Chereads / MHA: Energy Nexus / Chapter 14 - Chapter 14

Chapter 14 - Chapter 14

(A/N: Hey everyone! Before we dive into this chapter, I just wanted to apologize for the delay. Since, things have been extra busy at work, and finding time to write has been tricky. Also, if a few of you could drop a review, that would be awesome! Once we hit 10 reviews, Webnovel should start displaying an average, so every review counts—as long as it's genuine and not driven by hate. Thanks for your support, and I hope you enjoy the chapter!)

After the naming session wrapped up, Midnight took the list of all our hero names and left the room with a satisfied smile. With that done, the rest of the day's classes crawled by at an agonizingly slow pace. Finally, when break rolled around, we started heading to the cafeteria in groups—or at least, that's what I thought would happen.

As soon as the girls walked out, I found myself suddenly surrounded by nearly every guy in class—except for the usual suspects like Ida, Midoriya, and Bakugo, who were off doing their own thing. I was the lone sheep in the center of a curious pack of wolves, all staring at me like I held the secrets of the universe.

Kaminari finally broke the silence, leaning in with an expectant grin. "Alright, Leo, spill it. How did you manage to *conquer* all the girls? Just two days ago, you were all barely more than acquaintances, and now? They look like they're head-over-heels for you. What's your secret?"

I leaned back, putting on my most smug, over-the-top grin. "Ah, it's simple really," I said, flicking an imaginary speck of dust off my shoulder. "The secret to winning hearts? Well, gentlemen, step one is gaining their attention with charm and confidence—gotta set yourself apart, you know?"

They leaned in even closer, completely enraptured, so I continued. "Step two: You conquer their taste buds. Yep, you want them to look forward to seeing you? Make sure they can't forget your cooking. Win their stomachs, and their hearts naturally follow. And finally," I paused for dramatic effect, "once you've got both their hearts and their taste buds, you're just a step away from conquering everything else."

The guys stared at me, wide-eyed and silent, probably processing the wisdom I'd just bestowed on them. With a smug chuckle, I swaggered out of the room and headed for the cafeteria, leaving them all there to contemplate my 'flawless' strategy.

Once I got my tray of food, I spotted the girls already seated and waiting. Smiling to myself, I made my way over to join them, feeling the warmth of their smiles as I sat down.

Settling into our table in the cafeteria, I couldn't help but notice the girls' reactions as they each took a bite of their food. Ashido looked downright disappointed as she chewed, her eyes narrowing at her tray.

"This is... just not it," she sighed, giving me a sidelong glance. "Leo, you've ruined us. How are we supposed to go back to cafeteria food after tasting what you can do?"

Uraraka nodded in agreement, visibly struggling to finish her meal. "Honestly, it's unfair! Everything just tastes bland now. You've basically spoiled us for life, you know?"

"Mm-hmm," Tsuyu chimed in with her usual calm tone, though I could sense a bit of playful accusation in her voice. "Can't deny it, Leo. You've raised our standards... a lot."

Momo looked down at her tray, poking at her food with mild disdain. "It's like I'm eating cardboard. I keep waiting for it to get better, but... it's just not you."

Jiro, sitting beside me, gave a dramatic sigh and looked at me with a mischievous grin. "Honestly, I think you might owe us weekly meals or something. You've kind of made this your responsibility now."

"Alright, alright, I'll spoil you all every now and then, but no way am I turning this into an everyday thing—gotta keep the mystery alive, right? But you know... there is one way to guarantee yourselves everyday access to my cooking."

The girls perked up, curious. "Oh?" Momo asked, raising a brow. I grinned, letting the tease build. "Yup. All you have to do is sign up to be my girlfriend—or better yet, my future wife."

The reactions were instant. Momo turned bright red, nearly dropping her fork, while Uraraka covered her mouth with her hands, her face as pink as her cheeks could get. Jiro's usual composure faltered, her cheeks flushed as she rolled her eyes, trying to act unbothered but failing miserably. Tsuyu blinked, her mouth slightly open in surprise before she gave a little chuckle, not entirely able to hide her own flustered smile.

Meanwhile, Toru and Mina exchanged a quick glance, their matching grins brightening their faces despite the blush creeping in from the 'wife' part. Mina playfully punched me on the arm. "Well, I guess I'm the lucky one since I'm already signed up," she teased, sticking her tongue out at me.

