(MoD) Chapter 34: An Eventful Lunch

Chapter 34: An Eventful Lunch

The dining room was a vast, spacious, and elongated room with a seated table that spanned the entire length from the entrance to the back wall. At least a dozen or two figures sat on either side, all of them falling into total silence once the front door opened.

“‘Patriarch!”” They all stood up the second Tsuji stepped into the room, their hands clasped behind their back, awaiting the Clan Leader’s permission to sit down.

It was obvious by their complexions that most of them were still suffering from the aftereffects of Kamigyo’s sudden metamorphosis. Still, in the presence of their Patriarch, they felt obligated to muster up whatever remained of their strength to show him proper respect lest they end up currying the disfavour of a Fourth Circle Magician. 

“Everyone,” Tsuji spoke with a warm smile, clasping the crook of his cane. “As I’ve already informed you, we have a special guest visiting us today.” He chuckled darkly, gesturing to the ceiling. “One which I already believe has made quite the impression on us all.”

His statement confirmed their suspicions; the reason behind the phenomenon had indeed been the arrival of that person. 

“You’re all so tense,” Takauji stepped out from behind Tsuji, the upper half of his face shadowed by his flat cap. “The silence is deafening. Shouldn’t you be happy to see your long-lost relative again?”

None of them was entirely sure how to respond, exchanging nervous glances with one another, basically urging whoever was next to him to be the first one to speak up. 

Of course, no one wanted to be that person. This was someone Tsuji was placing an unimaginable level of importance on; they didn’t want to risk saying something he’d find dissatisfactory.

It was for that exact reason that they didn’t indulge in their usual tradition of trying to probe the strength of any newcomers who visited their residence. Not that they could, even if they tried, Takauji was wearing an outfit enhanced by Azazel himself—even Tsuji didn’t have the necessary prowess to see through its masking ability.

“Forgive them, it seems they’re still suffering from some of the shock,” Tsuji reassured Takauji, even though the latter didn’t feel inclined to believe a word he said.

“If you say so,” Takauji shrugged him off with indifference, looking at the rows upon rows of delectable cuisine awaiting him. The train ride from Kuoh to Kyoto had worked up quite the appetite. 

“Come, you’re seated right at the front.” Tsuji led him to the very front, near where Tsuji’s chair was situated, and pointed to a seat sandwiched in between two women. 

One of them was none other than Akahashi Mitsuko, the Akahashi Clan’s Matriarch. 

And sitting in the other was a tall, beautiful woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties, with pale, white skin, long, black hair of a silk-like texture, brown eyes, and sharp, thin eyebrows. She wore a pink kimono with a yellow strap around the waistband, and a large, baggy green-patterned flower robe over it.

Before saying anything, Takauji scoffed, muttering something to himself under his breath.

“Is something the matter?” Tsuji inquired, both the woman and Mitsuko casting an uncertain glance towards him. 

“No, it’s nothing.” He sat down between them, his face still mostly covered from them because of the angle of his flat cap.

To the surprise of most, instead of paying the stunning woman any attention, his gaze snapped right towards Mitsuko. 

“I haven’t heard about you, but I think I know who you are,” he smiled faintly. His vision primarily fixated on her fiery, bright-orange irises. 

“Is that so?” Mitsuko replied calmly, raising her eyebrows slightly and lowering her gaze in an attempt to catch a glimpse of Takauji’s face, an effort that he pretended not to notice.

“You’re my maternal grandmother, aren’t you? Honestly I’m surprised, your presence is a lot more amiable than that of the shitty hag over there.” He made a subtle nod towards his mother. 

“I’m going to throw one of these chopsticks into your eye when we’re done here,” Miho didn’t hesitate to threaten him, uncaring of the concerned stares she was getting from the people around her. Akahashi or Ashikaga, she didn’t care, none of them besides Tsuji had the bravery to confront their generation’s flame-welding prodigy. 

“Yeah? Maybe you could throw in some of that child support you owe while you’re at it.” 

“Idiot, I’m the one who has custody of you two.” 

“Then Japanese law really has fallen after all, I’ll have to get rid of the local court once I’m back home.” 

“Ahem,” Mitsuko cleared her throat. “I don’t think now is the time or place for you and your mother to have a go at each other, grandson.” 

“On the contrary, this is the only time she actually dared to show her face in front of me in quite a while. I think it’s a prime, if not the best opportunity for me to have a go at her.” 

‘Great, he’s just as much of a headache as his mother.’ Mitsuko sighed inwardly, on the bright side, at least there was no way to doubt his bloodline connection to the Akahashi Clan anymore. Something she was confident Tsuji would be more than happy to push forward if he got the opportunity.

“Maybe we should save the conversation for another time?” Mitsuko decided to try to steer the discussion elsewhere. “I’m sure you’re all famished from the trip; it’s hard to function properly on an empty stomach.” 

“Indeed,” he nodded his agreement. “My mother could do with some of your wisdom.” 

As it would seem, the day when Ashikaga Takauji could go 24 hours without pissing someone off was the same day pigs would sprout wings and fly. 

“As for you,” finally, Takauji decided to pay attention to the stunning beauty sitting beside him. “I don’t really know who you are, but I’m guessing you have some relation to that man over there.” He pointed his thumb to the man seated near his father, Taro, who bore a striking resemblance to the individual he dubbed “mongrel.”

