Chapter 149: Talisman
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Cherry didn't let out a caw and stared at Namida and Sachi with one side of her head using her blood-red eyes. Sachi's pupils faintly glowed while Namida let out a laugh as she slapped her left knee with her hand. Namida pointed at Cherry using a wedge cut fry she was holding, she said. "What the hell is that-!?" Sachi's left hand blurred as she gave Namida a quick slap on the cheek. Behind Namida's black frame glasses her brown pupils turned into a dark black simultaneously faint black cracks appeared all over the white of her eyes. Namida indifferently said. "Outside. Now." Sachi let out a sigh, she pointed at Cherry using her thumb and said. "Genius, use an identification skill."

Namida's pupils slightly turned back to brown, she turned her head sideways to look at the albino crow. Cherry jerked her head back as Namida glanced at her, she took a few steps on Reiki's right shoulder as she leaned her head on his cheek. Namida's eye turned back to normal as she suddenly stood up from the chair, she pointed at Cherry using the fry in her hand. Namida said. "That bird has a class!" Cherry spread her wings as she let out a caw at her. Ketsueki let out a short sigh as she rubbed the back of her neck, she said. "You want a megaphone to announce it to the entire neighborhood?"

Namida pointed the fry in her hand at Reiki while he rubbed Cherry's head with his index finger. Namida said. "What's the contract?" Reiki continued to play with Cherry, he said. "There is none." Namida was stunned while Sachi's eyes widened as she stood up from the chair. Namida and Sachi suddenly appeared right in front of Reiki. Sachi raised her hand while it was enveloped in a thin layer of mana, she said. "What's something you've always-." Before she could finish, Cherry flapped her wings and let out a caw at Sachi. Namida let out a chuckle while Ketsueki made herself comfortable on the chair. Namida raised her hand and said. "Observe." Her hand was barely half-covered with mana as Cherry flapped her wings and let out a caw which made the mana on Namida's hand dissipate.

Reiki let out a short laugh, he said. "That'll never get old." Cherry let out another caw as she turned into a streak of white and was standing on Ketsueki's left shoulder. Ketsueki let out a soft chuckle as she rubbed the side of Cherry's head with her index finger, she said. "Good morning, Cherry." Cherry let out a soft caw as she rubbed her face on Ketsueki's cheek. Namida and Sachi turned their heads sideways to look at Cherry, the two girls made their way back onto the chair and sat down. Namida ate the fry she was still holding while Sachi looked at Cherry with a narrowed gaze. Namida swallowed and said. "Ketsueki, how about you lend me… Cherry for a few days?" Ketsueki rolled her eyes at Namida and said. "She isn't mine." Cherry turned her head to look at Namida as she let out a caw. Sachi gave Cherry a long scrutinizing gaze, she said. "Is it me or is she… Smarter than a bird should be?"

Namida let out a chuckle with a hint of disdain, she waved the fry in her hand and said. "You're just imagining things." Cherry immediately turned her head onto Namida which surprised her, she let out a caw and rubbed her head on Ketsueki's cheek. Namida said. "Or not…" She ate the fry she was holding while Sachi placed a hand on her chin. Sachi said. "Reiki, when did you summon her?" Reiki made his way next to the chair his older sister was sitting on, he glanced at her from the corner of her eye. Ketsueki was petting Cherry as she glanced up to her little brother, she eventually gave him a nod while Reiki cleared his throat and said. "The elves had a room with a summoning circle on the ground and used some of my blood." Namida ate half the fry in one go while Sachi casually gave him a nod as the two of them simultaneously froze. Sachi pointed at him and said. "Wait, say that again."

Reiki was about to say something but Ketsueki placed a hand over his mouth, she said. "Just so things don't get out of hand…" Her expression turned serious as she continued. "None of this gets out of this house." Namida threw the half-eaten fry on the plate of fries as she crossed her arms, she said. "Obviously." Sachi rolled her eyes at Ketsueki as she lazily waved her hand, Sachi said. "We've been friends for so long, is that question even necessary?" Reiki's eyes widened before immediately narrowing as he turned his head sideways as he looked at a wall. Cherry flew onto his right shoulder as she looked in the same direction and let out a caw at it. The three girls looked in the same direction for a second before turning their gaze back onto him, with a hint of worry on her face. Ketsueki said. "Reiki, what's wrong?"

