Chapter 295: Nunnally's True Feelings
In this battle, Britannia became the complete loser.
Not only was Avalon forcibly taken by Shadow Garden, but even the latest next-generation experimental unit Gawain—equipped with the Druid System, Absolute Defense System, Hadron Cannon, and flight capabilities—was stolen by Lelouch.
In the following days, Shadow Garden proceeded with the disassembly work of Avalon, while Rakshata joined Shadow Garden under the pretext of scientific research exchange.
One month later, Kyushu Island came under attack, reigniting the flames of war in Britannia, with the Black Knights also joining the fray to stir up trouble.
The entire Area Eleven fell into panic, with only the private Ashford Academy remaining as if it were the sole safe harbor, continuing peacefully as usual.
Students carried on with their daily classes as if nothing had happened, though Mahiro, who rarely missed school, had surprisingly taken a day off today.
"Then I shall begin, Nunnally."
"Yes, thank you for your trouble."
In the room stood a young man who looked like a high school student but dressed maturely, facing a girl with light brown wavy long hair.
The girl sat in a wheelchair with her eyes closed, appearing well-behaved and adorable.
These were Mahiro and Nunnally.
Today was the day he planned to treat Nunnally, or rather, free her from Geass control.
Of course, this wasn't something he would perform himself.
Although Shadow Garden had begun research on Geass, progress had been slow due to the lack of samples.
Moreover, he wasn't skilled in mental surgery procedures.
However, his lack of expertise didn't mean there were no professionals available.
Thus, Mahiro took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes. The ring on his finger emitted a faint, pulsating glow, like breathing, as if connected to his consciousness.
This was one of the ring's functions—a limited three-time summoning opportunity.
To be honest, he was reluctant to use this ability.
Because he disliked troubling others, even his own family members.
But this time, he truly had no other choice. He had to fulfill his promise to Nunnally.
Subsequently, a brilliant light suddenly filled the room before them, as if a spatial rift had opened behind the radiance.
Then an elegant figure emerged from within.
The slender high heels seemed to step in rhythm with heartbeats, producing crisp sounds matching the pulse.
The emerging woman had black hair, her deep blue gown outlining breathtaking curves. Her raven locks were tied back, revealing only a swan-like slender neck.
A strand of black hair naturally fell from her temple, gracefully draping along one side of her pale, delicate face.
This added a touch of charm and gentleness to her originally cold and elegant appearance, making her resemble a dignified noblewoman.
Her expressionless gaze swept across the room as if searching for something, while faint psionic waves emanated from her body. When she spotted Mahiro, her attention firmly locked onto him.
Her gaze also showed subtle surprise.
"Hi~ Long time no see, Aunt Miya."
In response to Mahiro's greeting, Miya offered no reply. Instead, she quickly approached to examine him carefully.
Seeing that he seemed fine, she spoke up:
"What exactly happened?"
Miya's voice was slightly cold and somewhat impatient, but it overflowed with genuine concern.
Mahiro was momentarily taken aback by her words.
"What do you mean, what happened?"
It turned out that while Miya was having her usual tea party with her sister Maya and several young girls, she suddenly received a distress signal from Mahiro.
Miya had been stunned at the time. After discussing the matter with Maya, even Maya's expression turned extremely serious, and she wanted to come along.
However, the teleportation was limited to one person, so Maya was left behind on the burned island, with only Miya coming through.
When Mahiro learned this, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He didn't understand how the ring on his finger had sent the invitation, but encountering danger...
What danger could he possibly encounter?
Moreover, if he really encountered someone troublesome enough to pose a threat, it would be even more unreasonable to summon them over.
Wouldn't that be equivalent to delivering them to their doom?
Nevertheless, seeing Miya and Maya so worried about him warmed his heart.
This was the feeling of family he had always longed for.
"Aunt Miya, I didn't summon you here because I'm in danger. I need your help with a small matter—to treat this girl's eyes."
"?"
Miya slowly formed a question mark in her mind, then followed Mahiro's guidance to see the girl sitting in a wheelchair with her eyes tightly closed.
"Mahiro, you should know that I specialize in 'mental structure interference' magic outside the system. I don't deal with physical ailments."
Miya looked at him seriously as she spoke.
"I know. That's exactly why I called you here. This girl's eyes themselves are fine, but due to some mental reasons, she can't open them."
Mahiro did his best to explain the reason in simple terms that Miya could understand.
After listening, Miya turned her gaze back to Nunnally in the wheelchair.
This time, her wine-red eyes transformed into bright crimson, emitting a strange gleam that scanned Nunnally's mental body like X-rays.
