Was It Worth It?

Hub World, Earth, Japan, Tokyo. 

After returning to his bedroom, Tatsuo immediately started working on Mai's fans again. While doing so, he chatted with the members of the [Dimensional Chat]. However, only Sumire and James were available. 

Apparently, Alfonzo and Elicia were having a celebration because their son, Amar'e had taken his first steps earlier in the day. Alfonzo even uploaded a video of the moment to share his happy feeling. 

{[Dimensional Chat] 

Sumire: Aww! He's so cute 

Tatsuo (Admin): Yeah, he's a cute little kid 

James: Yup, he's pretty cute 

James: But not as cute as my little Aaliyah 

Sumire: You have a child, too, James-San? 

James: Please, drop the honorifics, I beg you 

James: But no, I don't 

Sumire: Oh... Okay 

James: Aaliyah is my little sister 

James: She's a few days away from two months old 

James: Wanna see some pictures? 

Sumire: Of course 

[James sent file: Aaliyah_Is_the_Cutest.jpg] 

[James sent file: Aaliyah_Is_the_Cutest2.jpg] 

[James sent file: Aaliyah_Is_the_Cutest3.jpg] 

[James sent file: Aaliyah_Is_the_Cutest4.jpg] 

[James sent file: Aaliyah_Is_the_Cutest5.jpg] 

...} 

Tatsuo and Sumire were dumbfounded by how many and how quickly James sent the pictures. Even so, they did not interrupt him. Instead, Tatsuo went back to focusing on the fans he was making. 

Around the time James finished sending pictures of his younger sister, Tatsuo finished creating the frames for Mai's fans, leaving very little bone material left. However, he would use that for something... someday. 

Instead, he started creating the Washi portion of the fans by weaving the Giant Sword Tiger's fur into rolls of cloth that he would cut into the proper shapes later. 

{[Dimensional Chat] 

James: There 

James: Isn't she the cutest thing? 

Sumire: Yes, she's really cute, too 

Sumire: But why did you send so many? 

Sumire: There are over 400 

James: So that you could properly appreciate the epitome of cuteness that is my little Aaliyah 

Tatsuo (Admin): You're a sis-con, right? 

James: Yes 

James: Yes, I am 

Tatsuo (Admin): You admit it so freely 

James: There's nothing I can do about it 

James: I think it's a law of this universe 

Sumire: Really? 

Tatsuo (Admin): Seriously? 🙄} 

While weaving the fur into rolls of cloth, Tatsuo noticed something about it. Because of the properties of the Giant Sword Tiger, the fans would be much deadlier than any other fan Mai had used in the past, as each strand of fur had a sharp quality to it. Meaning, when the fans were completed, they would more than likely be able to cut through whatever they were thrown at, provided they hit at the right spot. 

{[Dimensional Chat] 

James: Yeah... 

James: Everyone in my world over a certain power level is a damn sis-con 

James: Sirzechs, Serafall, Michael, Yuriel, Raphael, Euclid Lucifuge... 

James: And me... 

Tatsuo (Admin): Wow 

Sumire: I don't know what to say 

James: Don't say anything 

James: Just accept it... as I have} 

Like that, the trio continued to chat. A few hours later, Tatsuo had woven together quite a long roll of cloth from the Giant Sword Tiger's fur. However, because it was rather late, he decided he would cut and fit the cloth tomorrow evening. For now, he would get some sleep so that he was well-rested for tomorrow morning's training with Sumire, Mai, and Kasumi. 

The next day at about noon, after the training ended and everyone got cleaned up, Tatsuo, Sumire, and Kasumi were looking at Mai with helpless expressions. Meanwhile, Mai was standing in front of the intercom, staring at it like it was her worst enemy. 

"Mom, I thought you were going to send her away." Tatsuo whispered into Sumire's ear. 

"*Sigh* I really wanted to." Sumire replied exasperatedly in a whisper of her own. "But I couldn't come up with anything that would keep her away all afternoon. And I think it would be even worse if she showed up out of nowhere and started causing trouble, rather than being here from the start. So, I just let her stay." 

