A Bet

"Xiao Yie,"

"What happened? Why did you insist on dragging us here?"

The four girls sat in a circle in the music room belonging to Young Lady Nagisa Kazuha. Amame Ei finally found a chance to ask.

She loved spending time with "Xiao Yie," but she also knew she shouldn't have set foot in this mansion. Its owner didn't welcome her—or, more precisely, completely ignored her existence.

Nagisa Kazuha hesitated briefly, then answered directly.

"Not long ago, there was a terrorist attack in Machiya Town, Arakawa Ward."

?!

"A terror...ist attack?"

"Arakawa Ward?"

The shocking news was so sudden that none of them believed it at first.

But then they remembered the many luxury cars outside Imperial Sakura School earlier, and even the helicopter that had come to pick up students. It all began to make sense.

"So that's what happened."

"Weren't we told there'd just been an earthquake?"

Class Monitor Nao pondered this, while Amame Ei still couldn't understand.

A terrorist attack seemed as far away as the clouds in the sky to "Generation Reiwa." And the government had already issued a notice saying there'd been an earthquake in Machiya Town, Arakawa Ward...

"Of course. They did it to prevent a panic."

Akihi Yu took over the conversation.

"Did you expect a government official to come out, bow, and say, 'There's been a terrorist attack in Arakawa Ward. We failed in our duties. Sumimasen, kakakakaka~~'?"

As the mastermind, Akihi Yu knew perfectly well that it had been neither an earthquake nor a terrorist attack.

It was a supernatural incident he had orchestrated himself!

"I see."

Amame Ei nodded.

Whatever the government's reasons for covering up the truth, she was just a poor orphan. She had no standing to criticize them.

Besides, if Nagisa Kazuha hadn't told them, they'd still be in the dark.

"Thanks, Xiao Yie."

Amame Ei wrapped an arm around Young Lady Nagisa and playfully rubbed her cheek against hers.

"But I still have to look after the shrine Grandpa left me..."

"No!"

Young Lady Nagisa's face flushed from Amame Ei's cheek rub, but she refused without the slightest hesitation.

"It's dangerous out there. I can't let you be alone."

"Father specifically told the driver to bring me home right after school yesterday. I was a little annoyed, but now I see..."

Had her father already received word in secret back then?

After all, there'd been a terrorist attack today.

Thinking of this, Nagisa Kazuha placed both hands on Amame Ei's shoulders.

"Stay here, Ei."

"Do it for me. I don't want to see you get hurt."

The estate wasn't just "old-fashioned" in appearance. It also had a well-stocked, extraordinarily sturdy basement that could withstand aerial bombs. Eighty years ago, American bombers had put it to the test themselves!

"But I..."

Seeing the two beautiful girls cuddling so close, Akihi Yu's younger sister, Akiyu Sora, and Class Monitor Nao both wore knowing expressions. Akihi Yu headed outside.

"I'll take a look around. You girls talk."

"Yeah, outside really is more comfortable."

Akihi Yu stretched as he walked through the garden, which was filled with all kinds of flowers.

The four beautiful girls were certainly a pleasure to look at, but once they were together, they were bound to talk about girls' stuff. Akihi Yu was a man—wouldn't he just spoil the mood by standing around?

Besides, with Akihi Yu's keen senses, he could tell there was someone else in the estate who was restless.

"Madam Nagisa."

At the sound of his voice, the woman standing motionless in the garden came back to herself.

"Sorry, I was lost in thought. You're Akihi Yu, right?"

"Yes. Were you admiring the flowers, Madam?"

Akihi Yu wasn't surprised that she knew his name.

She was the wife of a major financial magnate, after all. It would've been strange if she didn't have even that much information.

"No, I was just feeling wistful."

"Life is like these flowers. In the blink of an eye, they wither, fall, and disappear."

Akihi Yu couldn't relate to Madam Nagisa's melancholy. He was secretly spreading his abilities, grinding his skill proficiency, and outwitting the government, all while playing multiple roles to create the impression that "spiritual energy was returning." Who had the time to cry over fallen flowers?

"Sorry."

"Women of a certain age are like that. I'm making a fool of myself in front of you."

Noticing Akihi Yu's expression, the dignified Madam Nagisa changed the subject.

"Yu, are you and Ei in the same school?"

"Yes, we're in the same year."

After he answered, Madam Nagisa spoke gently.

"Have you thought about what you want to do after graduation?"

Hmm?

Why was she suddenly asking about work?

The topic changed so abruptly that Akihi Yu was momentarily stunned.

"I haven't given it much thought yet, but... I don't need to."

He still had two years until graduation. Akihi Yu was confident that in two years, he'd be thinking about crossing the universe in the flesh.

