Aria and the children have been living super happily lately.
Super super super happily!
Sen Getsusa's house is much bigger than the one Kiryu left behind!
The children no longer have to squeeze two to a bed like before; the girls even have their own independent spaces.
For the past two days, Sen Getsusa has been taking the children back and forth between the two places. It took quite an effort to get those cat guests to relocate smoothly.
Especially that slanted-faced cat that is extremely good at evading human capture!
Must die!
Speaking of which, Aria no longer holds much hope for this little lunatic Sen Getsusa's lavish shopping habits.
Even if some of the delivered goods are so expensive that even the children can tell.
Aria also treats it as normal.
Yes, as normal.
The children: Their hearts ache, but on the surface, they treat it as normal.
After all, she watched Sen Getsusa grow up. Not only does she know how much she can buy, but you can also ask the sales assistants at those malls.
Sigh... Clack.
The sound of shoes being taken off.
Chirping and clamoring came from the entrance, like a dam being opened.
The children are back.
"Aria, Aria! Come quickly! Look at what Sister bought for us!"
Several girls were carrying large and small bags, remaining somewhat reserved.
The Boys, however, were going wild, each one waving their arms and legs.
"The vanity mirror from last time was too expensive. You're spoiling Miko and the others too much."
The old woman grumbled a bit at Sen Getsusa, who was walking over barefoot. The girl curled her toes, her burgundy nails peeking out as she lightly brushed aside a lump of orange cat blocking the way.
"Didn't I also buy games, footballs, and basketballs for Oishi and the others?"
Sen Getsusa helped Aria inside, then turned to give the Boys a look, signaling them to clean up quickly and stay out of the way.
Aria gently stroked Sen Getsusa's arm.
When the girl had come to visit today, the old woman had already noticed the bandages and gauze wrapped around her.
On her palms and below her neck, bloodstains could still be seen seeping through in some places.
When asked, she wouldn't say anything, just joking around with a grin, making up all sorts of excuses like burns or accidental falls.
As for Yuno Gasai, Aria could get even less out of her—that girl would only cover her mouth with a smile, shake her head, point at Sen Getsusa, and then point at her own mouth.
The children have grown up.
Aria sighed and called out to Yuno Gasai and Sen Getsusa.
"You didn't get a tattoo, did you?"
During a break while they sat drinking tea, Aria suddenly spoke up: "If it's a tattoo, just tell me straight. I'm not some stubborn old fossil."
Sen Getsusa shook her head, her hand unconsciously moving to her neck: "I wouldn't get a tattoo. It's a burn, I told you it was a burn."
Beside her, Yuno Gasai looked down at herself... "How about it, little Yuno? I heard from Getsusa that you've been taking Kendo classes lately?"
Yuno Gasai nodded while holding her thick-walled teacup.
She had indeed gone a few times, but unfortunately, compared to Kendo, Yuno Gasai preferred the feeling of swinging heavy weapons—heavy, solid hacking was much more interesting than simple swords.
However, she couldn't say anything about that right now.
Yuno Gasai explained: "It's quite good. The teacher is great, and the classmates are friendly. It's just some basic footwork and sword-swinging correction courses; it's still too early to enter the actual combat training phase."
Aria pointed at Sen Getsusa and said to Yuno Gasai: "You have to keep an eye on this little maniac. Don't end up covered in injuries like her."
Yuno Gasai gave Sen Getsusa a knowing, half-smiling look: Figure it out yourself.
Sen Getsusa kept her eyes down and drank her tea, ignoring her.
"Don't worry, Grandma. Getsusa isn't the type to disregard the weight of things and easily let herself get hurt for some messy, random person."
Yuno Gasai promised with a smile, nudging Sen Getsusa with her elbow, "Right... Getsu-chan?"
Sen Getsusa looked solemn: "I'll definitely be careful next time and stay away from messy people."
Yuno Gasai nodded slowly: "You'd better."
Aria looked at Yuno Gasai, then at the embarrassed Sen Getsusa, completely confused.
Speaking of which, has Getsusa still not moved on from the matter with Tojo Aoi?
Thinking of the past between Tojo Aoi and Sen Getsusa, Aria felt worried.
She had watched Sen Getsusa grow up; the old woman knew exactly what kind of personality the girl had.
Despite her boisterous, maniacal exterior, she was actually very sensitive and gentle inside.
The past that Aria knew about was already incredibly heavy; what about the parts she didn't know?
Moreover, even now, Aria didn't know the reason the two of them broke up.
Under these circumstances, could Yuno Gasai even be accepted?
What Aria didn't know was that the choice of whether to accept her had long ago been rewritten by Yuno Gasai herself into 'family'... Aria looked at the two girls sitting before her; one was gentle and quiet, speaking softly.
The other was charming and bright, generous and beautiful.
"Will I live to see this Child Getsusa's wedding?"
"Also, Tojo Aoi... since you've left, then whatever you do, do not look back..." "Is that so? She looked back?"
In the chilly office, a cigar on the desk was emitting white smoke.
Tojo Chenzhu leaned back in his chair, head resting on the back, listening to his subordinate report on his daughter's movements.
"Still paying attention to that girl..." the man said with a cold expression.
This man had slicked-back, shiny hair and was dressed in a suit and leather shoes.
The wrinkles born of age did not add a hint of frailty to his face; instead, they gave his sharp, masculine expression a bit more aggression.
At the corner of his eye hung a short, shallow scar.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
Tapping his finger on the desk, Tojo Chenzhu said after a moment of deliberation: "Since she chose the path of a Ritualist, there is no looking back. Originally, I didn't intend for her to inherit the Tojo Family."
"Indecisive and overly emotional, she is not a qualified heir.
I thought these years of training would have allowed her to make some progress..."
The low, raspy male voice echoed in the room. The subordinate standing nearby, bowed in listening, quietly heard his superior's dissatisfaction, and then, in the gaps between words, showed expressions of 'yes' and 'understood.'
Tojo Chenzhu took a deep drag of his cigar; the rich tobacco mist swirled in his mouth before being exhaled, the surroundings filling with the scent of chestnuts and nuts.
"Sen Getsusa, that's the name, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"Tell me the investigation results."
The subordinate nodded respectfully, took half a step forward, pulled out a leather notebook, and began to list the details as if they were his own treasures:
"Sen Getsusa: Female, 16 years old, orphan. Found at age 3 and brought back to the orphanage.
Later raised by a woman named Aria; in the same year, she took the position of the orphanage's Dean."
"Adopted by the Mori Toda couple at age 6."
"Two years ago, the Mori Toda couple unfortunately passed away in the 'All-Japan Large Aircraft Crash' incident, and Sen Getsusa inherited the estate."
"There is no record of when she met or fell in love with the Eldest Miss.
The first recorded instance was a year and a half ago—"
Information submitted to you by Tamura Tatsuya.
After that, there are complete records of every time they met and left."
"They broke up after a year of dating. According to information provided by Tamura Tatsuya, it should have been the Eldest Miss who unilaterally initiated the breakup.
Afterward, the two had no further contact."
The man paused.
At this point in the reading, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became heavy.
"Also in the same month, Tamura Tatsuya died."
-------------------------------
Hope you enjoy this fanfiction if you do and would like to read the next 30 chapters in advance, pls do check out my Patreon.
patreon.com/TLScarlet
Also don't forget to give me a Power Stone if you do like this fiction. Your support really motivates me to continue doing my best in translating, Thanks!!