Volume 2 Chapter 3 Return Of Kazuramichi Ako 3️⃣： Friends Come From Nearby, Be Grateful
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Hyogo, Kanbe Family.
One of the 8 families in Kansai.
A well-respected family in Kobe known for their long history and as experts in exorcism.
The best exorcist in the Kanbe family right now is Kanbe Yuzura, the head of the family’s nephew.
Naoshi walks through the old Western-style mansion where Yuzura has lived since he was a kid, moving confidently.
When he reaches the master’s private room, he opens the door without knocking much.
”Hey Yuzura, how’s it goin’?”
”──Just feeling a bit down right now.”
A young man in pajamas, sitting up in bed and reading, looks at Naoshi with a raised voice.
He has long platinum blonde hair with pink highlights and a sharp, Western-looking face.
Standing over 190 cm (6’3″) tall, he has a perfectly sculpted body that looks like a masterpiece.
Some say if he didn’t have such a delicate nature, he would be the strongest in Kansai.
He also likes to dress in a feminine way and openly identifies as bis*xual, which makes some conservative people see him as different.
Maybe he gets along well with the head of the Kazuramichi family because they share some similar traits.
”Good to see you lookin’ well.”
”Did you actually listen?”
”I did, I did. Here’s a gift, a fancy fruit basket.”
”Oh wow, that’s a safe choice for you, Naoshi.”
Naoshi puts the basket of fruit on the sideboard and sits down in a chair.
”I said I wanted 551, but Ako-chan told me to get this instead.”
”Oh, that cousin of yours. She’s back, huh?”
”Yeah, she told ya, didn’t she? By the way, if ya could tell me where your brother is, I’d really appreciate it.”
”Sorry, I haven’t caught wind of that either. But he’s probably in Niigata.”
”Yeah, figured as much. So, how’s it goin’ with ya?”
”I’m fine, it’s not serious. People are just overreacting. You know that.”
”Well, that’s probably ‘cause of yer usual behavior.”
”Then it’s strange that you’re doing so well.”
”What ya talkin’ about? Ain’t no one workin’ harder for Kansai than me. Wish the folks next door would take a lesson.”
”That’s a bit much coming from you. Did you come to visit or to brag?”
”If you ain’t happy, I can whip up some homemade mixed juice for ya.”
”Are you planning to crush it with your bare hands? No way, that’s gross. Just cut something up and let me eat it.”
”Alright, alright. That’s how the pampered boy is.”
”Shut up.”
”Okay, okay.”
Naoshi takes a plate and knife from a servant of the Kanbe family, picks up a pear, and skillfully peels it with his fingers.
”Wow, I didn’t know you could do that.”
”Peelin’ a pear’s nothin’. Try skinning an ayakashi.”
”Watch your words. Don’t talk about things that make me lose my appetite!”
Naoshi just nods and quickly cuts the pear into pieces to offer it.
”So, what’s really goin’ on?”
”Honestly, it’s just a cold. The reason I haven’t been out is that I haven’t had any work to do.”
”Okay, good to hear.”
”Hey, Naoshi, have you changed a bit?”
”Huh? You know the sayin’, ‘If ya don’t see someone for three days…’ I’ve been dealin’ with 2 Great Youkai the past 2 months. It’s normal to change.”
”Maybe, but why not just say you were worried about me or missed me?”
”Are ya outta yer mind? Well, I do worry that if ya get too involved, my workload’s gonna get crazy.”
”Learn to manage people better; you have enough help, right?”
”I’ll figure that out later. Luckily, I’ve got some backup.”
”Hmm? Well, leading by example is the way to go, but your family takes it a bit too far.”
”My great-uncle said my grandpa was the same, so I guess it’s in the blood. Can’t help it.”
He took a piece of rice from the plate and tossed it into his mouth, feeling satisfied.
”Also, I’ve gotten a bit too strong around Kansai. You’re the only one who can really train with me now. Get better soon, alright?”
”What, are you just after my body?”
”I’ll think about it if you become a big-breasted beauty.”
”You’re such an idiot.”
”Hey, bein’ silly’s fine, but bein’ stupid ain’t.”
”Honestly, dealing with you is tiring. Even when I’m feeling good, I want to take a break from it.”
”That’s good, it means it’s workin’.”
”If you’re going to Tokushima, you can do it in a day, right? Why not ask Kurosu’s daughter?”
