Chapter 96: Kanae's Dimensionality Reduction Attack
Knock, knock, knock.
A soft rap on the door was followed by a brisk patter of footsteps from within.
"Coming!"
The door slid open, and Kanroji Mitsuri's eyes instantly lit up at the sight of Kanzaki Akira. Her joy, however, was immediately overshadowed by the presence of the tall, serene woman standing beside him. One glance was all it took for the gentle aura emanating from Kochou Kanae—an aura that seemed to radiate from her very soul—to imprint itself deeply upon Mitsuri's heart.
Just recently, Mitsuri had finally begun to overcome the deep-seated insecurity she held about herself, thanks in large part to Akira's encouragement. Yet, standing before Kanae, she felt that familiar, crushing sense of inferiority wash over her once more.
It wasn't just a matter of looks, but a deep inadequacy in her entire being. The way Akira and Kanae stood together, a portrait of what seemed like effortless perfection, sent a sharp, sour ache through Mitsuri's chest.
She now had a name for this feeling: jealousy.
But as quickly as the jealousy surged, it was extinguished by an even greater wave of self-doubt.
Though her mind was racing, Mitsuri managed to keep her expression composed, asking with forced curiosity, "Who is this, um, older sister?"
"This is Kochou Kanae, the one I told you about. She's one of my lovers." Akira noticed the light in Mitsuri's eyes dim considerably and was about to offer a word of comfort, but Kanae gave his hand a gentle squeeze, a silent signal for him to let her handle this.
Kanae's smile was as warm as the spring sun. "It's a pleasure to meet you. You must be Kanroji Mitsuri-san. You're every bit as cute as Akira said—in fact, even cuter than he described. I'm Kochou Kanae. Please, just call me Kanae."
"Ah! I... it's nice to meet you... Just call me Mitsuri, Kanae... nee-san..."
Faced with Kanae's disarming gentleness, Mitsuri's words became a flustered jumble. Her voice grew softer with each syllable until she couldn't help but lower her head in a shy bow. Realizing her manners, she quickly looked up again, gesturing for them to enter.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! Please, come in, quickly! I was being so rude..."
"It's alright, Mitsuri," Kanae soothed, her voice a gentle balm. Seeing the flustered girl before her, the last trace of apprehension in Kanae's heart dissipated.
Although Akira had described this girl, Kanroji Mitsuri, as sweet and easy to get along with, some things could only be confirmed firsthand. After all, whether someone was truly approachable often depended on the person they were dealing with. The injured patients at the Butterfly Mansion, for instance, never had the chance to see her sister Shinobu's gentler side.
"Mitsuri, Kanae, you two should have a good chat," Akira said, seeing Mitsuri's nervous, almost startled demeanor. He decided to give them space to get to know each other. "I'll go find Hina-san and Kaito-san. They should be home, right?"
He trusted that Kanae's boundless gentleness and Mitsuri's innate innocence would allow them to connect. This was precisely why the girls had agreed, after their private discussion, that Kanae should be the one to make the first introduction. This woman, who seemed to be the very embodiment of the word 'gentle,' was perfectly suited to build bridges with both her future sisters and their families.
"Ah! Yes, Mom and Dad are both here. They're in that room over there." Although Akira's departure made her feel even more nervous, Mitsuri still managed to point him in the right direction.
Seeing this, Akira exchanged a knowing glance with Kanae before heading off.
...
Watching Akira disappear into her parents' room, Mitsuri was left alone with Kanae, her fingers twisting together anxiously. She had no idea what to say or how to act.
Whether in appearance or temperament, Mitsuri felt utterly inferior. Limited by her age, her figure had not yet fully matured. While she was already more developed than some, she felt completely defeated when compared to Kanae's graceful curves. Even in terms of personality, the natural warmth and kindness that radiated from Kanae made Mitsuri feel hopelessly outclassed.
Though the concept didn't exist in this world, Mitsuri was experiencing what could only be described as a dimensionality reduction attack—a confrontation with someone so overwhelmingly superior in every aspect that it made her feel as if she existed on a lower plane of reality.
