Despite not knowing Eishi's terrifying feats, his mere presence inside the room caused everyone to fall silent. The faint electromagnetic field of a third-order lifeform was enough to intimidate first-order lifeforms, much less ordinary humans. He did not need a time stop for everyone to halt what they were doing and look at him. Though he used this time to take a look at the one who he declared as his war prisoner.
In terms of temperament, Ai did not have anything that made her stand out. She blended perfectly in the background, something similar to Megumi's penchant for concealment. However, Ai's reminded him more of background characters, a person who derives satisfaction by becoming another's shadow.
As for the rest…
[Ai Hayasaka]
Innate Talent: Model Maid (S, First-order)
Non-exclusive Talent: Strength Boost (B, First-order), Spirit Boost (B, First-order), Metamorphosis (S, First-order), Light Synthesis (S, First-order), Butterfly's Dust (SS, First-order)
Life Level: First-order, Nine-stars
Strength: 135
Agility: 109
Constitution: 110
Spirit: 161
Her strength was to be expected of someone who Shinomiya Oko nurtured. Ai's loyalty was the most important denominator, which was why she received something as absurd as an SS rated non-exclusive talent.
'If I got that fruit earlier…'
[Ai Hayasaka]
Appearance: 95
Figure: 94
Temperament: 92
Purity: Intact, Can be Bound
Overall Rating: SSS
'...As expected of a professional maid.'
A brief comparison on Eishi's memories easily placed her in the top percentile of the women he met, both in this life and the last. Her figure was also top-notch, though it was lacking when it comes to bodily proportion. Plumpness or thinness is a game-breaker for the system's evaluations. He shook these thoughts off as he casually pulled out a smartphone. He intentionally made a long pause before Eishi carried on where he left.
"Everyone in this room will be taken care of by the government, especially you, Shinomiya-san. Your superpower is a valuable asset."
"..?!"
The ice princess' eyes widened in disbelief as she stared right at him. Something that spelled "how did you know about it" out. The system's more detailed appraisal was the reason why.
[Kaguya Shinomiya]
Innate Talent: Spirit of Life (SS, First-order)
Non-exclusive Talent: Spirit Boost (B, First-order)
Life Level: First-order, Six-stars
Strength: 72
Agility: 74
Constitution: 72
Spirit: 155
Her attributes were extremely normal and her non-exclusive talents were only one. Oko intended to keep her as a harmless esper whose sole purpose is to use her superpower to grow evolution fruits for the Shinomiya Clan.
'A lifestyle-type superpower… no. It can be used in combat too.'
As the new leader of the New Tokyo Shelter, Eishi considered her prospects based on the future value she could bring. There was no need to outsustain his exaggerated return chances which could bring thousands of identical fruits at once. But, when it comes to nurturing new kinds of fruits, or even induce their growths to the second-rank and higher, it becomes a godly support.
Eishi's biggest need for now are second-rank evolution fruits. Leveling up through the zombie crystals is still viable, but it does nothing to their stagnating non-exclusive talents. That was a huge loss in his eyes as the attributes they provided were massive. His SS rated Constitution Boost, for instance, provided him with 200 attribute points at the first-order; 400 at the second-order.
'Someone worth investing in, but…'
He casually looked at Kaguya's triple S rating as well as the "Intact" label on her purity. Eishi did not know how far her relationship had progressed with Miyuki at this point. His plans with her depended on how far she had progressed with him. It would be fine if they did not have any feelings other than close friends, but if they are lovers…
'...No, I won't do it.'
Things might have been different had he met her during the early stages of the apocalypse. He might have succumbed to his desire to survive, prompting him to pull it off. But no, it's different now.
There is a limit on what he could sacrifice to survive. If he could sacrifice everything, viewing his confidantes as nothing more than his sources of supplies and Buffs, is there still any meaning in living?
At the very least, the answer Eishi reached during his stay in Tokyo is enough to say "no".
Things were settled swiftly inside. He spoke a few words to the women inside before moving out. Surprisingly, Ai followed in his footsteps without any word. They navigated the huge mansion until they went outside. The faint stench of blood drifted on their noses—the people Eishi killed on the way here.
'I like talking to smart women…'
Eishi's humanity was reserved to the confidantes he mistreated. When it comes to other people, especially someone who used to be his enemy, it would not necessarily be the case.
"You understand full well the implications of being on the losing side, no, Hayasaka-san?"
"...As long as you will not harm the young miss, I… will do anything."
"How ironic. I have heard you betrayed her in the first place. Why the sudden change of heart now?"
He did not bother concealing his venomous remark one bit. The suppressed anger in his heart slowly burst forth. His brushes at his near-death experiences could not be vented on the huge number of people he killed. Eishi instinctively sought others who would shoulder his anger… and Ai became the right target.
"How more unreasonable could you be?"
"..."
She responded with nothing but silence. Only then did Eishi gradually calm down.
"I won't do anything bad to your young miss, granted she utilizes her superpower very well. As for you…" His eyes stopped at her figure before continuing, "You will serve as my household's maid, doing all sorts of trivial work."
