81: Randomly Refreshing Childhood Friends

As they parted ways, the Miyazono couple once again grasped Yu's hands, covering their faces in tears of gratitude.

"Akira-kun, we truly owe you so much."

"We hope that the next time we meet, Kaori will be preparing to have a child."

"Uncle, Auntie, saying that puts a lot of pressure on me!"

"Once Kaori becomes a parent herself, she'll understand our pain."

"She'll realize that childhood friends and love are nothing compared to the child growing in her belly."

Kaori's mother spoke with a strict tone.

"If she weren't still gravely ill, I would have given my foolish daughter two hard slaps."

"Kaori Miyazono, don't bother coming home anymore."

"We're shutting down our cake shop."

"Your mother and I are traveling abroad for a while to relax."

"If you dare leave Akira's home to find us, we'll sell our house immediately and move somewhere you'll never find us."

"Akira-kun, no need to see us off."

"We'll be going now."

The Miyazono couple bowed deeply in gratitude before leaving without any hesitation, as if they had just gotten rid of a huge burden.

"Kaori, care to share your thoughts on this?"

"It looks like your parents don't want you anymore."

"Even if you wanted to go home, you can't."

"A minor girl like you doesn't even have the means to support herself."

Touma Kazusa gripped Kaori's shoulders, her tone merciless.

"Waaah!"

Kaori instantly broke down—completely shattered.

She never imagined her parents, who loved her dearly, would cut her off so cleanly.

"Kazusa, ease up a little."

"What's wrong? Feeling sorry for her now?"

"Too bad the man in her heart isn't you."

Akira: ...…

Kazusa, you've really been corrupted by Sayaka-nee.

"Kaori has been sold off to you now, Young Master."

Pfft!

Cough cough cough!

Kazusa's sharp words caused some people in the family court to choke violently.

Some women even pulled out their phones, looking ready to call the police.

Akira immediately panicked.

"Wait, wait, listen to me! My childhood friend is just a bit sharp-tongued."

"This girl is just temporarily staying at my house."

"She has a terminal illness—her days are numbered."

"I even have her medical records right here."

Seeing the wary expressions of bystanders, Akira twitched at the corner of his mouth as he explained.

This was definitely not how he wanted to end up in jail.

Way too embarrassing.

"Akira-nii!"

Suddenly, a petite figure in a white dress threw herself into Akira's arms, her voice full of emotion.

Tears welled up in her large, black-and-white eyes and streamed down her cheeks.

"Sora, long time no see."

"What brings you here?"

"Uuugh! My parents died in a car accident."

"This is my grandmother. She brought Yu and me here to update our guardianship records."

"Grandma, I don't want to go back to the countryside."

"I want to live with Akira-nii and have Aunt Sayuri as my guardian."

"After all, you only care about Yu since he's the boy."

"Akira, who's this adorable little girl?"

"The daughter of our family's former private doctor."

"She used to visit my house a lot when we were kids."

Akira patted Kasugano Sora's silver-white head.

All those years of childhood goodwill had finally paid off—she was choosing to stay with him of her own volition.

"Sora, you're insane!"

"He's not even related to you!"

"Yu, I'm not like you. I've known Akira-nii since I was little."

"I know what kind of person he is."

"Besides, taking care of both of us is too much for Grandma."

"I've done the calculations—Grandma's pension and our parents' death compensation can only support one of us through college."

"You're the eldest son of the Kasugano family; you should inherit that money."

"But what about me?"

"My body is weak, and I have a congenital heart condition."

"Am I supposed to spend my whole life shut inside, being a useless shut-in?"

"Yu, do you want to give up your studies? Give up your dream of becoming a doctor like Dad?"

"If I get hospitalized again, I'll only drag us all down into hell."

Kasugano Sora spoke with undeniable logic.

Kasugano Yu was completely stunned.

He realized he had never truly understood his shut-in little sister.

At this moment, she showed maturity and rationality far beyond his own.

A deep sense of failure hit him.

He couldn't even protect his own sister.

"Is this really okay?"

"What if something happens to Sora?"

Even their grandmother was shocked by her granddaughter's proposal.

But after the initial surprise came deep temptation.

As Sora had pointed out, she was an old woman living off a pension.

Raising Yu alone was already difficult enough.

Their parents' death compensation was meant to support Yu through university.

If Sora fell sick again, their already struggling family would be doomed.

"There won't be any issues. My young master is the heir of the Kujou family."

