Chapter 24

"Souta, what on earth happened? Why did you drag us all the way here?"

Inside the elegant piano room belonging to Lady Ichiba Nagisa, four girls sat in a circle. Finally, Amane Tennyo found the chance to voice what was on everyone's mind.

Although she enjoyed spending time with "little Ichiba," Amane also understood that she shouldn't have entered this mansion. The owner of this grand estate clearly didn't welcome her—or more accurately, treated her as if she didn't even exist.

Nagisa hesitated briefly before deciding to answer directly.

"There was a terrorist attack recently. It happened in Arakawa Ward, Machiya Town."

"What?! A terrorist attack? In Arakawa?"

Everyone was shocked. Their first reaction was disbelief. But then they recalled the earlier scene outside the Royal Sakura School—the influx of luxury cars, even helicopters evacuating students. The pieces began to fit together.

"So that's what it was," Class President Nao murmured. "But didn't they say it was an earthquake?"

Tennyo still couldn't quite wrap her head around it. For the Reiwa generation, terrorism was like something from a distant land. Besides, the government had already issued a statement: the area had experienced an earthquake.

"Of course they would say that," Akiyama Yu chimed in from the side, picking up the thread of conversation.

"You think they'd have an official come out and say: 'There was a terrorist attack in Arakawa. We failed in our duties.' That'd cause mass panic!"

Yu, the mastermind behind the incident, knew full well it was neither an earthquake nor a terrorist attack.

It was a supernatural event orchestrated entirely by him.

"I see," Tennyo nodded. Whether or not the government had good reasons for hiding the truth, she was just a poor orphan. She had no right to question it.

In fact, if Nagisa hadn't told them, they would still be in the dark.

"Thanks, Ichiba," Tennyo said, wrapping her arms around the heiress and rubbing her cheek against hers.

"But I really need to get back to the shrine my grandfather left me."

"No!"

Nagisa's face turned bright red from the sudden affection, but she didn't hesitate in rejecting the idea.

"It's too dangerous outside. I can't let you be alone right now."

"Yesterday, my father specifically told me to have the driver pick me up right after school. I was annoyed at the time, but now it makes sense."

Her father must have caught wind of what was going to happen.

After all, the incident occurred today.

Nagisa placed both hands on Tennyo's shoulders.

"Stay here, Tennyo. Do it for me. I don't want to see you get hurt."

This estate wasn't just old-fashioned in appearance. It had a fully stocked, reinforced basement that could withstand bombings. Eighty years ago, even American bombers had tested its durability firsthand!

"But I..."

As the two girls shared a tender moment, Nagisa's sister, Akari, and Class President Nao exchanged gossip-laced glances. Yu quietly stepped outside.

"Ah, it's so much better outside."

Stretching in the flower-filled courtyard, Yu took a deep breath.

Sure, being around four pretty girls was pleasant, but once they started talking about girl stuff, it was definitely time for him to bow out. No need to be the odd one out.

Plus, with his supernatural senses, he could tell someone else in the estate was restless.

"Lady Nagisa," Yu called out.

Startled, the woman standing alone in the garden turned around.

"Sorry, I got lost in thought... You must be Akiyama Yu?"

"Yes. Are you enjoying the flowers, Madam?"

Yu wasn't surprised she knew his name. As the wife of a major industrialist, she surely had access to background checks.

"Not enjoying. Just... reminded of things. Life is like these flowers. One moment they bloom, the next they wither, fall, and vanish."

Yu couldn't really relate to her melancholic musings.

He was too busy spreading his influence, mastering his abilities, and constantly engaging in a mental chess game with the government—all to create a world where spiritual energy was returning.

Who had time to mourn fallen petals?

"Sorry, old women tend to get sentimental. I must look silly to you."

Noticing Yu's expression, Lady Nagisa gracefully changed the topic.

"Yu, you're in the same grade as Tennyo, right?"

"Yes, same class."

After he responded, she continued.

