When I returned to the Genji Estate, practically everyone who could come had gathered at the main gate to welcome me. There had really been no need for such a grand display, but the Elder Council wanted the Tohsaka family to see my standing within the clan.
When the Elder Council saw a stunning beauty and two young beauties get out of the car and look at me with expressions every man understood, I naturally understood what they meant. But this was not the time to explain.
Two elementary school girls and one widow—what could I even do? Raise them or play Cao Cao? I, a certain Genji, was a gentleman.
After helping the Tohsaka mother and daughters get settled, I finally took a bath for the first time in ages. It had been nearly two years since I had last soaked in one. It felt amazing.
I had only been soaking for a little while when the door opened. Looking closely, I saw Fujino enter. Though she was wrapped in a bath towel, her figure was already taking shape. I could barely keep it down.
"Big Brother, let me scrub your back." Without waiting for me to object, she stepped into the bath and slowly approached me.
Just as I was struggling over whether to accept or refuse, the door opened again, and Rin's voice came through. "Mom, Sakura, look! The bath is huge! Hurry up!" She ran in and jumped into the water. After surfacing, she noticed Fujino was there too. "Eek, the perverted lolicon is here too!" Then she ducked underwater.
She poked her head back out and shouted, "Mom, Sakura, don't come in! The perverted lolicon is in here too, so don't let him see everything!"
Aoi Tohsaka entered wrapped in a bath towel and said, "Rin, that was very rude. How can you run around like that? Watch your words too." Then she slowly approached and asked, "We aren't interrupting you two, are we?" She then entered the bath with Sakura.
Meanwhile, my brain crashed completely, and I reflexively said, "Not at all. The bath is big enough for everyone."
Then I realized I seemed to have said something wrong. Inviting my future mother-in-law to bathe with me? This development was getting out of hand.
Yet Aoi Tohsaka simply walked in and even moved closer to me. At this point, not only was I at a loss, but Fujino was too.
Fujino was thinking, Big Brother is too outstanding. Another rival has appeared. Damn it, I was here first.
Sisters, mothers, older women... no one taught me about this. What should I do? I had originally planned to win Big Brother over today.
Aoi Tohsaka spoke up. "Thank you, Shi Kai, for taking in my two daughters and me. After learning of my husband's death, I did contact my family, but their attitude left me completely lost. If you had not taken us in, I truly would not have known what to do."
Tears streamed down her face as she continued, "I knew about the original contract, but after my husband died, it could have been voided at any time. Yet you were still willing to honor it. Thank you so much."
I immediately said, "The contract was only an excuse. Since Sakura is my fiancée, taking care of all of you is simply my duty. It is no trouble at all. Stay as long as you like. I will also arrange Rin and Sakura's schooling. Just leave everything to me."
No, I couldn't keep it down anymore. Time to run. I decisively said, "I'm done washing. You girls take your time." Then I slipped away in a flash.
After washing up, I did not return to my room. Instead, I convened a meeting with the Elder Council. The moment I entered the conference room, I heard countless compliments. I directly said, "No need for flattery. Let's discuss business."
The former clan head said, "In this Holy Grail War, the Tohsaka Household and Matou Household have effectively ceased to exist. We have taken over Fuyuki City's leyline and the unclaimed assets of the Tohsaka and Matou households."
"The Einzbern Household has no intention of competing with us. Our plan is to find someone with at least some ability and send them there with a few clan members to establish a Genji branch family."
"Although the original contract mentioned using the Tohsaka Household to nominate the Genji Clan while we helped them win the Holy Grail War, Tokiomi Tohsaka's death has turned this into our unilateral annexation of Fuyuki City."
"We no longer need outside help to become a first-rate magecraft family."
"The way people address you outside has changed again. In Japan, you have gone from being the Genji Clan's hope to a rising star of Japan's magecraft world. Your name has now spread throughout Japan's entire magecraft community."
"Now, no matter which magecraft family you visit, they will treat you as an honored guest. Many families wish to form marriage alliances with us, and some clan heads even want their gifted direct descendants to marry into our clan."
"I have declined them for now. Your eighteenth birthday is coming soon, Clan Head. When your coming-of-age ceremony is held, if you take a liking to a girl from any family, we can arrange the match. The original contract was effectively voided when Tokiomi Tohsaka died. Making Sakura Tohsaka the clan head's wife would be somewhat beneath our standing."
"We would also be looked down upon by other families. After all, if a clan head's wife came from a family without much power, people would look down on her. She would also become a thorn in many people's eyes. I believe you understand what I mean, Clan Head."
"Still, the final decision is yours to make. We are merely offering our advice."
"A man's wealth can bring disaster. Those who want to rise higher will do everything they can to drag her down. And Sakura is not someone who likes to fight for things. I will take that into consideration."
"A widowed mother and orphaned daughters without any backing would indeed face greater danger. Is there anything else? If not, this meeting is adjourned."
After the meeting ended, I did not return to my room. Instead, I went to the study. Reading again after so long did nothing to calm me down. I had bragged too much in the bath, and now I did not know how to explain things to them.
They would understand if I told them, but there would inevitably be some lingering resentment. I needed to offer appropriate compensation. Where should I start?
After a sleepless night, I decided that short-term pain was better than long-term pain. I sought out Aoi Tohsaka and her two daughters and told them what had been discussed at the meeting.
Rin immediately jumped up and shouted, "Are you planning to abandon Sakura?" She rushed over to punch me, only for Aoi Tohsaka to pull her back.
Aoi Tohsaka asked, "Then how do you plan to arrange things for us? Would staying here affect you?" Aoi Tohsaka, Rin, and Sakura all stared at me.
Adults were easier to communicate with. She got straight to the point in a single sentence.
I said, "It will not affect anything if you live here. You can stay as long as you want. I am mainly concerned about your safety."
"It is a fact that the Tohsaka Household has fallen on hard times. Perhaps in another ten years, when Rin and Sakura become great mages capable of standing on their own, things can change. But if Sakura becomes the clan head's wife now, I am afraid she will be in danger."
"Sakura is still my fiancée. She simply cannot have the title, at least not for now."
After saying that, I pulled Sakura into my arms and said, "I'm truly sorry. Some things are not mine alone to decide. Can Sakura forgive me?"
The sensible Sakura immediately replied, "I never blamed you from the beginning, Brother, so there's nothing for me to forgive." Rin also said from the side, "When I become a great mage someday, I'll help Sakura win back her rightful title."
Finally, Aoi Tohsaka knelt in formal prostration and said, "Thank you so much. If there is ever anything you need us to do, please tell us at any time."