With the trip finally over, we head back to Tokyo. It’s already nighttime by the time we got back, so I walked Kaoru and Yui home. The shrine Yui lives in is closer, so we head over there first.

Head Priest Kiryuu and Mrs Kiryuu welcome their daughter back with hugs and smiles. They also made sure that Kaoru and I felt welcome.

‘Did you have fun?’ Mrs Kiryuu asks her daughter.

‘Yes. We had lots.’ Yui replies. ‘And I bought the two of you some souvenirs.’

A few bags of sweets, crackers and snacks appear out of nowhere.

Head Priest Kiryuu sniffles loudly. ‘I’m so glad to know that our sweet daughter still cares about us even after getting herself a boyfriend.’

‘You’re exaggerating, father. I’m always thinking about the two of you.’

Suddenly, Mrs Kiryuu takes a closer look at Yui. She then smirks mischievously.

‘Remember those times when you said you wanted grandchildren, dear?’ she asks her husband.

‘Yes. What about it?’

‘Our daughter has climbed the staircase to adulthood, so the grandchild is likely on its way.’

Yui blushes like a ripened tomato.

‘How do you know that, mother?’ she was almost screaming in embarrassment.

‘Let’s just call it a woman’s intuition.’ her mother replies with a mysterious smile.

‘Is it true, Yui? Am I going to be a grandfather at long last?’ High Priest Kiryuu asks his daughter happily.

‘No, father. We, I mean Akira-kun, used protection when we were doing, um, that deed.’ she tells him.

High Priest Kiryuu lowers his head in disappointment.

‘...I see. Of course, you’re still too young after all.’ he says dejectedly.

‘Don’t worry, father. We’ll make plans to start a family right after we graduate.’ I assure him.

He lifts up his head at once. He also looks a lot more cheerful.

‘Truly?’

‘Absolutely, sir.’

‘That’s good. Think wisely and carefully before bringing in a new life. If you think you’re only 99.9% ready, you’re not ready to be parents yet.’ Mrs Kiryuu advises us.

‘Yes. Thank you for your advise.’

Kaoru and I said goodbye to the Kiryuu family and left the shrine. We’re to go to Kaoru’s house next. On our way there, I’m having mental preparation as to telling her parents about our abnormal relationship.

‘You don’t really have to tell them right away, aniki.’ Kaoru tells me.

I shake my head.

‘No. We can’t hide this forever. And now that I’ve already taken away your first time, I have to tell them now.’

She blushes a bit after I mentioned her first time, but her look changes to one of determination straight away.

‘I’ll do my best to help convince them.’ she tells me.

‘Thanks, Kaoru.’

Her house which doubles as the headquarter of her family’s gang is as heavily guarded as usual. One of the guards who were keeping watch rushed inside the place to inform Kaoru’s parents of our arrival while the two of us take our time to head to the entrance. Coincidentally, her parents come out the same time we arrived at the entrance.

Kaoru’s father, Ueyama Gojyuurou looks the same as the last time I saw him, old, impressive beard, and the hakama and pants. The person next to him, whom I assume is Kaoru’s mother Ueyama Kasumi looks a lot like Kaoru. It’s like she’s the older version of Kaoru.

Mrs Ueyama bows at me. ‘Pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Shimamori Kasumi, Kaoru’s mother.’

I couldn’t help but notice that she’s using her maiden name instead of the family name given to her after she’s married to Ueyama-san. I guess she’s still mad at him. Speaking of him, he’s showing a complicated expression when his wife used her maiden name to introduce herself.

I also bow at her. ‘Greetings. My name is Kagenashi Akira. I have the utmost honor of being in a relationship with your daughter.’

She raises up her head and smiles at me. ‘Looks like Kaoru found herself a decent boyfriend.’

‘Actually, I’m not as decent as you think.’ I begin after bracing myself.

‘If you’re talking about the part you have multiple girlfriends, we’ve already know about that. Don’t we, Gojyuurou?’

Ueyama-san nods.

Kaoru and I flinch at the same time.

