Chapter 45 – Before The Final Battle

I woke up the next day to the sound of cooking. I kissed the sleeping Homura on the forehead, then walked out to the kitchen. Chiyoko was already dressed, humming softly as she expertly flipped a perfect-looking omelet. The whole apartment smelled warm and comforting. She looked up when I came in, a knowing little smile on her face. "Good morning, Master," she said. "I hope you and Homura-chan... rested well." "I thought you could both use a proper breakfast. The others will be here soon." She slid the omelet onto a plate and handed it to me. "Homura seems calmer. Your one-on-one sessions are surprisingly effective, Master." Her words were praise, but her eyes were dancing with gentle mischief. She knew exactly what kind of training I'd been doing. "The final battle is tomorrow. Are you nervous, Master?" She walks over to the coffee pot, her hips swaying gently. "Nervous? Not one bit," I said with a shrug. "We won't go down easy." I pulled her onto my lap, my hands resting on her stomach. "So, how's my little heir doing in there?" Chiyoko let out a soft, happy sigh as she settled against me, placing her hands over mine. "Always so impatient, Master. The progress is... good." "It's still early, but I can feel it. A new warmth inside me. Like a tiny star, just beginning to glow." She looked at me, her violet eyes shining with a kind of holy devotion. "Your seed took root on the very first night, Master. Our promise is being fulfilled." She leaned in and gave me a soft, reverent kiss. "Soon... you will be a father. And I will finally be a mother." The news hung in the air, a quiet, solid piece of joy in the calm before the storm. "I see," I said, a slow grin spreading across my face. "Hey, Chiyoko. Let's get married after this is all over." I said it nonchalantly, just like talking about the weather. "After we help Gemgem, I'll find a proper job, try to live like a normal person for a change. Unless, of course, you have a problem marrying a bum." Chiyoko went completely still in my arms. Her breath hitched. She pulled back slowly, her eyes wide with a joy so huge it looked like it hurt. "...Married?" The word was a fragile whisper. Tears welled up and spilled over, tracing paths down her cheeks. She didn't make a sound, just buried her face in my neck and clung to me like I was the only thing holding her together. "Yes... Yes, of course, yes..." she finally sobbed against my skin. "It doesn't matter if you have a job or not. I'll support you, I'll do anything. Yes..." She pulled back, her face a beautiful, tear-streaked mess. "You gave me back my life. You gave me our child. And now this. My Master, my love, you've healed every broken part of me." Just then, the front door opened, and the rest of the team walked in. They stopped dead, staring at the scene: me holding a sobbing, deliriously happy Chiyoko in my lap. "...Uh, did we miss something?" Akane asked, breaking the silence. "Nope. Just a proposal, and Chiyoko's lovely breakfast," I said with a shrug. "Grab some food. Aoi, you've got one hour for your strategy stuff, then everyone rests. No exceptions." Chiyoko quickly wiped her tears, her face still glowing. "Good morning, girls," she said, sliding gracefully off my lap. "I made plenty for everyone. Please, eat." Akane and Miki made a beeline for the food. Homura gave Chiyoko a concerned look, and Chiyoko just beamed back at her. Aoi nodded, all business, though I saw her give us a quick, analytical glance before pulling up her tablet. "One hour is sufficient." For the next sixty minutes, Aoi was a machine. She ran through the stadium layout, entry points, and a dozen different combat scenarios. She confirmed everyone's roles: Akane and Homura were the vanguards, Miki was on psychological warfare against Valkyrie, and Chiyoko was the core support. Aoi herself would be the wild card, ready to counter the Oracle's predictions. It was a sound, flexible plan. Exactly one hour later, she powered down her tablet. "Briefing complete. As per the Master's orders, we rest." The tension in the room finally broke. Akane flopped onto the couch and turned on the TV. Miki started doing some light stretching. Homura and Chiyoko began quietly clearing the breakfast dishes together. I took a sip of my coffee, enjoying the peaceful, domestic moment. "You know," I announced to the room, "let's have an orgy after we win. The MVP gets my first load." The peace was shattered immediately. Akane shot up from the couch, her eyes blazing. "ORGY?! MVP GETS THE FIRST LOAD?! I'M GONNA BE THE MVP! I'M GONNA PUNCH THAT GOLEM'S FACE INTO THE MOON!" Miki stopped stretching, a slow, predatory smile spreading across her lips. "Oh, a performance-based reward? How motivating. I suppose shattering a hero's entire belief system would be worth a lot of points, wouldn't it?" Aoi, who was calmly sipping tea, choked. She set her cup down with a sharp clatter, her face crimson, but her eyes held a new, intense, calculating gleam. Homura, who was helping with the dishes, dropped a plate. It clattered loudly in the sink but didn't break. Chiyoko turned from the sink, wiping her hands on a towel. A serene, sensual, and deeply confident smile was on her face. She looked right at me, her violet eyes full of a quiet, unshakable power. "The one who keeps the team alive and fighting at their peak... surely that is the most valuable role of all, isn't it, Master?"