Running into Mei-chan

Surprisingly, there was no annoying Ichihara Jun when I arrived at Marika’s place. It saved me the time of dealing with him.

Kagura-san also didn’t make it difficult for me to bring Marika with me. I guess it has to do with our previous conversation but I doubt we’re just in a lull until a clear directive comes down from the Kujou Family.

As we made ourselves comfortable in the bus, Marika shared that Kagura-san has started coaching her not just in the kitchen but also in all things relevant to an independent woman. She’s also quite a storyteller, narrating her adventures outside the country.

Due to that, Marika developed some kind of admiration for her second aunt. Her eyes lit up as she recounted a tale of Kagura-san navigating a bustling foreign market with nothing but a phrasebook and sheer determination.

It was clear the older woman’s experience was such a huge bowl of wisdom, giving Marika a glimpse of a world beyond the sheltered life she’d known.