Mob Yandere

Book 8 Epilogue, (5)

Book 8 Epilogue, (5)

[Part 5/6]

"Calm down, Aoi."

"What!?"

A presence from behind, a sweet voice. Immediately, she protected her neck, and with sonic speed, unleashed a spinning kick. But gracefully slipping past that attack, Sumire, shaking her dark purple hair, easily got inside Aoi's guard and delivered a merciless blow to her abdomen.

An elbow strike, a heavy blow.

"Gah!!? Guh...!!?"

Screams, groans, but Aoi was no ordinary person. She was a genius. Having learned from her previous experience, just before the direct hit, she momentarily strengthened her body with spiritual power and endured Sumire's strike. In her shaken consciousness, Aoi swung her fan with a gaze filled with hatred, aiming for her mother, ready to deliver a merciless blow...

"I can't overlook any more reckless actions. Please calm down a bit."

Immediately after, the young girl regained her composure as her vision was filled with the flapping of a black butterfly. But right after, an intense drowsiness overwhelmed her. The dispersing sleeping drug forced her into an involuntary state of unconsciousness...!!

"Kuh...!? Don't play with me!!"

Her knees buckled, and she almost fell. Aoi forcefully suppressed these sensations and tried to stand up. She couldn't collapse in a place like this, and above all, she didn't want to.

"I won't allow it...!!"

Anger, humiliation, and above all, fear. Aoi knew better than anyone the terror of losing her freedom to drugs. She knew the horror of being defenseless. Therefore, she fought against the drowsiness, clenched her teeth, forced her scattered thoughts together, turned on her heel to head back to that man... But her foot slipped, and she crumbled on the spot. She bent forward and fell.

"Guh!!? Huh...?"

And then, from the front, she was gently embraced as if in a hug. By a figure dressed in black.

"Tomo, be...?"

"Princess, please rest assured. There is no need to fear. I am here. So... please, just sleep for now."

The violent drowsiness that had lowered her thinking faculties was met with a faint murmur of the name of the person who supported her. And in response, he whispered in her ear, in a comforting voice that was a complete change from before. It was a series of brief words, without any assurance, without giving any reasons, without any empty pretense. Still, it was more than enough for Aoi. She knew that much. Just the fact that he had spoken those words made them the most trustworthy words for her.

"Yes... I understand. Then, yes, I'll... sleep..."

Intermittent responses. And with all her strength drained from her body, Aoi easily surrendered her entire body to him. And she played. A deep, quiet sigh of peaceful sleep...

She knew. Inside his arms was the most reassuring place of all...

"..."

"Thank you for stopping her, servant. It must have been difficult. I'll take care of my daughter."

With a smile, Sumire, who had been lively until now, received the unconscious princess from the servant. Carefully, as if handling something fragile, she took charge of her.

Silence dominated the council room.

"...Everyone, I apologize for causing a commotion. My inadequate daughter caused trouble. Please forgive her."

Some time had passed, probably not that long. The head of the family apologized to all the members of the council. Except for a very few, everyone was left bewildered.

"...Do any of those who were blown away have any injuries? If it's serious, you should attend to it. Everyone, please help them."

The madam adviser immediately opened her mouth, attempting to take control of the situation. In response, some of the surrounding members began to carry away the people who had been blown away by Aoi...

"If only you had discussed such decisions in advance, my Lord. Thanks to you, we've ended up with this unnecessary commotion."

In a tone that sounded like a warning, Kochou pointed out to the head of the family, his son. Perhaps there was also an intention to probe.

"I regret it. I'll be more careful in the future. However, please understand that the decision won't change, Madam Advisor."

"Well, that's stubborn of you. ...You haven't changed since the old days."

"Mother has changed quite a bit while I was asleep. You seem to get along very well with Aoi. It's quite pleasing."

"...She's my beloved granddaughter, after all."

The mother was not as simple as accepting her son's words as they were. Before her son lost consciousness and became bedridden, without any written or oral agreements, it was an unspoken understanding that Kochou had agreed to abandon her granddaughter, not in writing or by word of mouth, but certainly by tacit consent. From Yuusei's perspective, Kochou's words seemed nothing more than sarcasm or irony, no matter how hard she tried to explain them.

And, above all, she inwardly clicked her tongue at being exposed to a deep connection with Aoi in public. Now, it would be difficult to intervene in the situation while pretending to be neutral. In fact, she quietly and secretly felt an unsettling aura coming from her other granddaughter's direction. Until now, she had been able to negotiate while pretending to be neutral due to their childhood friendship, but it seemed challenging from now on. In her heart, she cursed her son.

"...Then shall we prepare a bed for your beloved granddaughter? We can't let her keep sleeping in her mother's arms forever, can we?"

Yuusei declared, seemingly reading the thoughts of his Mother. And in response to her words, Sumire gently smiled and handed over her unconscious daughter to her mother-in-law. Kochou, in her position, had no choice but to respond.

"..."

Kochou silently took a swing of the smoking pipe in her hand. At the same time, two simplified humanoid shikigami appeared from somewhere. The faceless figures politely took over the princess from Sumire and carried her out of the room...

"...I'd like to continue the council, but it seems difficult in this situation. Unfortunately, shall we call it a day for today? What do you think, Head Servant?"

"...Many of us are quite confused. I think it's best to do so."

When the head of the family proposed that they should call it a day after glancing at the air that was left after the storm in the council room, the head servant responded calmly without showing any disturbance on the surface. Okay, Yusou nodded.

"What about the others?"

Yusou asked, seeking confirmation from the other attendees. And it seemed that the air wasn't suitable for turning down the proposal now. The attendees responded one after another, albeit reluctantly.

"...There is no other way."

Even Kochou was not an exception. She nodded reluctantly, carried away by the atmosphere around her. She couldn't afford to stand out at this point. For now, she had to settle the situation, restrain her granddaughter from losing control, and communicate with the influential members of the family. Continuing the confrontation here would be meaningless.

"...Then we shall conclude here. Well, I will excuse myself first. I have to attend to some duties."

With a nonchalant attitude that seemed to disregard the heavy atmosphere, Sumire announced. She came near the servant and exchanged a few words. Then, she left, leading the way. Under the gaze of curiosity, mistrust, and hostility, the aforementioned servant bowed and followed her. While Tamaki, Hina, and some others looked at him with different implications, it didn't mean anything in this moment.

"...!"

Without saying a word or showing it on his face, Kochou felt anxious. She thought that, in a bad sense, he stood out too much. She believed that if things continued like this, he would be killed soon. Or perhaps, was that her son's intention...?

"Yun-shoku..."

"Madam Advisor, excuse me."

As they passed by each other when he left the room, Kochou attempted to call him out, but he murmured back. Muttering that, he quickly passed by. Kochou didn't say anything. She couldn't say anything. She just looked stunned, dumbfounded.

"You can't be serious...?"

Because the atmosphere surrounding him was too similar. To that person from her first love. To the aura surrounding him...

"For how long has it been? She seems quite obsessed with you, huh? Hehehe, that fickle and easily bored girl is really unusual."