Take the Viewing Fee
“You’re finally here!”
An unknown figure burst out from the Ichinose household.
Her tone was like she’d been waiting all along, and those fierce, beast-like eyes looked familiar.
My mind raced, and in an instant, I figured out who she was. Anyone could see she strongly resembled Noah.
Both Ichinose’s mom and now Noah’s mom too… what’s with that?
Just like Momo, she looked young enough to pass for her daughter’s older sister without question. Thank goodness Ichinose had given me the rundown beforehand.
So, I bowed first thing.
“Hello. I’m Rohan, Noah’s classmate and friend.”
“What a boring guy! No room to tease at all.”
She seemed deflated now that I’d clocked her identity.
Jane swung her thick tail and pouted.
“Sorry for not living up to expectations. Honestly… if Noah hadn’t told me you were her only older brother figure, I might’ve made the mistake of thinking you two were sisters.”
“Hahaha!!! Overkill much? Though I do look pretty young, it’s true!”
Jane pulled in her duck-like pout and burst into hearty laughter. Then she slapped my back—hard.
Things seemed to be going smoothly enough, but I couldn’t laugh.
What kind of strength…!
There was no malice in Jane’s gesture. No mana involved, not even focused muscle—just a casual pat.
And yet, it wasn’t normal.
Every time she smacked my back, I had to pour power into my legs and core or risk tumbling forward like an idiot.
To protect the gift in my hands, I hurriedly channeled mana to steady myself.
Jane’s eyes softened as her laughter cut off.
She glanced at Sion and Clara standing quietly to the side and lifted the corner of her mouth.
“These pretty girls Noah’s friends too?”
Thanks to me mentioning Noah first and bowing, Sion and Clara recalled what they’d heard on the way. They knew exactly who she was.
“Uh, Clara…!”
“Sion Testarosa.”
Jane’s eyes lit up at Sion’s name—widening into circles.
She’d heard Noah was close with her and that she was in Academy City.
But she hadn’t expected to meet her like this.
“That Testarosa? No wonder she’s ridiculously pretty. The most stunning elf I’ve ever seen.”
“Thank you… Though with Tigrova’s backing, I should have visited first to pay my respects. I’m ashamed to meet you like this.”
Jane’s smile shifted at Sion’s politeness—not playful curiosity anymore, but something tinged with pity in her lips and eyes.
She strode forward to stand before Sion.
Arms spread wide in clear hug signal.
Then she slowly wrapped them around her. Sion didn’t resist, and Clara and I just watched.
“Sweetie. It’s the other way around. The Frozenhearts should’ve come to the Testarosas first.”
“…”
“Do you resent the Frozenhearts for it?”
Sion let out a long breath in Jane’s embrace.
She shook her head, recalling the Snow Tiger Emperor who’d respected her father as a friend.
“No. I just resented my own foolishness… and those who deceived me.”
“Yeah. You resented them, but?”
Sion turned to look at me and Clara.
She could feel it again—no thorn lodged in her heart anymore.
“…Now I can move forward.”
“Good girl. So sharp and straightforward. Get along well with Noah, okay?”
Jane stroked Sion’s back gently as she praised her.
Then, slicing through the solemn mood like a knife, she slipped behind me.
She sensed Clara, who’d been minimizing her presence, and mischief glinted in her eyes again.
“Clara, right?”
“Y-Yes…!”
“Oh my! How is there such a cute girl~? Just looking at you makes me wanna have another daughter.”
“Eek…”
Clara shrank back, nibbling her lip as Jane petted her head.
Jane took Clara’s hand and was cooing when her gaze shifted back to me—but she didn’t get a chance to say more.
She glanced over her shoulder, smacking her lips in disappointment.
“My daughters sure are quick on the uptake.”
The moment Jane finished, Ichinose came sprinting up first.
Noah bounced in right after.
And way back, Momo strolled leisurely toward us.
“Yoo-hoo! You got here faster than I thought!”
“W-Welcome! Must’ve been tough coming from so far…”
Ichinose said that while subtly checking the mood.
Nothing bad had gone down yet, it seemed.
She swallowed a quiet sigh of relief.
“Good to see you both looking healthy.”
“Yeah, nothing beats that.”
“H-Hi, big sis…”
As we exchanged light greetings, Momo arrived silently from afar.
I bowed and offered the gift I’d been holding.
