripple—large enough for a person—formed in the air beside him.

From it, four figures stepped out.

”Ah! Mama Mira! Aika-nee! Yuna-nee! Nina-nee! I missed you~!”

Alice appeared first, her long white hair shimmering faintly as she threw herself into Miraʼs arms.

”It has been a while, everyone.” 

Aria followed more gracefully, stepping forward with a polite bow and a warm smile.

”Mm… Good morning…”

Est, still a bit sleepy, dragged herself down the stairs and slowly followed after the twin slimes. 

And finally—

A small girl with jet-black hair and deep obsidian eyes emerged quietly.

She wore a frilly gothic-style dress, her expression calm and observant. Her gaze moved across the room, taking in each face without fear or hostility.

Only curiosity.

ʼThese are the people Yuuji told her about.ʼ 

Ophis thought.

His family.

”This is Ophis. Sheʼs quiet, but sheʼs a good girl. Ophis, introduce yourself.”

Yuuji introduced gently. 

She glanced at him briefly, then looked back at them.

As he had instructed earlier, she bowed slightly.

”My name is Ophis… Itʼs nice to meet you.”

She did not mention being the Dragon of Infinity. There was no need.

There was only one thing Yuuji had asked of her. Protect them and get along with them.

The people precious to him.

She accepted immediately.

If they were harmed, Yuuji would be sad. That alone was unacceptable.

”Ara~ How adorable~” Mira smiled warmly. 

”Itʼs nice to meet you, Ophis-chan. Iʼm Tsubakihara Mira~”

”Nice to meet you. Iʼm Tsubakihara Aika. You can call me Aika-nee.”

”Itʼs nice to meet you, Ophis-chan! Iʼm Yuna! Letʼs be friends!”

”It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Nina.”

Ophis nodded once and took the seat prepared for her.

Breakfast began.

As she quietly ate the French toast Mira had made, she observed them. The way they spoke. The way they laughed. The casual closeness between them.

A warmth slowly spread in her chest. It was different from the still, quiet comfort she felt within the [Kingʼs Treasury].

Different from the singular warmth she felt when standing beside Yuuji.

She took another bite, listening to their conversation.

It felt… comfortable.

It seemed like she would like it here. 

And this place… These people…

She would protect them. No matter what.

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

Yuuji walked down the quiet neighborhood street with Yuna and Nina at his sides, their hands naturally intertwined as the three made their way toward school.

The morning air carried the faint chill of early spring. Above them, rows of sakura trees had begun to bloom, their pale pink petals occasionally drifting through the breeze like soft snow. The streets were peaceful at this hour, with only a few students and office workers passing by.

It was a calm, ordinary morning. A comforting change after the group chat mission in Riasʼs world. 

At home, Ophis, Alice, and Aria had stayed behind with Mira, who had taken the day off to watch over them. Meanwhile, Aika had already left earlier that morning to open her café for the day, likely busy preparing the fresh pastries that would soon fill the shop with their warm aroma.

As they walked, Yuna suddenly leaned forward slightly, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

”Hey, hey~ What do you think we should bring for the hanami viewing this weekend?”

She said, swinging their joined hands lightly. 

The topic had first come up earlier that morning during breakfast.

Mira had casually mentioned the upcoming hanami season—the traditional flower-viewing event where people gathered under blooming sakura trees to eat, relax, and enjoy the fleeting beauty of spring.

Since Yuuji, Yuna, and Nina were already planning to go with their friends on Saturday, Mira had suggested that the rest of the household should go together on Sunday. That way, all nine of them—including Ophis, Alice, Aria, and Est—could enjoy their own quieter hanami picnic as well.

The idea had quickly turned into a lively discussion over breakfast about what kind of food they should prepare.

And now, as they walked toward school, the conversation naturally resurfaced.

For the Saturday hanami with their friends, the three of them had already agreed that they would cook and bring several dishes themselves.

