Volume 1 Chapter 11 The Inherited Will Of Evil III – Maybe It Was Different
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Thank you very much──I’ve lost completely.”
”No, it was a good match. Thank you.”
The girl said this with a graceful bow, like a true martial artist, and Suzuri returned the gesture.
It was a heartwarming scene, but Yoshitada, watching it, wore a bitter expression and didn’t say a word.
He had a bad habit of becoming quiet when things didn’t go his way.
It seemed that it would be Naoshi’s job to handle the situation.
Feeling a bit annoyed but trying not to show it, he walked over to the two girls.
”Look, there’s no need to be embarrassed ’bout losin’ to Suzuri-chan, y’hear? She’s been trainin’ since she was a kid, so she’s got a whole different foundation.”
”No, I understand my lack of skill. I also know she was holding back to avoid injuries.”
”Oh, I see. Then lemme make up for my cousin’s… oversight. Here, take this—it’s the contact for the Bureau of Onmyō. Real government folks, so I’d suggest ya give ’em a ring and talk it over before makin’ any big decisions.”
”…Is that why you say such things because I lost? That this level of power isn’t needed?”
”No, no, not at all. If I’m bein’ straight, you’ve got some real promise. Could even make a fine exorcist. But how you live your life, well, that’s somethin’ else entirely──probably not somethin’ anyone’s gone and told ya much about, huh?”
”I know that I’m fighting against ayakashi with my life on the line…”
Naoshi frowned, thinking it was a bit too vague.
Seeing that the conversation wasn’t going well, Yoshitada hurriedly jumped in.
”Hey, what are you doing! You know that Kansai needs as many skilled exorcists as possible, right? Just look at Yaegaki-kun’s power──.”
”Yeah, yeah, that’s a given, but there’s a way to go ’bout it. Yoshitada-kun, did ya even tell this girl how many exorcists died last year? Or what happened to the female exorcists? And, ya did talk to her parents before draggin’ her here, didn’t ya?”
”Well, that is── not yet…”
”Then that’s practically underage abduction, ain’t it? Least ya could do is bring ’em a box of sweets and say sorry. But man, ya really are somethin’ else, huh? Now I’m mighty curious to hear what’s so amazin’ ’bout Yoshitada-kun.”
Naoshi laughed sarcastically, while Yoshitada looked away awkwardly. Yaegaki shifted her gaze between the two, looking confused.
”Um! Even if the explanation was lacking, I came here of my own will. So please stop blaming Yoshitada-san.”
”Yer a good kid, aren’t ya?”
”I’m Yaegaki. I don’t like being talked to like a child.”
Her seriousness was very childlike and fair.
It was a bit bright, but to Naoshi, it also felt a little dazzling.
”Oh, my bad. Yaegaki-san.”
That’s why he noticed the ugliness in trying to take advantage of her.
”Alright, I’ll stop here outta respect fer ya. I’ll take ya home today, and I’ll send some folks over to explain an’ apologize to yer parents. Sound alright?”
”Is that really necessary?”
”An apology’s a given. An’ no matter what ya decide later on, it’s better if yer folks understand the whole situation. Least, that’s how I see it.”
”…I understand. Please take care of it, Acting head.”
”Good. Well, take care on yer way home, then.”
”Yes, I’m sorry for the trouble. Yoshitada-san, see you again.”
”…Ah. Thank you for today, Yaegaki-kun.”
After giving various orders to his family, Naoshi sends the girl off.
All that remains are Yoshitada, who has a bitter expression, and Suzuri, who doesn’t even try to hide her mischievous curiosity. They shine with excitement like a cat in front of its prey.
”Ah, Suzuri-chan. Ya did well, good job.”
”It’s nothing special. And it’s only natural for me, so I feel bad for her.”
”Well, fair enough. But if we can help it, I’d rather keep this sorta thing away from pryin’ eyes…”
”That’s too late. I’m completely involved this time, right? Besides, as families protecting Osaka, the Kazuramichi family’s issues are something I’m concerned about as a member of Shiun.”
”That’s fair. Looks like Suzuri-chan’s grown up enough to think big picture ‘n all that…”
”Please stop with the sarcasm.”
”Alright, alright. Just, bear with me a sec if this gets a bit messy──Yoshitada-kun?”
”──What is it?”
The cousin responds with a clear mix of arrogance and bravado.
”If that girl decides she’s got it in her to be an exorcist after hearin’ what the Bureau of Onmyō’s got to say, then you, representin’ Kazuramichi, gotta handle everythin’──whether it’s findin’ a master or sortin’ her trainin’.”