“Ma’am. Hello. It’s nothing special, but…”
“Oh, thank you. I hope inviting you here didn’t burden you, Cadet Rohan?”
“Not at all. I just wanted to express my thanks on my own.”
Momo accepted with a smile and gestured us inside.
“Even if it’s just a short visit, shall we talk indoors? Can’t keep precious guests standing in the street.”
Everyone followed as Momo led the way.
Crossing the Ichinose gate revealed a spacious courtyard.
We couldn’t hide our awe at the pristine pond and buildings.
And so we reached the Ichinose house.
The moment we arrived, Jane spoke up.
“Pretend Momo and I aren’t here and catch up. You kids have plenty to talk about, right?”
“…”
Baby Yui twitched her eyebrows and avoided Jane’s grinning gaze as she approached me.
We’d bumped into each other earlier but hadn’t properly greeted. This wasn’t weird at all, I figured.
As she drew close, I smiled and spoke first.
“Doing well?”
“Y-Yes… You too, Rohan?”
“Me? Just trained and waited for today.”
“H-Huh… waited just for today…? I see…”
The fresh, innocent expression of a girl facing her crush.
She tried to play it cool and aloof, but anyone who knew saw right through it.
“That outfit’s new, right? Bought it recently? Or from home?”
“Bought it shopping with Noah. D-Does it suit me…?”
“Looks pretty.”
I said my honest thoughts without holding back.
Jane noticed Ichinose tensing her pale toes.
So the ever-stiff Ichinose Yui makes these gestures and says these things when she’s in love.
The heat and tickle of youth. Just watching was fun.
Jane stood beside Momo, biting her lower lip to stifle her laughter.
Oh my, oh my.
Momo was enjoying it just as much.
Seeing a new side of their daughter filled parents with joy, making the world feel full.
Sion and Clara chatted loudly with Noah, but both moms’ senses were locked on me and Ichinose.
“Ready for the beach?”
“Y-Yeah… You prepared properly too, Rohan? Swimsuit and all?”
“Got mine online. Guys don’t need anything fancy.”
“Tch…”
“Picked it carefully, though. Even returned one.”
“Hmph, a swimsuit chosen by your taste… Should I look forward to it?”
“Then you should look forward to mine too, right?”
“Pervert…”
Realizing what I meant, Baby Yui blushed and nudged my shoulder.
At that movie-like moment, Jane couldn’t hold back and clapped.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Once done, she pulled a wad of checks from her wallet.
And shoved it at me.
“Take it.”
“Huh? What’s this…?”
I blinked at the stack of cash.
Jane spoke in a half-drunk slur.
“Viewing fee.”
“Pardon?”
“W-What are you saying?!”
Ichinose hopped over, grabbed Jane, and dragged her to the corner.
Left suddenly alone with Momo, I gave an awkward smile and asked what’d been bugging me.
“Ma’am.”
“Yes~?”
“I’d like to greet your husband too.”
Momo covered her mouth with her sleeve, laughing as she replied.
“He’s at the company. He wanted to make time, but work got in the way.”
“Ah…! Then I’ll come back to say goodbye before we leave.”
Momo nodded, pleased.
Noah, camera around her neck, poked me with her tail.
“When do we head out? Sun’ll set if we dawdle.”
“Gotta say proper goodbyes. If we’re late, we can grab something tasty and hit the water tomorrow.”
“Then meat! Meat!”
“First time in Samhwa Nation—wanna do some sightseeing too.”
Noah nodded in understanding.
Ichinose returned, face flushed, with Jane grinning slyly.
“L-Let’s go now…”
Ichinose grabbed her suitcase by the door.
At the signal, we slipped on our shoes, ready to leave.
She fanned her hot face, then bowed to Momo.
“…Mother. We’ll be back.”
“Have fun, all of you.”
“““Thank you!”””
Momo and Jane waved as we called out our thanks.
Their smiles were so bright, it put my mind at ease.
Out in the courtyard, I grabbed Ichinose’s and Noah’s suitcases in both hands.
“I’m your manservant this trip, so gimme the bags. Body itches if I don’t use some stamina.”
“Oh! You don’t have to…”
“Heh, I won’t say no! Thanks!”
Ichinose and Noah joined with their reactions, heading to the car.
Jane and Momo watched the perfect scene from afar, utterly satisfied.