Facing Mrs. Toyohama's baseless accusation, Ai Sakurajima's smile didn't waver. Only her gaze deepened, as if it could see straight through a person.

"Please, calm down a little, Mrs. Toyohama."

Her voice was gentle but carried an unquestionable authority.

"Nodoka is safe. She's with Mai right now."

"With Mai?!"

Mrs. Toyohama sounded even more incredulous, her voice sharpening. "How could they possibly—"

"In this world, very little is impossible," Ai cut in.

Her tone stayed even, yet oddly soothing. "There may have been some misunderstandings between Mai and Nodoka. But for now, they're getting along… fairly well."

She neatly avoided the details.

"You don't need to worry about Nodoka's safety. She's doing fine—maybe even better than you'd expect."

Mrs. Toyohama opened her mouth, but when she met Ai Sakurajima's steady gaze, her questions and anger seemed to clog in her throat. The other woman's presence was too strong, triggering an instinctive flicker of fear—though mostly she just felt lost about the disappearance of the "project" she'd poured so much effort into.

"Then… why are you here?"

Her voice softened, tinged with confusion.

Ai took a small, graceful step forward. The invisible pressure of her demeanor made Mrs. Toyohama back up half a step on reflex, clearing the doorway.

"Won't you invite me in?" Ai smiled—politely, but in a way that brooked no refusal. "We should have a proper talk about Nodoka."

Her calm eyes settled on Mrs. Toyohama's face. In their depths was something like a dark pool that could swallow secrets whole, and it made Mrs. Toyohama's heart give a nervous skip.

…

Early the next morning.

In the apartment's master bedroom, heavy curtains shut out most of the dawn, leaving the room in a dim, intimate glow. The air still carried Emilia's sweet scent and a lazier, masculine warmth.

Half-asleep, Nodoka Toyohama felt the mattress dip beside her. A warm, strong hand slipped around her slender waist and drew her into a solid, familiar embrace.

"Mm…"

She let out a soft sound, still not fully awake, but her body recognized Rei Ao before her mind did. She burrowed into a comfortable spot against him out of habit.

Emilia's boldness from earlier flashed across her mind, bringing instant color to her cheeks.

Rei Ao's kisses were lazy with morning and quietly commanding—first her forehead, then her eyelids, and then a real kiss. Nodoka's heart kicked into a gallop; her body went a little weak. She thought he was unsated, that he'd come looking for her again. Shyness surged like a tide. She pressed lightly against his chest, her voice husky and timid with sleep.

"R-Rei Ao…"

"Shh."

He interrupted her with a low, amused murmur. "Don't you want a surprise?"

A… surprise?

Nodoka blinked, her hands stilling, confusion clouding her sleepy eyes.

Rei Ao felt for her phone on the nightstand and tucked it into her hand. "Look."

His voice held a coaxing lilt.

Dizzied by his kisses, Nodoka lit up the screen on reflex. The sudden brightness made her squint. When she finally made out the text, her whole body went rigid.

A message.

From: Mom.

Nodoka's heart plunged. Panic and resistance surged up, almost as reflex. Mom… she'd found her after all? Was it a scolding? An order? A threat?

Her fingertips trembled as she opened the message.

The words that popped up hit her like a bolt of lightning.

[Nodoka: I've been thinking a lot. I was wrong before—forcing you to do things you didn't like and ignoring how you felt. I'm sorry. From now on… do what you want to do. I won't interfere anymore. Take good care of yourself. I love you.]

It wasn't long, but it slammed into the shackles binding Nodoka's soul and shattered them into pieces.

She stared, wide-eyed, reading the message over and over as if she no longer recognized the words. This… was this something her mother would say? The mother who only cared about her value, who spun a cage called "for your own good"? Telling her to do what she wanted? Apologizing? Saying… she loved her?

Shock, confusion, disbelief crashed over her like a tidal wave. Her grip tightened until her knuckles went white, her body shaking despite herself.

"Th-this… this is…?"

She lifted her head to Rei Ao, voice dry and quavering, already thick with tears.

The lazy teasing had left his face. His dark eyes held hers, steady and unusually gentle. He raised a hand and, with the pad of his finger, brushed away the tears bursting from the corners of her eyes.

"A surprise," he said softly. "Do you like it?"

Boom.

Nodoka understood in an instant.

It was Rei Ao. It had to be. He had done something—something that made her controlling, forceful mother send this message. He had cut the invisible noose around her neck.

A flood of relief burst the dam and swept away everything in its path. No more heavy chains, no more suffocating cage—freedom. Her mother's recognition and release, late but priceless.

"Mm—"

All the long-suppressed hurt, longing, and now the surging joy collapsed into a sob she couldn't hold back. Hot tears spilled from her bright eyes in fat drops, soaking her cheeks and the front of Rei Ao's shirt.

She hurled herself into his arms, clutching his neck like a drowning swimmer grabbing the only lifeline. Then she tipped her face up, eyes awash, and kissed him hard—without hesitation, without restraint.

This kiss held no shyness, no resistance—only clumsy urgency and a touch of wild abandon, salted with tears and surging like a storm tide, pouring every ounce of gratitude, love, and reborn joy into the man who had given her freedom.

~~~

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