‘You actually knew about it already?’ I ask her a bit fearfully.

‘My apologies, but I took the liberty of investigating your background.’

I bow to them again. ‘I may seem like an unfaithful person, but please know that I love each and everyone of my girlfriends equally. As such, I hope that I can continue to get approval from the two of you to date your daughter.’

‘Please raise up your head, Kagenashi-san.’ Mrs Ueyama tells me.

I raise up my head. Both her and her husband are being expressionless, so I can’t tell what they’re thinking at all.

‘When Gojyuurou wanted to raise Kaoru as a boy, I left her when I should have fought against his decision with all my might. As a result, she grew up to be ignorant of her own gender. Words cannot describe how much I have failed my duty as a mother.’

Mrs Ueyama then glares at Ueyama-san. He clears his throat before beginning to speak.

‘As Kasumi said, I raised Kaoru while pretending that she’s a male just because of my worthless pride. I’ve learned the error of my way, but the damages have already been done. Now, I just want Kaoru to be happy. If she found a man that she can be happy with, I for one have no right to interfere. Besides, aside from being in a polygamy relationship, I have known you to be a good man. I can definitely sleep well at night knowing that you’re taking care of Kaoru.’

‘It’s exactly as he said. If our daughter trusts you, that’s all the assurance I need. So please, take good care of her.’

The two of them bow at me. I immediately bow back.

‘Thank you for your blessings.’ I tell them.

Well, that’s another pair of my girlfriends’ parents that approve of our relationship. Now, it’s just Saya’s and Ichika’s parents left. Saya’s parents aside, I’m seriously worried of what Instructor Kurogane, Ichika’s father might say or worse, do once he found out. I guess I can only cross the bridge when I reach it.

On the next morning, Principal Morifuji call me to his office.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

‘Excellent job on assisting Amesaki-kun and co. To capture the extremists in Kyoto and Nagoya, Kagenashi-kun.’ he tells me once I’ve sit down opposite him.

‘It was nothing, sir. We were just doing our job.’

There’s no way I can tell him that we happened to bump into Amesaki-senpai while we were going on a trip.

‘Nevertheless, you should still be commended for your achievements. Even if all of you were taking a break from school for an unauthorized field trip.’

…Never mind. I’ve forgotten that his information network is extremely broad. He practically has the entire Information Squad to his disposal, after all.

‘We’re, um, really sorry for that sir.’

‘Don’t be. There are quite a lot of students and even staffs who do the same thing all the time. Your group isn’t the first, and you definitely won’t be the last.’

That surprised me, but I didn’t press things any further. After this brief talk, I have his permission to leave.

Three days after we’re back from the trip, I receive a message from the Reception Department while I was having a class with Assaf-sensei.

“Dear Kagenashi Akira-san, you are given a mission directly from Prime Minister Shindou. He has requested that you visit his office this instant.” the message reads.

I was feeling a bit drowsy after having a class for the entire morning, but now I’m completely awake. I slowly raise up my hand.

‘What is it, Akira-kun? Do you want your pent up carnal desires to be relieved?’ Assaf-sensei asks me.

‘That’s sexual harassment, sensei.’ I point out.

‘Come now, you know and I know that’s not true.’

‘It is and you know it. More importantly, can I be excused from class? The Reception Department just texted me to inform me that the PM gave me a mission.’

The entire class immediately turn their neck to look at me in astonishment. I don’t blame them for their reaction. It’s a pretty big deal if the PM of Japan request you, of all people.

‘In that case, off you go. And be careful out there.’ she says to me.

‘Will do, sensei.’

After I leave the school building, I found a van waiting for me right outside the entrance. The window of the driver’s seat was brought down, and I see Greg-san and Amaya-san inside.

Let’s take a quick trip down the memory lane. Greg-san is a humanoid Destroyer who had been living in our world for more than thirty years. He eventually met and fall in love with Amaya-san, the daughter of the folks who owned the Yamagata Pharmacy.

