"Bang!"
"Okaasan?? Okaasan! Where are you! Okaasan!!" In the bedroom, the loud sound of a door slamming against the frame dragged Ho Fei-yu back to reality. Yui Nakaizumi's anxious and worried voice reached his ears.
"Yui-chan, don't worry. Auntie Mao is almost completely recovered. She's just a little... weak, so she probably won't be able to get out of bed for a while." Ho Fei-yu was moved by the deep affection between mother and daughter, and his heart swelled with satisfaction. This was the result of his protection; the tragedy from the anime in his previous life had not happened again. Perhaps this was the meaning of his transmigration. Every girl deserved a bright future, not to be a casually defiled toy. They could strive for happiness, rather than stopping to become someone's plaything.
"Really, Fei-yu?"
"Mhm. Don't you believe what I say?"
"I do! Thank you, Fei-yu!" Yui Nakaizumi nodded firmly, raising her small hand to wipe away a few escaping tears. The innocent, carefree look from when Ho Fei-yu first met her returned to her adorable face.
"Yui-chan, Mom is fine. Don't worry~ But Mom's body is still a bit uncomfortable, so I need to rest until noon. Lunch is up to you and Shiori-chan."
"Also, the things on the table last night have been put in the refrigerator. Some things can be eaten after heating them up in the microwave. Be sure to treat Fei-yu well, okay~"
"Okay, Okaasan! I'll definitely treat Fei-yu well." Hearing Mao Nakaizumi's voice, Yui Nakaizumi was truly relieved. She confidently assured Mao Nakaizumi in the bedroom that she would definitely make Fei-yu try Shiori-chan's cooking. He would definitely want a second serving after the first, just like she did.
"Th-thank you, Fei-yu. If it weren't for you, I truly don't know what would have... I don't want to lose Mom, I don't want to lose Shiori, I don't want them to get hurt. Thank you, Fei-yu, thank you..." The girl's true feelings flowed out. She circled the sofa and slowly walked up to Ho Fei-yu, looking at him with genuine sincerity and gratitude. The blush that had just faded from her face crept back. Especially as she spoke in an emotional tone, she threw herself into Ho Fei-yu's arms, burying her small head in his chest. Muffled sobs and choked whimpers came from against his body.
"There, there, Auntie Mao and Shiori-chan are fine, aren't they? Don't worry. As long as I'm around, nothing like this will ever hurt you. Be good, stop crying, or Shiori-chan will be surprised to see your stained face when she wakes up." Ho Fei-yu's hand stiffened slightly, but he ultimately chose to gently stroke the girl's small back, comforting her softly.
"Pfft, Shiori-chan wouldn't do that!" Yui Nakaizumi buried her face in Ho Fei-yu's chest for five or six minutes. Then her small head gave a little shake, as if wiping all the grime onto Ho Fei-yu's shirt. When she felt satisfied, she lifted her head again, revealing a joyful smile.
"Hehe, that's the Yui-chan I know. A sad-faced Yui is not cute at all~"
"Mmm~ Mmm~" Ho Fei-yu couldn't help but pinch Yui Nakaizumi's small cheeks, pulling them outwards. They were plump and soft, and the sensation was undeniably good. Her small head wobbled as she spoke incomprehensible words.
'Is it really that fun?'
'Hmph! Why are you pinching me! I want to pinch back!' Yui Nakaizumi felt her small face being kneaded by Ho Fei-yu as he pleased. She also noticed the look in Ho Fei-yu's eyes, the same way she looked at cats and dogs on the street. Feeling annoyed, she imitated Ho Fei-yu and pinched his face. For a moment, the two played like children. Then, at a certain point, they stopped, as if by mutual understanding. It was like a study hall without a supervisor: it started with inexplicable noise, but suddenly, in one instant, the noisy classroom fell into an eerie silence. The two just stared at each other.
'Boom—Boom—Boom.' Yui Nakaizumi felt like she could hear her own heartbeat. It was completely different from usual. Why was it so rapid, so nervous, so shy?
'But Fei-yu and Mom already...' Recalling last night, both she and Shiori were worried about Mao Nakaizumi. So, after Ho Fei-yu closed the door, they both pressed their ears against it, wanting to know what was happening inside. It wasn't that they didn't trust Ho Fei-yu, but the matter was too important, and they were intensely worried. Yet, all they heard was... At this thought, Yui Nakaizumi's delicate, small earlobes quickly turned scarlet. Her ears seemed to echo with her mother's enchanting moans.
"Bang!" Another sound of a door opening echoed from the bedroom.
Yui Nakaizumi paused, then quickly moved away from Ho Fei-yu, sitting to one side, purposefully adding some distance.
"M-morning, Shi-Shiori-chan."
"Morning, Yui, Fei-yu."
"By the way, how is Auntie Mao? Fei-yu, did you..." Shiori Fuyutsuki noticed Yui Nakaizumi's abnormal behavior, her eyebrows subtly raised. Whenever her good friend felt guilty, she would stammer. Shiori glanced over her friend's body, then turned to Ho Fei-yu. She quickly remembered the main issue, throwing all thoughts of Yui Nakaizumi's oddness out of her mind, asking Ho Fei-yu anxiously.
"She's fine now. Ms. Mao is resting."
"Really!?!"
"Yes!!!" Yui Nakaizumi, seeing Shiori Fuyutsuki's look of disbelief, quickly helped Ho Fei-yu vouch for the truth.
"Yay! That's wonderful, Auntie Mao is okay, Yui, Auntie Mao is okay!!" The two girls hugged each other excitedly, jumping up and down with joy. Their faces and beautiful eyes were filled with anticipation for a better future life.
"By the way, we must thank Fei-yu properly. We'll make sure Fei-yu eats his fill for lunch today!" Yui Nakaizumi realized they had left Ho Fei-yu ignored. She immediately stopped jumping, her eyes turning to Ho Fei-yu. Her gratitude was clear, but it also seemed mixed with a different emotion.
"Yes, we must thank Fei-yu properly!"
'Unknowingly saved three times. Three lives, three generations, but that's too long, too illusionary.'
'I'll use this one life to repay him~' Shiori Fuyutsuki also looked at Ho Fei-yu. Only the young man's figure occupied her purple-brown eyes, almost filling them entirely, as if there was no room for anyone else.
"Hehe, then I'll look forward to Shiori-chan's and Yui-chan's cooking."
"Mhm mhm! Fei-yu should look forward to it! Our Shiori-chan is talented in many ways. I guarantee you'll eat so much you'll become a big fatty today! I just wonder who will be lucky enough to marry Shiori-chan in the future." As she said this, Yui Nakaizumi glanced at Ho Fei-yu. Similarly, Shiori Fuyutsuki's gaze subtly swept past Ho Fei-yu.