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Chapter 321: Chapter 317 ~ Mother

Yuuji gently lifted Akeno to her feet. 

Though her body trembled, she clung to him as though afraid he might vanish if she let go. Her fingers tightened around his hand, fragile yet determined.

She rubbed at her eyes, chasing away tears that kept returning, and bit down softly on her lip. Slowly, she inhaled, steeling her heart with every breath. She tightened her grip on Yuuji's hand as though drawing strength from his warmth.

Together, they made their way from the living room to her bedroom. 

Akeno's steps faltered midway, her body halting as if her legs refused to move. 

Fear… a gnawing fear of disappointment, of hope being crushed, rose from the depths of her soul. She stood frozen, her eyes lowered, until Yuuji leaned closer, his voice a gentle anchor in the storm.

"Akeno, it will be fine. I promise."

His words carried warmth, steady and unwavering, like a hearth-fire on a winter's night. His hand gave hers a reassuring squeeze. She looked at him, then nodded softly, forcing her body forward.

With every step, Yuuji silently wove spell after spell, unseen but absolute. Protective wards layered upon each other, erecting barriers no eye nor magic could pierce. The entire shrine became sealed from interference, an island cut away from the world, safe and unassailable.

At this moment, even Lelouch's divinity wouldn't be able to perceive what would happen here. 

At last, they reached Akeno's room. 

Yuuji slid the door open with a quiet shhk. The lights flickered on, casting a warm glow across the tatami floor. He guided her inside.

"Let's make it a comfortable return for her," he murmured.

Akeno nodded, her hands trembling as they set a futon neatly in the middle of the room. A pillow was placed, a blanket smoothed out, as though preparing a bed for an honored guest.

When they knelt side by side, Akeno's body shook. Tears streamed freely now, soft sobs escaping her.

"Akeno."

Her eyes flicked upward, meeting Yuuji's gaze. His expression was gentle, calm. A smile touched his lips as he reached out, brushing away her tears before pressing a tender kiss upon her forehead.

"Let's welcome your mother back with a smile, okay?"

Her lips trembled. For a moment, words failed her, but then she smiled through the endless tears.

"Mm…" she nodded.

Yuuji nodded back, his grip on her hand firm, steady—his silent vow of support.

He turned toward the futon, closing his eyes. His chest rose and fell as he drew in a deep breath. Silence pressed heavy upon the room, broken only by the distant sigh of the wind outside.

Then—light.

Golden particles began drifting from his body, like fireflies born from starlight. The radiance grew, enveloping him until his entire figure shone with a divine brilliance. But the light shifted—gold giving way to a pure white luminescence, haloed by rainbow-hued motes that shimmered like fragments of the cosmos.

His eyes opened. Within them, stars gleamed. At their center burned a radiant, singular white star, blinding in its purity.

No longer of divinity… But something… more. Primordial. 

The first light to shine from a dark universe. 

Wind surged, stirring the room as if the world itself recognized the weight of his magic. He raised one hand—the other still firmly entwined with Akeno's trembling fingers.

When he spoke, his voice carried the resonance of the heavens, a command that echoed like divine decree.

"Himejima Shuri."

[True Resurrection]

Akeno flinched, her breath hitching as her mother's name resounded. Memories of her childhood flashed—warm smiles, lullabies, tender embraces—memories locked deep within her heart.

And then, the miracle began.

Radiant light swelled, forcing Akeno to shield her eyes. Through the slits between her fingers, she saw starlit motes coalescing, gathering as if drawn by fate. Slowly, they condensed, weaving together into a silhouette.

A woman's form emerged amidst the brilliance.

The radiance dimmed, revealing long, flowing jet-black hair, downturned eyes filled with softness, and the familiar contours of a woman whose face had lived forever in Akeno's heart.

Her chest rose and fell. Alive. Breathing.

Peaceful.

Her eyelids fluttered open. Confusion flickered in her gaze at first, disoriented by the sudden return. Her light brown eyes swept the room before landing upon the girl before her.

Shock. Recognition. Disbelief.

Her lips parted. Her voice was soft, trembling, but gentle all the same.

"A… Akeno…?"

