Chapter 72: Mr Plumber

All pairs of eyes turned to Ryuji.

After all, these girls were kind at heart.

"Well, there's nothing I can do if I can't find her!" Ryuji shrugged. He had no idea where Mai Sakurajima was at the moment, so there was no point in worrying about helping her right now.

"..."

The girls realized this too, and for a moment, they weren't sure what to say.

"Don't worry about it!" Ryuji smiled and waved dismissively. "Maybe someday, she'll be able to control her power."

After all, a technique going out of control doesn't last forever. If the person adapts to their abilities and learns how to use them properly, everything should stabilize.

Of course, there were always other ways to fix the situation.

"If you meet her, just tell her where the Service Club is. I should be able to see her," Ryuji added.

In other words, as long as someone had strong enough cursed energy, they should be able to perceive her presence.

"Got it!"

With Ryuji's reassurance, the girls stopped worrying. They decided to keep an eye out for her on campus maybe they'd run into her eventually.

---

That evening, Miko was preparing some gifts for the new neighbors when her mother called, saying some relatives were visiting, so she had to head home.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Ryuji offered.

"No need!" Miko smiled, shaking her head. "My mom said they're just coming to pay respects to my dad. Don't worry, I'll be back soon!"

It wasn't too far away, after all.

With that, Miko left the house.

"Ha~"

The house felt oddly quiet after she left, and Ryuji realized it was a little lonely. He had gotten used to having people around, and now being alone felt strange.

"Well, guess I'll play some games!"

Even though he had traveled to another world, many of the games from his previous life still existed here. After playing a bit, maybe Miko would be back.

But just as he was about to get started

"Ding Dong!"

The doorbell rang.

"Did she forget something?" Ryuji muttered, thinking Miko might have left something behind. He quickly walked over to open the door.

Unexpectedly, it wasn't Miko at the door it was Sae, the neighbor who had introduced herself that morning. She was holding a pair of pliers in one hand, her clothes slightly wet, and she looked at him apologetically.

"Um, sorry to bother you, Ryuji-kun, but could you help me fix a water pipe?"

"..."

Was she serious about fixing the plumbing?

"Yes, of course." Ryuji nodded, quickly realizing that the issue was legitimate. The plumbing in the house she'd just moved into was probably old and had broken down.

Ryuji knew a little about this kind of repair, so it wasn't too difficult for him to fix.

---

"It's done!" Ryuji announced after finishing the repair. He looked over at Sae, who was standing nearby. "Try it out and see if it works."

"Thank you so much!" Sae said gratefully. She turned on the shower, but to her surprise, she was immediately drenched in water.

"Ah!" She let out a small scream and quickly shut it off.

"Thank you, Ryuji-kun. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't know what to do!" Sae said, now completely soaked. Being a single mother and a professional artist, she didn't have much experience with home repairs. She was fortunate to have someone like Ryuji to help.

"Would you like to stay for dinner as a thank you?"

"Uh, no need. I've already received a thank-you gift," Ryuji replied.

"...?"

Sae looked confused. A thank-you gift? When had she given him one?

But then she realized what Ryuji meant she noticed his gaze and suddenly became aware of her soaked clothing, which clung to her, making things rather... revealing.

Flustered, Sae blushed and stammered, "W-Wait, please! I'll just go change!"

Despite being a mother, Sae's face turned red as she quickly ran out of the bathroom, embarrassed by the situation.

Ryuji chuckled as she fled. He didn't say anything and simply left the bathroom.

A few minutes later, Sae, now in dry clothes, emerged from her room. She kept her head down, still feeling a bit embarrassed about earlier.

"Thanks again for your help. I'll head back now," Ryuji said, ready to leave.

"Wait, please sit down for a moment!" Sae hurriedly insisted. "I'll make you some tea. You can't just leave after helping me like that!"

Not waiting for his reply, Sae quickly went to the kitchen to prepare tea.

"Alright, then," Ryuji said, deciding not to refuse her hospitality. He sat down on the couch, taking the opportunity to observe Sae's house. Like his, it was a two-story building, cozy and well-suited for two people.

Soon, Sae returned with a tray of tea. "Please, have some tea."

"Thank you," Ryuji said, taking the cup gratefully.

