Volume 2 Chapter 2 Return Of Kazuramichi Ako 2️⃣： The Insanely Unstoppable Woman
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”──Alright then, welcome back, Ako-chan.”
After the 3 uncles left, Naoshi spoke to his cousin who was still there.
The room felt much more relaxed now compared to earlier when there was a lot of tension.
”Yes, I’m back. It’s been a while, Cousin Naoshi-niisan.”
”You look good.”
”Yeah, thanks to you.”
Feeling the lighter atmosphere, Ako’s stiff face softened a bit, and she smiled.
”I heard you had a tough time, but I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”
”Ah, ain’t nothin’ much. But sorry for makin’ you deal with Uncle Yoshitora right when you got back.”
”No, it’s fine. I understand now that Uncle was just worried about me.”
”Well, I dunno if the old man really thinks that deep, but you sure are kind.”
”Hehe, I’m glad to see you and Uncle still get along well.”
”Maybe you should get your eyes checked?”
”Really? Oh, and here’s a souvenir. You liked this, right?”
”Oh, Dorayaki! Nice one! Let me make some tea. You want some too, Ako-chan?”
The sweet buns filled with red bean paste and butter were Naoshi’s favorite.
”Yes, I’d love some.”
”Okay, lemme get the tea and plates──so, how was Fukuoka?”
While calling for the family to help, he turned the conversation.
”It was great! The food was delicious, and I learned a lot from Aunt Yoko. It was a meaningful time.”
”That’s what matters most.”
──I’m a bit worried about being compared to my sister, though.
Aunt Yoko, Dad’s sister, is a strong woman who always says she gets what she wants.
Her influence is so strong that even after her nieces and nephews grow up, they still call her “neesan” even when she’s not around.
”Also, while I was away from Osaka, I realized something really important.”
”Oh? What’s that?”
”I want to have kids with you, Cousin Naoshi-niisan, more than with Papa.”
Thanks to the family member who accidentally dropped the tray, Naoshi managed not to spit out his tea.
* * *
──One unique tradition among exorcists is the right to spend the first night with someone special.
Unlike the medieval Europe version, this is a right for a girl who officially becomes an exorcist to spend a night with her loved one.
Considering the number of female exorcists who have been victims of ayakashi, it makes sense that this system was created out of compassion.
Though it’s not as common in modern times, if a request is made, a man must respond as much as possible──even if he’s married.
Three years ago, Kazuramichi Ako, when she became a second-class exorcist, chose her father, Yoshiya, for her first night, which sent him to the hospital with acute gastritis and made her mother very angry. In the end, she used her right with her cousin Naoshi, causing a big scandal in the Kazuramichi family.
Even though she has the strong obsession of a snow woman, this is a rare case.
While she was expected to be as talented as Naoshi, it was understandable that she had to leave Osaka for a while after graduating from junior college.
Thinking about that past, Naoshi slowly took in the shock with his tea.
”──Personally, I can’t be completely happy ’bout this, but I guess Uncle Yoshiya’ll cry tears of relief.”
At least between cousins, there are no ethical or legal issues.
It’s hard to tell if Ako’s preferences have improved or worsened.
”Can’t you be happy about it?”
”I don’t feel bad ‘bout it, but I’m dealin’ with some stuff with your brother right now.”
In reality, she’s not a bad person.
She’s strict about keeping a line between family and others, and aside from being harsh to her enemies, she’s well-regarded for her abilities and intelligence.
Naoshi thinks highly of her talent and hopes she will be his right-hand person in the family one day.
Even with that kind of ability, I couldn’t help but feel a bit distant because of my complicated preferences.
”Is that so? But if you think about it, the current situation isn’t so bad since there are no more obstacles to my marriage with you, right?”
”Why’s that?”
Is this really getting worse?
Unable to hold back, Naoshi jumped in.
”Well, I can understand why cousin Naoshi-niisan would hesitate to marry with such toxic parents…”
”I ain’t even talkin’ ’bout marryin’ Ako-chan, so that’s a bit of a leap. Plus, ain’t it a bit harsh to say that ‘bout the mama who gave birth to you, even if she is like that?”
”I love Papa not because of blood ties but out of respect for his character, so I don’t feel anything for my biological mother at all.”
”Are you some kinda logic monster?”
”Because I’m a snow woman.”
”You really use your bloodline too conveniently…”
It’s even worse that this comes from the mother. While Naoshi looked frustrated, Ako kept her cool.
”And you know, seriously, if Naoshi and I have kids, I think the expectations for their future would be pretty high. What do you think?”
She leaned forward towards Naoshi, her chest pressing down on the table. It was an obvious attempt to get attention, but she had a presence that couldn’t be ignored.
”You talk ‘bout your kids like they’re some kinda lottery… If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better for Ako-chan to find a talented husband from outside the family for the sake of the clan later on?”
