Chapter 18: The Liars Lie Together
—
"Aqua!"
I somehow managed to reach the filming range in time. The Game Center was filled with fewer people than usual. It looked like the production team rented the place, which must have cost a lot. The men behind the screen gave me disapproving looks, shaking their heads due to me being late, while the actors welcomed me with open arms.
Mem-Cho ran and high-fived me, and I returned it easily. We have kept in contact for the last week, and the memes and reels we shared with one another brought back some good old memories from my first life when I too was an internet person. She has good taste in memes, and she was even bold enough to send a minor like me a few dirty memes too.
"Good to see you again, Mem."
"Same."
Then, I greeted the others. I was careful to not spend any extra words for Yuki Sumi, trying to slowly sign that I wasn't interested. I had to make sure that was clear, both in person and in front of the camera.
Soon, the shoot began. There were no rules as to what we could do, so we began to roam the entire place. I was with Mem-Cho, I allowed her to take me anywhere she deemed good.
After a few minutes of playing both new and old games in the arcade, Mem began to gossip.
"Look, the last episode caused such a scene amongst the audience." She said when we stopped for cold drinks near a vending machine as she showed me her phone.
It was the comment section of our episode on Twitter. Why Twitter? Oh and, did Elon Musk change the name back to Twitter from X? Or did that never happen in this timeline?
===
[Commented by GwenStacy'sFeetLicker:
This is incredible! The girls are so fucking cute. Mem-Cho is adorable as usual, but Yuki-chan is also cute. I am curious to see the other two girls, especially Mai-sama on the screen more. Though ugh, the boys aren't that good imo.]
[Replied by BrutalUwUKnight:
Case on point with the girls. But I think the guys did a good job too. That Aquamarine guy, in particular, stole the show. He's just so handsome. And I am a straight guy.]
[Replied by Jason34:
Wtf, what's wrong with you guys' names?]
[Replied by YoursMisaki:
I think you're just jealous when you talk about the guys. With a name like that, I won't be surprised if you feel insecure. Ugh, guys only come to see the girls, don't they? So gross, get a life.]
[Replied by FallenShrineMaiden:
@YoursMisaki agreed, guys are always so mad and perverted. Smh, but they melt like cotton whenever a real girl approaches them a bit suggestively. Anyway, forget about this topic. I ship Aqua and Mem-Cho, they have a good chemistry, but he also had a more interesting interaction with Yuki. The way she confessed out loud! Ugh, I wish the camera caught their conversation from the get-go.]
After that little fight was postponed, all the replies below, and the other comments too, talked about shipping. As it was the first episode, not all characters were developed well. It was Aqua and the two girls whom he interacted with that were receiving the limelight.
===
I laughed at the entire text wall. What the heck is this?
"The internet hasn't changed a bit since the last time I saw it." I couldn't help but find the stupid comment section nostalgic. In my first life, I died in the year 2020s. It's 2033 in this world, yet the internet is ever the same.
"Why do you sound old?"
"Huh?" I looked at Mem-Cho. "Oh, haven't I told you yet? I am immortal. But don't tell anyone."
Mem-Cho was about to laugh before she stopped and looked at me in shock. There were no cameras around so she asked in a loud voice. "...Wait, for real?!"
That was supposed to be an inside joke for me. However, I forgot she knew I was a supernatural being, and as she didn't know exactly what I was, she was open to ideas.
"No, no, I'm joking." I shook my head, watching her face deflate. "You, on the other hand, should be pretty much immortal though. Devils live for tens of thousands of years, as a half-devil you should be close."
"Oh…" she suddenly stopped. That was a piece of information she didn't know, and now she suddenly felt… free. "Are you serious? I was always scared that I'd turn 30 and lose my charm."
"Yeah. I mean, isn't it obvious? You are running around telling people you're a high schooler, and they don't question you since you do look so young. You will continue to look this young for a long time."
Mem-Cho grinned. "Hey, grab some more drinks, it's my treat!"
"Sure." I went to retrieve some more cans as I spoke. "Though try not to get attached to mortals too much. It'll hurt… a lot when they all leave but you remain."
Mem-Cho paused. Her happy smile from a moment ago vanished. "I don't want that."
"Haha," I laughed dryly. It was funny.
* * *
For the next half an hour, Mem-Cho was silent. Today's shooting was longer because it wasn't a live broadcast. They'll just pick the best of the shoot and show it later, in a few hours. So I didn't mind spending a bit more time with the devil.
The two of us were playing the legendary Cadillacs and Dinosaurs in an arcade when she spoke for the first time.
