Chapter 178: The East Window Incident, True Night and Deep Night
"How are we going to sleep tonight...?"
After returning from FLT Corporation, Miya faced a serious problem.
Mahiro hadn't arranged for her to stay in a separate room, instead directly bringing her back to his own room.
But there was only one bed in the room.
So...
"Of course we'll sleep like this. Did you want to sleep on the floor?"
After finishing his bath, Mahiro dried himself off and flopped onto the bed under Miya's gaze.
"Aunt, do you prefer sleeping on the inside or outside?"
He patted the empty space beside him as he asked.
Miya: "..."
I want to sleep alone!
She desperately wanted to say this, but the words wouldn't come out. She could only stare coldly at the boy on the bed, hoping he would compromise and back down.
Clearly, she was overthinking things.
In some ways, Mahiro cared deeply about saving face, yet in other ways, he could be remarkably thick-skinned and shameless.
Why would he care about her glare? Instead, he asked with foolish innocence:
"Aunt, aren't you planning to sleep? Then I'll go ahead and sleep first. I have to wake up early for school tomorrow."
With that, Mahiro directly turned off the lights.
The surroundings immediately darkened, the quiet night seeming to open its maw and swallow Miya whole.
Only the clear moonlight from the window illuminated her figure.
Having bathed earlier, she had already taken off her dress-like gown and changed into the pajamas Minami had brought her.
Her previously tied-up long hair had been let down, cascading like a waterfall down her back to her waist, the dew-kissed ends brushing against her slightly pursed lips.
The silk nightgown draped softly over her body, and her arms crossed over her chest inexplicably emphasized their full, rounded curves...
After observing for a moment, Mahiro closed his eyes.
"..."
In the darkness, he heard a faint, barely audible sigh.
Then he felt the bed beside him dip slightly, accompanied by the arrival of an intoxicating rose fragrance.
Without needing to think, he knew his dear Aunt had compromised.
And so, like a mischievous child, he slowly turned over and directly draped his arm across her.
"...Stop it."
In the darkness, Miya softly scolded.
Though she couldn't see, she clearly felt someone's arm wrapping around her waist.
But that wasn't the end—her scolding had no effect whatsoever, instead making the other party intensify their actions.
Miya felt a weight settle on her body. Opening her eyes, she saw Mahiro had already sprawled across her chest, fast asleep.
Miya irritably opened her eyes, a faint light shimmering in her wine-red pupils as she attempted to grasp the "gate" to Mahiro's unconscious realm.
She couldn't tell whether Mahiro was pretending to be asleep or genuinely sleeping.
But upon seeing his peaceful sleeping face and feeling his soft, steady breathing, Miya immediately abandoned her original plan. The captured "gate" slowly released from her grasp, and even the prepared lecture she had ready was swallowed back.
Instead, as if moved by some unseen force, she reached out, pulled the quilt over Mahiro, and carefully tucked in the corners.
Her other hand gently stroked his hair.
Miya felt her current state was peculiar.
Even if she attributed everything she was doing now to the bet, she had noticed changes within herself.
Not on a physical level, but on a mental one.
This resurrection might have allowed her to reclaim the emotions she had once personally abandoned and erased—the love for her child Tatsuya, along with the guilt of recalling how she had personally modified her own child.
However.
Perhaps because Mahiro's experiences closely resembled Tatsuya's, both having emerged from the Fourth Research Institute, Miya inexplicably transferred these feelings onto Mahiro, who clung to her.
Though she hadn't even realized this herself, and though she constantly comforted herself in her heart—
An aunt is also a mother; she was merely fulfilling her younger sister Maya's duties, helping to care for this child and compensating for the maternal love he had never enjoyed.
After all, she and her twin sister, Maya, had once been so close they were practically inseparable.
The idea that Maya's child was her child, and her child was Maya's child, held no issue for her.
Moreover, after Maya's health had deteriorated, she was still able to have this one and final descendant.
