Satoru's efficiency was truly remarkable, or perhaps the rules of this world simply didn't follow the logic of reality. In just a few days, the old Zen'in Clan mansion—reduced to ruins by Maki—had been completely restored.
On the outside, it retained its traditional Japanese architecture, that solemn air steeped in history. But once you crossed through the gates, everything changed: a modern interior with smart systems, heated floors, automatic ventilation, and a jacuzzi bathtub with voice control.
When Damian gave the girls the news, their reactions were as varied as he expected.
On moving day, Satoru led the small convoy, driving his flashy red sports car, followed by a silver minivan driven by Damian.
As they drove down an avenue lined with trees, Yukino, seated in the passenger seat, gently tightened her seatbelt.
Through the shifting shadows of the foliage, she saw an imposing entrance ahead: above the lintel, two large golden characters gleamed under the sun, Kurayami Family.
"Wow!" Marin exclaimed from the back seat, almost hanging out the window. "It's even more impressive than in the photos!"
As soon as the vehicle stopped, the heavy black gate slid open to the sides with a deep sound.
Under the portico, Satoru awaited them with his signature blindfold, accompanied by his students.
"Welcome to…" he paused dramatically. "The Great Kurayami Family Mansion!"
The courtyard was covered with a fresh layer of white gravel that crunched beneath their steps.
Artoria stopped abruptly when she looked to the side, where a wide field of grass stretched beneath a blooming cherry tree.
"Over there…" she said quietly. "Was there once a training field?"
Satoru whistled, surprised. "How did you know?"
He pointed west, where a dense bamboo grove concealed a structure. "The new dōjō is over there. The floor's made of Brazilian purpleheart wood. They call it a dōjō, but honestly, it's more like a full gym."
As they walked through the corridors, the traditional sliding doors had been replaced by smart glass panels that adjusted their transparency according to the light.
Marin let out a cry of excitement and dashed toward her personal area: an entire floor with tatami mats, a dressing room, and a photo studio decorated with anime posters and soft lighting.
Satoru, clearly enjoying himself, kept leading the group. As they crossed an elegant corridor, the space suddenly opened up, revealing a Japanese rock garden.
"This was designed by Kyoto's most famous landscape artist!" he said proudly. "The white sand represents the sea, and those rocks are the islands."
Damian observed the garden in silence.
Although the design was flawless, it felt too rigid to him, almost lifeless. It lacked the raw strength he valued—the kind of natural presence that inspired respect.
His eyes met Artoria's, and he instantly understood they were thinking the same thing. Despite her polite smile, a faint discomfort flickered in her eyes; the pruned pines and perfectly aligned white sand were far removed from the meadows and oak forests that surrounded Camelot in her memory.
Satoru didn't notice their exchanged glances and continued cheerfully down another hallway. "Next up, the tea room!"
The room was of traditional size, four and a half tatami mats, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of new tatami. The girls knelt gracefully; only Damian remained standing at the entrance, his expression stiff.
"What's wrong?" Satoru asked, tilting his head.
"…Nothing." Damian forced a smile and took a step forward, but Marin suddenly jumped to her feet.
"Wait a second!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement, before running off.
…
Inside the room, Kaguya sat gracefully, the hem of her skirt spread out in a perfect fan. Rin maintained a formal posture, though the trembling of her knees betrayed her discomfort. Sakura, on the other hand, observed every detail with genuine curiosity.
Artoria kept her knightly composure, but Damian noticed the faint tapping of her fingers on her knee.
!
Suddenly, a strange sound came from outside.
The door flew open, and Marin appeared at the threshold, pushing a luxurious high-backed leather chair with a triumphant smile.
"Ta-daa!"
Damian couldn't help but laugh at the sight, and just as he was about to sit down, he noticed Artoria's expectant gaze.
He understood instantly and turned toward the Queen of Knights. "Artoria, would you like to try it?"
Her eyes sparkled for a moment, though she tried to maintain her composure.
"Is this… all right?"
"Of course it is!" Marin replied before dashing off again. A moment later, she returned, pushing another identical chair. "I have plenty more over there!"
Within minutes, Marin and Sakura entered, panting as they pushed a third chair into the room.
