The Carnivorous Maidens Living with Me - Chapter 46 & 47

Chapter 46: Matcha and Chocolate

The talk with Yayoi-san was one shock after another.

She said she wants to live with us, and it seems she’s dead serious.

“Come to think of it, I never asked, but Yayoi-san, is your place nearby?”

“I live near the university.”

“Then wouldn’t it be better to stay—”

“But I wanna live here! Is it wrong to want to be with you guys?”

Right now, Yayoi-san’s in full-on spoiled-kid mode, leaning hard into the charm.

That seductive adult allure she’s throwing out is unfair.

“Ugh… but since it’s so close to your university—”

“My family’s in this town, though, so they’d probably be thrilled to have me nearby~.”

“If your family’s happy about that, wouldn’t your parents’ place be—”

“No way!”

Yayoi-san puffs out her cheeks, shaking her head side to side.

So… cute.

“Shoma’s into that kinda thing, huh?”

“Sofia Onee-chan! Let’s practice!”

“Y-Yeah.”

“Okay, ready—go!”

““No way!””

These two are so tight, even if they’re a bit goofy sometimes.

“Shoma, just give up. She’s probably coming here no matter what! And we’re cheering her on!”

“Yup, yup!”

Hunsu! Hazuki’s all fired up.

“Even Hazuki’s on board? That’s rare. What’s the change of heart?”

“Um, well… Yayoi-san loves Senpai too, so… I wanna support her.”

“And the real reason?”

“I’m happy to get another Onee-chan!”

She’s not even hiding it anymore.

Well, she looks thrilled, so whatever.

“Haa, fine. But there’s a condition!”

“A condition?”

“We’re going to your place right now to get your parents’ permission to live together with me.”

“Like a marriage proposal?”

Way too direct!

“N-No, that’s not it… but I guess it kinda looks that way.”

I think back to everything I’ve done so far.

Pokupokupoku… chiin.

Oh, the stuff with those two was basically a marriage proposal!

“Yayoi-san, that’s how it is. Without your parents’ approval, you can’t live here! Got it?”

“Mmm… my parents, huh? That’s tough…”

Yayoi-san groans, holding her head.

Oh! Is this my first cohabitation rejection?

That’d mean my body’s safe for now!

“I’ll try to convince them too, but if they say no, you gotta give up, okay?”

“…Okay, got it.”

Yayoi-san nods reluctantly.

She steps out to the hallway, saying she’s gonna make a call.

Now it’s just the three of us.

“What do you think? Will they give permission?”

“Hmm… from that look, it’s iffy.”

“Yup. It’s different from our situation.”

We sit in silence, thinking.

“But I wanna respect Yayoi-san’s feelings. Gotta do this right. You two, I’m counting on you again!”

“Okay! I’ll make sure they see Shoma’s charm!”

Hunsu!

Yayoi-san comes back, saying we got the go-ahead for the visit, so we grab some snacks and head out.

I ask Yayoi-san what her parents like.

“They usually eat Japanese sweets, so maybe Western ones would be nice?”

So we bring some fancy chocolate treats.

※

And then Yayoi-san’s dad punches me.

“You think I’d entrust my daughter to a weakling like you? Don’t mess with me!”

Yeah, that’s the normal reaction.

The house Yayoi-san leads us to is old-school, with a refined garden, kinda like Hazuki’s place.

We greet her mom, dressed in a kimono, and her stern-looking dad, both super traditional.

I explain my current situation.

And get punched.

“Dad! I’m serious about loving Shoma-kun! How could you hit him? He just got out of the hospital!”

Yayoi-san glares at her dad, rushing to my side.

Her dad falters a bit at her last words, then gets a smack on the head from her kimono-clad mom.

But I hold up a hand to stop Yayoi-san.

“Your father’s anger is justified. I was ready to get hit. I know what I’m doing! But all I can do is bow my head!”

I drop into a full-on dogeza.

“I’ve been given so much love from so many people. And that includes the three women here, starting with Yayoi-san.”

I say what I’ve never said before.

“With all this love, I don’t want to hoard it for myself! Is it wrong to want everyone who cares about me to be happy?”

Her dad, maybe calmed by the smack, stays silent.

“If I choose just one, the others will be hurt. I know that’s how love works! But I… I don’t want anyone to be sad!”

Then I talk about my childhood.

“I was born premature, small and sickly. I couldn’t move much, always jealous of kids playing outside. I barely had friends my age.”

I keep going, lost in memories.

“But I had family, relatives, neighbors, the community. They cheered me up, took me places, played with me!”

That’s why I keep going.

I want to be an adult who gives back all that love.

I want everyone around me to smile.

I believe I can carve through even the toughest path.

So I’m accepting Yayoi-san’s feelings and asking for their understanding.

I finish and look at them.

Her dad, Sogen Kujo, stays silent.

Her mom, Sayuri Kujo, smiles at me.

A brief silence falls, then Sogen-san speaks.

“Even so… I’m against it.”

Guess it’s a no.

Yayoi-san looks down, her face hidden.

Sayuri-san keeps smiling at me.

Sofia and Hazuki, who tried to help, look heartbroken, like they failed.

