My Scumbag System Chapter 448: Home Field Disadvantage

I had to get moving.

Lingering by the window like a prisoner facing execution wouldn't better my predicament.

"Natalia. Outside. Now."

She glanced my way, picked up on my sharp tone, and rose without a word of protest.

We reached the front entrance right when Kimiko arrived at the stairs.

"Mom." I pulled her into an embrace, keeping it light and easy. "Hey."

Her arms encircled me, holding on more firmly than normal.

Then came her totally unforeseen action.

She sniffed at my neck.

She actually buried her nose against my throat and breathed in deeply.

I went rigid.

"You smell like perfume," she whispered near my collar. "Several different kinds, actually."

My mind blanked out completely.

"Oh really?" I drew away, faking a chuckle. "You can smell that?"

Kimiko’s grin expanded. "I’m joking, sweetie. You always take things so seriously."

Yet her gaze held no hint of humor.

It examined my features with the identical fervor from when I was twelve and shattered her prized vase—the stare conveying she already grasped the facts and merely awaited my confession.

Luka rescued me by advancing, his smile stretching ear to ear.

"There’s my boy!" He enveloped me in a crushing bear hug that set my mending ribs howling. "Looking good! Strong! Like a proper Hunter!"

"Thanks, old man." I returned the hug, brushing off the ache. "You didn’t have to come all the way out here."

"Are you kidding? After what happened at Sector 7?" His face grew serious. "We needed to see you. Make sure you’re really okay."

Kimiko shifted toward Natalia, who remained statue-still as if before an execution line.

"Natalia." Kimiko’s tone turned utterly gentle. "Come here."

Natalia advanced, and Kimiko drew her into what seemed a truly affectionate embrace.

"I missed you." Kimiko kept her at arm’s length, studying her expression. "Are you eating enough? Sleeping? You look tired."

"I’m fine, Kimiko-san." Natalia’s courteous formality kicked in like protective plating. "Training has been intense, but I’m managing."

"I’m sure you are." Kimiko’s gaze flicked to Natalia’s neck for a brief instant.

Precisely where a new hickey hid under meticulously layered concealer.

My gut plummeted.

Yet Kimiko merely beamed and let go, pivoting back to me.

"Well? Are you going to invite us in, or do we stand on the porch all afternoon?"

"Right. Yeah. Come in." I moved out of the way, motioning to the entrance. "Welcome to Onyx House. Try not to judge us based on the smell."

"What smell?" Luka inhaled deeply. "Smells like...cookies?"

"Emi’s baking."

"Emi?" Kimiko’s expression brightened. "The sweet girl with the blue hair who came over for dinner that time? She’s here?"

"She’s in the kitchen." I guided them within. "Probably destroying the recipe as we speak."

The common area had been tidied to a decent level. Furniture stood properly aligned. The floor lay free of clutter. Most weapons were stashed away.

Jaime lounged on the sofa, flipping through a fitness magazine, dressed for a change.

Marco and Malachi claimed the corner, locked in a silent chess match.

Juan had disappeared completely, likely napping someplace.

Raphael positioned himself near the window, arms folded, appearing remarkably neat in fresh attire and groomed hair.

"This is nice." Luka inspected the area approvingly. "Homey. Lived-in. Not like those sterile Sentinel dorms."

"We try." I met Raphael’s glance, receiving his faint nod.

Kimiko ventured further inside, her heels tapping against the wooden floor.

She halted by the bookshelf, scrutinizing the images fastened to the wall.

Training team pictures. Spontaneous dinner snapshots. An especially fine shot of our group post-Arboretum clearance.

Her finger followed the border of a single photo.

Me and Natalia, positioned back-to-back with weapons poised. Smeared in grime yet beaming.

"You look happy here." Kimiko spoke softly. "Both of you."

"We are," Natalia murmured.

Kimiko spun around, her eyes raking the room once more with prior sharpness.

She regarded me.

Natalia positioned near my side.

The manner in which Natalia’s hand lingered close to mine, not fully making contact.

Then Emi exploded from the kitchen door, balancing a cookie tray, cheeks red from the oven's warmth.

"Kimiko-san!" She almost fumbled the tray in her thrill. "You came! I made cookies! They’re chocolate chip! Your favorite, right? Satori mentioned that once and I remembered and I really hope they’re good because I tried a new recipe and—"

"Emi." Kimiko’s smile turned genuine and inviting. "Breathe, sweetheart."

Emi gulped in breath, her antennae jiggling.

"Hi."

"Hi." Kimiko plucked a cookie from the tray and took a bite. "These are wonderful."

Emi’s whole face glowed as if connected to a power source.

