Hmph hmph hmph~ Hmmm-
Erina hummed softly as she worked in the kitchen, her movements steady as she prepared lunch.
Outside the kitchen door, Hisako, Alice, and Senzaemon Nakiri stood quietly. They watched through the narrow crack in the door, careful not to let Erina notice them.
"Erina-sama has unknowingly become like this..."
Hisako raised a hand to cover her mouth. Her expression was complicated.
This didn't feel like the Erina she was used to. And yet, seeing Erina smiling while cooking made Hisako happy. The two feelings overlapped, leaving her unsure what to feel.
Alice and Senzaemon, on the other hand, both wore faint smiles.
"How long has it been since I last saw Erina like this..."
Senzaemon let out a quiet sigh.
Without realizing it, a memory surfaced. A much younger Erina, holding a cookbook, smiling brightly as she tugged at his sleeve and called him Grandpa while asking questions she didn't yet fully understand.
His eyes grew moist.
Senzaemon immediately shut them, straightening his posture and forcing himself to calm down.
-I really am getting old. Sentimental. Nostalgic over things long past.
Alice noticed his mood. She lowered her voice, speaking far more gently than usual, and continued his unspoken thoughts.
"Yes, Grandpa... Since I went to Northern Europe as a child, this is the first time I've seen Erina like this."
She paused, then smiled faintly.
"At first, I didn't quite know what to think about Jaden. An outsider who suddenly appeared in our family. But now..."
She tilted her head slightly.
"I'm starting to feel that Erina should... no, that Erina belongs with him."
Her tone remained calm.
"None of us managed to make Erina smile again. But he did."
Alice shrugged lightly.
"Should I sigh at the power of love now~"
Senzaemon snorted quietly in response. He didn't deny it.
In his heart, that reaction was agreement.
He treasured both his daughter and his granddaughter. Always had.
He had never considered arranging Erina's marriage.
Even now, he didn't care whether Jaden married into the Nakiri family or not. But as the next head of the family, Erina's surname couldn't simply change to Yuki Erina.
As for children...
They could take Jaden's surname.
The Nakiri family still had Alice.
And if that wasn't enough-
Soe was still young. Having another child wouldn't be impossible.
...Wait.
Senzaemon froze for a split second.
Why am I already thinking about their children?
He exhaled slowly.
-Indeed. I really am old.
While Senzaemon was lost in quiet emotion, Erina finished her dish. She carefully arranged it on the plate, checking each detail before turning around.
Alice reacted instantly. She grabbed Senzaemon and pulled him back. Hisako followed a step behind.
They watched as Erina carried the dish away, heading toward the training grounds.
Only after her footsteps faded did the three of them lean out again.
"Erina really is clumsy when it comes to romance..."
Alice rested a finger against her chin, watching Erina's retreating figure.
"Since Jaden is staying here for a while, we should find ways to create opportunities for them."
Hisako thought for a moment.
Then she straightened.
Her eyes became serious.
"If I can help Erina-sama..."
She nodded firmly.
Senzaemon sighed.
"You young ones can do whatever you want."
He turned and walked a few steps away. Then he stopped.
Without looking back, he spoke again.
"I'll inform the family. If you need assistance, just ask. They'll cooperate."
With that, Senzaemon left.
Alice looked at Hisako with a smug expression.
Under Hisako's gaze, she slowly raised one finger.
"In that case-the Erina Support Squad is officially formed!"
Hisako blinked.
Then, hesitantly, she raised her own hand to match Alice's enthusiasm.
"O-Oh... Oh!?"
...
Totsuki had its own training grounds.
Given that Totsuki also employed Kengan fighters-Ashura-class representatives-it was only natural to have a dedicated space for them.
Jaden had already resolved matters with the Yukinoshita family in the port city. After that, he visited Uncle Yoshinari Karoo and Old Man Ryota Kajiki before returning to Totsuki.
He hadn't forgotten his promise to Erina.
If Azami Nakiri returned, he would face him together with her.
And with the Kengan match against the Wild Tiger approaching, Jaden stayed at Totsuki during this period.
"Hoo-"
Inside the training grounds, Jaden exhaled slowly.
He had returned from the port city earlier that morning. His discussion with Yukinoshita Yoshinobu about Toyo Electric had taken place yesterday.
Which meant-
He had now integrated seventy percent of Jack Hanma's panel.
When Erina first mentioned the Kengan match, his integration had only been at thirty percent.
Four days later, the match against Takeshi Wakatsuki was three days away.
-By then, Jack Hanma's panel would be fully integrated.
One hundred percent.
Naturally, the increased integration triggered another sign-in.
This time's reward was a "double-up."
The same Ability Flaw Compensation Pill as yesterday.
He got another one.
Two days in a row.
With countless possible rewards, he somehow received the same item twice.
Jaden didn't know whether to call that luck or misfortune.
Did the system think he really needed two of these?
What a joke.
Still, he didn't dwell on it.
The complaint passed through his mind and disappeared.
As for Jack Hanma's deeper integration, he only gave it a brief glance. He still hadn't abandoned the idea of using the Curse in the upcoming Kengan match.
The difference now was simple.
With more of Jack Hanma's experience and attributes integrated, he probably wouldn't bother using the Curse on opponents who were clearly weak.
-Because it was troublesome.
Against opponents with some real strength, though-
That was different.
After all...
In his past life, Jaden had already experienced what it meant to struggle relentlessly.
And in this life, even after awakening his memories, he hadn't truly set a new life goal.
No.
That wasn't quite right.
Back then, when he was desperately chasing that one narrow path upward in that society, he thought he had a goal.
But was it really a life goal?
Probably not.
He was just forcing himself forward.
Working hard for the sake of working hard.
He had mistaken effort for purpose.
Jaden realized now that he was someone who never truly had a life goal.
Not in his past life.
Not even after realizing it in this one.
In the first few days after awakening his memories, he constantly asked himself-
How should I live?
He once believed he knew how to live interestingly. How to live fully.
But after peeling away that illusion of "meaningful struggle," he found himself unsure of what to do next.
So-
Jaden looked at the sandbag in front of him.
A smile spread across his face.
It was natural.
Relaxed.
Almost lighthearted.
In that case...
Apart from living easily and amusingly in this life, there really wasn't anything else he needed to do.
If using the Curse made things easier, then he'd use it.
If fighting someone felt genuinely interesting, then he'd fight.
That was fine too.
He had no obsession buried deep in his heart.
No grand ambition he needed to fulfill.
As for effort-
If he had to name one direction for it now-
-That would be Erina.
"Since the next Kengan match involves Erina..."
Jaden muttered quietly.
"I'll put in some effort."
He took another slow breath.
His gaze fixed on the sandbag five or six meters away.
"I learned Soru a long time ago."
"And because of that, my legs were strengthened as well."
He rolled his shoulders lightly.
"My legs are slightly stronger than my arms."
He tilted his head.
"So if I can already use Soru..."
"Then maybe I can study Rankyaku too."
One of the Six Powers.
A Tempest Kick.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"And if that works..."
"Geppo might not be impossible either~"
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