Miya had never entertained such thoughts.
Although the manner of his birth was quite bizarre, only the ignorant would think that way.
After all, this child was the final mercy and compassion bestowed upon Maya by heaven...
But just then, her previously smoothed willow-leaf eyebrows slightly furrowed once more.
In the darkness, she softly scolded:
"Don't bite!"
Day by day passed.
Mahiro and Miya's interactions gradually became harmonious.
Perhaps having resigned herself to fate, Miya rarely resisted or refused his actions, even when he occasionally went a bit too far.
Meanwhile, Miya gradually began concerning herself with his daily life, often leaving Minami—who was primarily responsible for Mahiro's care—in a flustered state.
It felt as though she wanted to replace Maya's position in his life.
However, today, a major incident occurred at FLT—
Shiba Tatsurou, also known as Shiibara Tatsurou, was about to step down from his position as Development Division Head at Yotsuba Technology.
Not only that, Tatsurou and Sayuri were in the midst of a divorce, but Sayuri was demanding half of Tatsurou's shares in FLT.
The reason was that Sayuri had been unfaithful, seducing an employee at the company and engaging in an illicit relationship that Tatsurou had discovered.
The incident primarily stemmed from what happened after that office affair.
After it ended, Sayuri found her desires still unsatisfied, but by now she had somewhat grown accustomed to it, so she suppressed those urges.
Unexpectedly, in the following days, those desires grew increasingly intense, becoming uncontrollable.
Thus, during a business trip, she accidentally ended up in a relationship with a subordinate.
It was the first time in many years that she had felt truly satisfied.
As a result, she became uncontrollable, seducing subordinates everywhere in the company and engaging in illicit affairs behind Tatsurou's back.
As for Tatsurou?
He also began to notice something strange about himself.
It's normal for physical strength to decline in middle age, but he hadn't reached the point of impotence. Yet after that day, he found himself unable to perform.
Not only with Sayuri, but even other beautiful female employees failed to arouse his interest.
On the contrary, he developed an almost fanatical obsession with work, immersing himself in the company every day, working frantically without even returning home much.
He practically lived at the office.
The extreme contrast in their behavior was noticed by all the company employees.
And Sayuri's scandalous affairs couldn't be kept under wraps, quickly becoming the subject of office gossip.
Male employees talked about how promiscuous Sayuri was—despite her icy exterior and always serious demeanor, she was incredibly wild in private.
Over time, these rumors naturally reached Tatsurou's ears.
But having transformed into a workaholic, he paid no attention, dismissing them as baseless talk from subordinates—until the day he caught Sayuri in the act in the break room.
Thus, they completely laid their cards on the table and began divorce proceedings.
Sayuri argued that she had made significant contributions to FLT over the years and demanded half of Tatsurou's shares.
But she forgot—Tatsurou didn't actually own any shares.
Those shares were entirely part of Miya's inheritance, not to mention that Yotsuba Technologies belonged to the Yotsuba family.
Naturally, Maya wouldn't stand by idly. She rejected the claim, stating that "the shares are sister's inheritance—Sayuri has no right to them. Only Tatsuya and Miyuki are qualified to inherit."
Even if marital property laws entitled Tatsurou to inheritance, making his current wife Sayuri eligible for a share—so what?
Trying to argue law with the Yotsuba family?
Sorry—the Ten Master Clans are the law, especially the strongest among them, the Yotsuba family.
In the end, even the protesting Sayuri was imprisoned for embezzling company funds—all orchestrated personally by Maya.
"My, my... When it comes to methods, you're truly ruthless."
"Giggle... Don't be silly. I'm just a weak little woman trying to protect the Yotsuba family assets."
A pleasant, light laugh echoed through the living room.
This self-proclaimed "weak little woman" had the same face as Miya, equally beautiful but with a seductive charm that naturally attracted the opposite sex. She was an elegant woman wearing an almost black evening gown.
