Rei Ao and Mitsuha's exchange naturally drew the attention of everyone else in the group chat.

Stella: "Something strange? Mitsuha, what happened? The comet—was it taken care of?"

Misaka Mikoto: "Yeah! @Miyamizu Mitsuha, is Itomori okay? Did Rei Ao handle the meteor?"

Tohru: "Heh. If he stepped in, there's nothing to worry about. Mitsuha looks fine, doesn't she?"

Shiba Miyuki: "That's true enough."

Seeing her friends asking, Mitsuha realized she hadn't shared the good news yet and hurried to reply.

Miyamizu Mitsuha: "Mm! Rei Ao already took care of the comet. Itomori is safe. Don't worry!"

Busujima Saeko: "Phew… good."

Busujima Saeko: "But what was that 'something strange' you mentioned? @Miyamizu Mitsuha"

Miko Yotsuya: "Yeah, yeah—what happened to you, Mitsuha? How did you end up somewhere unfamiliar?"

Miyamizu Mitsuha: "I—I don't know what's going on… I think I… suddenly found myself in an apartment I've never seen before… and, and I think I turned into a totally unfamiliar, very pretty older lady…"

Shiba Miyuki: "Turned into… a stranger?"

Shiba Miyuki: "What do you mean? Magic? But didn't Rei Ao say there's no magic in your world."

Kasuga Hijiri: "A soul projection? Or some kind of cognitive interference?"

Sakurajima Mai: "…You mean you're fully conscious, but the body you're controlling belongs to some woman you don't know?"

Mai's tone shifted, as if something had clicked for her. The situation felt very familiar.

Miyamizu Mitsuha: "Yes, yes! Mai-senpai! Exactly! The girl in the mirror isn't me at all!!"

Like finding a kindred spirit, she rushed to confirm—it all had her completely at a loss.

Sakurajima Mai: "…"

Mai fell silent for a moment. This was exactly like when she and Toyohama Nodoka swapped bodies because of "Adolescent Syndrome."

Yukinoshita Yukino: "If I'm not mistaken, you've swapped bodies with someone."

Yukino offered a cool judgment. She hadn't experienced it herself, but someone close had—Yui and her mother. Yuigahama Yui and Mrs. Yuigahama's case came to mind immediately.

Marcille: "Huh?! Body swapping?! That exists?"

Marcille was stunned; even she had never heard of such magic. If it did exist, it would probably be classified as forbidden.

Couronne: "That's way too incredible!"

Tohru: "Oh? Just a simple soul-exchange spell. Pretty common."

Tohru waved it off as a trifle—she even knew ways to turn women into men and men into women.

Frieren: "Soul-exchange magic, Tohru—you know it? Interesting. Teach me? I want to try swapping with Aura."

Hearing that such a spell really existed, Frieren's dangerous academic curiosity flared.

Miyamizu Mitsuha: "S-swap bodies…?"

The guess left Mitsuha stunned. If it was a swap, didn't that mean the original owner of this unfamiliar "Oneesan" body was currently using Miyamizu Mitsuha's body?

And right before she blacked out, she had been with Rei Ao…

!!!!

A thought exploded in her mind, making her scalp prickle and her blood run backward.

Then—wouldn't the woman whose soul had swapped with hers be the one with Rei Ao right now?

"Huh?"

Mitsuha's head rang. Her face went scarlet in an instant, like it could drip blood; she wanted to crawl into a hole.

How could this be happening?!

…

Inside the space Rei Ao had created.

Okudera Miki lay staring blankly at the ceiling. Not dead—but she'd given up on thinking, steeped in exhaustion and afterglow.

Beside her, Rei Ao had casually slipped on a silk robe and straightened up a little. Leaning against the bedside, he crooked a finger under "Miyamizu Mitsuha's" chin, guiding those amber eyes—still misty—with a gentle lift.

Satisfied with the "result," a faint, not-quite-a-smile curved his lips. His gaze lingered on the body that belonged to Mitsuha, though in truth it looked straight through the flesh to the soul within—an unfamiliar, mature soul that had clearly just weathered a violent storm.

"All right, beautiful."

His voice was husky with postlude laziness, yet it still carried an undeniable authority.

"I'm good. Can we introduce ourselves now?"

He paused, adding with a playful note, "After all, the body you're using—Miyamizu Mitsuha—is my girlfriend's. I'm Rei Ao."

A flicker passed through Miki Okudera's eyes; complicated emotions welled—shame, confusion, helplessness, and a hint of awe toward this mysterious, powerful man.

She pressed her lips—reddened from the kiss—looked away from that soul-piercing gaze, and, in a husky, faintly trembling voice, murmured:

"Okudera… Miki… That's my name."

~~~

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