Three days later.

Maya opened her eyes and squinted at the sunlight channeling through the windows. Sweat trickled down her forehead; the recollections of the dream still fresh in her mind. ​​

"Huff… who were those beautiful girls with Onii-sama? I have never met them. Are they Onii-sama's girlfriends?"

Then why would they show up in her dream?

She rubbed her eyes and slipped out of the bed. Ignoring the maid standing outside, she hurried inside the side room.

"Onii-sama."

His sleeping face crushed her self-restraint. Panting heavily, she staggered toward him as if she was a zombie.

"Onii-sama. Onii-sama. Onii-sama."

"Cut it out." The voice was accompanied by a chop on her head.

Maya covered her head with teary eyes. "Nee-sama!"

Miya frowned. "Do you want to give him a heart attack or something?"

"No!"

"It's good he didn't wake up."

"I am sorry."

Miya pulled Maya toward her own room. Taking a seat on the bed, Miya clasped Maya's hands.

"Maya, don't you think Asahi-sama is hiding something? He has ten girlfriends yet he didn't call them once. His powers are beyond the norms. Otou-sama said he might be the strongest Strategic-class magician in Japan."

Of course she felt the incredulity between Asahi and everyone else. The way Psions swirled around him, yet never got too close as noticed by Eisaku oji-sama.

However, it changed nothing.

Because.

"Onii-sama is too perfect!"

Miya could only release a sigh at Maya's lovestruck appearance. "What happened to my smart sister?"

Maya giggled and pressed herself against Miya. "Nee-sama, I don't care whether Onii-sama is a man who massacred thousands of men, or the Ancient God who materialized the Psions and Pushions into existence. I do not care. He is a kind man to me, someone who came to save me when I needed it the most. My special person. That is what Onii-sama became."

Maya laid bare the state of her heart. Her true feelings caused Miya to flinch.

"I see," Miya said and gently rubbed Maya's back. "I can understand your position, even if only a little."

"Nee-sama, what do I do?"

"Just say this to him again. I am sure no man will deny such passion, even if it comes from twelve years old."

Maya groaned as she was reminded of her age once again.

Miya chuckled. "He is a playboy anyway. Ten or eleven, it makes no difference."

"Nee-sama is so smart!"

"But you need to have a serious talk with him and stuff in his head that your love is real. I would never wish for you to waste your life if he rejects you."

"No need. I already know."

Maya swiveled her head around.

"Onii-sama!"

Asahi stood there with a soft smile.

—x—x—x—

[Asahi's pov]

After listening to her confession, I only had one thought—wasn't this way too early?!

Maya adopted a stoic face, although her eyes beamed with joy. "Onii-sama, you eavesdropped on our girl's talk?!"

I just showed a careless grin.

Miya released an exaggerated sigh. "You are so childish… Indeed, the birds of a feather flock together."

I kneeled before Maya and grasped her hand. "Even though I like lolis, illegal ones are no go."

Miya widened her eyes. "Huh?! What kind of confession is that?"

Maya, however, blushed and nodded. "Onii-sama, Maya can wait for a few years~."

She switched to a cutesy voice.

"You two, I can never understand you."

"Miya, can I have some alone time with Maya?"

"Don't do anything to her."

She stomped out of the room. I sat beside Maya and stroked her hair lightly. She placed her hands on her lap and gazed at the ground.

Maya Yotsuba: Affection +4]

"I want to confess something too."

"Um, I am ready."

"I don't hail from any clan or even this world."

Maya gasped and curled her fist. "Otou-sama was right. He said Kuroba couldn't find anything related to you. Nothing. It was like you don't even exist."

Their information network already found that out. No wonder they were called Untouchables.

Maya tugged my sleeve and looked up with moist eyes. "I said this before. That I do not care about Onii-sama's background. You are still the man who saved me and the girls from hell. The man I fell for…"

Whoa. Was this the effect of the 'Dependency' trait? No matter what, she looked so adorable right now.

Okay Asahi, get down your high horses. She is still illegal!

I still couldn't stop myself from leaning and capturing her tantalizing lips. Maya shut her eyes tightly as she cupped my face and squirmed into my lap.

Maya Yotsuba: Affection +4]

After the short kiss ended, Maya rose to her knees and coiled her arms around my neck. "Onii-sama, take responsibility for Maya, kay?"

"Gladly." I sealed the deal with another gentle kiss.

Her eyes went vacant as tears poured out of her eyes. "Thank you, Onii-sama, thank you…"

What could she be thinking to cry like this? The result of my rejection?

Bringing her trembling body in my embrace, I soothed her sorrow with several gentle headpats.

She lightly pushed me. I let her and we fell on the bed with her on top of me. Instead of happiness, a pained look flashed on her face. "Onii-sama, you are leaving?"

How did she know that I was about to leave?

She placed her head on my chest. "I just had a… hunch but it seems true after all."

"...Yes."

I had to go and meet Grayfia then go to Danmachi and join the familia of Astraea Goddess. The important point was I had to leave this cute girl on her own.

"Can I come…?"

I ran my fingers through her glossy black hair. "Not yet."

"I understand." She rose suddenly, her violet eyes piercing into me. "Onii-sama, tell me what I have to do here. Anything. I will do anything."

Sigh, what could she do for me? Hmm… yeah, she could do that and not be bored for a year or two.

"What happened to the girls we saved?"

Maya inclined her head to the side. "We sent the ones who wanted to go home and kept the rest in the house beside ours."

"So what do they want?"

"Nothing. They are like sitting there like dolls, their hollow staring into the void—"

I pressed a finger on her lips. She was emanating a dim glow from her body, like an angel. The negative emotions affect her?

"They are only this way because there is no one who can guide them. Can you be the light in their dark lives? If it's you who almost went through the same pain, they will understand it."

"Onii-sama, am I worthy...?"

"Yes, you are. No one else can be."

"Understood, Onii-sama. I will do it. Failure is not an option if Onii-sama commands." She approached and her lips drew a mischievous smile. She rubbed her body against mine. Her thin pajamas couldn't hide the warmth near her crotch. "Onii-sama, take my virginity before you leave."

*Cough!*

Maya frowned and turned her head. Her evil smirk was replaced with a helpless look. "Nee-sama…"

Miya stood there with a beet red face. "Maya, Otou-sama called you and Marikawa-sama."

Thank goodness. She stopped me from lewding the illegal loli!

"Fine," Maya replied in an annoyed tone.

———

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