"Would you like me to contact the current Minister of Justice to confirm?"

At that moment, Kujou Seiko's personal housekeeper stepped forward, her expression stern.

"If you're willing, we can change this young lady's surname to Kujou right now."

"Miss, we're willing! Very willing!"

"This is an incredible blessing—thank you so much!"

Kasugano Sora's grandmother was momentarily frightened, but then overwhelmed with joy.

It was like a pie had fallen straight from the sky.

Japan's mukoyōshi (adopted son-in-law) culture was highly developed.

Families often saw it as a great fortune if their sons could marry into powerful houses.

And for a granddaughter to be accepted into the Kujou family—one of Japan's Five Regent Houses in ancient times?

That was a miracle people would kill for.

She had no idea that her late son had worked as a private doctor for such a distinguished household.

As Kasugano Sora watched her name change from Kasugano Sora to Kujou Sora on the official records, a dazzling smile spread across her face.

"Yu, now Grandpa and Grandma won't have to take you back to the countryside anymore."

"You can continue studying in Tokyo."

"Make sure you become a doctor in the future."

"Don't forget that Mom and Dad are watching over you from the heavens."

"Sora, I… I understand."

"I will do my best."

Kasugano Yu wiped away the tears at the corner of his eyes, saying his final goodbye to his little sister.

"Why are you crying? It's not like I won't be coming back."

"Grandma, I'll visit often too."

Kasugano Sora waved as she proactively grabbed Akira Sawamura's hand, following him with an easygoing demeanor.

Ahaha!

Under Akira's influence, this version of Sora was completely different from the original. She had such a strong presence.

"Akira Sawamura, congratulations, you've got another child bride."

On the way back in the car, Touma Kazusa sat with her arms crossed, her voice full of sarcastic venom:

"Kazusa-nee, I just want to be Akira-nii's little sister."

"Please don't be mad at me, okay?"

Kasugano Sora pleaded pitifully, her voice soft and weak.

"Akira Sawamura, did you teach her this?"

"I swear I didn't!"

"That exact same innocent tone—are you still saying it wasn't you?"

Kazusa was immediately infuriated. This little schemer was far more cunning than even Eriri, the tsundere.

When Akira walked in holding Kujou Sora's small hand, everyone fell silent.

Another top-tier beauty, this time with silver hair, straight out of a fantasy manga.

How was it that this guy could step out for just a bit and come back with yet another max-level beauty?

None of them could comprehend it.

They didn't even have to ask—this was definitely another one of Akira's childhood friends.

"Akira Sawamura, why do your childhood friends keep popping up like randomly generated NPCs in a game?"

"Always appearing out of nowhere."

"Aren't you talking about yourselves right now?"

"This isn't something I can control!"

"Sora's father used to be our family's private doctor."

"Is it really that strange that I knew her?"

"My mom loved Sora when she was little. She mentioned multiple times that she wanted Sora to be her goddaughter."

"Then her parents got into a car accident not long ago."

"Today, I just happened to run into her grandmother and brother at family court."

"Since they couldn't afford to raise her, Sora herself chose to be my sister. Could I really refuse?"

Akira explained, looking completely innocent.

This truly wasn't his fault—sometimes fate just worked out like this.

"Are you sure she's just a sister?"

"I have a weak heart, a congenital heart disease. I can't do any strenuous activity."

Kujou Sora placed her hand over her chest, her voice tinged with regret.

That statement was pretty clear—she wanted to but physically couldn't.

"Another heart condition?"

"Arisu, she has the same trait as you!"

"And she also has silver hair."

"Though it seems like Sora is a little taller than you."

"Arisu-nee, do you have a heart condition too?"

Kujou Sora immediately ran over to Sakayanagi Arisu, grabbing her hand with familiarity.

Within moments, the two girls bonded like sisters.

Their silver-haired heads leaned together as they whispered secretly to each other.

"Hey, did anyone notice that Nagisa's complexion suddenly looks a lot better?"

Akira pointed at Furukawa Nagisa, who was sitting beside Suou Yukihi, his face full of surprise.

"Haruno-nee, give the construction company a call and ask about the situation."

"Oh, sure, I got it."

Yukinoshita Haruno immediately pulled out her phone and made a call.

After the call, Haruno looked at Furukawa Nagisa with an expression of utter shock.

"It's actually true?"

"The construction team reported that they've restored nearly half of the town that had been dug up."

