He closed the chat group.
He could sense uneven breathing coming from two people on either side of him.
'Kie and Tamayo, it seed, weren't asleep at all.'
Indeed, they were not. Both of them lay in the darkness, pressed close against his body, soaking up the warmth radiating from him. Their hearts pounded erratically.
anwhile, on the outskirts of their cozy circle, Nezuko was sleeping soundly.
Kie and Tamayo could both be considered "girls of a certain age," particularly Tamayo, who, despite her youthful appearance, had lived for over five hundred years.
In the midst of this atmosphere, it was the young man who finally broke the silence:
"Did you both hear everything yesterday?"
"...?"
Two pairs of eyes shifted in the darkness, and two lovely bodies stirred. Ren felt their breath on his face.
"We... heard..."
The one speaking was Kie, her voice timid as a mosquito's hum. ntioning "yesterday" made both her and Tamayo recall the nightti turmoil. Especially with Nezuko's bright-red gaze observing them, Kie—who nominally played the role of Nezuko's mother—felt utterly on edge.
A mont of silence passed. Ren decided to break the tension using his hands.
...
"Huh? Ren, where are Mom and Aunt Tamayo?"
Nezuko awoke with a sleepy yawn, her eyes still half-shut. She noticed that while Ren was already up, both Kie and Tamayo were gone—along with the quilts and bedding.
Ren flexed his fingers, still a bit stiff, then rubbed the tip of his nose and spoke seriously, "They went to wash the blankets and clothes."
"Oh, okay."
Nezuko gave a vague nod, seeming half awake, half clueless.
...
It was dayti—Friday, in fact. Because Kie and the other two had things to arrange, Ren would be busy most of the day. Early in the morning, he told Eriri he'd be skipping school, to which Eriri responded calmly, not questioning his plans at all. She just said "Got it," and went to school by herself.
After that, Ren called Shizuka Hiratsuka.
"Hello? You brat, calling so early in the morning—why can't you wait and tell at school?"
"Ahem, Ms. Shizuka, I'm calling to let you know I won't be coming to class today," Ren got straight to the point.
"Huh? You've got sothing going on?"
"Yeah, I have a few guests at ho who really need my attention."
"Fine, fine. You always get full marks on every exam anyway."
"Thanks, Shizuka-chan."
"...Huh...?"
Beep!
"That kid!"
Shizuka Hiratsuka squeezed her phone in frustration. 'Seriously? That's no way to speak to your teacher!' she thought. Also, calling her "Shizuka-chan"—how could that possibly fit her? Maybe in her students' eyes, she was more like a fierce tigress with an iron fist. "Ren..." she sighed.
She recalled the favor from Yukinoshita Haruno, who wanted to know if Yukino was close to anyone at school—basically, whether Yukino might be dating soone, or possibly being tricked by so boy. The truth was Yukino herself was sort of attaching herself to Ren, so what could Hiratsuka do? Two brilliant students, determined to pursue all sorts of supernatural research... She felt quite helpless.
...
After hanging up, Ren didn't imdiately take the three ladies outside. Instead, he summoned Sayuri over.
When she ca inside, her expression looked a bit odd. "Ren, why'd you call in here?"
"Sayuri-auntie, are you okay? You look under the weather," Ren asked, noticing her odd deanor.
She was, in fact, recalling how she'd eavesdropped on Eriri and him through a wall. Then, by combining the sounds and her imagination, she'd relieved herself multiple tis. The heavy sense of guilt left her feeling awkward around Ren.
"Oh, I'm fine. Really. So... what did you want?"
Sayuri forced a calm expression. As far as she insisted, she was indeed "fine," so he decided not to pry further.
"All right," Ren said, and then called toward his room, "Co on out, everyone."
"Huh?" Sayuri glanced around, baffled. 'Others are in his house?'
Creak.
The door opened. Under Sayuri's astonished gaze, three different but equally stunning beauties erged one after another.
She instinctively glossed over their oddly old-fashioned clothes, her mind stuck on four words, 'He's hiding beauties at ho?!'
