Chapter 175 - #174 Final Preparations (2/2)

”-understood?” Finally, his mother ended and asked something he completely ignored.

”Yes, I love you” Akashi said with an innocent smile and his mother actually couldn't help but gently smile at him which completely shocked Taeko and Akashi's father.

'Didn't he completely ignore her?!' Jun thought since it was more than evident from Akashi's expression but when he said those words, his mother completely turned over a new leaf.

'Akashi is so close to his parents? It's actually nice to see this...' Taeko thought with a slightly sad smile since she was an orphan and didn't even remember her parents.

”Anyway, is this your girlfriend?!” Akashi's mother, Ember, questioned with a frown while putting her hands on her hɨps.

'*sigh* Let's get over this quickly' Akashi thought and got up from his bed, standing next to Taeko.

”Yes!” Akashi replied without any hesitation as he wrapped his arms around Taeko's waist and pulled her towards him. This act caught her off-guard a bit as a faint blush appeared on her face but she still wrapped her arm around Akashi to show that it's the truth.

”Hmm! Why the hell hadn't you told me about little Taeko sooner?! We already had a nice talk with each other and I know her origin, I would have never cared about her origin!” Ember questioned with an upset expression.

'Oh my god...' Akashi actually rolled his eyes which made his mother narrow her eyes.

”It was because I always had something in my mind. I completely forgot about it but I planned to tell you about it sooner or later.” Akashi replied with a helpless smile as he kept hugging Taeko.

”*sigh* Alright...What about that nice woman who also arrived with you?” Ember asked with narrowed eyes and a sly smile.

”? Oh, you mean Mera...She is...um, friend?” Akashi replied a bit awkwardly since their relationship should be just strictly professional but in truth, it was quite complicated with everything that happened so he just called her a friend

His parents wanted to ask him more but Akashi quickly explained that he has to be somewhere in 1 day so it would be better if he could leave right now. They were quite dissatisfied by him leaving right after arriving but they simply let him do whatever he wants since he is an ȧduŀt.

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”Hey, are you sure you want to go with me and Taeko? She might even attack you.” Akashi asked while giving Mera a weird look.

”Please...what happened between me and Esdeath was a long time ago. I bet she doesn't care about that anymore. Plus I want to see this battle of yours, I even prepared some things just in case the battle will get too intense.” Mera said with a smile while showing me a little flask filled with light blue liquid.

”Fine” Akashi nodded his head since he had no real reason to refuse and he didn't care as long as she won't intervene.

'I still have 2 more people I can take with me...Should I take Ichika and Kurome? Nah, Ichika is too busy with the kids and it seems like she is really enjoying playing their foster mother. Then I guess Kurome and Poney...' Akashi thought and told Mera and Taeko to wait for him for a bit. He went to ask both Kurome and Poney if they want to join him and they enthusiastically agreed although Poney was still acting a bit awkward, she still wanted to come with him.

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----A few thousands of kilometers away from the Capital, at the enormous plains----

Esdeath was the first to come to this place and she also eradicated all Danger Beasts living in these plains filled with small hills and natural stone pillars erected from the ground...She was currently sitting on the big ice sculpture of the Danger Beast with a bored expression while supporting her head with her hand.

'Hm? He is finally here!' Esdeath raised her head when she noticed some people approaching her location and her eyes shined in light blue color and an excited smile appeared on her face when she saw Akashi.

”Sorry if I am a bit late” Akashi apologized with a smile when he arrived close enough to talk.

”You aren't late, I was here just too early. Anyway, I don't mind the audience but...What the hell is she doing here?!” Esdeath replied and then narrowed her eyes while pointing at Mera who was standing next to Akashi.

'Hm? This expression...it's not a hate pointed towards me because of what I have done in the past but something else...Let's try something!' Mera immediately released a sly smile as he was touching her lower lip with her index finger when she noticed Esdeath's expression.

”What do you mean Esdeath? Am I not allowed to be here to watch my future husband's battle?” Mera asked while giving Esdeath a weird look as she wrapped both of her arms around Akashi, testing her head on his shoulder.

”?!” Both Taeko and Esdeath glared at her while Esdeath began releasing her cold aura around her.

”Wha-?!” While Poney and Kurome were completely confused by these events. They were already aware of who those two are and who Taeko specifically is, that's why they were confused by Mera's act that truly looked believable.

Only Akashi alone had blank expression on his face as he was being hugged by Mera.

'Now that I think about it...why are there only women around me? No, for real, what is this? Do I really have no male friends? Well, I talked quite a lot with Daniel but that's all...' Akashi began contemplating what he has done wrong in his life while tension between Mera, Esdeath and Taeko began to rise.

Esdeath also noticed Taeko's competitiveness so she looked at her as if she was daring her to introduce herself.

”I am Taeko of Oarburgh and also Akashi's wife-to-be” Taeko said without any hesitation while staring into Esdeath's cold blue eyes without any fear. When Taeko said this, Mera finally stopped hugging Akashi as she pouted muttering something along the lines ”You are no fun”

”I see, so she was just fooling around...” Esdeath muttered and began observing Taeko from head to toe.

”Alright, enough, are you ready Esdeath?” Akashi stopped them from doing anything before their battle and then he asked with a serious expression.

”More than ever before...” Esdeath replied with a wide smile in anticipation.

”Good...Please go very far away from here.” Akashi turned to the girls that came here with him and ordered them to keep their distance.

They wished him good luck while hopping onto Kiyomi's back and she took them to a distant hill from where they could watch the entire battle from a relatively safe distance.