The Carnivorous Maidens Living with Me - Chapter 48 & 49

Chapter 48: As Seasons Pass and Time Flows

Tokiko-san left the room.

The meaning was clear.

I’d never seen such a serious expression on her face.

Maybe my way of thinking just isn’t acceptable…

I glance at Sofia and the others—they’re looking down, just like me.

Sogen-san seems relieved, somehow.

Yayoi-san’s eyes are lowered, tinged with sadness.

But Sayuri-san alone keeps smiling at me.

As she passes by to step out, she whispers, “It’ll be okay.”

Was she comforting me?

That’s all I can cling to right now.

My thoughts are a mess, and all I can do is sit, letting time slip by.

I rack my brain for another way, when the sliding door opens again.

There’s Tokiko-san, her stern face now soft and warm, and Sayuri-san, holding a flat box.

They sit in front of me and begin speaking quietly.

“Shoma-san, could you take a look at this?”

Tokiko-san carefully opens the box Sayuri-san brought.

“This is… a kimono?”

“Yes. It’s a precious gift from someone special. And it’s part of my daughters’ dowry.”

I look at Sayuri-san—she’s beckoning Yayoi-san to sit beside her.

“Shoma-san, I’m sorry for my rude attitude earlier. I was testing you, to see if you’re worthy of my granddaughter.”

“What do you mean?”

Tokiko-san bows apologetically.

Sogen-san stumbles to his feet, heads to the back room, and returns with a book.

“Mother-in-law… may I speak now?”

“Yes, please.”

Sogen-san sits beside Tokiko-san and hands me an album.

“Take a look inside.”

“?”

I’m puzzled why an album, but Sofia and Hazuki stare at me, urging, “Hurry!”

“Alright… here goes.”

I slowly flip through the album.

There’s a young Yayoi-san, I think, making a peace sign or being hugged by Sayuri-san in countless photos.

They all look so happy.

Yayoi-san’s cheeks flush, fidgeting—probably embarrassed.

I turn back to the album, continuing through the pages.

But after a few, one photo stops me cold.

“T-This person…”

“Fufu, nostalgic, isn’t it?”

It’s an old Kujo family portrait… and beside them were, two familiar figures.

“Grandma… Grandpa…”

It’s my beloved grandparents, from days gone by…

“Your grandmother, Shikine-san, and I were friends since our school days. No, best friends, you could say.”

Tokiko-san and Grandma were best friends?

“Turn to the next page.”

I do as she says.

There’s Tokiko-san holding baby me, with Grandma laughing beside her.

“Do you remember the first time we met, Shoma-san, after you started high school?”

Tokiko-san speaks in a gentle tone.

“Yeah, um… I talked to you while you were sitting on a park bench…”

“Yes… I remember that moment vividly. I was lost in grief after losing my husband, wandering aimlessly until I ended up at that park.”

So that’s how it was.

“I was shocked… to think the one who spoke to me was my best friend’s grandson. You didn’t pry into my situation, just chatted about all sorts of things.”

“I wasn’t even planning to keep the tea ceremony school going. But then you said, ‘I’ll round up people to join your class!’ and dashed off—I still remember that.”

The Kujo family looks at Tokiko-san with a mix of sadness and warmth.

“I never thought you’d actually bring people. And Aoi-chan, Kanade-chan, and their friends got interested in tea ceremony. Now I look forward to teaching every day.”

“To think that little boy grew up so big and fine… time flies, just like her name.”

Tokiko-san laughs, fufufu, a bittersweet smile tinged with nostalgia, somehow reminiscent of Grandma.

Sayuri-san speaks up.

“And, Shoma-san, Mother’s been going flower-viewing with her tea ceremony students, singing karaoke, and next month, she’s off on a hot spring trip!”

Sayuri-san adds that it’s unimaginable compared to back then.

“I heard from Yayoi about this wonderful junior at her job! Most of her stories were about you, Shoma-san.”

Yayoi-san looks down, fidgeting again at Sayuri-san’s words.

“You brought snacks to the park, didn’t you? That’s when I realized Yayoi’s junior was you. So I meddled, saying I wanted you to marry my granddaughter~.”

So that’s what happened… it wasn’t a joke after all.

Sogen-san, silent until now, finally speaks, his voice heavy.

