Gurgle~
Everyone turned their heads at once.
A small boy, around six years old, was squinting his eyes and glaring at them fiercely.
It was none other than Mirai, who had just escaped from Takayanagi Miwako's embrace. He had been awakened by the noise and came over to scold them.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
A rush of hurried footsteps approached...
Takayanagi Miwako quickly grabbed Mirai's small hand.
At the same time, she bowed respectfully to the senior members of the three royal families:
"I'm terribly sorry. Young Master Mirai didn't mean to offend. He just woke up and is a bit cranky. I hope you can forgive him."
"Homemade red bean Marseille cake!"
"Miwako Auntie, why are you apologizing~"
Mirai pursed his lips, grumbling unhappily.
"They're arguing like a bunch of market aunties. Totally unbecoming of the three noble families. Can't you see Aunt Yukino is so weak she can't even stand up?"
To others, it might have just been childish worry.
But to Yukino Shindō, who was frail in the harsh winter, the boy's words sounded like music from heaven.
She bit her lip softly, touched by his concern, covering her face with her hands. Her eyes lit up with joy!
That child... has grown up.
He's even more handsome than Kris Wu~
Unlike the arrogance and rigid conservatism of the senior royals...
As someone born into the elite class that benefits from bloodline theory, Yukino had only one obsession:
Face.
She loved everything beautiful in this world.
Right now,
Mirai, in her eyes, was like a dazzling, irresistible jewel.
"You there!"
A small finger pointed directly at someone.
A lucky audience member was chosen to set an example.
"Me?" A senior member of the Kammo family pointed to himself in confusion.
"Yes, you!"
"Weren't you just curious about my and Wu's strength?"
"Please, Mr. Moshiro, show him."
BOOM!!!
Only one person responded.
A force like a Category 8 typhoon's gale burst forth!
Everyone covered their faces!
When the wind finally died down—
In the Kammo family's seat, a tall, broad-shouldered figure with gleaming white teeth stood imposingly.
Next to him—
A massive crater, like the entrance to an abyss, had appeared out of nowhere!
Someone curious dared to look inside.
Down in the hotel's underground parking lot, atop a crushed luxury car, lay a mangled and bloody body, completely unrecognizable.
Breathing in seemed less than breathing out.
"...Now you know."
Murai added nonchalantly. From now on, responses would be taken in order.
He no longer paid attention to the stunned Kammo elder.
Look over there—
An eighty-year-old elder, who had just been kneeling, suddenly shot up!
Without hesitation, he scooped up a nearby five- or six-year-old girl and bolted down the stairs like an eighteen-year-old!
Because the man down there... was his only son after he lost his powers.
The family's only heir!
That moment ended everything—
Moshiro's first public appearance had left an unforgettable impression.
Everyone from the three noble families stared in awe at the towering shikigami in the center of the hall and the six-year-old boy standing proudly before it, arms crossed.
So powerful!
Unbelievably strong!
A genius!
An absolute genius!
Everyone aware of the Zen'in clan's "Ten Shadows Technique: Makura" couldn't help but think the same two thoughts:
If the clan records are true—
Is this really a shikigami that can be tamed by humans?
And by a six-year-old at that??
Not even fiction would dare write this!
"Uh... Why are you all staring at me?" He got distracted in three seconds, popped a cream puff in his mouth, and asked curiously, "Keep the music going, keep dancing!"
He waved his hand casually, as if the one who just unleashed holy judgment on a Kammo elder wasn't him at all, but some other innocent kid.
Under Moshiro's overwhelming pressure,
Order finally returned to the venue, and peaceful conversation resumed.
"Pfft!"
It was no longer noisy.
Watching everyone speak politely and calmly, Yukino couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.
Suddenly—
She felt a tug at the hem of her kimono.
Shindō Yukino looked down in surprise but saw no one at her feet.
She turned to the side, where the adorable boy was munching a cream puff.
"Aunt Yukino, your smile is so beautiful~"
"When you feel down, just smile and everything will be okay. That's what Aunt Miwako taught me."
A strange sense of danger crept in.
Takayanagi Miwako quickly declined the flattery from the other two families.
She stepped up to Mirai's side and exchanged a silent glance with Yukino.
Look—
Shindō Yukino nodded slightly.
Then, under Miwako's jealous gaze,
She sweetly smiled, bent down, and wiped the cream from the corner of Mirai's lips.
"Mirai~"
"Would you like to go out and play with Auntie~?"
"You and Wu share the same birthday~ You're the same age, so you'll definitely get along."
Yukino's voice was soft and alluring, like a melody drawing people in.
"Eh~ who'd want to play with him?"
Gojo Satoru had both hands in his pockets, his head tilted in pride.
"Just because you have that shikigami, don't think you're all that. I'll break it into pieces someday!"
Seeing his spoiled son act up in front of his mother, competing for attention, Mirai didn't mind at all.
Behind him loomed an eternal, overwhelming presence.
"Shurei~ Mr. Moshiro is amazing!"
"But... I hope you can catch up~"
"You—!"
"Wu, don't talk to people like that!"
When it came to raising her son, Yukino's tone suddenly turned stern.
"Mirai is the head of the Zen'in clan and commands such a powerful shikigami. You should respect him like a big brother~" she said meaningfully.
"Hmph~ What's so great about being a clan head? I'm going to be the Gojo clan head... No! I am the Gojo clan head now!"
"Wu, stop acting out! Mommy's getting angry!"
Yukino's expression tightened. She feigned a pout.
"Don't you love me anymore?"
"You've never been this mean to me before!"
"Just because of this kid..."
The Six Eyes, usually so perceptive, seemed to fail him now.
Gojo Satoru's blue eyes rippled, and he stormed off in anger, shouting:
"Hmph~ I don't care about you anymore!"
"Wu—!"
Seeing her son's jealousy toward Mirai, Yukino didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She turned back and said:
"Sorry, little Mirai. If we get the chance, Auntie will take you out to play next time, okay~?"
"Okay, it's a promise then~" Mirai stuck out his pinky.
"Yes, it's a promise!"
After making the pinky swear,
Yukino chased after the retreating Gojo Satoru.
In the winter air, watching Yukino disappear into the distance,
Mirai's face lit up with a warm, contented smile.
To the side—
Takayanagi Miwako, seeing how close Mirai and Yukino had gotten after just their first meeting, couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
She had no right to stop Mirai from returning to Yukino's embrace.
But...
What is this unwillingness I feel in my heart?
"Mirai's master, if you can understand this feeling, then please... stay by my side~"