As far as Ren Kuroda was concerned, he wasn't overly worried about his mother Ayami or his younger sister Ruka.
After all, with powerhouses like Hagoromo-Gitsune and the others around, even if they encountered an enemy they couldn't defeat, protecting Ayami and the rest long enough to escape shouldn't be a problem. Besides, judging by the number of ordinary people still going about their daily lives on the streets, the situation clearly hadn't deteriorated to the worst-case scenario he'd imagined.
Taking familiar back alleys, Ren made his way home with practiced ease. He had expected a warm reunion after such a long absence—
…but the moment he saw the sign hanging on the front door that read "Out Traveling," his face went completely blank.
"…Mom, how big are your nerves, seriously?"
Ren pressed a hand to his forehead, utterly speechless.
"The gods from the higher realm could descend at any moment and wipe out humanity, and at a time like this—fine, normal people wouldn't know any better. But you? You do know what's going on, and instead of staying home to train or lie low, you take the whole family on a vacation? And you didn't even take me with you?!"
For a moment, Ren genuinely felt exhausted. It was like he'd been the only one worrying himself sick this whole time, while his family carried on with nerves of steel.
Sighing, he reached under the flowerpot by the door, retrieved the spare key, and let himself inside. Before long, he found a note left behind by Amamiya Ayami.
The contents were simple enough.
Apparently, during a recent visit from Yamato Kuka's mother, Yamato Miku, the latter had invited their entire family to a hot spring trip in Gunma Prefecture. Ayami had initially declined, but Ruka had enthusiastically egged her on from the side. On top of that, ever since Ren's identity had begun drawing attention, powerful exorcists had been constantly visiting their home, pestering Ayami to no end.
Between those two reasons, she had finally given in to Miku's insistence—and even brought along her close friend, Jingu Saori.
Of course, if Ayami and Ruka were going, then their attendants and protectors—Kumo-hime, the Snow Woman, Hagoromo-Gitsune, and several Yuki-warashi—naturally accompanied them as well.
The group was large, but for the wealthy Yamato family, that was hardly an issue.
Upon arriving at the hot spring inn, Yamato Miku wasted no time demonstrating the overwhelming power of money. With a single glance from her, one of her attendants immediately produced a suitcase full of cash, calmly informing the staff that they were booking out the entire establishment—and that they wished not to be disturbed for the next few days.
Watching this extravagant display, Ayami couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.
After all, having grown up in poverty, she was notoriously frugal—borderline miserly, even. To this day, despite Ren working for the Countermeasure Division for quite some time, he hadn't seen a single yen of his salary… and the reason was precisely because of a certain mother of his.
Still, while Ayami was thrifty, she was also principled. Seeing how many people she'd brought along this time, she felt that if anyone were to pay, it should be her—even if she had to use Ren's saved-up salary to do it.
Just as she was about to insist—
"Don't worry about it, Ayami," Yamato Miku said with a gentle smile. "Since I invited you all, it's only natural that you enjoy yourselves. If there's anything you need, just tell me. I may look modest, but the Yamato family has… a bit of money."
However, Ayami's concern only made Miku frown slightly, as if she found the formality unnecessary.
"We're friends. And Kuka and Ren are… close, too. There's no need to keep score between us."
Before Ayami could respond, another voice cut in—cool and sharp.
"I believe you've only known Ayami for a short time, haven't you, Mrs. Yamato?"
It was Jingu Saori.
"If anyone's paying, it should be me. The Jingu family may not be as wealthy as yours, but covering a private booking isn't beyond us. Besides, I've known Ayami far longer than you have… and unlike some people, I don't have ulterior motives."
Her words were polite on the surface—but the implication was unmistakable.
Saori had never trusted Yamato Miku. From the moment they met, she'd sensed that Miku's approach toward Ayami wasn't entirely innocent. She had no intention of letting her friend become indebted to someone who might later demand something in return.
And to be fair… she wasn't entirely wrong.
Miku's first visit to Ayami had indeed been motivated by her daughter Kuka's relationship with Ren. Even this hot spring trip carried its own purpose—one part concerning Ren and Kuka's future, and another involving a request from various exorcist families.
Yet, as time passed, Miku had genuinely come to regard Ayami as a friend.
Before her marriage, she had been a swordsmanship prodigy of the Kusuha family, spending her youth in relentless training. After marrying into the Yamato family, her role as its matriarch forced her into a more reserved, secluded life.
Ayami, with her calm and soothing presence, was someone who naturally drew people in. And beyond that, she was clearly a remarkable mother—after all, she had raised children like Ren and Ruka.
So yes, while her initial approach had ulterior motives, her feelings now were sincere.
That said—
Saori's thinly veiled jab did not sit well with her at all.
"Ha? You're calling me the one with ulterior motives?" Miku shot back immediately, her tone sharpening.
"And what about you? Why is a 'normal person' like you tagging along here? You've been clinging to Ayami under the guise of friendship this whole time, haven't you?"
She crossed her arms, eyes narrowing.
"Or what—did the Jingu family take an interest in Ren's potential and decide to invest early? Oh, right… weren't you recently dumped by your fiancé? Don't tell me your family ordered you to win Ren over?"
Miku's words were spoken in the heat of the moment—a reflexive counterattack.
But the effect was immediate.
Saori's face flushed bright red, and for a moment, she couldn't say a word.
Because while she personally had no such intentions…
…it was also true that the Jingu family had, in fact, given her exactly that order.
Compared to Ayami, Saori was significantly younger. That much was obvious—after all, Ayami already had children as old as Ren, while Saori had only recently had her engagement called off.
Yet due to Ayami and Miku both possessing remarkably youthful appearances, Saori had initially assumed Ayami to be around her own age—somewhere in her twenties.
..
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