He was Tsuji’s eldest son, Taro’s brother, and by extension, Takauji’s uncle. Ashikaga Takumi. Who had attempted to glare at Takauji out of sheer spite, for some reason or another, without being noticed, and apparently failed at that endeavor.

“She’s my niece,” Mitsuko clarified. “Her name’s Miwa.” 

Takauji looked puzzled. “I don’t recall mentioning or expressing any interest in her name.” He turned to Takumi, taking his flat cap off and revealing the pitch-black, abyssal orbs that were supposed to be his irises to the room. 

Usually, this occurrence only prevailed when he was using Dark Spells, but right now it was persisting, regardless of whether he channeled his Mana or not. Which only worsened Murayama and Sona’s concern. The level of Takauji’s hostility definitely felt like it had been kicked up a notch.

 “You clearly want to say something to me, so come on, out with it, friendo.” He drummed his fingers against the table, awaiting a response. 

Takumi’s eyes narrowed in indignation. “You should learn to show respect to your elders. Boy.” 

Takauji’s smile widened, as if he had come to some kind of realization. “That’s an interesting glare you’re giving me. Somehow, it’s as if my words aren’t what’s bothering—” He paused, his eyes lighting up with a sense of certainty. “I see.”

He looked at Miwa, her face scrunching up in discomfort, confirming his hypothesis. 

“Haha! What an interesting family this is!” He didn’t feel the need to state his conclusion out loud; the look on the members of the Ashikaga Clan, including his grandfather, made it clear that they understood the situation. “You’ve got courage, grandfather, I’ll give you that.” 

“I’m not sure what you’re referring to,” Tsuji coughed, his facial expression betraying the words coming out of his mouth.

“I’m sure you don’t,” Takauji started to fill up his plate, giving everyone else the comfort to start eating. “Oh, I brought another guest with me, so I hope you don’t mind her company.” 

Tsuji raised his eyebrow; if anyone else was present in Kamigyo Ward, his senses should’ve picked up on them by now. 

“Auh!” Ash jumped out of Takauji’s shadow, startling the entire room to the point where most of them soiled themselves reflexively. 

“Yes. Yes. I know you’re hungry,” he held up a chicken skewer to her mouth, which she happily bit down on, but not without getting her drool all over him and allowing Sona, Raynare, and Murayama to all enjoy a good laugh. “That’s disgusting. I told you to stop doing that.” 

“Auh!” 

“Takauji!” Taro yelped. 

“What? Pets are allowed in Kuoh.” 

“That’s not a pet!” 

“Yes, she is, don’t discriminate against her just because she’s a little larger than usual.” Takauji rubbed Ash’s snout. 

“A little lar— That’s a fucking dinosaur!” 

“Language!” Mitsuko threw a chopstick at Taro, causing Takauji to point and laugh.

“She’s cute, she even has the same eyes as you, Aunt Mitsuko.” Miwa smiled softly, seemingly unperturbed by Ash in the slightest, unlike the rest of the Ashikaga Clan members. “Can I pet her?” 

“Be my guest, just don’t blame me if you end up losing a hand, or a face.” Even though he acted with indifference, deep down, he couldn’t help but be impressed by her show of courage. 

The second her hand got close, Ash’s demeanor shifted, her head snapping towards Miwa as a low, threatening growl emanated from the velociraptor’s maw. 

“Miwa, that’s enough.” Mitsuko reprimanded her, worried that her niece was about to become a Jurassic meal.

“It’s fine, look.” She picked up a dumpling from her plate, holding it towards Ash. 

And in an instant, the raptor’s mood returned to normal as she happily gulped the dumpling down. Giving Miwa a coarse lick across the face shortly after. 

“Haha! That’s gross!” 

“Well, isn’t that something?” Takauji rested his cheek against his fist, addressing the room. “A girl who can’t even use Mana has more balls than all of the Magicians in my family. You all should be ashamed of yourselves.” 

“Alright, that’s it!” Takumi slammed his fists against the table, standing up with eyes full of frustration. “I’ve had enough of this brat strolling in here like he’s some kind of God! He’s just a freak mutation that spawned from my useless excuse of a little brother—!” 

Ba-dump!

All of a sudden, a sharp pain coursed through Takumi’s heart.

He clutched his chest, his pupils expanded, and he fell onto the floor. A croaking sound came from his throat as he gasped for air. 

Taro rushed over to his brother, clasping him by the shoulders with fear written all over him. 

“He’s having a heart attack!” He yelled as more of the clan members huddled around him.

“I’m the only one who can talk down to the mongrel,” Takauji’s voice had been reduced to a cold, threatening whisper. But it still reached everyone’s ears. 

“What did you do?” Mitsuko asked, confident that Takauji had been the cause of what had just transpired.

“It wasn’t me, it was Kamigyo.” He insisted, looking up at the ceiling. “But I think he’s learned his lesson now, so Kamigyo will probably let him live.” 

“Gasp!” Takumi’s seizing came to an end, his breathing still labored, but his pulse no longer in jeopardy. 

“That wasn’t very nice of you,” Miwa huffed, reaching out and pinching Takauji’s cheek. Immediately causing Sona and Murayama’s complexions to pale with second-hand fear, for Miwa’s sake.

Knowing Takauji, he wasn’t going to take kindly to being scolded! 

“Don’t do that again, young man! You need to be kind to your relatives,” she continued while pouting. 

He remained eerily silent for a moment. 

“Yeah, I suppose you’re right. That was rash of me.” 

Eh? 

━━━━

Me when the lunch is eventful.