"Really?" Tsukuyo's face lit up with joy. "Do you really like it?"
"Yes! I love it the most!" Kawaki replied, smiling as he set down the now-empty hot pot.
But the next moment, his taste buds, which had just come back online, suddenly reacted. Kawaki's face turned beet red in seconds, and his eyes widened in shock.
"I'm so glad! I was worried you might not like it," Tsukuyo said with relief. "I heard you like spicy hot pot, so I used ghost peppers as the base today. I didn't expect you to love it this much."
"W-water... water..." Kawaki croaked, clutching his throat with one hand while tremblingly reaching out to Tsukuyo with the other. "Quick... water, please... hurry..."
...
After gulping down a large glass of water two minutes later, Kawaki's condition finally stabilised.
Seeing Kawaki drenched in sweat, with more sweat still pouring from his face, Tsukuyo asked, puzzled, "Hey, are you okay? Maybe you're still pushing yourself too hard. Maybe I should sign up for a cooking class to learn other dishes?"
"No! No need! Hot pot is just fine!" Kawaki immediately raised his hand in refusal. "I absolutely love it! If I had to name my favorite dish in life, hot pot would be number one!"
"Good grief..." Tsukuyo turned her slightly blushing face away, covering it with her sleeve, her eyes avoiding his. "Ever since then, you've been changing more and more, saying things that make people happy so boldly. Men... really are strange creatures..."
[Ah, I just want to die!] Kawaki cursed himself inwardly, gritting his teeth, then forced a smile as he raised a finger and said, "Actually, there's something I want to talk to you about."
"What is it?"
"From now on, try not to go out unless it's absolutely necessary for something like a checkup. Otherwise... no, it's better if you don't go out at all."
"You... noticed, didn't you?" Tsukuyo turned her face away again, speaking softly.
"Uh... yes, I did." Kawaki's mouth began to twitch uncontrollably. "I can still notice things like that. And if you do need to go for a checkup, make sure to tell me in advance so I can accompany you. Got it?"
"I... I understand."
Seeing Tsukuyo shyly covering her face with her sleeve, Kawaki mentally punched himself and called himself a scumbag.
"And one more thing..." Kawaki continued, "Regarding the vacation time we gave the Hyakka members earlier, I'm hoping... to extend it a bit longer."
"Huh?" Tsukuyo looked confused. "You want to extend it? Won't it be tough handling everything by yourself?"
"No, it's not tough at all!" Kawaki immediately countered. "Honestly, I've completely fallen in love with working! I don't feel tired at all, even working all day! I'm seriously thinking about working all the time! Wow, work is so great! Ahahaha..."
"Is that so..." Tsukuyo turned her face away again, her voice growing softer. "You really... are reliable..."
[Stop! I don't want to hear it! I don't want to listen to things like 'such a reliable father'!] Kawaki screamed internally, [Please, spare me! The guilt is already overwhelming me! All that's left is guilt! I'm being consumed by it!]
"How long do you want to extend the vacation?"
"How about a year?" Kawaki suggested hesitantly, raising one finger.
After a long silence, Tsukuyo finally spoke, "A year... is that maternity leave? No, maternity leave isn't that long."
"No—it's not!" Kawaki stood up, panicking, and loudly explained, "Trust me, Tsukuyo! It has nothing to do with maternity leave! It's just a regular break! It might seem like maternity leave, but it's not! I just wanted to give them a longer break because they've been working so hard!"
"Alright, I understand." Tsukuyo nodded but then pointed her finger at Kawaki. "But are you really okay? Your face is covered in cold sweat."
"No problem at all!" Kawaki patted his chest confidently. "It's just that I felt a bit hot after eating. This sweat is from the heat, nothing else!"
"Oh... okay, I see."
"Well..." Kawaki waved his hand as he walked towards the door, "I'm going to work now. Please... please don't go out randomly! Your health is the most important thing right now!"
"Understood."
"Absolutely don't go out! Absolutely!!"
"I've heard that men often become like this at times like these," Tsukuyo remarked with a smile.
"That's right! Men do become like this at times like these! Just stay in your room! I'll do the shopping! I'll do the laundry! I'll clean the house! You just rest!"
"I... I understand."
...
From that day on, Kawaki began his new life, following an impossible human schedule.
He would wake up at four in the morning, go to the market to buy ingredients for sixty meals, and then deliver each portion to all the women's rooms.
After sixty breakfasts, he would start his workday, patrolling all the shops in Yoshiwara by himself and solving any problems the women encountered, whether dealing with demanding customers or fixing leaking rooms. Kawaki handled it all on his own.
At seven in the evening, dragging his exhausted body, he would eat sixty dinners, spend no more than a minute at each meal, and then resume work until one morning.
Time to sleep? Still waiting. This was when he started cleaning the rooms of all sixty women, collecting their dirty laundry to wash and hang.
By the time he finished, it was almost four in the morning.