Reiki kept his gaze on the wall, he blandly said. "I think we should stop the conversation here, Onee-chan." Namida furrowed her brow in confusion while Sachi gave him an odd look. Ketsueki grabbed his hand and said. "Why?" Reiki turned his head to look at his older sister, he pointed at the wall he stared with his thumb and said. "Your boss has an undesirable trait of eavesdropping." Ketsueki's eyes widened before a flash of coldness appeared in them while Namida and Sachi turned their heads to look at the wall. The wall started bending while a melodic voice said. "Impressive, even Ketsueki wouldn't have found me unless I wanted to." Ahma walked from the wall as it slowly went back to normal, Reiki thought. I got a feeling of deja vu here. Ahma walked to the last empty chair on the dining table as she pulled it back and sat down, she said. "I was only passing by and decided to visit my sick trainee."

Reiki's eyes had doubt written all over them, he said. "Sure…" Ketsueki's pupils faintly glowed as she glared at the uninvited guest. Sachi waved her hand as another teacup appeared on the dining table as she filled it with tea. Namida sat up straight and continued with her meal. Ahma reached for a cannoli and said. "No need to be on ceremony, feel free to continue. You won't even notice there's another person here." Reiki crossed his arms and said. "Yeah, it's not like you were listening in on us like background noise. Then suddenly your ears perked up after hearing the word, elves." Ketsueki raised her hand and flicked the side of her little brother's head.

[System: User has received 72 Damage.]

Ketsueki said. "Reiki, don't be rude." Reiki rubbed the side of his head and said. "Yes, Onee-chan." She moved her gaze back on Ahma who was enjoying herself, Ketsueki said. "To what do I owe the pleasure, boss?" Ahma took a bite of the cannoli she was holding, Namida quietly ate while Sachi picked up a coaster with a teacup and placed it in front of Ahma. Ahma took her time eating while Ketsueki rubbed the temples of her head and thought. I would rip your head off if not for the fact I'll be forced to take your job. Ahma swallowed as she picked up a napkin and wiped her lips clean, reached out, and grabbed the handle of the teacup. Ahma took a whiff of the tea as she slowly took a sip while Ketsueki's eyes rolled back as she looked at the ceiling. Namida and Sachi chuckled seeing their friend's reaction while Reiki maintained an indifferent expression.

Ahma let out a small satisfied sigh as she wiped her lips again with a napkin and placed her cup on the coaster. Ahma flashed Ketsueki a smile and said. "Well, today has been quite a boring day at the office. I've already done all of my assigned tasks and decided to call it a day." Ketsueki let out a sigh, she said. "I can feel my fever going up again." Sachi moved her gaze onto the large wedge cut fries as she reached out and picked one up, she said. "Careful, that might be your blood pressure." Namida picked up a cannoli sprinkled with pistachios, she said. "That or she's on the brink of bursting a blood vessel." Ketsueki was about to let out another sigh while Reiki made his way behind the chair she was sitting on. Cherry turned into a streak of white as she vanished from the room while Reiki placed his hands on his older sister's shoulders. A long sigh of pleasure escaped from Ketsueki's lips as she took a deep breath and calmly said. "How about now? Do you feel like talking or would you prefer to enjoy your snack first?"

Ahma glanced at Reiki as she moved her gaze back onto Ketsueki. Ahma said. "If you four won't mind me munching on the snacks, I'll eat my fill first." She flashed them a smile and continued. "But-." Ketsueki interrupted her and said. "How much did you hear?" Ahma gave her an enigmatic smile and said. "I'll leave it up to your imagination." Sachi and Namida glanced at each other from the corner of their eye while Reiki said. "So everything, huh…" Ketsueki's gaze narrowed while Namida let out an exhausted sigh and went back to eating. Ahma picked up a cannoli with chocolate chips sprinkled on it as she kept her gaze on Reiki. Ahma said. "Kids do have an active imagination, don't you agree? Ketsueki." Reiki lowered his voice just enough so they could still him, he said. "Talk about an elaborate way of throwing the conversation to the side."

Sachi cleared her throat as she felt the atmosphere around the dining table turn rigid, she said. "So… Uh, boss?... I hope the workload wasn't too bad since one of the groups under you was away." Reiki raised a brow while he placed his right elbow on his older sister's back, he said. "Didn't you say you two already hit your quota for the day?" Sachi froze for a moment while Namida waved a hand while holding onto a wedge cut fry, she said. "What she meant was-." She stopped when from the corner of her eye saw Ketsueki's eye faintly glowing. Ketsueki snappily said. "I think you three should shut~ Ah!♥" Ahma raised a brow while Namida and Sachi gave Ketsueki odd looks. The glow in Ketsueki's eyes immediately vanished as her cheeks flushed red, she turned her head sideways and glared at her little brother. Ketsueki said. "REIKI!!"

