After the meeting ended, Makoto got up and left the palace, wanting to go out for a walk.
As soon as he walked out of the palace gate, Akemi stepped out from behind a pillar.
"Makoto-sama, would you like to take a walk together?"
Akemi asked tentatively.
Makoto glanced at her. This woman didn't usually approach him proactively. She definitely had something on her mind.
And Akemi couldn't hide things as well as her younger sister. Her hesitant manner was too obvious.
"Let's go."
The two walked side by side down the main street of Axel.
People kept greeting them along the way.
Some called him 'Commander', some called her 'Lady Akemi'.
From the day the Nishikawa Grand Alliance was established, the women who appeared by Makoto's side were all given the title of 'Lady'.
The three Uzaki women, Darkness, and Yunyun had basically gotten used to this title. Including Tsuki.
Well, although Fujio wasn't dead yet, since they were in different worlds, it was perfectly normal to have another husband, wasn't it?
Makoto decided to take Tsuki back to her hometown when he returned and have her endorse OPPO phones.
For these women who had had a physical relationship with Makoto, being called 'Lady' wasn't too much.
But Akemi was not one of them. She and Makoto had never had any physical relationship. Nothing had ever happened.
As for her younger sister Shiho, she was also called 'Lady Shiho'.
She hadn't been used to it at first, but she quickly accepted it.
After all, her first time was already destined to be with Makoto. Whether it was called earlier or later didn't make much difference.
After walking for a while, Makoto also couldn't take it anymore. He spoke, "Just say what's on your mind."
Akemi kept her head down, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz. "Makoto-sama, I... I am willing to sleep with you. Could you please spare Dai-kun?"
The 'Dai-kun' in Akemi's mouth was Akai Shuichi. Because when Shuichi had approached her back then, he had used the alias 'Dai Moroboshi'.
So Akemi was used to calling him that.
Makoto was speechless.
He had long guessed that Akemi would bring up this kind of thing, but actually hearing it still made him feel like his brain was being violated. "Are you sick? That man abandoned you."
Akemi didn't answer. Her head lowered even further.
How to put it.
After Kazuha had her first time taken by Makoto, she developed extremely complex feelings toward him.
She had many opportunities to kill him, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it.
After all, Makoto had actually been detoxifying her at the time.
Shuichi was much the same for Akemi.
Although he had approached her from the beginning with impure intentions, although he had abandoned her and fled alone at the most dangerous moment,
No matter what, he was her first love.
To put it bluntly, Kazuha's feelings for Makoto might not even be as deep as Akemi's feelings for Shuichi.
Akemi's love-struck nature was still quite serious.
Makoto remembered that in the original work, when Akemi was about to die, she still remembered to send a text message to Shuichi, "If I can get out of the organization, I hope we can really date."
Damn. If he ever had the chance, he would take Akemi to the Naruto World and let her discuss her condition with Sakura.
"You shouldn't be telling me this."
Makoto hated dealing with love-struck people the most. There was already some disgust in his eyes. "Go talk to your sister."
He had no obsession with killing Shuichi. He just wanted to watch the drama.
The one who truly wanted to kill Shuichi was Shiho. Akemi was asking the wrong person.
…
On the other side, at the gate of Axel City.
Shuichi had finally arrived after many days of long travel.
Shuichi, oh no, should be called Okiya Subaru, looked up at this city and thought to himself, 'Finally here, Nishikawa Makoto's base camp.'
After confirming that his transformation magic had no problems, Subaru was just about to enter the city.
Just then, a large number of soldiers surged out from inside the city.
Okiya quickly stepped aside to the roadside, clearing the way.
At the front was a shark-faced man... Beam, one of Makoto's trusted subordinates.
An endless stream of soldiers followed behind Beam. After exiting the city gate, they headed southwest.
'Were they making a move on another country again?'
Subaru calculated in his mind.
He didn't think Beam's target was also the Holy Kingdom.
Demiurge had already sealed off the news over there. Even if it leaked, it couldn't have spread this fast.
Once the formation had gone far, he officially entered the city.
Axel was much larger and much livelier than he had imagined.
People on the streets spoke the languages of different countries and wore different styles of clothing. It was clear that they had gathered here from all over.
Subaru observed as he walked.
He needed an entry point to get him in contact with Makoto.
But what he cared about most was still Akemi.
Just as Subaru was thinking about how to act, a voice came from beside him.
"Hey, outsider, don't go that way."
Subaru turned his head to look. A Japanese youth in a tracksuit was standing by the roadside. He was directing his subordinates to move goods as he shouted.
This was Kazuma, who had now been in the other world for two years as well.
Kazuma hadn't taken up an official position under Makoto like Shiho had. Instead, he had become a merchant.
It had to be said, he had quite a talent for it.
Especially when he didn't have those terrible teammates like Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness around him.
"What's the problem?" Subaru frowned.
Kazuma pursed his lips toward the distance. "The Commander is over there on a date. If you don't want to die, walk the other way."
Subaru's heart leaped, but he didn't show any abnormality. He just nodded. "Thank you."
But after turning and walking a certain distance, Subaru immediately entered a small alley, confirmed that no one was paying attention, and activated his stealth magic.
His footsteps were erased. He made a wide detour and hurried toward the direction Kazuma had pointed out.
Before long, he saw it.
Under a large tree, Makoto and Akemi.
Subaru's fists clenched.
'Sure enough, these two were together.'
He hid behind the alley, his gaze fixed on the two, and stepped closer.
Then he heard Akemi's voice.
"Makoto-sama, I'll sleep with you. Could you please spare Dai-kun?"
Okiya Subaru felt like he'd been struck by lightning. His body stiffened, his ears ringing.
