Volume 5 Chapter 5 Naoshi ／ Going To Tokyo IV： Girls Be Ambitious
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Here’s the revised version with simplified dialogue tags and adjustments for Western readers, while retaining the original structure and tone:
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The Touma clan, known as the leaders of the Kanto exorcists, trace their roots to the samurai of the Kanto region, historically tied to Hitachi Province. They are said to have served the powerful Hojo clan during the feudal era, later appointed as hatamoto (direct vassals) by the Tokugawa shogunate to protect Edo (modern-day Tokyo).
In the Meiji era (1868–1912), when Japan underwent rapid modernization and exorcists from Kyoto—led by the prestigious Tsuchimikado and Kamo families—relocated to the newly restored capital of Tokyo, the Touma family’s influence remained unshaken. Even today, in the Reiwa era (2019–present), the current head of the clan, Touma Yukinojo, is widely recognized as the strongest exorcist in both Kanto and Japan.
”You mean, even with good intentions, it’s not okay to do this in someone’s house, right, Naoshi-kun?” Naoshi said, leaning his elbow on the edge of the bath, sounding exasperated.
In front of him, Suzuri and Ako, who had intruded during his bath, sat in a formal kneeling posture on the mat. Though they wore swimsuits, their thorough preparation felt oddly unsettling. After all, both had bathed before Naoshi, well ahead of the meal.
”Uu…” Suzuri mumbled, looking apologetic.
Ako, however, regarded Naoshi with a composed gaze.
”Ako-chan, what’s on your mind?” Naoshi asked.
”We did get prior consent, at least on that point,” Ako replied matter-of-factly.
The response caught Naoshi off guard.
”Did Yuki-kun say it was okay to barge into someone’s bath?” Naoshi asked, skeptical.
Thinking it couldn’t be true, he confirmed it just in case. By the standards of a typical exorcist, Naoshi might be considered late to marry. Moreover, unlike Ako, who is still an acting head and has temporarily been relieved of her duties, Naoshi, who is also the head of a family with responsibilities, might not be entirely against the idea of cooperating with them.
”No, Mana-san and Haruno-san gave us permission,” Ako explained.
”They just want to increase their own kind, don’t they…” Naoshi muttered.
It is well-known that Yukinojo is receiving ardent appeals from his stepsister, Touma Mana, and his cousin, Kurusugawa Haruno. Perhaps they also intended to pressure Naoshi with Suzuri and Ako to generalize their actions.
(It’s tough all around, isn’t it?) Naoshi thought, considering the struggles of his younger friends.
Both Suzuri and Ako already have partners and will formally welcome them in their respective positions in the future. It’s already too late to say it’s too late, but—
”Um, Nao-nii? I’m really just here to take a bath, that’s all,” Suzuri said meekly.
Her voice was so soft it was hard to believe it was the same girl who had once coolly faced the gathering of the heads of the eight families.
”Hmph… What’s your real intention?” Naoshi probed.
”Huh, that’s the real thing! Why do you doubt me!?” Suzuri protested.
”Hey, take a look at that bath set over there,” Naoshi said, pointing.
”Eh?” Suzuri froze.
Ignoring her, Ako silently pushed out a basket filled with lotion. Naoshi beckoned to Suzuri with his hand.
”Ugh…” Suzuri groaned, grabbing the item she had been eyeing.
”What’s this?” Naoshi asked, holding up a packaged condom.
After closing her eyes for a moment to ponder, Suzuri eventually opened her mouth with a serious expression.
”What? It’s just a preparation for when Naoshi-nii gets in the mood…” she admitted.
”Hi, guilty. I’m fully willing to make you go all the way,” Naoshi declared, rising from the bath.
Standing in front of the two looking up at him with anticipation, he placed his hands on their heads. With slight force in his spread fingers, he declared,
”Alright, you’re a bit cold, right? The lecture is over,” Naoshi said firmly.
”Then…” Suzuri began.
”Just soak up to your shoulders and count to two hundred. You’ll warm up nicely by then,” Naoshi instructed.
His quiet voice carried a clear order.
”Yes…” Suzuri whispered.
”After Nao-nii, it’s a bit hot for me…” Ako added.
”You two are genuinely flushed, so that’s fine, right? But if you collapse, it’d be a nuisance, so don’t push yourselves too hard,” Naoshi warned.
”Uu… I understand,” Suzuri nodded.
