Chapter 52: Miyuki is my cousin, is there a problem?
To celebrate leading other high schools in results for the first three days, Mayumi planned a small celebration party after Mori's Surfing Race concluded.
However…
"Mahiro, your mom is here."
"Huh?!"
This news, which sounded like an insult, was received from Erika after the crowd dispersed.
But it wasn't an insult; Yotsuba Maya, that old woman, had really come!
Not long ago, she was sitting in the audience stands of the Nine Schools Competition venue, under the scorching sun, watching his match!
This was a first, breaking all precedents.
According to his understanding of Yotsuba Maya, she was a true lady who rarely left her home.
Although it was hard to believe, not only Erika but also Miyuki and Mizuki said the same thing.
Not only that.
"Your mom also took sayaka away, saying she wanted to talk to her alone, and that if you want to find sayaka, you should go see her," Erika said.
"…"
No wonder he hadn't seen Sayaka for a long time.
What kind of crazy idea did that old woman come up with now?
"Aunt's intention is to meet us alone," Miyuki explained.
"Us" naturally referred to him and Miyuki, without even Tatsuya.
"Alright then, let's go see what tricks that old woman is up to now."
"Wait a moment."
Mahiro was about to leave with Miyuki when a striking head of red hair blocked his path. Erika looked up at him.
"Mahiro-kun, shouldn't you explain something?"
"Explain what?"
"It's just… it's just that Ms. Yotsuba seems very gentle… and also why Miyuki calls Ms. Yotsuba Aunt…"
It was Mizuki speaking, looking timid and her voice growing weaker and weaker until it faded away completely.
Actually, she had noticed a problem early on.
Because she suffered from Spiriton Radiation Hypersensitivity, which ancient magic users called "Crystal Eyes."
She could see non-physical spiriton radiation that ordinary people couldn't, and her spiriton sensitivity was even able to distinguish spirit colors that spirit magic users couldn't see.
In her eyes, the auras of Shiba Tatsuya and Shiba Miyuki were very similar.
Since they were siblings, that was normal.
But the problem was, she found that the auras between Yotsuba Mahiro and Shiba Miyuki were even more similar, with a higher degree of compatibility and resemblance than with Shiba Tatsuya!
But she had never dared to speak about this.
After hearing Mizuki's statement, he also felt a bit exasperated.
"You guys, do you really think that old woman Yotsuba Maya is gentle?"
His gaze swept around, and everyone nodded except for Shiba Tatsuya and Miyuki, who remained silent.
"Elegant, gentle, mysterious, graceful." This was Kitayama Shizuku's opinion.
"Exactly, exactly! She's not at all as exaggerated as you described her, like a witch!" Erika put her hands on her hips, as if to defend Yotsuba Maya.
This made Mahiro chuckle.
"Others aside, Erika, as the daughter of one of the Hundred Families, don't you know? That appearance is just for outsiders; in reality, that woman is quite ruthless."
Although the title 'Inviolable Taboo' was established by the previous family head, Yotsuba Genzo, it was Yotsuba Maya who truly solidified it.
Her ruthless methods made even the Ten Master Clans wary.
Hearing him say this, Erika couldn't refute it, after all, the Chiba was the same.
"…Then what about your relationship with Miyuki?"
"That's simple too. Since Miyuki calls my mom Aunt, what kind of relationship do you think she has with me? She's just my cousin, of course."
"Huh?!!!"
"Ah… Really?!"
"Miyuki-tongxue, is she actually Mahiru-tongxue's cousin?!"
Yotsuba Mahiro, with the most casual tone, uttered the most astonishing news to everyone.
Even the usually calm Kitayama Shizuku now had a slightly broken expression on her emotionless face.
This was more shocking than anything else, like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, leaving them utterly stunned.
But upon closer thought, it made sense.
Shiba Tatsuya's formidable skills and engineering abilities, and Miyuki's extraordinary magical power, clearly indicated they were not from an ordinary family.
So Erika had once speculated that they might be from a Lost Number family, like Ichihara Suzune.
But they never expected that they were actually cousins with Yotsuba Mahiro?
In other words, the Shiba family is one of the Yotsuba Family's branch families?!
...
"Mahiru-nii-san, is it okay to reveal my relationship with the Yotsuba Family to them?" Shiba Miyuki asked worriedly.
"Don't worry, it's fine," Mahiro replied nonchalantly.
While everyone was still in shock and hadn't recovered, he took Miyuki's hand and quietly slipped away.
On the way, Miyuki brought up the matter, so he also explained it with a brief analysis.
"Since that woman chose to greet you and Tatsuya in public, it means she doesn't care about exposing the Shiba family."
"And it's just saying 'cousins'; it doesn't expose that you're a Yotsuba Family candidate for succession, so there won't be any problems."
"As for whether someone will investigate, I think there's even less to worry about."
"Don't let Erika's usual cheerful demeanor fool you; she's actually very tight-lipped."
"As for the others, I don't think they'll go around blabbing."
"If someone really investigates, there's still the behemoth of the Yotsuba Family behind us. Who would dare to make a move? Right?"
"Hmm… Mahiru-nii-san makes a lot of sense."
Miyuki nodded, finally feeling relieved.
"However… Miyuki still thinks that you, Mahiru-kun, are more suitable for the position of heir apparent to the Yotsuba Family Head."
"Oh, come on. Leaving aside whether I want to be the Family Head, that woman would never give me that position, and even if she did, the other branch families wouldn't agree."
"Who said that?!"
Miyuki suddenly retorted excitedly, "I, along with Ayako, Fumiya, and Yuuka-nee-san, will absolutely support you, Mahiru-kun!"
Watching the girl argue with reason, Mahiru habitually gently stroked Miyuki's long hair.
"Miyuki, you should know very well that the decision-making power for this matter is not in our hands, and I have never cared about these things."
"But…"
Miyuki shyly lowered her head, her voice revealing dissatisfaction, "But, besides you, Mahiru-kun, who else is qualified to sit in the position of Family Head?!"
This was Miyuki's heartfelt sentiment.
In terms of excellence alone, whether it was the Mashiba Family, the Shiiba Family, or the Shibata and other branch families, none of them could compare to Yotsuba Mahiru.
Even if they were all tied together, they wouldn't be enough for him to defeat with one hand.
But the problem was, didn't the final attitude still depend on that woman, Yotsuba Maya?