"Mom, I'll be leaving in a few days."
"Mm... I'll help you pack later."
"I'm going to Kyoto."
"Have fun, and remember to bring back souvenirs."
"Mom!"
Akesato finally couldn't hold it in anymore. This wasn't the kind of everyday conversation he wanted to have.
"I'm going to Kyoto for the inter-school exchange event, and Noriki will also be participating as Kyoto's representative. There's no way you don't know that."
True, Akesato hadn't said it outright, but as an official staff member who also handled Tokyo High School's paperwork, Akemi would have known earlier than the students.
Yet nearly a month had passed, and Akemi had shown no indication of anything.
She hadn't said she was going, nor had she said she wasn't.
Principal Masamichi Yaga had already gone ahead to meet with Kensuke Gakuganji, Kyoto School's principal, and make the preliminary arrangements.
Given Akemi's position at the school, she could easily have gone with him.
Even now, when her son asked her directly, Akemi remained silent.
Akesato knew what his mother was struggling with, but time was drawing closer bit by bit. They couldn't put this off any longer.
"Mom, isn't it about time you gave me a definite answer? Just make your decision without worrying. I'll handle any problems."
"How are you planning to handle them?" Akemi asked.
"That depends on the Kamo family's reaction. If they turn a blind eye and pretend they don't know, then everyone gets along just fine. But if they dare bully you, don't blame me for getting rough. Having Little Sa and Darkrai tear down the Kamo family's ancestral estate should be enough to make them face reality, right?"
After studying under Satoru Gojo for so long, Akesato had learned quite a few methods of "threats" and "deterrence." Still, in keeping with