"Do you know why I fake myself to be a high schooler? It's because Japan is harsh to women beyond 20." She said, focused on the game. "Well, unless you're a megastar like Ai. I dropped out of third-year high school to take care of my family, my mother, and my two younger brothers. I wanted my two brothers to attend college. So I needed to earn money for them because we didn't have a father to rely on. From the age of 18 to the age of 23, I worked hard for five years. I finally earned enough money to send them to college. It was such a reliving moment."
She continued, "Three years ago, I started my YouTube career. It started as a small lie that I'm a high schooler but… then, well, the lie grew and here we are. I don't really mind if I lose all my fame overnight. I mean it will hurt, I worked hard for it, but it's not that big of a deal. However, if my loved ones die while I stay alive… that's not the kind of life I want to continue on."
"Your brothers aren't devils?"
"I don't think so." When I asked, her reply was fast. "They are not. Though they don't know that, they think the three of us have the same father. Not that it matters, we have the same mother and since we never met our father, it's not an issue. So that means they will die. Along with my mom. While I continue living…"
It was slightly amusing seeing her cry over such a thing. Hah, what a joke. I stopped myself from laughing at it, because I knew comparing my problem with hers wasn't very mature. From her perspective, it was a very intense situation, and I could relate to that back when I was still young.
I suppose this is where I bring her in. My words worked as intended… and her reaction was just as planned.
I walked over to her and hugged her from behind. I suddenly noticed a camera in the distance, but sadly I couldn't cancel the hug now. While she froze, unsure what to do, I whispered to her ears.
"I have a sister and a mother, they too will die of old age." I lied. I won't let them die. But such lies were necessary right now. "Humans are mortal, they are meant to die. However, we can change that. The easiest way is to turn them into devils, yes that's possible, or… we can create a Heaven for ourselves. No, I don't mean it figuratively, I mean Heaven in the sense where souls can rest after death. If we have a Heaven of our own, we can keep the souls of our family and friends there. We can visit them anyway, we can even bring them out to the real world. It'd be like they are on a vacation like they're retired after death."
"...."
I leaned down, biting on her ears. "Devils exist, you know that already. But did you know that Gods exist too? Not only one but many. To make a heaven, one needs to be a God. Sadly, you're a devil — devils can't acquire divinity. However, I am a human, I can transcend into Godhood with help from the likes of you. Mem-Cho, we need each other."
Her father is from the Agares Clan, is one of the families from the 72 Pillars. One of the few who have a special ability in their blood. One of the stronger abilities, too. I knew when I used [Reverse Soul Reflection] on her, the day I met her.
===
Name: Power of Time
Type: Demonic Bloodline Ability
Description: The Power of Time derives from the Agares Clan of Devils. It allows the user to control time to a certain extent. At its base, it allows the user to create a time barrier that can slow or increase the flow of time within it. The barrier can easily be expanded to a larger range which can then prevent enemies from escaping its radius.
===
A time ability. Without even knowing any spells, she could use it. I could already see how much stronger she would get if I taught her a few spells from my Eternal Sorcery.
Mem-Cho was a must-have.
My left hand stayed around her abdomen, squeezing her waist, while my right grabbed her chin upwards, for her eyes to lock with mine.
"Mem," I called for her as her eyes shook. "Become mine."
She closed her eyes, and I leaned over to seal her lips. The camera caught everything but our words.
This sort of kiss was pretty vulgar for TV, as her ass was pressing on my crotch, and her abdomen trembled against my hand, with her head upwards and mine down. But who gave a fuck?
….
"By the way, uh, forgive me if you got the wrong idea, but this doesn't mean we are going to start dating," I told Mem-Cho as I uncapped a can of soda and prepared to walk off.
She was fixing her makeup as she gave me a wry smile. "You are a bad, bad boy, did I tell you?"
She meant why did I kiss her if we weren't going to date? We could have sealed the deal of our working together with something else. I just winked at her.
"You did, and you were right. You are very attractive, but I don't like having romantic relationships with my subordinates." That was a lie. I just didn't see her as a girlfriend material, she was more of a best-friend kind of gal. "The kiss was an indication that we can surely have skin ship if you want, just not romantically. Uh, and I just really wanted to kiss you right then."
"...You don't have to explain it so in-depth. And I thought we were allies? How am I a subordinate now?" She asked and I just smiled, walking away. She shouted, "I'm starting to doubt when you said you aren't a stinky old man!"
* * *
I am sure that the production crew will not show the kissing until the very end of the episode. So I can walk around and talk to the other girls as I have been planning, it won't seem weird in the final cut.
