"So you finally did it, huh?"
C.C commented lazily after Yuuji finished telling her about what had happened between himself and Karen.
She was laying on the couch in Yuuji's room with a pepperoni pizza with extra cheese in hand and dressed in one of Yuuji's white shirts. The two Yin Yang Slimes, Aria and Alice, were also laying around on her chest lazily, focusing on the large screen LCD TV.
They were all currently watching "Code Geass".
After being told of Yuuji's true origin, C.C began watching the anime that Lelouch, Tatsuya, Satoru, and of course, Yuuji were part of. And of course, she watched Yuuji's first.
It was an extremely awkward and embarrassing time for Yuuji, who she had forced to watch alongside her.
On the surface, she didn't show much of a reaction, contrary to Yuuji's expectation. But recently, he had began noticing C.C stealing glances at his crotch and also being more physically intimate with him.
She had also begun dressing… more "sloppily" and showing off her pure white skin that made it extremely difficult for Yuuji to stay calm.
After watching Yuuji's "anime", she started watching Code Geass. She was very curious what kind of "world" and life she would've been living if Yuuji didn't enter her life.
A world without him… Although it had only been a short time since he appeared in her life, it was something she couldn't even imagine now.
Though… Given how much he meant to her, she didn't seem that interested in Yuuji having just exchanged his feelings with Karen.
Yuuji, who was sitting on the same couch with C.C's legs on his lap, looked at her surprised and confused.
"...That's it? You're not surprised?"
"Hm? Why would I be? Knowing how bad you are from keeping secrets from the one you love, I know this would happen sooner or later."
"..."
Yuuji was caught speechless, unable to refute any single one of her words.
In the end, he could only sigh and leaned back to his couch.
"Well, she'll be coming over tomorrow… I'll be telling her everything about the group chat then."
"Alright. Don't worry, I'll just be here watching until you're done. Good luck on convincing her that you're not crazy."
Yuuji's lips twitched.
This girl… How could she say such a thing?! She knew convincing someone that he wasn't insane when telling them about the group chat was the most difficult part of the talk!
"You…"
He narrowed his eyes on her… And then, he began tickling her feet.
"Kyaaah!! Aaahahaha! W-What are- Hyah! Y-You doing?!!"
"This is your punishment for saying such an insensitive comment!"
"S-Stop! Hyah-! Y-You idiot!"
Yuuji ignored her plea and continued to tickle her feet. And when she successfully retreated her feet, he didn't stop and began tickling her sides.
He did it while enjoying the expressions that only he could see from the "Immortal Witch".
--------------------------------X--------------------------------
"What in the world…?!"
Karen froze completely in shock as she stood before the massive golden gates and arch that marked the entrance of Yuuji's mansion.
The size of his mansion was enormous, enough to force her to turn her head from left to right to see the entire breadth of his residence. And she wasn't even close to the front entrance to his mansion yet. There was a massive front yard with a beautiful fountain at the center between her and the main entrance of the mansion.
Even the Stadfeld residence she was currently living in couldn't be compared to this.
She slowly turned towards Alexander, or Mordred, and pointed shakingly at the mansion.
"Y-You… T-This isn't something a "hobby" could buy…! A-Are you actually from a rich family?!"
It was the only explanation Karen could come to, given how ridiculous this mansion was. Even her "old-money" nobility father and step-mother didn't live in such a luxurious grand mansion. There's no way he, a student who only trades during his free time, could afford such a thing.
This must be either something his ultra-rich family bought him or something he inherited from them!
But, Yuuji just smiled wryly and shook his head.
"A-Ahahaha… no, I'm actually not. It's… complicated. Let's enter first and talk inside…"
Yuuji placed a hand on her shoulder and led her inside. And once they entered, Karen was even more shocked and awed by the sight before her.
"Come, take a seat on the couch there. I'll bring us some tea."
She nodded in a daze, and walked towards the massive living room right in front of the foyer, and sat down.
As she did, she couldn't stop looking around in awe. And when she sat down on the couch, she was surprised by how soft the cushion was.
This is even softer than my bed…
Seeing such luxury before her, she couldn't help but become even more curious about Yuuji's true identity.
Was he a secret son of a multi-billionaire? Was he a part of an ancient unknown rich family who controlled the world's economy from the shadows?
No… he told her it wasn't given to him by his family. But… he couldn't have earned so much money, enough to buy such a massive mansion, right…?"
Karen sat in silence as her mind wandered wildly, thinking of who the man she fell in love with actually was.
And soon, Yuuji returned with a porcelain pot of tea and tea cups on a tray, and placed them down on the table before them.
He sat down by her side and poured her a cup before also pouring one for himself.
"Here you go."
"T-Thank you…"
Karen picked up the cup of tea, briefly admiring the beautiful flowers painted on its surface, and took a sip.
The soft, gentle, and sweet fragrance of jasmine quickly filled her nose, and an accompanying taste and warmth of a freshly brewed jasmine tea entered her mouth.
The warm liquid that she drank quickly warmed her entire body and calmed her down as she released the tension she didn't knew she had ever since coming here with a satisfied sigh.
