Ito Ai: A New Dawn

Ai and Mai turned to look at Yoshi and Mio, who had just walked in. Ai tapped her chin a few seconds before saying: "I brought her back to be your wife. Have fun." Ai got up and walked right out of the room after saying this, leaving three dumbfounded people behind. Ai did not feel like dealing with anything else. Mainly because the only thing on her mind right now was improving the base's defenses. She wanted to get a good rest, wake up early, and drag Eiji out to help her begin dismantling and washing off the machina. 

"Ummm… Mai, what Ai just said…'' Yoshi was completely at a loss of what to say. He could never read Ai, so he was not sure if she was joking or serious. When Ai spoke to him, she always had the same expression compared to how she would smile and laugh with Eiji and Mai. 

"Yoshi, have Mio help you take care of the girls for now. Also, come here. Ai said I could remove your collar." This was one of the things they had discussed as they talked. Only Shogo would be left with a collar since he had to undergo special training with Mai. 

Yoshi was surprised but happy. This meant Ai now fully trusted him, which made him relieved. He had hoped his efforts would one day allow Ai and Mai to trust him. It seemed he was able to gain their trust. Although he was much older than the two girls, he did not mind working under them. Ai had already trusted him with the weapons storage, and that right there already gave him hopes for the future. Plus, he had grown attached to the two little ones and spoiled them as if they were his own daughters. He finally felt at peace for once since this world became so fucked up. 

In another part of the base, Ai arrived at her room to find it almost sparkling clean. "Eiji is really handy!" Ai mumbled as she walked into the room. Eiji was in there finishing up making the bed when he heard Ai walk in. "Did you store your stuff?"

"Yeah, I do not have much as it is." Eiji paused as if he was thinking before continuing. "Ai, are you sure you want me to live with you in your room?"

"Hmm? Yeah, why not? Or do you hate being around me all the time?" Ai asked as she walked step by step up to Eiji.

Eiji quickly shook his head back and forth. "That's not it. I mean, you are a girl, and I am a man. Although we are young, well for you, I can not consider you young since you are much older than me. But you know..." Eiji felt awkward talking about this. The Ai in front of him was not yet fifteen, but mentally she was much older. And this was because she was indeed twenty-four. 

"I know what you mean, Eiji. Yes, my body is young. No, I will never go too far. As a man, you need to man up. You said you liked me and I am giving you a chance to be with me. Whether I fall in love or like you is another story. But as of now, Eiji, you are now locked to my side until I kick you away. Any objections?" Ai still would come right out and say how she felt, but she was sure Eiji already realized it after everything.

"Yeah, I understand." Eiji let out a sigh. He knew now he was going to be going through more hell than any man has ever had to go through. He was going to be living with a girl he liked that he could do nothing more than kiss and only when she wanted to. Eiji took a deep breath and firmed his resolve… 'I will become a kissing Monk!' 

Seeing Eiji standing to the side doing a one-person show made Ai smile. "Alright, since everything is now settled, let's get some sleep. We need to get up early and begin dismantling the machina." 

"Oh? We're going to build some new weapons?" Eiji asked, his eyes lit up. He liked working on mechanical things. It was one of his hobbies ever since he was little.

"Yeah, I want to make some beam weapons for us and also see if I can turn the new type machina's large beam cannon into a kind of turret. " Ai explained as she began to undress. She stripped down to her underwear and then took out a long white shirt and slipped it on. Eiji was not far behind her, except he had nothing to change into and always slept in his boxers.

The two climbed into bed, and Ai cuddled up next to him as if it was the natural course of things as she continued talking: "So the thing with the new type was its charge time. When I died to it in my previous life, it had a set of normal gatling guns that utterly destroyed the team I was in. This new type only had one beam weapon. My guess is that it was a non-upgraded version. The barrier around the machina can block all regular bullets. The beam weapon seems to bypass its barrier where normal bullets still can not. I want to figure out a way to reduce that charge time to make it fire faster."

---

On another side of the base. "So what should I do?" Mio stood in front of Yoshi with a questioning look.

"Well… I guess I will introduce the girls to you from there; I am not too sure. The girls get their training from Mai and Ai, I help with weapons training, and the girls help where they can." Yoshi was actually at a loss of what he could have her do. 

"I see. I will do whatever I can. I owe Ai and Eiji my life..."

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