Chapter 104: Reina Serizawa’s Fate, Part 2

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An naturally noticed Reina Serizawa’s subtle movements but did not expose her. Instead, he placed the bag he was holding on the table, opened it, and smiled at everyone.

“Come, take a look at the gifts I brought for you all.”

“Oh my, he actually brought us gifts?” Kurozaki Fusako giggled, nudging Reina teasingly.

“See? I told you An wouldn’t forget about you.”

Reina’s expression shifted slightly at Fusako’s words, but seeing An’s amused gaze fixed on her, she immediately turned her head away and snorted coldly.

Seeing her reaction, Fusako wanted to say more, but An quickly interrupted.

“Alright, since Reina-chan doesn’t want the gifts, Fusako and Youi, you two can split them.”

After speaking, An winked at Fusako, who immediately understood and blinked excitedly, feigning surprise.

“Really? Is that okay?”

“This... doesn’t seem quite right,” Youi said hesitantly.

She had been doing homework in the bedroom and was unaware of what had just happened in the living room, only sensing that her sister seemed a little different today.

“Oh, it’s fine,” An said, stepping forward and putting his arm around Youi’s shoulder. He nudged Reina with his mouth and continued, “Look, Reina-chan isn’t interested in these things anyway, right?”

No sooner had An finished speaking than a loud bang came from the table.

Everyone turned to see Reina standing up, hands braced on the table, lips pressed tightly together. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, glaring at An with a look full of grievance. She stomped her foot hard and dashed back to her bedroom.

With a heavy slam, the door shut.

“Oh wow, someone really went too far,” Fusako teased, enjoying the spectacle.

Youi, blushing deeply from An’s sudden embrace, snapped back to reality and hurried to follow, but An’s voice stopped her.

“I’ll go. You two look through the gifts.”

Patting Youi’s shoulder and giving her a reassuring look, An headed toward Reina’s room.

Youi wanted to say something as she watched his retreating figure but was pulled onto the sofa by Fusako.

Seeing Youi’s worried face, Fusako chuckled softly to comfort her.

“Don’t worry, An can handle this.”

“But...” Youi hesitated, but seeing Fusako’s confident expression, she sighed and nodded.

“Let’s hope so.”

Meanwhile, at Reina’s door, An placed his hand on the handle and gently turned it. With a soft click, the door opened.

He pushed it open just enough to peek inside and soon spotted Reina.

She sat on the edge of the bed with her back to the door, her body trembling slightly as soft sobs escaped her. She was crying.

Seeing this, An opened the door fully, stepped inside, and closed it behind him.

He did not try to muffle his footsteps, and as the door clicked shut, Reina’s trembling stopped noticeably.

An took a few steps to her side, just as he sat down, Reina’s bottom seemed to spring up, quickly scooting away.

An chuckled lightly and said nothing, moving closer again, only for Reina to shuffle sideways once more.

This repeated several times until Reina was pressed against the headboard with nowhere left to retreat.

She finally stopped, turned her head, and glared fiercely at An.

Though she tried to look fierce, her tear-streaked face and large, watery eyes gave her a pitiful, heart-wrenching contrast.

After a brief glance, An suddenly felt a surge of emotion and leaned in.

As he covered her lips, Reina’s eyes widened in shock. When he moved further, she pushed against his chest, struggling with muffled sounds.

Soon, her resistance softened.

Minutes later, An wiped his mouth, and Reina frowned in confusion as she tasted the silky, slightly cool liquid in her mouth.

Before An could explain, the door was abruptly pushed open.

“Sis, An-senpai bought you a gift—it’s the latest iPhone 5! Come quick—”

Her words cut off abruptly.

At the doorway,

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Youi stood frozen, clutching a pink box, her gaze vacantly flickering between the white residue at her sister’s mouth and Reina’s flushed face. Her expression turned increasingly fearful.

Recently, through frequent contact with “Teacher Kuroko,” she had learned many things that young girls her age shouldn’t know.

Among them was a situation very much like this.

Instantly, Youi’s mind filled with imagined scenes from the room.

Her innocent sister being asked by the wicked An-senpai to help with her mouth...

“Ugh! I’m getting dirty!” Youi shook her head desperately, trying to banish those wicked images, but the more she tried, the clearer they became.

“What’s wrong?” a voice sounded.

Curious about Youi’s sudden silence, Fusako approached the door.

First, she looked at Youi’s blushing face in puzzlement, then turned toward the two inside the room. She soon noticed the white residue at Reina’s mouth and her flushed cheeks.

As someone experienced, Fusako immediately suspected something and shot a sarcastic glance at An.

“You’re really impatient, aren’t you, An-kun?”

Seeing Fusako and Youi’s expressions, An realized they had misunderstood and smiled wryly, about to explain when a clear, bell-like female voice interrupted.

“No, it’s not what you think!”

Silence fell instantly.

Youi and Fusako both turned, wide-eyed, staring at Reina.

Reina looked flustered, instinctively shrinking back and timidly asked, “Wh-what’s wrong?”