She looked down at her cup of tea, her reflection undulating slightly as the tea rippled within the cup.
Then, she turned towards Yuuji and steeled her heart.
"Now… Can you tell me everything about you…?"
"Of course."
Yuuji nodded.
"My name… is not Alexander Kyrielight. My real name is Tsubakihara Yuuji… And I am not from this world."
Yuuji then began telling her about his true self and the existence of the group chat. How it brought individuals from different worlds and universes together, connecting them, and allowing them to visit each other's world, and perhaps, even a new world entirely. How a world could possibly be just a fictional "story" in another world. And how magic and otherworldly things that they knew only existed in fantasy, were real.
He then also told her about his relationship with C.C, Aika, and Erika, as well as his step mother, sisters, and aunt.
And as she listened, she couldn't help but fall into a daze in disbelief. Everything he told her seemed like a fictional story.
"That's… the gist of it. And uhm… I'm sorry to have hidden my true identity from you."
"I… I can't believe it… Is this real…?"
Yuuji smiled softly and nodded, before lifting up the tea cups and tea pot with a wave of his hand, shocking Karen.
"It's real. Everything I told you is real."
"T-This is…"
Karen looked at the floating cups and pot with widened eyes. She waved her hands around it, wondering if there were strings that caused it to seemingly float in mid-air, and tried moving it around.
"It's really floating…"
She turned towards Yuuji in a daze. Her mind was still trying its best to process what was happening.
"I…"
"It's fine… You can take it in slowly. I know it could be a bit much for you to accept everything."
He placed his hand on hers and held it gently, causing Karen to slightly blush at the sudden physical contact. But, she didn't retract her hand and simply stayed still and nodded at his words.
"I'll try… Thank you for telling me all this…"
"It's the truth you deserve."
Karen blushed at his words. But after a while, she noticed he was still holding her hand.
"U-Uhm… Y-You can let go of me now…"
Yuuji smiled teasingly, and instead of letting her go, he intertwined their fingers and held it even harder.
"W-What are you doing?!"
"I still owe you an apology. So I will be holding this hand until you can forgive me."
Karen's face blushed even redder as she began trying to push him away with her other hand.
"Y-You bastard…! How could you take advantage of the situation like this! I-I told you I've already forgiven you."
"But I also haven't forgiven myself. So I'll keep holding your hand."
"Y-You…!"
Seeing his soft, gentle smile and feeling the warmth and affection that he gave her by holding her hand, Karen couldn't muster the will to fight against him anymore. Moreover… She also loved this feeling she got from holding his hand.
So in the end, she could only turn her head away in embarrassment and let him do as he pleased.
"...You perverted bastard. Just do as you like!"
She mumbled angrily. But, her hand never left his. And after a while, she unconsciously held his hand as tightly as he was.
"Karen."
"Hm…?"
She turned towards him, her face still blushing as redly as her hair.
"I love you. And thank you… for forgiving me."
Her face went a shade of red darker. She instinctively wanted to turn away, to hide her embarrassingly red face and grin she was trying her best to hold back. But she didn't, and faced his words bravely.
"I-I-I love you too…"
She nodded and clenched her eyes tightly. Her heart was thumping so loudly, she could hear it in her ears. And her face was hotter than it ever was. She couldn't even imagine what kind of face she was making now. She just hoped it wasn't a stupid grin that would reveal how happy she was inside.
And then, she felt him wrapping his arms around her, embracing her.
"Let's stay like this for a moment."
"...Mm."
She nuzzled her head to his chest, taking this chance to hide her face from him. Then, after a while, she also began to wrap her arms around him, enjoying the warmth, love, and happiness he was giving her.
They stayed like that for a few minutes in a comfortable silence. Then, Yuuji held her shoulders and looked at her with a gentle smile.
"Hey, are you hungry? Let's eat dinner."
"Eh? I-It's fine… I don't want to bother you."
"What are you saying? It's not a bother at all. What do you want to eat?"
"...Thank you. I'll leave it up to you."
"Alright."
Yuuji nodded and gave her a soft kiss on her forehead, causing her heart to skip a beat once more, before heading to the kitchen.
"Haahhh…"
Karen slumped down onto the couch as she let out an exhausted sigh. She felt like she had just run a marathon… Her heart was still beating very quickly, and the heat still hadn't left her face.
But… She was happy… So happy that she would've rolled around on the floor in happiness if she didn't mind embarrassing herself majorly in front of Yuuji.
"It feels like a dream…"
Everything still felt like a dream… From Yuuji's revelation… to his confession. It hadn't felt real for her yet.
But… The warmth of his hand… His words… His touch. They were all real…
Just then, she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. She immediately turned around, and saw C.C, dressed in a clearly oversized white shirt and nothing else, walking towards her with a soft smile.
"You…"
Karen looked at her with widened eyes. But the shock quickly dissipated when she recalled Yuuji's relationship with her.
"Right… You're also…"
C.C's smile widened as she nodded.
"Yes. That's right. I'm also "his"."
She walked around the couch and took the seat by Karen's side and took a sip of Yuuji's tea.
"Now, shall we talk for a bit, "sister"?"