Episode 8: Everyone Has Things You Just Shouldn’t Touch, You Know~!
It was an exceedingly troublesome proposal, but Seiichi decided to accept Kazuma’s suggestion.
Of course, Seiichi intended to take full responsibility.
Kazuma, though involved, was still just a child.
If that was the case, then it was only natural for an adult to take responsibility.
“Alright, Kazuma-kun. Leave it to me. I’ll try to persuade my superiors.”
“I’m counting on you!”
Perhaps, no, in all likelihood, the company side would also be considerably troubled by this.
Naturally, while it was a very welcome development, the question was whether they could handle it.
There were many individuals involved who, if their mood was soured, could be erased not just socially, but physically.
Naturally, the company had to proceed with caution.
“We can’t possibly handle any more trouble, you know?”
“It’ll be fine. Probably…”
“You’re such a troublemaker, so I’m worried, you know~”
“Hahahaha, now, now. There’s no need to worry so much. If anything happens, I’ll take responsibility.”
“That’s when I’ll use the full power of the state!”
Kazuma wouldn’t hesitate to use state power, as he couldn’t afford to lose Seiichi, the pillar of their family.
“Ahahaha… As peacefully as possible, please.”
Seiichi vowed to try his best to prevent Kazuma from having to exercise state power.
It would undoubtedly have a negative impact on the entire company.
Imagining the worst-case scenario, Seiichi gave a wry smile.
“Speaking of which, I was wondering, where is that old ha— ahem! Where is she?”
“Ah. If you mean Kumiko-san, she’s out shopping. I think she should be back soon, though.”
Just as Seiichi said that and glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, the subject of their conversation returned.
A voice saying, “I’m home~” came from the entrance, and the children rushed to greet her.
Then, Kumiko appeared in the living room, holding hands with the children who were carrying shopping bags.
“Ah, Kazuma. You’re here. Welcome.”
“Yeah.”
“I-It’s almost lunchtime, would you like to join us?”
Kazuma glanced at Momoko and Sakura Hakanai on either side of him, checking their intentions.
The two of them showed that they didn’t mind either way.
Seeing this, Kazuma stood up, looked at Kumiko, then back at Seiichi.
“Well then, we’ll be taking our leave around here.”
“Eh? Aren’t you staying for lunch?”
“If it were just me, I would have gladly accepted, but I have my subordinates with me today. We’ll head back before we become a bother.”
Making his excuses, Kazuma hurriedly bid farewell to Seiichi and headed for the entrance.
He was about to leave when Kumiko rushed up behind him, flustered.
“W-Wait!”
Kazuma, who had finished putting on his shoes and had his back to her, replied without turning around.
“What? You need something?”
“Th-This…”
What Kumiko offered with a trembling voice was an otoshidama.
Kazuma, glancing over his shoulder, widened his eyes and turned back to face Kumiko.
“…Is this an otoshidama?”
“Well, um… I discussed it with Seiichi-san, you see. Since Kazuma is, well… my son, we decided to give you an otoshidama. I know it might not be much for Kazuma, the Crimson Knight, but! I-I want you to accept it.”
How much emotion was packed into it?
It was just an otoshidama.
And yet, it was an otoshidama.
For Kazuma, who had grown up in Ivy, showered with affection from many people, it wasn’t a huge deal.
However, this was the first time in his life he had ever received an otoshidama from his biological mother.
“…I’ll gratefully accept it, you damn old hag! I’ll use this to grab something good to eat on the way back!”
“K-Kazuma… Yes. Use it however you like.”
“See ya…”
Kazuma tried to make a cool exit, but he fumbled for the doorknob and bumped his head.
Momoko and Sakura Hakanai, who saw this, couldn’t help but burst out laughing. They quickly averted their gazes when Kazuma glared at them.
Only Kumiko, worried about Kazuma bumping his head, called out to him and asked if he was hurt.
“Kazuma, are you okay? You’re not injured, are you?”
“Like this would injure me! I’ll come back for a meal again! I basically eat anything, but I like meat! Things like karaage or hamburg steak!”
Grumbling, Kazuma opened the door.
As he left, Kazuma casually made a food request to Kumiko and went out ahead alone.
