Yuriko Takagi knew there were extremely capable people in this world, the kind the military sought to create: super-soldiers forged through biochemical modification and similar means.
In fact, she had seen such people before, members of an organization called "Syringe."
They had tried to force the Takagi family into cooperation. After being refused, they massacred one of the Takagi family's forces.
The execution footage they sent over, as a warning, was filled with movements that were almost inhuman.
A normal human being simply could not break through those limits. Not with that kind of speed.
And now, she was witnessing that class of person again, only far more terrifying.
In front of him, the Shitai were pitifully weak. If one insisted on exaggerating, it was like ants he could crush at will.
With a display like this, Yuriko couldn't help but wonder whether the Takagi family's armed forces could actually hold him back.
The several people accompanying her were visibly shaken as well. If she herself had not been standing here, they might have already fled.
Even though they remained loyally at their posts, a few of them were trembling outright.
Fortunately, she had also noticed her daughter's presence, and that alone eased her mind considerably.
Not because she feared her daughter might be used as leverage against her.
Yuriko had been watching through binoculars carefully, reading Saya's expressions.
This child's gaze lingered on that dangerously lethal young man again and again. It was not fear or unease.
It was curiosity, and at times a small, absent-minded daze, as if she'd drifted off while looking at him.
That was… suggestive.
If that was the case, it meant Saya had not been intimidated, threatened, or bullied.
As her mother, Yuriko understood Saya's intelligence perfectly well. She was not the kind of girl to be swept away by emotion and lose her judgment.
If she ever did "lose her head," there would be a prerequisite: she would have to be certain the other person posed no danger to her, and no danger to her family.
As for his rather excessive method of dealing with the Shitai just now, Yuriko could understand it as well.
So she waited at the defensive line, letting the group approach.
When they were within ten meters, she removed the hood of her firefighter's protective suit.
"I'm back, Mom~"
"Mhm. Welcome back~"
Saya looked as though she was about to be the first to leap into her arms.
But after remembering something, she stopped herself, forcibly suppressing the impulse.
Her hesitant gaze shifted to him, as if waiting for his response, waiting for his permission.
How should one put it?
It was like two teams meeting: a member shouldn't bypass their leader and rush into excited conversation with the other side first. It felt like overstepping.
So Saya's behavior looked like respect, even a touch of awe.
More than that, it was as if she had placed herself firmly as a member of "his" team, rationally considering her stance, and only responding after judging her leader's attitude.
"Sir, thank you very much for taking care of my daughter."
"Mhm."
That was all he gave.
He looked like someone who disliked pleasantries, and also like someone who simply didn't know what to say, as if there was a generational gap and no safe topic to bridge it.
After responding, he glanced at Saya.
Saya seemed to receive permission. She clearly wanted to dash over, but she still restrained herself.
Ah.
Yuriko understood.
Saya didn't want to appear too childish in front of him, too naive.
"Open the barricade."
"Ah? Y-Yes, ma'am."
Even the people following Yuriko were still afraid of that young man.
...
In the blink of an eye—
The Takagi family estate.
A mansion with an expansive courtyard. In another era, it could have passed for a small fortress.
Not only members of the Takagi household were here. Nearby civilians had also been allowed in to take shelter.
Inside one of the estate's rooms, Saya recounted everything she had seen and heard.
"All right. That part, Saya, you don't need to say it."
Yuriko cut off the portion where Saya hesitated—her guesses about his identity.
If she said it aloud, it might feel like leaking his secrets, like betraying him.
If she didn't say it, it would look like her own daughter didn't trust her mother.
So Yuriko made the decision for her.
"Oh, right, Mom. The ones who may have caused the end of the world might be that organization called 'Syringe."
As she said it, Saya watched Yuriko's expression closely. It seemed Yuriko already knew of "Syringe."
Which made sense.
They had said they would capture Saya and use her to threaten the family. They must have approached the Takagi family before, and the outcome had been ugly.
However, the claim that this organization was behind the apocalypse did seem to be new information. When Yuriko heard it, her face darkened to an alarming degree.
"I understand. Come with me."
Yuriko led Saya down to the basement level. That was where the Takagi family's intelligence apparatus was located, and where they could also connect to outside lines. [unclear]
They could also contact her husband, who was currently out gathering the supplies Saya had requested over the phone earlier.
Now that Saya had prioritized a list, Yuriko would bring her down and have the team relay it, so they could bring back as much of what was on the list as possible.
Bringing Saya down was also, most likely, because Saya wanted to speak to her father.
Even after being told he was fine, she still wanted to hear his voice before she could truly relax.
As for the mysterious young man and the rest of the group, Yuriko had already arranged for people to host them.
It wasn't that she was slighting them.
He, too, clearly wanted a proper bath.
After washing up and getting settled, they could speak formally.
"…Mm. Okay, Dad."
There wasn't much conversation.
Saya understood that in times like these, every minute and every second mattered. She couldn't occupy her father's communication line.
When she hung up, Yuriko smiled faintly.
"Now, Saya, you should go wash too. You smell awful. Boys definitely won't like that~"
Saya's body went rigid.
Then her cheeks flushed red.
"Stop it. I get it~"
She left in a huff, cheeks puffed with annoyance.
When she reached the bathroom and went inside, she immediately heard noisy chatter, especially from Alice.
Including Shizuka-sensei, the other girls were all washing in this spacious bath area.
As for the boys—quick showers were enough. They didn't need a large bathing pool like this.
But as for that man… [unclear] they had actually provided him a separate bath room where he could soak.
"Hm? Where's Saeko-senpai?"
Saya realized she wasn't here.
"Huh? No idea."
"She didn't come in with us."
"Right, I saw Saeko-senpai follow Mr. Kain out."
That was what made Saya snap to attention.
For some reason, a sense of irritation rose in her chest.
…
Kain's body was slightly tense now, and not because of Shitai.
He wasn't alone.
A young woman claimed she had entered the wrong room, but she still didn't seem to plan on leaving.
If she wasn't embarrassed, should he be the one to retreat in embarrassment?
That would be pathetic.
Then, with an almost too-considerate tone, she offered to wash his back, since it was difficult for a normal person to scrub their own back properly.
He didn't refuse.
Just like that day when someone helped clean his wounds, he accepted the goodwill.
So, her fingers began to rub across his back.
Then, a different sensation pressed in, and his nerves tightened further from the stimulation.
It was pressing against him.
It was like that classic anime scene: the "accidental" back-washing, the too-close body contact.
"You were hoping for this, weren't you? What a pervert~"
Her tone sounded disgusted, yet the cadence of her voice carried a teasing lilt.
(End of Chapter)
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