Chapter 339: Yuko: Give Me Back My Wasted Grief
Ren simply smiled at their reactions. Regardless of the circumstances, Kure Raian was a man who desperately needed a beating. If things went as expected, he was one of the opponents Kirari had specifically lined up for him.
Of course, it wasn't because Raian posed any particular trouble. It was simply because Momobami Kirari, like every other girl in their circle, shared a common, cherished pastime: watching Kure Raian get beaten into the ground, left with nothing but impotent rage.
Sonoko's smile was bright and mischievous. "Oh, absolutely! Ren-nii, if you fight Raian this time, you can't hold back at all. That guy is completely unhinged; a good thrashing is the only language he understands."
Ren let out a weary sigh. "That's true, but it's a delicate balance. If I hit him too hard, he won't be able to fight anyone else. If I hit him too lightly, he won't learn his lesson. Whether he gets knocked out before my match or during it, someone is bound to have a bad day."
"That's what makes it such a headache," Sonoko lamented with a sigh of her own. "But at least if you beat him into submission, he'll be a little more behaved for a while, right?"
"There is some logic to that," Ren conceded. "Sonoko, are you staying for dinner?"
"Hmm… I can't," she said, shaking her head. "I've sacrificed a lot of my free time to clear my schedule for the Kengan tournament. I really need to get home for dinner."
"Eh? That's a shame."
"Exactly! So, Ren-nii, if you don't put Raian in his place, you'll be letting me down! I'm off! See you all in a bit! Bye-bye!"
With a final wave, she picked up her paper shopping bag and headed for the door. Sonoko was different from most girls; while she was prone to the occasional impulse buy, her shopping trips were always purposeful. She would secure the specific item she came for first, and only then, if time permitted, would she browse for other things.
After Sonoko left, a small, questioning sound escaped Sora's lips. Everyone turned to look at her, their expressions puzzled.
Lucifer tilted her head. "What is it, Sora? Is something on your mind?"
Sora scratched her head, a little embarrassed. "I think… I forgot to ask Sister Sonoko about the Kengan Matches, and Chairman Katahara, and Old Man Wu… all those things…"
The mention of it sparked a memory in Ichihara Yuko as well. She looked at Ren, a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips, her eyes filled with keen anticipation. Ren had no intention of hiding anything, but if he didn't start cooking now, he'd have even less time to eat once the diner opened.
He thought for a moment before speaking. "Lucifer and Courage already know about the Kengan Association. Lucifer is familiar with Raian, and Courage knows Chairman Katahara. Why don't you all chat amongst yourselves for now? Otherwise, you might not have time to eat later. It really is an annoying curse."
Lucifer blinked, glanced at the clock, and nodded in understanding. "Right. You go get dinner started. If you don't, you really won't get a chance to eat."
Hearing this, the others nodded in agreement. Ichihara Yuko, however, looked thoroughly perplexed. This was the third time today she had heard someone mention Ren's "curse." As a person whose fate was now intrinsically bound to his, she felt an urgent need to understand what it was. Perhaps, with her knowledge, she could even lift it.
The strange part was that it wasn't just a secret between them. Sora knew about it, and even the newly arrived Courage seemed to be in on it.
But the most crucial detail, the one that truly baffled her, was that she had secretly checked. There was no curse on Ren—not a single trace of malevolent energy or binding spell. Even if there had been one, Lucifer surely would have resolved it long ago. Though Yuko was inexperienced in matters of the heart, she could feel the genuine depth of Lucifer's love for Ren. How could she possibly allow the man she adored to suffer under a curse? The mystery only deepened her curiosity.
Seeing Ren disappear into the kitchen, Yuko could no longer contain herself. She turned to Lucifer, her voice laced with impatience. "Lucifer, what is this curse you all speak of?"
Lucifer sighed, a hint of helplessness in her tone. "It's a curse that can never be lifted."
"What?! What is it?"
A wave of disappointment washed over Yuko. It seemed she truly was an inauspicious existence. In the past, her association with Clow Reed had coincided with the end of his natural lifespan. Now, just as she had found a new path and a new lease on life, the master she was destined to follow had been afflicted with an incurable curse.
Courage quickly cut in, her voice sharp. "Lucifer! Don't say it like Ren is on his deathbed!"
Sora nodded emphatically beside her. "Exactly! It's just a small thing!"
Yuko froze. A curse that not even Lucifer could break was… harmless? Was this some kind of hidden affliction? That, in itself, sounded like an incurable ailment of a different sort.
A playful smile finally broke across Lucifer's face. "I was just teasing. Don't worry, Yuko. What he calls a 'curse' is just his own little term for it. In reality, it's just a case of ridiculously bad luck. Every single time he sits down to eat during business hours, a customer walks in. The timing is frighteningly precise."
"That's… that's it?!" Yuko stammered.
"That's it!" came the unified chorus from Lucifer, Courage, Sora, and Cerberus.
Ichihara Yuko was utterly flustered. If the timing was that unerringly accurate, one could, in a very loose sense, call it a curse. But that trivial fact could not possibly compensate for the storm of emotions she had just weathered! All she wanted to do was stand up and shout, "Give me back my wasted grief, you scoundrels!"
Lucifer's smile turned gentle and reassuring. "Don't worry, Yuko. I won't let you lose Ren."
Yuko nodded, then paused, her expression clouding with confusion again. "While I appreciate the sentiment, I feel like something about that statement isn't quite right…"
Lucifer just gave a mischievous wink. "Don't worry about it. Nothing's wrong. Besides, how could I ever let anything happen to my man?"
Cerberus raised a paw in solidarity and barked, "Woof woof woof! Me too!"
Yuko sighed, resigning herself to the group's antics.
Sora whispered, her voice soft, "I originally thought Sister Yuko and Brother Ren's relationship was special, but not that strange. But now it seems… the feelings between you two are truly deep…"
Yuko considered her words for a moment. "That's a fair way to put it. Oh, right! Let's get back to the main topic. What on earth was that Kengan Matches thing you were all talking about?"
Sora's eyes lit up with the same expectant curiosity.
Lucifer sighed. "When it comes to the details of the Kengan Association, Courage is the real expert. I only know the general overview. Courage, you can tell them."
"Mm-hmm! Okay!" Courage puffed out her chest, beaming with pride. "Then listen carefully! It's time for Teacher Courage's Great Kengan Lecture!"
"Ooh, that sounds very impressive," Yuko mused, a smile touching her lips.
"Of course it is!"
Ichihara Yuko rested her chin on her hand, her elbow propped on the back of her chair. She watched Courage with genuine interest, though a hint of distraction lingered in her gaze. This noisy, chaotic life was interesting precisely because of its uncertainty. It was a truth she understood more deeply now, after her rebirth.
And she… she rather liked it.
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