Chapter 23 - Back to Slice-of-Life

speech:"like this"

though:'like this'

telepathy:<like this>

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Smaller chapter today, I will be slowing down the story for the next chapters to give you guys more character interactions to try an flesh them out.

I hope you guys are all having a great day.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

////////MC POV///////

A few days passed after the battle against Takaya, I already moved the Shuei Clan to deal with the fact that he will be missing from his post, with the access I have to his hideouts and his house I implanted evidence that he was running from something.

It was not that hard as he did have shade dealings, so I just left it in a way that the investigators could find out, after all, if I left it the way I found it, protected by his magic and advanced technology, they would be none the wiser.

I also manage to find something like his grimoire, the functions more like a journal of his discoveries rather than a magic book. I am slowly trying to translate as he made up a language for safety.

What did speed up the process was the section about the medallion, since he was so organized while writing it he always has, what it looks like, a paragraph describing the artifact he is documenting.

And since I have said artifact in my hands I am able to match a few words that, logically, would make sense. Thanks to that I did discover how to stop de medallion without using my runes.

Moofle is still investigating on his end, managing to find a few rumors but nothing concrete as of yet. Latifa was thankful and gave me free tickets to enjoy the park, I promised that I would go later with my family.

Hana and the Kanakuras will be out of the hospital in a few days so we will have a commemoration party soon, but until then, I just have to enjoy my normal day, unless something that needs my attention comes up.

I'm also talking with Scatach to advance my training with runes, and oh boy, she teased the hell out of me. I guess, that's what I get for not giving it full attention when I could.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

////3RD POV////

It was a normal day like any other in the Yuuki residence.

Cad:"AAAARRRRGGGGG."

Yes, the scream of frustration is part of the normal day in this residence.

Mikan:"Oni-chan, fighto."

Mikan cheered with a determined gaze.

Rito:"Yes, you can do it."

Rito tried to reassure his older brother.

Carla:"You are joking right?"

Carla was looking incredulous at the man, now in child form, who she fell in love with and always exude confidence was letting scream of anguish because of something like this.

Ivy:"Nope"

Replied Ivy amused, she really enjoyed watching him.

Carla:"What doesn't he use his superior reflexes?"

She inquired, trying to understand the situation.

Ivy:"It would defeat the purpose of it."

Replied with a shrug.

Carla:"But isn't he getting frustrated because of it."

Still not convinced she inquired further.

Ivy:"Oh no, he is frustrated with himself, even without his superhuman physical capabilities, he could do it easily, but well…"

She stopped herself from finishing, just pointing her hand at the whole ordeal.

Carla:"He can't stop himself from dancing can he?"

She said, no longer containing the smile on her face.

Ivy:"*giggle* Nope."

If one were to ask Cadmus who was his worst enemy, without any doubt he would answer, "DJ MAX Respect". The last entry in a long-standing rhythm game franchise.

He was pretty eclectic about what kind of entertainment he liked, he would play, read, watch, and listen to almost any kind of genre there is.

Of course, some he liked more than others, but that was why his cellphone had more the 6k songs and his Steam library had over 2k games. Not to mention his actual library.

Right now, like any other Saturday, he was trying to beat his overall score in one of his favorite songs from the game 'Jealousy by 3rd Coast' and was getting frustrated because there would be always one or two notes that he would fail to hit at the perfect timing.

Funnily enough, the reason why he was missing these notes was, no matter how serious and focused he was at the start of the song, he would always move his body to the beat, losing his timing, at the end.

Carla was here because she wanted to get to know and spend more time with him, so she came to ask if they could go on a date in his adult form, only to come across all of this. To be honest, she liked it.

How even if he is way more mature he wasn't ashamed to let his childish side out and play with his younger siblings, and even though he isn't being too serious about his frustration he would still shout to amuse the ones watching him.

It was all in the name of good fun, and he had no shame in taking his turn as a clown.

She also liked how, he wasn't ashamed of his flaws, easily accepting them and trying to improve. She knows how many people like to deflect, make an excuse, or push the blame into others she was I criminal attorney after all.

While she was lost in thought, Cadmus missed his 100% for the 15th time in a row and just ALT + F4 the game.

Carla:"Giving up?"

She asked amused.

Cad:"Yep, for today, there's no need to keep stressing about it so I will just take a time off and try again tomorrow."

