Level Thirty Three - Validation

Kirigaya Household – December 24, 2025 – 7:30am

Kazuto had gathered his things and sighed. He had 4 days' worth of clothes packed, along with his phone and whatever things he would need for the trip. He glanced out the window at the grey sky, grabbing the scarf Akemi had given him at Golden Week before heading out the door, Suguha seeing him off. A couple of nights before, Akemi had called and asked him a favor. She asked him to go home with her to her grandparent's house. Near where her mother was buried. He'd agreed, but he wondered why she suddenly wanted to go. She never talked about it after that; just gave him a day and time and told him to meet her at the station. He got arrived to see her waiting with two tickets in hand already, Makoto carrying his own and Ayaori present as well.

"Hey." He said, trying to keep a smile on his face.

"Hey." She smiled back at him, taking his hand and hugging onto him. "… Sorry, I didn't mean to stop messaging you."

"It's fine, you had a lot on your mind." He said, letting her cousin and brother lead the way as he walked with her to their platform. "… Why the sudden invite?"

"I wanted to take you to meet Mama, is all." She smiled. "I promised her… that I'd introduce anyone I ever fell in love with." She added. "Granted I was a kid when I said it, I can't break a promise to her…" she added. Kazuto just nodded, staying close to her and trying not to bring up something that might bother her. Instead he just talked to her about the games and whatnot, since she hadn't logged back on since they cleared the quest to get into Willow Lake Pure's upper levels. She was attentive, but he could tell she was still thinking too much about a lot of stuff.

Aihara Compound – 11:30am

When they arrived, an old woman and what seemed like an attendant of some sort were waiting at the gate for them. "Baa-sama." Akemi bowed her head, Kazuto bowing his head a little as Makoto and Ayaori did the same.

"Akemi. Makoto. Ayaori. Welcome home." She said with a smile. "Come in. And bring your guest." She stated as she walked back inside the house, the young woman escorting her helping her inside.

"Akemi, Makoto. How are you both? I haven't seen either of you in such a long time." The woman next to Akemi's grandmother said cheerfully.

"Hiname-san. We've both been well." Akemi said.

"Oh hush, no calling your cousin so formally." She pouted.

"You're our aunty though…" Makoto said, earning a pout from the woman as well. "… It's true… You're mom's youngest sister."

"But that doesn't mean you have to use the honorifics…" she slumped a little, the elderly woman laughing as they walked down the halls.

"Now now, Hiname." The woman stated. "You know these two haven't called his place home in many years. It is unfamiliar to them, is all. Let them reacquaint themselves." She stated, stopping at a door. "Come in here, Akemi. And bring your guest. Ayaori, you remember where the rooms are."

"Yes, Baa-sama." He bowed his head and lead Makoto to the rooms, taking Akemi's and Kazuto's bags before Akemi lead Kazuto into the room where her grandmother was taking a seat.

"So, Akemi." The woman said as Hiname left them to go prepare tea. "This is your boyfriend?"

"Y-yes, Baa-sama." She stated.

"My name is Kazuto Kirigaya. It's very nice to meet you." He stated.

"Haha, good good. Akemi's father and my oldest son both recommend you highly as being good for my only granddaughter." The woman said, Akemi's eyes going wide.

"You… spoke to father about this?" she asked.

"Yes, in fact he's the one who told me that he's never seen you happier." She stated. "You know he's just looking out for you, dear. He always has been."

"… Yes." She replied, bowing her head again.

"Now that bothersome brat Tamaki on the other hand has caused you some trouble. I have had that handled though." She stated. "When Nanami heard that he'd gone to drag you kids back into the fray, she immediately chewed him out and tossed him out of the main gate." She laughed.

"Nanami-san did that…?" Kazuto just listened as Akemi and her grandmother talked, not quite getting everything but he understood the gist of it. Akemi's family was large and complicated, and with that came a lot of power struggles. After a bit longer, the old woman turned her attention back on Kazuto.

"So, Kirigaya-kun." She stated. "I do hope that you take good care of Akemi. And make sure to get me some great grandsons soon, I only have one great granddaughter so far, from Akemi's oldest cousin."

"E-eh?!" both Akemi and Kazuto exclaimed, the old woman laughing at their reactions.

"No rush. But don't hold back too long either."

"B-baa-sama he's only 17!" Akemi stated, her grandmother laughing.

