84. Mother, No, It's Snake!

"I almost dirtied my hands!"

Hit on the buttocks? Sorry. It felt weird to him. In the end, Kotaro just gave a few smacks to Masao's palms with a stick, compromising to protect the innocence of his own hands.

The sudden rain and thunder that came out of nowhere had vanished. It felt like the thunder only came to tell Kotaro that Masao, that pervert, was lying to him.

Since the rain was over, Kotaro left Masao's place with a couple of bags in his hands—all the clothes for future entertainment. One could see the happiness on his face. And why wouldn't he be?

He had a beautiful, cute wife to wear all those clothes in his hands!

"I better get home as fast as I can."

His steps quickened, and he walked toward his new house, the Kenshin Mansion, eager to meet Mitsuri and woo her into wearing the outfits.

...

"I am back."

"Oh! Kotaro-sama, welcome back."

Was this the "welcome back" greeting he only saw in anime? Kotaro felt blissful. A hardworking man coming home to be greeted by his beautiful wife in an apron—what more could he want?

Though, he wasn't returning from hard work… Wait, or was he? Anyway, he felt blissful. Mitsuri stood there with her hair tied up in a bun on her head—a look he didn't often get to witness.

It was purely the housewife look. Vibes~

He did justice by getting a house.

Kotaro smiled contentedly, took off his wooden slippers, and was about to step inside when he froze. His eyes twitched as he noticed a head popping up behind Mitsuri.

The happiness… the bliss he felt from Mitsuri's welcome vanished.

"Kenshin-san, welcome back."

"Y-You… Obanai Iguro! What are you doing here?!"

Kotaro Kenshin is a jealous husband. Obanai Iguro… Instead of drinking hot water and crying over his heartbreak, what the hell was he doing here?

Well, considering that wonderful night with Mitsuri after Obanai Iguro's first visit had cleared many of his insecurities. But… he still didn't like this guy! No reason, he just didn't!

Was it his way of talking? That annoying snake that hissed all the time? Or those eyes? Kotaro didn't know, but Obanai Iguro's existence itself was an annoyance to him.

Was it because Kotaro still remembered that this was the guy who got Mitsuri in the original story?

"I heard that Kenshin-san and Mitsuri-san got a new house, so I came to help with the move."

Obanai Iguro spoke in his usual hoarse yet cool voice, and his snake hissed again, adding dramatic effect to his words. He came to help with the move. Since both Kotaro and Mitsuri were relocating to the new house and there was still a lot to settle, Iguro's help would undoubtedly ease the burden.

One had to admit, even after losing his love and suffering heartbreak, the guy was consistent in his efforts.

Not that he had returned to pursue Mitsuri. No! Obanai Iguro had realized something after his heartbreak. He understood that pursuing Mitsuri was an impossibility. She was living her best life with the one she loved.

His love was doomed. But wasn't this the same as always?

That's right! Kotaro's actions had made Obanai Iguro painfully aware that he always deemed himself unworthy of Mitsuri. Now, he knew it was certainly impossible. Before, there was a tiny hope—a chance that he might confess to Mitsuri someday and become her lover. But Kotaro's existence had extinguished that hope.

He couldn't confess or win her love, but that didn't mean his feelings were a failure, did it? All he had to do was continue as he had before: helping her and being a comrade she could rely on.

It was just like before.

Even if he couldn't become her lover, he could still be a trusted friend. Even if he didn't become the lover, he wanted to be something for the girl he loved. Obanai Iguro realized this was the path he should walk.

Moreover…

If this guy ever does anything to hurt Mitsuri…

Then, he would be there to lend his shoulder to her. Maybe, just maybe, he would get another chance, right? Even if Kotaro didn't do anything wrong, there was still the danger of his job. After all, being a demon slayer was high-risk.

Of course, Obanai didn't wish Kotaro any harm. As much as he disliked him, Kotaro was still a comrade fighting for the same cause. He also didn't want Mitsuri to suffer sadness. But…

He couldn't control fate, could he? By chance, he didn't wish it, but if Kotaro faced death in battle…

There was a glint in his heterochromatic eyes. The hope Kotaro thought he'd extinguished had reignited in unexpected ways.

If Kotaro could read Obanai's inner monologue, he would be stunned! This guy was just too resilient! He had crafted a multitude of scenarios to keep his love alive.

Still, Kotaro wasn't a mind reader. Oblivious to Obanai's thoughts, his attention was fixated on one thing - Obanai's words.

Mitsuri-san? When did he move to a first-name basis?!

Kotaro deduced that Mitsuri probably asked Obanai to call her that. Now that she had changed her surname, calling her by her previous name would be inconvenient. As much as Mitsuri loved being called by her old name, it wasn't practical anymore.

Kotaro's rational mind supplied him with this explanation. But he was a jealous husband, wasn't he?

"Kotaro-sama, Iguro-san—"

Before Mitsuri could finish her sentence, Kotaro dropped the bags in his hands. Under everyone's shocked gaze, he dashed forward as fast as he could and jumped, flying with his legs straight out, aiming to kick this snake bastard into oblivion right then and there!

"Obanai, you mother—no, you snak@#$^&*@#!"