My Wives Of Simulation

Chapter 55: The Ambiguity Of The Past, Kaho Mizuki

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If One were to describe Elric's mood at this moment in one word, it would be wonderful.

Two words, really wonderful.

Four words, wonderful to the extreme.

It was just like Bulbasaur eating Chewy Corners and returning to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Wonderful on top of wonderful.

Watching the teacher named Kaho Mizuki enter the classroom and greet everyone, the Emperor of Eternal Night, who had united two empires, and the King of Glory rarely showed a trace of cold sweat. He suddenly regretted coming to class.

"Hello, students. Let me first call the roll: Suzuki Sonoko, Ran Mouri..."

With her delicate appearance and gentle voice, Mizuki immediately captured the attention of all the students.

As for the instant rise in favorability for this new math teacher, it must be said that good-looking girls always carry countless advantages no matter where they are.

"Let me see... Elric Takahashi."

"....."

He responded to Mizuki's call with a slightly embarrassed expression, and then Elric noticed the woman looking at him with a smile.

"Long time no see, Elric," she said warmly.

"Long time no see, Kaho... Mizuki-sensei..." Elric replied, taking a deep breath.

For Elric, this encounter unearthed a piece of his dark history.

He remembered his junior high school days vividly. Armed with the memories of his past life, even in a young body, Elric had always carried himself with a maturity far beyond that of his peers.

He observed everything around him with the attitude of an adult, earning him a reputation throughout the school.

After all, being handsome, intelligent made him an easy magnet for young girls. He garnered quite a following of admirers.

At that time, Mizuki had been his math teacher. She was said to be the only daughter of a shrine's chief priest and had taken up the position as part of her teaching internship. She was also Elric's homeroom teacher.

Elric held a lot of admiration for Mizuki, whose striking beauty had left a lasting impression.

The two often conversed on a variety of topics.

Their personalities and interests aligned well, creating an effortless compatibility.

Moreover, since Kaho Mizuki was only 18 years old at the time, there was naturally a hint of ambiguity between them.

Of course, the ambiguity here was not physical but rather the mutual resonance of two souls.

Unfortunately, their paths diverged. Elric advanced in school, and Mizuki had to continue her studies. The girl, preparing to study in Britain, met Elric one last time at the airport.

"Elric, I'm heading to Britain now. Don't you have anything to say to me?"

Looking up at the boy, who had just graduated junior high but was already nearly taller than her, the 18-year-old girl couldn't hide her sensitivity.

As if anticipating something, Kaho Mizuki waited, hoping for a word from Elric.

"Go to school, and we'll get together when you come back," he replied.

Though he had the experience of traversing worlds, Elric was still a boy who had never been in love. Despite past lifetimes, where even Nero had been his first lover and wife, Elric lacked much romantic experience and was, in essence... a straight-laced man.

He failed to notice Mizuki's intentions. Despite the slight ambiguity in their relationship at the time, they never crossed that boundary.

"When we meet next time, maybe you... won't like me anymore," she murmured softly.

The rose-red eyes flickered with a touch of loneliness. As she looked at Elric's face, Mizuki and Elric exchanged a light embrace.

"This is a gift from me to you. Take good care of it," she said.

Handing Elric a jar filled with paper cranes, Mizuki left these parting words and departed from Japan.

Afterward, Elric officially entered high school, while Mizuki's studies grew increasingly demanding. Their contact gradually waned, limited to occasional greetings during New Year's and other festivals.

"Brother, who gave you these paper cranes? They're all hand-folded—so thoughtful," Sora remarked when she saw the jar Elric brought home.

"Oh, a good friend," he replied casually.

"Male or female?"

Sora's suspicious gaze turned protective, her older-brother radar instantly activating.

"My teacher. She was about to study abroad in Britain and gave me this as a farewell gift," Elric explained.

"Oh, never mind, then," Sora said, dropping the matter after hearing it was from a teacher.

It wasn't until much later that Elric realized he hadn't rejected just a farewell gift but an entire girl's heart.

Now, standing in the present, facing the figure who reappeared after three years, Elric couldn't help but understand what Mizuki had been waiting for back then. She had been waiting for him to ask her to stay.

Even a simple confession would likely have changed everything. Mizuki might not have followed her family's plans to study abroad and instead chosen a path where they could be together.

But at that time, his obliviousness had cost him. He hadn't realized what he'd lost until it was too late.

"Oh," Mizuki said softly, her delicate face showing a flicker of surprise as Elric called her "Kaho" but quickly corrected himself to "Teacher Mizuki." The surprise quickly turned to disappointment.

Yet, all these emotions disappeared in an instant as she composed herself. Leaning in slightly, her proximity to Mizuki revealed a glimpse of the pale skin of her neckline from his angle.

As her hair fell forward, framing her face, Mizuki leaned in close and spoke softly, her voice meant only for him.

"Elric, I'm back. this time you can't… run away."

---

Mizuki's true identity was the only daughter of the chief priest of Tsukimine Shrine. Born with immense magical power, her attribute was "moon," signifying her ability to harness strength through the reflection of the sun's light.

As a shrine maiden blessed with extraordinary talent, Mizuki had displayed remarkable powers from a young age. But times had changed, and her father had chosen not to have her inherit the role of shrine priestess. Instead, he allowed Mizuki to pursue her own path in life.

This freedom left Mizuki feeling lost, burdened by a lack of direction. Her natural disposition, coupled with her ability to perceive supernatural forces, made her somewhat distant from those around her. She struggled to connect with ordinary people.

Even so, her innate gentleness remained, and after becoming an intern teacher, she found herself drawn to Elric.

"This boy… he's different from the others," she thought.

Though several years younger, Elric's maturity and unique demeanor captivated her.

When she was with him, Mizuki felt happiness that she hadn't experienced before. She didn't need to think about shrine duties or academic pressures. She could simply live in the moment, free from the constraints of her life's responsibilities.

This newfound sense of peace was intoxicating, something she had never felt before.

Driven by an impulse she couldn't fully understand, Mizuki had been waiting for Elric to ask her to stay before she left.

If Elric had said just one word—he didn't even need to confess, just ask her not to leave—she wouldn't have gone.

But Elric didn't.

"Maybe you won't like me the next time we meet," she had said.

As a shrine maiden, Mizuki possessed the ability to glimpse fragments of the future. Yet, she couldn't see her own future with Elric. It was an anomaly she had never encountered before.

She discovered that Elric's future was shrouded in mystery. While she wasn't surprised that the man she liked would one day grow into someone enigmatic, she feared that his future might not include her.

After leaving for Britain, Mizuki realized that time and distance didn't weaken her feelings for Elric. Instead, the separation made her emotions even more intense.

She immersed herself in her studies, working diligently. In just three years, she completed all her academic pursuits. And now, she had returned to see Elric again, determined to bring her love story to a perfect conclusion.

This time, she would not lose him.