The Carnivorous Maidens Living with Me - Chapter 56 & 57

Chapter 56: Happy Birthday, To Be Continued…

The weekend was a whirlwind.

Talks with the Sumeragi family, helping with the move, introducing Yayoi-san and the president.

Room assignments for the new housemates, shopping, chore rotations, surprise room raids (dodged), bathroom ambushes (lock installed—useless), security cameras for my safety (Sofia and the others’ excuse), and a ton more…

“I wanna go home…”

“Your home’s right here, Shoma! And here’s your welcome-back kiss♡.”

“U-Um… me next!”

“What? Then I’ll go for a deep one!”

“Oh my, let Onee-chan join in♡.”

I’m happy, okay? Kissing girls! It’s great, but… it’s a bit—no, a lot—off from my ideal!

Being tied up for a kiss is just plain terrifying, you know?

And I’ve got no allies…

With exams starting tomorrow, Mutsuki’s here today.

And she’s dumbfounded.

“Hey, playboy… what about studying?”

“Hah! Mutsuki-sama! If you could do something about this situation, I’d be grateful!”

“Should I slip laxatives in your drink and ruin your precious exam prep?”

Mutsuki Daimeijin is pissed.

And no wonder—Sofia and Hazuki hit it off before, but she didn’t expect the president and Yayoi-san to be living here too…

“I’m Shoma’s wife.”

“U-Um… he’s my husband.”

“My master!”

“Onee-chan’s fiancé♡.”

That’s how they introduced themselves to Mutsuki.

No surprise she’s floored.

“Whatever, let’s wrap this up and study! You’re making that cake, right?”

That day, the five of us held a rowdy study session.

By the way, lunch was Yayoi-san’s homemade hot sandwiches.

Dinner was Hazuki and the president’s Chinese food (mostly Hazuki’s work), and it was a huge hit.

After dinner, since moving as a big group’s a hassle, I walk Mutsuki home alone.

On the way, she strikes up a conversation.

“Hey… Shoma, you’ve been living here the whole time?”

“Hm? Nah, I was born in Kyushu. I work hard to keep my accent in check.”

I keep up the light chatter with Mutsuki.

“I see…”

She looks kinda wistful.

“So, um! For my sisters’ birthday, could you come to our place?”

“Hm? Your house?”

She nods, kokuri.

“No problem. Making the cake in your kitchen saves the hassle of carrying it.”

Looking back, I was way too casual.

I had no idea I’d unearth another past memory at Mutsuki’s house…

※

Finally, we survive exam week, and on the last day after school…

Well, it’s half-day, so we’ve got the afternoon to make the cake.

Mutsuki’s parents are working late, and she’s meeting her sisters to buy gifts and head home together.

In the meantime, we start baking.

“Hazuki, whip up the meringue.”

“Yes.”

“Sofia, crush the cookies with your signature iron fist.”

“Only if I can aim for your face.”

“Haha, just kidding.”

“President… sit still.”

“Hm! Understood!”

“Yayoi-san, work with Mutsuki on the sponge cake!”

“Okay! Mutsuki-chan, let’s do this together!”

“Y-Yes! Please guide me!”

The five of us craft one cake, faces glowing with joy.

We taste-test, add favorite toppings, and giggle over shaky plate lettering.

This is so fun!

I don’t want to let go of this scene.

I want us all to stay close like this forever.

After the cake, we move on to dinner.

Yayoi-san takes charge, barking orders like the café’s secret boss.

The president’s still sitting… quivering a bit.

Must be my imagination.

Time passes, and lively voices echo from the entrance.

“We’re home~ Onee-chan!”

“Whoa~ So many guests!”

I know those bratty voices.

“Geh! Aoi, Kanade? Why…”

The shock of learning Mutsuki’s sisters are those two pales compared to the person who walks in next…

“Welcome today! I heard from my daughter you’re throwing a party for Aoi and them…”

Our eyes lock, and we both freeze.

“Why… Yuriko…oba-san…?”

“Shoma…kun?”

Chapter 57: One January Day

When is this memory from?

I was frozen, captivated by the scene before me.

“No! Mom and Dad are still inside!! Mom… Dad…”

“Hey, kid! Don’t move—it’s dangerous!”

Piipoopiipoo

The sound of sirens pierces the air.

My head throbs. My throat’s dry. My limbs tingle. My heart races. My breathing’s ragged.

On a cold January day, with the snow falling steadily… my house turned to ashes.

I must’ve left my heart behind somewhere that day too.

I’ll never see those smiles again.