Yuuji thought for a moment before answering.

”Hm… aside from the cakes and pastries weʼll be bringing from Aika-neeʼs café, we could prepare some simple homemade dishes.”

He listed them off calmly.

”Tamagoyaki, onigiri, karaage, hamburg steaks… maybe some sushi too.”

They were all fairly straightforward dishes. Nothing overly complicated—yet delicious enough for a picnic.

Even Yuna and Nina, who didnʼt have much cooking experience, could still help with the preparation. At the very least, they could assist with shaping onigiri or helping with ingredients while Yuuji handled the more delicate steps.

”We also donʼt need to prepare too much.” Yuuji continued. 

”Chitoge, Raku, Visha, and Erya are bringing food too. And Onodera, Ruki, and the quintuplets said theyʼll bring desserts and snacks.”

He smiled faintly.

”With that many people cooking, thereʼs going to be a lot of food already.”

In total, quite a large group would be gathering under the sakura trees. But because many of them were bringing their own dishes, the picnic would naturally turn into a shared feast.

Besides, most of the attendees were girls who tended to eat lightly.

If they brought too much, some of the food might go to waste—which would be a shame.

”So letʼs keep it reasonable.” 

Yuuji concluded.

Nina nodded thoughtfully beside him.

”Mm. I agree.”

After a brief pause, she added another suggestion.

”Since itʼs still a little cold outside this time of year… maybe we could prepare some miso soup as well.”

Yuna blinked.

”Miso soup?”

Nina nodded.

”We could bring it in a large thermos. Warm soup would be nice while sitting under the trees.”

Yunaʼs eyes immediately lit up with excitement.

”Ahh~! That sounds amazing!”

She clasped her hands happily.

”Drinking warm miso soup while relaxing under the sakura trees… thatʼs totally perfect for hanami!”

Yuuji chuckled softly at her enthusiasm.

It was such a simple idea, yet somehow it made the entire outing feel even more cozy.

”Alright,” he said with a small nod.

”Then itʼs decided.”

Their hanami menu was officially set upon their arrival at school. 

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

School day passed by in its usual, uneventful rhythm.

For Yuuji, classes had long since become something he treated more like background noise than actual study. Over the course of his missions across multiple worlds, he had attended more schools than most students ever would in their entire lives. Different curricula, different teaching styles, different subjects—but at their core, they were all fundamentally the same and went by the same rhythm.

And more importantly, the level of education here was something he had already long surpassed.

Every topic the teachers covered—whether mathematics, literature, science, or history—was something he had already mastered. In fact, compared to some of the advanced knowledge he had acquired during his time in other worlds, these lessons felt almost elementary.

So during class, he usually did what he always did.

He quietly tuned out the lectures, letting the droning voice of the teacher fade into the background while he occupied himself with other things.

Sometimes he would stealthily chat with his Lelouch, Tatsuya, Satoru, and his lovers. Other times he would converse internally with Ai, the artificial intelligence he had created with the help of the Group Chat—his ”daughter”—discussing everything from trivial daily matters to more complex research projects.

Between that and occasionally glancing out the window at the drifting sakura petals outside, time passed quickly.

Before he knew it—

Ding-dong!

The familiar chime of the lunch bell echoed throughout the school building.

The teacher stopped mid-sentence, glanced at the clock, and gave a small nod.

”Thatʼs all for todayʼs lesson. Continue reviewing chapter four for tomorrow. Remember, test season is coming up. Donʼt laze around.”

Without lingering, the teacher gathered their materials and promptly left the classroom, leaving behind a sudden burst of energy as the students relaxed.

Conversations erupted almost immediately.

Chairs scraped against the floor as students stood up, stretched, or began heading out to meet their friends for lunch.

Yuuji was just about to stand up when—

BAM!

A pair of hands suddenly slammed down onto his desk.

The unexpected sound made him pause.