"Nagisa's life is really tied to that town."

Everyone was stunned. They never expected to witness a real supernatural phenomenon right before their eyes.

Seeing all the bright-eyed stares on her, the timid Nagisa could only bury herself in Akira's chest, hiding from their gazes.

They had been half-convinced before, but now they were almost completely certain.

"Akira-nii, help me!"

"That evil perverted doctor stripped me naked and drew three whole tubes of blood from me."

"I can't take it anymore!"

"Let's get out of this terrifying place!"

Suddenly, Leonora burst out of the infirmary, clinging to Akira's arm with teary eyes, sobbing in distress.

"Sayaka-nee, what are you up to now?"

"I was just curious about why she ages slower than normal people."

"Akira, you know it too—just by looking at her, you mistook her for someone much younger than her actual age."

"That in itself is abnormal."

"An old lady can use makeup to look young."

"And there's also plastic surgery, a permanent way to alter someone's appearance."

"What's so strange about this, Sayaka-nee?"

The childhood friends weren't convinced. Mistaking someone's age wasn't exactly groundbreaking.

"Appearance can change, but a person's essence never does."

"No two leaves in the world are the same, and no two people are identical either."

"Akira has a fighter's intuition far beyond ordinary people."

"The medical exam confirmed my suspicions."

"Leonora's body is not normal."

"I also pulled Ryouko in for a full-body checkup."

"Why did you only take one tube of blood from Ryouko but three from me?!"

That was what infuriated Leonora the most.

If Sayaka had drawn three from Ryouko as well, she wouldn't have been so upset.

"Ah, that? I originally planned to take just one, like with Ryouko."

"But didn't Alice just say it?"

"To take two more tubes."

"So, of course, I didn't hold back."

"If I can take more, why wouldn't I?"

Sayaka declared righteously, completely shameless.

"Your thought process is totally broken."

"Alice was exaggerating, not giving an actual number!"

Leonora had never met anyone as stubbornly illogical as herself before.

"Besides, Alice is my daughter. Why the hell are you listening to her?!"

"That's exactly why! A genius's thought process is naturally different."

Sayaka puffed out her chest with pride, looking incredibly smug.

"Besides, in terms of seniority, Alice has known Akira longer than you."

"You only just became Akira's lover."

"Alice is technically your senior."

"So why wouldn't I listen to her suggestion?"

Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this utterly twisted logic.

They laughed so hard that their stomachs started to ache.

Leonora, her blood rushing straight to her head, blushed furiously and dramatically fainted from sheer outrage.

"Sayaka-nee—no, Sae-nee, from today onward, you are my one and only idol."

"This is the first time I've seen someone out-talk my mom in a battle of shameless nonsense."

"You're truly amazing."

Alice, rather than showing concern for her mother who had just fainted from anger, instead threw herself into Sayaka's arms with an expression of pure admiration.

"Heh, heh! This is just a small feat for a genius like me."

Sayaka basked in her new loyal fangirl's adoration, trying to act modest but unable to hide the smug grin stretching across her face.

"The most crucial thing is that Leonora's body weight is also unusual—50% heavier than the average woman."

"Her weight actually reached—"

"Don't say it! Don't you know that a woman's weight and age are both top-secret information?!"

Although Leonora had fainted from anger, she came to almost immediately and hurriedly interrupted before Sayaka could announce the exact number.

"I now have a complete set of physical data for Lacus, Laura, Ryouko, and Leonora."

"I did a cross-comparison."

"Lacus's data... I can't reveal."

"Wait a minute—are we just casually discussing such private details?"

"If that's the case, perhaps I should excuse myself now."

Nishikino Suiko quickly stood up, ready to leave, trying to stop what was coming.

"No problem at all."

"After all, I'm already part of Nishikino's private medical network now, aren't I?"

"If anything ever happens to me and Akira, none of you will be able to escape responsibility."

Sayaka shot a meaningful look at Ryuya Nagatama and Nishikino Suiko, her bright smile revealing an underlying menace.

The two of them let out bitter chuckles, realizing they had unknowingly been roped into something far beyond their expectations.

There was no way off this ship now.

"Ryouko's body is in a state of semi-hibernation at a cellular level, reducing energy consumption."

"This manifests externally as an extremely slow breathing rate and heart rate compared to an average person."

"That's right. I've known since childhood that I was different from others."

Ryouko Yakushiji confirmed matter-of-factly.