Toru added with a sly smile, "Guess I get exclusive perks then! But, you know, I might have to make sure no one else sneaks their way in without my permission."

I laughed, holding up my hands in playful surrender. "Alright, alright! Can't blame a guy for trying, right?"

Despite the teasing, their flustered reactions left a warm feeling in my chest. We spent the rest of the meal laughing and joking, though the occasional grumble about the cafeteria food came up with almost every bite.

Before we knew it, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. We cleaned up and headed back to class together, still chatting and laughing. As we entered the classroom, we noticed sheets of paper on each desk, detailing our lists of available hero agencies. The chatter died down as everyone found their seats and turned serious, poring over the lists with focused expressions.

As I sat down, I opened the folder, which had a form that needed to be filled out along with the hero agency we were choosing. Below that form was a list of all the hero agencies that had chosen me. I quickly scanned the names, set the list down, and closed my eyes to avoid distractions. Activating my energy manipulation, I created a mind palace with a few of my thought avatars, and we began discussing my options.

In what felt like a long time, only a brief moment passed in the real world. I realized my shortcoming in actual combat experience, so I filtered out many hero agencies and focused on the name that felt right. 'Seriously, I have to thank Midoriya for the analysis books he made. Now, all things considered, this name feels perfect. But why do I have the feeling that Mirko would throw me into a pile of gangsters for training or try to beat me herself? With her fierce personality and relentless determination, I can't shake this bad premonition.'

With that, I wrote down "Mirko's Hero Agency" on the form.

After filling the rest of it up, I nodded. "No turning back now." Then, under my breath, I muttered, "Mirko is quite hot too. Should I try to conquer her? If there's a chance, then yes. Else, forget it."

I leaned back in my chair, feeling relaxed. Time passed quickly, and soon everyone was done picking their agencies. Aizawa finally crawled out of his sleeping bag, collecting all the folders.

As we gathered to chat about our choices, Uraraka spoke up first. "I'm going with Gunhead's Hero Agency! I think their combat training will really help me out."

"Good choice!" I replied, giving her an encouraging nod.

Momo chimed in, "I chose Aether's Hero Agency. Their focus on strategy and combat with manufacturing quirks really appealed to me."

Tsuyu added, "I decided on Aqua's Hero Agency. I think their water-based combat techniques will suit my quirk."

"That sounds great, Tsuyu!" Jiro encouraged her with a grin. "I picked Soundwave's Hero Agency. I want to work on my sound attacks even more."

Ashido jumped in, her excitement palpable. "I'm going with Acidic's Hero Agency! I can't wait to learn more about acid-based tactics!"

Toru then grinned, "I chose Mirage Hero Agency. I want to get better at stealth combat."

I looked at Midoriya, curious about his choice. "What about you, Midoriya?"

He scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "All Might convinced me to train under a hero called Gran Torino. He thinks it'll be really beneficial for my growth as Gran Torino was also his mentor."

"That's awesome!" Kirishima exclaimed. "I went with Fourth Kind's Hero Agency! I want to hone my combat abilities."

"And I picked a new hero agency called Electik's Hero Agency," Kaminari said, grinning. "I'm excited to focus on electrical combat techniques!"

The conversation flowed easily as we discussed our choices, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement about what lay ahead.

(A/N: Don't waste time thinking about those unfamiliar heroes or hero agencies. Since they are all OCs, most of them will probably just be here for this part and be abandoned in the land of no return after this.)

With that, our classes wrapped up for the day, and we all headed outside. As we walked, the girls wouldn't stop pestering me to cook for them again.

"Come on, Leo! Just one more time?" Ashido pleaded, bouncing on her feet.

"Yeah, we promise to behave this time!" Uraraka added, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "You guys really are relentless, huh? What if I said you need to earn it?"

"Earn it? How?" Jiro asked, raising an eyebrow, a smirk creeping onto her face.

"Hmm… how about agreeing to be my girlfriends?" I teased, winking at them.

The girls paused, then Ashido burst out laughing. "Well, I guess that's a fair trade! Right, everyone?"

To my surprise, they all chimed in with playful agreements, leaving me completely speechless.

"Alright, alright! I guess I'll cook for you!" I finally relented, trying to mask my shock with a grin. We said our goodbyes to Kirishima and Kaminari, who shot me envious looks as I opened a portal back home.

Once I arrived at the entrance, I opened the door and welcomed the girls inside. Toru and Ashido immediately took the lead, showing the others around the house.

