"Rei Ao…?"

Tohka's voice was thick with sleep and tinged with shyness.

Only moments ago she had been wrapped in a sweet dream.

She rubbed her eyes to be sure it wasn't an illusion.

It wasn't.

Rei Ao was back.

Joy slowly welled up inside her.

"Did I wake you?" Rei Ao asked in a whisper.

His voice was so gentle it seemed to drip with tenderness.

He sat on the edge of the bed and lightly stroked Tohka's hair.

Every movement was soft and full of affection.

His fingers slid through her silky purple locks as though he were caressing the finest satin.

Tohka shook her head, then scooted aside to make room for him.

Images of their intimacy a few hours earlier flashed unbidden through her mind, painting her cheeks a vivid red like a newly blossomed flower.

"Y‑you're not going to sleep?" she asked in a small voice, nervously twisting the corner of the quilt.

Just asking made her heart race; her chest rose and fell in the moonlight, tracing a graceful curve.

Rei Ao smiled—warm and irresistibly charming.

He lifted the blanket, lay down beside her, and drew an arm around her waist, pulling her tight against him.

"Now I will," he murmured at her ear, his breath tickling her neck.

His arm was strong yet gentle, and Tohka felt utterly safe.

Her body tensed for an instant, then slowly relaxed as she nestled into his embrace.

She could feel his warmth and hear the steady beat of his heart, and happiness bubbled up inside her.

The two fell asleep like that, holding each other close.

Moonlight poured over them, draping them in a silver veil.

Tohka soon drifted off again, a sweet smile on her lips.

…

The next morning

Sunlight streamed through the window onto Tohka's face, rousing her from sleep.

When she woke, the spot beside her was empty.

She reached out and touched where Rei Ao had lain; it still held warmth—and traces of last night.

Remembering the "overtime" that followed, her cheeks reddened and her pulse sped up.

Burying her face in the pillow in embarrassment, she savored every lingering memory.

After a quick shower she dressed and left the bedroom.

Only Nia was in the living room, slurping instant noodles at a table piled with manga drafts, pens, and paints.

"Morning~"

Nia pushed up her glasses and grinned impishly, mischief sparkling in her eyes.

"Tohka, how did you sleep?"

A dab of broth clung to her lip, making her look a bit comical.

The question sent another wave of red to Tohka's face.

"F‑fine…" she stammered, unable to meet Nia's gaze.

Did she… hear everything last night?

Her fingers curled around her hem in shy panic.

"Rei Ao's already gone," Nia said breezily, tilting her head.

"Kurumi and Ellen are off doing their own things too—just the two of us now."

Suddenly she bounced up, beaming.

"Oh! Want to move in with me?

"DEM is gone; no more hiding!"

She swung her arms like an excited child with a new toy. Craving company, Nia hated being alone.

Tohka blinked, surprise and delight in her eyes.

"Can I?"

"Of course!"

Nia clapped with glee, seized Tohka's hands, and squealed,

"I finally have a roommate— and she's a super‑cute Spirit girl!"

Leaning closer, she dropped her voice, a wicked smile on her face.

"So… how was last night? Is Rei Ao any good?"

Her eyebrows danced suggestively—an expression begging to be smacked.

"Nia!"

Tohka wished the floor would swallow her. She snatched up a cushion and hurled it, her face blazing.

How could she ask something so mortifying?

Her heart pounded as scenes from the night replayed in her mind.

Nia dodged, laughing so hard her giggles echoed through the tiny apartment, filling it with energy.

"All right, all right, I'll stop~"

She wiped tears of laughter away.

"I'll grab you a fresh towel—the one in the bathroom's about to fall apart."

Humming, she skipped to the storeroom, clearly in high spirits…

…

Meanwhile, back in Rei Ao's world

He stood on a spacious balcony, the morning breeze ruffling his black hair with a cool freshness.

Opening his interface, he entered the "No Game No Life" world group chat. A virtual screen unfolded in mid‑air:

Rei Ao: "@Jibril, @Shuvi, @Couronne—how's the village?"

Jibril: "Rest assured, Master!"

Jibril: "With me here, no race dares set foot near the human village!" (photo of her standing imposingly at the gate)

Shuvi: "Confirmed… safety level 99.9 %… remaining 0.1 % uncontrollable variables…" (detailed data chart attached)

Couronne: "Rei Ao-sama! Thank you for sending them! The village is safe and the children are well‑fed…"

Rei Ao: "Just thanks? I recall someone promised to become my woman."

Couronne: "I‑I…"

Jibril: "Master! I can become your woman too! Please command Jibril!"

Shuvi: "Emotion module… overheating… request… cooldown…"

Chuckling, Rei Ao closed the chat.

He turned back to the bedroom, where a silver‑haired beauty—Tsuruyama Shirahi—slept.

In the dawn light her serene face looked like fine porcelain; he couldn't help admiring her.

Her silver hair fanned across the pillow like a waterfall.

Rei Ao bent down and kissed her cheek.

Even that small gesture stirred her: her lashes fluttered open.

Seeing his face so close, a shy glimmer crossed her eyes; she slipped her arms around his neck and answered with a deep kiss.

It was a kiss full of love and longing, as though their very souls were merging.

"Welcome home, Rei Ao‑kun…"

Her voice was soft and tender as her fingers traced his face.

Rei Ao stroked her hair.

"Mm, I'm back."

He drew Tsuruyama Shirahi tightly into his arms, soaking in her warmth and affection.

With a girlfriend like this, what more could a man want?

~~~

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