In re seconds, her rational side reasserted itself. She didn't think Ren was the type to hide girls in his house just for bragging rights, though.
Well... in a sense, that's exactly what he was doing. Of course, he had an explanation prepared. He ca right out with it.
He wanted a harem, so supernatural power was essential. An ordinary guy wanting a harem? Yeah, right.
"These three are Nezuko, Kie, and Tamayo," he introduced. "They're not human—they're my contracted demons. You can think of it like we ford a pact."
His words caused the trio's eyes to shimr warmly with joy. Kie and Tamayo, especially, had an even deeper fondness appear in their gaze. Although they were, in truth, subservient and completely at Ren's rcy, he didn't treat them that way. Instead, he used the term "contract," which was far more noble, showing his kindness and respect. As the ones involved, they felt deeply moved. All the more so for Kie and Tamayo, who had been "pre-approved" for a future union with Ren. Their hearts fluttered at that.
"Huh?"
Sayuri was utterly confused by the statent. She stared at the three unbelievably gorgeous won—'Demons? Contracted with him?' She didn't doubt it was true, given how special she knew Ren to be. Still, her brain struggled to process it.
In order to stir Sayuri a bit more...
Ren shot the three won a look.
All three imdiately understood and shifted into their demonized forms.
Their demon transformations weren't frightening. Instead, they possessed a kind of bewitching allure, making Ren wonder about new "possibilities." However...
Combined with their aura, it caused Sayuri to suddenly shrink back into Ren's arms in fear.
"..."
For a mont, Ren wasn't sure where to place his hands. After a brief pause, he naturally slipped an arm around her.
Softly he reassured her, "Don't be scared. They're mine—they won't eat you."
Hearing that, Sayuri gradually cald down. Feeling the warmth of his embrace and realizing her position, she quickly pulled away from Ren. Though the instant she left his arms, she felt a fleeting twinge of reluctance even she herself hadn't noticed.
Sayuri refused to et Ren's gaze.
"..."
anwhile, Tamayo and Kie, both older won with life experience, exchanged a aningful smile.
Ren cleared his throat. "Ahem, right, so... are you three hungry?"
He rubbed his nose in a sowhat awkward attempt to change the subject.
Nezuko touched her stomach, pouted her lips prettily, and said, "Ren-nii, I think I'm a bit hungry."
Nezuko's way of addressing him—calling him "Ren-nii"—was sothing he had taught her.
'Hmm... If a demon's hungry, typically... it might eat humans, right? It's said that if a demon devours soone with rare blood, they can get stronger. But maybe drinking blood is enough? And how about my blood?'
While pondering this, Ren drew his Zanpakuto. In the shocked stares of those present, he pressed the blade against his palm.
"Don't!"
A crisp shout rang out, and Kanae's figure manifested from intangible to tangible. The Zanpakuto was immobilized in midair before it could slice his hand. Kanae clung to Ren's arm.
"You finally ca out. What was going on before? People who don't know might think you're mad at ." Ren smiled at Kanae, who wore a worried expression.
"? Angry at my master? N-no, I just... it's just..." Kanae wanted to explain, yet embarrassnt sealed her lips.
"Hm?" Sensing she was holding sothing back, Ren decided to read her thoughts directly.
With a clear conscience, he allowed their minds to connect.
Imdiately, a flood of Kanae's thoughts and mories surged into his head.
"Huh?!"
Ren gasped, staring at Kanae in shock.
"!"
Kanae's face went beet-red, and she turned away. She already sensed that Ren had seen everything. She felt she couldn't possibly show her face.
Only then did Ren realize: Kanae was passively subject to his mind-link. It was entirely up to him to choose to read or not read. This had led to quite the bizarre situation.
She had perceived his hot battle with Mitsuri. His pleasure from that, turning into plain lust, even though she had no physical body. Still, Kanae was scorched by Ren's fiery desire, unable to control herself. One could say... she got rather excited?
Not only that—she also experienced his nightti escapades with Tamayo and Kie. Even though she was in his inner ntal space, she ended up doing that! This... this was too outlandish, borderline perverse. No wonder she was too embarrassed to show herself. She'd practically perford an entire show in front of her younger sisters, a literal "flood" scene that even splashed them. How could she face anyone now?