"Check this out! Leo has a gaming setup in here!" Toru exclaimed, leading them into my room. "Nice! You must have a lot of fun in here!" Momo said, impressed.

I excused myself to change out of my school clothes, heading to my room before making my way down to the kitchen. I fired up the stove, eager to get cooking.

Before long, the girls joined me in the kitchen, and a playful cooking session kicked off.

"Do you need help?" Tsuyu asked, leaning against the counter, her usual calm demeanor replaced by a hint of mischief.

"Only if you can chop vegetables as fast as I do!" I shot back, grinning.

"Challenge accepted!" she replied, grabbing a knife with a determined look.

Laughter filled the air as we chopped vegetables and stirred pots. An hour later, the afternoon snack was ready, the dishes glowing with a radiant light that made them even more tempting. I arranged the glowing dishes on the table, calling everyone over to enjoy.

"Looks amazing, Leo!" Uraraka said, her mouth watering as she sat down.

"Yeah, but remember the last time? We might need to strip down this time!" Ashido joked, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

As if on cue, the memory of my cooking's "foodgasm" effect sparked a sudden realization in Toru and the others. They exchanged knowing glances and, with a mischievous grin, started to strip out of their school uniforms all the way down till there under wears.

"Hey, what are you doing?" I exclaimed, caught off guard.

"Just getting ready for the food! After all its quite difficult to request for a new uniform" Toru replied with a laugh, sticking her tongue out at me

Seeing this unfold, the other girls exchanged glances, their faces flushed with a mix of surprise and playful excitement.

"Wow, this is definitely a first," I finally managed to say, a goofy grin spreading across my face.

Quickly shaking off my surprise, I decided to enjoy the view as they took their spoons and dug into the glowing meal I had prepared. The moment they took their first bites, the room erupted with an enchanting atmosphere as the "foodgasm" effect kicked in.

"Ohhh!" they gasped in unison, their bras and panties ripping apart from the overwhelming pleasure of the food.

"Delicious!" Ashido exclaimed, her eyes wide with delight as she clutched her chest, the remnants of her clothing fluttering to the floor. "I could eat this forever!"

"Seriously, Leo, you're the best!" Uraraka added, her mouth full, cheeks flushed with excitement.

As I watched in awe, I realized that their excitement was all about the food and not at all about their nudity. They were completely focused on the delicious meal, hardly caring about their exposed scenery, leaving me both stunned and amused. 

I couldn't help but wonder, 'Are they really that addicted to my cooking? Do they not care if I keep staring at them?' Their carefree attitude about the whole thing made me chuckle; here they were, completely unconcerned with their nudity, all while savoring my cooking.

(A/N: Welp, Guess I am a fellow degen too...

R-18 Ahead! Also chooms, since we are here, do I stick with what I said in the last chapter. True R-18 after he gets time powers or do I make it earlier. Your choice.)

Since they didn't care, I became more unscrupulous paid more attention to some certain details about the girls,

Momo had a curvy figure that looks like a perfect hourglass topped off with an ample D Cup breasts and a clean shaved pink pussy,

Jiro had a toned athletic figure along with B Cup breasts and a tight pussy with a exposed clit topped of by a small patch of hair,

Uraraka has a petite slender figure that radiates youthfulness with a small B Cup breasts and a shaved pink pussy,

Ashido had a fit and curvy figure with a C Cup breast that fits right into my hand and a pink tight pussy with a small bush,

Tsuyu had a lean athletic figure with a B Cup breast and a shaved light pink pussy,

And finally Toru who had a slender figure with a C Cup breast and a shaved, tight pussy with a healthy light red color.

(A/N: R-18 End, I guess there is no redemption for me. )

As I continued to stare at them, something started rising from its sleep. By this time, the girls had finished their food and noticed me watching them intently. Their faces flushed a deep shade of red as they caught my gaze.

"Umm, Leo," Toru said, breaking the silence. "If you're done staring at us, can you get us some spares?"

Hearing this, I snapped out of my daze and smiled. "Be right back." I teleported to the store, and amidst the suspicious gazes of the staff and receptionist, I quickly picked up new pairs of bras and panties for them.

Returning just as quickly, I handed out the items according to their sizes. The girls took them and began to dress, but then Jiro piped up, "Umm, Leo, can you turn around?"

I chuckled at the request. "Why? After all, I saw everything in detail."