On the screen, she wore a sweet smile.
She was Miya's most beloved younger sister.
The current head of the Yotsuba family.
One of the world's strongest magicians.
Yotsuba Maya.
"But, my dear little Mahiro—what happened to Sayuri and Tatsurou was your doing, wasn't it?"
On screen, Maya suddenly dropped her smile, replacing it with an inscrutable one.
"My doing?"
Mahiro tilted his head, a similar smile playing on his lips. "Don't make accusations without evidence—I might sue you for slander. Besides, what would I gain from taking down those two from the Shiba family?"
"Where?"
"That's true."
Maya agreed with his words, but then her tone shifted: "However, the surveillance happened to capture this."
Maya swiped her finger across the screen a few times, revealing a photo in the upper right corner showing a black sports car.
"My adorable little Mahiro, if Mommy isn't mistaken, this should be your car, right?"
Driving such an antique and appearing in Yotsuba Technology's parking lot made it impossible for him to deny it.
"Mommy doesn't know what my little Mahiro was doing at the company at this hour, but I assume you must have had some business to discuss with the R&D department?"
Mahiro: "..."
This woman actually learned to speak with sarcasm!
Mahiro couldn't help but sigh helplessly: "Alright, alright, I admit I did it."
"After all, Yotsuba Technology is Yotsuba family property, right? Is it really okay to hand the company over to outsiders to mess around?"
"You should know, when Aunt Miya was alive, Tatsurou was still considered part of the Yotsuba family. But now that Aunt has passed away, he's taken a new lover, and even Miyuki doesn't want to acknowledge him. Can he still be considered part of the Yotsuba family?"
"..."
Maya gave him a meaningful look and smiled faintly: "Lying isn't becoming of a good child. This isn't your true intention, Mahiro."
Maya immediately saw through his lie.
She really was a thousand-year-old fox—not so easy to deceive.
"Fine, fine. The main reason is that I've handed over most of what I brought back to Tatsuya for research and processing, but I don't feel comfortable with the company in outsiders' hands."
"Moreover, I plan to establish deeper cooperation between Yotsuba Technology and Shiba Heavy Industries."
"Modifying the Guardians?"
This unfamiliar term suddenly came from Maya's mouth.
"Did Miori tell you that?"
"Mhm."
Maya hummed lightly: "She's my adorable daughter-in-law, after all. I quite like her."
"...You really know how to stir up trouble. If Arcadia makes a fuss about this, I won't let you off easily."
"Hehe, that won't happen. How could I make my dear child sad? Don't worry, Mommy will help protect everything for you."
Maya began to giggle softly.
Who knew what made her so happy.
"Alright, although Mommy knows you're still hiding something, I won't press further."
Maya suddenly changed the subject like this.
"But what do you plan to do next? Should I transfer the ownership of Yotsuba Technology and Tatsurou's shares to you?"
"That's not necessary."
Mahiro shook his head: "Better transfer them to Miyuki. Besides, Tatsuya is still in the R&D department. I think it's quite appropriate."
"Very well, we'll do as you say. But when will my little Mahiro come visit me at the main house? Only being able to see my beloved child through a screen makes me feel so lonely..."
"Isn't Miori your daughter-in-law? Have her accompany you."
Mahiro snorted coldly and directly ended the communication.
Gazing at the darkened screen, the smile on Maya's face gradually faded into calmness, leaving only a gentle curve at the corner of her lips.
Hayama, who had been serving nearby, picked up the teapot and refilled Maya's cup with warm black tea.
Maya lifted the teacup and took a light sip, then spoke softly:
"Hayama, what do you think... what does Aunt Miya mean by this?"
"My apologies, Madam. I'm afraid I'm too dull to understand. I believe it's merely an honorific for the late Lady Miya."
"Is that so."
Maya stared at the reflection in her teacup, her eyes revealing an inexplicable expression that made it impossible to discern what she was truly thinking.
