Chapter 281: An Unbreakable Blood Alliance (Part 1)
With twin sisters? A three-person date?
Two-timing but the boats are welded together?
Dana's pupils trembled violently.
"I didn't expect you to have such talent, Yusuke Akahoshi. I was rude before..."
"Dana-sama, what strange things are you saying?"
Even though he was shocked a thousand times over in his heart, Dana could only hold it in.
He couldn't exactly ask the man how to balance two boats so steadily when both boats were present, could he?
Damn it, I'm super curious! On the surface, he looks like a sickly, kidney-deficient guy, but secretly he's a super-player?
Dana could only change the subject. "I heard your 'Team Good Morning' has been effective, and the feedback in the capital is very positive? You even designed a uniform and want to promote it?"
Yusuke scratched his head bashfully. "It's okay, I guess. Mainly because Dana-sama's policies are good; everyone in the capital welcomes Team Good Morning. Has the uniform matter been reported to you? What do you think? Can we promote it?"
"I haven't seen it yet. I was in the Land of Water. But Dodai will handle this. If it's good, we should promote it to the anti-crime special squads across the country."
"Hehe! How should I put it? Wearing that uniform makes my blood boil, and it's very intimidating. Now, many bad guys in the capital surrender as soon as they see our Team Good Morning uniform. I believe other squads will like it too."
"That's good. A unified uniform can indeed increase the credibility of law enforcement. Keep working hard. Maybe one day it will become the unified uniform for the entire Cloud Village, and your Team Good Morning will go down in history."
"Hehe! Although I didn't design it, that would be nice too! Hahaha!"
The twins, Ganseki and Akane, also chimed in.
"Go down in history!"
"Eternal glory!"
After chatting for a while, Yusuke tactfully left with the twins just as Hiroto's mother served the food.
Dish after dish of delicacies was served: top-grade beef, perfectly cooked steaming rice topped with two onsen eggs, crisp pickled vegetables, a plate of thick sashimi, and a plump grilled mackerel.
Dana's appetite was whetted. Hiroto's mother understood his taste perfectly. However, the portion size...
"Auntie Uzumaki, could you please make two more portions of this size?"
Hiroto's mother slapped her forehead and smiled bitterly. "I forgot Dana-kun isn't a child anymore. I'll make more right away!"
Actually, the portion in front of him would satisfy an ordinary adult man, but the current Dana indeed needed to eat more.
After enjoying the meal, Dana took out the VVVip card Konan gave him.
Both chef mothers said, "No need! Dana-sama takes care of Konan and Kayo so much. This meal is on us."
Dana naturally refused. "That won't do. Otherwise, this card in my hand would become useless. This is Konan's wedding gift to me."
Just then, a voice came from behind.
"Mom, I'm back from the mission. Do you need help?"
Kayo lifted the curtain and walked in.
She saw the tall, mighty, handsome figure that haunted her dreams and made her toss and turn at night.
Tears instantly flowed down her face...
Dana felt awkward on the spot. "Ah... crying right off the bat?"
Kayo: "You... I... She..."
Simultaneously, Kayo's mother behind the counter pressed a play button somewhere.
Immediately, a traditional Japanese song with a melody so mournful it sounded like someone had been dead for three days and their intestines were rotting began to play. Its power was equivalent to the song "Xue Hua Piao Piao" (Snowflakes drift).
A sorrowful atmosphere permeated the entire "Rain Inari."
Many diners looked up blankly.
Those who didn't know better would think someone had died and the funeral procession was passing by the door.
Dana turned to look in surprise. Kayo's mother continued cooking without any change in expression, as if this was the shop's standard background music and she definitely didn't mean to amplify the tragic atmosphere.
Boosted by the BGM, Kayo cried even harder, her glasses slipping down her nose.
Dana could guess the reason. His heart softened, and he beckoned.
"Although I don't know what to say... come here quickly. Don't cry..."
Wiping her tears, Kayo walked over step by step and sat next to Dana. She lowered her head, tears falling plip-plop. Who could withstand this? She looked so pitiable that one couldn't help but feel guilty.
Especially since her mother was just across the counter.
And had just cooked him a meal.
Dana only wanted to say: Choosing to eat at "Rain Inari" was a bit hasty.
Kayo didn't look at Dana, staring blankly at the table. In Dana's perspective, he could only see a mass of beautiful red hair and her hands gripping the hem of his pants so tightly her knuckles turned white.
"Dana-Nii-san... was the wedding... happy?"
Dana sucked in nine breaths of cold air. Before he could organize his words, Kayo covered her face and fled again, leaving behind a group of confused diners and a stunned Dana.
Facing the questioning gaze of Kayo's mother, Dana felt thirty million pores on his back open up.
"Um... sorry to trouble you. I'll be going now..."
He really couldn't face Kayo's mother right now.
However, Kayo's mother didn't intend to let it slide. She spoke up. "Dana-kun, you understand that child's feelings, don't you?"
Dana was silent for a long time, then finally nodded.
"Yes... Everyone around her, including our family and people who know Kayo, knows that since she was little, she has regarded you as a goal to aspire to... calling it her life's goal wouldn't be an exaggeration."
Dana's heart sank, and a sense of guilt suddenly surged.
"Some things... cannot be changed... And if I speak, it would seem too hypocritical..."
Kayo's mother placed a cup of clear tea in front of Dana. "I know. I tried to persuade her long ago."
Dana looked at Kayo's mother.
"Your engagement wasn't sudden. Back when you were in the Ninja Academy, I talked to Kayo. I told her you were engaged, and the fiancée was a princess of the Land of Lightning. She firmly believed these weren't problems. Maybe she was too young, and the matter seemed too distant to feel real. I thought as she grew older, she would eventually give up on such unrealistic thoughts."
"But even after so many years, I would talk to her again every year. Although she wasn't as naive as before, she never planned to give up; she just became less certain. Probably starting from the year before last... I knew this child was beyond saving..."
Dana gripped the teacup. To Kayo's mother, he could only squeeze out one sentence: "I'm sorry..."
"I am her mother. Of course, I hope Kayo can be happy more than anyone. You are a good boy too. But after advising her for nearly ten years, I realized that child might only find happiness by your side. Although as a mother, I am very troubled, I have no other choice. Dana-kun, that child has worked hard for ten years. You should work a little harder too."
"Work harder...?"
With a heavy heart, Dana walked out of "Rain Inari," Kayo's mother's words echoing in his mind.