Chapter 118: The Bond of Parent and Child / Those who Fall Further Below (1/2)

Chapter 117: The Bond of Parent and Child / Bustling One-Room Chapter 119: The Bond of Parent and Child / Teasing the Son

Translator: Reflet

「Okaa-sama!」

Aoba clinged to the woman who had appeared. Watching from the sidelines, this embrace without reservation or sense of distance, this manifestation of emotions to convey deep affection made even Taiyou feel warm and fluffy, which was enough to make him smile broadly without realizing it.

「It has been a long time, Aoba-sama.」

「Has Okaa-sama been well?」

「I am obliged to receive such consideration; I am as you can see. I am instead concerned about Aoba-sama; I heard that you sustained an injury the other day.」

「It’s fine now; it was just a little blow.」

「Is that so.」

Mio looked at Aoba’s mannerism of putting on a show of being strong with a warm gaze.

「In any case, thank you for coming, Okaa-sama.」

「If it is the wish of Aoba, I would go wherever you would desire.」

Mio said with an earnest face.

「And besides, this feels like returning home. Although it seems that I will be quite resented on account of this trip.」

「Eh? Why…wait, who resents you?」

「By the two personages of the mansion. The madams who could not accompany Aoba-sama were vexed enough to bite their handkerchiefs. It was enough to prepare me for what is in store when I come back.」

「I could see Mother doing that, but Mama too?」

「She bit hers off. That person is of the physical variety after all.」

「And she can finish a full marathon in 3 hours.」

Taiyou quietly listened to the exchange between Aoba and Mio.

Though he still couldn’t adjust to the way Mio spoke to Aoba, if he ignored the manner of speaking, the contents of what they were discussing sounded to him like that of the cozy relationship of mother and daughter.

It was as if just recently running away from home and making a fuss about the DNA appraisal was a lie.

Taiyou didn’t know the results of the DNA appraisal. He had only prepared it, resulting in it directly reaching Aoba.

Whoever her real mother was, was meaningless information to Taiyou.

After all, once Aoba had been satisfied, she had continued to view the three mothers as her mothers as per usual, which was why Taiyou also still viewed them as her mothers with no differences.

There probably wouldn’t be anything wrong with knowing, but there also wasn’t any need to know.

Something like that with no objective or even methods gave Taiyou absolutely no interest.

After the intimate mother and daughter had briefly enjoyed their reunion, Aoba remembered the left-out Taiyou and turned his way.

「Sorry Natsuno-kun, getting all excited here without you.」

「I don’t mind.」

Taiyou smiled sweetly, turning to Mio with a slight bow.

「In any case, it has been a while, Mio-san.」

「Yes, it has been a long time, Natsuno-sama.」

Mio said, taking a graceful bow. With refined mannerisms and courteous behavior, as well as from the apron on her figure, she exuded an atmosphere from her entire body that was not of an electronic district, but of a matriarch living in a noble’s mansion.

She legitimately wore the same outfit and performed those exact duties in the mansion-like Miki Estate.

Taiyou did not think that person would seriously show themselves here.

「So Mio-san’s coming with us, eh?」

「Yeah, once I told her about what happened, I understood that Okaa-sama is from Juunishima. So I thought to bring her along.」

「I was the one who asked to come along. If you will be staying at that island, I was under the impression that it might be a good idea to have a pilot.」

「Is that so. Thank you, you’ll help us greatly.」

This time he deeply bowed his head, offering thanks from the bottom of his heart.

Juunishima, the place of destination. Up until now, Taiyou had heard fragments of information about Juunishima from the people involved: Youran, Sakura, and Kohaku. All of those stories were about things outside the realm of his general knowledge.

Frankly, he felt each time as if he were hearing about a different country.

As a result, he felt just a bit of anxiety about going to Juunishima. It was the mysterious feeling of going to a different country that spoke the same language.

So he believed that if someone from the island were to accompany and guide them, it was of the utmost reassuring.

When he said that, Aoba looked around the area as if remembering something.

「Okaa-sama, where is your luggage?」

「Over there; I will now make my way to it.」

「No, I’ll go; please wait here, Okaa-sama.」

Aoba said, half-running in the direction that Mio had indicated.

A slightly different-than-usual pattern of conduct. Taiyou came to think that she was quite excited as he looked at her from behind.

「She seems to be having fun.」

「Yes, it is most reassuring that she has regained her natural cheerfulness. Though it is a shame that it was to the thanks of meat trash.」

「Huh?」