There was no way he'd ever work, and nobody would dare hire him anyway. It wasn't as if he could open an Ichiraku Ramen and sit back to watch the world change.

"It seems you've already made detailed plans for your future, Yu."

Madam Nagisa's gaze swept over Akihi Yu's face. He had the effortless composure of someone in control of everything—a look she'd only seen on certain important figures.

Was it confidence or arrogance?

She'd originally planned to suggest that Akihi Yu work for one of her family's companies.

Since he was so confident, perhaps it would be good to let him experience the storms of society first. But before that...

"Yu, what do you think of Ei?"

?

The conversation had suddenly jumped from work to romance, and even Akihi Yu struggled to keep up with her train of thought.

"Classmate Amame might seem cheerful and carefree, but she's actually very considerate of other people's feelings. She's a kind girl with a sensitive heart."

After a moment's thought, Akihi Yu gave a vague answer.

"Then..."

"Have you ever considered dating Ei?"

"...Madam Nagisa, please forgive me."

"I thought you were going to say something like, 'Stay away from my daughter.'"

Akihi Yu had expected one of those "Here's XXX million. Stay away from my daughter" scenes. Who'd have guessed Madam Nagisa would do the opposite and try to play matchmaker after just a few words? No, perhaps "matchmaker" wasn't the right word. She was more like a god of romantic fate.

"Do I look like the sort of person who'd say that?"

Madam Nagisa rolled her eyes at Akihi Yu and sighed helplessly.

"Actually, Ei and Kazuha are sisters."

"Don't misunderstand. Ei isn't my daughter. She's the daughter of my husband's mistress."

??

The news came so suddenly—and from Nagisa Kazuha's own mother, no less—that Akihi Yu couldn't help rubbing his temples.

"Madam Nagisa, your circle sure is..."

"Ahem. What does that have to do with me?"

"It doesn't. But as a mother, I want to see my daughter happy."

"Kazuha loves Ei. She truly considers her a sister, so..."

After circling around the subject, Madam Nagisa once again asked Akihi Yu seriously:

"Yu, have you considered dating Ei?"

"With marriage in mind."

What was all this?

Akihi Yu and Amame Ei had been friends before, and they were friends now. But being urged to marry her by her "family" out of the blue left him at a loss.

"Isn't it too early to talk about this, Madam?"

"And if I may be frank, what Classmate Amame wants is... family."

Amame Ei and Nagisa Kazuha were undoubtedly genuine sisters in all but blood. And when Amame Ei looked at Madam Nagisa, there was longing beneath her fear. Akihi Yu wasn't blind. How could he fail to see what it meant?

"I'm sorry, Yu."

"I know what Ei wants, but I'm not the one who makes the decisions in this family."

Madam Nagisa spoke apologetically. This was a traditional financial dynasty, and the owner of the estate was the man who had yet to show himself: Nagisa Kazuha's father.

"I see."

So, after all that, this wasn't a wicked stepmother story. It was a cold, heartless bastard story.

"Madam Nagisa, how about we make a bet?"

Madam Nagisa frowned when Akihi Yu took control of the conversation, but curiosity quickly got the better of her.

"Go on."

"Before long, your husband will be begging you to let Classmate Amame come here."

"If I win, please take care of Classmate Amame as her mother. If I lose, you can ask me for anything you want."

?!

Impossible—

Madam Nagisa's first reaction was that it was absurd.

She came from a prestigious family herself, with a financial dynasty backing her. Even if she agreed, the other members of both families would never allow an "illegitimate daughter" into the family.

Besides, Madam Nagisa knew her husband's character better than anyone.

He hadn't even gone to see the woman who'd given birth to Ei one last time.

He was utterly cold and heartless.

If he hadn't doted on Kazuha, their marriage would've been nothing but a formality long ago.

"Of course, this is a secret between us."

Akihi Yu added,

"Please keep it to yourself."

Akihi Yu dared to say this not because he'd trusted Madam Nagisa at first sight, but because—

Cursed Seal: Tongue-Slayer Root

The jutsu itself wasn't very difficult. The hard part was imprinting it on someone else.

What Ninja would just stand by and let someone place a cursed seal on them?

But Madam Nagisa was an ordinary person, and the seal's effect was simple: if she tried to say or write any information about Akihi Yu, it would instantly take control of her!

"Although I don't know where you get your confidence, but..."

Madam Nagisa studied the spirited boy in front of her, then nodded.

"If my husband accepts Ei, I'll treat her as my daughter. If nothing else, I'll do it for Kazuha."

"Deal."

Madam Nagisa smiled at the hand Akihi Yu held out and extended her own.

"Of course."

The black cursed seal slipped silently from Akihi Yu's finger and crept up the woman's arm.

Cursed Tongue Eradication Jutsu: Imprint!