The girls exchanged glances, and realizing my point, they finally resigned themselves and dressed up in front of me, unabashedly continuing despite my teasing gaze. 

"Wow, you all have such beautiful figures," I teased, a smirk forming on my lips. "I can't believe you didn't mind showing them off!"

The girls immediately flushed deeper, and Uraraka laughed nervously. "You're making us blush, Leo!"

"Well, it's your fault!" Ashido protested, crossing her arms with a pout. "If your cooking wasn't so good, we wouldn't have had to… you know, sacrifice our bodies and clothes every time!"

Toru giggled, adding, "Yeah! We're forced to choose between enjoying the best food we've ever tasted and keeping our clothes intact. And, well… the food wins every time."

Jiro sighed dramatically, covering her face with one hand. "Basically, Leo, this is all on you," she teased, peeking out with a grin. "If you didn't cook so well, we wouldn't have to keep losing clothes. So maybe tone down the amazing food?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "So you're saying my cooking's worth more than clothes?"

The girls exchanged glances, blushing but nodding.

"Yeah… I think we can all agree on that!" Uraraka said, smiling warmly. "We'd rather risk a little embarrassment than miss out on your food!"

Momo, now fully dressed, turned to me with a playful smirk. "Well, since you saw everything, you have to take responsibility for us."

"Yeah!" Ashido chimed in, leaning closer. "If you're going to ogle us, you better be ready to step up!"

"I'm with them!" Toru added, crossing her arms defiantly. "You can't just stare and run!"

I laughed, feeling a mix of warmth and disbelief at the whole situation. "I promise, after all, you already agreed to be my girlfriends, so I will definitely take responsibility."

"Good!" Ashido grinned, giving me a playful shove. "That means more of your amazing cooking, right?"

"Absolutely!" I grinned, feeling a rush of joy at their enthusiasm. "Just don't expect it every day!"

"Who says we can't bribe you?" Uraraka said with a wink, her cheeks still slightly pink. "We'll just have to keep being adorable until you give in."

"Adorable? You mean stunning!" I replied, trying to keep a straight face but failing miserably as I joined their laughter.

"Yeah, Leo," Tsuyu added with a grin, "keep your focus on the food and not us next time!"

"Hey, I can multitask!" I protested. "I'm just surprised at how you all didn't mind being exposed like that."

"Food is a powerful thing," Momo said with a playful smile, and the others nodded in agreement.

"Seriously, though," I said, shaking my head in disbelief. "Are you all addicted to my food or something? You didn't even care if I was staring at you!"

"Maybe," Toru teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "But can you blame us? Your cooking is literally out of this world!"

"Guess I'll have to cook more often," I said, grinning as I soaked in the lively atmosphere around the table, feeling a mixture of pride and disbelief at the entire situation unfolding before me.

After snacks, we all settled on the couch, chatting excitedly about the internships starting tomorrow. But in the midst of the conversation, I suddenly remembered something important.

"Be right back!" I said, standing up quickly and excusing myself before teleporting to a nearby gift shop.

Upon arriving, I immediately started scanning the shelves for something meaningful, something that would show just how serious I was about my feelings for the girls. I picked out several rings—simple, elegant, but with a touch of something special. Each one was gold-plated, but I wasn't satisfied with something so mundane.

Next, I teleported to a coal shop to buy high-quality coal. I didn't need much, just enough to fuel my abilities. I used my energy manipulation to break down the coal into its purest forms, channeling my power through it until the coal was transformed into flawless diamonds. The diamonds sparkled with an ethereal light, and I marveled at the beauty of my work.

I didn't stop there. I focused on the gold-plated rings, directing energy into them until the gold plating dissolved. The transformation was slow at first, but I could feel the power in my hands as the metal began to shift, turning into solid, real gold. The delicate band, once flimsy and cheap, now gleamed with a rich, vibrant shine.

Once the transformation was complete, I took each ring and carefully set a small, intricate mark into the surface, a symbol I created that would allow me to teleport directly to the ring. This way, no matter where the girls were, I could always be with them.

With the rings ready, I teleported back home. The process had taken longer than I expected, but now I was holding something real, something special.

I returned to the living room, where the girls were still chatting. They looked up when I entered, and I smiled, feeling a little nervous but determined.

"Close your eyes and hold out your hands," I said, my voice steady.

They did as instructed, all eyes closed, hands reaching out expectantly. I gently slipped the rings onto their fingers one by one. The moment the cool metal touched their skin, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. These weren't just rings—they were a symbol of something much deeper. A promise. A vow. A future.

