Chapter 94

My name is Ayame Ichino... no, I'm still Higashi Ayame.

That day was a Sunday, but because it was the exam period, dungeon exploration was on hold, so I came to my grandmother's house in Himeji for the first time in a while.

My grandmother, Abe-kawa Ryu, is still sixty-five years old and is actually an active explorer.

Her level is 62, lower than mine, but she still dives into the dungeon every day as if it were a walk, earning money.

The reason I came to my grandmother's house today was to have her look at my curse.

"This... is the complete removal of the rat curse I cast. This is the protection of sericulture, isn't it?"

"Grandma, you can tell?"

"Of course, I'm an expert. And you've completely suppressed the power of the snake. Who cast it for you?"

"Um, a woman named Mikoto at Fushimi Inari. She seems to be a sacred beast of the holy animal."

After consulting with Ichino, we decided to tell Grandma about Mikoto.

"Mikoto... Fushimi Inari... Could it be the Great God Ukanomitama!?"

"Huh? What? That long name?"

"It's the name of Inari. Another name is Ukano-mitama-no-mikoto."

Ukanomitama... Mikoto.

It could be.

No, it's not exactly right?

"Um, a sacred beast born from the faith in Inari, who possesses the power of Inari... something like that."

"I see. I don't quite understand, but I get it. Ayame, don't worry. This seal is perfect. It won't be broken by just a little."

"Really!?"

"Yes, really. You've done well... really."

Grandma said that and hugged me.

Her shoulders were shaking.

I know.

The reason Grandma is named Ryu is to stop the curse in her generation.

She wasn't allowed to marry and had to suppress the curse in her body to prevent it from passing to the next generation.

But Grandma broke that promise.

She fell in love, spent a night together, and conceived a child—my mother.

Fortunately, the curse remained in Grandma and didn't spread to my mother. Grandma was relieved. She thought she had fulfilled her duty.

Until the curse passed to me.

"If Grandma hadn't given birth to my mother, I wouldn't have been born."

"…Yes."

"Grandma, I... I have someone I like. A very wonderful person, and it's thanks to that person that I was able to seal the curse."

"…Yes."

"I'm very happy now. So, thank you."

Grandma's hug tightened.

I gently hugged her back and stroked her back until she calmed down, just as she had done for me in the past.

Grandma said to bring my loved one next time, so I nodded happily.

Thinking that I would introduce them to my grandparents later, I arrived at a station near my home.

I headed to a nearby department store to do some shopping for my mother—

There was Ichino.

I was happy for a moment at the coincidence.

But Ichino was walking arm-in-arm with a woman I had never seen before.

She had long, wavy hair, big eyes, and a large chest.

Her attire exuded an air of maturity.

I instinctively hid.

If it were the old me, I would have suspected that she was Ichino's lover.

But I've grown.

After all, I'm married to Ichino.

Ichino is honest, except for being married to three women.

That woman must be a shady salesperson.

Ichino is too kind to say no.

I should go out and help Ichino.

"Ichino—"

"Hey, Aoi. You're clinging too much. It's hard to walk."

"That's fine, Tara. We'll be a family after we get married."

"That's true, but—"

In the next moment, I took out my smartphone and sent a message for help to Milk and Oshino.

They came immediately.

Milk, who lived about fifteen minutes by bicycle from home, was understandable, but why was Oshino, who lived in Kyoto, here?

"Hey, Ayame. They really said they were getting married?"

"Yes. They said they would become a family after marriage... Ichino nodded."

"Thayers"

Oshino clutched her head and shouted in English.

"Shh, Ichino will hear. Hey, Milk... Milk?"

"It's Aoi..."

"Huh? Milk, you know her?"

Milk's face turned pale.

I could tell something was wrong just by looking at her.

"Yes, she lived in the neighborhood. Aoi Tose... Taiyo's first love. I played with her a few times when I was a child."

"Huh?"

I could hear something inside me breaking.

"Ichino!"

I stepped in front of Ichino.

"Huh? Ayame? And Milk and Hime!?"

"Ichino, who is that person?"

"A friend of Tara. Nice to meet you, I'm Aoi Tose. You must be Milk, right? You've grown."

"Yes, she lives in our neighborhood."

Ichino said without any shame.

That's not what I wanted to know.

"Are you really getting married next time?"

"Did you hear that? We're planning to have the ceremony next month."

Ichino said without any shame.

"…! No, I didn't hear that!"

"Huh? Didn't I tell you? We decided to get married before the baby shows."

Baby!?

Huh? Ichino and Aoi already—

"Milk, are you pregnant? Who's the father—"

Milk asked.

Then, Aoi blushed—

"Yes, Ichino's baby. I'm in my fifth month and finally in the stable period."

Five months... that's before I met him!?

No, that means we're the ones who are the other women...

"I'm really looking forward to it. I'll have a nephew or niece."

Ichino said happily about the baby's birth—

Wait... nephew? niece?

"Um, Ichino, who is Aoi getting married to?"

"To my older brother."

I apologized for the misunderstanding to Ichino and Aoi. They were surprised at first but laughed and forgave me. The five of us moved to a nearby family restaurant.

"I never thought you'd have such a misunderstanding. Today, we just came to buy a birthday gift for my brother."

"Right. Tara is a cute brother-in-law. I've always thought he's so cute, and I always wanted a brother like him, but to actually become a brother-in-law—"

"I didn't choose to be one."

Ichino said with a wry smile.

That's what being family means.

Thinking back, Ichino called her Tara, and changed the way he called his fiancée to Ichiko.

"Still, Tara is not to be underestimated. For three such cute girls to worry and rush over—"

"Ah..."

"But don't make them cry, okay?"

"Of course not. They are very important to me."

Ichino said firmly.

I want to blame myself for doubting him even a little.

"Right... I wonder who will be the sister-in-law."

Aoi chuckled and looked at the three of us.

We, who are already married, smiled back.

The plot is complete, so from next time, we will start Chapter Four.