Thanks for reading~
Quite a lot of things have changed in these five years.
One of them, is that the restaurant became three times as large as a normal, single house.
Because it was so popular and the citizens strongly requested for it, the ramen restaurant, and our house, was made to increase in size by an order from the king.
Sensei didn"t really plan on making it that big, but there was complaints from customers because they had to wait in such a long line everyday, so it was inevitably enlarged.
""Oi, Ura. Why do you look so displeased?"" (Velt)
""That"s obvious! It was too sudden. Why didn"t you tell me beforehand!"" (Ura)
""Well, I told sensei beforehand, that I would leave the house and country when I become 15."" (Velt)
""Why didn"t you tell me! I have preparations to make you know!"" (Ura)
The whole time while we were returning home from the forest, Ura was extremely displeased.
While tutting many times, she keeps complaining.
""You say preparations, but even if you prepare your heart, you would still oppose, right?"" (Velt)
""Wrong! Well, I also need to prepare my heart, but the most important thing, is for my trip-"" (Ura)
The shop door opened at that moment, and a small shadow jumped at us.
""Niichan, neechan, welcome home!""
The moment that small child jumped into her chest, Ura"s displeased expression changed to a smile all at once.
""Umu, I"m home, Hanabi. Were you being a good child?"" (Ura)
""Yeah, guess what, Hanabi helped out daddy and mummy a lot!"" (Hanabi)
""Ohh, I see I see, you"re admirable, Hanabi. Nn~, rub rub rub."" (Ura)
""Kyafuu! Niichan, you too! Rub rub me!"" (Hanabi)
Even my twisted self naturally smiled.
Nowadays, she has become one of the two poster girls in the Tonkotu Rameen restaurant.
Hanabi Cha.s.si. Four years old.
She has curly red hair, is wearing short sleeve clothes with easy to move, above the knee length trousers, with an ap.r.o.n for children on top, and is an energetic girl that always lively runs around the inside of the shop.
""Ah, Velt-kun, Ura-chan, welcome home. I"m glad you don"t seem to have any injuries."" (Lallana)
""Yo, you both came back, huh. We"re tidying up right now, so help out."" (Melma)
Missus and sensei who haven"t changed since the past. The child that those two made, is this Hanabi.
She"s a child that was born in the year after Forna and the others went to the empire.
Since the shop was busy, Ura, missus, sensei and I had to each take turns raising the child, and right now, Hanabi thinks Ura and I are her actual siblings.
That is somewhat pleasant to me, but to be honest, I pampered Hanabi many times more than Forna and Ura when they were brats.
Therefore,
""Hanabi, listen well!"" (Ura)
""What"s wrong, neechan?"" (Hanabi)
""Your older brother, Velt, is awful, because apparently, he"s trying to leave this house while leaving you behind."" (Ura)
Hey, Ura. Why are you tattling on me to the child that definitely shouldn"t hear it.
""Niichan, is that true?"" (Hanabi)
""Ah, ah, well, Hanabi. Look, it"s not like niichan is going somewhere because he doesn"t like you or anything."" (Velt)
""Niichan, are you going somewhere?"" (Hanabi)
Stop it. Don"t look at me with such wet eyes that look like they"re going to explode in a few seconds.
You"re making me want to rip up all of my determination and hug you.
""Fue."" (Hanabi)
""Ah, look, Hanabi!"" (Velt)
""N, n, o, noooooooooooooooooo!"" (Hanabi)
That"s why I said not to do that! Ura, you idiot!
""Wait, Velt-kun, wha, what are you, or rather, is what she said right now true!"" (Lallana)
Ahh, see, even the missus dropped a bowl and broke it from surprise.
This is why you should think about the timing, or how you put it.
