After waiting a mont, it beca clear that the monster wasn't breathing at all—it was definitely dead.
The floating charm crystal slowly descended, and Haruno dazedly caught it in her hand. It was the protective amulet Yukino had given her, but right now her mind was blank.
"Haruno…what on earth just happened?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita's voice still trembled with lingering fright. It felt like a horrific nightmare, yet the monster's corpse and the blood pooling on the floor told her this was real. She had no choice but to accept this bizarre reality.
"I—I don't know, either…"
Haruno's lips were painfully dry.
Mrs. Yukinoshita ca up to her side, holding out the still-glimring charm that hung around her own neck.
"Is this what protected us?"
"It…seems like it."
"You said Yukino was the one who gave it to us?"
"Yes… And she insisted I wear it at all tis, no matter what."
The mother and daughter looked at each other in shock.
"It seems Yukino's the only one who can explain this," Mrs. Yukinoshita said.
"Haruno, where's your phone?"
"Here."
Mrs. Yukinoshita bent down and picked up her phone, still spotted with blood. Her unsteady fingers navigated through her contact list until she found Yukino's na. She glanced at Haruno, then pressed the call button.
…
anwhile…
When her phone started ringing, Yukino lightly patted Rei Ao's hand, which was wandering around her waist.
"Hold on, there's…a call."
The intimate atmosphere was broken. Rei Ao halted his movents, and Yukino recalled what had almost happened just monts ago, her cheeks instantly flushing with heat.
"Who in the world calls at a ti like this, spoiling the mood?"
Rei Ao frowned. "If I find out who it is, I'll have to teach them a lesson."
"…"
Yukino took one look at the caller ID and murmured quietly:
"It's…my mother."
"Uh…"
"So it's my future mother-in-law. I take back what I just said."
The swift change in Rei Ao's attitude made Yukino snort with laughter, though she still shot him a glare.
"Future mother-in-law? Don't get ahead of yourself."
She pressed the answer button. Right then, Rei Ao scooped her up onto his lap, holding her tight around the waist, and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"You—!"
Feeling embarrassed, Yukino started to protest. Rei Ao gestured at the phone to remind her:
"We're on the line already."
"Yukino?"
Her mother's voice ca through, still sounding slightly shaken. Yukino had no choice but to continue the call, though she glared at him to make sure he didn't pull any more stunts. In a calm voice, she said:
"Mother, it's ."
"Has Haruno already co back?"
"Yes, she's right here with ."
Yukino's brow furrowed slightly. Sothing about her mother's tone seed strange tonight—rather than stern and imposing, she sounded cautious and gentle.
"Is sothing the matter?"
For a few seconds, there was silence on the other end.
"Yukino…"
When the voice ca back, it was Haruno's.
"Mother and I just went through sothing bizarre—a terrifying monster showed up at ho."
"?!"
Yukino's eyes widened. Her heart flew into her throat as she rushed to ask:
"Haruno, are you and Mother hurt?!"
Her alarm and concern were obvious from her tone alone. Haruno and Mrs. Yukinoshita both felt a warmth blossom in their chests.
"We're not hurt."
"That's a relief."
Hearing they were safe, Yukino's tension eased.
"It's all thanks to the amulet you gave us," Haruno continued. "Yukino…can you explain what's going on?"
"…"
Yukino certainly hadn't expected the charm to be used so soon. It was practically pure luck. She was extrely glad now that she had insisted on obtaining that protective item the other day, after her sister went missing.
Otherwise, she would never have worked up the courage to request it—and in turn, Haruno and her mother might have been in real danger.
She felt relief but also found herself in a difficult situation. The charm involved Rei Ao. Her eyes flicked to him.
"Mhm, I heard everything," Rei Ao said calmly, speaking up so Haruno could hear him through the phone. "Haruno-san, you wouldn't mind if I drop by your house right now, would you?"
"Huh?"
"This voice…Rei Ao-kun?"
"That's ," he confird.
"Just so you know, that charm you're holding ca from ."
"It was from you?!"
"Right. So, may I co over?"
"…"
"Sure."
…
Haruno hung up, looking a bit uneasy.
"So the amulet was sothing Rei Ao gave to Yukino. But why would she pass that on to us? What's really going on?"
"Haruno, just who is this 'Rei Ao' anyway?" Mrs. Yukinoshita asked, having overheard their conversation.
Haruno let out a wry smile.
"Mother, I'm not entirely sure, either. All I know is he's Yukino's neighbor in the apartnt she's renting. Now, I guess we can add another line to his résumé—"
"!!!"
A voice rang out, causing both won to jump.
"Yukino? Rei Ao-kun?"
Haruno blinked hard. She needed to make sure she wasn't hallucinating.
"Mother, are you seeing this, too?"
"Yes…I see it."
The pair stared in shock. There were now two people behind them—indeed, Yukino and Rei Ao. But they had just hung up the phone barely seconds ago. How had they appeared here soundlessly?
Rei Ao gave a friendly smile.
"Allow to introduce myself: My na is Rei Ao. I'm currently Yukino's boyfriend, and soon I hope to be her husband."
"!!!"
Yukino's eyes went wide with disbelief, and color rushed to her cheeks. Wh-why would he say sothing like that so suddenly?!
Haruno and Mrs. Yukinoshita were taken aback by his forceful introduction as well.
"Huh?"
Haruno was dumbfounded. B-boyfriend? This was the sa guy who said he would help keep an eye on Yukino to make sure no other n tried to get close—and now he was saying he was Yukino's boyfriend?!
With no room to argue, it looked to be the truth.
Wasn't that basically betraying the job of "watchful neighbor"?!
~~~
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