Akeno's composure shattered. Tears streamed uncontrollably as she flung herself forward, arms wrapping desperately around her mother.

"Mama!"

She buried her face against Shuri's neck, sobbing uncontrollably, her body shaking with both sorrow and joy.

Though dazed, Shuri's hands instinctively closed around her daughter, pulling her close. Her own tears welled, spilling silently as she embraced the girl she had left far too soon.

On the other side of the door, Yuuji quietly slid it shut. He stepped out onto the engawa, gazing into the moonlit courtyard.

The night sky was endless, glittering with countless stars, the full moon reigning high. The cool breeze carried the scent of pine and earth, the rustling of leaves whispering through the shrine grounds.

He sat down, exhaling softly.

Behind him, muffled cries and sobs reached his ears—tears of reunion, of grief released, of love rekindled after more than a decade apart.

A smile tugged at his lips, serene and content. He tilted his head back, letting the silver light of the moon bathe his face.

At last, mother and daughter were whole again.

And he had kept his promise.

["My love…"]

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

Aika leaned back comfortably on the sofa, her phone still in hand as the notification faded from her screen. She had just received Yuuji's message—he would be spending some time with Akeno at her home.

The living room was warm, cozy, and alive with the quiet, domestic hum of activity. Albedo sat with immaculate posture, flipping through a stack of reports Estelle had sent her, her golden eyes occasionally narrowing at certain lines. Across from her, C.C. lazily cradled a teacup in one hand, the other scrolling idly through her phone, a faint smile playing on her lips. Semiramis reclined with a glass of crimson wine, the rich aroma mingling with the faint steam of the tea service on the table.

By the low table, Ophis sat with serene detachment, her small hands occupied with mochi and cookies Yuuji had made earlier. Alice, Asia, and Koneko joined her in sharing the snacks, the three occasionally trading soft words and content smiles over steaming cups of tea.

From the courtyard outside, the sharp clack of sparring echoed rhythmically. Erika was locked in a fluid dance of steel against Aria and Xenovia, her laughter and sharp commands punctuating the clash of blades.

The rest of the household was scattered about—Issei no doubt hiding away in his room, glued to his phone or napping, while Kiba, Satoru, and Tatsuya had decided on a more relaxing bout of camaraderie in the sauna.

It was peaceful. Ordinary.

Until Aika's words broke the rhythm.

"Yuuji said he'll be spending some time with Akeno at her place."

The atmosphere shifted.

Rias, seated gracefully on a cushion by the low table, froze. Her crimson hair swayed as she turned her head sharply toward Aika, her cerulean eyes widening before narrowing in a flicker of emotion she couldn't mask. Shock bled into envy, envy into something rawer—a stab of jealousy she had no time to bury.

Aika noticed immediately, lips curling into a mischievous grin.

"What's wrong, senpai~?" she teased, voice lilting with playful malice. "Are you jealous~?"

Rias opened her mouth, closed it, and then shut her eyes.

"..."

She didn't need to answer. Her silence was its own confession.

Yes. She was jealous.

But beneath it, tangled in the knot of envy, was also pride and affection. Akeno—her best friend, her confidant, her sister in everything but blood—deserved this happiness. After everything she had endured, no one deserved it more. Rias knew this. She meant it.

And yet…

Her own heart burned stubbornly. She had wanted to be the first, to go on a date with Yuuji herself. And though she had relented for Akeno's sake, that competitive streak that made her who she was refused to stay silent.

Her eyes snapped open, blazing with renewed resolve.

"Fine!" she declared, springing to her feet with a rush of determination. 

"I'll go to the hot springs again!"

She dashed off with uncharacteristic haste, leaving those in the room blinking after her.

Koneko tilted her head, expression unreadable. Asia blinked in innocent confusion. Ophis merely paused mid-bite, chewing her mochi before resuming as if nothing had happened.

Aika clutched her stomach, laughing.

"Didn't expect her to be this innocent."

C.C. didn't even look up from her phone as she murmured.

"The mighty heiress of Gremory, undone by something as simple as love. How quaint."

Aika giggled, nodding.