Then she suddenly froze, tentatively speaking again.

“Is... is that really my voice?”

The clear, melodious voice echoed in everyone’s ears.

“This...” Youi was utterly amazed; Fusako looked like she had seen a ghost, while An remained calm throughout.

[Quest: Recover the Lost Voice. Conditions: Affection above 70 and help the person achieve their dream. Reward: Potion of Heavenly Voice.]

This was the ending quest triggered the first time An met Reina.

The quest had been fulfilled ever since “Attack on Titan” topped the manga bestseller list, but An had not rushed to use the potion as he was still in Yamanashi Prefecture.

On the way to the Serizawa household, An recalled this and thus the recent scene unfolded.

Just before entering the room, he drank the potion, then used the opportunity of a close moment with Reina to slip some into her mouth.

Hmm...

The potion’s effect was surprisingly good.

In the room, Reina still doubted the clear voice was hers. She kept touching her throat, trying it out.

“Is this really my voice?”

“I can speak!!”

She repeated this for several minutes, each word revealing a clear vibration in her throat.

Finally believing she could speak, tears burst forth uncontrollably.

Looking up, she sniffled and shouted with all her might toward Youi at the door.

“I really can speak! Youi, can you hear me? I really can speak! This is my voice, sobbing...”

Overwhelmed, she broke down crying.

At the door, Youi rushed forward and hugged her sister, comforting her with a tearful voice.

As Reina’s sister and longest companion, Youi was more emotional than anyone.

Even after all these years, she could not forget that night when Reina learned she would never speak again and curled up silently sobbing under the covers.

Lonely, helpless, lost...

That night, innocent Youi could only peek from the top bunk.

To this day, recalling that night, Youi felt her sister’s silent sobs like rusted blades stabbing her heart.

She regretted not going down to hold her sister then, even silent comfort would have helped.

Now, the chance was here.

Though she didn’t understand why her sister suddenly could speak, Youi didn’t care. She just wanted to hold her tightly and share the joy.

...

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Seeing that the two sisters showed no sign of stopping, An wisely refrained from interrupting and slowly stepped outside the bedroom.

Near the door, he pulled Fusako along.

They both left the room, closing the door behind them, as if sealing off everything inside.

Silence returned.

Coming back to his senses from the shock of Reina’s voice, Fusako’s eyes flickered as she looked at An and asked,

“Reina-chan really spoke just now?”

“Of course,” An nodded, looking at Fusako’s dumbstruck face and pinching her cheek teasingly.

“Don’t tell me you think this is a dream?”

“Stop it,” Fusako swatted his hand away but smiled brightly.

Having spent time with Reina, she genuinely liked this lively, cheerful, and adorable girl and was sincerely happy for her regained voice.

But soon, Fusako realized something and looked at An with curiosity.

“You know why Reina-chan suddenly can speak, right?”

“Of course.”

An smiled proudly. Seeing Fusako’s eager expression, he tapped his cheek teasingly.

“If you give me a kiss, I might tell you.”

“You jerk.”

Fusako rolled her eyes flirtatiously but stepped forward, tiptoeing to peck his cheek softly.

Their lips barely touched, then parted.

Fusako didn’t pull away but rested her head on An’s chest and softly said,

“Now you can tell me, right?”

“Hehe, of course.”

An wrapped an arm around her slender waist and began to explain.

Of course, he did not tell the truth. Instead, he claimed that during a trip to Mount Fuji, he met a local old healer whose excellent skills inspired him to ask about Reina’s condition. Unexpectedly, the healer had a cure and gave him the potion.

What remained at Reina’s mouth was the residue of that potion.

Though the explanation seemed far-fetched, Fusako chose to believe it, though her expression was a little awkward.

“I almost thought An and Reina were doing... that kind of thing...” she admitted, cheeks burning.

An noticed her reaction and teased,

“Why’s your face so red? Don’t tell me you were thinking naughty thoughts?”

Annoyed and embarrassed, Fusako retorted,

“Shut up! You’re so annoying.”

“Do you hate me then?”

An continued to tease, but before he could say more, the bedroom door suddenly opened, and Youi stepped out.

Seeing this, the two quickly released each other.

Since Youi still had to close the door, she missed the scene, and when she turned around, An and Fusako had already stepped apart.

Though she noticed Fusako’s odd expression, Youi didn’t dwell on it and instead looked at An, bowing deeply with sincerity.

“Sis already told me. It was An-senpai who gave her the medicine that let her speak. I don’t know what it is yet, but don’t worry, the Serizawa family will definitely compensate you.”

Smiling at the earnest little girl, An teased,

“So, Youi, how do you plan to compensate me?”

Youi hesitated briefly, then seemed to make a decision. Glancing at Fusako beside her, she suddenly grabbed An’s hand and led him toward the bathroom, explaining as they walked,

“An-senpai, please come with me. I have something to tell you!”

Though curious, An did not refuse.

As they entered the bathroom and An steadied himself, Youi suddenly locked the door behind them, then...

(End of chapter)