After All, We're Friends (5.1K) (Continued)

Because in his eyes, that's not how it works.

Erika Chiba is the youngest child in the Chiba Family, and also their illegitimate daughter. She is the daughter of the Chiba Clan, the Chiba Joichiro of the Chiba Family, and Anna Rosser, a woman of Japanese and German descent.

Moreover, Erika's childhood was not very happy either.

She was sent back to the Chiba Clan family when she was ten years old, but because she was an illegitimate child, she was looked down upon by others for no apparent reason, and was even forbidden from using the name of the Chiba Family. She lived a life of constant fear and silence.

In order to gain recognition from her mother and herself, Erika did not give up. Instead, she persisted in practicing swordsmanship every day, and gradually gained recognition from her disciples and family after achieving some success.

He was not allowed to use the surname Chiba Clan until just before the high school entrance exam.

So, given this situation, are Erika and Chiba Toshikazu really close?

He found it difficult to judge, and these things weren't even mentioned in the original work; his relationship with his second son Shuji Chiba, was just relatively good.

"If you care, why don't you go and ask him yourself?"

Seeing that he was still lost in thought, Maya Yotsuba's red lips curled up slightly, and she seemed quite pleased.

"Yeah, what am I even thinking about here?"

Mahiro, unusually, swore at himself, a self-deprecating smile appearing on his lips.

He realized he might have been too tired lately, as his mind was even clouded by such a simple matter.

After silently cursing himself for being an idiot, Mahiro grabbed the invitation from the table and strode outside.

"Have you decided to attend the funeral?"

As he left the study, he heard Maya Yotsuba asking him questions from behind.

"Of course, whether I'm representing the Yotsuba Family or not, I have to go, after all, Erika is my friend."

This was followed by the sound of the door closing.

Looking at the door that had been closed again, Maya Yotsuba leaned back in the soft chair, her eyes revealing a subtle and complex emotion.

She already knew about Gu Jie's death.

Mahiro didn't hide anything and told her everything that had happened.

She never expected that her child would help her once again, and also do the Yotsuba Family a great favor.

The only regret is that she couldn't personally eliminate this final nightmare.

I feel a mix of regret and joy.

At the same time, she also realized that she owed her children more and more...

In terms of status, the Chiba Family simply cannot invite the Yotsuba Family, a powerful family, to attend the funeral. Even if they were to attend, a mere butler would suffice to express their condolences.

However, because of Yotsuba Mahiro, the Yotsuba Family still chose to attend in a respectable manner.

As the Yotsuba Family's car slowly drove into the Chiba Clan mansion, they discovered that the Chiba Family, where Chiba Toshikazu and his body were parked, was enveloped in a heavy atmosphere.

"It is truly a great pity that your child has passed away. Please accept our deepest condolences, Mr. Joichiro."

The one speaking was Maya Yotsuba, who got out of the car.

Today, she traded her usual burgundy gown for a pure black fitted long dress, which still accentuated her tall and graceful figure.

Following behind were Yotsuba Mahiro and Miyuki Shiba, who had changed into formal black attire.

Even so, the man was still handsome, and the woman was still beautiful.

The two walked arm in arm, looking every bit like a young couple.

"You flatter me. Thank you, Madam Yotsuba Clan, for taking time out of your busy schedule to attend my son's funeral."

In front of the Chiba Family's gate, a middle-aged man was bowing deeply to Maya Yotsuba and the others. That man was Chiba Joichiro, the current head of the Chiba Family.

He is also the head of the Chiba Dojo, and even though he is fifty years old, he still has a body that makes people not feel any signs of aging.

Unfortunately, the heavy pain of losing his son still took its toll on the man, causing his body to become slightly hunched.

Led by the Chiba Family, they entered the mourning hall. As soon as they entered, a strong smell of incense wafted into their nostrils.

Immediately afterwards, the sound of sobbing came from inside.

A woman dressed in a black kimono is kneeling beside the coffin where the body is placed, weeping with her face covered.

If I remember correctly, that should be the eldest daughter of the Chiba Family, Chiba Toshikazu's older sister, Chiba Sanae.

The heroes seated on both sides, renowned as outstanding disciples of the Chiba Family, couldn't hold back their tears and began to weep.

However, among these people, Chiba Toshikazu's younger brother, "Chiba Clan's prodigy" Shuji Chiba, was nowhere to be found.

Although I know the two brothers don't have a very good relationship, their absence at this time is probably because they're preoccupied with other matters.

And finally, we saw Erika standing at the very front of the welcoming party.

She was also dressed in black, and her figure remained upright, but her bright face now held a hint of sadness.

"Plz follow me."

Erika led them into the funeral hall, and once inside, they discovered that in addition to the Chiba Family members and relatives, their classmates were also present.

After offering prayers and burning incense, and completing the rituals, they were all seated.

Because they were the last to arrive, Erika was finally relieved of her role as the guide, though the weariness on her face hadn't lessened much.

She sat there alone with her head down, her face obscured by wisps of red hair, making it impossible to see her expression or know what she was thinking.