Eishi's lustfulness did not influence his decision this time. For once, his confidante slots had long been limited. The potential confidantes he met in Tokyo alone numbered four—five, considering Ai. Counting Yui back in Yokohama makes it six. He did not see any point in wasting a precious slot that he does not know how to 'remove' other than their supposed deaths. The shared buffs throughout their connection is one of the most precious commodities Eishi could give.
Most importantly, he valued emotional connections. Unless the said person has Stockholm syndrome, Eishi could not see Ai falling for him… when he killed the 'master' she served all her life. He surmised that even if he did not speak out, she would have offered herself to him, more so when he did not kill her the moment he appeared. All that was left in Ai's life was to serve as Kaguya's reassurance… Hence he gladly gave what she sought for.
Hearing his choice to make her a literal physical laborer, Ai's mental preparations came to a grinding halt.
'...Ah?'
She saw him walk further away, prompting her to follow in his footsteps. By the time they arrived at the gated villa, they were greeted by two women.
"Hiraoka-san, this is..?"
"A new professional maid. Our household back in Yokohama is a little too big. I figured we would need some help, so I spared her life."
His words prompted Saeko and Shino to look at Ai differently. The former faced the dangers brought by the SAO group, something caused by the Zaibatsu group. The latter killed hundreds of soldiers belonging to the other side. They could not treat her nicely knowing she came from the other side.
"Isn't it better to… finish her off? If she plotted something behind our backs…"
"I have a solution for that."
Eishi waited until Shino closed the gate before they returned inside the villa. He peeked inside his spatial backpack and took out an orange-like fruit. He tossed it straight to Saeko who caught it with a knowing look.
To Shino's incredulousness, Saeko crushed the precious fruit in one forceful grip. The orange's sticky juices clung to her palm. She looked straight at Eishi and seductively licked the orange pulp, earning a blush from Shino's side.
Upon confirming the return notification, Eishi tossed another identical fruit to Shino.
"It gives out an S rated superpower. It's for you."
Though she did not know what it would give, the instinctive craving never stopped assaulting her senses. Trusting Eishi, Shino peeled its skin and ate it one by one. The seedless plumps of the orange was akin to an explosion of tanginess inside her mouth.
When Eishi checked her non-exclusive talents again, she found a new entry titled "Contract (S, First-order)". Its function was simple: to ensure the validity of agreements. It manifests in the form of a paper contract in which the contractor could put terms that one must follow on. That includes punishments and the likes. He had heard of it once from a certain esper shelter back in Yokohama.
At some point, there were even rumors that the 'Contract' superpower could extract one's innate talent for their own use.
'If I mix it with the Potential Enhancement Fruit…'
For the sake of long-term development, he has to give it to someone who hasn't eaten the Potential Enhancement Fruit yet. Only they would be able to maximize this ability's potential.
"I will help you explore its specifics later, Shino-san. As for the Miss Maid over there, feel free to choose one of the available rooms. Oh, and the rooms at the far right on the second floor are taken."
Ai bowed slightly before doing as she was told. Saeko then came to his side, leaning towards his ears as she said:
"Make it up later."
Eishi sensed the expectations behind her words. Saeko always looked forward to them having sex, but ever since her experience last night, it further worsened. Knowing something might happen to Shino later, she could only bet on the fact that the girl wouldn't last long against his godly endurance.
Just like that, only the two of them are left sitting on the living room's gray sofa. The strange, vague atmosphere caused Shino to not be able to look him straight in the eye. She inadvertently recalled her blunder earlier, dousing her enthusiasm instantly.
"I… am sorry earlier, Hiraoka-san."
"Why? Was it your oversight? That… technically can't be called an oversight. Nobody can come out unscathed after helicopters armed with RPGs bombed the area. Not even those high and mighty officials at the government side."
Unlike the Prime Minister's Office that has military arrangements—including anti-air defenses—the Shuiichin Academy has none. At least tonight.
Shino's best efforts could only spare them from the majority of the damages. Most of the soldiers accompanying Saeko at that time were forever buried in that place.
"Isn't it ironic? Everything had gone so bad people ended up relying on high-school students… like you and me."
Eishi stared at Shino once more. He had heard of her being at the same grade as him. They are both eighteen-years-old students that are about to enter universities. The world had gone truly mad when everyone relied on people like them, and not on actual adults.
The distance between the two wasn't that large. The sofa could hold three people at best. Shino saw the unwavering looks in his eyes, as if what he was saying was nothing but the truth.
"So there's no need to dwell over it. The most important thing is that, by the end of this day, you are still alive. If you are thinking of the people mourning for them, then there would also be people mourning for you. Surviving… is a commendable feat."
Eishi let out every single bit of his honest thoughts. He was already aware of Shino's guilt back when she made a call to him, but now that he had seen her personally, it was far worse than he expected.
Fortunately, it did have a great effect on them. Though she fell silent, the gloomy look on her face disappeared. Her eyes appeared to be in a daze as she turned to look at him. Her gaze stuck on him for a long while as she was unable to voice out the emotions on her chest.
'You really are my…'
Before Eishi knew it, his lips already touched hers.