He flashed his older sister a forced smile and said. "Sorry, my hand slipped…" Ketsueki subconsciously bit her lower lip in a seductive way which made Reiki swallow some saliva in his mouth, he thought. Worth the scolding I'll get after she's better. Ketsueki inhaled deeply as the flush on her cheeks slowly vanished, she said. "... Back on the topic at hand." The three girls stared at her for a moment which Ketsueki ignored, Sachi said. "A-Anyway, I think all of us need to calm down and have a couple of minutes to think some things through." Namida scratched the back of her head and said. "I mean, it's not the first time… Boss spied on our conversations, so I don't get why you're so agitated." Ketsueki turned her head to look at them while Ahma enjoyed the food on the dining table. Ketsueki said. "All three of us knew she was spying in on us every single day." Reiki stares at Ahma without an expression on his face while she flashed him an amiable smile which slightly infuriated Ketsueki.

Ketsueki spoke through gritted teeth, she coldly said. "Wipe the smile off your face before I do it for you." Reiki looked around and thought. Where's Cherry? Cherry was on the window edge staring outside. Aham flashed Ketsueki a smile and said. "Ketsueki, calm down. If you keep this up you'll have wrinkles on your face before you turn twenty." Ketsueki's pupils faintly glowed while she felt her little brother's hands move away from his shoulder. She quickly turned her head sideways and said. "Reiki, why did you stop?" He made his way toward the window Cherry was looking at, he rubbed the top of her head with his index finger and said. "Wanna go outside girl?" He felt four pairs of eyes on his back while Cherry flapped her wings and let out a caw. Reiki gave her a nod as he opened the window, he said. "Make sure you're back before nighttime." Cherry let out another cow, she turned into a streak of white as Reiki closed the window as he turned around, and saw the pairs of eyes on him. Reiki said. "What?"

Ketsueki's brows furrowed, she said. "You let her out of the house? On her own?" He made his way to the back of his older sister's chair, Reiki said. "Yeah, Cherry's a smart bird she'll be fine." He placed his hand back on Ketsueki's shoulder and continued the massage, Reiki continued. "Onee-chan, since everyone wants to calm down. How about I massage them for a few minutes?" Namida's eyes had doubt in them while Sachi tactically kept a straight face. Ahma on the other hand eyes narrowed ever so slightly as a calculating smirk on the corner of her lips. Ahma said. "That sounds like a great idea." Ketsueki was about to say something when Ahma didn't allow her to speak and continued. "Since your older sister is being prissy about every little thing today, we or at least I won't take advantage of your kindness." Ahma raised her left index finger while holding onto a cannoli with her right, she said. "But, you have to name your price." She moved her pointed finger onto Ketsueki and continued. "Not her holiness."

Ketsueki opened her mouth to say something when Ahma interrupted her and said. "And no suggestions." Ketsueki curled her hands into a fist while Sachi and Namida awkwardly glanced at each other while eating. Reiki pretended to think for a moment, he said. "How about a favor?" Ahma quickly said. "Deal." Reiki rolled his eyes at her and said. "I'm not done yet. I can decide to give said favor to my Onee-chan." Ahma stared at him for a moment without a visible reaction on her face while Namida and Sachi enjoyed watching everything unfold while eating. Ahma said. "That better be an amazing massage by my standards then." Reiki shrugged his shoulders and said. "If you're afraid just say so." Namida's lips curved into a small smile while Sachi raised a brow. Ahma kept a poker face and thought. Another big step in the right direction. Ahma nodded and said. "Who said I'm scared? I don't let just anyone touch me." She gave him a meaningful smile while Ketsueki's eyes were about to glow again when Reiki said. "Is that what you tell all the fat pigs you seduce every day?"

