The soft, supple body of the young woman lay in his embrace. Otto was lying on the bed, and Mei was lying in his arms.
She had no choice, as this was the position Otto had requested.
Mei could not defy Otto.
Setting aside the fact that Mei was learning how to love Otto, the mere fact that he had secured this opportunity for a video call with her father left Mei at a loss for how to thank him.
Otto had described how arduously he had worked to arrange this chance, and Mei had believed him completely.
Therefore, she did not refuse this couple-like intimacy.
Still, lying in Otto's arms in front of her father... it was utterly mortifying.
It felt like she was bringing her boyfriend to meet her family.
The completely inexperienced young woman blushed a deep crimson; this was the first time she had ever experienced such a thing.
However, as the haggard face of her long-unseen father appeared on the phone's screen, Mei managed to push aside her shyness.
She was finally seeing her dad.
Her lips pressed together, her heart filled with joy and gratitude for Mr. Otto.
He hadn't been feeding her empty promises. He could truly help her.
At this moment, Mei finally understood that relying on Mr. Otto was the right decision.
Before, she was more like a drowning person clutching at a stray piece of straw.
Mei held the phone, the camera aimed at her own face. Otto's face did not appear in the frame; only his chest served as Mei's background.
He would not show himself.
It was to avoid unnecessary complications.
If Raiden Ryoma discovered his daughter was lying in the arms of a beast like Otto, there was no telling what kind of extreme reaction he might have. Putting Mei in a difficult position would go against Otto's original intentions.
Otto had already made an agreement with Mei: she was not to expose him. After all, the video call would be monitored. If he were revealed, it would only increase the difficulty of rescuing Brother Ryoma.
With that explanation, the sensible Mei dared only to keep the camera aimed at her blushing, beautiful face.
A smile crept onto Otto's lips.
This is my kind of thrill!
Under these circumstances, the intense heartbeat would create a misattribution of arousal in Mei, causing her to gradually collapse psychologically and completely lower her bottom line.
This was another form of the suspension bridge effect.
"Mei, how have you been lately?"
The initial excitement of the father-daughter reunion began to fade. Raiden Ryoma asked, his eyes red, his voice hoarse and trembling.
"Lately... I've been doing alright."
Mei thought for a moment. Although she had been subjected to cold-shouldered bullying at school, Mr. Otto had quickly taken her away, and she had been by his side ever since.
Aside from being teased by the mischievous Mr. Otto from time to time, she hadn't suffered any real harm.
"Alright is good, that's good..."
Raiden Ryoma let out a sigh of relief. But then it hit him—this meeting between him and Mei must have been arranged by Schicksal!
In other words, Mei had already fallen into Schicksal's hands!
His heart leaped into his throat. This was the only way to explain how he, a prisoner in a Schicksal jail, could be contacting his daughter.
Schicksal!
Raiden Ryoma clenched his fists. He carefully studied his daughter's face, seeing no injuries, just a slight blush.
A blush is good. Color in her cheeks means she's still healthy.
But... what does Schicksal want with Mei?
Raiden Ryoma suppressed his conflicted heart. After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly.
"Mei, you must be careful of a woman named Cocolia. And of the Schicksal organization."
"Stay away from them."
He said no more. Raiden Ryoma knew Mei was in Schicksal's clutches, and might have even been swayed by them. He had long heard of Schicksal's ability to twist black into white with their rhetoric.
But he didn't tell Mei what had happened, nor did he reveal Schicksal's true face to her.
Because telling her would be useless. It would only add to her worries and could even bring her trouble.
If Mei had a falling out with Schicksal, she would be placing herself in grave danger.
Sometimes, ignorance is a form of protection.
Raiden Ryoma's heart ached with worry for his daughter.
Mei tilted her head slightly. To her surprise, she heard the name Cocolia from her father's lips. It seemed he also knew who had framed him.
Mr. Otto really wasn't lying to me.
But... why does Father want me to stay away from Schicksal?
When I was all alone and helpless, only Mr. Otto extended a hand to me.
Besides, I've already joined Schicksal.
Oh, perhaps because Father is in prison, his information is outdated. He probably doesn't know Schicksal has been helping me.
"Mhm, you're right."
She didn't refute him.
How could a filial daughter like her let her father worry? Once she and Mr. Otto rescued him, she would tell him the truth—that she was already a member of Schicksal.
Seeing that Mei had taken his words to heart, Raiden Ryoma nodded in relief.