Damian was about to sit when Satoru approached, wearing his usual smug grin. He lifted his blindfold slightly, his eyes having caught the exact moment Damian had frowned earlier.
"What's wrong? Don't like it?" He bumped his shoulder lightly against Damian's and grinned. "Too small? Or maybe too Japanese for your taste?"
Damian glanced at him without replying but didn't deny it either.
"Ha, I knew it." Gojo smiled broadly and pointed his thumb toward the deeper section of the property. "This is only a third of the estate! The rest is still under construction. The old Zen'in Clan grounds were completely wrecked, and we barely managed to rebuild this part quickly."
"Oh, really?" Damian raised an eyebrow.
"Of course," Satoru said with a self-satisfied smile. "Your father wasn't from Asia, was he? I bet kneeling or sitting cross-legged feels uncomfortable to you."
He remembered Damian's modern house and chuckled. "I noticed that when I helped you with that little place in Suginami. Without a table or a proper chair, you looked totally out of place."
Damian let out a short laugh, acknowledging the remark.
Satoru pointed his thumb behind him, toward the area still under construction beyond the garden. "The rest of the estate is the important part! I brought in a brilliant architect to handle the design. The blueprints…"
He paused and clicked his tongue. "But when I saw the estimated construction time, I nearly had a heart attack."
Damian narrowed his eyes with interest. "A brilliant architect, you say?"
"Of course!" Satoru slapped his own chest proudly. "A true genius. There will be pavilions, towers, pathways, gardens, even a stream… all connected with natural elegance. I promise it'll be a place worthy of you. What we have now," he said, pointing at the floor beneath their feet, "is just temporary. You'll see when it's done."
Damian nodded, more relaxed now.
Then he gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. "Good work."
Satoru flinched and let out a pained chuckle, rubbing his shoulder. "Easy! It still hurts from the last cut!" Even with his complaint, his eyes gleamed with pride.
Damian smiled, satisfied, and the idea of sending him away after the visit vanished completely.
He stood up and looked at Kaguya.
"Kaguya, could you bring some helpers from the Shinomiya family? We'll have a barbecue at noon."
"Barbecue!" Yuji shouted, jumping for joy, his eyes lighting up.
"Ah…" Artoria let out a soft sigh. Her back straightened even more, and her gaze fixed on Damian as if she had just heard a divine prophecy.
Kaguya nodded without hesitation. "It's already done. Before coming here, I asked Ai to go home and prepare the ingredients."
Damian smiled and gently ruffled her hair before glancing at Satoru, who was still rubbing his shoulder with a pained expression. "Thank you, Satoru. And as thanks, stay for lunch."
Gojo's expression changed instantly. "Really!?"
His voice rose theatrically as he leapt toward him. "I knew you cared about me! You're the best~!"
"Get lost." Damian didn't even look up before delivering a direct kick.
Boom
Gojo flew off in an absurdly dramatic pose, landing on the white gravel of the outer corridor.
He clutched his stomach and groaned in a wounded voice. "So cold~ He uses me and then throws me away~ My heart is shattered, it hurts so much~!"
The sound of the heavy front gate opening cut through the moment.
Ai appeared at the front, immaculate in her maid uniform, walking with steady, composed steps.
Behind her, the Shinomiya family servants entered in perfect formation. They carried boxes of prepared food, portable grills, sets of tableware, folding tables, and even premium charcoal.
They were followed by several chefs dressed in white uniforms and tall hats, carrying massive refrigerated boxes.
The condensation vapor over the lids revealed the freshness of the ingredients: thick cuts of wagyu, marbled ribs, premium beef tongue, seafood, and fresh salads.
A selection so luxurious that any restaurant would envy it.
"Lady Kaguya, Mr. Damian," Ai said, bowing gracefully. "The ingredients and utensils have been delivered as requested."
Her gaze swept across the garden, pausing for only a second on Satoru Gojo's figure—still sprawled dramatically on the gravel—before she looked away with indifference.
"Good work, Ai." Kaguya nodded.
"Over there will be fine." Damian pointed toward the open area of the garden, the same spot Artoria had observed earlier. "Today, this will be our picnic area."
At his command, the servants moved into action. Folding tables and chairs were set up in the center of the grounds, the grills were assembled with practiced precision, and the charcoal began to burn.