"Still, we need to do something about her." Kasumi added. "Otherwise, Tatsuo-Kun may end up being isolated from his peers in the future. Especially by any female classmates after hearing about the super-dangerous Mai-San." 

"*Sigh* I know." Sumire replied. "But I don't know what to do." 

Hearing that, Tatsuo looked at Sumire and Kasumi for a moment. Then, he took a deep breath before turning to look at Mai with the determination to die in his eyes. 

"*Sigh* I'll take care of this." Tatsuo said resolutely. 

Then, Tatsuo took a step forward to confront Mai. However, before he could say anything, Sumire grabbed him by the arm with a worried expression on her face. 

"Tatsu-Chan, what are you going to do?" Sumire asked in a worried tone. 

"What needs to be done." Tatsuo replied in a tone that could cut iron. 

Saying that, Tatsuo shook his arm free from Sumire's grasp. Then, he stepped forward until he was standing right behind Mai. Then, he took a deep breath as her expression changed again. 

"Mai-Nee." Tatsuo said in the most pitiful tone he could muster. 

{[Notification] 

You learned the [Skill], [Acting – E]} 

Despite seeing the [System] [Notification], Tatsuo did not have the mind to pay attention to it at the moment. He had a crisi to avert, after all. 

Immediately upon hearing Tatsuo's tone, Mai's expression also changed, and she quickly turned around. When she saw his face, which wore an aggrieved expression, Mai was shocked. 

"Tatsu-Kun, what's wrong?" Mai asked as she quickly reached up and pulled Tatsuo into a hug, burying his face in her cleavage. "Did one of those thieving cats do something to you? Unforgiveable! How dare they make my Tatsu-Kun sad! Don't worry, Tatsu-Kun, I'll go and assassinate them right now." 

Tatsuo, Sumire, and Kasumi all started dripping cold sweat when they heard Mai's declaration. And to make sure she could not bring her words into fruition; Sumire subtly shifted her position so that Mai would have to go past her to get to the elevator. 

"*Sniff* No, that's not it." Tatsuo replied, managing to keep his cool despite Mai's scary declaration. "But why are you being like that?" 

"What do you mean?" Mai asked in a confused tone. 

"Why are you being so mean to my friends?" Tatsuo asked, sounding as if he would cry at any moment. "These are the first friends I can ever remember having. But you wanna chase them away? Do you want me to be alone forever?" 

{[Notification] 

[Skill], [Acting], has ranked up from E to E+} 

Mai did not even know how to respond to that. Of course, she did not want Tatsuo to have no friends. She wanted him to live a normal life, as normal as a trained assassin could live, anyway. But at the same time, all the friends he made happened to be girls. And that was not good for her plans for the future. 

"Of... Of course not., Tatsu-Kun." Mai said in a shaky tone. "But... They're girls... Those thieving cats are trying to take you away from me." 

'Damn, even this isn't enough to make her back down.' Tatsuo thought to himself. 'I guess I'll have to use my ultimate move.' 

"Mai-Nee... Do you really not like my friends that much?" Tatsuo asked as he looked Mai in her eyes with tears beginning to drip from his own. 

{[Notification] 

[Skill], [Acting], has ranked up from E+ to D-} 

Seeing Tatsuo's tears, Mai shook visibly. It was clear that she was starting to waver. Still, she did not give in. 

"But Tatsu-Kun, our promise..." Mai said weakly. 

'Just how one-track minded is she?' Tatsuo thought to himself in frustration. 'That promise never even happened, and she knows it. Fine, I'll pull out the big guns, then.' 

"*Sniff* If you're nice to them... I'll... let you sleep in my bed once a week outside of exam time." Tatsuo said after taking one, last deep breath. 

Upon hearing that, Mai's entire body froze as her eyes opened wide. At the same time, Sumire and Kasumi shook their heads with expressions that said Tatsuo was sacrificing too much. Still, they could not think of a better solution to this problem, so neither of them objected. 

A moment later, Mai began shuddering violently. Then, with all her strength, she released Tatsuo from her hug and held his arms. Finally, she looked up into his eyes solemnly. Though the excitement swirling in the depth of her eyes could not be hidden. 

"Tatsu-Kun, are you serious?" Mai asked in the most serious tone Tatsuo had ever heard from her. 