“And, Kamizuki-kun, your grandparents did us a huge favor. When the Kujo family struggled financially to keep the tea ceremony going, they helped us out with a smile.”

“This is all we can do for our best friend. No refunds. It’s Yayoi’s birth gift.”

“They gave such a classic excuse,” Sogen-san says, smiling for the first time.

“…That’s so like Grandma.”

“What a wonderful grandma.”

“I wish I could’ve met her.”

Following me, Sofia and Hazuki look at Grandma in the album again.

※

I think of my grandparents, gone but never forgotten.

It takes me a moment to realize the tears streaming down my cheeks.

And to feel Tokiko-san’s gentle hand stroking my head.

“Shoma-san, I’ve fully received your feelings. As head of the Kujo family, I want to honor my granddaughter’s wishes.”

The bond with the Kujo family is a precious tie my grandparents wove.

Seeing Grandma in Tokiko-san, I cry out in front of others for the first time.

Chapter 49: Let’s Make Spare Keys!

Yayoi Kujo is officially moving into my house.

But with moving prep and her current place’s lease, it’ll take a bit.

After the Kujo family talk, the next day after school, Sofia, Hazuki, and I head to our usual shopping mall.

Yayoi-san’s supposed to join us after university.

“Shoma, what’s going on today?”

“Hm? Oh, didn’t I mention? I’m getting spare keys made for everyone.”

That’s why we’re here.

“You meant what you said before, huh, Senpai!”

“Yup. With exams coming up and holidays ending up with us not being able to spend time with each oother, it makes sense to have them ready!”

“I’m with Shoma 24/7!”

“That’s some heavy love. At least give me a break when I sleep…”

“No way! That’s prime time!”

“Which mouth’s saying that?”

“The one that kissed you!”

It’s been a while since we’ve had this back-and-forth.

“U-Um… I’m not letting go either!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Hazuki’s getting into it too.

“For now, three keys should do it. Should we get spares?”

I check with them.

“Hmm… I don’t think we need spares. If someone forgets, we can just call someone… but—”

“Yup, yup… but—”

They lock eyes, like they planned it, and drop a bombshell.

““Five keys!!””

“Five?!”

Lately, their ideas blow past my wildest guesses.

“Yeah! Five!”

“Yup! Five!”

“What’re you talking about… no, seriously, what the hell are you talking about?”

It’s so important, I say it twice.

“Well… right, Hazuki?”

“Right, Onee-chan?”

They’re so in sync, it’s scary, but this combo’s bad news.

Explain why five.

“Alright, let’s chill and hit a café. I’ll treat you big time! So… please, explain.”

I’m already running on fumes by the end.

At the café, Yayoi-san texts that she’s arrived at the mall.

Once she joins us, we dive into the main topic.

“So, why do we need five keys?”

“I’m curious too! Are there other girls who like Shoma-kun besides us?”

Yayoi-san’s hearing this for the first time.

“Yup, two more at our school.”

“Yup, yup! Woman’s intuition, but those two are definitely on our side!”

“Wow, Shoma-kun’s a total catch! Onee-chan is getting a little jealous~.”

Yayoi-san scoots closer, leaning into my shoulder.

“News to me… but… I kinda have a guess for one. She’s a pervert.”

“A pervert?”

“Really, Shoma?”

“U-Um… what kind of pervert?”

I hesitate but figure I’ll have to spill eventually, so I just give the title.

“Yokai Naked Lady ~ The Masochist Queen Who Strips Everywhere ~”

All three freeze, eyes wide.

No surprise—who’d wanna get close to that freak?

Nipping young buds early is my job!

But…

“What’s that? A fresh talent! Introduce her!”

“U-Um, maybe I could try my binding techniques on her…”

“A younger masochist, huh? Shoma-kun barely indulges me, so she sounds fun!”

Ah yeah, they’re perverts too.

I look to the heavens and mutter.

“Bran-san, how do I become a stronger man?”

They’re already hyped, dreaming about this new girl.

Just to be safe, I ask Sofia and Hazuki for the two names.

One’s exactly the pervert I expected.

But the last one? Not just unexpected—it’s my enemy.

“What… Mutsuki Kurokami?!”

Yes… she and I are sworn enemies.