Chapter 268: Aunt Yakusha?!
Inside the office, Amou Kirukiru was already waiting for Kasugano Sora. Sōryūin Shion was there as well, a playful glint in her eyes as she surveyed the stacks of paperwork on Kirukiru's desk.
"My, my," Shion began, her voice laced with amusement. "This looks truly troublesome. All these documents..."
A muscle in Kirukiru's jaw tightened. Those were the exact words she had used to taunt Shion earlier in the day, while Shion had been the one buried in paperwork and Kirukiru had been leisurely sipping tea.
"It's nothing," Kirukiru said, her tone a flat, dismissive wave. "Mere documents. Shion, if you're troubled by something of this level, you still have a long way to go."
Shion simply smiled, a picture of relaxed grace. "Whether I have a long way to go is beside the point. At least I don't have any documents to deal with this morning."
"You... Then go join Akemi at the gym."
"If I leave, won't you be bored, Kirukiru?" Shion countered smoothly. "So, I'll stay and keep you company. I even left my secretary back at the university department. That's quite sincere of me, isn't it?"
"Then you should at least provide some proper hospitality. Serve me some tea."
"That's impossible," Shion said with a light laugh. "Akemi does everything herself, so you'll have to put in the effort on your own."
"Tsk..." Kirukiru clicked her tongue in annoyance.
Though Sōryūin Shion wasn't particularly active in their online group chats, she maintained good relationships with everyone. She interacted most frequently with Amou Kirukiru; both shared a passion for physical training, and Kirukiru was one of the few women whose martial prowess she respected. Their personalities were also surprisingly compatible, leading to a close, if competitive, friendship.
"Akemi... Can I... not go in?"
As they reached the teaching building, Kasugano Sora came to an abrupt halt, her feet seemingly rooted to the spot.
Sōryūin Akemi turned, a confused look on her face. "What's wrong? Sister Kirukiru is waiting for you."
"It's because of Sister Kirukiru..." Sora mumbled, her voice barely a whisper. "Never mind... I'll go in. If I don't, I'll probably get scolded again..."
"Eh?"
Just as Amou Kirukiru was about to boil some water, she heard footsteps approaching. The next moment, the office door swung open and Sōryūin Akemi walked in.
"Sister Kirukiru, I brought Sora," she announced cheerfully. "Eh? Sister, why are you here too?"
"Just came to take a look," Shion replied casually. "Where's Sora?"
"She's right behind me... Huh? Where'd she go?" Akemi spun around, only to find the hallway empty. Poking her head back out the door, she found Sora frozen just outside the frame. "Sora, why are you just standing there? Eh? Teacher Yakusha? Why are you here?"
A beautiful woman dressed in an elegant kimono stood beside Sora, a gentle smile on her face. "Oh, it's nothing. I just heard Shion was here, so I came to see. And who is this little one? My, aren't you just the cutest thing?"
Akemi gently pulled the reluctant Kasugano Sora into the room. "Teacher Yakusha, you should come in too! This is perfect timing. We can see about getting Sora into a good class."
"Oh? Alright then."
Sōryūin Shion, who had been pleased to see Sora, felt a knot of apprehension form in her stomach the moment the smiling Kure Yakusha followed them inside. She knew all too well how delicate her relationship with this woman was.
"Sister Kirukiru... Sister Shion... I'm here..." Sora said meekly.
But neither Kirukiru nor Shion spared her a glance. Their gazes were locked onto Kure Yakusha, creating a sudden, heavy tension in the air that made even Akemi pause.
Kure Yakusha's smile never wavered. "President... ah, no... Shion. Shouldn't you say something when you see me? And you too, Kirukiru."
The corners of both Shion's and Kirukiru's lips twitched. After a long, strained silence, Shion finally let out a resigned sigh.
"Aunt Yakusha... why are you here?"
"Yakusha..."
"Auntie?!" came two shocked squeaks in unison from Kasugano Sora and Sōryūin Akemi. What kind of relationship was this? It was so strange!
Kure Yakusha beamed. "It's because my daughter and you two are like sisters, isn't that right, Shion?"
Shion's expression soured. Kure Yakusha was the mother of Kure Karura. They had discovered her identity when Karura brought her to the Restaurant for a meal. Upon finding out, Yakusha had been ecstatic and insisted they call her 'Auntie'. Her open-mindedness was on a level all its own.
Yakusha turned her warm gaze to Kasugano Sora. "Ah, what an adorable little girl. Even cuter than my Karura. Your name is Sora, correct?"
Sora, looking at the woman who could so easily command the attention of both Sōryūin Shion and Amou Kirukiru, nodded repeatedly. "Yes, Teacher Yakusha... My name is Kasugano Sora. Sister Shion and the others call me Sora..."
Kure Yakusha nodded, then glanced over her shoulder at Shion. "So, Shion... which class is this child going to?"
The unspoken message was crystal clear: 'Put her in my class.'
Shion sighed again, this time with a hint of helplessness. "Aunt Yakusha, I know what you're thinking, but Sora is a first-year high school student..."
"First-year high school... First-year high school... First-year high school..."
The phrase echoed in Kure Yakusha's mind. A look of complete devastation crossed her features. She had been so sure she could get Sora into her class, but now it seemed impossible.
Sōryūin Shion cleared her throat, regaining control of the situation. "Sora, fill out this form carefully, especially the height and weight sections for your school uniform order. As for your class placement, you'll be in first-year, Class A."
Kure Yakusha's expression brightened instantly. "Hmm, as expected of Shion. So reliable," she said with a cheerful smile. "In that case, Sora, I'll be waiting for you."
Kasugano Sora, who was already focused on the form, looked up in surprise. "Eh? Teacher Yakusha, do you teach Class 1-A?"
"No, no, no," Yakusha chirped, waving a hand dismissively. "I teach second-year, Class A. When you advance to your second year, I'll be your teacher. I'm really looking forward to it."
Sora nodded obediently. Afterward, Kure Yakusha and the others began asking her various questions. When Yakusha learned that Sora was living with Ren, she nodded thoughtfully.
"Ah, so you're at Ren's place. It's been a long time since I've seen him. We should all go to the Restaurant for a meal sometime soon."
When it came to Ren, there was almost nothing the Kure Clan would refuse. By their very nature, the clan constantly sought out exceptional fighters to improve their bloodline. Ren, despite his youth, possessed terrifying strength; even the monstrous Kure Raian couldn't injure him when going all out. His cooking was divine, and as a person, aside from being a notorious womanizer, he was exceptional. His looks, physique, and temperament were all impeccable.
Although the Kure Clan patriarch had initially disapproved of the relationship, he changed his mind after a secret visit to the Restaurant. Upon his return, he gave his full blessing to Ren and Karura's affair, ceasing all interference on one condition: Ren had to graduate from high school.
Ren himself never knew the patriarch had visited that day, nor what the old man had witnessed that caused such a complete reversal. But the outcome was a good one. Since then, Kure Yakusha, who already had a favorable impression of Ren, began treating him as if he were her own son.
Sōryūin Shion let out a soft sigh. "Auntie Yakusha, you probably don't have much free time these days, do you?"
"We'll see, we'll see," Yakusha said with a carefree wave. "At worst, I just won't climb Mount Everest."
"Climb... climb Mount Everest?!" Akemi and Sora exclaimed, their eyes wide with disbelief.
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