”Got it. I don’t need to be told that.”
”However, after that, no more contact. It ain’t gonna do her any good.”
”W-Why do I have to take such orders? What right do you have to tell me that…”
”Easy──it’s my right as Acting Head. If ya don’t like it, that’s alright by me. I can throw you an’ yer dear mama right out, an’ then Kazuramichi’s doors are shut to ya both.”
”Do you really think father or the Head of the Family would allow such tyranny?”
”Ain’t nothin’ ’bout this is tyrannical. Right now, I hold the reins, so if need be, I can get Uncle Yoshiya an’ the Head of the Family to back me. Hard to believe ya didn’t grasp that, ya numbskull──but that’s enough yappin’. Yoshitada-kun’s headin’ out, so let’s see him off.”
”Y-Yes, Yoshitada-sama, this way please.”
”…Don’t touch me! Naoshi! You think everything will go your way──.”
”Add ‘san’ to my name, ya fool!”
Naoshi shot a cold glare at his cousin, who had unintentionally released spirit energy (reiki) along with his voice, filled with even more killing intent.
”──Ugh.”
After taking a breath, Yoshitada froze like a frog caught in a snake’s gaze.
The pressure in the room was so intense that even the family members watching, as well as Suzuri, couldn’t move a finger.
”Ya really think everythin’ is just gonna go the way ya want? You’ve got a lotta nerve, pullin’ some regular kid into yer games.”
”Ugh…”
”First off, ya don’t have the grit to be an exorcist. When’s the last time ya even tried to challenge me? If ya want, I’ll knock some sense into ya right here, right now.”
”…!”
Yoshitada’s face turned a dark shade, going beyond just red.
Although he didn’t look away, he couldn’t come up with a direct rebuttal to Naoshi’s words. He embodied frustration but refused to take action.
”Instead of draggin’ a kid into it, maybe ya oughta handle yer own business first. Even Ako-chan’s had enough of watchin’ ya flounder.”
With a small sigh, Naoshi looked away and stopped applying pressure.
Suddenly, everyone let out a deep breath.
”Yoshitada-kun, best ya keep yer head down for a while. Don’t want any… unfortunate accidents happenin’, now, do ya?”
”──Yoshitada-sama, please leave today.”
A family member urged Yoshitada again in a strong voice.
Though he looked dissatisfied, this time he didn’t resist.
However, he didn’t forget to leave behind a typical parting shot at the very end.
”Listen, it’s not you! I, I alone, truly care about the future of the Kazuramichi family and Kansai! You’ll regret this soon enough!”
But was that gaze really directed at Naoshi?
Once Yoshitada was out of sight, a sigh, possibly from anyone, echoed in the backyard.
”──It’s not just a little bit, it’s quite an embarrassing situation.”
”That’s fair enough, but don’t go givin’ him too hard of a time now, Suzuri-chan.”
At Naoshi’s joking words, Suzuri couldn’t help but smile at his deliberately pitiful expression.
”Unfortunately, my master’s teachings are good… So, what are we going to do about that cousin of yours?”
”Well, for now, he’s gonna be on probation. His foolish mother’ll probably poke him and get him actin’ foolish again, so we’ll just wait and then cut ties. It might be a hassle for others, but we can’t just toss him out like that.”
”From the outside, it looks like a complete family feud, just for Nao-nii to solidify his position.”
”I wish it wasn’t like that; it’s already solid without needing all that fuss.”
”But now, there really aren’t any other promising successors left──.”
At that, Suzuri swallowed her words.
With movements that seemed rusty, she turned towards Naoshi and opened her mouth.
”Wait. Is Nao-nii being rushed into marriage?”
”It happens, you know. If I get a hard-to-refuse offer, I’m sorry in advance.”
”Ah, what if Ako-san takes a husband…?”
Naoshi shook his head at Suzuri, who mentioned Yoshitada’s sister’s name.
”But Ako-chan ain’t interested. Even if she was, she’d probably choose me.”
”Ahhh! No way, no way! I don’t want that!”
Suzuri screamed, holding her head.
It was a painful cry, as if the end of the world had come.
”W-Well, if it comes to that, I’ll just have to have a child on my own, Nao-nii!”
”Are you sayin’ I should help you with that? That’s a harsh joke; I’d really get stabbed by Shiun-san. You wanna start a big fight in Osaka?”
”Then, then just let a mistress have the baby! As long as Nao-nii has a child, we can manage, right?!”
