Book 3: Chapter 15 (1/2)

“Mother, what are you doing here?” I forced through my lips, even though my jaw was sore and it hurt to talk.

“Shush… sweetie, mommy is dealing with it.” Mother shot me a quick affectionate look before it turned ugly as she glared at Gio’s supposed father.

“M-mother!” The old man took several steps back and held up his arm like he was physically defending himself. “That’s… that brat is your… that’s…”

“I still have little mice that feed me information, and when they said my son was pulled off the street by men in suits, I told myself it couldn’t possibly be Gakuto. That old man wouldn’t dare touch my precious children.”

The old man shook for a second, lifting his hands. “Ma petite fleur, it was an accident. A mistake. Had I known he was your son, I would have never handled things in a way that disrespected you. Of course, you can have him back. This was my son and daughters doing. You know how kids can be. They never concern themselves with blood ties and alliances. The youth is hotblooded, right? They just weren’t checking who they were offending.”

He shot Gio an extremely angry look. Gio looked back in confusion. It was clear he had no clue why his father was so flustered and angry. In fact, the shock on his face showed he had never seen his father act this way in his life before. Still, he seemed to fail to read his father’s mood and stepped forward defiantly.

“Pops… you can’t seriously let him go after what he did to sister…”

The old man’s hand clenched like he wanted to smack some sense in his son, but it was too late. My mother cocked her head and her gaze shot to Gina.

“My son? And what do you claim he did?” Her voice was extremely cold.

“He got my sister pregnant!” He said. “And then tried to make her abort it!”

“So?” Her voice was spoken so casually, that it made everyone shiver.

Gio’s mouth fell opened and he blinked, unable to understand how she wasn’t moved by his words.

“Whoever my son deposits his baby batter in, it’s none of your concern, and if he doesn’t want to keep the baby, who the hell are you to force him to be a father? I don’t give a shit about some dumb twat teenager who thinks herself a prochoice mommy. She certainly didn’t hesitate to open her legs to accept my son’s seed, but now that it’s making something, she suddenly doesn’t want to be rid of it but still wants him to take care of it? Where the hell is his choice? That sounds like more western feminist bullshit. The last I checked, this was still Japan!”

“Ma petite fleur…” The old man tried to force a smile while looking like he was pleading. “I was suggesting we make this boy family. I was never going to hurt him. Is it so bad that our family takes care of his baby? Our house will pay, of course.”

“Is this the girl?” Mother pointed at Gina, who was trying to hide behind the crowd now, her entire body shaking.

“Y-yes…” The old man gestured his daughter to come to his side. “This is my daughter Gina. The two met at his job. They had sex, and after she got pregnant, she says he started shafting her.”

“That’s not tru-“ I started but when mom held up her hand, I instantly stopped.

For some reason, all the fear and anxiety I had been feeling was completely gone. It felt like Mother was going to make everything right. The terrified expression of the old man was only the icing on the cake. Not everyone there was scared. Most just looked confused, as if they couldn’t understand why this woman was allowed to talk to their boss this way. However, no one would move without the boss’s orders, and I had a feeling deep down that he wouldn’t make that order, no matter what my mother said.

“Girl…” Mother reached into her purse and pulled out a long gohei. “For many years, I worked exclusively as a shrine maiden. When I turned 18, I was blessed by a goddess, and given the ability to see the hidden truth in all things, do you know what this means?”

The girl shook, content with not saying anything, but her father nudged her forward, nodding at her to speak.

“I-I’m sorry, I don’t…”

“Hmph…” Mother gave a displeased noise while she shook her Gohei, the paper rattling with a soft sound. “Stupid, and a cumdumpster besides.”

Mother began to walk towards the door. Gina tried to step back, but her father didn’t allow her. She was shaking but didn’t move as my mother approached, shaking her paper stick as she got closer and closer.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

“You could say… I have a knack for smelling out bullshit. It served me well as a Sukeban and it only got stronger as a maiden. The last sixteen years with my husband has only made it flawless.” She stopped, the paper just touching Gina’s belly. “I’ll give you one chance. Speak the truth of things.”

“This is- it’s Hakaru’s baby! It’s-”

Mother’s eyes I couldn’t see, but they suddenly made Gina’s words catch on her lips. Mother leaned forward, her lips right next to Gina’s ears.

“Liar…” She whispered simply.

It sounded like a sentence though, and Gina’s knees grew so weak, that she collapsed to the floor.

“This is ridiculous!” Gio took a step forward. “Father, between your own daughter and this woman, who will you-“

“I’m sorry!” Gina suddenly screamed. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to… I didn’t want to lie.”

Gio’s mouth fell opened and closed a few times. “S-sister?”

Gio’s father closed his eyes and looked away as if he had just experienced a slap across the face.

“They made me… they had pictures… pictures of me… they wanted to embarrass the whole gang. Said they’d show everyone if I didn’t… If I didn’t… then he got me pregnant. He told me to pin it on Hakaru… he wanted me to… to say it was Hakaru’s!”

“Daughter!” The man’s eyes opened and he slammed his cane down. “Enough!”