The Absolute Godspeed of Infinite Worlds

Chapter 818 - 818

"Ding-dong!"The doorbell suddenly rang.

Eiji, who was in the middle of changing clothes, heard the sound and went to the door to open it.

"Happy New Year!"

What appeared outside the door was an exquisite piece of cloth.

Then, as arms spread open, the figure of a beautifully dressed girl emerged.

Her pale golden hair stood out even in the night, and her deep blue furisode was adorned with pink prints. The long sleeves fluttered up and down as the girl moved, her happy smile appearing before Eiji's eyes.

"Whoa!"

Before any words were exchanged, the girl let out an exclamation first.

"Asagi? What brings you here?"

Eiji looked curiously at the girl before him.

Her already delicate face was lightly made up, with her shimmering lips particularly eye-catching, making one unable to resist the urge to ravage them.

The girl had clearly spent considerable effort on her appearance.

"You're the one! Why did you come out naked to greet a guest!"

Asagi Aya's face flushed bright red as she covered her eyes.

The Eiji who appeared before her wasn't wearing a mask or sunglasses, revealing his breathtakingly handsome face.

However, Asagi didn't have the mental space to care about his face—her eyes were fixed on Eiji's chest.

Strictly speaking, he wasn't completely naked because he was still wearing a shirt, but with all the buttons on his chest undone, it was practically no different from being naked.

His muscles are so good-looking!

Well-defined, smoothly contoured pectorals and abdominal muscles invaded Asagi's mind, nearly making her lose her senses. For a moment, her brain completely lost the ability to think about anything else.

"You're not covering your eyes properly."

Eiji kindly reminded Asagi.

Through the gaps between her fingers, he could see Asagi's infatuated eyes.

"Whoa!"

Asagi exclaimed again.

"Then hurry up and button your shirt!"

Her face flushed crimson as she turned away, shouting at Eiji.

"Why? I was just about to take a bath?"

Eiji muttered.

At least he still buttoned up his shirt.

"B-bath?"

Asagi Aya's brain instantly went out of control.

In her imagination, she already saw Eiji naked, putting on an exaggerated show of playing in the water.

Stop it!

Stop, stop!

My nosebleed is going to get out of control!

"Done."

"Oh, oh oh!"

Asagi Aya covered her nose, imagining in her mind what it felt like to be sick normally. After a while, the warm sensation in her nose finally disappeared.

She patted her chest with a frightened expression.

She almost had a nosebleed in front of him. If that had really happened, she wouldn't have been able to show her face in front of him ever again. The level of social embarrassment would be so high that she might as well just die!

"Why are you taking a bath?"

What kind of question is that? What else would I be doing at this time besides taking a bath and going to sleep?

Eiji rolled his eyes.

It's not like there's any karaoke machine to play with!

"Huh? Didn't I say I was going to spend New Year's with you?"

Asagi looked at him in surprise. How could you not know?

"You're spending it with me?"

Eiji fell into thought.

"N-not like that! It's not that I want to spend it alone with you! It's not you and me, it's us and you! Kijima and Kojou are coming too, so don't get the wrong idea!"

Asagi's cheeks warmed, her heart flustered as she instinctively turned her head away.

"I see, don't worry, I won't misunderstand!"

Eiji made an expression of sudden understanding, patting his chest to indicate she shouldn't worry.

"...You agreed so readily, it actually makes me feel a bit defeated."

Asagi sighed somewhat dejectedly, her expression slightly complicated.

"By the way, you didn't forget about this promise, did you?"

"Not at all."

Eiji shook his head, his expression turning confused.

"It's just... is today New Year's?"

"Of course it is!"

Asagi looked at him with concern.

"Are you okay in the head?"

"I feel like you're insulting me?"

"No need to feel that way, because I am."

"Asagi, you've really grown up!"

Facing Asagi's speechless expression that clearly said "I learned it from you," Eiji praised her.

"Come in and sit for a while, I'll change clothes."

Eiji welcomed Asagi into the living room and served her a glass of chilled black tea from the refrigerator.

"Wow, this is really delicious!"

"Anyone can learn to brew good tea after practicing for a few years."

Eiji showed a smug expression, then returned to the second floor.

He took off his home clothes and changed into casual wear for going out, also putting on a mask and sunglasses.

"Natsuki-chan..."

"I heard, come back early."

"I know."

After knocking on the door, before Eiji could even enter, Natsuki Minamiya's usual cold voice came out like a dismissal.

"By the way, where are Kojou and Motoki?"

Walking out of the house with Asagi, Eiji looked around but didn't see the other two anywhere.

"Originally the three of us came together, but Kojou said he needed to pick up a friend, and Motoki ran off too, so the task of getting you fell to me. Really, how irresponsible..."

Asagi complained discontentedly, though secretly she was somewhat pleased.

Kojou might have really gone to pick up a friend, but Motoki was probably trying to create an opportunity for her - a chance to be alone with Eiji.

It almost ended in disaster though.

Eiji slightly frowned.

"You think they're irresponsible too, right?"

Asagi, who had been watching him closely, nodded as if waiting for agreement.

"Huh? Ah, it's fine."

Eiji replied somewhat absentmindedly, making Asagi feel deflated.

From the direction of the eastern port came that surveillance-like gaze again.

That woman, does she never sleep?

...

Soon after, the two met up with Kojou, Motoki, and the others.

Besides Nagisa, there were two figures completely unfamiliar to Asagi.

They were a timid-looking blonde girl of about eleven or twelve, and a brown-haired girl of seventeen or eighteen constantly hovering around her.

Those two were naturally Acolyle and Veldiana.

"Why did you bring Acolyle along?"

Eiji found a chance to quietly ask Kojou Akatsuki.

"It's a rare opportunity, I wanted Acolyle to experience the New Year's atmosphere."

Kojou Akatsuki was also somewhat embarrassed. He knew bringing Acolyle out was rather reckless.

Even with some disguise, many people were watching them, and it was hard to guarantee nothing would go wrong.

Moreover, Nagisa had demon phobia, so she couldn't learn about Acolyle and Veldiana's identities.

Up ahead, Acolyle was moving from stall to stall, her excited appearance like that of a young child with a new toy.

For the sake of this smile, it was worth taking a risk.

Kojou Akatsuki thought to himself.

"So expensive! Way too expensive! Why are food and goods so pricey during festivals? Festivals truly are the dregs of human culture! There's nothing redeemable about them!"

Ahead, Veldiana's cynical shouts echoed.

She counted the dwindling Fukuzawa notes in her wallet, a pained expression flashing across her face, but to win over Ako Lara, she reluctantly pulled out the bills.