The two began to chat about other things, both avoiding the topics of Honkai and Schicksal, just like an ordinary father and daughter catching up.
Otto, however, glanced down, his eyes narrowing. He had little interest in Raiden Ryoma, but...
He was very interested in Mei.
The main trio—Kiana, Mei, Bronya. Without any one of them, it would feel somewhat incomplete.
It was like a card collecting game; if you didn't have the full set, it was just a little unsatisfying.
What's more...
He had the ability to complete it.
Therefore...
He hugged Mei a little tighter.
Feeling the warmth of her body.
A smile touched Otto's lips.
Just like Kiana, Mei would ultimately be unable to escape his grasp.
"Mei, what's wrong? Your face seems a little red?"
The conversation had been going well. Knowing Mei was doing fine recently had made Ryoma very happy, but Mei's sudden distraction made him a little confused.
"It's nothing, nothing. The air conditioner isn't on in the room, so it feels a little hot."
Mei said hurriedly.
"Oh." Raiden Ryoma didn't suspect a thing; he trusted his daughter completely. "But if you're going to sleep with the AC on, remember to cover yourself with a blanket. The temperature in Nagazora should be dropping. Don't catch a cold."
"Mhm. You need to take care of your health too, Father."
Mei nodded. She switched the phone to her right hand and used her left to grab the mischievous hand that was roaming around her waist.
However, Otto's hand, as if it had found its prey, immediately captured Mei's, their fingers interlocking.
The two of them just held hands like that.
Mei continued to chat with her father, and Otto refrained from any more mischief, simply closing his eyes and feeling the warmth of the girl in his arms.
Time passed. When it was about time, Otto opened his eyes again.
He raised his left hand and took the phone.
Mei's eyes flickered slightly. She understood. It was time to end it for tonight.
"Father, it's time. We'll talk again later."
Mei said softly.
On the other end, Raiden Ryoma fell silent for a moment. The time for reunion was brief, and now it was time to part again.
"Okay. Mei, you take care of yourself. I'm fine here."
Raiden Ryoma said. He was a very strong man.
He took a breath. As long as he knew Mei was okay, as long as she was safe, that was enough.
"Goodbye, Father."
"I will definitely save you."
As Mei's words fell, the screen turned black. Raiden Ryoma's body slumped. Staring at the tablet in his hands, he gently caressed the screen.
He didn't know when he would be able to see his daughter with his own eyes again.
Raiden Ryoma tilted his head back, staring at the ceiling.
Mei...
"Let's end it here for today."
"I'll work hard to let you see your father again next time."
But just then, he heard a man's voice.
Raiden Ryoma: ?
He looked down at the tablet in his hands. Although the screen was black, the audio feed hadn't been cut.
This was a full-blown broadcast accident.
"Don't get up just yet. Let me hold you a little longer. It's the first time I've held you like this in bed."
"But Mei, your waist is so slender. I never get tired of holding you. You have to let me hold you more in the future."
The man's voice was tinged with laughter.
And then, Raiden Ryoma finally heard a voice he recognized.
"How could you be so naughty just now? What if Father found out?"
"If you do that again, I won't wear the black stockings for you next time."
Mei's voice carried a hint of a playful pout.
Because she had seen her father, her mood was a little more relaxed now, and her trust in Otto had strengthened considerably.
This made her less resistant to Otto's intimate actions.
Raiden Ryoma: ???
Found out? What is my daughter worried I'd find out?
Raiden Ryoma was dumbfounded. Why did his precious daughter sound like a pouting young wife? And why was there a man with her?!!!
When did he get there! Was he there the whole time???
And my daughter specially wore black stockings for this little bastard to see???
Dammit, I'm a little envious. My own wife never even wore them for me.
Ryoma's wife was a traditional Yamato Nadeshiko.
Raiden Ryoma suddenly remembered that he had only seen Mei's face just now, not anything else.
Could it be that my precious daughter was lying in someone else's arms while video calling me the entire time??
Fuck, where is my Plasma Kagehide!
I'm going to cut this little bastard's head off.
Raiden Ryoma shot to his feet, his eyes bloodshot, his entire being like a man-eating beast.
But when his ferocious gaze landed on the cold iron bars, his expression froze.
Shit. I'm still in a Schicksal cell. I can't get out.
A sliver of reason returned. Raiden Ryoma pressed a hand to his forehead. The surprise his daughter had given him was making him feel dizzy.