After Amaya-san’s parents had been arrested, I heard from Greg-san that they have been living together.

‘Get on, Kagenashi. I’ve been assigned to drive you to the office of the individual also known as the Prime Minister..’ Greg-san tells me.

‘It’s been a while, Amaya-san, Greg-san.’ I tell the two of them after I got inside the van.

‘You got that right. How have you been?’ Amaya-san asks me. ‘Have you been busy with your girlfriends?’

I scratch my cheek in slight embarrassment. ‘Well, I’ve got three more girlfriends since the last time we’ve talked.’

She whistles, clearly impressed. ‘Is your streak ever going to stop?’

‘How about you, Amaya-san? How was your life after you left your mansion?’ I ask in an attempt to change the subject.

‘Naturally, it’s much better then when I was there. I got a job at the Academy’s office handling paperwork. It can be quite tough, but at least I’m earning my keep.’

‘How about school? Are you still going there?’

‘Nope. For starters, that place is for rich girls only. Besides, now that I’m free from the shackles of my parents, I won’t go there even if I’m allowed to. Going straight to work is so much better. It was a bit tough when I first started, but it was doable after I got used to it.’

I couldn’t agree more. School is such a waste of time I rather take the chance of working inside an office where you might get worked to death.

‘How are things between the two of you?’ I ask next.

I see Amaya-san fidgeting at her seat.

‘I guess we’re doing well so far, considering his, well, origin.’

‘It might be fine for her, but not me. For one thing, she snores.’ Greg tells me.

Amaya-san inhales loudly. ‘I do not.’

‘Yes you do. And you were quite loud.’

‘I do not!’

‘Do too.’

‘Don’t listen to him, Kagenashi. He’s lying.’ Amaya-san tells me.

‘I don’t’ know. Greg-san doesn’t look like someone who lies.’

‘Oh, not you too!’

This is actually quite nice. I wonder whether this is what it feels like to have elder siblings.

They drop me off at the PM’s office and drive away. After making sure that I don’t look sloppy, I head inside the office.

Unlike the last time I was here, the inside is full of staffs today. Everyone looks busy with something, so I can’t find the right time to ask one of them to guide me to the PM’s room. It’s not that I don’t know the way. It’s just that I don’t have the guts to head there without being escorted. I don’t fancy the chance of being mistaken for a trespasser.

‘Oh, if it isn’t Kagenashi-kun.’ a voice says on my right.

I turn my neck and see Motome-senpai. I immediately let out a sigh of relief.

‘Good morning Motome-senpai. I’m here to see the Prime Minister.’ I tell her.

‘Of course. He had been expecting you. Right this way.’

While we’re heading there, neither of us say a thing. I want to ask her about the mission, but I decide to keep quiet at the last minute just in case it’s confidential.

After we reach the entrance to his office, Motome-senpai knocks on the door. A muffled voice tells us to come in.

The PM is sitting at the back of his table. And Amesaki-senpai is standing opposite him.

She lets out a tiny squeak when she saw me.

‘What are you doing here, Kagenashi-kun?’ she asks me.

‘I was the one who called him here.’ PM Shindou tells her.

‘You did, sir? Why?’

‘I’ve heard that his Regalia allows him to breath underwater. As such, his addition is crucial to this mission, wouldn’t you say?’

Even though PM Shindou answered her question with a straight face, I still couldn’t help but think that there’s more to the reason I was chosen. For one thing, Motome-senpai has been putting on a wide grin ever since we came in.

‘Exactly what is the mission about, sir?’ I ask the PM.

‘You see, a few villages near the shores of Ireland had been attacked since two nights ago. There were quite a lot of casualties and deaths too as far as we know. The government of Ireland had requested help from some of the nations including ours after they failed to stop the attacks.’

‘That sounds serious. Are the assailants pirates?’

‘They’re something worse than that. You see, we were given reports that their assailants were humanoids with the body parts of fish and other aquatic animals like eels.’

Huh. Could be some deep sea dwellers from the Atlantis. If Atlantis is a thing in this world, that is.

