My Scumbag System Chapter 451: Crystal Clear

The tension finally shattered.

Luka began probing into detailed training routines. Natalia replied with calm assurance. Emi passed around extra cookies. Akari landed a joke that truly connected. Even Skylar chimed into the discussion, free of her typical bite.

Afternoon dragged on into evening.

Kimiko inquired about our classes, the professors, how we handled meals, rest, and tension. Ordinary motherly probes that somehow brimmed with unspoken weight I couldn't fully decipher.

She questioned Emi on her healing Aspect, curiosity shining through.

She praised Celeste's mastery of the tea ceremony.

Skylar opened up about music at her prompting, and I witnessed Mom dismantle the punk girl's walls like she'd authored the guidebook.

Akari even abandoned her facade, sharing about her sister, the weight of family demands, the crush of expectations.

It was surgical.

Exact.

By sunset's approach, Kimiko had uncovered all she required, none the wiser that they'd undergone a subtle inquisition.

"We should get going," she announced at last. "It’s getting late."

"Already?" Luka sounded let down. "We just got here."

"It’s been six hours," Natalia pointed out.

"Time flies." Kimiko rose. "Thank you for having us. For letting us see where you’re living, who you’re living with."

She embraced Emi first.

"Take care of him," she murmured, though I caught it.

Emi nodded solemnly.

Next, Kimiko approached Skylar.

"Keep him honest."

"That’s the plan."

To Akari: "Don’t let him get too comfortable."

Akari flashed a grin. "Never."

To Celeste: "You’re exactly what he needs. Even if he doesn’t know it yet."

Celeste's face turned a soft pink.

Finally, Kimiko faced Natalia.

Their eyes met.

My mother and my... whatever Natalia meant to me.

"You love him," Kimiko stated.

Not a query.

Natalia raised her chin. "Yes."

"Good." Kimiko placed a hand on Natalia's shoulder. "Because he needs someone who won’t let him run. Someone who’ll chase him down and drag him back when he tries to sacrifice himself being heroic and stupid."

"I don’t run," I objected.

"You took a death beam for your healer," Natalia countered without glancing my way. "You threw yourself at a fire elemental to protect Celeste. You charged the Arborist with a baseball bat."

"Tactical decisions."

"Suicidal impulses."

"Potato, potato."

Kimiko chuckled once more.

She stepped to me and drew me into an embrace.

A genuine one.

Not the courteous sort from before.

She squeezed hard enough to make my ribs protest.

"I’m proud of you," she breathed into my shoulder. "Of who you’ve become. Of what you’re building here."

My throat tightened.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." She drew away, eyes glistening. "Your father would be proud too."

It struck deeper than anticipated.

"Thanks, Mom."

She pressed a kiss to my forehead.

Then she drew nearer, voice hushed for my ears alone.

"But if you hurt any of these girls," her tone softened yet turned far more menacing, "if you take advantage of their feelings just because you can, if you become the kind of person who uses people like tools and throws them away the moment they stop being convenient—"

Her fingers clenched slightly on my shoulder.

The hold stayed painless.

Not even remotely.

Yet solid.

Unshakable.

A steadfast warning that she remained present, observant, eternally vigilant.

A tangible cue that no height I reached, no power I gained, would place me out of her grasp.

Out of her reckoning.

"—then you’ll answer to me. And I promise you, Satori, whatever nightmares lurk in those Gates you’ve been diving into, whatever beasts you’ve confronted in the shadows below, they will all seem downright tame compared to what I will do to you."

She smiled then.

That identical warm, glowing, perfectly motherly smile for countless scrapes and poor grades.

As cozy as summer rays.

And utterly, bone-deep terrifying.

"Understood, sweetie?"

"Crystal clear."

"Good boy."

She let go and faced Luka.

"Ready, honey?"

"Yeah, yeah." He got up, munching a cookie. "Thanks for lunch! Or dinner! Or whatever meal this was!"

Emi glowed. "Come back anytime!"

We escorted them outside.

The vehicle waited in the drive, glossy black, VHC-provided.

Luka hopped into the passenger seat as Kimiko paused at the door.

She gazed at the house.

At the flaking paint and askew shutters.

At the glow pouring from windows.

At my teammates' outlines through the panes.

"You found a family," she murmured.

"I guess I did."

"Don’t lose them."

"Working on it."

She climbed into the vehicle.

Their taillights vanished as they sped off along the wooded trail.

I lingered there until they were completely out of sight.

"That went better than expected," Natalia remarked from behind me.

I spun around.

She lingered on the porch with arms folded, face showing no emotion.

"She knows," I stated.

"Of course she knows. Your mother’s not stupid."

"And she didn’t—"

"Burn the house down?" Natalia’s lips quirked. "No. She just threatened you with maternal violence and left. Classic Kimiko."

"Classic," I echoed.

We headed back into the house.

The common room stood empty now.

Emi busied herself cleaning the kitchen.

Skylar had vanished into her room.

Celeste occupied the armchair near the window, gazing at the darkening woods.

Akari lounged across the couch, flicking through her phone.

"Your mom’s trending," she declared.

"What?"

"Someone filmed her arriving. Posted it on HunterNet. The comments are going wild." Akari flipped the screen toward me. "They’re calling her a MILF."

"I’m going to bed," I said.

"It’s seven thirty."

"And I’m exhausted."

I climbed the stairs.

From behind, Natalia called, "I’ll be up in ten minutes. Don’t fall asleep."

"No promises."

I arrived at my room and pushed open the door.

Maki perched on my bed in human form, dressed in my shirt alone, her dual tails swaying behind.

"Your mom’s hot," she chirped brightly.

"Transform."

"But—"

"Now."

She pouted yet obeyed.

The black cat curled up on my pillow.

I flopped onto the bed next to her, eyes locked on the ceiling.

Five Rank Ten bonds.

One chaotic familiar.

Two concerned parents who knew more than they let on.

And a tournament in five weeks where every guild on the island would target us fiercely.

The System chimed.

A notification popped up.

[New Quest Available: The Tournament Arc]

I dismissed it without a glance.

Tomorrow.

I’d handle tomorrow when it came.

Tonight, all I craved was sleep.

The cat’s purring echoed through the room.

Warm.

Steady.

Weirdly comforting.

My door swung open.

Natalia slipped in, locking it securely.

She glanced at the cat.

Then at me.

"Move over."

I shifted aside.

She slid into bed, nestling against my side with her head on my shoulder.

"Your mom likes me," she murmured.

"She threatened to kill me if I hurt you."

"I know. I heard."

"You weren’t supposed to hear that."