He took a few deep breaths to calm himself down.
He carefully recalled the man's voice. It was unfamiliar, yet there was a tiny hint of familiarity, as if he might have heard it somewhere before.
It couldn't be one of my subordinates from ME Corp, could it...
To be so intimate with Mei... is he her boyfriend?
No, no, no, no, no! Before I was imprisoned, I never heard anything about Mei having a boyfriend!
If she had a boyfriend, she definitely wouldn't hide it from her dear father!
Then...
Could it be someone who swooped in while I was gone!?
Raiden Ryoma's composure shattered. He just went to jail for a bit, and somehow his precious cabbage had been eaten by a pig.
He was now terrified that by the time he got out, his one cabbage would have turned into several cabbages.
"Alright, alright, it's my fault."
The man decisively admitted his mistake. This allowed Ryoma to breathe a small sigh of relief. He seemed like a young man who was at least brave enough to admit when he was wrong.
Ryoma's greatest fear was that his daughter was being bullied.
"But who can blame me when you're so cute, Mei? I couldn't help myself just now. Let me rub your waist a bit more now."
But the frivolous words immediately lowered Ryoma's opinion of him again.
Could this be a playboy who's skilled at toying with emotions?
My precious, inexperienced daughter is no match for this kind of veteran of the dating scene.
"You can't do that next time."
Mei said. Then came the sound of rustling fabric.
It was Otto rubbing Mei's stomach.
"Your tummy is so soft. It feels nice."
The man said with a laugh.
Raiden Ryoma covered his face. He knew his daughter well enough to understand that allowing such intimate contact meant she was already completely falling for him.
"You smell so good. Is that just your natural scent? It doesn't smell like perfume."
The man inhaled her fragrance.
"Mhm," Mei gave a tiny hum of acknowledgment, her voice very soft because she had buried her embarrassed face in Otto's chest.
However, Otto cupped her face and lifted it from his chest. Looking at her blushing, beautiful features, he gently caressed her lips with his right thumb.
"Are you wearing lipstick?"
"Mhm."
Mei gazed at Otto, her body trembling slightly. As if she sensed what was coming, her starry eyes flickered.
"I want to taste your lipstick. May I?"
The man asked gently.
Refuse, refuse, refuse, refuse!
My precious daughter, refuse him now!
Raiden Ryoma roared in his mind.
You're a hundred years too early to be kissing my daughter!
"Umm..."
However, a sound of contemplation came from Mei. That sound nearly shattered Raiden Ryoma's heart.
My precious daughter, is this something that requires any thought?
Just refuse him already! It would be even better if you could slap him!
A pest like that should be swatted dead with one slap!
But hearing Mei's reaction, a terrible thought flashed through Raiden Ryoma's mind.
Could it be... they've already kissed before?
"Ye—"
Mei's word was cut off abruptly. There was no more sound.
Raiden Ryoma stared at the tablet in his hands with wide, bulging eyes. The broadcast accident was over, as if nothing had happened.
However, the conversation between the man and Mei still echoed in his mind.
Some scoundrel was trying to take liberties with his daughter!
And it seemed like Mei hadn't even refused!?
Dammit, my good daughter, if you want to find a boyfriend, you should at least let your father screen him first!
What if you get tricked by a bad man?
Just from the sound of his voice, Raiden Ryoma could tell that the man with Mei was no good person!
He was not a man she could entrust her life to.
Raiden Ryoma's heart ached. He paced back and forth in his cell.
He felt like he was going to lose his mind.
He ran his hands through his hair in frustration, then looked at the tablet still in his grasp.
He raised it, wanting to smash it to vent his anger, but just as he lifted it, he lowered it again.
Gently stroking the completely black screen, Raiden Ryoma carefully placed it next to his pillow, terrified it might break.
Then he sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the black screen, waiting silently.
When would be the next time he could see his precious daughter?
Ryoma didn't know.
But he was terrified that he might miss it.
---o---
Author's Note:
PS: I was going to end on a cliffhanger, but I thought better of it and just combined the two chapters.
However, I didn't expect Mobius to be released so soon. I feel like miHoYo is going to add more lore about the Previous Era.
Dammit, the next Stigmata I wanted to write about was Pink Fairy♪ (Elysia), but now I'm so scared of being contradicted by the game lore!
I'm also afraid of being contradicted on the real Kiana. The main story's perspective is currently focused on Schicksal, so I haven't dared to just rush into the real Kiana's plotline.