"I know." She smiled. "So take your time. When you're both ready, then consider it. Just don't make me wait another decade and a half, alright?" she laughed again, Akemi's face bright red.

Akemi's Room - 8:30pm

Dinner was done and everyone was doing their own thing before bed. Akemi sat with Kazuto, still recovering from the onslaught of questions from the rest of the family, though it was all in good spirit. No one was rude or anything like that, it was just a lot of questions at one time to process. "Sorry about all that…" she stated, smiling.

"It's okay." He replied, leaning his head against her shoulder. "… So when are we gonna visit your mom's grave?" he asked, taking her hand as he felt her tense up a little.

"… Day after tomorrow." She stated. "Tomorrow you and I are going to go on a date, and spend Christmas together." She added.

"… You really gonna be up to that?" he asked. "You've been kinda distant for a while…"

"… I promise." She said, leaning over and pecking his cheek. "I always get like this around Christmas… Mama went into a downward spiral the year she passed. It started at the beginning of December with what everyone said was just a cold… it not the happiest month of the year for me…" she stated. "A supposedly happy time of year… leading up to a new year…"

"… It must have been hard for you."

"… Yeah." They sat there for a while before Kazuto made her lay down on the futon. "What is it…?"

"Go to sleep. If you wanna go on a date tomorrow you gotta have some energy." He pet her head.

"Hehe, but I wanna stay up with you." She said, clinging to his hand. He sighed as she scooted over in the futon to make space for him, laying down next to her and checking his phone as she began to doze off. "Thank you." She whispered, curling up and falling asleep within the hour. Kazuto just glanced down at her and pulled the blanket up over her shoulder before putting his phone down, smiling a little as she buried her face in the pillow.

"So much for staying up, Akemi." He whispered, petting her head a little before laying down to get some sleep. But he knew what was really on her mind. There was no way this was just because of her mother. Makoto had mentioned that she was worried about their relationship falling apart if she stopped playing games. Kazuto stared up at the ceiling as the moon came out from behind the clouds and illuminated the room a bit, turning to look at Akemi. "Next time, tell me." He said, turning onto his side to stare at her, ending up falling asleep there after a short while longer.

Christmas Morning, Aihara Compound – 6:30am

Kazuto and Akemi awoke to someone opening the door, Makoto standing there with his face behind the screen. "Ake-nee, if you're awake, Granny wants a word before you go out today." He stated before heading down the hall to the kitchen where breakfast was being made.

"Granny does…?" Akemi asked, slightly groggy still. She rubbed her eyes and sat up, Kazuto yawning a little. "Go back to sleep, I'll be back." She pet his head, standing up and going to grab a sweater before heading out the door to go talk to her grandmother. Kazuto rolled around in bed for a bit before getting up to go eat, since he could hear one of Akemi's relatives calling for everyone to come eat as they walked down the hall. He opened the door and saw Ayaori walking down to the kitchen, so he followed.

"You and Akemi are going out today?" the blackette asked, pushing up his thick frame glasses.

"… Yeah." Kazuto nodded.

"Good. She needs to get away from all the tension in this house." He sighed, taking a seat at the table next to Makoto, Kazuto sitting on the opposite side of Akemi's younger brother. "Make sure she eats, too. Makoto said she hasn't been eating much at home."

"Got it." He nodded as he glanced around, seeing the rest of Akemi's family coming to eat. Akemi arrived soon after, escorting her grandmother to her seat before taking her place next to Kazuto. "Hey." He offered his hand, the girl accepting and smiling a little at him. "You alright?"

"Yeah. Granny just wanted to make arrangements before we go to see Mama tomorrow." She stated. "My grandfather is going to join us as well."

"Grandfather is?" Makoto asked. "I thought he was away on business?"

"He's coming home tonight… he wants to see us since we haven't been home in a long time." Akemi stated. "He flies back out tomorrow evening though."

"Ah… so he's not gonna leave much time to even talk about what happened, is he?" Ayaori asked.

"Not really, but I know he won't have an outburst in front of Mama so I might ask him when we're at the grave." Akemi stated, sighing and squeezing Kazuto's hand. "… If only to have him think about amending his relationship to father after everything…"

"You're really gonna ask about that?" Hiname asked, tilting her head.

