A typical six-year-old would already be in elementary school.
But for a six-year-old in the Zoldyck family, there's no physical training or assassin lessons today.
So does slacking off mean a chance to relax?
Saiki Kusuo is here to tell you: Absolutely not.
Even as a weakling, he's still under the spotlight of the whole family. From the moment he opens his eyes in the morning, he can see through the thick wooden walls of the Zoldyck mansion and feel the gaze of people watching him from the other side.
Tsubone… is waking up in the morning supposed to be this hard?
The stronger someone is, the less they're affected by mind-control hypnosis. If you use it too often, they'll start to get suspicious, so you need to act normally to cover it up.
But more importantly, waking up to find an old lady smiling outside your door is like a nightmare. Nobody wants that.
"Tsubone, young master Kusuo always wakes up at this time. I think it's okay to go in now," said Gotoh, also waiting outside the door, checking the time.
Gotoh had been taking care of Kusuo since shortly after he was born and knew his daily routine well.
Don't expose me like that, Gotoh.
"No, I can feel someone watching. It must be the young master watching us from inside. There might be hidden cameras using Zetsu in the hallway, but I still haven't found them. He really does have great potential, young master Kusuo."
He can really feel it? Saiki Kusuo was a bit surprised, then started biting his fingernail.
[Ask young master Kusuo's teacher about his progress later,] thought Tsubone.
If we have to keep hiding things using Zetsu like this, does that mean we'll have to build even more of this stuff later? It's not that I can't do it… but what's going on with this overlapping of support-type Nen paths?
Forget it. Let's wash up first.
The two butlers stood outside the door waiting. Gotoh let his thoughts wander, while Tsubone focused only on observing Kusuo, her head full of detailed plans.
Since things are already this hectic, better not keep Tsubone waiting too long.
After washing his face, Saiki Kusuo opened the door.
"Good morning, young master Kusuo~" Tsubone greeted with a kind smile.
Saiki Kusuo nodded without any expression. [Mm. What is it?]
"Today might be a special day. Do you remember what day it is, young master?"
A special day…? What is she talking about? Saiki Kusuo tilted his head slightly.
"Try to remember, young master!" Gotoh couldn't hide his excitement. [Today is your birthday! Every year, we always ask you early on what kind of cake you want, but this year the family made some arrangements, so we didn't ask yet. Did you forget, young master?]
Thanks for the reminder. So, about my cake — is it still safe? Did anyone poison it?
Saiki Kusuo replied, [My birthday, huh.]
"That's right! The family and young master Illumi will be back by noon. We're holding a birthday party for you tonight! Your whole family — the entire family — will be there. Aren't you happy, young master Kusuo?"
The whole family… Saiki Kusuo's face clearly showed how unhappy he was.
Would making a weird face count as a way to say no?
"Master Killua, Master Alluka, and Master Milluki are all really looking forward to tonight's birthday party!"
And now there's also that nanny lady. What kind of hell is it when everyone's here? I don't even really know them.
Besides, in situations like this, shouldn't I at least act more cheerful like a normal kid?
What a pain… and I can't even use a stand-in.
Saiki Kusuo bit his lip, and this little moment touched Tsubone's heart.
[None of the young masters have ever looked this sad. What a poor child, feeling left out, even hesitating over being the focus of his own birthday party!]
Tsubone wiped her tears away.
[To be honest, this year's birthday for Master Kusuo was only planned simply. There are just too many kids, and it's hard for the family to give attention to everyone. Illumi never had a real birthday party either, so the master and mistress didn't think much about it.]
[It was only when I brought up the idea of changing Master Kusuo's room that I suggested the birthday party. That's the only reason this rare event is even happening…]
Gotoh clenched his fists excitedly at the side: [We have to let Master Kusuo know how much the Zoldyck family truly loves him!]
Saiki Kusuo: Thanks so much, you two.
Tsubone smiled and said, "Then Master Kusuo, how about putting on your clothes and heading to the backyard? The three young masters are waiting for you."
Saiki Kusuo took the clothes slowly and carefully.
Yep, now that he's going through puberty, the biggest issue he faces is the sudden surge of power returning to him.
So, if he can't use his psychic powers to control small, delicate things, he can't do them at all.
Thinking like that, it seems even harder to make a hidden surveillance device without Tsubone noticing. He might need to build a program to make up for his clumsy hands.
[Ah!] Tsubone suddenly let out a gasp.
?! Saiki Kusuo almost ripped the clothes, turning in confusion to look at her.
Don't scare me like that, seriously.
[Master Kusuo is even being extra careful just to put on clothes… could it be that this sensitive boy somehow realized the clothes were personally chosen by the mistress?]
…Good grief. I didn't know before, but now I do.
Even though he hasn't accepted these people as family, they really haven't done anything bad to him.
He only ever wanted a normal life. He never helped his family with anything, and he's always let them down.
But even so, they've still cared about him unconditionally…
No. Don't think too much. He's just a guest here. Once his psychic powers are fully back, he's leaving. There's no way he can live without a power limiter, so there's no other option.
Saiki Kusuo finished getting dressed, and the maid slowly followed behind him like she was supposed to.
They probably don't even know what an "awkward atmosphere" means.
The stone steps along the Zoldyck path weren't exactly stable, so he had to be even more careful.
Whether it's sturdy or not didn't matter to him—just putting a little pressure on anything might break it. If the stones cracked, he couldn't just blame it on "wear and tear."
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