He sipped the tea and asked casually, "Where's Sagiri? School's already over, right?"

"Sagiri is in her room, practicing her drawing," Sae explained. "She's really into it, probably because I'm a painter myself."

"Ah, that makes sense," Ryuji nodded. It seemed Sagiri had inherited her mother's talent and passion for art.

The house was surprisingly quiet. Even though Ryuji and Sae were talking, no sound seemed to come from Sagiri's room, which had excellent soundproofing.

"I can't thank you enough for helping me today, Ryuji-kun," Sae said sincerely. "It's hard doing all this alone sometimes."

Sae sighed softly, clearly carrying a burden. It was times like these that made her wish she had someone to rely on. But when she thought of her own situation, her expression darkened.

"It's nothing, really. We're neighbors. If you need help again, just let me know," Ryuji said, smiling warmly. "I live next door, after all."

Sae blinked, then smiled back. "Thank you so much, Ryuji-kun."

"You don't have to call me 'kun.' I'm still a high schooler, after all. Just call me Ryuji."

Sae hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright, Ryuji… You can call me Sae."

"Sure, Sister Sae!" Ryuji replied, using a more casual and friendly form of address.

Sae's face lit up a bit when he called her that. It felt nice to be called "sister," making her feel closer to him.

But then Ryuji casually asked, "By the way, where's your husband? Is he around?"

"..."

Ryuji's question seemed to hit a sensitive spot. Sae's mood instantly darkened again.

"If it's something you'd rather not talk about, that's okay," Ryuji quickly added, noticing her discomfort.

"No, it's fine," Sae said, shaking her head. "There's nothing I can't say…"

After a deep breath, she began to explain.

"Actually, I've always felt like I'm an unlucky person."

Perhaps it was the new environment, or maybe it was the fact that she hadn't had anyone to talk to about this in a long time, but Sae opened up to Ryuji.

She told him about her situation, confirming what Ryuji had suspected. She had remarried after meeting a man on a blind date Masamune's father. He was a decent man, nothing special, but reliable. They married the same day they met, hoping to give Sagiri a stable family.

But tragically, both Masamune's father and Masamune himself died in an accident shortly after the move.

And just like that, Sae's life remained unchanged still a single mother, still alone.

This incident made her believe she was cursed. She felt that anyone who got close to her would meet with misfortune.

"..."

Ryuji was silent as he listened, processing the story.

So, Izumi Sae was still a widow, and Sagiri was still living without a father.

"Do you think someone like me can ever be happy?" Sae asked, her voice shaky and her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"How could you think otherwise?" Ryuji said gently. He reached out and held her hand, giving her a comforting smile.

"From another perspective, this might actually be a stroke of luck for you."

"Luck?" Sae looked up at him, clearly confused. How could anything about her situation be considered lucky?

"If that accident hadn't happened, Sister Sae wouldn't have moved here, and we wouldn't have met. Isn't that fate?" Ryuji said with a grin.

"You… what are you saying!" Sae's face turned red, embarrassed by his words.

Fate?

The idea made her blush. It felt a little silly to think of things that way.

But Sae didn't pull her hand away this time. Instead, she let herself smile a little, the weight of her past starting to lift.

"You know, Ryuji-kun… you really know how to say the right things. I bet you've used these lines on a lot of girls."

"Sister Sae, you're not just some girl. How could they compare to you?"

Youth had its advantages, sure, but maturity came with its own charm, one that Ryuji clearly appreciated.

"Bad boy!" Sae pouted, playfully hitting his shoulder. She had thought he would be an honest, straightforward guy, but now she realized there was more to him. Yet, strangely, instead of feeling uneasy, she found herself smiling, a warmth spreading inside her.

"You said that man wasn't a good match for me, huh? And you think you are?"

"Maybe," Ryuji replied with a teasing grin. He didn't try to hide his feelings.

Of course, Ryuji wouldn't force anything. If Sae wasn't interested, that would be the end of it. But right now, her reaction seemed more like playful resistance rather than outright rejection.

"I-I already have a daughter, you know," Sae said softly, her voice trembling slightly. The reality of their age difference and her responsibilities as a mother made her hesitant.

"I don't mind. I just think someone as amazing as you deserves to be cared for, not always having to shoulder everything alone," Ryuji responded sincerely.