As Mitsuri stood there, head bowed and completely at a loss, Kanae gently took her hand. The soft touch made her subconsciously look up, her eyes meeting Kanae's.
"Mitsuri, there's no need to be so nervous," Kanae said softly. "I'm just here as a representative to meet our future sister."
"Eh?"
Kanae's directness, her immediate acknowledgment of Mitsuri's place in their future, caught the younger girl completely by surprise.
"Kanae-nee-san... aren't you jealous?" Mitsuri blurted out before she could stop herself.
"If I said I wasn't at all, that would sound a bit fake, wouldn't it?" Kanae's smile was understanding. "You probably feel it too, right? When you see Akira and me together, you feel a little jealous, don't you?"
"Mm... no, no... I..."
Kanae's gentleness had a way of making people lower their guard, and Mitsuri was no exception. She had instinctively answered truthfully before realizing what she'd said and hastily trying to deny it. In her mind, she had no right to feel jealous in the presence of someone so perfect.
Her past experiences had cast a long shadow of inferiority over her heart. It was only after meeting Akira that a ray of light had pierced through that darkness, which was why she had fallen for him so quickly. But the time had been short, and that shadow had not yet been completely banished. It was this lingering self-doubt that made her shrink in on herself when faced with Kanae.
Kanae, of course, noticed this. From Akira's stories about Mitsuri's past, she and the other girls had already deduced that this sweet girl still harbored deep-seated feelings of inadequacy. The current situation was well within her expectations.
"There's no need to be nervous, Mitsuri. It's a very normal reaction. It just means we all care about him. Didn't Akira tell you that jealousy comes from caring? There's nothing wrong with that."
Kanae's tone was reassuring, leaving no room for argument. "And because we care, I and the other sisters, even if we feel a little jealous sometimes, could never bear to leave him. So, in the future, Mitsuri, you can get along with us too, right?"
"But... but I..." I'm not as wonderful as you. I'm not good enough. I'm not qualified to make you compromise just so I can share a piece of Akira's affection.
That was what Mitsuri wanted to say, but before the words could form, Kanae gently interrupted her.
"Mitsuri, do you feel that you're not good enough?"
"Mm..." Mitsuri lowered her head again, unable to meet those gentle, pinkish-purple eyes.
"No, you're not," Kanae said firmly. She gently cupped Mitsuri's face, lifting her head until their gazes met again. "Mitsuri is a lovely and gentle girl. If she weren't, how could she have possibly captured Akira's heart? So, you need to learn to be more confident, because you are, inherently, a wonderful girl."
"Rea... really?" Mitsuri's voice was a whisper.
"It's true."
A tear welled in Mitsuri's eye, but this time, it wasn't from sadness. "Thank you, Kanae-nee-san."
...
Inside the house, Akira stood by the window with Mitsuri's parents, Kaito and Hina. They watched the two girls embrace in the courtyard, each lost in their own thoughts.
The Kanroji couple was relieved that the woman Akira brought was so clearly willing to welcome their daughter. They were also, even from a distance, stunned by Kanae's beauty, her elegant bearing, and her gentle nature.
Akira, on the other hand, felt a pang of guilt. He hadn't fully realized just how deep the shadow of inferiority in Mitsuri's heart still ran.
"You rascal," Kaito grumbled, though his glare lacked its usual heat. "You already have such wonderful girls around you, and you still come to bother our Mitsuri?"
"Because I'm very greedy," Akira admitted without hesitation. "Mitsuri is a very good girl. Since she has feelings for me, I have no intention of letting her go. Of course, I'm also incredibly fortunate to have met all of them. So, as I promised before, I will protect them, even if it costs me my life."
Kaito sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I just hope you don't let Mitsuri suffer."
"I promise," Akira said, his voice firm. "I won't be involving Mitsuri in matters related to my organization for now. That means she'll be staying with you for a while—a rather long time, in fact. Both you and Mitsuri herself will have plenty of time to observe me, to get to know me, and to decide if I am truly worthy of your trust."
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