"No—no need, really! I can handle this. I'm good at cooking."
Tsumiki hurriedly spoke up, flustered. The sudden changes had left her reeling.
Out of nowhere, her stepfather had returned. And now, sohow, she and gumi had also gained an uncle.
From the way things looked, her stepfather seed almost… afraid of this uncle.
---
"You don't need to worry, little niece. Just sit down and wait to eat. From now on, cooking is his job."
Zen'in Shinsuke's tone grew heavier when he heard Tsumiki say she was used to cooking.
Look at this—such a young girl, and not only does she go to school, she takes care of her little brother, does laundry, cooks… she can do everything.
anwhile, this so-called father spent his days gambling and drifting about.
"Don't be fooled by how your dad looks. He's actually really skilled in the kitchen."
…Not that Toji had a choice. Shinsuke had beaten those skills into him when they were kids, precisely to prepare for situations like this.
"All right then."
Tsumiki gradually accepted the arrangent.
If gumi's father stayed, maybe her brother wouldn't feel so lonely anymore.
She herself didn't particularly mind Toji's presence—it might even be good for gumi to experience a little fatherly affection.
As for gumi, he seed completely indifferent. He wasn't close to Toji anyway. As long as Tsumiki was fine with it, he had no objections.
---
"Um… Uncle, can I ask sothing?"
Tsumiki hesitated, then spoke softly. "My mother… didn't co back with you?"
She needed to know. Where was her mother? Was she even alive?
"…That…"
Shinsuke froze, unsure how to answer. He'd already asked Toji about this on the way over.
And Toji's answer had been blunt: he didn't know either.
The truth was, Toji had only married into the Fushiguro family because they had money. Tsumiki's mother had been divorced, raising a child alone, and wanted her kid to have a companion. Toji looked decent enough on paper, so she married him.
Afterward, once the kids had each other, the adults went their separate ways. The marriage had always been more of a practical arrangent than a real bond.
Shinsuke cleared his throat.
"We don't know where she is. Maybe… she has sothing important to take care of. Give it so ti—she'll probably co back."
Zen'in Shinsuke could only offer such reassurance.
Tsumiki's mother and Toji had surprisingly aligned on how to care for the kids, so it wasn't hard to see why they had ended up together.
Later, Shinsuke would let Toji try and find out more. A child without a mother was no small matter.
"I see…"
Tsumiki gave a faint smile, not showing much concern.
After that, Shinsuke chatted casually with Tsumiki and gumi. Kids were easier to sway, and before long, both had accepted their new uncle.
From today onward, they now had soone attending parent-teacher etings.
---
Not long after, Toji cooked a al. His passable skills reduced the initial awkwardness between him and gumi, achieving Shinsuke's purpose, albeit roughly.
Life was long; over ti, their bonds would grow stronger, slowly forming the semblance of a family.
After eating and lingering for a bit, Shinsuke left. Toji returned to his original place to pack up, preparing to move in with Tsumiki and gumi.
Pressured by his older brother, he dared not resist.
---
By the ti Shinsuke returned to the Zen'in residence, dusk had settled.
At the steps outside the main house, he found two little kids sitting—Zen'in Maki and her younger sister, Mai.
Seeing Shinsuke, Mai jumped in fright and scrambled behind Maki. Her eyes wide with fear, she whimpered:
"Big sister… that creepy uncle is here! Let's run!"
For so reason, Mai was terrified of Shinsuke.
Shinsuke twitched at the corner of his mouth and strode forward. Ignoring Maki, he reached down, grabbed Mai under the arms, and lifted her effortlessly. His voice was sharp:
"Who's the creepy uncle now? From now on, when you see , you call Cousin! Got it?"
"Waaah… Big sister… help ! The creepy uncle is going to eat !"
Mai cried, kicking and squirming. Tears and snot stread down her face, as if he were so man-eating monster.
Shinsuke paused, thinking. Am I really that terrifying?
He knew Mai was timid, but surely not this timid. Was he more frightening than a curse?
"Stop crying. If you keep it up, I might really eat you."
"Hmph hmph…"
Mai quickly covered her mouth, letting out muffled sobs. She was terrified, but more afraid of being "eaten."
The truth was, she had overheard Maki asking their mother why the Zen'in family feared this cousin so much. Their mother had called Shinsuke a "monster," and young Mai naturally took it to heart.
She convinced herself: this man only looked human; inside, he was a monster.
"Next ti you see , no crying. Understand?"
"Waaah…"
Mai nodded furiously, already deciding never to co here again—even with her sister.
Seeing Mai behave, Shinsuke set her down.
He turned to Maki, who looked calm and collected, and raised an eyebrow. She seed far more mature than her sister.
Makes sense. In the Zen'in household, outcasts grow up fast.
"Now, tell —what are you doing here? I warned you this morning, didn't I?"
"I… want you to teach ." Maki clenched her fists, her eyes firm.
She wanted the power to make the Zen'in family stop mocking and bullying her.
She couldn't use cursed energy, much less advanced techniques, and had no idea how to instill fear in those who had tornted her.
But this cousin—he couldn't use cursed energy either, yet the Zen'in family feared him.
Even Naoya, who often mocked her, had lost all playfulness in his eyes when he heard Shinsuke's na—replaced only by respect and fear.
"Teach you what? To get stronger?" Shinsuke's eyes studied her closely. He could tell she was serious.
"Yes! To get stronger! You can make stronger, right?"
Maki's eyes glimred with determination. Even as a little girl, she already understood the importance of strength.
Shinsuke felt a flicker of interest.
"Not bad. I can see your determination. But… sorry, I'm not interested in teaching little kids."
He refused. Teach a little girl to get stronger? Absurd.
"Slap!"
At her words, Maki imdiately knelt, startling Mai.
"Big sister! What are you doing?!"
Mai froze, but Maki fixed Shinsuke with a serious gaze, then kowtowed:
"Master above, please accept your disciple's bow!"
Her childish voice echoed across the yard, leaving Shinsuke utterly dumbfounded.
Had he sohow gone back in ti? Why was she kowtowing…
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