"Tatsuya-sama, where are you going?" Hyougo asked his master with a confused tone.
"Hm? I'm going to my room of course. I thought I'd just do some research today and then take a nap, since returning back to school at this time won't be wise." Tatsuya explained his reasoning, but what his butler said next was about to make him grunt.
"Excuse me, Tatsuya-sama, but all your research including the hardware has been shifted to your new residence. That includes your personal items and the CADs you were working on." Hyougo informed him of Maya's plans.
Tatsuya let out a sigh of frustration, "Fine, I guess commuting daily from here to school would be un-productive. So, where has Okaa-san bought this 'new place of residence for me'?"
"Tousho-sama didn't buy a new place. Tatsuya-sama is to be staying with Miya-sama and Miyuki-sama in their home until his high school tenure has ended."
"WHAT? This has to be a joke! Where is Okaa-san right now? I'll go talk to her." Tatsuya was equally raged and embarrassed.
"Unfortunately, Tousho-sama has gone away for an important meeting. I'm told she won't be back till next week."
"That woman-!" Openly cursing the most feared woman in the country, Tatsuya clenched his fist and leaned on the wall. "Fine, let's go...to Miyuki-san's house." He said this with as much of a serious face as he could muster. If Hyougo noticed his red cheeks, then he decided to remain quiet.
Forgetting the fact that he had saved his cousin from a very dire situation just hours ago, Shiba Tatsuya was in his car, devising a strategy on how to tackle this new mission.
Yes, he decided that living under the same roof as his fiancé was a mission given to him by his mother. The only merit that he attained was that now he'll be able to converse with Miya about today without having to travel far.
"Tatsuya-sama, we have arrived."
Not worrying about where Hyougo would spend the night, Tatsuya nonchalantly got out of the car and headed to the doorway.
The car drove off, several minutes passed, but Tatsuya had still not knocked or rang the bell.
'Shit! Stop being so nervous, just treat this as a mission.'
He steeled his nerves and finally pressed the bell. After a few seconds, Miyuki opened the door and her jaw fell to the ground.
"T-T-Tatsuya-san? Wha-What are you doing here?" Looks like she hadn't checked the camera before opening the door, likely Miya's work.
"Sorry to bother you at this late hour Miyuki-san, um...may I come in?" Tatsuya did his best to hide his embarrassment, but he wasn't sure he succeeded.
"Ah! Y-Yes, of course, please come in."
When the door closed behind Tatsuya, he got the chance to fully take in the marvelous sight of Miyuki in casual clothes. She was wearing a white sleeveless shirt and shorts that stopped above her thighs. Even after showing that much skin, Miyuki's attire didn't seem inappropriate, and would catch the attention of any teenage boy.
'...this is bad.'
Before Tatsuya's imagination could take him any further, Miyuki suddenly gasped and bowed deeply.
"Miyuki-san!? What happened? Please lift your head." A bewildered Tatsuya tried to make sense of the sight.
"Forgive my insolence earlier Tatsuya-san, I must offer you my gratitude and deepest apologies." Miyuki with still red cheeks spoke in a graceful manner.
"There is nothing to forgive, Miyuki-san. And gratitude and apology for what?"
"Thank you for saving Ayako-san this afternoon. And sorry that I couldn't come to your assistance. I read the message after you took your absence from the school, but I was instructed to remain where I was." Miyuki genuinely looked sorrowful.
"What are you talking about Miyuki-san? What I did was the obvious thing to do, and its not your fault. I was the one who dashed off like a hooligan..." Tatsuya tried to dispel the gloomy atmosphere at which Miyuki let out a giggle.
They were lost in each other's gaze when they heard a voice from inside.
"Miyuki, is it Tatsuya-san?" Shiba Miya's voice sounded tired and frail, yet it carried a subtle sense of authority.
"Yes, Okaa-sama! Tatsuya-san, sorry for making you stand here. Please, let us go greet mother."
Tatsuya said nothing and followed her to the living room, where Miya was sitting on the sofa sipping her tea.
"Welcome, Tatsuya-san. Did you have dinner yet?" Miya spoke like a carefree aunt, as if the current situation wasn't anything unusual. This brought some red flags for Miyuki. Looking at her expression, Miya explained to her, "Miyuki, Tatsuya-san will be living here from now on. The room next to yours has been fitted with his belongings and the basement has been transformed into a lab for him. Make sure you don't disturb his research."