"I know, right~? In the anime she always looked so confident, never shy. But now, she's like a sweet little girl trying to get attention."

The laughter faded as something shifted.

A ripple.

Subtle yet undeniable, it surged through the room. A pulse that resonated deep in the soul, like the aftershock of a great bell tolling in another world.

Aika's smile faltered. Her chest tightened.

"…Yuuji?"

The others felt it too.

Albedo's head snapped up, golden eyes blazing with recognition and alarm. C.C. lowered her phone, her sharp gaze fixed in the distance. Semiramis paused mid-sip, her fingers tightening on her wineglass. Even the sparring outside stopped for a moment, Erika's instincts forcing her to still.

It was only a brief sensation—here and gone in the space of a breath. But its echo lingered, reverberating like ripples across still water.

There was no mistaking it.

Yuuji had used a spell. A powerful one.

"Was that… a ninth-tier spell?" Aika whispered, her eyes narrowing.

"Why…?"

C.C. exhaled slowly, her voice carrying an uncharacteristic seriousness. 

Albedo rose sharply to her feet, battle-hunger flaring as golden energy began to shimmer faintly along her body. Her armor called to her, ready to manifest at a thought.

But before she could move, Aika stood quickly, blocking her path with a raised hand.

"Wait, Albedo. Don't just rush in."

"But—!"

"Think." Aika's eyes sharpened, her playful edge replaced with calm authority. 

"If Yuuji's really in danger, he'd tell us immediately."

Albedo froze, conflict flashing in her eyes. Slowly, reluctantly, she let the energy fade, her shoulders stiff.

"…But-"

Albedo hesitated a moment longer, then finally sat back down. Her lips pursed, but her hand moved instinctively to her ear as she closed her eyes. Her voice slipped into the silence of telepathic connection.

["My love…"]

Her message carried both yearning and quiet concern, echoing in the bond she shared with him.

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

Yuuji sat quietly on the engawa, the night air cool against his skin as he looked up at the endless canvas of stars. The courtyard lay in stillness, only the rustling leaves and faint chorus of insects filling the silence.

It was then he felt the gentle pull of a familiar connection—the silken touch of Albedo's voice brushing against his mind.

["My love… are you safe? Were you in battle? Please tell me! I'll rush there at moment's notice!"]

Yuuji blinked, momentarily confused by the urgency in her tone.

"No… I'm fine, Albedo," he answered, his voice calm, almost puzzled. 

"Why do you ask?"

There was a pause before her reply, her concern bleeding through even in silence.

["Just now, we all felt it. A surge… something vast, unmistakable, tied to you. We feared you were fighting. That you had used a high-level spell to defend yourself."]

Realization dawned on him, and his lips curved into a faint smile.

"Ah… so you felt that." 

He leaned back slightly, exhaling as though finally releasing the weight of what had just transpired. 

"You're right—I did use a high-level spell. But not for battle. I… used True Resurrection. I brought Akeno's mother back."

There was a sharp inhale across the link, then silence. Yuuji could almost picture Albedo's golden eyes widening, her hand pressed to her lips as the meaning sank in. Relief soon replaced shock.

["…I see. Thank goodness. I thought for a moment something had happened to you."]

Yuuji chuckled softly, shaking his head. 

"I'm sorry for making you worry. Next time, I'll let you all know beforehand. I didn't think the ripple would spread far enough for you to feel it."

["I understand… just, please, take care of yourself,"] she whispered, her voice softening into tenderness. 

["And… I love you."]

Warmth bloomed in his chest. He closed his eyes, savoring the words before answering just as gently.

"I love you too, Albedo."

The connection faded, leaving only the quiet night once more.

But before Yuuji could let his thoughts drift further, a muffled sound tugged at his senses.

From within the room he had left behind came a trembling voice—shy, filled with gratitude, yet laced with unsteady emotion.

"...Yuuji…"

His eyes softened, turning toward the sliding door. Akeno's voice.

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AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please comment your thoughts~! I would love to hear what you think about it~!!!! 

Also, if you'd like to read additional chapters ahead and get a pdf version (Light & Dark), please feel free to check out my at patr_eon.com/verglasx ~! 

Thank you~!