When they opened their eyes, it took a moment for the realization to hit them.

"Oh my gosh, Leo!" Momo gasped, staring at the ring on her finger. "These are… these are real!"

Ashido's eyes went wide as she looked at hers. "Wait… how did you—these are beautiful! Leo, you didn't need to—"

Toru shook her head, a soft smile on her lips. "How? You really brought these?"

I nodded, smiling gently. "I didn't buy them, I made them. The diamonds are from coal, and the gold? I combined the metal and plated gold into real gold. I wanted them to be something that mattered."

The girls fell silent, their eyes flicking between each other, the weight of my words sinking in. This wasn't just a gift—it was a commitment. A promise that I wasn't taking lightly

Momo broke the silence, her voice soft and tinged with uncertainty. "Leo… these rings… what do they mean?" 

I took a step closer, meeting her gaze with unwavering resolve. My voice carried the weight of my feelings as I said, "They're more than just gifts. These rings are a promise—a symbol of my commitment to each of you. To protect you, to stand by you, and to ensure your happiness. No matter where you are or how far apart we may be, you can count on me to be there whenever you need me."

The air was thick with emotion. They were overwhelmed, but I could see in their eyes that they understood. They weren't just rings. They were a vow—a future together.

Momo's eyes twinkled mischievously as she glanced at the others. "So… Leo, does this mean you're proposing to us?"

The room went quiet for a heartbeat, and then I smirked. "In a way, yes. You've agreed to be my girlfriends, but these rings are my way of saying… fiancées."

The girls' faces flushed crimson, and before I could say another word, they all let out a collective shout of joy.

"YES!"

Laughter filled the room as the girls rushed to hug me. Their arms enveloped me, their warmth and excitement practically radiating off them. They pressed against me tightly, and I couldn't help but smile, holding them close. The hugs were deep, full of emotion, as if each one of them was silently thanking me for my sincerity and commitment.

But it didn't stop there. Momo leaned up, her lips finding mine in a gentle, sweet kiss. The others followed suit, each of them stealing a kiss, one after the other. It was soft at first—tender—but as the moments passed, the kisses grew longer, more intimate, filled with the weight of everything we'd just shared.

I pulled them closer, my arms wrapping around their shoulders as I returned each kiss, savoring the feeling of their warmth against me. The atmosphere was charged with love, and in that moment, I knew that this was just the beginning for us. We were no longer just a group of friends—we were something much more, bound together by trust, love, and a promise to always be there for one another.

As the last kiss lingered, I pulled back, still holding them close. The room was quiet now, except for the soft beating of our hearts in unison. We didn't need any more words. The rings, the vows, the love—everything had been said without a single word.

(A/N: Well, it seems I've gone a bit overboard again. If you think the relationship progression was too fast or felt forced, please let me know! (Creating a relationship arc can be tricky, especially since I've never really been in one myself. 😅))

With that, we all sat together on the couch, the atmosphere warm and comforting. As we chatted about our upcoming internships, laughter filled the room, each of us teasing one another about our plans and the challenges ahead. Amid the lighthearted conversation, my gaze occasionally drifted to the rings on their fingers, a tangible reminder of the promise I'd made earlier. 

Mina caught me looking and smirked, lifting her hand to admire the ring under the soft light. "You really went all out, didn't you, Leo? These rings are gorgeous." 

Toru giggled, tracing the smooth band on her finger. "It's like we're in some kind of fairy tale. I keep half-expecting them to sparkle or glow or something." 

I smiled, shaking my head. "They're all the same, just like my feelings for each of you. No one gets anything more or less." 

Ochako's cheeks flushed as she glanced at hers, her voice barely above a whisper. "They're perfect the way they are. It's not about how they look… it's about what they mean." 

Hearing that, my heart warmed, and I reached out to gently brush my fingers over the back of her hand. "Exactly. I meant every word earlier. These rings are a promise, not just decoration." 

The mood turned a little softer, a shared understanding passing between us. Yet, as the clock ticked on, the weight of the coming day began to creep into my thoughts. It was a lot to process, and though the laughter and teasing continued, I couldn't help but feel a small pang of nervousness thinking about what tomorrow would bring.

"Alright, you all should probably head home. It's getting pretty late," I said, standing up with a sigh, my gaze lingering on the rings for a moment longer. With a soft smile, I added, "I'll send you back."