"I am." Tatsuo replied. "But you have to be nice to my friends. And if I ever find out that you're not, the deal is off, immediately." 

"Don't worry, Tatsu-Kun." Mai said as a breathtaking smile blossomed on her face. "Any friends of Tatsu-Kun's are friends of this Shiranui Mai." 

'Hehehe!" Mai giggled happily on the inside. 'That means Tatsu-Kun is ready to take our relationship to the next level, right? But isn't it too early? He's still only fifteen. Well, it's not a crime if I don't get caught, right? I'm sure Tatsu-Kun must feel the same way. Now, I have to pick out my sexiest lingerie for our first night together. Hehehe!" 

*Sigh* I can see the perverted wheels spinning in her head." Sumire said while shaking her head exasperatedly. 

"But Sumire-Sama, aren't you worry about Tatsuo's chastity?" Kasumi asked in a worried tone. 

"Oh, not really." Sumire replied. "If Tatsu-Chan wants to, he can do whatever he wants with Mai-Chan. It's not like she's an enemy." 

"But Tatsuo-Kun is only fifteen." Kasumi said, now sounding just as exasperated as Sumire had only a moment ago. "I thought you wanted him to live a normal life." 

"Is it really that abnormal for a teenage boy to be having sex while still in high school?" Sumire asked curiously. 

Stopping to think about it, Kasumi did not have anything to retort with to hat statement. But there was definitely something wrong with this situation. 

"Even if that's not wrong, Tatsu-Kun is still in his last year of middle school." Kasumi said. "On top of that, Mai-San is too old for him." 

"Hmm... Now that you mention it... Tatsu-Chan is still in middle school, isn't he." Sumire said while rubbing her chin. "And the age of consent is sixteen. So, I guess I'll have to stop her for about a year, or so." 

"Sigh* I guess that's the best I could expect from Sumire-Sama." Kasumi said while shaking her head. "I guess it should be expected after she lost Tatsuo-Kun for eight years. She just wants to give him anything and everything he could ever wish for." 

At the same time, Tatsuo returned to Sumire and Kasumi's side after Mai released him and ran off to look through all of her lingerie for the perfect set. 

"Tatsuo-Kun, are you sure that was a good idea?" Kasumi asked in a worried tone. 

"Don't worry, it will be fine." Tatsuo said with a crafty smile on his face. "By the way, after exams are over, how would the two of you like to spend a night in my room watching movies and listening to me play the piano once a week? Then, we can all sleep together after we're done?" 

Hearing that, Sumire and Kasumi opened their eyes wide in surprise. Then, they both looked in the direction Mai had run off to with gazes filled with a mixture of pity and schadenfreude. 

"My Tatsu-Chan is so smart." Sumire said with a giggle. 

"Yeah, you never said that it would just be you and Mai-San." Kasumi said while covering her own giggle with her hand. "She's gonna be so disappointed, though." 

"Yeah, the look on her face is going to be priceless." Sumire added. "I definitely have to make sure my phone is charged that night." 

"Don't worry, I keep an extra charger in my room." Tatsuo said while smiling mischievously. "So, even if you forget, I got you, Mom." 

Watching the mother-son pair plan how to get Mai's disappointed expression on film, Kasumi did not know what to think. 

"You two are terrible." Kasumi said while trying to hold back a smile. 

Apparently, she found the thought of Mai's expression when she realized that she had been tricked would be amusing, as well. 

Not long after that, the girls arrived. And just as she promised, Mai was very cordial to everyone. While Tenma, Mikoto, Eri, and Akira had no reaction to this, Chiho and Yakumo, who had met Mai two weeks ago, were surprised by her complete one-eighty in attitude. 

Even so, Mai's attitude did not affect the study session negatively. In fact, she was able to help with certain subjects, as well, making everyone more confident in getting good grades on their upcoming midterm exams. 

Like the day before, Chiho, Yakumo, Tenma, Mikoto, Eri, and Akira said their goodbyes, declining Sumire's offer to stay for dinner. Then, after the girls left, Mai made dinner and the four sat down together to eat. After that, Tatsu returned to his bedroom to continue working on Mai's fans.