A gentle nudge opened the refrigerator door, and my face was bathed in the yellowish glow of the incandescent light bulb.
"What are you doing here?"
There's a saying: "A mouse hanged itself in the fridge." It's not like my fridge was completely empty. There were a couple of beer bottles, an old seaweed salad, and a half-empty jar of 'pesto' - something is better than nothing, right?
"Muffled grumbling."
But in my fridge, quite literally, a mouse had hanged itself...
"I get that hiding from Gege is possible only here, but why stage this whole scene?" I gazed into the eyes of a tiny shikigami, vaguely resembling a mouse, which had looped its tail around its neck.
Who's Gege? A shikigami in the form of a cat with whom I trained my reactions and reflexes as a child. This mouse and Gege were left to me by the old man... But what do I mean by 'left'? The old man died without leaving any instructions about these guys, and I'm not heartless enough to throw them out on the street.
"Indistinct mumbling."
"Did I say that out loud?"
"A short affirmative nod."
"I'm slowly going insane... Though that's not surprising. Ever since I transitioned to the Sixth Sequence, talking to myself has become the least of my problems."
"Disgruntled grumbling."
"Do whatever you want," I replied with a shrug and closed the refrigerator.
While someone else underwent an emergency, super-condensed "How to Become a Competent Sorcerer" course, very similar to the programming courses from my past life in that they offered no guarantee of becoming a professional, I decided to take a couple of days off and returned to my 'communal living' - the Yami family estate, hastily bought by my old man a decade ago.
"I forgot," I stared at my empty palm, then reached for the fridge again.
But just then, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
"A bee decided to take a weekend off?" — Mei.
"Very suspicious that you messaged me, knowing that," — I replied.
"I don't know what you're talking about ╮(￣_￣)╭" — Mei.
"I just wanted to invite you over, but since you're so distrustful… Then stay in your den ヾ( `ー´)シ" — Mei.
How did she manage to get offended in just eight words and two punctuation marks?
"Which one of your apartments have you decided to be offended in?" — I typed quickly.
"Harukas." — Mei.
"So, you're a princess in a tower today?" — I replied.
"To climb through the window." — Mei replied and went offline.
"What wouldn't one do for a beautiful woman," I shook my head, grinning from ear to ear, then glanced down at my feet. "Right?"
"Indistinct growling," it was a completely white cat, or maybe a kitty, hard to tell, whose lower face resembled that of a rabbit, while the upper part was adorned with a single eye, like a cyclops.
***
In no time, I started up "Nerone," a completely black motorcycle, made by the "NCR" company and part of the "NCR Macchia Nera Concept" series. Created in 2017, this devilish machine had just emerged from its mother's womb but was already racing through the streets of Tokyo.
Turning around in the yard, I drove out onto the road, closing the automatic gate behind me. Then, with a sharp acceleration, I turned right and twisted the throttle a bit more. Gaining speed, I sped past the houses in the Hachioji district. The previous owner of the "Yami estate," my grandfather, had specific tastes — on one hand, we didn't live in the truly noisy Tokyo, so it was quieter here, but on the other — the residential areas of the metropolis are never calm for Sorcerers. And to be honest, we spent little time here due to constant trips and missions.
Moving away from the "Yami estate," I held the handlebars gently and drummed my thumbs in rhythm with the music. Rap from the 2000s. However when I grew tired of the perpetual classics of the modern generation, old songs by "Kino," "Mumiy Troll," and sometimes "Korol I Shut" took their place. Perhaps that's why I still remember Russian. By the way, an amusing observation — I look like a real freak in the eyes of those who find out what music I listen to... Sometimes, it's quite funny.
My mood improved. No matter how much responsibility weighed on my shoulders, I couldn't say I disliked it. Of course, sometimes it's very hard, maybe even scary, but compared to someone like Satoru, whose position I don't envy in the least, I felt just fine. Dealing with the perpetually grumpy idiots from the Council, that eccentric Tengen, politicians, and the sea of one of the Great Families...
No, thank you. Satoru might have the patience for it, but I certainly don't. Life is short. I understood and welcomed the simplicity of my role: to thwart Kenjaku and save my comrades, and then use this "nasty brain" to build an entirely new world... It couldn't be simpler!
Half an hour later, I left behind the tranquil suburbs of bustling Tokyo and quickly rolled onto the wide "E20" highway. Fifteen minutes in, I turned onto a two-lane street and, finally, into the narrow streets between skyscrapers brimming with tiny shops, boutiques, and restaurants. In the evenings, the streets turned into real glass labyrinths, where light constantly traveled from one end to the other. The side mirrors of "Nerone" barely fit between the cars, driving somewhere on business and parked at the curb of the street, near apartment buildings so close that if you got enough of a running start, you could probably jump from the roof of one to another.
I parked the motorcycle at a private parking spot, which Mei had rented for me a couple of months ago. That was strange, considering Mei didn't want our relationship to become public knowledge, yet she allowed me to park my "iron horse" at her place. It sounded ambiguous, but the fact remained: my recognizable motorcycle could be seen every week in the same spot - near Mei's house.