From then to four, Kawaki had his rest time, which ranged from two to ten minutes, depending on the day.
...
A week later, during the rare break he had at lunchtime, Kawaki found himself on the streets.
He bought a pack of cigarettes from a vending machine and leaned against a wall, head down, unwrapping the bag and placing a cigarette in his mouth.
However, he quickly realised he didn't have a lighter than someone who never smoked.
"Hey, can I borrow a light?" Kawaki tapped the shoulder of a young man who was buying cigarettes nearby, speaking hoarsely.
"Oh, sure." The young man quickly responded, pulling a mayonnaise-themed lighter from his pocket and handing it to Kawaki.
"Thanks." Kawaki lit his cigarette, taking a deep drag before slowly exhaling.
"No problem." Hijikata took back his lighter but then noticed that the person who had borrowed it was Kawaki—and he looked... very rough.
"Are you... okay?"
To put it simply, Kawaki's current state could be described in two words as "worn out," three words as "very worn out," and four words as "extremely worn out."
His hair was messy, his beard looked like it hadn't been groomed in days, his eyes were half-open and lifeless, and his dark circles were darker than a panda's.
His clothes seemed alright, freshly changed, but the man looked like he was about to break down completely.
"It's you..." Kawaki muttered, cigarette in hand. "It's been a while, hasn't it..."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Hijikata lit a cigarette for himself, eyeing Kawaki suspiciously.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Every day is so fulfilling, so happy," Kawaki replied nonchalantly. "Especially when I'm working, I feel extremely happy. Who knew work could be so enjoyable? It helps me forget all my worries, guilt, and pain... haha..."
"Hey! Are you really okay?!" Hijikata was shocked, grabbing Kawaki's shoulders and shaking him. "Why have you broken down so much in just a few days? What happened?!"
"Phew..." Kawaki took one last drag from his cigarette before extinguishing it in a nearby trash can. "I should get back to work. If I stay here too long, I'll start thinking about the cold, harsh reality again. See you."
...
"Who was that?" Okita Sougo asked as he approached Hijikata, watching Kawaki walk away. "Was that the boss? But his vibe seems a bit different..."
"Who knows..."
...
A week later, at noon, in Kabukicho Park.
"Why did you call me out? I'm currently looking for that guy with the natural perm who went missing after a date with his girlfriend on the 7th. I'm really busy." Zenzou asked as he looked at Kawaki, who was smoking on a park bench. "And are you really okay? You look like you're about to fall apart. Have you even slept?"
"That doesn't matter anymore..." Kawaki threw away his cigarette and lit another, leaning back on the bench with his arms draped over the backrest. "I called you out to ask for a favor."
"It's not about that thing again, is it? I really can't help with that."
"No, it's not." Kawaki casually interrupted Zenzou. "It's not that anymore. Besides, it doesn't matter anymore. It's going to come out soon anyway."
"Wait, it's going to be exposed already?"
"Yeah, today's the 15th," Kawaki replied nonchalantly. "It's almost time. Once I fall asleep, those women will probably realize something's wrong. Honestly, I'll probably never wake up again once I do, but that's fine, right? It's better to be dismembered painlessly in my sleep by them. Haha..."
"..." After a long silence, Zenzou finally spoke. "So, you want me to deliver your last words?"
"Yeah, something like that." Kawaki gazed blankly at the blue sky above him. "Tell those women that the children are innocent... no, never mind that, just say I'm sorry. And lastly, tell Kagura-chan to stay strong and keep living. That's all."
With that, Kawaki stood up, bracing his knees, and walked away, tossing away his last cigarette.
"Hey, wait." Zenzou called out. "Have you really given up completely?"
"Yeah, I have." Kawaki stopped and replied without turning back. "I've entirely... given up. And honestly, it doesn't matter anymore. Either way, it's hell. That side is hell; this side is hell.
The hell over there is probably more comfortable than the hell here.
At least I won't have to feel that tiny bit of happiness amidst all the guilt anymore. That sort of thing... isn't something a sinner like me deserves.
Am I coming home to a smiling face? Hearing 'you've worked hard'? The freshly made dinner? The 'have a safe trip' when I leave in the morning? I... can't handle it anymore. I've long... reached my limit.
Whatever happens now, it's out of my hands. Goodbye."
"Wait," Zenzou stopped Kawaki once more. "If you've already given up, then... why not apologize to them directly? After all, the result is the same, whether it's you or them, you're all headed for some sort of hell."
After another long silence, Kawaki looked up and gave a faint, relieved smile. "You're right. I should do it myself. So, consider the request changed. If possible, help me build a tomb after I'm gone, or something like that. The name... doesn't matter. Goodbye."
As Kawaki started walking again, Zenzou pointed behind him, where Tsukuyo, Hinowa, and the other Hyakka members stood with sweet smiles.
"Actually... if you want to apologize, you can do it now."