""Velt-kun, what are you thinking! I will not let you do that!"" (Lallana)
""No, no, no! I don"t want niichan to gooooo!"" (Hanabi)
""Velt, are you trying to abandon us! That being the case, raise your hand if you oppose Velt from leaving home!"" (Ura)
""Yes yes yes yes yes! I strongly oppose and will not let you do that!"" (Lallana)
""I definitely don"t wanna!"" (Hanabi)
""How"s that, Velt. Due to the amount of opposers, your stupid thought has been rejected!"" (Ura)
Ura you a.s.shole, you had to go and get allies.
I"ve been thinking this since before, but ever since Hanabi was born, the women"s power has increased.
When the missus or Ura are troubled, they drag Hanabi in as their ally and hold down sensei and I.
""Niichan, not going, way, right?"" (Hanabi)
""Uuu."" (Velt)
""Don"t leabe, I don"t want, niijan to leave!"" (Hanabi)
Uooo, d.a.m.n it, Ura you idiot! I said it before, but that"s foul play! Stop it, stop it! It"s making my unsteady body want to naturally come up to Hanabi, hug her tightly, and say ""niichan isn"t going anywhere.""
""Ha, Hanabi, look, okay."" (Velt)
""Higu, higu, uuu."" (Hanabi)
""Ni, niichan will always, be in yo, your, heart?"" (Velt)
What suspicious things am I saying?
However, that was dangerous. My determination was about to weaken.
""Then, niichan, will you do the fuwa fuwa play with me, every day from now?"" (Hanabi)
Fuwa fuwa play.
The sole technique I thought up for Hanabi in this world to not defeat an enemy, but to let Hanabi have fun.
Fuwa fuwa up high. Fuwa fuwa jet coaster. Fuwa fuwa nap. Fuwa fuwa tag.
This is a technique that I developed in this world for Hanabi due to Hanabi because she is Hanabi.
""I"ll come back occasionally, so at that time."" (Velt)
""Uuu, uuu, bigyaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"" (Hanabi)
The only time I because this fl.u.s.tered was probably when I first met the pervert general Gyanza.
I don"t think I can go against this.
Behind Hanabi, who is crying, Ura and the missus are supporting her.
I"m completely isolated and helpless, being surrounded by enemies on all sides. Do I not even have a single ally on my side?
No, that"s not true.
""So you"ve finally decided, Velt."" (Melma)
With a somewhat heavy tone, sensei, who had been silent for the whole time, said that.
""Wait, dear! What are you saying!"" (Lallana)
""Are you saying you"re going to let Velt leave the house!?"" (Ura)
""Daddy you idiot!"" (Hanabi)
The women camp instantaneously opposed. However, unlike me, sensei was somewhat calm.
""The truth is, Velt. Right now, there was a message from the king, and he said he was also thinking of making a second shop, instead of only increasing the size of this shop."" (Melma)
""Eh, seriously? That"s amazing."" (Velt)
Is that what you call a chain store? Well, there are a lot of employees and disciples now, so it"s not strange.
""And Lallana was saying this too, but if that really happens, then we should leave that shop to you and Ura."" (Melma)
""Eh?"" (Velt)
""You guys are already 15. If you officially register as a family, get a kid and occasionally play with them, you would probably live happily."" (Melma)
That"s the first time I"m hearing that. It"s probably Ura"s first time hearing that too, because her face is blushing a bit while staring at me.
And then, the moment I heard that story, I suddenly imagined that kind of future.
That will surely be a happy life.
However, as expected, that"s not what I want.
""But, there"s no helping it I guess. I already knew that this would happen since before."" (Melma)
At that moment, for the first time, I saw it.
""After all, even though Velt Jeeha is loved by many people, I"m the only one that understands the feelings of Asakura Ryuuma. As long as you can"t completely throw that away, I knew that a day like this would come eventually."" (Melma)
""Sen, sei."" (Velt)
""See you later, Velt. Go, see the world, then search for your benefactor, and your cla.s.smates! Go do something that I can"t do anymore!"" (Melma)
Sensei"s voice that"s always heartily laughing or getting angry, was slightly shaking, and his eyes were wet.