As Kumiko stood there, stunned, Momoko and Sakura Hakanai began to put on their shoes, as if to follow Kazuma.
Then, once their shoes were on, they left to follow him, but just like Kazuma, they said a word to Kumiko as they departed.
“What he said earlier was, without a doubt, his true feelings, you know.”
“It’s his way of reaching out, so please respond to him, okay~”
With those parting words, the two of them left, chasing after Kazuma.
Kumiko, who had seen the three of them off, stood there dumbfounded, but she finally understood their earlier words and began to sob.
Just then, Seiichi and the children, worried that Kumiko hadn’t returned from the entrance, appeared and, hearing her story as she cried, gently stayed by her side.
Meanwhile, Kazuma, who had quickly left Seiichi’s house, held up the otoshidama he had received from Kumiko.
“…………It’s got twenty thousand yen in it, huh.”
If one were to say whether it was a lot or a little, it was probably a lot.
They had two children, so their expenses must be high.
Despite that, for them to give Kazuma an otoshidama of twenty thousand yen was quite something.
Kazuma didn’t know how much Seiichi earned, but seeing as he owned a detached house, he understood that he earned a considerable amount.
That said, whether they had money to spare was another matter.
They must have taken out a loan and were paying a not-insignificant amount every month, yet they had given him twenty thousand yen for an otoshidama. This filled Kazuma with a warm feeling.
“What are you getting all sentimental for?”
“You have your cute side, don’t you~”
The two, who hadいつの間にかsnuck up behind him, poked Kazuma in the sides and patted his shoulder as he smiled at the otoshidama.
“…How long have you been watching?”
“Just now.”
Momoko, intending to tease him as payback for his usual antics, hadn’t noticed.
The murderous aura emanating from Kazuma.
However, Sakura Hakanai seemed to have noticed and had distanced herself, sacrificing Momoko.
“I see… I couldn’t sense any hostility or killing intent, so I must have let my guard down. I’ve still got a ways to go.”
“Um, somehow the atmosphere feels strange…”
Momoko finally sensed that Kazuma was angry out of embarrassment and began to inch backward, but it was too late.
Kazuma grabbed Momoko and put her in a headlock.
“You wench! Don’t get carried away!”
“Kyaaaah! No violence! You sexist pig!”
“I’m an advocate for gender equality! Teasing your superior like that!”
“This is power harassment and sexual harassment, you know! This is!”
“Aaargh, shut up! I am the law! No one can judge me!”
“Owowowowow! You’re squeezing harder! My head’s going to change shape if you keep this up!”
The two of them, Kazuma and Momoko, were making a racket on the street.
Sakura Hakanai, relieved that she had sensed the danger early and made her escape, was watching them from a distance when Kazuma’s head swiveled around.
The horror-like sight made Sakura Hakanai gasp in fear.
“You’re next.”
“Oh my~…”
Kazuma released Momoko and then made a beeline for Sakura Hakanai.
Sakura Hakanai, who could never beat Kazuma in physical ability, tried to deploy her Powered Suit as a last resort, but Kazuma didn’t abide by any unspoken rule about not attacking during a transformation sequence.
Catching Sakura Hakanai, Kazuma lifted her up and executed an Argentine Backbreaker.
“S-Surely, doing pro wrestling moves like this in public isn’t a good idea, is it!?”
“Relax. I’m using magic to impair perception. There’s not a single person who can see us right now.”
“Hyigiiih!”
As her spine let out creaking sounds, Sakura Hakanai screamed along with it.
Kazuma, the absolute worst kind of man who resorted to violence to hide his embarrassment, continued to torment her with a loud laugh.
“Haaahahahahahaha!”
After a while, Sakura Hakanai was released, looking completely drained and pressing her lower back as if in pain.
Momoko, who had similarly been tormented by Kazuma, joined her, and they checked on each other’s well-being.
“Are you alright?”
“It seems he went easy on us, though~”
“Same here. It hurt, but I wasn’t injured.”
“Haaah… It seems we should stop teasing him about this sort of thing. Next time, our lives might be in danger, you know~”
“It seems so…”
Regarding the matter of Kumiko, Kazuma’s most delicate spot, the two vowed never to tease him about it again.