As soon as Miyuki heard that, her face turned to a mixture of a tomato and a cherry. She slowly turned her eyes to Tatsuya, who was nervously smiling with his eyes closed. She turned back to Miya and glared at her. She was trying to intimidate her, but due to her blushing she only came off as cute.
"Its been a while since we met in person, Miya-sama." Ignoring Miyuki's severe condition, Tatsuya greeted Miya with a slight bow. "Unfortunately I have already eaten, but if you don't mind we can share a cup of coffee."
"I see. Miyuki, fill my cup with tea and brew some coffee for Tatsuya" Miya closed her eyes and went back to her original position.
Tatsuya tried convincing Miyuki that he should make his coffee himself, but she insisted to let her do it. After a while, she arrived with black coffee and the aroma instantly caught Tatsuya's attention. He was surprised that a first year high schooler could make this.
"Its amazing! Thank you, Miyuki-san." Tatsuya smiled gently at Miyuki, at which she blushed and started to remember that now they live together.
'Will I see this smile every day? But that's...too lethal!' Miyuki thought.
"I'm glad you like it, Tatsuya-san." She replied politely with a bow.
"You must be tired Miyuki, you can go to sleep now." Miya told her.
Miyuki wanted to point out that the one who's tired is Tatsuya, and that they should have their 'talk' tomorrow after he's rested. But her mother's tone left no room for a retort.
"Yes, Okaa-sama. Well then, good night, Tatsuya-san."
"Good night, Miyuki-san"
After Miyuki had taken her leave, the unlikely duo sat in silence for several silence. Both of them were waiting for something. When Tatsuya sensed that Miyuki had laid on her bed upstairs, he stood up and bowed deeply.
"My deepest apologies. The removal of pledge today took more of a toll on you than I expected." Tatsuya said in a sad tone.
"Apology accepted. So, how long do I have left?" Miya talked about her likely death with a blank face, one that would send flurries of horror in anyone except Tatsuya and his mother.
"I estimate around 2 months. 6 weeks until you get bedridden. If you like I could..." Tatsuya's expression was getting sadder by the second.
"No need. I've known its been coming. And Miyuki is no longer a child."
Tatsuya didn't say anything in response, he just sat back and started drinking his coffee in silence. Suddenly, Miya decided to break the ice.
"I want you to put your sight on Miyuki."
"...something tells me that the sight you want me to put on Miyuki-san is different than the one I put on you and Okaa-san, Miya-sama. But I figured you would request this, since she doesn't have a guardian." Tatsuya took a serious expression. At first his eyes were scolding Miya for suggesting such a thing, but now they had turned to a look of understanding.
"That's right. Her guardian is still in training. Regardless, I want you to put atleast 50% of your sight on her at all times." Now Miya was emitting a pressure that won't accept refusal.
But Tatsuya wasn't one to back down so easily.
"I refuse. That's basically the same as spying on her 24/7. You want me to do that to your own daughter?" Tatsuya eyes were piercing Miya's skull, but she didn't back down.
"It's not a request, its an order for me and Maya." Miya didn't even comment on the 'spying on her daughter' part.
"...shit." Upon hearing Maya's name, Tatsuya cursed and bit his tongue. He hated the fact that he had to obey every word the head spoke. "Fine, but I'll only do it if Miyuki-san herself agrees. And I'll also take that chance to explain my abilities to her."
"Good, now then, excuse me." Miya stood up and slowly walked to her room, dropping her weight on certain objects on the way.
Tatsuya knew exactly what the reason for this was. Her Mental Interference Magic's toll was simply too much.
(A/N: Again, I'm not gonna explain basic things)
3 years ago, Tatsuya had modified pledge to shut Miya's magic off. Separating her from psions had extended her life up until this point.
But it looked like she was close to her demise.
What made Tatsuya sad however, was the effect this would have on his future wife. That's why, he was grateful that they had finally been allowed to meet. If he could become an emotional pillar for Miyuki when the time comes...then he'd be content with it.
Tatsuya spread his elemental sight on the house to identify which room was his, and then he went to sleep in his new bed.
The morning when the young couple greeted each other, was an amusing sight for Miya, and seemed to lift the stress from last night off of her.
.
Note: Ngl I enjoy writing this.