First I went to talk to Mai Sakurajima, as any fan of the Bunny Girl Senpai would do. Well, I was a fan in the past, these days my emotions couldn't mold itself to fanboy over anyone.
I found the bunny in the bowling ball area. Luckily, my next target, Akane Kurokawa was there too, though she was with that guy called Sen Kaibara, the new cast who didn't exist in the canon timeline.
Mai and Akane had taken the furthest ball range from one another. I didn't think it was Akane who did it, she was busy talking with Sen, while Mai silently rolled balls. There were cameras in the vicinity, but they too were focused on Akane and Sen, practically ignoring Mai.
Akane had the lowest screen time in the canon, I recall. But this girl somehow managed even lower attention from the camera. I don't think the weird power system from the Bunny Girl Anime works here, so it must be related to her Yokai race.
"Good morning," I walked over to her and said, watching her pause as she was just about to throw a ball. She blinked at me for a moment, as if surprised how I was there to talk to her before she noticed the aura around me.
She just nodded. "It's evening."
"Ah right, my bad." I apologized. "The aura around you makes everything a bit hazy, so I mistook it. Are you doing this on purpose?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," she said and rolled the ball that went to the side and missed the entire game.
Damn, she's trash.
"The camera is avoiding you. The normal people don't even want to come and talk to you. Your existence has faded slightly. It's odd." I told her, watching her turn to me fully and stare at me. "What? I am curious about what's wrong with you, and if you need help I might just help you out."
"I don't need help," she said and turned away. She was a pretty cold person. "I like my peace, and hate it when someone interrupts it. Go hit on someone else."
"Pretty crazy that someone so peace-loving is here at a dating show. Wanna play a small bet? The one who scores the most buys the other person a drink."
"No." She said and rolled another ball, this one hit straight on all the pins. Damn, was that a threat?
"How heartless of you." I smiled.
A camera caught our little exchange; my presence made the crew turn their cameras at us, it seems. So I guess her aura can be suppressed even without me trying to.
I didn't see any reason to pursue her too much today. I would love to have a bunny Yokai in my still-unnamed Sect, but it can wait a while.
I left her be and approached Akane. Sen was just leaving and we confronted each other on the way, exchanging a few friendly words as I approached the girl next.
"Hey, Kurokawa-san. Got a minute?" I said as she turned to me, smiling.
"Aqua-kun! What's with using my family name, when you call everyone else by their first name?" She said naturally. We talked a bit before the shooting began, but it was just a greeting.
I took out two mango jelly bars from my pocket and handed one over to her. She was a bit surprised as she accepted it.
"You don't want me to? Sure thing."
"Uh, yes, thanks. I saw you talk with Mai Senpai, is she alright? I've known her for a long time since we're both actresses, but… recently she feels off."
My goal was to make her feel natural, uncaring that cameras were around. While she was a god in theaters, a reality drama environment was just not for her, so I had to take the lead. It's good that we had a mutual topic about Mai, so I began to talk to her about it.
Soon, we were laughing and bowling balls. She was doing great while I was trying to hit, failing. It was a bit annoying since I wasn't used to this and didn't want to use my powers while playing against her.
She giggled. "How can you be this bad? Come, give me your hand."
She walked to my side and grabbed my forearm as I took the ball, then she gently led my arm forward and I released the ball. The ball rolled and rolled and finally hit the bowling pins.
We both cheered, but my cheer was for two reasons. While Akane cheered because of the game, and I have to admit I felt satisfied with that too, there was something else that made me happy.
When she touched me, I used a deep scan of her. It was odd how she seemed to be the only girl of the four who was normal. So I just did that to make sure. After all, Shoko had a secret Sacred Gear that I didn't know before I scanned her soul. The result of this scan had me pleasantly surprised.
No, she didn't have a sacred gear sealed in her, but it was something equally shocking. It explained her super high intelligence, I would say.
===
Item: The Book of Thoth
Type: Divine Book
Description: A mythical book containing the knowledge of the Egyptian God Thoth, who's the Egyptian God of Moon, Writing, and Knowledge. Grants passive wisdom and intelligence to who is in possession of it, though only by reading this can one acquire divine secrets.
– This is the true book, not a copy, residing within the soul of Akane Kurokawa, whose ancestors have scavenged it from an evil Egyptian Mage, and sealed it within their own souls; thereafter, the first child born in the Kurokawa line always inherits this book in their souls. When the book is extracted, it can only be manually passed on.
===
Hm. A divine book.
I can't seem to awaken it as easily as I did with Shoko, I need to spend months before I can do it. Not that it's an issue. I like Akane.
If everything goes well, I think we'll spend a long time together.
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