Riding the shinkansen, after several transfers, Sakurai returned to his old ho in Kyoto.
Specifically, it was near Higashiyama, on Pontocho Street by the Kamogawa River.
He passed through a street full of old-style charm: stone-paved roads underfoot, surrounded by izakaya, bars, restaurants, and even geisha houses.
On the way, quite a few geisha hurried past Sakurai Saki, their faces covered in white makeup.
It was said that the reason for painting their faces white was because, in the past, electric lights were not bright enough.
This white makeup represented the cleanliness of the geisha, reassuring custors as they enjoyed their als at the establishnts.
There were quite a lot of tourists around.
This was one of the most famous tourist spots in Kyoto.
Carrying his bag, Sakurai Saki stopped in front of a familiar shop.
Looking up, he saw the signboard of his family's wagashi shop: Kitsune Tamaya.
He lifted the curtain printed with a fox design.
Sakurai Saki stepped inside.
Since it was evening, there weren't many custors dining in.
He had booked his ticket that morning, and after getting off the shinkansen, he had taken a train, then transferred to a bus—it had taken quite a bit of ti.
"Ibuki-nee, good evening." Sakurai Saki greeted the woman minding the front of the shop.
The one called Ibuki-nee looked to be in her thirties, wearing glasses and a modest kimono. Upon seeing Sakurai Saki, she quickly turned toward the kitchen and shouted loudly, "Boss!! Young Master is back!!"
"…That way of addressing … can't you change it?" Sakurai Saki said helplessly.
Young Master—how embarrassing!
"Rules can't be changed." Ibuki Yuki smiled.
"Alright then."
Our family only has one wagashi shop, where do these so-called rules even co from?
Sakurai Saki really didn't get it.
"Young Master, back so soon?" said an elderly neighbor nearby.
"Umu." Sakurai Saki smiled and nodded at her.
…
After greeting a few regular custors in the shop, Sakurai Saki headed into the kitchen.
His foster mother was making daifuku, her hands skillfully taking so glutinous rice flour, red bean paste filling, and… tofu skin?
Huh? Tofu skin?
Sakurai Saki's face was full of question marks: "Mom, what are you making?"
Does our shop have this kind of cursed creation?
"Tofu skin daifuku," Jinguuji Tamaki replied.
Today, she wasn't wearing her usual black kimono, but even dressed in the clothes of a confectioner, her alluring figure—especially her full, captivating chest—still drew the eye, and Sakurai Saki couldn't help but glance at her.
'Mom's figure is really nice.'
"Trying out a new product, baby—what do you think?" Tamaki wrapped up the last daifuku and put it into the stear.
"…Mom, even if you like eating aburaage, tofu skin daifuku…"
"Mama thinks it'll be delicious." Tamaki's breathtaking face was completely serious.
Sakurai Saki felt this was absolutely a cursed dish.
Putting tofu skin in a sweet confection—he couldn't even imagine it.
His foster mother was good at everything, except she liked making strange foods. The shop even had a free tasting corner filled with her new creations—free of charge—but few custors dared to try them.
Only tourists got tricked into it, and then his foster mother would stand to the side, watching their reactions, covering her red lips as she let out a clear, gentle laugh.
"What's the matter? Why did you suddenly co back?" Jinguuji Tamaki asked.
"Just ca to see you," Sakurai Saki replied.
"Lying again." Mrs. Jinguuji could tell right away that her precious son was brushing her off.
Tamaki: ( ｡ •̀ ⤙ •́ ｡ )
"Alright, I had a bit of business. Isn't there a fireworks festival near Higashiyama tomorrow?"
"Want to go see it with mama?" Tamaki asked as she reached out to hug him.
Sakurai Saki wanted to push her away, but realized it was already too late. Having no choice, he let her hug him with a helpless expression. There was a pleasant fragrance on his mother's body.
"Going with my girlfriend." He replied.
"…" The gentle look on Jinguuji Tamaki's face instantly changed.
(≖_≖ ✿)
"Who?" She asked coldly.
"A classmate." Sakurai Saki answered.
He had originally thought his mother must have already heard about him confessing at school, but strangely, she didn't know.
As for this jealous look on his mother's face, Sakurai Saki found it normal.
It wasn't the first ti.
In the past, when a few young high school girls ca into the shop, as long as they exchanged a few words with Sakurai Saki, Jinguuji Tamaki would already show displeasure.
"Oh~ Is it the girl who talked to last ti?" Jinguuji Tamaki recalled.
She had a very good impression of Shinomiya Kaguya, and Fujiwara Chika wasn't bad either.
However, Fujiwara Chika wasn't her son's classmate, this Tamaki knew very well.
"No."
"Chika-chan?" Jinguuji Tamaki hugged him a little tighter.
Gently inhaling the scent on her son, her expression returned to gentleness.
"Also no."
"Then who is it?" Tamaki began to feel confused.
Soone she hadn't t yet? Where did this daughter-in-law suddenly appear from? In any case, she must pass through the mother's gate first, right? After all, she was still his mother, wasn't she?
"At the upcoming eting between the three parties, you'll probably et her." Sakurai Saki replied.
"Can't it be tomorrow?" Tamaki's voice sounded as if she were about to cry.
Tamaki: (இ﹏இ`｡)
… Just pretending.
Sakurai Saki felt helpless toward his cunning mother. "Her family has so matters to deal with."
"Very poor?"
"Not really. She works as a maid for a wealthy family, and this ti she returned accompanying her master." Sakurai Saki no longer hid it.
His mother had once been the guuji of the Inari shrine and had her own information channels—he couldn't hide it for long anyway.
"Baby, you should at least find soone of matching social status, right?" Jinguuji Tamaki spoke with a slight tone of disdain.
"It seems her family holds a high-ranking position within the Shinomiya clan. A financial conglorate in history that has never been purged, holding more than half the country through political donations, with complicated connections—the Shinomiya clan's influence is still very strong." Sakurai Saki said.
Although he felt that what his mother said was sowhat off.
These days, people are free to love—there's no such thing as matching social status anymore.
Besides, how much property did their family really have?
Although the plot of land on this street wasn't cheap, and the shop itself was quite valuable, compared to a financial conglorate, it was nothing.
His mother's influence in Shinto could hardly affect the Shinomiya clan.
Unless she used supernatural power.
"Fine~ As long as Baby is happy."
Jinguuji Tamaki could only give in.
She really couldn't change Sakurai Saki's mind anyway.
————
At the sa ti.
Sowhere in Kyoto, within the Shinomiya family's main estate.
Near the outskirts, inside the Japanese-style room of a small courtyard, Shinomiya Kaguya was gazing at the moon together with Hayasaka Ai.
"I always encounter so kind of misfortune—it's been that way since I was little."
Her father had never praised her, never said things like "I love you," "You did well," or "Good job." All of Kaguya's achievents had never been recognized by her family.
Perhaps, to them, those achievents were simply what a mber of the Shinomiya family was expected to attain.
Whether it was winning an archery championship or ranking at the top academically.
Even until last year, Shinomiya Kaguya had never fallen from the first rank in academics, yet even so, she had never received any praise in that regard.
"Kaguya-sama, the head of the family wishes to see you."
Outside the door, the butler of the Shinomiya main estate spoke up.
Hearing this, a trace of joy appeared on Kaguya's face.
'Father calling back to the main estate—could it be he has sothing important to tell ?'
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