All of Nunnally's mental data, including emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, were completely digitized and recorded in Miya's mind.
It was as if she was flipping through files, carefully reading everything in her brain.
But for some unknown reason, Miya's brows suddenly furrowed tightly, and then she looked at him with a strange and complex expression.
"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Miya: "....."
That kind of...
She didn't know how to explain it, ultimately letting out a deep sigh.
"Prepare a completely quiet place. There must be no interruptions during the process."
"Mhm, no problem."
Though he didn't understand the meaning behind Miya's look, he still found a secluded house according to her requirements—
A villa located in the wealthy district of Tokyo Settlement.
This was one of Gamma's properties. Although Shadow Garden was still in its concealment phase, Gamma had managed to establish some small-scale enterprises to fund the organization's operations.
"Antimaterial Barrier."
"Neutron Shield."
"Linked Barrier Array."
Mahiro stood in the courtyard, layering defensive spells over the building before him.
While this location guaranteed absolute quiet, its security was frankly unreliable.
However, after he finished applying these defensive spells, the house became thoroughly encased in a hard turtle shell—impenetrable even by nuclear weapons or "Material Burst."
Inside the room.
Nunnally lay quietly on the bed.
Though blind, she could still sense the comforting atmosphere.
Yet the next moment, a faint chill swept over her, causing her petite frame to tremble slightly.
"Don't be nervous."
Miya stood by the bedside, soothing her gently: "There's no danger. Everything will be over after you sleep."
As she reached out to tenderly stroke the girl's cheek in reassurance, Miya's thoughts drifted away, gradually recalling the past at the Fourth Research Institute.
Her child Shiba Tatsuya had lain on the operating table back then, and she had comforted him in the same way.
But this time was different.
It wasn't about erasing this girl's emotions, but helping her repair a psyche forcibly distorted by some power.
"...So warm."
Nunnally couldn't help but murmur softly.
"Mom... Ah, no, I mean, you are Mahiro-sensei's aunt, right?"
Realizing her slip of the tongue, Nunnally quickly corrected herself.
Unbeknownst to her, that word "Mom" left Miya momentarily stunned and disoriented.
Mom.
Such an address should be the most ordinary for a woman with children, yet it stirred an unusual emotion in Miya's heart.
Because no one had ever affectionately called her "Mom" before—not even Miyuki, who always respectfully addressed her as "Mother."
"That's right, I am Mahiro's aunt. He is the child of my younger sister, and I am Miya Yotsuba."
Miya's gaze softened as she looked at the girl, gently stroking her wavy long hair.
"H-Hello, Ms. Miya, I am Mahiro-sensei's student..."
"I know. You are Nunnally V Britannia, one of Charles zi Britannia's daughters."
Miya smiled.
She didn't possess mind-reading abilities, but after scanning Nunnally's psyche, learning her name was effortless.
Not only that.
"Nunnally, let me ask you—you really like Mahiro, don't you?"
"Eh?"
Nunnally's delicate body trembled slightly.
Not only from surprise at the sudden change in topic, but also from the shock of having her secret feelings exposed.
Her fair, small face visibly flushed red, and she stammered for a long time without managing a complete sentence.
Under Miya's gaze, she couldn't hide anything, for her emotions had already been fully recorded by Miya.
"There's no need to be shy or nervous. You can boldly give it a try—he won't reject you."
"I... really can?" Nunnally cautiously probed.
"Yes, of course. Your Mahiro-sensei is actually quite the flirt. Several of those around him were once his disciples," Miya explained unhurriedly, recounting Mahiro's past to Nunnally.
Nunnally remained in a state of attentive listening, afraid to miss a single word.
She truly adored Mahiro-sensei.
From childhood, he had personally guided her, and she had spent even more time by his side than with her mother. Unconsciously, she had developed a dependence on Mahiro-sensei.
But this dependence came to an abrupt halt after her mother's death.
Because she was sent to Japan, she buried these feelings deep in her heart from that moment on.
She had thought that the passage of time would wear these feelings away, but instead of fading, they were polished to an even brighter shine.
Like wine aged over the years, they grew richer and more fragrant.
By the time she saw Mahiro again, she could no longer hold back—that dependence and admiration were almost bursting from her chest.
Especially since he had always taken such good care of her and her brother, even helping her recover the use of her legs, and now preparing to treat her eye condition.
Yet she still held back.
Because she feared rejection if she expressed herself, and did someone like her even deserve it?
This question had lingered in her heart through countless nights.
Disabled as she was, she needed others to care for even her daily life...
