Chapter 140: Phoebe is in this world

"Mnn~ why did you stop...ha!" Rena's voice trailed off as she followed my gaze, realizing what had caused me to pause. She flinched, her body stiffening as she quickly pulled away, grabbing her discarded clothes to cover herself in a panic.

"I-It's not what you think!" she stammered, her voice shaky as she tried to explain, though it was clear from the looks on Ayaka and Akane's faces that they were struggling to process what they had just walked in on.

"O...Onii-chan?" Ayaka's voice trembled as she stared at me, her expression a mix of shock and confusion. Her wide eyes searched mine, desperately seeking an explanation.

How could I possibly explain this? I had wanted to test if Rena's feelings for me were genuine, but somewhere along the way, my own desires had taken over. The fact that Rena hadn't resisted, that she had been as caught up in the moment as I was, only made the situation more complicated.

Rena, her face pale yet flushed, hurriedly stood up, clutching her clothes to cover herself. "This is...not..."

Akane, who had been silent up until now, broke the tension with a cold, accusing stare. "Is that what you were doing when you were kidnapped, Rena-san? While everyone was worried about you, you were doing... that?"

"No! It's not like that!" Rena's voice was frantic, her embarrassment clear as she shook her head, trying to deny Akane's harsh words.

"T-Then what is it?" Ayaka asked, still visibly shaken. Her face was flushed, not just from embarrassment but from the confusion swirling in her mind. "A-Are you two...um, like that?" Her voice wavered as she struggled to put her thoughts into words.

"Not really," I replied, trying to sound calm, though I knew the situation was anything but.

"Then why were you kissing each other?" Ayaka's confusion deepened, mirrored by Akane's troubled expression. Neither of them could make sense of what they had just witnessed.

"I... I don't know..." Rena answered honestly, her voice small, as if she was just as lost as they were.

"We were just caught up in the moment. There's nothing more to it. Let's leave it at that," I said, hoping to defuse the situation before it escalated further.

Ayaka pouted slightly, clearly not satisfied with the explanation but unwilling to push further. Akane, too, seemed upset, her usually composed demeanor showing cracks as she looked between me and Rena. But eventually, they both turned and left, the heavy silence between them speaking volumes.

"Yes..." Ayaka hesitated, her gaze flickering over to Akane, who was watching us with a concerned expression. Ayaka took a deep breath before continuing, her voice barely above a whisper. "Phoebe is in this world..."

At her words, a heavy silence fell over us. The name Phoebe struck a chord deep within me, dredging up a flood of memories—some sweet, filled with laughter and warmth, but others bitter, laced with regret and sorrow. I had never expected to hear her name again, let alone under these circumstances.

Ayaka and Akane exchanged a worried glance, aware of the history that lay between Phoebe and me. They had known her long before I did, as their families were close friends. My father had even met and married Ayaka's mother because of his connection to Phoebe's father. The bonds between us all ran deep, entangled in a complicated web of past relationships and shared experiences.

"Onii-chan?" Ayaka's voice was tinged with concern as she called out to me, noticing my momentary silence.

Akane's expression mirrored Ayaka's, her eyes filled with a quiet understanding.

"Is that true?" I asked, my voice low, as if speaking the words aloud would make them more real. The coincidences were piling up in a way that felt almost surreal. First, my former stepsisters, and now Phoebe?

"Yes, Onii-sama," Akane confirmed, nodding solemnly. "She was summoned along with her Class in the Babylonia Empire... We've only seen her twice since then, but... it's complicated..."

Her words trailed off, leaving much unsaid. It was clear that there was more to the story, but the details would have to wait for another time.

"Babylonia Empire..." I repeated, the name echoing ominously in my mind. Khione had warned me about them, calling it the strongest Empire and advising me to avoid provoking them at all costs.

"I see." I replied curtly.

"Onii-chan..."

"Stop worrying and take care of yourselves. " I said to them before leaving.

I hadn't really time to think about Phoebe.

The hardest has yet to come.