The other women patted her on the back or wrapped an arm around her shoulders to comfort her. The women in the Miyakouji family were all warm, caring people.
“Everyone’s really grateful to you, Miyo. You even helped out poor Izuko. We’ll never let anyone get away with trying to harm you. Trust us.”
“Mm… Thank you all.”
“We should be doing the thanking here,” said Miyako.
One of the other women spoke up in anger. “Still, it’s utterly ridiculous. Those bums must be the stupidest people alive if they could look at Master Kudou and think they had a chance.”
“You said it. A handsome fella like Master Kudou doesn’t crop up every day. I’m almost jealous they could be so ignorant of their own abilities as to think they could measure up.”
“You’re a genuine beauty yourself, Miyo, so they should’ve known better than to think you would ever choose them instead.”
The women showed no mercy to Miyo’s attackers. When she understood that they were saying this for her sake, Miyo couldn’t help cheering up a bit, and she caught herself smiling.
Miyako’s eyes softened when she saw this change.
“We’re all on your side, got it, Miyo? If any of the Miyakouji men do or say something nasty to you again, you come marching our way, you hear? We can make their home lives a living hell, I assure you.”
“I understand. If that happens, I’ll come ask you all for help.”
“Perfect.”
All the women nodded solemnly in unison.
Miyo talked with Miyako and the others until she felt better, then quickly returned to Kiyoka, who was waiting for her.
“I’m sorry for keeping you.”
“No, I don’t mind… Since when did you get so open and friendly with them all?” Kiyoka asked on their way back to the annex, and Miyo chuckled.
“They treated me kindly right from the start. Then the next thing I knew, they had brought me into their circle… They’ve been so cheerful and considerate toward me; they are truly good people.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“Right?”
Now that it was just the two of them, their spirits naturally fell.
Despite all the cheer that Miyako and the other Miyakouji women had given her, Miyo’s heart couldn’t keep up with the tempestuous events around her.
Now that she thought about it, Komon had likely led Kiyoka and Miyo to such a secluded room inside the estate to reveal the Miyakoujis’ past because he was afraid another member of the family would overhear them and stir up more trouble.
Miyako seemed to know what “aberrant” referred to, but…
Why did the Miyakoujis start giving birth to them?
Apparently, only a select few in the family knew the full picture. Most of the Miyakoujis seemed to believe the aberrants were a product of a curse or divine punishment inflicted on the family in retribution for the arrogance of their ancestors. That was why some of them hadn’t seemed to truly grasp what the elder had been talking about in the meeting earlier.
It was a reflection of the care and consideration the patriarch showed for his family; he believed some of his relations might be unable to bear the weight of their ancestors’ sins if they learned the truth.
It occurred to Miyo that some of the energetic Miyakouji women would be completely distraught to learn the truth. The thought made frustration swirl around inside her once again.
“Are you not feeling well, Miyo?” Kiyoka asked, and she shook her head.
“I’m fine…except for my heavy heart.”
There was nothing she could do, and yet these disconsolate feelings still smoldered in her breast.
She couldn’t go back in time to fix the mistakes of the past, and she didn’t possess the means to save the aberrants alive in the present or those who would be born in the future. She had decided against using her Gift in the first place because she felt matters like this were far too heavy for her to shoulder.
She knew perfectly well nothing would come from worrying over it.
When Miyo lowered her eyes, she felt Kiyoka’s hand on her shoulder.
“It’s frustrating, isn’t it?”
“…It is.”
Frustrating. Irritating. That was exactly what this was.
“It’s the same with Usui, too. If it wasn’t for the Miyakoujis’ research, things might have played out differently… Though I know thinking about what-ifs is pointless anyway.”
Learning that Kiyoka was thinking the same things brought her a modicum of solace. He heaved a melancholic sigh.
“You must be exhausted. I’m sorry. We were supposed to go out for a nice change of pace, and instead it only brought you even more stress and exhaustion.”
“Don’t be sorry. This isn’t your fault at all.”
It probably wasn’t the fault of anyone alive today. Of course, Miyo wanted the men who had attacked her to reflect deeply on their actions. Still, if the past had played out differently, even those men could’ve chosen another path.
At the very least, they might not have let their inferiority complex toward the Kudous take them quite so far.
The situation had come about from people desperately struggling to survive. Everything stemmed from that endless cycle.
“Kiyoka.”
“What is it?”
“I’d like to hold your hand.”
Kiyoka silently took Miyo’s hand. Her palm had gone cold again despite the slight warmth she had received from Miyako, but it was quick to warm again in Kiyoka’s grip.
If she wasn’t able to do anything substantial, at the very least, Miyo wanted to be someone who could provide warmth to others, just as they had warmed her.
This vague thought crossed her mind.
In the dead of night, Miyo dozed in the comfort of Kiyoka’s arms.
The events of the day seemed to have upset Kiyoka greatly, for even as she slept, Kiyoka held Miyo tight and wouldn’t let go.
“Can’t sleep?”
She heard a deep voice right next to her ear, and Miyo opened her eyes.
“…I just woke up a little.”
Kiyoka opened his eyes slightly and embraced Miyo, pushing her head into his chest. It was a bit hard to breathe, but she felt at ease hearing the sounds of his heartbeat.
“I’m begging you, please don’t get carried off by anyone except me.”
Finding his phrasing amusing, Miyo pushed her face deeper into his chest to ensure he didn’t notice her smile.
“I won’t. You’re the only one who’s allowed to carry me off, Kiyoka.”
“Good.”
Miyo was sure that if she was ever in danger of being snatched away, Kiyoka would always be at her side to snatch her back. If he told her to go off with him somewhere, she would go along without a moment’s hesitation.
“Kiyoka, please don’t ever let me go.”
“Of course I won’t.”
After whispering in husky tones to each other, the two of them closed their eyes.
The next morning, Miyo would be trapped in a deep sleep.