"How's my precious Mrs. Rin?" Maria asked, busy with her work. She spoke to Rin via a mana-powered device, similar to a mobile phone but more advanced, featuring hologram-like capabilities and not requiring an internet connection. This innovative product had recently been introduced by the Middletown family.
"Why are you calling me to ask that? Didn't Arcane, his maid, give you the report?" Rin replied, her brows furrowed in annoyance and frustration.
"Oh yes, she did, but you know a mother's heart. It doesn't rest that easily!" Maria said while punching a mafia boss she had kidnapped for a reason. "Moreover, only a mother can understand another mother's worries!"
"That's true! He struggled initially in this new environment, but he has adapted. As for his training, you know he's an absolute monster. He learned all the spells and abilities I expected him to master during his stay here in just one year!" Rin said, enjoying her green tea in a garden-like setting.
"He's my blood, after all! But were you able to turn him into what I asked for? If not," Maria said, while dealing with some paperwork, "I'm afraid our negotiation from that day will have to be forgotten." Her tone was dead serious, causing Rin to break into a sweat.
"You sure know how to scare me, but don't worry! I'm Rin Takahashi, after all. Your boy has already changed a lot. We fixed him," Rin said, wiping her sweat and regaining her composure. "He acts manly now. It's just that we couldn't lower the level of strength he possesses, so there's a limit to how manly he can act. He gets feminine when he loses his mind."
"I see, that's better. Thanks for taking care of my baby!" Maria's tone switched from cold to warm. "Now, tell me what he's doing right now. Is he crying like 'When will I see mama again? I have to go back!'?" Maria tried to mimic Void. In her mind, Rin thought, "What kind of Mafia lord switches her tone like this? And what's with this mimicry? I'm pretty sure that boy doesn't talk like that!"
"Well, your boy is…" Rin started.
"Come on, ladies, it's pretty lame for you to feel like you're falling to your knees already!" Void said, standing in front of the training area. His ice-crystal-like eyes, his manly, ripped chest, and his white yukata, combined with his white katana, made for an impressive sight as Cassey and Aoi huffed and puffed nearby.
"He… still trying to catch his breath, surely knows how to get on people's nerves, but I won't be defeated that easily," Cassey said, charging towards Void.
Both began their swordplay. Seeing Void focused on Cassey, Aoi tried to charge in from behind. Void noticed it. "Oh, playing sneaky? Too bad, dear, but I won't be defeated that easily." Void disappeared and reappeared above, clearly aiming to end the session.
"Water tentacles!" Cassey chanted, making Void stuck in her tentacles, which roamed around his body in an intimidating manner. "What the…" Void started feeling weird, as if the tentacles were sucking him while roaming all over. "Stop that… it's tickling!" Void was clearly about to submit. He took a deep breath and chanted, "Chillerz!" The water tentacles froze and turned into ice.
"What… no way?" The tentacles, once in Cassey's control, charged towards her. It seemed like the end for her when Aoi intervened.
"Glacial Rift!" Aoi slammed her hand into the ground, creating a massive rift that formed enormous ice spikes shooting up, breaking the tentacles and trapping Void above.
"And the session ends!" Arcane announced, helping Void come down.
"It's unfair! Why were you using the fact that I'm short and a boy?" Void complained, clearly annoyed, his cheeks red from the exertion or perhaps the weather.
"Stop whining now, Void. You were being unfair, exposing your chest like that!" Cassey retorted, blushing as she replayed the scene in her mind.
"Yeah, she's right. You shouldn't act like this," Aoi added, blushing hard.
Void, realizing this, quickly fixed his samue, thinking, "I honestly have a problem with samue's. I was born in India in my past life and in a Western culture family in this one! i can't get used to this samue's and in reverse world where, you must hide your chest, buttoning up, and stay like a good boy. It's hard for me with this samue. I mean how can one fully hide his chest in this?"
"Master, we have to prepare for the departure as the year of enrollment is near!" Arcane said as everyone walked back.
"It's been four years. I'm 17 now, and in this world, people are considered adults at 17. For boys, it's actually 16. I don't know why. I've grown a lot, and my past memories have faded, except for the memories of games that still haunt me.
I forgot what I was like in my past life, how it was. Maybe the chaos of this life made me forget. It's not like I'm trying to remember, though.
Aside from me, many things have changed. Vivi got engaged to Leonard, and Rubianna is engaged to Prince Charles. Seeing this, I think I don't have to worry much about Vivi and can now focus on my survival."
meanwhile Maria and Rin....
"I see he's busy practicing. I'm sure he's trying to forget me while engaging in practice and mock battles with my baby boy!" Maria said, living in her delusion.
"Well, I guess they'll be back soon. Do you want to talk to him?" Rin asked, teasing Maria.
"No, don't give it to him. He'll get mad if I call him again and disturb you. Okay, bye!" Maria quickly ended the call.
"Was it mother again?" Void asked in a calm, gentle tone.
"Yeah, dear. Your mother and her concerns. After all, you're her little prince and a treasure she let me keep for a while," Rin said, her tone calm and soothing, maintaining her cold yet warm demeanor.
"Well, even if the world here is reversed, a mother's concern won't change," Void thought, letting out a small chuckle. "So, why did you call me here, Aunt Rin?"