December was a good time to test how well everyone would be able to reintegrate because regular school would be out for winter break. Until then, everyone was free to recuperate at home, or in Hajime’s case, finally enjoy some free time.
“Now then, that’s enough lounging around. It’s time to get to work,” Hajime said, stretching his arms out and getting to his feet. He already knew exactly how he was going to be spending his free time.
Myu’s eyes started to sparkle and she leaned out over the table.
“Are you going to make rooms now?! Am I going to get my own room?!”
“Huh? I’m making my own room.”
“Our room?!”
“No, just my room.”
Myu puffed out her cheeks, pouting.
“Hajime, give me a room next to yours. One with a door connecting them both. Actually, no, I don’t need a door. Just make a single room for the two of us.”
“I already told you that you can have my old room on the second floor.”
“Master, please make sure your bedroom is large enough to fit a king-sized bed, as well as some iron bars, a cattle prod, and—”
“I’m not going to let you turn our basement into a BDSM dungeon, you pervert.”
“Hajime-san, I want a fighting ring! And a room with tatami mats! I’ve been impressed by the various forms of martial arts they have on Earth! I plan on watching YouTube videos to learn them all!”
“And I already told you, you and Tio can have mom and dad’s study on the second—”
“Umm, Hajime-san? Can I have a soundproofed room with an ultra-wide TV?”
“Remia...don’t tell me you want a theater room just to watch your morning dramas? Stop blushing. I’m not gonna do it.”
“Hajime, your dad would really like it if—”
“Shut up!”
Everyone started making requests at once, overwhelming Hajime. This was all because he had said he would start expanding the house.
The Nagumo house was decently large, especially for a family of three. Sumire and Shu both had decent wages, so they’d splurged on a home that could accommodate both of their working spaces and their hobbies.
The house had five rooms. The master bedroom on the ground floor belonged to Sumire and Shu, while the second floor held Hajime’s room, Sumire’s library, Shu’s study, and a display room for everyone’s otaku merch. But now, the house suddenly had five new family members.
Hajime had stored everything in Sumire’s library, Shu’s study, and the display room in his Treasure Trove and converted them into temporary bedrooms.
Yue and Shea were sleeping in one, while Tio, Remia, and Myu slept in the other. The third room had become a guest room, since Shizuku and Kaori came to sleep over so often.
“Come now, Hajime, if you’re going to make a man cave for yourself in the basement, there’s no way we’re going to miss out on the fun. I thought you loved your parents? Won’t you make some rooms for us as well?” Sumire asked, crying fake tears.
“Hajime’s horrible, isn’t he, mother?” Yue said, egging her on.
“Look, I’m already ignoring building codes and zoning laws to make a room for myself in the basement. Why do you all want basement rooms too?”
The reason Hajime was making a room at all was mostly so that everyone wasn’t so cramped on the second floor. He’d actually planned out his basement room ahead of time, so he’d wanted to spend today making it. He thought Yue and the others would have preferred aboveground rooms to get sunlight during the day, which meant he’d planned to make a new study, library, and display room in the basement to put all the stuff he’d moved out back. As a result, he was already planning on having two floors of basement space.
“Sorry, but you’re not fooling your old man that easily. I know you. You’re going to make a bunch of hidden passageways and secret alcoves, aren’t you?”
Hajime looked away guiltily. Shu was right on the money. He was planning on making a transmutation workshop so he could more easily make the things he wanted to when he had the time.
“I know how much you love rooms hidden behind trick bookcases and special meeting rooms! If you’re going to make all of those, then you should make the rooms we want too!”
“Come on, dad, you’re a grown man.”
“I’d really like to experience elegant baths, like the ones in Thermae Romae. If you don’t make a luxurious bathroom for me, I’m going to write NTR doujin starring you and sell them at Comiket!”
“What kind of mother are you?!”
For better or worse, everyone in the Nagumo household was quite serious about their hobbies. Sumire and Shu weren’t going to give up on their passions just because they were childish.
Naturally, neither were Yue or the others. Seeing everyone staring expectantly at him, Hajime let out a long sigh. But in the end, he, too, was a son of the Nagumo household.
“Well, I guess it won’t bother anyone no matter how big we make the underground space. Fine, I’ll make a huge basement filled with all the rooms you guys could ever want!”
“Yaaaaaaaaay!” Yue, Shea, Tio, Myu, and even Remia let out hearty cheers and threw their hands into the air.
In truth, though, they were more happy for Hajime and his parents than themselves.
“I knew you wouldn’t abandon us, son! Here, I’ve already got the blueprints for what I want!” Shu said, thrusting a paper into Hajime’s hands.
“Look at this perfectly designed floor plan. I’ve even laid out the corridors so that any new visitors will be shocked by how weird our house is!” Sumire exclaimed, pulling up floor plans on her smartphone.
“Dad, mom...you guys really have good taste. This is perfect!”
“Oh, you’re too kind!”
Sumire and Shu hugged Hajime, who started grinning in anticipation.
He’d never smiled this innocently back when he’d been in Tortus. Yue and the others were truly glad to see him like this now. At the same time, they understood now that Hajime’s days had been filled with this kind of joy before he’d been summoned and why he’d so desperately wanted to come back. They could also tell that Sumire and Shu had searched tirelessly for him every day since he’d disappeared.
It made sense now why Hajime had not only been trying to get back, but get back as soon as possible. He’d wanted to put his parents at ease, and he’d wanted his old life back.
“Hmm? What are you guys waiting for? Come on, don’t you all want your new rooms?” Hajime asked, turning back to Yue and the others. They were all standing in the living room, smiling gently at him. “Don’t just stand there, guys,” he said, waving them over.
Yue and the others exchanged glances, nodded, and all started running over to Hajime.
“Mmm...coming!”
“This is going to be so much fun!” Shea shouted.
“Heh, to think this would be our first big undertaking together as a family!” Tio said.
“Grandpa, I wanna see the blueprints too!” Myu exclaimed.
“My my, don’t run too fast now, Myu, or you’ll trip,” Remia said with a warm smile.