”Y’know, you’re sayin’ somethin’ way worse than me! Do ya even realize that? Plus, I don’t wanna drag ’em into this world too much.”
”Then, then… I got it! Knowing Nao-nii, there must be an older woman who taught you about first experiences in the Kazuramichi house──ugh, my brain, my brain is breaking…”
”Your brain don’t feel pain, ya know? And sorry to say, but she’s already married.”
”Isn’t there someone after all…? You cheater!”
”I’m not cheatin’ since my main girl’s always absent. But Suzuri-chan, you’re diggin’ your own grave way too well, and that’s kinda worryin’.”
”Ugh, I guess I have no choice but to be taken out for dinner tonight──”
”What d’ya mean ‘no choice’? And sorry, but I got plans tonight.”
”──A woman, huh.”
”Ugh, well, guess there ain’t much point in hidin’ it, so I’ll just spill it, alright?”
”Uuuuh, but if there’s someone else first, then I can’t help it…!”
”I really like how responsible you are, Suzuri-chan.”
”…Isn’t it just because it’s convenient for you?”
”Ain’t that a bit self-deprecating? You only think that just a little bit.”
”Nao-nii, why haven’t you been stabbed yet?”
”Maybe you should quit usin’ that words. Oh, and I gotta ask ya somethin’. If I do this, that girl won’t hold a grudge against me and try to get back at me, okay?”
”…Why would you think that? I feel like a different flag has been raised.”
”Huh, what do ya mean?”
”You’re conveniently hard of hearing…! If you’re worried, you should be more concerned about your cousin. He has plenty of motivation.”
”Then I can legally take him out in self-defense, so that saves me some hassle.”
”What are you saying in a serious voice…?”
”If an exorcist gets attacked by a human weapon, that’s definitely self-defense, ya know?”
”You both are exorcists, so clearly that would be excessive retaliation. Please don’t do anything that would get you caught.”
”Then I’ll make sure not to leave a single hair behind.”
”I’m not saying to destroy the evidence…! Wait, you’re joking, right!?”
”Haha. Of course, there’s no way I’d do somethin’ so awful, right?”
”Nao-nii!? Please look at me when you say that, Nao-nii!”
* * *
After seeing Suzuri off with a face that looked like she was being pulled back, Naoshi headed to a certain apartment in Osaka city.
As usual, he rang the intercom and stood in front of the camera, waiting for the auto-lock to open.
The familiar entrance still shined brightly, just like it did nearly 4 years ago when he first visited.
”──Oh my, hello.”
As Naoshi stepped through the shared door, he almost bumped into a resident who was about to go out.
She was an older woman, a rare sight in this family-oriented apartment building that was less than 5 years old. Her gaze towards Naoshi was clearly filled with curiosity.
”Ah, hello. You headin’ out?”
”Yes.”
With that, he smiled confidently and exchanged greetings before heading to the elevator. His destination was the third floor, room 301, a corner unit.
When he reached the door and rang the intercom, he let out a small “huh” without thinking.
The door opened almost immediately.
”Welcome, Nao-kun.”
The beautiful woman who greeted him had a smile, but her slightly drooping eyebrows and the corners of her eyes gave her a look of sadness, even when she was smiling.
”Please, come in.”
”Thank you, I’ll be intrudin’.”
Mei’s outfit and her hair tied in a simple ponytail were calm and unflashy, but her feminine curves were still noticeable.
As he slipped on the slippers prepared just for him, separate from the guest ones, he couldn’t help but admire her figure from behind, which never seemed to get boring.
”I’ll get you a drink. Do you have a request?”
”Then, tea please. I’ll say hi first before we head out, yeah?”
”Tea, got it. Yes, do that.”
The woman turned around and smiled as she headed toward the living room.
Just 3 years ago, every time she smiled at him, it felt like his heart was being squeezed.
”Hey,” he whispered as he entered the room used as a Buddhist altar.
The faint smell of incense filled the air in the clean but empty space, with nothing but the altar itself.
However, seeing the altar polished like new and adorned with fresh flowers made it clear that the deceased was never neglected.
On a small table next to the Buddhist altar, there was a photo of a man in a simple frame.
He was making a cool face, but he couldn’t be called handsome──no, to put it mildly, he was an ugly middle-aged man.
Seeing that, Naoshi couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
He had bragged about marrying a wife who was way too beautiful for him, joked that he might not live long, and then he really died without even celebrating their first anniversary. Naoshi couldn’t help but think, “Why’d this happen, huh?” and “Is he really that dumb?”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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