Naoshi knew Kurosu Tamao, the strongest first-class exorcist in Shikoku, pretty well.
That’s why Yuzura suggested it, but Naoshi’s face looked uneasy.
”Tama-chan got a bit mad at me the other day.”
”What did you do, s*xual harassment? Stop that!”
”Nah, you idiot. Honestly, I dunno what I did. If I apologize for the wrong thing, it’ll just make things worse.”
”You probably did something thoughtless. Maybe you should have gotten stabbed once?”
”Not stabbed, but I did get cut down by Itsuki the other day.”
”Is it okay to say that? Kazuramichi’s acting head?”
Naoshi waved his hand to dismiss Yuzura’s lowered voice.
”Don’t matter. You know the drill, right? It ain’t worth nothin’ to outsiders.”
”Niwazono must be really worried and has a stomachache, poor thing.”
”It’s sad havin’ to care ‘bout other people’s feelings all the time.”
Yuzura sighed and shook his head.
”Naoshi, you should collect a favor from Shiga. That might make things easier for them. Pushing too hard isn’t good.”
”Okay, then I’ll take Lake Biwa and make the fancy folks next door cry.”
”I’m not saying to go that far, you idiot.”
”Just jokin’, you’re so sensitive.”
”If my mouth is bad, it’s probably because someone else influenced me──oh, right. Speaking of favors, can I get that back sometime?”
”Sure, but ya gotta tell me what ya want me to do first. There’s somethin’ called preparation.”
”You just tried to drag me into training out of nowhere, and now you want me to prepare? You’re always ready, so it’s fine.”
”Oh really? Then who should I make cry?”
”I don’t want to make anyone cry. I just want to see the power you used to defeat the Great Youkai, can you show it to my subordinates?”
”That’s fine, but without ya? Is that even meaningful?”
”I’ll let the person explain that──hey, Anya, come in.”
”──Excuse me.”
The response to Yuzura’s call was immediate, as if they were waiting for it.
A middle-aged man in a dark suit and a young woman with blonde hair appeared.
Both had deep Western features that were different from typical Japanese looks.
”Long time no see, Naoshi-sama.”
The man bowed politely, and the woman followed suit.
”Ah, thank you. It’s been a while, Isurugi-san. You look well.”
Isurugi Iwao, despite his tough name, was Yuzura’s bodyguard, a smart and calm guy who also led the Kanbe family’s combat unit called the Eji squad as a skilled second-class exorcist.
”And who’s this young lady? She looks a bit like Isurugi-san──could she be a secret kid or somethin’?”
”No, she’s my sister’s youngest daughter.”
”Oh, that’s borin’.”
”You say the same thing as the young master. Anya, say hello.”
”Nice to meet you, Kazuramichi-sama. I am Ignaceva Isurugi Anya.”
”That’s a strong name, ain’t it? Sounds Slavic?”
”Yes, my father is from Russia.”
At first glance, she seemed solid and reliable.
But of course, she wasn’t as seasoned as her uncle, yet there was a hint of overconfidence in her strength.
(Heh, might be good for her to get a taste of pain once, just to learn.)
”Actually, I’m thinking about a change in leadership soon, and I’d like Naoshi-sama to see the Eji squad led by Anya.”
”Oh really? You’re still lookin’ pretty fit… you done good, Yuzura.”
”Stop with the weird comments, okay? I just got a recommendation from Grandpa.”
”Is that right?”
”Well, if we’re talking about that, you should know that you have been training other girls from the Shiun family lately, right?”
”I only picked Suzuri-chan. Ya said it yourself, gotta know how to handle people right. So, we need to gather more we can use.”
”Hmm?”
”Then, we would really like to have that chance too…”
”Anna.”
The uncle scolds his niece for interrupting the conversation between him and his friend.
”Sorry about that.”
A few decades ago, this might have been a big deal, but nowadays, it’s not a huge mistake──still rude, though.
Seeing a bitter smile on his friend’s face, Naoshi shrugs.
”Well, I don’t mind a bit of back-and-forth. Helpin’ out friends is like helpin’ those who protect ‘em. I owe Isurugi-san a lot.”
”Thank you, I appreciate it. I’d like to discuss the date later.”
”Yeah, let’s sort out the details at my place. My cousin’s the one keepin’ my schedule together.”
”Understood.”
”Thank you very much.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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