Dinner was curry rice.
Curry again… Are you kidding me! I'm going to puke!
But this was one of the only two dishes Granny Kobayashi was good at, the other being hot pot, which also didn't require much skill.
So for the past six months, Akira had basically only eaten curry and hot pot, occasionally curry hot pot, and was already close to developing curry hot pot aversion.
"So… your surname is Miyako?"
At the dinner table, after listening to Miyako's self-introduction, Granny Kobayashi asked in return.
"Ha! Yes, yes… hiss… ha! My, my name is Mi, Miyako, cough… Miyako, hiss… Shion desu! Hiss… Granny… ha… You can just call me Shion!"
The strange inhaling and exhaling sounds were from the spiciness.
Because Granny Kobayashi's husband was from Hunan, and Hunan cuisine is known for its spiciness, the curry Granny Kobayashi made was a super-spicy curry that far exceeded the spiciness tolerance of Japanese people.
"Sorry, Miyako, because usually only this kid eats my curry rice, I'm used to making it this spicy. I'll make non-spicy curry later."
"It's fine… it's, it's delicious…"
Actually, it was so spicy that she couldn't taste anything. Miyako felt like her tongue was swollen and she had to stick it out like a puppy to air it out, otherwise it would be too uncomfortable.
Ugh… I showed such an ugly side in front of Akira…
She had just been thinking about whether to disfigure herself, and now she was concerned about her image again. Miyako hadn't realized that her mindset was changing.
And although Akira could eat spicy food, he didn't have much appetite for curry on a hot day, so he just played with his spoon and asked.
"What's wrong, old woman?"
"Nothing, it's just that the surname Miyako is very rare. As far as I know, the only Miyako family living in Chiyoda Ward should be that one…"
At this point, Granny Kobayashi paused, revealing a meaningful gaze.
"But, I remember he was a long-term bachelor, and this is the first time I've heard that Miyako has a daughter this old, and she doesn't look like an illegitimate child either…"
"Um… Miyako is my current surname. I wasn't named Miyako before. Mr. Miyako is my stepfather."
In Japan, after marriage, the wife takes the husband's surname, and the children's surname is decided by the parents.
In other words, Miyako was the surname Shion acquired after her mother remarried.
Is she living at her stepfather's house now… It seems this is one of the family conflicts.
"I see, Miyako actually got married, and to a divorced woman with a child, huhu, this is really interesting… But this makes things troublesome, hmm…"
Granny Kobayashi frowned, closed her eyes, and hummed in thought, seemingly contemplating what to do.
Akira saw that she seemed very concerned about this surname, and just as he was about to ask about Miyako, she opened her eyes and said to Shion.
"Alright, I understand. After you finish eating, tell me your family's phone number."
"Eh?"
"Don't worry, I'm not going to send you back, but your parents must know where you are, otherwise things will become more troublesome."
Akira knew that Granny Kobayashi was not like those gossipy busybodies who liked to watch drama unfold. She preferred to avoid trouble if possible.
Granny Kobayashi always resolved the source of conflict decisively before things turned into a mess.
This time should be the same.
So when Miyako looked at Akira, asking what to do, Akira passed the ball to Granny Kobayashi.
"Leave it to Granny, she won't harm you."
"Okay… Then I'll write it down for you now."
Granny Kobayashi nodded and went to get paper and a pen.
Then, as she watched Miyako write down a string of phone numbers, she brought up the past.
"Actually, I also have a son, but when that child got married, he had a big fight with my old man, and then he never came back to visit us again, and my old man never called him either."
"The result was that the father and son never even saw each other for the last time. At the old man's funeral, my unfilial son was quite regretful… Really, the father and son's stubborn temperaments are exactly the same…"
"Anyway, I'm not saying this to persuade you to go home, I just want to tell you that no matter how much you dislike your parents, parents will still worry about their children, and children will still care about their parents. This is an instinct of blood connection."
Miyako listened silently, as if she couldn't even feel the spiciness on her tongue.
Parents worry about their children… the instinct of blood connection…
She believed that even without a blood relationship, her current father would worry about her, because her new father was a good person.
But Mom… would she really worry about me?
She wasn't sure, and she didn't dare to be sure.
After dinner, Akira was in charge of washing dishes, Miyako was in charge of wiping the table, and Granny Kobayashi was in the living room making a call on the landline, with the speakerphone on.
"Moshi moshi (hello), is this Mr. Miyako?"
"Yes, it's me! How did you get this phone number? Could it be that Shion…!"
"Calm down, your daughter is fine, she's at my house now."
"May I ask who you are?"
"I am Kobayashi Mika."
Granny Kobayashi didn't say another word of self-introduction, as if just stating her name would naturally make the other party understand who she was.
And the other party really didn't ask for details. So Granny Kobayashi has so much influence? Is she a Face-Face Fruit user?
"Did you help Shion?"
"Not me, a guest staying at my house picked up your daughter. He's the same age as your daughter, a penniless male high school student."
"Uh…"
Old woman! Don't be a busybody! Why are you so honest! You must be doing it on purpose!
Akira shouted in his heart.
From the anxious tone on the other end of the phone, he knew this father must be a doting father. If he knew his daughter was picked up by a male student her age and brought home, wouldn't he come over with a knife to chop him?
But unexpectedly, Granny Kobayashi's name was so effective that the other party was not angry at all, but instead said with great trust.
"Since she is your guest, then she must be a reliable person, and with you looking after her, my daughter should not encounter any danger."
Granny Kobayashi looked bored. In her opinion, a father who wouldn't be angry about his daughter getting close to a stranger wasn't a good father.
Is it because she's a stepdaughter, so he's not as worried?
"Hmph!"
Granny Kobayashi snorted and continued.
"I don't know what happened at your house, but your daughter said she doesn't want to go home yet, so she'll stay here for now."
That wasn't a negotiating tone, it was merely a notification.
Whether you accept it or not, it's already a given fact.
Granny, you're so domineering!
But you clearly refused to take in Miyako just now…
"…I understand. Then I will transfer the money to your account. Please take good care of Shion on my behalf."
Oh ho?
Money?
Hearing this information, Akira got excited.
If he could get some starting capital, he could choose other training routes.
Miyako… Oh no, Dad! Please send more money!
You don't want to see your daughter suffer here with me, do you?