‘Wouldn’t posting guards on the villages help?’

‘Believe me, they already have. The thing is, the survived guards reported that the entire village is always covered by a mysterious white mist that renders anyone who inhales it unconscious.’

‘I take it that gas masks didn’t help either.’

‘They did not. Apparently, whoever, or whatever that created those mists are highly adapted in magic.’

‘Did anyone ever managed to find out about the motives behind these attacks?’

‘So far, no one has a clue. However, the most curious thing about these incidents is that at the humanoids wrote “Stop me before it’s too late” at the beach of the villages they attacked.’

‘So the leader of the group is trying to lure someone out.’

‘That’s the only possibility we could think of.’

‘Um, do you really want me to join this mission, sir? I’m sure that there are countless candidates better and stronger than I am.’

‘As I told Amesaki-kun, we need you since you have the ability to breath underwater.’

‘Because their lair is most likely underwater?’

‘Exactly.’

‘Don’t worry, Kagenashi-kun. We’ll be sure to watch your back, so no need to be scared.’ Motome-senpai assures me.

Even though I’m still uneasy, I have to take it on anyway. It’s not like you can refuse the order of the PM of Japan himself.

‘Are we supposed to depart right now, sir?’ I ask.

‘Yes. We’ve already arranged transportation so that you could get to Haneda Airport.’

So we’re going Ireland by plane. I guess helicopters are getting too repetitive. After the briefing is over, I follow my two senpais outside to get into the prepared ride. PM Shindou follow us at the back, probably to see us off.

I see five large armored cars and one normal sized car parked outside. Motome-senpai hands over a car key to Amesaki-senpai.

‘The others are already inside the large cars. Miu, take this and get inside the small one with Kagenashi-kun.’ she tells her.

The latter stares at the former.

‘What?’

‘You heard me.’

‘Wait wait wait! Why are we the only ones who have to use the small car? There are plenty of spaces inside the big ones!’

‘Please understand, Amesaki-kun. Even though the vehicles still look spacious, only a limited amount of people are allowed in each of them in order to save fuel.’ PM Shindou tells her.

I notice that he’s trying very hard not to laugh or even smile. Motome-senpai, on the other hand, is openly grinning again.

‘I see. In that case, Kagenashi-kun and I will use the small car.’

And she actually believed him. I guess that’s an airhead for you.

Amesaki-senpai salutes at PM Shindou. Motome-senpai and I follow suit. PM Shindou salutes back.

‘Well then, we will be heading out, sir.’

‘Yes. Good luck in your mission.’

Not long after we got inside the car, I check for the duration of the hours of flight it takes for a plane to fly from Tokyo to Ireland. It takes a whooping twelve hours.

‘Don’t worry. Twelve hours pass by in a flash.’ Amesaki-senpai assures me after she was my look of dismay.

‘I guess. I’ve been to Italy before, so I guess it’s the same thing now.’

‘Oh, you have? IS it okay if you tell me more about it?’

‘I don’t mind, but it would probably bore you since it might be nothing compared to the missions you went through.’

‘I think not. I’ve never been to Italy, so I’m curious about it.’

I stare at her.

‘You haven’t been to Italy? Really?’

‘It’s not that surprising, you know. The world is huge, after all. Plus, I’ve never been given a mission that require me to go to Italy.’

‘In that case…’

So I told her about how I met Kaoru, and how all of us had to go to Italy.

‘...You know, that mission of your was a pretty big deal, despite what you yourself might think.’ she says after I’m done.

‘Is it really?’

‘Yes. It’s not everyday where you get caught up in religious feuds.’

‘I guess it’s true when you put it that way.’

‘Do you have any other stories to tell?’

‘I do, but shouldn’t we talk about it after we board the plane?’

‘Good point. But what are we going to do now as we head to the airport?’

I point outside where there’s nothing but grasslands.

‘Look, a cheetah is chasing a cow.’

She giggles.

‘Don’t you mean bison? ’

‘Oh, right. That works too.’