But he still caught a piece of information from that sentence... Akemi had not yet had a physical relationship with Makoto.
Otherwise, she wouldn't use this as a bargaining chip.
A feeling he couldn't quite describe as joy or relief surged in his heart. He loosened his fists.
Then, Makoto called Akemi sick.
Subaru's fists clenched again. He wanted to rush out and defend his ex-girlfriend.
But after thinking it over, he didn't move.
After all, if he had had that kind of courage, he wouldn't have run away alone after his identity was exposed in the Black Organization.
Makoto glanced toward the alley, the corner of his mouth curving slightly.
Then he looked at Akemi, who was still keeping her head down like an ostrich, and spoke slowly.
"How about this. I'll agree to both your request and your sister's."
Akemi looked up, staring at him in confusion.
Both requests... what did that mean?
Makoto chuckled lightly. "I can let you go see Akai Shuichi. If you can persuade him to find a place to hide and never see your sister again, then that girl Shiho shouldn't be able to do anything to him. That way, your request is satisfied, and I don't break my agreement with your sister. How about that?"
Akemi's mouth opened slightly. Her eyes blinked. Upon careful thought, this seemed to really be the best solution.
Akemi nodded.
This was all she could do.
Whether Shuichi survived her sister afterward would have to be left to fate.
However, the second after she nodded, to Akemi's surprise, Makoto suddenly reached out, cupped her face, lowered his head, and kissed her.
Subaru's pupils contracted sharply. He nearly cried out.
"Mmph! Mmph mmph—"
Akemi was frightened at first. She struggled quite hard, pushing against Makoto's chest with her hands, her head leaning back.
But her strength was too little. Makoto's hands fixed her face like iron clamps. She couldn't break free.
After less than a few seconds, her struggle weakened.
She remembered her agreement with Makoto just now... she was going to give her body to him anyway. So what if he kissed her?
Her hands slid down from Makoto's chest, hanging at her sides. She stopped pushing.
Although she didn't actively respond, Akemi's eyes slowly closed. Her body went from stiff to soft, from resistance to acceptance.
Subaru watched this scene. His eyes reddened. The veins on his temples pulsed. He felt a tightness in his chest, his whole body trembling.
After a good long while, Makoto finally released his mouth.
Akemi didn't have much experience. She didn't know how to breathe. The kiss had almost left her brain oxygen-deprived.
As soon as Makoto let go, she collapsed to the ground. Her legs gave way, and she slumped beside the tree trunk, gasping for air.
"..."
Makoto looked at her, his arms crossed, and asked with interest, "You've never kissed Akai Shuichi before? Never?"
Akemi looked up. There was still a hint of moisture on her lips. The corners of her eyes were red. It was unclear whether it was from being kissed or from wanting to cry.
Makoto gave a thumbs up, pointing at himself with a smug expression.
"Hajimete no aite wa Akai Shuichi de wa nai. Kono Makoto da!" (T/N: Well, everyone should understand this reference.)
Akemi tilted her little head, looking at his demonic, exaggerated expression. She didn't know what to say for a moment.
Then, Makoto reached out and pulled Akemi up from the ground. Her legs were still a bit weak. Makoto's hand held her waist, steadying her.
"Mm, I'm starting to get in the mood."
As Makoto said this, a certain part of him was pressed firmly against Akemi's lower belly.
Makoto then pursed his lips toward the entrance of a nearby alley. Akemi, her face red, turned her head to look.
The sign at the alley entrance had a pink heart mark on it. The words [Axel's Romantic Hut] shimmered with an ambiguous luster in the sunset.
Akemi's face flared red.
But the two had already agreed. She wouldn't break her word.
Makoto wrapped his arm around her waist and walked toward that inn.
Hiding deep in the alley, Subaru watched this scene. His hands hung at his sides. His teeth ground together audibly. His whole body trembled with rage.
In less than ten minutes,
What was trembling was no longer his body, but the entire building.
At that moment, the whole building was shaking.
Kazuma, passing by with his merchant team, showed an expression of admiration, 'As amazing as ever. I wonder which lady was being favored today.'
Subaru crouched in the alley, exactly like a cuckold, powerless to accept the fact that his beloved woman was being banged by a blond-haired homewrecker.
Two hours later, the inn door finally opened.
Akemi, her hair a bit disheveled, limped out, supported by Makoto.
Her walking posture was a bit unnatural. Her cheeks still flushed. The corners of her eyes were slightly red. Her lips were a bit swollen.
"Makoto-sama... you said you would take me to see Dai-kun."
Makoto nodded. He turned his head and called out toward the alley.
"Hey, come out!"
Subaru, who had been huddling in the alley, still in a daze, stiffened. His mind went blank.
'So I had been discovered? When?'
He gritted his teeth and stepped out of the alley.
His transformation magic was still on him. He still looked like that mild-mannered, glasses-wearing man.
Akemi looked at this strange man. Her face couldn't help but flush, 'Had he seen my first kiss taken, and then... being taken into the inn by Makoto?'
As she blushed, Akemi was also a bit confused, 'Who was this person?'
Just then, Makoto sneered, "Is it a habit to be a rat? You won't even show your true face in front of your ex-girlfriend?"
'Ex-girlfriend?'
Hearing these words, Akemi's pupils dilated sharply.
Okiya Subaru stood where he was, silent for a few seconds.
Then he dispelled his transformation magic.
His brown hair turned back to black. His glasses disappeared. His facial features went from gentle lines to cold, sharp edges.
Akemi was completely dumbfounded. She reached out her hand to point at him and stammered,
"D-Dai-kun... y-you saw all that?"