”Please take care of the first aid,” Naoshi said, leaving the bathroom.
The two began pouring lukewarm water over their swimsuits, wobbling slightly as they stood.
* * *
”Eh…” Naoshi let out a surprised sound upon returning to his room and seeing the neatly aligned three futons.
Since Naoshi also has few possessions in his own room in Osaka, his luggage has always been minimal. That aside, what should he do about preparing for co-sleeping, even going so far as to open the sliding door between Suzuri and Ako’s adjoining room?
”Oh, Naoshi-san. Would just one heater be enough?” Haruno peeked out from the hallway, smiling.
”Haruno-chan. Was this your doing?” Naoshi asked sternly.
”Eh, yeah. That’s right,” Haruno replied without remorse.
She was a beautiful woman with long bright brown hair and a cheerful face, a promising exorcist assured of advancing to the top rank this year when she turned twenty. Her fearless personality, backed by her abilities, and her being related to Yukinojo, also made Naoshi evaluate her highly.
”What are you doing? Suzuri-chan and the others are inciting it too,” Naoshi pointed out.
”Eh? As young women in love, I want to support my friends,” Haruno said casually.
The exchange between the two became quite casual.
”I’ll tell you, that girl isn’t that cute,” Naoshi teased.
”You’re probably just smoothly manipulating Naoshi-san, aren’t you? Just a little bit is fine,” Haruno countered.
”But it’s a bit much having a lively thing at someone else’s house,” Naoshi sighed.
”It’ll be okay, okay, Yuki-nii is tough around here. Also, I heard you two are already doing it, right? It’s not fair to keep you all waiting the entire time you’re here,” Haruno reasoned.
Naively nodding at her words, Naoshi asked,
”So, what are you really planning to do?”
”They’re obviously siblings, right? Convince Yuki-nii with ‘Naoshi-san is doing it too’!” Haruno grinned.
”I guess you were planning to bring it up,” Naoshi said in amazement.
”Hehe, can’t do it?” Haruno laughed, sticking out her tongue.
”Well, yeah, but if you start sneaking peeks, you better stop,” Naoshi warned.
”I won’t,” Haruno assured.
”Don’t you care about me?” Naoshi teased.
”If Naoshi-san finds out you’re peeking, he’ll probably come to show off even more…” Haruno joked.
”Hehehe, that’s a mean thing to say. But you really shouldn’t peek, right?” Naoshi chuckled.
”I’m not denying it…” Haruno shrugged.
”No time for unnecessary things, that’s my principle,” Naoshi declared.
”Isn’t your reputation bad because you give up too easily?” Haruno asked.
”Don’t know,” Naoshi replied, brushing it off.
Ignoring the strange glances, he thought to himself,
In fact, the stay is planned to be quite long. Considering the pace so far and today’s events, Suzuri’s “letting off steam” will be necessary at some point.
”Hey, if you soil the futon, you’ll have to clean it up, so leave it to Haruno-chan,” Naoshi said.
”Eh, eh, Naoshi-san, they’re like that…? That’s bad,” Haruno feigned innocence.
”Why are you acting pure now?” Naoshi asked.
”Could it be, are first-class exorcists also strong in that area…?” Haruno wondered.
”Don’t know. You’re the one who’s going to get squashed like a frog if you worry about my heart, right?” Naoshi joked.
”Isn’t that sexual harassment?” Haruno protested.
”You’re the one who started it, so what are you saying?” Naoshi retorted.
”Hmph,” Haruno pouted.
Naoshi chased her off with a wave of his hand, and with a laugh, Haruno left.
”Hmph,” Naoshi exhaled and sat down in the middle of the three futons in a cross-legged position. After waiting a while, the sound of someone approached in the corridor.
”Huh?”
The two, who had changed into their nightclothes, stiffened for a moment upon seeing the state of the room. Ako was the first to reboot.
”Step-brother. You’re too good with the carrot and the stick,” Ako remarked.
Suzuri nodded repeatedly in agreement, as if she had been struck by those words.
”I told you before, my view of men is completely shattered, right? It’s terrible if you won’t take responsibility. And wait a bit, I’ll get ready,” Suzuri said determinedly.
”If you had said so first, I would have prepared it,” Naoshi replied.
The two eagerly spread out their luggage and began to get ready. They had a forward-leaning attitude that seemed impossible to do without at this point.
(Well, maybe I was a bit hasty)
Naoshi thought, narrowing his eyes with a smile.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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