"I have to, Hiname…" Akemi stated. "If father and I could learn to eat at the same table again… then so can father and grandfather." She stated simply. "I don't care how damn stubborn or prideful they are… Mama would have hated seeing them like this, even so many years later." She added.

"Waah, Akemi you mended things with your dad?" one of her cousins asked, surprised. "No way! You were so mad at him last I heard!"

"Don't be nosy." Their grandmother stated, smiling. "Akemi's forgiveness of her father just means that she's learning to be an adult."

"Eeeh… Ake's still a cry baby tho." Another cousin stated, earning a glare from the girl.

"You wanna fight and find out?"

"No way, no way!" he exclaimed. "I don't wanna get my head handed to me!"

"Then stop calling Nee-san a crybaby." Makoto stated as he sipped at his juice. "Or she'll beat you up."

"Man, you're scary now, Akemi~"

"Kazuto-kun, how'd you end up with such a scary woman?" As the morning meal went on, the relatives all seemed to want more info on the relationship between these two, but Akemi stopped them before they got too into details, changing the subject to help avoid any awkward situations. Ayaori and Makoto also helped her out, seeing as their relatives were all a little too curious.

Aihara Compound Gate - 7:05pm

That evening as Akemi and Kazuto returned from their date, an old man stood waiting. Akemi's eyes went wide and she bowed her head to the man upon coming in range. "Grandfather."

"… This is the boy?" he asked, looking at Kazuto with a glare.

"Yes, this is Kazuto Kirigaya." Akemi replied softly.

"… I heard from your grandmother what happened." He told Akemi, but still glaring at Kazuto. "He's too young for you, Akemi." He added. "How do you expect him to be able to care for you? He's still a child." He had this incredible air of power about his person, his presence commanded attention.

"… That will not change my mind." She stated. "We went through hell and came back from it together, Grandfather. He fought for me and I have done the same for him." She added. "So please don't belittle him." The old man said nothing as she lead Kazuto into the compound again, his glare not leaving his face. Kazuto didn't get it until Akemi explained. "You might remind him of father… because you have stolen the heart of the young woman he watches over…" she stated simply. "He is wary of young men who seek to be a part of being part of the lives of the Aihara family's daughters."

"… But you stood up to him." Kazuto reminded her.

"Of course I did…" she hugged onto him once they were alone in her room. "My mother told me as a child to never let someone tell you what's right for you when you're in love." She stated. "That love is something no one can control…" she nuzzled against him. "And that no one can tell you who matters to you."

December 26th, 2025 – 9:10am

When Akemi and Kazuto woke up, the sky was clear and the rain had passed. Akemi's grandmother stayed in her room today, but the old man that was her grandfather joined Makoto and Ayaori out front as they waited for Akemi and Kazuto before heading up to the grave site. Kazuto looked around as they made their way up a stone staircase in the hillside. "Where are we…?" he asked softly.

"This is the Aihara compound's cemetary…" Akemi replied. "As a family, the Aihara have used this space to bury our dead for almost a century now… maybe longer…" she added. "Grandfather used to tell us ghost stories to keep us from coming here at night."

"I see…" he nodded as they made it up to the top, Kazuto's eyes widening at the large tree that sat at the top of the hill overlooking the compound. It was massive. They walked past the tree and over to where the graves were, Akemi walking the path like she'd done it a million times out in front of her grandfather, brother, and cousin. She kept a hold of Kazuto's hand until she paused. Kazuto followed her line of sight, seeing a marker with what looked like white lilies carved on the corner. Akemi walked up to the grave marker and stopped, bowing her head to the stone marker before she knelt next to it as Makoto and Ayaori caught up.

"… Mama… I'm sorry I haven't visited in so long…" she said in a whisper. "I brought Makoto… and Ayaori too…" she smiled. "And I brought someone else too." She turned to the boys standing behind her, motioning for Kazuto to kneel with her. When he did, Akemi took his hand. "Mama… this is Kazuto Kirigaya…"

"Ake-nee's boyfriend." Makoto stated. "He's my age, Mama." Kazuto glanced back at the boy. Makoto shook his head at Kazuto, the boy nodding and looking back at Akemi, then the grave marker. The boys had said that Akemi could and would sit for hours talking to her mother's grave. It was like she was actually sitting right there, Akemi paused just long enough for the silent response and then spoke again. Kazuto sat and listened, and Akemi was smiling the whole time.