"Huh?" Kawaki stopped and turned around, seeing Tsukuyo, Hinowa, and the Hyakka women smiling sweetly behind Zenzou. He let out a small sigh of resignation. "Seriously, all of you scheduled your checkups on the same day? But it looks like there's nothing left to say. All I can do is... say I'm sorry."
Tsukuyo glanced back at the Hyakka members, and they all nodded in unison before raising a massive red banner that read, "NEET Successfully Reintegrated into Society!!"
"Mission accomplished!!" ×n
Staring at the bold text on the banner, Kawaki's lifeless eyes widened as his mouth hung open in shock. The light in his eyes dimmed, and he just stood there, staring blankly at Tsukuyo and the others.
"Who knew it would work so well." Hinowa smiled, her eyes narrowing.
"Yes, thanks to him, all the Hyakka members got a half-month break," Tsukuyo said, crossing her arms and lightly holding a cigarette holder in one hand, nodding in agreement. "And all the games were thrown out too."
Thud!
"Kawaki-sama!"
As Kawaki collapsed face-first onto the ground, the Hyakka members rushed forward, still holding the banner, and surrounded him.
Watching the Hyakka women crowd around Kawaki, Zenzou turned to Hinowa, who was sitting in a wheelchair, and asked, "Is it just me, or would it be fine even if that actually happened? Look at these women. It seems like it wouldn't matter even if he really did have a harem."
"Maybe that's true." Hinowa smiled, then turned to look at Tsukuyo beside her. "But that won't happen, right? Tsukuyo?"
"Who cares." Tsukuyo said indifferently as she glanced at Kawaki, who was lifted into the air by the Hyakka members. "But if he ever lays a hand on my subordinates, I'll kill him for real."
...
Later that night.
Hinowa slid open the door to Tsukuyo's room, where she found Tsukuyo leaning by the window, smoking. "Even though we don't mind, you..."
Hearing glanced down at her abdomen and gently rubbed it with her hand.
"I'm... fine," Tsukuyo replied softly.
"Are you really fine? After all, that night, you were the only one who ate the dish Kawaki-san made while drunk. I heard that Catherine, who tried just a tiny bit of that dish out of curiosity, ended up with a week-long stomachache."
"It's fine. I've probably purged all the toxins by now."
"That's good to hear," Hinowa said, but something else occurred to her. "But come to think of it, why did normal ingredients turn into something like that when combined by Kawaki-san? Does he have the same ability as Otae-san?"
"Who knows..."
Tsukuyo replied calmly, but her thoughts drifted back to that night. Kawaki, already drunk, had returned to the party with a dish he had randomly thrown together. At that time, she was the only one who noticed a small cut on his hand, likely from a kitchen knife.
Just as she was about to point it out, the small cut wholly healed in a puff of white smoke!
No one else seemed to notice, hidden as it was by the steam from the food.
[Could it be... his blood mixed into the dish?] Tsukuyo wondered. [And what's with that constitution? Is that man a Yato?]
Tsukuyo was baffled.
...
The next day, after waking up from sleep, Kawaki rushed to Tsukuyo's room in his pyjamas, without even changing his clothes, and angrily slammed the door open.
"Tsukuyo!! Hinowa!!"
"Oh my, you're awake already?" Hinowa smiled at Kawaki. "The checkup went smoothly. If you start working hard today, you might become a father in about a year."
"Good luck," Tsukuyo added casually, glancing at Kawaki.
"You wicked women..." Kawaki gritted his teeth, clenching his fists until they creaked.
"The show's starting," Hinowa pointed to the TV.
「No need! I'm perfectly fine! I've come to love work! I can forget all my worries, guilt, and pain when working! Ahahaha...」
「No, it's not hard at all! Honestly, I've completely fallen in love with work! I don't feel tired at all, even working all day! I'm seriously thinking about working all the time! Wow, work is so great! Ahahaha...」
"Work has started..." Tsukuyo pointed at the TV, reminding Kawaki. "You haven't forgotten what you said, right?"
Kawaki walked over to the TV without a second thought and smashed the connected camera into pieces. Lowering his head, he mumbled, "Ah, I've completely forgotten. All I remember is my hatred for you... Just wait, I'll get my revenge. Definitely!"
With that, Kawaki turned and left Tsukuyo's room.
Watching him go, Hinowa raised her head and asked Tsukuyo, "Do you think we went a bit too far?"
"No, this was his beloved sister's request," Tsukuyo replied indifferently. "She wanted us to turn her NEET brother into a hardworking, ordinary man."
"But tricking him into thinking we were pregnant was a bit..."
"No one ever said that." Tsukuyo replied, "That idiot just jumped to that conclusion on his own."
"That's true."
A moment later, a frustrated scream came from Kawaki's room.
"Where... where are all my games?!"
Hearing this, Hinowa turned to Tsukuyo, puzzled.
"Do you think the reformation really worked?"
"Probably... not."