"Ah—sorry. I was only joking… I would never abandon you."
Seeing how badly he'd frightened her, Goku's heart ached. He pulled Akitsu into his arms and soothed her with soft words.
After a while, Akitsu steadied, then nodded firmly. "I'll break this bad habit from now on."
--
The busy streets were as lively as ever, and the chaos from before had already been smoothed over. MBI brushed it aside with a perfunctory excuse—"shoddy construction"—and settled the deaths with generous compensation. That alone showed how far MBI's reach extended; a few lives were nothing to them.
Goku didn't spare it a thought. Walking hand in hand with Akitsu and Kunō, he strolled along—until a familiar figure caught his eye on the rooftop terrace of a four-story building.
"Master… Uzume," Akitsu said, glancing up at the silhouette perched on the railing.
"Let's go say hello."
Goku smiled, took both their hands—and in a blink, the three of them stood at the rooftop stairwell.
"Th-that's amazing!" Kunō and Akitsu stared, awe bright in their eyes. A heartbeat ago they'd been on the street; now they were four floors up. Even most Sekirei couldn't do that.
With an Ashikabi stronger than a Sekirei—what could be happier?
"Don't tell anyone," Goku added with a light smile.
Kunō nodded vigorously like a pecking chick. With a Master this mysterious, she felt a safety she'd never known.
"My Ashikabi… where are you?"
Uzume rested her chin in her palms, staring at the flow of people below, lost in thought. She didn't notice them arrive.
"Uzume, weren't you out buying necessities? Why are you daydreaming up here alone?"
Goku finally spoke when she still didn't react.
"You—how are you here?" Uzume blinked out of her reverie, surprised.
"I could ask you the same. What are you doing up here? Did you finish your shopping?"
"Mm. There wasn't much," Uzume nodded.
"It's dangerous to sit that high. Come down—if you fall, you won't fly just because you're a Sekirei," Goku said gently.
"You know I'm a Sekirei?"
Uzume's expression tightened. She bounced lightly to stand on the railing, eyes wary. As an unwinged Sekirei, getting caught could mean being forced to wing. Most in her situation hid their identities carefully.
"Careful—you'll slip," Goku chided. "Yes, I'm an Ashikabi, but I won't force you to wing. Come down." He stepped forward and took her hand, guiding her from the rail.
The instant he touched her, Uzume's heart thudded—thump-thump, thump-thump. Heat swept her body; the Sekirei crest at her nape surfaced, shimmering as if set aflame.
Goku's aura was fatally attractive to Sekirei—and he'd already decided that Uzume would be one of his own. Their souls resonated fiercely, a pull from the heart, from the spirit—utterly irresistible.
'This feeling… Could he be…' Uzume stared up at him, dazed. "My… Ashikabi. I've finally found you." She flung her arms around his neck, rose on tiptoe, and kissed him on lips.
Wings of light unfurled. Another feather joined Goku's flock.
Holding the beaming Uzume, Goku scratched his head, half amused, half amazed. Two days, seven girls. Sekirei really are something.
By normal means, winning seven women's hearts in forty-eight hours was impossible. In this world, it happened as naturally as breathing. Truly, a man's dream.
—
In a small, shabby detached rental, a boy and a girl waved goodbye.
"See you, big brother! I'll come visit again," the girl called.
"Take care of yourself," the boy said gently.
"I know, I know. You worry too much! Go study—if you fail your exams, it'll be embarrassing." She giggled and set off down the street.
"Yeah… I'd rather not get lectures from you—"
His words cut off. A figure barreled toward them at frightening speed. He glanced at his sister and shouted, "Yukari, look out!"
Too late. With a yelp, Yukari went down as the runner collided with her.
"Ow…" She landed hard on her rear.
"Watch where you're—" Her anger froze. Stars lit her eyes. "B-beautiful… boy…"
"Give it up, No.107, Shiina. Come with me."
A lithe woman stepped into view, ten wicked hooked claws fitted over her fingers. She stared coolly at the boy who'd crashed into Yukari. No.104, Haihane—Ashikabi: Natsuo Ichinomiya.
"Hmph. MBI lapdog. I'm not going anywhere with you," Shiina said flatly.
"Is that so? I've been lenient because your ability is useful to us," Haihane said. Her expression went from blank to manic in a blink; killing intent rippled out, twisted and sharp. "Don't mistake mercy for weakness."
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Yukari stepped in front of Shiina without hesitation, glaring at the dangerously unhinged woman.
"A mere human. Don't meddle, or I'll cut you down with him." Haihane's eyes slid to her, voice ice-cold.
"Yukari, let's not get involved," Minato Sahashi hissed, grabbing his sister's arm. She didn't budge.
"In a crisis, you want to run? Useless."
Yukari shot Minato a look of pure contempt, then told Shiina with fierce confidence, "I don't know what's going on, but don't be afraid. I'll protect you!"
Minato's soul deflated. Getting despised by your own sister—rough.
Shiina's pupils shrank. His heart stuttered, heat rising in his cheeks as he stared at Yukari's back, oddly entranced.
"Move," Haihane said, voice like a knife. "One more tantrum, and I'll kill you too."
"I'm not moving, moron! Beautiful boys are a national treasure!" Yukari barked back.
"Is this woman an idiot?" Haihane muttered, licking the curve of one claw with perverse relish. "Since you insist on dying… I'll oblige."
'This person… this feeling… Why is my heart in chaos? Could it be… this person is—'
Shiina, still on the ground, looked up at Yukari, dazed—and more and more captivated.
From the rooftop, Goku watched and sighed. "Yukari, huh? A hopeless fangirl." He patted the step beside him for Akitsu and sat. "We're not busy—let's enjoy the show."
A "beautiful-boy–struck" airhead like Yukari inspired exactly zero interest in him.
Haihane moved. Her tongue flicked over her claws; madness flared; killing intent spiked—
—and a jet of fire blasted across her path.
A masked man planted himself between Yukari and Shiina. "Run. Take the kid," he said without looking back.
"And you are?" Yukari demanded, eyes wide. Did his hand just spit fire?
"What is happening?" Minato gaped. "We just stumbled into something… huge."
"Less talk. If you don't want to die, move."
Flames danced over the stranger's palm—Homura.
"R-right!" Yukari scooped Shiina under one arm to bolt—only for a slim figure to drop behind them, blocking the way.
"You can go," the newcomer said coolly. "Leave him."
No.105, Benitsubasa—Ashikabi: Natsuo Ichinomiya.
"Oh great. Blocked front and back. That's trouble," Yukari muttered, setting Shiina down. She lifted her chin and snapped, "Hey. Move."
"A mere human giving orders? Do you have a death wish?" Benitsubasa's eyes flashed as her temper spiked.
Hands on hips, Yukari grinned, wicked and fearless.
__
🎉 Shoutout to Driftingurchin21, Hades77721Undeadoing and Rin Okumura 🎉
A huge thank you to Driftingurchin21, Hades77721Undeadoing and Rin Okumura for joining my Patreon and supporting the journey! Your support means a lot and helps keep the chapters coming faster. Welcome to the VIP club! 🙌✨