Shaking off unnecessary thoughts, I stepped onto the street. The temperature had finally dropped, and the night was pleasant. Walking leisurely, I enjoyed the peace of the hours between late night and early morning. Passing another jovial group of guys and girls, I looked around and, making sure no one was watching, leaped upwards. Bracing my sole against the tempered glass, I fortified my legs with Cursed energy and pushed off upwards. Repeating this process over and over, I climbed the smooth surface of the "modern giant" to the top floor.
The light was on in the apartment. The windows were wide open because of the heat. I climbed inside, vaulting over the windowsill, and silently moved across the carpet towards the light in the bedroom.
She was sleeping with an open book in her hands. The bedside lamp cast a veil of orange light over half of her face. I stood in the doorway and watched her chest rise and fall with her soft and calm breathing. The sheet only covered her knees. She wore a thin-striped cotton tank top and blue panties with white lace trim. Her light blue hair was spread over the white pillow, its tendrils winding around her immaculately white and smooth shoulders.
I admired the sight until the anticipation became unbearable. I crossed the room, pulled the book from her fingers, tucked it at the marked page, and placed it on the bedside table. She didn't stir, and I marveled at such deafness to potential danger. At that moment, she was so unlike a Sorcerer, literally a creature from another, normal world.
I turned off the light, and the room plunged into darkness. Then I lay on top of her, pinning her body and covering her mouth with my hand. She jolted awake, eyes wide open, and her body twitched under my weight. She let out a muffled scream, and then I softly laughed and whispered in her ear:
"You should be more careful, Mei. Leaving the window open at night, men with bad intentions might sneak in."
She stopped resisting. Her heart still pounded against my chest, exciting me, but her body relaxed. She removed my hand from her lips.
"It's your fault," she retorted. "I fell asleep waiting for you, and now you're scaring me. And what kind of man can climb up to the fifty-seventh floor on a glass wall in the hopes that a window in this apartment is open?"
I was pleased that she hadn't slept because of me.
"A very motivated one."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Motivated by my figure?"
"By something much more attractive," I shook my head. "The strongest female Sorcerer, how can one resist."
Mei wriggled seductively beneath me, her bare shoulders and thighs rubbing against my clothes.
"You never said that before."
"I have to give credit where it's due," I explained, nibbling her ear. "In this world, there is no woman more ambitious and fiery than Mei. The moment I saw you, I knew you were special. Beautiful pale blue hair and such enchanting curves," I gently ran my hands along the inside of her thigh, then moved up a bit higher. "But most of all, I'm drawn to Mei's strong, commanding, and wealthy nature."
"You can consider this the first round of your apologies," she said, encouraging my movements with a circular rotation of her hips.
My fingers slid up and down through moisture and warmth. Mei unbuttoned three more buttons of my shirt and pulled it over my head.
"What could the strongest female Sorcerer want as an apology? Maybe a good romp," I smirked, feeling her warm breath on my neck.
"Get laid a lot?" Mei purred.
I kissed this woman fiercely and passionately. Mei's fingers were buried in my hair. She traced her fingertips over my neck and chest. She pressed firmly against me and began to passionately lick my neck.
…
"Three years from now, I'm ready to marry you if you promise to cook for me for the rest of your life," Mei declared, savoring the breakfast.
"Is that the only reason?" I raised an eyebrow and once again ignored a call on my phone.
"There are many strong and wealthy men in this world, but I've only tasted such delicious food with you," Mei smiled.
Again, I had to dismiss the call.
"Maybe you should answer it?" the woman suggested.
"It's Satoru," I replied shortly and clearly.
A silence hung between us, signifying understanding, broken by another ring.
"Answer him, and I'll make some coffee," Mei said, getting up from the table and walking to the kitchen counter, hips swaying.
"Yes?" I put the phone on speaker.
"Good morning, Sukehiro," Satoru's suspiciously cheerful voice came from the speakers.
"The same to you," I replied, watching Mei's back as she made coffee.
"You haven't forgotten your promise, have you?"
"I didn't promise you anything."
"Today's Sunday, you said last Sunday that you'd challenge me again," Satoru reminded smugly.
"Plans change," I merely grunted.
How could I choose Satoru Gojo over a beautiful woman like Mei? Of course, I could, but this was Mei.
"You're so fickle," Satoru responded.
"Babe, I wouldn't mind watching," Mei suddenly said.
"Ooo, you're with Mei. Now I understand, understand," Satoru laughed.
"What? Do you know about relationships between a man and a woman? And here I thought sex was as fictional to you as Santa," I jibed, recalling the monk named Satoru Gojo.
"Santa isn't real?" Satoru feigned surprise.
"Do you really want to watch two uncouth guys measuring up?" I stared at Mei in amazement.
"Well, I doubt anyone's bigger than you, especially in Japan," Mei giggled. "But I wouldn't mind watching a battle between two of the strongest contemporary Sorcerers."
"You wouldn't refuse me in front of Mei," it was more of a statement than a question.
"... You owe me a dinner," I agreed to Satoru's proposition.
"Great," Satoru said happily. "I'll send you the place and time."
"What's with all the pomp?" I stared at the black phone screen.
"I'll be cheering for you with all my heart," Mei hugged me from behind and kissed my cheek.
"And with your mind?"
"With my mind, I've already bet on Satoru," the woman smirked.