Chapter 9: Kikawayu
Full from dinner, Kikawayu and Yui said their goodbyes to the Amano household.
Even with darkness falling, inside Eden Tower there wasn't much need to worry about dangers facing cute girls—or cute boys—walking alone at night.
"See you tomorrow, Rei."
Before parting, Kikawayu's smile remained unchanged from usual. Sweeter and cuter than even Yui, who claimed to be North District's star shopkeeper.
Except this smile now tasted different to Amano Rei.
[Kikawayu: Affection 100 (Undying Devotion)]
The system-displayed affection showed no changes whatsoever.
Plus he'd already claimed the reward, proving this wasn't a system bug.
Right now, Amano could only console himself that Kikawayu's affection was probably just brotherhood from growing up together—not the 'romance' the system indicated.
"Rei, you've been acting weird since earlier. You keep spacing out for no reason."
Kikawayu, who'd said goodbye but hadn't immediately left, reached out to check Amano's forehead.
"You're not running a fever from today's intense duel, are you?"
"I'm fine, fine, totally fine!" Amano reflexively brushed away Kikawayu's delicate palm.
Sure enough, prejudice is a mountain that cannot be moved.
What used to be a perfectly normal gesture now felt too intimate for Amano to accept.
"Alright then. You and little Shio get some rest tonight. I'm really leaving now."
Having his hand brushed away, Kikawayu showed no anger—just a barely perceptible shift deep in those eyes.
The Kikawayu household wasn't far from the Amanos—a ten-minute walk at most.
But thinking carefully, Amano realized he'd never actually entered Kikawayu's room from childhood to now. Kikawayu always came to play with him and Shio instead.
The few times Amano visited the Kikawayu house, Kikawayu's parents had been home, limiting him to the living room.
"I'm home." Kikawayu announced while pushing open the door.
The Kikawayu residence was no different from other District 32 buildings—a standard two-bedroom, one-living-room compact apartment.
"Eating at the Amano house again tonight?" Mother's casual daily inquiry came from the kitchen.
"Yeah." Kikawayu's response was unexpectedly cold, tone completely different from usual public demeanor.
If forced to describe it—like skipping through dialogue with an NPC programmed for fixed daily conversations.
Kikawayu's room was at the corridor's deepest end. No windows lined the hallway walls—dark and mysterious even during daytime.
Entering the room, Kikawayu habitually double-locked the door, then finally exhaled deeply, collapsing onto the bed with relief.
If Amano Rei were in this room right now, he'd definitely be shocked by two things.
First—Kikawayu's physical transformation.
After entering the room, Kikawayu seemed shorter by a head than usual, waist noticeably slimmer.
More critically, lying on the bed, Kikawayu unbuttoned the collar tie, revealing glimpses of slightly rounded curves beneath.
Anyone looking would recognize a girl's body.
And somehow, Kikawayu's left eye had changed from pale blue to red—displaying red-blue heterochromia.
Of course, rather than physical 'transformation,' this seemed more like results from some 'illusion' being dispelled.
"Today was really dangerous. I almost didn't know what to do."
Seemingly talking to herself alone in the room, Kikawayu unexpectedly received a reply.
"If Amano Rei discovered us, our situation would get very troublesome."
Faint moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating Kikawayu's pale cheeks while also revealing another dark shadow.
The shadow's form looked completely inhuman.
Anyone from Amano Rei's era who'd watched Yu-Gi-Oh! GX would definitely recognize it.
Yubel—possessing demonic appearance and sensual form, capable of Super Polymerization across twelve dimensions in the anime, one of the highest-tier duel spirits.
Except the Yubel existing in this era, this world, differed from the anime—a spirit soul-bonded to Kikawayu from birth.
And Yubel's hermaphroditic soul also affected Kikawayu, who should have been female, forcing her to present a male illusion to others.
As for the 'danger' Kikawayu mentioned and the 'trouble' Yubel referenced...
It wasn't today's contract duel between Nikaido and Amano Rei.
Today's contract duel seemingly showed Amano defeating Nikaido—better described as Amano saving Nikaido's life.
"I should have dealt with those troublesome people earlier."
The icy killing intent in Kikawayu's heterochromatic eyes wasn't fake.
If she wished, with Yubel's power, forget Nikaido—even the Wein Corporation could vanish completely from Eden Tower.
Then Amano wouldn't be harassed over debts, wouldn't be forced to move from the Amano house, and Shio wouldn't suggest moving into her room.
This was the second thing that would shock Amano if he entered this room.
Photos completely covered the room's walls and ceiling.
And every photo contained the same person.
—Amano Rei.
From infancy, through childhood, to adolescence.
Smiling expressions, crying expressions, excited expressions, angry expressions...
So many photos, such detailed records—as if Amano Rei's entire life trajectory had been carved into this room.
Though each photo was carefully selected, encompassing childhood through adolescence's sunny, cute, and handsome moments.
If Amano himself saw this room, he'd probably only feel horror.
"Speaking of which~"
Under moonlight, Kikawayu's cheeks flushed crimson as she casually grabbed a pillow, hugging it close.
"Today's Rei was really handsome!"
Looking closely, the pillow was printed with childhood photos of Amano Rei.
Who knows what methods Kikawayu used to secretly photograph them.
A girl's blush speaks louder than any love confession. Lost in memories, Kikawayu's heterochromatic eyes revealed nothing but admiration and love for Amano Rei.
"Yubel, do we really have to wait until age twenty? I can barely hold back."
"Just a bit longer, Yu." Yubel smiled helplessly.
"Ugh, two more years. I want to hold Rei in my arms so badly! Want to touch his cheeks, kiss his forehead, strip his clothes, lick..."
This round went to the system's overwhelming victory—Amano's judgment was completely wrong.
The 100 affection Kikawayu displayed wasn't the brotherhood Amano consoled himself with.
It was genuine, surpassing normal romantic relationships—the highest tier of 'love,' even more severe than yandere obsession.
But this truth, like tonight's moonlight, would fall into Amano Rei's eyes yet never be truly perceived.
Because inside Eden Tower, even the moon overhead was fake.