'And she suddenly appeared now, worried about ?'
Such a strange thought rose in Ren's mind. He wasn't falling for so typical male illusions; the mind-sharing had given him a real sense of what she felt.
"D-don't look at like that..."
The older-sisterly calm she once had had utterly collapsed. Kanae cowered, voice trembling in sha.
"..."
On the sidelines, Sayuri felt like her brain was overheating. A beautiful girl just materialized from a sword? What was even happening?
Ren gradually withdrew his hand. Things were getting chaotic. He decided he might as well do things thoroughly. Fully grasping the complexity of Kanae's embarrassnt, he simply pulled Kanae into a hug, letting her lean against him. anwhile, he beckoned Tamayo, Kie, and Nezuko to co over too. They all surrounded him in one collective embrace—even Nezuko cuddled up to him.
Raising his chin, Ren said earnestly to Sayuri, "Auntie Sayuri, to be frank, Kanae is the spirit within my sword. All of them have ford a pact with . None can ever leave my side for the rest of my life."
"..."
Sayuri understood the aning in his words. He considered them as won, just like Eriri. By rights, she should despise womanizers who toy with Eriri's feelings. But facing Ren now... she found she wasn't angry at all. Because she knew his and Eriri's relationship was genuine; he wasn't playing around. He was being forthright with everything. And indeed, as he said, these demon pacts and a sword's manifested spirit were special existences—they literally couldn't leave him. This was a lifeti bond, living and dying together. In that kind of situation, feelings inevitably arise.
Not only was she not angry; she even felt a sort of calm acceptance. A gentle, relieved smile took shape on her face. Since Ren wasn't going to hide it from her, he definitely wouldn't hide it from Eriri either. That was his respect for them.
"I see, Ren-kun. I get what you're dealing with," she said. "But I hope you'll explain it properly to Eriri. She's a good girl too, and I believe she'll handle it like I am."
Ren nodded firmly. "I will."
Relieved, Sayuri let out a small laugh.
"Then let's keep going with what we were doing, shall we?"
Flushed red, Kanae glanced at Ren. She was worried he was about to cut himself. He pinched her cheek lightly, half amused.
"As if I'd harm myself. Aren't our minds linked? Didn't you sense my real aim?"
Kanae froze. 'Aim... not self-harm? Wait...' Realizing the truth, her eyes went wide. It really wasn't self-harm.
"You see what I'm trying to do now?"
"Mm-hmm..."
She nodded shyly, at last releasing his arm, though she added under her breath, "Use your finger, not your palm."
"Got it."
Ren then used his Zanpakuto to slice his fingertip. Red blood welled up.
Nezuko, Tamayo, and Kie stared intently.
"Co on," Ren said, "Try it—let's see if my blood might be considered rare blood or sothing."
He blinked at them, inviting one of them to go first. The three exchanged glances and decided to let the youngest, Nezuko, test it.
Blushing, Nezuko stepped forward.
"Aaah...!"
She opened her dainty mouth, taking his finger between her lips.
"Mmph!"
The mont her tongue tasted blood, Nezuko's eyes went vacant. She unconsciously clung closer to Ren's body.
"..."
Ren looked around at everyone else, shrugging as if to say: I have no idea what's happening here. Even so, he secretly admitted the sensation was pretty pleasant, reminiscent of those nightti encounters...
And right after that, under Sayuri's unsettled gaze and Kanae's embarrassnt, Nezuko, Tamayo, and Kie each took a turn, all losing control for a mont. Once Tamayo finally recovered her composure, she summarized softly,
"Master's blood is more potent than rare blood; it draws us in uncontrollably and also fills us, making us stronger. I suspect it's comparable to a demon devouring the so-called rare-blood individuals."
Her cheeks reddened slightly when she ntioned the word "draws us in."
"That's good," Ren said with a relieved smile. At least he didn't have to worry about them starving here—though with Tamayo around, they wouldn't starve anyway...
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