He answered while dropping his shoulders in defeat.

Cad:"So, what do you need? Not that I'm not glad to see you, but it looked like you wanted to talk to me when you arrived."

To his question, Carla, gets a little nervous, looking at everyone else in the room who were watching them. She didn't want to say it in front of his younger siblings or Ivy, even if she was already aware of what she was going to say.

Carla:"...Can we talk in private?"

She asked in hopes of coming out of the situation, not being helped by Ivy who was trying not to laugh of how nervous and embarrassed Carla was.

Cad:"Ok, I will make something for us to eat, Mikan, Rito, get ready, we will go and meet Mea-chan and Shouko-chan, today."

Rito:"Ok, niichan."

Mikan:"Hwai~~"

Rito responds as usual while Mikan raises her two hands doing a yatta pose, and both run off to their rooms.

They move to the kitchen as Ivy stayed in the living room with her knees on the couch as she was looking at Carla with her hand, with the elbow perked on the back of the couch, holding her chin while she smile at her.

Cadmus starts to make simple sandwiches in the sandwich maker, with butter, cheddar cheese, and Canadian bacon. Taking as a cue Carla started talking.

She takes a few deep breaths to calm her beating heart.

Carla:"So, Cadmus, do you remember when I asked you to show me your adult form?"

Taking a more roundabout approach as she was scared of being rejected, even if the chances are slim. She is not used to this after all, being a "pretty girl" it is the guy who has to have the courage to talk to her, not the other way around.

Cad:"You mean, when you enjoyed my lap pillow."

He replied with a teasing smile on his face, making her shudder in remembrance of her behavior.

Carla:"...Right, *inhale**exhale* I want to ask you out on a date!!"

Remembering who she was dealing with, and that, talking nonsense would just give him more weapons to keep teasing her, she took a last deep breath before just saying it, or more like shouting.

True, it wasn't a loud shout but it was enough to escape the kitchen and be heard in the closest rooms.

After asking she closed her eyes, not daring to look at him, her uneasiness got bigger when she heard him sigh.

Cad:"You know I don't want or even try to get more women in the harem right?"

He gets serious this time, as he doesn't like to unnecessarily play with other people's feelings, even more, if they mean something to him. Honesty is the best approach.

Carla:"...yes."

She answers while biting her lips in unease.

Cad:"I understand firsthand how you felt after your divorce, I don't deal with betrayal very well and it is something that appalls me, I'm with Ivy, Lisa, and Scatach because I know that I will be the only one in their lives, and I know how selfish this sounds."

She still didn't open her eyes as little tears were coming out of them.

Cad:"No matter who, I will not compromise on them, and the trust they put in me for the next woman that appears, I want you to understand that."

Even if it looks like he is playing around, these are things that he had to make clear before proceeding any further if he wants them to have a good relationship.

Carla:"I do."

She tightens the grip on her skirt.

Cad:"And that's why I will never do hookups, one-night-sands, or anything like that, from the moment I accepted their Harem plan any and all woman that I get more intimate than being a friend has to know that, once this starts, there will be no going back."

Carla:"I understand."

She relaxes a little when hearing that he accepted the harem plan.

Cad:"Are you prepared for that?"

With this last question, she already had composed herself, as it was clear that this was not a rejection, her heart now beats with anticipation. She opens her eyes to face him, certain of her decision.

Carla:"Yes, this is exactly what I want."

Cad:"Very well, you decide on the date and place, we don't need to make it official for now, if you don't want, and you can use any label for our relationship as you wish but from now on, you are mine, and nothing in existence will change that, got it?"

Carla:"Huh?"

She gets stunned about how quick it was, no fuss, no tests, was that it?

Cad:"What? you are the one who asked for a date, so it's your turn to be in charge of it, that's how things work in this family, that you are now part of, my wife~~."

He ask amused with her dumbfounded face, while teasing and taking on his adult form. Taking her by the waist in a loving embrace and sharing a light kiss with her.

*Smoch*

Carla:"Ah, no, I don't have a problem with that is just….wasn't this too easy?"

She asks a little scared if the question would have a negative effect.

Cad:"Hahahahaha, silly, we have known each other for so many years, we already have a great relationship, you already have harmony with one of my wives, and are willing to sacrifice exclusivity to be part of the crazy family, you accepted it all."