The chefs started slicing the meat with elegant movements, placing the cuts on the grill.
Within minutes, a fully equipped barbecue area had taken shape.
The aroma of grilled meat began to fill the air.
Yuji was the first to react. His eyes sparkled as he ran toward the grill. "It smells so good! Fushiguro! Kugisaki! Come quick!"
Megumi, trying to maintain his composure, still ended up approaching, defeated by the aroma.
"Sir, cut that tongue thinner! I want it nice and crispy!" Nobara shouted excitedly, giving orders to the chef.
Artoria maintained her serene posture, but her eyes followed every movement of the cook closely.
The sizzling fat from the ribs sent up tiny bursts of flame, and she discreetly shifted until she was standing exactly where the wind carried the strongest scent.
When the first dish was ready, she moved like lightning. She grabbed a knife and fork and began cutting with such precision and speed that it was hard to follow her movements.
"Sensei, your portion's going to burn!" Nobara yelled.
Satoru, who had still been pretending to be in agony, suddenly jumped up, spun in midair, and landed right beside the grill—just in time to snatch a piece of premium rib before it overcooked.
"Ah~ I saved it! I almost wasted the Shinomiya family's finest delicacies!" he said dramatically before taking a huge bite of the meat.
It was so hot that he puffed out air between his lips, blowing. "Mmm! Delicious! Nero-kun! This meat is way softer than when you and I fought!"
Meanwhile, Marin was dragging Sakura and Rin toward the table loaded with vegetables and seafood. "Sakura-chan! These grilled scallops are amazing! Rin-chan, don't just stand there—try this roasted shiitake!"
Rin, setting aside her usual pride, picked up a piece of mushroom with her chopsticks and brought it to her mouth.
Her eyes narrowed with pleasure as a subtle smile appeared on her lips.
Kaguya, accompanied by Ai, elegantly savored a perfectly cooked steak that the chef had prepared especially for her.
Damian, on the other hand, hadn't joined either the table or the group around the grill. He had moved a little away, sitting on the grass, leaning naturally against the trunk of a cherry tree.
In front of him, on the grass, Ai had placed a plate with a selection of grilled meats.
Yukino approached quietly, ignoring the commotion, and sat beside him in silence.
The breeze stirred a few strands of her hair, brushing softly against Damian's arm. She didn't speak, simply watched the smoke rise from the grill, dissolving into the warm afternoon air.
Damian picked up a golden skewer of chicken and offered it to her. Yukino accepted it with a slight nod and began eating slowly, taking small bites.
Her cheeks rounded just a little, and that simple expression erased the distant air she usually carried, making her seem close and gentle.
He watched her silently, then let his gaze drift across the garden: Yuji and Nobara fighting over the last piece of meat while Megumi tried in vain to stop them; Artoria devouring another tray; Satoru moving between the grill and the table, shamelessly stealing food; Marin laughing loudly; Sakura pouring drinks; Rin pretending indifference while staying nearby; and Kaguya, talking quietly with Ai but glancing toward him from time to time.
Without realizing it, Damian's lips curved into a relaxed smile.
This chaos, that mix of laughter and voices, felt strangely peaceful to him.
Without realizing it, Damian's lips curved into a relaxed smile.
This chaos, that mix of laughter and voices, felt strangely peaceful to him.
In the midst of it all, a distant tapping echoed: the metallic sound of tools coming from the fenced area at the back of the mansion.
It was the spot where, according to Satoru, the construction of the new garden would soon begin.
The echo of tools, the smell of barbecue, the laughter, and the quiet presence of Yukino at his side—all of it blended into a single sensation: the new and the old, movement and stillness, the past and the future.
Everything fit together in that moment, beneath the warm afternoon sun, on the grounds that now bore a new name: the Kurayami Residence.
When Yukino finished the chicken, she wiped her lips with a napkin and murmured, "This place… will be our home from now on."
Damian looked at her. She wasn't looking at him, her gaze was fixed on Marin, who laughed as she ran across the garden, but her voice was steady, certain.
"Yes." Damian nodded, extending his hand until his fingers brushed hers, resting on the grass.
Yukino intertwined her fingers with his.
________
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