Volume 2 Chapter 20 Interlude： A Sad Past For Kazuramichi Naoshi…
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
In the Kazuramichi family’s main house, there’s a separate building connected by a hallway.
This place, simply called “Oku,” is a living space that has its own kitchen and bathroom, completely independent from the main house. It was originally built for young couples and is relatively new.
But now, it’s where the head of the family and their spouse live, and even their son, Naoshi, who is the Acting Head of the Family, usually doesn’t go there. It has become a kind of sacred space.
So, when Naoshi was told by the head of the family to visit Oku, it had been several months since he last went there.
”Oku-sama, the Acting Head has arrived.”
”Yes, please come in.”
The family member leading him called out, and a light response came back.
When he opened the sliding door, he saw a woman sitting in a comfy chair.
She was wearing relaxed home clothes with a kimono-style jacket over them and was doing some knitting on her lap.
She looked to be in her mid-forties, slim and youthful, but her outfit seemed a bit too young for her age, giving her a somewhat strange and unstable vibe for welcoming guests.
”It’s been a while, Oku-sama. How’ve you been?”
Naoshi knelt in front of the comfy chair and bowed his head to greet her.
The woman paused her knitting and looked at him with a puzzled expression.
”Oku-sama, it’s the Acting Head.”
”──Oh, right. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? How have you been?”
She seemed to suddenly remember and returned the greeting, but still looked a bit unsure.
”Yes, I’ve been well, thank you. And you, Oku-sama? How have you been?”
Not paying attention to her uncertainty, Naoshi asked again.
”Yes, I’ve been feeling good lately, thank you.”
”Yes, it’s good to hear that you’re feeling well. I’m glad.”
”Yes, thank you. I’m sorry, Acting Head, but may I ask your name again?”
Her gesture was like that of a child afraid of being scolded, which seemed odd for her age, and Naoshi smiled slightly.
”Ai, yes. That’s correct. My name is Naoshi. The kanji for ‘nao’ means ‘still’ and the kanji for ‘shi’ means ‘history’.”
”Oh, right! That’s the same name as my child. How could I forget? I’m so sorry.”
”No need to apologize. To be honest, I feel a bit awkward that my name is similar to the rightful heir’s name. If you would prefer, please just call me ‘Acting Head’ from now on.”
”Okay, I’ll take you up on that, Acting Head.”
”Yes.”
The woman seemed relieved and smiled.
After that, they chatted more comfortably about light topics.
Most of the conversation was about her only son and the baby that would be his brother or sister.
”──Oku-sama, it’s almost time.”
”Oh, is it that time already? Could you please ask Takagi-san to see me off?”
”Ai, don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it.”
”I’m sorry, Acting Head, but the doctor told me not to move around too much.”
She smiled gently, placing her hand on her thin belly.
It was a gentle, motherly smile.
”Don’t worry about it. I understand your circumstances.”
”Please come again. When you do, can you tell me more about my son?”
”Yes, of course. Well then, I bid you farewell for now. Please take care of yourself, Oku-sama.”
Naoshi bowed deeply one last time and left the room.
* * *
As he reached the hallway covered with east-facing sliding doors, the family member leading him suddenly stopped.
Their shoulders began to shake.
”…You were wonderful, young master.”
The voice that came out was weak.
”Yaa, I told you ta call me ‘Acting Head’! What’s wit dat ‘wonderful’ business? I just said hello to Oku-sama.”
”But it was too much! This is…! This is so cruel…!”
Naoshi placed his hand on the shoulder of the family member, who was about the age of his grandmother.
She had been with his mother since he was a child and was like family to him.
”Come on, ya should be used to dis by now. Dis happens every time.”
”But…”
──Shizuka, the wife of the Kazuramichi family head, lost her baby ten years ago because of a former exorcist who turned into an oni. This event completely broke her mind and body.
Since then, her world has been stuck in the same year, repeating over and over.
Her eldest son moved up to middle school, and the next spring, a second child was born──probably the happiest year of her life.
To keep this illusion intact, Shizuka’s surroundings were filled with loyal family members who had served the Kazuramichi family for a long time, especially those with strong loyalty.
Her husband, who is also slowly aging like her, still recognizes her.
But ironically, their only son, who grew from a boy to a young man over the ten years, can’t connect the real Shizuka with his memories.
The deception lasted less than a year, and after the summer when he turned 14, Naoshi, the current Kazuramichi, stopped appearing in his mother’s eyes.
This is likely to never change.
Since then, Naoshi has been writing letters to his mother as a 13-year-old boy, and when they meet, he pretends to be “the illegitimate child of Yoshitora, the Acting Head of the Family.”
Every year, he greets his real mother as if they are meeting for the first time, and sometimes he even talks about his middle school memories as if he heard them from someone else.
”Ain’t nothin’ much happenin’. In dis world, it’s not rare dat kids ain’t got parents. Jus’ havin’ both a ya alive makes me lucky, right?”
”That’s… that’s not true…!”
Shizuka’s real situation is a deep secret of the Kazuramichi family.
Because of Naoshi’s strong wish, the family keeps the same structure as when he was a boy, just around his parents.