Mina stretched lazily and stood as well, holding up her hand to admire her ring one last time before heading to the door. "You know, I might just never take this off." 

Toru giggled, looping her arm through mine. "Same here. It feels weirdly comforting, like you're always close." 

I chuckled and tapped her on the nose playfully. "That's the idea." 

As the rest of them began to gather their things, I couldn't help but feel the weight of my earlier promise settle in my chest—not in a bad way, but in a way that made me want to ensure I'd never falter. Protecting their smiles, their happiness, was my priority. 

With a wave of my hand, a portal shimmered to life in the room. "Let's get you all home safely. Tomorrow's a big day, after all."

The girls protested a little, but they all eventually agreed. I opened a portal for each of them and bid them farewell one by one.

After sending them away, I muttered to myself, "Welp, it's time to prepare for being raided by some dads considering I just stole their cotton-padded jackets. Off I go to prepare." I let out a light chuckle at my own words, knowing that the inquiries and visits from their parents would come sooner or later.

Feeling a bit giddy about everything that had happened today, I made my way to the bathroom to freshen up. It wasn't just the teleporting that had worn me out—though zipping across the world for perfect rings was no small feat. The real drain had been the mental focus required to craft them. Turning plated gold into pure gold, shaping the metal for each ring, and transforming raw coal into flawless diamonds—it all demanded a level of precision and concentration that left my mind feeling thoroughly fried. 

After finally settling in on the couch, I got a notification on my phone. Curious, I opened it and noticed I'd been added to a group chat titled Leo's Harem. My eyebrows shot up.

"What the…?!?" I typed, scrolling up to see what I'd missed. Then, in the chat history, I saw, Toru has changed the group name from Leo's Secret Lovers to Leo's Harem.

The girls' responses were instant. Ochako was the first to laugh, "Leo! Welcome to the club! So, what do you think of the name?"

I smirked, typing back, "The name is... interesting. But wait, how long has this group existed?"

Jiro sent a wink emoji. "Long enough for us to come up with some good ideas for the future."

"Exactly," Mina chimed in. "But we figured we could finally include you now that things are official."

Just as I was processing this, the conversation shifted, and they began sharing their parents' reactions to our engagement and our unique relationship.

Momo was the first to explain. "My dad was… surprised, to say the least. He's used to thinking of marriage in a traditional sense. But when I told him how sincere you are, he said he'll trust my decision. So, not a yes yet, but not a no."

Jiro chimed in. "My mom was actually pretty open-minded about it, once she got over the shock. But my dad? Let's just say he's not on board quite yet."

Ochako joined in, "My parents were mostly worried. They're trying to understand, and they do like you, Leo, but they're… still wrapping their heads around the 'multiple fiancées' part."

Then Toru messaged, "My parents, though? Totally supportive! They told me they're grateful to you for making me so happy. I think… maybe they feel like this is the first time they've seen me this happy, fully and completely."

Reading through all their messages, I felt a mix of gratitude and determination. I could tell these families weren't just hesitating out of doubt—they wanted to see that I'd truly be there for the girls in the long run. I typed out my response with a grin, "I know some parents aren't fully on board yet, and I understand that. I'll work to earn every one of their blessings. You're my fiancées now, after all, so they'll see how serious I am."

Mina replied with a row of heart emojis, "We know you'll win them over, Leo."

"And we'll all be there to back you up," Jiro added confidently.

With a few more exchanges, I closed the chat, feeling the weight of my promise. This wasn't just about proving myself to the girls anymore—it was about earning the trust and respect of their families. And that's a vow I intended to keep.

After that, I got up and headed to the kitchen to whip up a quick dinner, the memories of the day swirling through my mind. Each message I sent wishing the girls "Good night" felt like a small promise for tomorrow, a reminder of the bond we shared.

With a warm smile, I put my phone down and turned off the lights, a quiet excitement settling in. Today had been unforgettable, and as I drifted into sleep, eager for what tomorrow might hold.

(A/N: And that's that! Hope you're all as excited for the Hero Killer Stain Arc as I am! Quick question for everyone—do you feel that 5000 words is a bit too long? If you'd prefer shorter chapters, let me know what word count you think would be ideal. If enough people want it, I can start making chapters shorter. Also, just 3 more reviews until Webnovel starts showing an average score, so if you haven't reviewed yet, please consider leaving one! Thanks for all the support, and see you next chapter!)