Ketsueki let out a laugh and quickly placed a hand over her mouth and released muffled laughs while Namida's eyes widened as her gaze was glued onto him. Sachi who was reaching to the plate of cannoli picked up one as it fell back onto the plate hitting another cannoli. The corner of Ahma's eye twitched, she cleared her throat and said. "I-Is that the last of your requests then?" He pretended to think for a moment while he moved his hands away from his older sister's shoulders who was repeatedly smacking the table with her hand. Reiki said. "Pretty much." He made his way to the spot behind Ahma's seat while Namida and Sachi gave him wide-eyed glances. Ahma kept her eyes on him, Reiki thought. Uh oh, looks like someone's upset. A small smirk formed on his mouth while Ahma tilted her head and indifferently said. "What's so funny?" He shook his head and stood behind Ahma's chair, Reiki said. "Nothing, just seeing someone laugh themselves silly made me smile." He pointed at Ketsueki who had a tear in her eye as she held her stomach with both her hands while her laughter slowly died down.

Reiki placed his hands on Ahma's shoulders, he said. "Ready?" She slightly turned her head sideways and gave him an indifferent stare, Ahma said. "Feel free to start." She thought. I'm not going to-. A soft moan mixed with pleasure and relaxation escaped through her lips which made Namida and Sachi turn their heads. A cold smirk slowly formed on Ketsueki's lips as she gave Ahma a cruel glare. Reiki slowly put pressure on her acupoints as Ahma let out half a sigh dripping with pleasure but steeled her emotions and took a deep breath. Ahma thought. Deep breaths. She felt Reiki's hands move away from her shoulders which made her turn her head, Ahma spoke with a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice and said. "Why did you stop?" Reiki flashed her a small smile and said. "How about you give me the favor in advance?" Sachi elbowed Ketsueki in her side and said. "Your brother has ba- I mean guts for doing this." Ketsueki smiled with pride, she said. "I made sure to raise him well."

Ahma subconsciously frowned and said. "Trying to get me to pay first?" Reiki shrugged and said. "Then I'll just stop, I don't like doing things for free." Ketsueki glared at him with a narrowed gaze while Reiki faked a cough and continued. "Except for my family. I'll do anything for my Onee-chan and Shiro." Ketsueki crossed her arms and nodded while Namida turned her head toward Ketsueki. Namida said. "Can I get a massage?" Sachi pointed at herself, she said. "Me too." Ketsueki gave her friends an odd look, she said. "I expected you two to avoid it." Ahma stared at Reiki who had kept a straight expression, she said. "Sure, I owe you a favor." Ahma glanced at Ketsueki from the corner of her eye and saw her smile, Ahma continued. "Or should I say, I owe Ketsueki a favor-!" Before she could finish, Reiki placed his hands back on Ahma's shoulders. Ahma kept her lips sealed to prevent herself from letting a moan out as a faint pink blush appeared on her cheeks. Ketsueki glared at her little brother while Namida and Sachi expressions had a hint of hesitation in them.

Namida couldn't move her eyes away from the blushing Ahma and said. "I… I think I might pass on that massage…" Sachi subconsciously swallowed, she forced herself to look away and saw Ketsueki glaring at Reiki. Sachi said. "Are all his… Massages like that?" Ketsueki's eyes had a hint of jealousy in them as she flatly said. "No." Sachi nodded as she tried to continue her meal while glancing at Ahma from time to time and elbowed Namida in the rib. Namida managed to pry her eyes away from Ahma who's blush on her cheek was slowly growing. Namida looked at her friends and said. "W-What?"

~10 Minutes Later~

Ahma was slowly trying to regain her composure while the blush on her cheeks slowly faded. Reiki was massaging Namida and Sachi simultaneously, he said. "Better?" He moved his hands away from their backs while Sachi and Namida let out a long sigh of relaxation. Namida dropped a bit lower on her chair, she said. "A lot better." Sachi forced herself to stand up and place her seat near the plate of cannoli, she said. "I feel a lot more relaxed, thank you." Sachi sat back down on the chair as she felt the strength in her legs vanish. Reiki made his way near the seat his older sister was sitting on, he said. "Before I forget-." Ketsueki's left hand blurred as she punched her little brother in the stomach.

[System: User has received 402 Damage.]

Reiki was pushed back by a few steps as he placed a hand on his stomach, he thought. I'm gonna feel that in the morning. Namida raised a brow and thought. Nice reaction. She turned her head to look at Sachi and pointed at him using her thumb. Sachi lazily nodded and said. "I saw." Reiki eventually made his way next to the seat Ketsueki was sitting while under her constant glare. He reached his hand out and tried to hold his older sister's hand which she actively refused, Reiki said. "No, I do not have a close relationship with-." A talisman flew out of his pocket and floated beside him shoulder level. The talisman faintly glowed, from the other side Enora spoke in rigid Japanese saying. "Reiki, it has been a while since we last spoke. How is your day?"

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