It’s not uncommon in the exorcist world for people to marry within their bloodlines. In fact, Ako herself is a success story born from parents who had a marriage arranged with those factors in mind.
”So, you mean even knowing that the child would be with Cousin Naoshi-niisan, I should find or create a convenient husband who can pour love and money into them like a real child?”
”That idea’s so twisted it’s makin’ me shiver. Are you really Uncle Yoshida’s daughter?”
”Three DNA tests have confirmed a 99.99% parent-child relationship. Unfortunately, I do have half of her blood in me…”
”You really went all out with that. But in that case, it don’t solve the bloodline issue, does it?”
”But if it’s the child, I think Cousin Naoshi-niisan would be happy to marry a sibling of his legitimate wife’s child, right?”
”Then let’s stop tryin’ to make Kazuramichi the modern Habsburg family.”
”Hehe, that was a snow woman joke.”
”That’s too scary to ask how far that goes.”
”Okay.”
”That’s not a ‘yes’ though, is it?”
Ako’s serious face makes her jokes really hard to read. Plus, she seems to know that and uses it for fun.
While holding back a headache, I reached for some snacks and sipped my tea.
”By the way, Ako-chan, why are you ignorin’ Yoshitada-kun? I remember you makin’ a fuss ‘bout the first night rights.”
”My little brother is my mother’s responsibility.”
”If you say that, don’t it mean Uncle Yoshida’s responsible for his wife?”
”Not really. Papa is my papa.”
”Why?”
”And my little brother is a bit strange. It doesn’t matter to me who I’m with, but he gets upset with you, cousin Naoshi-niisan.”
”That’s totally reasonable, but when you say it, it sounds funny… That’s unfair.”
”Is it?”
With a serious face, Ako made Naoshi step on a landmine.
”But Ako-chan, you wanted to take a bath with Uncle Yoshida even in high school, right? No wonder folks are worried.”
”That was because I was turned down before for ‘becoming a middle schooler,’ so I just wanted to check if things changed when I entered high school.”
”Usually, that’s a change that can’t be reversed, and the fact that you wanted to take a bath still stands──wait, did you two share a bath all through elementary school?”
”Yes. Papa was pretty reluctant when I got to the higher grades, though…”
If Naoshi’s memory serves him right, Ako started developing at a normal age, and by the time she graduated elementary school, she definitely needed a bra.
The family bath could fit multiple people, but it still sounded awkward.
”Yikes! No way, that’s way too real for family stuff!”
Even though there wasn’t any real awkwardness between them now, I couldn’t help but shout out my discomfort.
”Your reaction is pretty normal, right? But then my brother starts saying he wants to join in, and it’s just gross to think about having those feelings for your own sister…”
”Ain’t that a bit much though? First off, it’s all ’bout Ako-chan, right?”
”I might have gone a bit far, but he’s just a regular guy with a crush on his sister.”
”Eh? That’s a level I can’t even wrap my head ‘round.”
”If you give me some time, I can explain it in detail.”
”No thanks, I’d rather not. Sounds like it’d give me a headache. But wow, Yoshitada-kun’s a type of sis-con I didn’t wanna know ’bout…”
”Hehe, talking to you makes me feel like I’m back home.”
”Ya were talkin’ ‘bout somethin’ good just now?”
”Yeah. Cousin Naoshi-niisan really listens to what I have to say.”
”Well, if it’s a decent convo, I reckon anyone would listen.”
Even though they hadn’t been talking for long, Naoshi was really thirsty.
He handed his empty cup to a family member.
”Can I get a refill of tea? What ’bout you, Ako-chan?”
”Yes, please.”
But when he saw his cousin’s doll-like face light up with a hint of joy, he couldn’t help but ease up on his questioning.
Looking back, maybe that was part of the reason he brought her outside.
He couldn’t really say much about Yoshiya and Yoshitora being sweet either.
”──Well, I know we’ve been yakkin’ a lot since you got back, but Ako-chan’s room should still be just how it was, except for what ya took out. Just chill today.”
”Thank you very much. Are you going out now, cousin?”
”Yeah, just visitin’ a friend. I’ll be back later tonight.”
”Understood.”
After finishing his tea and standing up, his cousin also got up to follow him, and Naoshi raised an eyebrow.
”Ya comin’ with me?”
”No, I just thought I’d walk you to the door… Is that okay?”
Her tilting head reminded him of when he was younger, and there was a girl who used to follow him around besides Suzuri.
He remembered his little cousin stopping in her tracks as if playing a game of freeze tag when he turned around.
”Nah, it’s fine. Do what ya want.”
”Okay!”
Seeing her smile a little made him realize she hadn’t changed, and he couldn’t help but smile back.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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