To make this clear to everyone, he calls his parents “the Head” and “Oku-sama,” while he has others call him “the Acting Head.”
Everything is just to keep his broken mother’s heart at peace.
It might seem selfish, and not many would blame him for it if they knew the truth.
”An’ besides, Oku-sama an’ da Head’s got strong bodies, good names, an’ dey had a happy 13 years of childhood. Wantin’ more’n dat’s just greedy──oh, an’ dey also got handsome faces.”
”Young master…!”
”So dat’s why I’m da Acting Head──man, I’m gettin’ all teary now. Dis is what happens when ya get old. If ya get any more wrinkly, ya won’t even know where ya eyes an’ mouth are!”
”Even at a time like this, you’re still teasing me, huh?”
”Ya parents raised ya good, but it’s weird.”
”Yes, yes, you’ve grown up nicely, really… but why…!”
”Takagi-san, I know it’s tough, but please take care of Oku-sama. I ain’t gonna be dere.”
”──Yes! Yes, I understand. I’ll take care of Oku-sama…!”
”Thanks, that helps.”
But Naoshi has never shown any tears or even a sad face to the family members.
He bows his head to show that “I’m not the one who’s unhappy.”
This is a side of Kazuramichi Naoshi that no one else knows.
”Ah, I can’t show my face much ya, Takagi-san, so take care an’ live long, okay?”
”Yes, I’ll even take care of your grandchildren…!”
”That’s too much, let’s just stick wit kids, okay? Don’t wanna turn into a monster or nothin’, right?”
”Hehe…”
As Naoshi chuckled softly, the family members wiped their tears and smiled.
”──Well then. I’ma come back here.”
”Yes, young master, please take care of yourself.”
”Yeah. Thanks.”
Without looking back at the deeply bowing family members, Naoshi left Oku.
* * *
As Naoshi crossed the hallway to the main house, Tadayuki was quietly standing in the shadows.
”──The Head.”
Because of stress, he looked older than his actual age, unlike his wife.
His face, which should resemble his son’s, was changed by the pain he wore.
”Did you get to talk?”
”Yeah, she’s lost some weight, but she seems alright. I’m relieved, thank ya for da opportunity.”
”I see.”
He lightly bowed and was about to walk past when someone called out to him from behind.
”Naoshi.”
”Yes?”
”Do you hate me?”
The father and son locked eyes.
”Why would ya say somethin’ like dat?”
”Because I’ve relied on you too much. Instead of doing my job as an exorcist, I’ve pushed all the family stuff and Shizuka’s matters onto you. It’s only natural for you to resent me.”
”Na, never thought dat way. I could neva hate ya. In fact, I feel bad fo bein’ so selfish and askin’ for ya help.”
There was no hesitation in his response.
Once a top exorcist, Tadayuki was now past his prime.
He had long since retired and didn’t have even half of his former strength. The only reason he was still the head of the Kazuramichi family was because Naoshi wanted to keep things that way.
”…I see.”
”Head of da family, I gotta tell ya somethin’ again.”
”What is it?”
”My biggest pride is bein’ born as da son of Kazuramichi Tadayuki and Shizuka. Ain’t no lie.”
With his back already turned, the son, who was now stronger than his father in his prime, said this proudly.
”Naoshi…”
”So, please don’t worry ’bout nothin’ and just stay by Oku-sama’s side. I’ll make sure she can live peacefully. I’ll carry da Kazuramichi family on my shoulders, and I’ll protect Kansai. Dat’s da best way I can show respect to ya.”
”…I’m sorry. Thank you.”
”Not a problem at all. People say Kazuramichi Naoshi is da best exorcist in Kansai now.”
”Yeah, that’s true.”
”Just think of it as bein’ on a big ship and leave everythin’ to me.”
His attitude and words showed his strong determination.
Tadayuki squinted at his son and nodded.
”I’m counting on you. But don’t push yourself too hard. You can rely on others a bit more. Take care of yourself.”
”I will. You take care too, Head of da family… well then.”
After saying goodbye to his father, he didn’t look back.
”──────.”
Even to the words thrown at him from behind.
Ten years ago, as a boy, he had already made all his decisions and preparations.
He would protect everything that his broken family wanted to keep safe.
He was ready to make any sacrifice for that. He made up for his lack of talent by giving up everything that other boys his age enjoyed.
And he didn’t just keep the sacrifices to himself.
He continued to move forward, even if it meant trampling on someone’s pride and crushing their dreams and future.
Now, people say that Kazuramichi Naoshi is the strongest in Kansai.
It was as if it had been destined from the start.
But he believed that no one is born strong; everyone is equally weak.
Strength is about ‘keeping weakness at a distance’.
Naoshi thought that being aware of that weakness and maintaining distance from it is what being “strong” really means.
The strong are strong because they strive to be strong.
Pride is a necessary and absolute condition for the strong. ──Through training and battles based on that belief, the current strongest exorcist in Kansai was born.
That’s why, even if there’s no path ahead, Kazuramichi Naoshi walks forward without hesitation.
He has done so until now, and he surely will continue to do so in the future.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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