However, even so, those eyes, expression, and words, supported my everything.
That"s why, I"m going to go.
""Yeah, I"ll be off, sensei."" (Velt)
I thanked Velt Jeeha"s other father from the bottom of my heart.
""U, uwaaaann, dear you idiot! What is up with that, it looked like only you two could understand each other! Velt-kun is, Velt-kun is my child after all!"" (Lallana)
""I strongly oppose! Rather, Velt, reconsider it! Were you listening to his story right now? It"s a second shop, a second shop you know? And, I, I will, be Velt"s, wa, wai, wife, uuu~, it"s making my fa, face grin!"" (Ura)
""Nooooo!"" (Hanabi)
It has been seven years since I remembered about Asakura Ryuuma. I"ve completely changed, haven"t I.
There was a time when I thought my old man and mum, who gave birth to me, raised me, and risked their lives to protect me, were strangers.
But now, I feel so satisfied.
""Missus, Ura, Hanabi. I really am sorry. But, I"m going. To other people, it might just look like I"m wandering, but I want to devote my life to this trip."" (Velt)
""Velt-kun, but."" (Lallana)
""So, could you send me off with a smile?"" (Velt)
In a way, although I was free when I was alone, now I"ve made too many important people that I have to plead people, so that I can go somewhere.
Then, missus looked downwards as if giving up.
Seeing that, Ura and Hanabi sobbed.
""Ah~, geez, it"s going to be lonely. But, Hanabi is going to be the loneliest. She"s going to part from her family that she loves so much after all."" (Lallana)
""Yeah. But sensei, missus, and Ura is here. That"s why, I can go with a peace of mind."" (Velt)
To be honest, Hanabi"s tears pierced my heart, but it"ll be fine if these three are here for her.
Besides, above all, Ura is here.
Human or demon no longer means anything.
Ura dots on Hanabi as if she was her real younger sister.
I was also able to begin a trip, because I confirmed that Ura is living a plenty happy life.
I"ve thoroughly accomplished the promise I made with Samejima.
This country doesn"t look at Ura with rose-coloured gla.s.ses anymore, just because she"s a demon.
Many people love her.
That"s why~, eh, what?
""""""""Eh?"""""""" (Everyone except Velt)
Huh? Why is everyone looking at me with such weird faces?
Even sensei is too. Why?
""Oi, Velt, what are you saying right now? No way, eh, did you think leaving home meant that kind of leaving home?"" (Melma)
""Ve, Velt-kun, was that an, auditory hallucination? I feel like I just heard something outrageous right now."" (Lallana)
""Oi, Velt, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d, do you want me to kill you?"" (Ura)
""Uwaaaann, niichan you idiot~!"" (Hanabi)
Eh, why? Did I say something weird right now?
""What, what is it?"" (Velt)
""No like, when you said you"re travelling, did you mean by yourself?"" (Melma)
""Ha, haa?"" (Velt)
Well, obviously.
What are they saying?
""You know, just, look at that."" (Melma)
""Haa?"" (Velt)
The place where sensei pointed at, was where Ura was, who looked like she"s filled with anger and despair.
She disappointedly dropped her shoulders, and is muttering curse-like words.
""Ura-chan, Velt-kun is just being his usual self, so hold on."" (Lallana)
""Neechan, niichan is an idiot, since he"s an idiot, so he"s an idiot!"" (Hanabi)
Why? More like, Hanabi, even you get it? What do they mean?
""You know, do you really think you"re allowed to do something like going on a journey while leaving Ura behind by herself?"" (Melma)
At that moment, I remembered our conversation.
I also need to prepare my heart, but the most important thing, is for my trip-
""Ah, so that"s what you were talking about. Wait, so you"re coming with me?"" (Velt)
Like this, it was decided that Ura would go together with me on my journey.