When he looked up, a bright and mischievous smile greeted him.

Standing there was Erya.

Her light brown hair fell to her shoulders, the ends curling outward slightly, giving her an effortlessly lively appearance. Her light green eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned forward over his desk, her grin wide and unapologetically bold.

”Yuuji! Letʼs have lunch together! Thereʼs something I want to talk about!”

She declared energetically.

Yuuji blinked in surprise.

Behind her, Visha stood quietly, offering him a slightly apologetic smile.

As he processed the situation, Yuuji also noticed something from the corner of his eye.

Two familiar figures were quietly slipping out of the classroom.

Shuu and Raku.

The two of them were moving with the stealth of trained infiltrators, deliberately avoiding eye contact as they made their escape without inviting him to lunch like they usually did.

Yuujiʼs eye twitched slightly.

ʼThese bastards…ʼ

To Yuuji, it had already been months since Erya had transferred into Bonyari High School. After all, during his mission in Riasʼs world, time had passed very differently.

But in this world—

Only a week had gone by.

And yet in that single week, Erya had already established herself as someone people instinctively avoided antagonizing.

Her intelligence was frightening.

Combined with her natural charm and exceptional social skills, she had an uncanny ability to uncover peopleʼs secrets and weaknesses almost effortlessly. It was as if she could read between the lines of every conversation and piece together hidden truths with terrifying accuracy.

However, she never exposed what she learned. Instead, she quietly stored that information away.

Even the people whose secrets she had uncovered remained blissfully unaware.

Not even Visha, who spent the most time with her, only seemed to realize a fraction of the extent of Eryaʼs information-gathering ability.

The only person who was aware of how terrifying she was, was Yuuji.

And that was because of the private conversation they had shared over the phone the day before she transferred into Bonyari.

A few days ago, Shuu had made the unfortunate mistake of provoking her.

What followed had been a full-scale retaliation so thorough and precise that it left him completely unable to oppose her ever again.

Meanwhile, Raku, who had simply been an innocent bystander who happened to witness the aftermath, had been left deeply traumatized.

So now—

The moment they saw Erya approaching Yuujiʼs desk, they made the wise decision to retreat immediately, leaving him behind as the sacrificial target.

Yuuji sighed inwardly.

”Sure. Is it okay if Yuna and Nina join us too?”

”Of course~!” 

Erya replied cheerfully without hesitation. She clapped her hands together with excitement.

”Then Visha and I will go to the cafeteria and buy some bread! You go grab us a spot in the courtyard, okay?”

”Alright.”

”Then itʼs decided! Letʼs go, Visha!”

Without waiting for further discussion, Erya grabbed Vishaʼs arm and began dragging her toward the door.

As she was pulled along, Visha looked back over her shoulder and gave Yuuji a small apologetic bow before disappearing out into the hallway.

Left alone, Yuuji stood up and headed toward the neighboring classroom where Yuna and Nina were.

When he told them about Eryaʼs invitation, Yuna immediately brightened.

”Sure~! Letʼs go!”

Nina nodded calmly beside her.

”Alright.”

With that settled, the three of them prepared to leave.

But just as they stepped out of the classroom—

Yuujiʼs gaze shifted briefly inside.

And met another pair of eyes.

At the back of the room, Utaha had just woken from her usual midday nap. She was lifting her head from her desk, her long dark hair slightly tousled as she blinked sleepily.

For a brief moment, their eyes met.

It lasted for a second.

Just a fleeting instant.

But for some reason, Yuuji found himself noticing her.

Then the moment passed.

He turned away, and together with Yuna and Nina—each carrying the packed lunches Mira had prepared—they left the classroom and made their way toward the courtyard, where Erya and Visha would soon join them.

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AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please comment your thoughts~! I would love to hear what you think about it~!!!! 

Also, if youʼd like to read additional chapters ahead and get a pdf version (Light & Dark), please feel free to check out my at ~!