Even though Mizuki Shibata was trying to persuade her, she didn't react at all.

The farewell ceremony ended quickly.

The body that had been lying there was also taken away amidst the cries of many, and it was said that it was taken to the Dana Temple, which was supported by the Chiba Family.

The guests had already left.

However, Mahiro and Miyuki did not leave; instead, they went to a room inside the Chiba Clan residence.

I remember the last time Erika brought him to this meeting room, we ended up making quite a few jokes.

But after such a short time, when I returned to this meeting room, everything seemed to have changed.

Besides having Miyuki as a companion, Erika has lost her former brightness and liveliness, and she is no longer as spirited as when she challenged him.

The passing of a family member added a touch of melancholy.

"Erika, I don't know how to comfort you, but please be strong, okay?"

Miyuki comforted her softly.

It wasn't that she didn't know how to comfort someone because she hadn't experienced something like this before; rather, it was because she had experienced the pain of losing a loved one, the loss of her most beloved mother, that she didn't know how to offer comfort.

She still remembers herself clearly back then.

After her mother, Yotsuba Clan, passed away Yotsuba Miya, she became somewhat disoriented, and the world briefly turned black and white. In her dazed state, she unconsciously found herself at the Fourth Laboratory on Mashima Island.

And there she found her brother, Mahiro, and cried her heart out in his arms before she recovered.

Therefore, she understands that the best choice at times like this is to curl up in the arms of her loved one and have a good cry.

Unfortunately, Erika doesn't seem to have such a person in mind.

"Ugh, Miyuki, do you really think of me as such a fragile person?"

Erika looked up and gave them a smile, but anyone with eyes could see how forced that smile was.

Even so, Erika still insisted:

"Actually... it's okay. My relationship with that idiot older brother wasn't that good to begin with. He's always been very strict with me since I was little, and he always bullied me when I first joined the Chiba Family... so... so..."

Clatter

A single, glistening tear fell onto the tatami mat and shattered into pieces.

Even Erika didn't realize when she started crying; tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

However, she made no attempt to wipe it off, as if she hadn't noticed anything at all.

While grumbling and cursing Chiba Toshikazu, she silently shed tears.

At this moment, Erika hated herself terribly, even though she had decided after her mother's death that she would never cry again.

But why can't I hold back now?

She clearly didn't like, even loathed, that stupid older brother, but now...

However, what she didn't know was that, in the eyes of others, she seemed to be reminiscing about the past.

Mahiro and Miyuki remained silent, offering no words of comfort. They simply sat there quietly, listening attentively to Erika's rambling words, acting as dutiful listeners.

After what seemed like an eternity, Erika's tears finally stopped.

Looking up and seeing Mahiro's indifferent attitude, Erika muttered to herself:

"... If a girl is crying, at least give me a handkerchief."

Hearing Erika say that, Mahiro and Miyuki exchanged a smile, and then Mahiro handed over the handkerchief he was holding.

She seems to be alright now.

Those bright, big eyes were now red and swollen like walnuts from crying, giving her an even more delicate and fragile air.

However, he showed no sign of weakness when using his handkerchief.

She not only used it to wipe her tears, but also to blow her nose, and then casually handed it back to him.

Here, take it back.

Yotsuba Mahiro: "..."

He looked down at the handkerchief that had been crumpled into a ball, then at Erika.

Hey girl, aren't you being polite?

You just returned it to me like that after you finished using it?

Actually, he really wanted to say that he didn't need to pay it back, but considering that the other party had just experienced the pain of losing a loved one, and was also his half-brother, he simply couldn't be bothered to complain.

They eventually took it back.

"Thank you so much for bringing my brother back."

Just then, Erika suddenly sat up straight and bowed deeply to him.

Before he could even say anything, Erika continued:

"Please don't rush to deny it. I've examined the knife mark on the neck of that idiot brother's corpse. If I remember correctly, only a girl named Akame, one of your subordinates, could have made that mark."

Sharp and deadly, with no hesitation or delay.

Completely assassination techniques.

She could never forget it after just one glance, because she had once fought against Akame.

I once underestimated the other person because they worked as an idol, and learned a painful lesson the hard way.

"Oh, sorry."

"No need to apologize, it wasn't your fault. I know the forensic doctor's conclusion was that Brother Stupid was already dead, just being manipulated as a puppet. Rather, you're the one who freed Brother Stupid."

His words and phrases were the same as usual.

However, that stern voice was different from before.

"But besides that, I hope you can tell me something: has the magician who turned my idiot brother into a puppet been caught?"

"He's already dead."

Mahiro said frankly, adding, "I killed him with my own hands; his body was never found."

He had no intention of hiding it. Although almost no one knew that Gu Jie was dead, there was no need to hide it from Erika.

"I see..."

Hearing his answer, Erika seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

But she paused and then asked, " --Mahiro, you idiot older brother, is he very strong?"

"She's very strong. Akame said that if she weren't in her corpse state, it wouldn't be easy for her to win."

"Is that so...? That's a stingy compliment, but it's perfect as a eulogy for my idiot older brother."