Only a few fleeting shooting stars could be seen passing by in an instant.
However, that child Mahiro has never shown respect toward members of the Yotsuba family...
...
Meanwhile.
After ending the communication with Maya, Mahiro returned to his room.
There sat Miya in all her dignified elegance at his desk, quietly enjoying the iced tea Minami had prepared for her.
But upon seeing him enter the room, Miya placed the teacup back on its coaster.
"I never expected you would transfer FLT Company to Miyuki."
"Eavesdropping isn't a good habit."
Mahiro removed his First High School uniform and hung it neatly on the clothes rack, then explained:
"Miyuki is one of the few people in the Yotsuba family I can trust. She's not scheming like the rest of you, and I genuinely like her. So what if I give Yotsuba Company to her?"
"Not only that, I want to elevate her to the position of Yotsuba family head."
"As your puppet to control the Yotsuba family?"
Miya stared directly at him, while the dim evening light from the window cast shadows across her beautiful face.
"This is exactly why I dislike you sisters—always measuring others' hearts by your own mean standards. If I truly wanted to do something to the Yotsuba family, would I need a puppet?"
Mahiro pulled out a chair and sat opposite Miya, picking up her unfinished iced tea and drinking it all in one go.
He then held the glass before his eyes, watching the beautiful woman through the condensation-beaded surface.
"Aunt, you should understand this well. The moment Maya chose to have me released from the Fourth Research Institute, what you call the Yotsuba family was essentially doomed."
Miya: "..."
This was something she indeed couldn't refute.
Because of Mahiro's peculiar nature—his abilities far surpass Tatsuya's. If Tatsuya had herself and Miyuki as safeguards, then Mahiro carried no such restraints.
Even if she were to use Cocytus, she wouldn't be able to deal with him, and might even have it turned against her.
Therefore, Miya decided not to pursue this matter further, instead changing the subject:
"I never expected you and Maya would develop such a good relationship."
"Good relationship between us? Did I forget to restore your eyes when I resurrected you, Aunt? Can that be considered a good relationship?"
Ignoring his sarcastic remarks, Miya continued: "This is the first time I've seen Maya like that—so humble in attitude, trying her utmost to please someone."
"Mahiro, she wasn't lying. Maya truly loves you very much."
Ever since she turned twelve, Maya seemed like a completely different person.
But the birth of Mahiro did indeed change Maya considerably—at least the madness that once wanted to destroy everything was no longer visible in her eyes.
She gradually softened.
Especially today, hearing the conversation between Mahiro and Maya, she could hardly believe that was her younger sister.
The change was truly tremendous.
"Never mind, that's your business to think about. I'm a bit tired today—tell Minami I won't be having dinner. I'm going to sleep first."
As he spoke, Mahiro got up and changed into his pajamas.
Miya sat at the head of the bed, her off-shoulder homewear revealing a pair of slender, elegant legs wrapped in black pantyhose.
After changing into his pajamas, Mahiro lay down directly, resting his head on those thighs while gently turning to find a comfortable position. As he lightly inhaled the familiar faint fragrance, he prepared to sleep.
Feeling the warm breaths coming from between her thighs, Miya's face gradually became flushed.
But her gaze softened gradually, her delicate fingertips gently running through Mahiro's short hair, bringing him some comfort.
Although she always maintained that limited authority as an elder, what they had done had long crossed that boundary.
Whether it was the morning kisses or the occasional excessive behavior during sleep.
Perhaps she had been too indulgent with Mahiro, or perhaps she wanted to take her sister's place in caring for Mahiro.
But one thing remained unchanged—she was still very grateful to Mahiro in her heart, for allowing her to live again, for allowing her to see Miyuki once more.
Even if she could only watch from afar by the window every day.
But the word "thanks" felt too light, insufficient to express her feelings, especially when even her life had been given back to her by Mahiro.
So what could she do?
All she could do was offer this indulgence, protecting him with all she had in her own way.