He heartily laughs at her inquiry and explains why it was so easy for her to get accepted.

Cad:"You already passed all tests that we could have for you, the only thing missing was, you taking the first step and advancing our relationship."

Carla:"Hey, wasn't this suppose to be your job."

She complains about it, she didn't like the feeling of being a nerve-wreck just to try to start a relationship with the guy she liked, is this how men feel like, poor things.

Cad:"*snort* Please, even if I have a harem, and you guys don't mind it would be very scummy of me to go skirt chasing so no, I will never be the one to take this first step."

He snorts at this, remembering that he wasn't the one who started a relationship with none of his wives, from Lisa, to Scatach they all took charge of getting into a more than friends relationship with him.

Carla:"...Does that mean, that even if you like me, and want me as your wife, if I didn't ask we wouldn't become a thing."

She frowns at the possibility of how easy she could have missed her chance

Cad:"Yes and No."

She tilts her head in confusion.

Cad:"Eventually I would lose my patience, call you an idiot for not doing it and let you think it over, so even if me telling you what you have to do to proceed you kept hesitating and were not willing to do it then yes, we would not become a thing."

He explains to her what would have happened, even if he would not go searching for new wives, he was not entirely against it.

He decided to not go actively find them in respect to the wives he already has, but he can't deny the effect of his charms even more after the titles and skills effects, and he knows firsthand what it feels like to deeply love someone and you can do nothing to be with them.

So this is him giving a chance, as long as they can accept it all and take the first step, they will be treated like any other wife, no matter how they would like to label their relationship.

Carla found it fair, although she accepted the harem part she could not deny that she would have liked to be exclusive. And taking from what he was willing to do for his wives, she expected to be way harder for her to be accepted.

So knowing that it wasn't that hard scared her a bit, but after being explained that it was way more than physical attraction and he would not be the one to start it, relaxed her.

Cad:"You should go now."

Breaking her thoughts he said to her.

Carla:"Why?"

She raises her eyebrow, what he said didn't bother her in the slightest, she knows how he is, and knowing that he already considered her his wife, he must have a good reason to say that to her.

Cad:"Although not loud, you shouted when inviting me for a date, it was definably heard in another room and my parents are at home, so….."

He didn't finish what he was saying, he didn't need to, he amused smile as she was getting redder and redder.

Carla:"That….I…We….urgh."

No intelligible sentence could form in her mouth so she just grunted in shame.

Cad:"Eloquently put my dear *chuckle*."

He teasing remark was met with a light glare, that he thought was more cute than anything with her red face and the little pout on her mouth. With a helpless smile, he took out a right from his pocket making her eyes widen.

She stood stunned and he took her hand and put it on her ring finger, the only thing she could do was keep watching her hand that now had a ring.

Cad:<We can talk like this now.>

Carla:"!!!!"

Carla:"Oh yeah, I forgot about it."

Lisa:<Oho, a new user joined the chat.>

Ivy:<And this time is a proper wife.>

Scatach:<Is she strong?>

The chat room kept buzzing with messages as Carla was panicking about what to do, she didn't have the higher processing power for multitasking that they had yet.

Cad:<Girls, you can talk with Carla later, right now, she has to run as I think my parents heard her shouting that she wanted to go out with me.>

Ivy:<Oh, that is an absolute certainty, they are waiting at the door of the kitchen for you guys to come out, by the way, Welcome to the family Aunt Carla.>

Lisa:<Oho, so he started with Ivy's family, are you going for her mom too and get the oyak—>

Cad, Ivy:<ABSOLUTLY NOT.>

Lisa:<Ok, ok, calm down, geez, anyway, welcome Carla, I'm Lisa, if you have any questions about how to handle him just ask me, I'm the older one in here.>

Scatach:<Yes welcome, I'm Scatach, and I will be preparing a training regiment for you, so be prepared.>

Carla:"Ah, uh, is this thing working, am I doing it right?>

Ivy:<Yes.>

Carla:<Oh, thank you guys, thank you for accepting me,I will be in your care.>

Lisa, Scatach:<Leave it to us.>

With the brief introduction and with the promise of talking more later, Carla now has to face the parents of her new husband, who just now she remembers that, even though he is older than her, currently he reincarnated and has an actual body of a nine-year-old.

Surpassing the incoming headache and ignoring the annoying smile he was giving her, which she still like somehow, they exited the door.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------