Chapter 28

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On the day of the summer festival, Yugen set out early to the station to pick up Arisa.

The station was crowded with men and women waiting for their friends or lovers. Yugen waited for Arisa a little away from the crowd.

(I wonder what kind of yukata Arisa will bring?)

Yugen, who was thinking this, had not yet put on his yukata. He was still wearing his casual clothes.

This was because Arisa had sent a message saying, "I don't want to dirty my yukata, so if possible, I would like to change at your house, Mr. Takasegawa."

Thinking that he would change at the same time, Yugen decided to wait.

While absentmindedly looking at the yukatas of the women in his field of vision and imagining Arisa in a yukata...

"Takasegawa-san, I kept you waiting."

Her usual calm voice reached his ears. Turning in the direction of the voice, he saw Arisa standing there with her usual poker face.

"No, I just got here myself."

Arisa was wearing casual clothes but was carrying two paper bags. One of them probably contained the yukata. ...Then, what about the other one?

"What's in the bag?"

"It's the yukata and... some sweets. I was told to bring them if we were going to greet them."

"I see."

The words were probably from her adoptive father. Although they had not spoken much directly, from what Arisa and his parents had told him, Amane Naoki was a man who cared about appearances. Caring about appearances was not necessarily a bad thing, as long as it was not excessive.

"Shall I carry it?"

"Then, please take the yukata. I would like to present the sweets to your parents myself."

Taking one of the paper bags, Yugen lightly beckoned.

"I'll guide you to my house. Please follow me."

"Yes... I understand."

Yugen's house was a short walk from the station. They stopped in front of the gate.

"Here it is."

"...H-Here?"

Arisa looked up at the gate with a dazed expression, her mouth agape. To be honest, knowing Arisa's usual demeanor, Yugen found her face a bit "silly."

"What's wrong?"

"N-No... I just thought it was big."

"Your house is also quite large, isn't it?"

"It doesn't have such a high wall or a large gate like this."

As they passed through the outer gate...

A loud barking from multiple dogs could be heard.

Arisa's body trembled.

Before long, four dogs came running over, wagging their tails and heading towards Yugen.

"Stay."

When Yugen gave the command, the four dogs stopped immediately.

"Sit."

With a gesture, he ordered them to sit. After a slight delay, the four dogs sat down. Arisa, who had been taken aback at first, soon showed a look of admiration on her face.

"They are well-trained."

"They are guard dogs. I keep them in the yard."

Although they had not been of any use in Yugen's life so far, it was probably true that burglars would not want to enter a house where dogs barked occasionally.

"Can I pet them?"

"Sure. Give them a little greeting."

Yugen called the four dogs by name, starting with:

"Alexander."

One of the dogs, a reddish-brown one with a dignified face, walked over.

"Stay, sit, paw."

Following the command, Alexander placed his paw in Yugen's hand. Yugen gently patted his head.

"This one, Alexander, is the highest in rank. ...First, let him smell you, then you can pet him."

"Is he the leader? ...Is he a Shiba Inu?"

"No, he's an Akita."

Arisa extended her white hand. Alexander sniffed it lightly, and then Arisa gently stroked his neck and head.

She then greeted the other dogs: a black-furred one, a reddish-brown one, and one with a black face and loose skin.

Yugen introduced each dog by name to Arisa.

"Still... these are quite impressive names. Alexander, Pyrrhus, Hannibal, and Scipio... What are you planning to fight?"

"Thieves, maybe."

"Overkill... Not just the names, but their size as well."

Arisa looked at the four dogs. The two including the Akita were of normal large dog size, but the other two were even larger.

"Alexander is an Akita, Pyrrhus is a German Shepherd, and Hannibal and Scipio are... what breeds are they?"

Hannibal stood about eighty centimeters tall, and Scipio was slightly taller. Both had faces as large as two of Arisa's.

Even though they were gentle, the size of these dogs seemed to overwhelm even Arisa, who looked a bit tense.

"Hannibal is a Spanish Mastiff, and Scipio is an English Mastiff. Well, none of them have any real combat experience. We've never had a burglar."

"Life is precious. If they had done their research, they wouldn't have come in."

Despite her words, Arisa's expression was soft. Her eyes were dreamy, and her mouth was relaxed. Although she publicly claimed to be a cat person, she seemed to like dogs as well. She gently patted the four dogs.

"Okay, Arisa. It's time."

"Yes... It wouldn't be good to take too long or get our clothes dirty before the greetings."

As Yugen said this, Arisa stood up with a reluctant expression. He dismissed the dogs, and they ran off to some part of the yard.

After seeing the dogs off, Yugen opened the sliding door leading to the entrance and called out loudly.

"Hey, I've brought Arisa."

After a while, three people dressed in traditional Japanese clothing appeared.

Father, Takasegawa Kazuya.

Mother, Takasegawa Ayu.

Sister, Takasegawa Ayako.

"Thank you for coming, Arisa. We always appreciate the help you give our son."

"It's been a while. Mr. Takasegawa... I am the one who has been helped by Yugen."

Arisa bowed politely. Kazuya slowly narrowed his eyes.

"Please come in. ...There seem to be two people who are eager to talk."

Kazuya gestured slightly behind him. Ayu and Ayako were eagerly waiting.

Yugen took off his geta and entered the house first. Then he extended his hand to Arisa.

"Here."

"Thank you."

As Arisa entered the house, the two women stepped forward.

"I am Yugen's mother, Takasegawa Ayu. We always appreciate the help you give Yugen. By the way... you are even cuter in person than in the photos."

"I am his sister, Takasegawa Ayako. Our brother is always helped by you. You are really beautiful. It's no wonder he is so infatuated."

"Nice to meet you, I am Arisa. Please take care of me. ...Um, well..."

Arisa looked confused as the two women approached her. Yugen stepped forward to shield her.

"Arisa is uncomfortable. ...Let's talk over tea, right?"

Yugen lightly beckoned to Arisa.

"I'll guide you. Please follow me."

"Yes. ...Thank you for having me today."

Arisa bowed again.

Takasegawa's Four Dog Kings

Alexander... Akita

Pyrrhus... German Shepherd

Hannibal... Spanish Mastiff

Scipio... English Mastiff

A burglar who enters will not leave a single bone.

Arisa (By the way, who is Pyrrhus?)

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