"Really? You’re not just saying that?"

"I never lie about baked goods."

"That’s fair." Emi placed the tray down on the table. "Tea? Coffee? We’ve got both. Celeste brewed the tea. Super fancy stuff—the type that runs more than my whole weekly allowance."

"Tea sounds lovely."

Celeste stepped out from the kitchen, holding a full tea service. Silver teapot. Cups to match. All the trimmings.

She gave a slight bow, graceful and flawless.

"Mrs. Nakano. It’s an honor."

Kimiko blinked.

"You’re Celeste Vance."

"Yes, ma’am."

"Seraphina’s sister."

"Unfortunately." Celeste served the tea with utterly steady hands. "But I’m working hard not to blame myself for it."

Luka’s laugh echoed loudly across the room.

"I like her! She’s got humor!" He slapped my shoulder with force enough to jar my teeth. "Solid choice, son. President’s sister. Prime connections."

"We’re not—"

"Dating?" Akari popped up next to Celeste, tray in hand. "Nah, just Black Gate survivors who endured a week stuck in a deadly dimension. Totally platonic."

Kimiko’s gaze sharpened toward me.

I itched to throttle Akari right there.

"A week?" Kimiko placed her cup down. "The report mentioned seven hours."

"Time dilation." Celeste kept her tone even. "Days inside felt like mere hours outside. Classic Black Gate effect."

"I see." Kimiko glanced my way once more. "Just you two? All alone?"

"The Gate split us from the rest." I held my voice steady. "We made it through. We escaped. That’s the key point."

"Hm."

That one syllable hit heavier than any cross-examination.

Luka, god bless him, shifted the topic.

"So! Tournament’s almost here, yeah? Five weeks out?" He snatched three cookies in one grab. "Huge event. Sentinels have ruled for years. You reckon you can beat them?"

"We’ll claim victory." Raphael declared from the window. "They’ve gone soft. We haven’t."

"That’s the fire!" Luka jabbed a finger his way. "What’s your name, kid?"

"Raphael Vargas, sir."

"Vargas! Tough name! Powerful name!" Luka strode over, hand outstretched. "Luka Kuzmina. B-Rank, Aegis Prime. Braxton’s sung your praises."

Raphael gripped it, visibly taken aback. "You know Professor Miller?"

"Worked with him fifteen years. Pulled me from death twice. Finest Hunter I’ve teamed with, lazy gambler or not."

Skylar appeared in the doorway, now dressed in something close to normal society gear. Faded jeans clung to her curves, matched with a baggy hoodie that somehow accentuated her shape. Her vivid indigo hair sat in a loose ponytail, pink highlights lending an oddly pure vibe.

The look stunned—a tamed take on our wild card.

"That checks out," she quipped flatly, scanning the room’s vibes with her signature cool detachment.

"And you?" Kimiko’s voice held that mom-like interest veiling her judgment.

"Skylar Amane." She stayed rooted at the doorframe, like stepping in meant defeat. "I mostly hang back and observe folks botching their choices."

"She’s our scout," I cut in, grateful for her perfect timing. "And keeps us grounded."

Skylar plucked a cookie effortlessly, inspecting it like she did all things. "Got to have one." Her eyes met mine, dripping with sharp irony. "Our bold leader’s got the survival drive of a lemming."

Kimiko burst into laughter.

It rang true.

"I like your crew, Satori." She surveyed the room anew. "They feel...genuine."

"They are."

"Good." She sank onto the couch, Luka dropping beside her with an arm draped over her shoulders. "Spill on the tournament. What’ll it take to win?"

And with that, the strain shattered.

Luka fired off excited queries on team setup and tactics. Raphael and Jaime dove in, overlapping chatter on workouts and fight practice. Marco chimed in on unity and reliance.

Emi lingered close, passing cookies and tea like feeding folks was her ultimate expression of care.

Celeste perched opposite Kimiko, fielding Aspect queries with poise and accuracy.

Akari lounged on the floor, seeming uninterested yet absorbing it all.

Natalia came back at last, face impassive as she claimed the spot next to me.

Her hand slipped into mine beneath the table.

Squeezed firm.

I returned the squeeze.

Across the room, Kimiko spotted the motion.

Her gaze dropped to our clasped hands, then lifted back to my face.

I refused to release my grip.

Natalia held on too.

A subtle curve touched Kimiko’s lips.

She turned away then, shifting focus back to Luka’s tale of a Gate run that had spiraled out of control.

Yet I had caught it.

The acknowledgment.

The concession.

The caution.

My mother was aware.

She understood it all.

And she permitted it to pass.

For the moment.