My mother’s warm, gentle, cooking-savvy smile. And the big hands that gave her and me boundless love. My father’s hands.

After that day… I stopped saying “I’m home.”

※

“…Shoma-kun, it’s been a while.”

“Y-Yuriko-san? Long time no see.”

“You’ve grown so much.”

“Well… I’m more shocked than anything…”

I’m sitting across from Yuriko-san.

“Hey, Poyopoyo, why’re you here?”

“Yeah, why?”

Aoi and Kanade pipe up.

“I came to celebrate your birthday. Never thought you’d be Mutsuki’s sisters… but first—”

I glance at Mutsuki.

“You knew from the start, didn’t you?”

“Yeah… sorry.”

“No… I’m sorry for not noticing. I had no idea Yuriko-san remarried and changed her name. And compared to the old you… you’re…”

Mutsuki and I are childhood friends, you could say.

Yuriko-san’s maiden name was Namitsuki.

I regret not sharing much of my past with everyone.

What I told the Kujo family was just a sliver of my childhood.

“Sho-kun, the food’s getting cold! Let’s eat first!”

Yayoi-san breaks the heavy mood.

“Yeah, you’re right! Can’t let this food go cold! Let’s dig in! That okay, Mutsuki?”

“Yeah…”

After that, we throw ourselves into Aoi and Kanade’s birthday party.

Surrounded by so many people, they look thrilled.

They’re over the moon about the hair accessories we got them (picked by Sofia and Hazuki).

We eat the cake, and Aoi and Kanade head upstairs to play with my girlfriends.

(I made them worry…)

In the living room, it’s just the Kurokami family and me.

Earlier, Yuriko-san’s current husband, Nagi-san, greeted me.

He’s got a calm vibe, but there’s a shadow to him.

“Thanks for today, Shoma-kun! I was shocked at first, but Aoi and Kanade had a blast.”

“No problem.”

“Let me thank you too. Not just for today, but for always supporting our girls. Most of their stories are about Poyopoyo… sorry, I mean you.”

“Really…”

His words barely register.

“Shoma… I’m sorry for keeping quiet. I didn’t want to bring up those memories.”

Mutsuki looks down, continuing.

“I was happy when we ended up in the same class. But you seemed to have forgotten me, so… I thought that was fine. I started fresh with you.”

“I see… and like I said, sorry for not noticing.”

I apologize to Mutsuki again.

“Don’t worry! I liked our new dynamic, and seeing you lately, I thought you’d gotten your old spark back.”

So…

“So… you wanted me to meet Yuriko-san?”

Mutsuki nods, kokuri.

I fall silent, recalling those days.

※

The Namitsuki family, our neighbors, were close with my parents.

I got along great with Mutsuki, who’s my age.

We played in the mud, went camping, had sleepovers—happy memories flood back.

Until that day…

One January day… I was at a hero show with the Namitsuki family.

My parents were working at home.

They ran a bakery together, a town favorite I could brag about.

When we got back, the shop was burning.

No one told me the cause.

Everything happened fast.

Before I knew it, the funeral was over, my custody was settled, and I was supposed to move.

But Yuriko-san stopped it.

“Let him stay in this town until he finishes elementary school. Let him live where his parents’ memories are.”

She convinced my current foster parents.

Hajime-san and Otoha-san agreed readily.

I started living with the Namitsuki family, slowly filling the void in my heart.

Then one day…

Mutsuki’s dad passed away…

I’ll never forget Yuriko-san and Mutsuki’s faces.

They apologized to me, crying, and moved back to Yuriko-san’s family home.

After that, I lived with my foster parents in Kyushu until graduation.

In middle school, we moved around a lot for their work.

When my grandparents passed, I inherited their house (and other assets).

By the way, my biological dad and foster dad are brothers.

Hajime-san and Otoha-san couldn’t have kids.

I’ve always loved them, so becoming their foster son was easy.

Plus, I’d get to see my grandparents.

※

I must’ve been lost in memories for a while.

“Yuriko-san, Mutsuki, thank you for everything back then! And sorry for worrying you! I wouldn’t be here without you!”

“No! I’m the one who couldn’t care for you till the end… I’m… sorry…”

Yuriko-san covers her eyes with a handkerchief, sobbing.

Nagi-san and Mutsuki comfort her.

As we talk about the past, we gradually calm down.

At the end, Nagi-san pulls me aside for a quick chat.

What he says is exactly what I’d guessed.

That shadowed look on Nagi-san’s face… so that’s what it was…