"Eh? Someone's giving us a big house?"
"Amazing~"
Kyosuke gazed at Akuto in pure awe; one look at those eyes told you he was completely won over.
Touko stared at the bank card holding five hundred million yen and a property deed worth several hundred billion yen, feeling dizzy.
"Go get the house cleaned up early."
"Mama, let's go see the big house!"
Kyosuke looked at Touko, practically vibrating with excitement.
She was still conflicted—after all, this was Akuto's property; for her family to just move in felt awfully shameless.
"Take it, Mom."
Miko's cheeks inexplicably heated.
Only then did Touko realize Akuto had already left.
"It's too much trouble for Akuto-kun—we haven't done anything to deserve this."
"Don't worry. Actually, this is something I accomplished together with Lord Akuto."
Miko said it only to set her mother's mind at ease.
After everything she'd seen with Akuto, Miko understood why Tozuka had sent the house: Akuto was basically a walking GG card.
And for Espers, making money was child's play.
Although Shibuya Ward was a bit far from Miko's school, it would be extremely convenient for Kyosuke.
Miko decided to learn to drive as well.
She could sense that half of Akuto's decision to join the Exorcism Society was because of her.
That ID card meant nothing to him—whatever he wanted to do, he could do without it.
But Miko was different.
Driving required a license, and dealing with the mundane world required status.
So she knew that, though he never said it, Akuto had given her a lot.
And did many things he himself disliked.
Especially for her family.
"If that's the case, even becoming Yomi's New Wife…"
Miko's face burned. Ever since she'd learned about "Yomi's New Wife," she'd realized how gentle many of Akuto's actions actually were.
"Miko, your face is really red—are you feeling okay?"
Touko reached out and touched Miko's forehead.
"Ah? I'm fine! I'm going back to my room!"
Akuto had no idea about Miko's elaborate inner drama.
If he had, he would have teased her mercilessly.
Miko fled in embarrassment; Kyosuke was still bouncing off the walls: "Mama, can we pleeease go see the big house?"
Touko looked at the property deed, smiled gently, and patted his head. "Then we'll go this weekend."
"Yay!"
For some reason, Touko felt a huge weight lift from her shoulders.
The burden of raising two children had vanished so suddenly that it left her at a loss.
"I could probably quit the night shift."
She figured she should be home at night from now on, ready to cook for Akuto-kun whenever he wanted.
It seemed the only thing she could do for him.
"Should I sign up for a finance class…? I have to manage Akuto-kun's money properly…"
Hugging the deed and the bank card, Touko walked with a spring in her step she hadn't noticed, as if she'd returned to her girlhood.
Late at night.
Kuma's house.
Rubbing his eyes, Kuma stretched hard.
His gaze landed on the photo on the desk: the girl beaming in the sunlight, the stiff-looking Kuma beside her, and several friends laughing around a trophy.
Kuma picked it up and gently traced the girl's face.
Only after a long while did he carefully set it back and head to wash up.
From where Kuma couldn't see, a Benevolent Spirit glowing with golden light watched his back in tender distress. "Really, working this late again."
The spirit glanced at the documents on the table.
They bore the names Yurikawa Hana and Yotsuya Miko, filled with dense training schedules… "Good morning, come eat while it's hot."
Touko greeted the still-sleepy Miko with an especially bright smile.
Miko noticed her mother's change and felt her own mood lift.
"Morning."
"Did Akuto-kun go out yesterday?"
"Nope. Seems there was nothing urgent, and he won't take low-paying jobs."
"Right, I enrolled in a martial-arts class at the Budokan, so I might be back late tonight."
Touko wasn't worried about Miko's safety anymore.
After all, Akuto-kun was watching.
Though she'd never seen Akuto fight, the attitude of government agencies and the rich told her everything.
Akuto-kun was truly formidable!
"Got it. Is there anything Akuto-kun wants for dinner? I'll prepare ahead."
Akuto, feigning sleep, curled his lip. "I don't need to eat."
"That won't do. Eating is what makes people happy."
"The gentleman yesterday sent over wagyu and scallops; we'll have those tonight."
Touko arranged it all herself; Akuto rolled his eyes and said nothing.
Miko felt maternal love drifting farther and farther away from her.
She was Touko's daughter, after all.
Whenever Akuto came to eat, she never got to taste those delicacies.
"Mom, I'm your daughter—your favoritism is showing way too much."
"Eh? Is it that obvious?"
They laughed and bickered before finally starting breakfast.
Off to school, Kyosuke looked disappointed. He turned to Miko: "Big bro, when will you drive me again? I'll pay!"
Miko felt another arrow to the heart.
"Kyosuke, no. Lord Akuto is very busy; he can't chauffeur you every day. Go take the school bus!"
"Bleeeh!"
Kyosuke stuck out his tongue, made a face, and ran toward the bus.
Miko seemed to lose all strength and means, trudging toward her own school with dead-fish eyes.
"Miko—ow, that hurts…"
Hana hobbled over like a robot, bracing herself against the wall.
"What happened to you?"
Miko pinched Hana's full-fat arm.
"Hss—pain! Nobody told me martial-arts training would hurt this much…"
"Don't want to be world champion anymore?"
Miko teased, pulling out her textbook.
"Sadly, the world champion died this morning. A loss to the entire world!"
Hana was still clowning around… Noon.
After lunch, Miko dragged Hana to buy drinks. Around the corner, a twin-tailed loli observed them from the shadows.
Miko caught sight of her stalker.
She didn't pay it much mind.
She knew the girl was from the neighboring class—Yuria, apparently—and nothing more.
"Miko, what do you want to drink?"
"Orange juice."
Miko opened her phone and glanced at the calendar; August was approaching.
"So hot. Summer break's almost here, huh?"
"Yeah, one more week."
"Nice. Wanna hit the beach?"
Hana took a swig of cola and almost floated from the bliss.
"I might take a summer job."
"I'm coming too!"
Miko looked at Hana, guilt flashing in her eyes: "Sorry, Hana, I can't bring you this time. It's a relative's place and they only need one person, so…"
"Oh… what a shame."
Hana didn't think twice about it.
The girl's heart was scarily big.
Miko exhaled in relief; she'd been terrified Hana would be disappointed or misunderstood.
The truth was Miko planned to try exorcism work—she dared not take Hana along.
Every time, she nearly lost half her life.