Is this it?

Just as I start to stand, the sliding door opens, and an unexpected figure appears.

“I heard everything, Shoma-san.”

I’m floored by who’s there.

It’s… Tokiko-san?

Chapter 47: The Heart of Hospitality and the Vessel of Scrutiny

I came to the Kujo house to ask for permission, but Yayoi-san’s father flat-out refused.

Just as I was about to stand and leave, an unexpected figure appeared.

“Uh… Tokiko-san?”

I had no clue why Tokiko-san was here.

“Grandma! Thanks for coming!”

Yayoi-san rushes to Tokiko-san, clinging to her.

“Grandma?”

I’m still lost in a fog of confusion.

“Mother-in-law, why are you here?”

Sogen-san looks shocked.

Sayuri-san sits quietly, her smile unshaken.

“Yayoi told me she wanted to introduce someone.”

“I see… well, that’s…”

Sogen-san’s eyes dart awkwardly.

“Now, Shoma-san, let me introduce myself properly.”

Tokiko-san steps forward, kneeling gracefully.

“I’m Tokiko Kujo, the current head of the Kujo family.”

Current head… My jaw drops, and I gape like an idiot, processing the words.

“And my daughter, Sayuri. My son-in-law, Sogen. And my granddaughter, Yayoi.”

The Kujo family sits beside Tokiko-san, bowing politely.

Sogen-san’s bow is reluctant, though.

Flustered by their refined demeanor, I adjust my posture, kneel, and greet them.

“Y-Yes! I’m Shoma Kamizuki. Beside me are Sofia Kisaragi and Hazuki Shirasaki. Both are my lovers!”

I lock eyes with Tokiko-san, emphasizing “lovers.”

That’s the line I won’t budge on.

Sofia and Hazuki straighten up, nodding respectfully.

A brief silence envelops the room, broken only by the ticking of a clock.

Tokiko-san’s gentle voice cuts through.

“We met the other day, didn’t we, Sofia-san, Hazuki-san?”

“Yes! It was so fun!”

“Thank you for teaching me about tea!”

“Fufu, no need to thank me. I enjoyed it too.”

Now that she mentions it, when the president called me, I asked Sofia and Hazuki to go to the park.

I was too frazzled to listen then, but they must’ve met Tokiko-san there.

“Head of the family… um, actually…”

“Sogen-san, first, apologize to Shoma-san for raising your hand on him.”

“Guh… but—”

Tokiko-san’s eyes flash with an intensity I’ve never seen, startling me.

It seems to hit Sogen-san the same way.

“Kamizuki-kun, I’m sorry about earlier. I let my temper get the better of me.”

“No, like I said, I was prepared for it.”

“Shoma-san, I’m sorry for my son’s behavior. Yayoi, get something to cool the bruise. And Sayuri, prepare the tea room.”

Following Sogen-san, Tokiko-san apologizes too, issuing orders.

“Let’s talk over tea, Shoma-san, Sofia-san, Hazuki-san.”

All I can do is nod.

※

The room we’re led to is bathed in warm light filtering through shoji screens, so serene it feels cut off from the bustling modern world.

“Um… I don’t know the proper etiquette.”

“M-Me neither…”

“Fufufu, don’t worry about etiquette. Just enjoy it. This is the heart of hospitality.”

Tokiko-san’s tea-making is mesmerizing, her movements pure art.

Sayuri-san and Yayoi-san follow suit, preparing tea with the same grace.

Watching them, I see the family resemblance in their posture and subtle gestures.

“Shall we partake? Let’s enjoy the chocolates you brought, Shoma-san.”

“Chocolates with this tea?”

I can’t help but throw in a quip.

“They’re a gift, after all! They’ll taste better shared!”

“East meets West, huh, Mother?”

It’s the first time I’ve heard Sayuri-san’s voice, I think.

Her smile is the spitting image of Yayoi-san’s.

“I-I’ll dig in.”

Sofia and Hazuki follow, sipping the tea.

“Oh, it’s delicious.”

“So smooth and mellow.”

“It’s totally different from our matcha.”

We each share our thoughts, and the Kujo women exchange glances, high-fiving.

Sogen-san sits quietly, eyes closed.

We nibble the chocolates, chatting about random stuff.

“Shoma-san, could you tell me again? Your feelings.”

Tokiko-san’s tone shifts, exuding the authority of a family head.

Gokuri. The tea feels hot as it slides down my throat.

“Yes. I…”

I repeat what I told Sogen-san and Sayuri-san.

My feelings are true, no lies.

I want to respect Yayoi-san’s emotions.

And if possible, I want their understanding and permission for her to live with us.

I finish, sweating from talking so much.

Sayuri-san hands me a handkerchief.

“Oh, thank you.”

Yayoi-san brings me cold tea.

Tokiko-san, usually so warm, stares at me with a stern expression.

It’s like she’s testing me, probing.

I meet her gaze, unflinching.

After a few moments, Tokiko-san stands smoothly and leaves the room without a word.

“Ah…”

Whose voice was that?

Did I disappoint her?

It sounded so faint, and my outstretched hand grasps nothing.

All we can do is watch the sliding door close slowly.