"If you love him, then boldly pursue it," Miya said with a quiet smile.
Aside from her fondness for this girl named Nunnally, it was also because, like Maya, she deeply desired for Mahiro to branch out and bear children for the Yotsuba family—perhaps even more intensely than Maya.
But until now...
The mountain blossoms bloom in layers, yet pitifully, not a single seed has been produced.
Despite so many girls around Mahiro, there had been no offspring at all.
Leaving aside herself and her younger sister, even Miyuki and Lina, who had some connection to the Kudou family, hadn't succeeded.
Could it be that they really needed to resort to that method?
Just as Miya was lost in these thoughts, the door suddenly opened.
"Hey, what are you two talking about?"
"N-nothing..." Nunnally quickly turned her head, as if trying to hide her face, flushed red to the tips of her ears.
"?"
What's going on?
"Alright, time to focus on the task at hand. Watch carefully what happens next," Miya covered for Nunnally, forcibly drawing Mahiro's attention to herself.
Miya gently closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and faint psion particles immediately began to drift around her.
When she opened her eyes again, her pupils glowed with a crimson halo, and Nunnally's spiritual body distinctly appeared within them.
Meanwhile, Mahiro, no longer dwelling on the matter, activated his Copy Eyes learning state, even employing Multi-Observation and the Eye of the Spirit for a comprehensive, multi-dimensional analysis.
He carefully observed the changes in Nunnally's spiritual body.
Although it was merely repairing the distorted state of her spiritual body, forcibly intervening from outside required immense effort and time.
The procedure lasted from morning until evening.
As lanterns lit up and night fell, the entire villa area became brightly illuminated, with slightly glaring lights dispelling the darkness.
By now, the procedure inside the room had concluded.
"Alright, try opening your eyes again."
Nunnally's eyelids trembled slightly as she struggled to open them.
After all, having been closed for so many years, she had nearly forgotten how to open her eyes.
But driven by biological instinct, she eventually managed to lift her heavy eyelids just a crack.
"...."
Perhaps because her eyes had been in darkness for many years, the room's lighting seemed too bright. Even with just a sliver open, she couldn't help but close them again.
"It's alright, take deep breaths, don't be afraid, Nunnally."
Mahiro crouched by the bedside, holding her small hand as he encouraged and comforted the girl.
Miya stood silently by the bed, drinking long-cooled tea while observing the interaction between Mahiro and the girl.
This time, with Mahiro's encouragement, Nunnally slowly opened her eyes.
Her amethyst pupils, gorgeous like violet gemstones, radiated an unprecedented brilliance.
Compared to when her eyes were closed, they now held less gentleness but more dignity.
After so many years, she was once again gazing upon this beautiful world.
"Ma...h... Teacher..."
Her gaze shifted slightly to Mahiro's handsome face that hadn't changed all these years, Nunnally's voice trembling faintly.
"Finally... I see you again..."
Suddenly sitting up from the bed, she threw herself into his embrace, her slender arms tightly wrapping around his neck.
"Thank you... truly, thank you..."
Large teardrops continuously overflowed, sliding from the corners of her eyes and gradually dampening his clothes.
Nunnally's body was very light, her slender frame weighing less than typical girls her age. Mahiro supported her with one arm while gently patting her back with the other.
"There there, I remember Nunnally being very strong—not the type to cry like this."
Mahiro habitually used humor to comfort her.
But soon, he noticed something unusual.
After Nunnally pulled away from his embrace, her gaze toward him carried an indescribable emotion in those violet pupils.
Others might not recognize it, but as an experienced ladies' man, Mahiro knew exactly what it was.
It was love, genuine affection!
But... why???
Just as Mahiro was about to question this, Nunnally suddenly embraced him again and directly kissed him.
What are girls made of?
Sugar, spice, and everything nice.
In this moment, Mahiro completely understood the meaning of these words—this kiss was sweeter and more tender than the Little Emperor's, a flavor he had never tasted before.
A taste entirely different from anyone else's.
After a long while, their lips parted.
"Nunnally, you're..."
"I like you."
Nunnally spoke without reservation.
The serious expression on her small face and her determined gaze all unmistakably conveyed her sincerity.
Without even giving Mahiro a chance to speak, she threw herself at him again.
Like a moth recklessly darting toward that scorching flame hot enough to reduce everything to ashes...
"What's gotten into this girl all of a sudden?"
Under Miya's amused gaze, the pinned-down Mahiro let out a soft sigh.
He didn't need to think hard to know the problem definitely lay with that woman, Miya. Just helping out with something had inexplicably led to yet another troublesome situation...