"Have you thought about your future? What kind of work you'd like to do?"

Huh?

That was a sudden shift. Even Yu was caught off guard.

"Not really. Actually, I don't need to think about it."

In two years, Yu was confident he'd be exploring the cosmos in the flesh. A job? That was out of the question. And who would dare hire him?

What's he going to do? Open a ramen shop and wait for the storm to pass?

"Sounds like you already have your future well planned."

Lady Nagisa studied his face. That confident expression, that sense of control—she had seen it only on influential figures.

Was it true self-assurance? Or arrogance?

She had initially planned to offer him a position in one of the family's companies. But now, she figured it might be better to let him face the world first. Still...

"Yu, what do you think of Tennyo?"

What?

The topic swung abruptly from careers to romance.

"Tennyo seems carefree and silly, but she's actually deeply considerate and emotionally sensitive. She's a good person."

Yu gave a neutral answer after thinking it through.

"Then," she continued, "have you ever considered dating her?"

"Lady Nagisa, forgive me. I thought you were going to say something like, 'Stay away from my daughter.'"

Yu half expected some soap opera scene where she throws a wad of cash and tells him to disappear. Instead, she was trying to play matchmaker. Or rather, a god of fate.

"Do I look like that kind of woman?" she sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Actually, Tennyo and Ichiba are sisters."

"Wait, what?"

"Don't get the wrong idea. Tennyo isn't my daughter. She's the child of my husband's mistress."

What??

Hearing such a shocking truth straight from Nagisa's mother made Yu rub his temples.

"Madam, your family's drama is... impressive."

"Ahem, but what does that have to do with me?"

"Nothing. But as a mother, I want to see my daughters happy. Ichiba truly cares for Tennyo. She sees her as a real sister. So..."

Back to the topic.

"Yu, would you consider dating Tennyo? With marriage in mind."

What the hell was this?

Yu and Tennyo were, and had always been, just friends. To be suddenly encouraged into marriage by a parental figure was baffling.

"Madam, isn't this a bit early? Also, with all due respect, what Tennyo needs most isn't romance. It's... family."

There was no question about the bond between Tennyo and Ichiba. And Yu wasn't blind. He saw the mix of fear and yearning in Tennyo's eyes when she looked at Lady Nagisa.

"Sorry, Yu. I know what Tennyo really wants. But this family isn't mine to command."

Lady Nagisa spoke with regret. This traditional, powerful household was ruled by a man who had yet to show himself: Ichiba's father.

"I get it now," Yu nodded. So this wasn't a wicked stepmother situation—it was a cold-hearted father drama.

"Lady Nagisa, how about we make a bet?"

She frowned at first, but curiosity got the better of her.

"Go on."

"Very soon, your husband will be begging for Tennyo to live here. If I win, I want you to care for her as a mother would. If I lose, I'll accept any condition you name."

No way.

That was her first thought. She was from an elite family, supported by a powerful conglomerate. Even if she agreed, others in the family would never let an illegitimate child in.

Besides, she knew her husband well. He hadn't even gone to see Tennyo's mother on her deathbed.

He was the very definition of cold-hearted.

"Of course, this stays between us," Yu added.

"And please, keep it secret."

Yu wasn't placing blind trust in her. He had his reasons:

Curse Seal: Severed Tongue of Silence

It wasn't a difficult jutsu, but the hard part was applying it.

No trained ninja would allow someone to place a curse mark on them. But Lady Nagisa was just an ordinary person. Now, any attempt to speak or write about Yu would trigger the seal.

"I don't know where your confidence comes from, but..."

After a careful look at the vibrant youth before her, she nodded.

"If my husband accepts Tennyo, then I will treat her as my own daughter. Even if only for Ichiba's sake."

"Then it's a deal."

Yu extended his hand.

Lady Nagisa smiled and shook it.

"Of course."

The dark curse seal silently slithered from Yu's finger, up her arm.

Severed Tongue of Silence: Engraved!