"So this is your mother's grave?" he asked, staring at it for a while.

"Yeah… she likes company." She replied. "I haven't been here since before the incident in Ryuuko…"

"That long, huh?" he asked. "Well whoever has been caring for the site does a good job. It's polished and everything."

"That would be the old man's job." Ayaori stated. "… He hates it when his family goes before him…" he glanced around, noting the old man tending to another relative's grave by cleaning up the wilting flowers. "The Aihara compound buries it's children here…"

"When Mama died…" Makoto took a breath. "When she died, Grandfather was really mad at our father… they had gotten into an argument because Ake-nee and I were always away from the compound. He said that father took Mama away from the family…" he stopped for a moment before continuing. "He really hated father…"

"But Granny talked him down from it." Akemi stated as she placed the white blooming flowers in the vase. "But unfortunately by the time they realized it, they'd been closed off from us. Father had us move into the city, away from the home we grew up in… and never left a forwarding address except for work… it wasn't until 3 years later that they figured out where we were, but by then many of the faces were strangers to Makoto and myself… It wasn't until I had a huge falling out with my father that I even considered talking to anyone from the compound again…"

"You reached out because you needed the support." Their grandfather stated as he walked over, that air of power even more obvious now than it had been the night before. "That man had no idea how to raise a family without my daughter."

"… Grandfather… don't talk ill of him in front of Mama, please." Akemi stated. "She'd be sad if she heard you say that… about the man she loved." That stopped him in his tracks, causing him to stare at her from where he stood. "Mama loved father more than anything… and you know that… its why you have Makoto and myself around now." She turned to him. "She used to tell me you were so proud…" she felt tears stinging her eyes. "To have your first daughter have a granddaughter…" she felt the tears run down her cheeks. "To have someone who could share in that feeling of having a little girl… so why do you have to talk badly of him now?" she asked.

"A-akemi…" Kazuto felt her trembling, gripping her hand to try and soothe her.

"… You sound just like your mother…" the old man mumbled. "She got upset when I told her your father was in no way good enough for her… But she wouldn't hear any of it… she still ran off and married him…" he sighed. "You both defend what you care for… the people, the ideals, everything is the same." He stated, walking over to his daughter's grave and placing a hand on it.

"… Grandfather…?"

"Go back to the compound." He stated commandingly, Akemi nodding and wiping her tears before she walked back towards the compound. As the children walked back, the old man looked to the sky, sighing. "She's just like you… You raised her well, Misako… I have a reason to be proud again." he mumbled, a single tear leaving his eye as he stood there. "She follows her heart, no matter what anyone else tells her… I promise, I'll be there to watch over her." He added. "No matter what choice she makes."

Once back at the compound, Akemi looked over at the courtyard, seeing a familiar face and glaring a little. "Nee-san?" Makoto asked, wondering who she was glaring at. When he looked up along with Ayaori and Kazuto, he realized it was a relative that had made Akemi very angry recently, Tamaki. "… Hey sis?"

"Yeah Makoto?"

"Are you really going to talk to Uncle Tamaki?"

"… Yes."

"Why?"

"I have to give Uncle Tamaki a piece of my mind for that stunt he pulled." She smiled. "It's not like I'm gonna do anything harmful."

"… Sis you scare me."

"Haha, well I wouldn't be much of a big sister if I didn't scare you a little." She ruffled his hair. "Go with Aya and play video games for a bit, ne?" she smiled. Makoto nodded a little reluctantly, Kazuto joining the other two boys as they walked off, having been shooed by Akemi. Makoto and Kazuto both glanced back at Akemi as she walked over to where Tamaki was.

"Oi, she said leave it." Ayaori told them both. "She knows how to handle herself."

"… Right." Makoto nodded, heading into the room where the gaming tv was set up, Kazuto following a moment later. They sat down and began to set up the game, spending about an hour playing when they heard something crash. Aya got up to open the door, looking out and seeing Akemi sitting calmly as Tamaki stormed off, a smile on her face. "What happened?" Makoto asked.

"… I remember why Granny likes Ake-nee so much." He stated. "She's crazy good at pissing off the relatives granny doesn't like."

"Ah. Yeah, Granny says that a lot." Makoto nodded, turning back to the game as Kazuto watched Aya close the door. "She'll be in to join us in a few minutes. Let's finish this match"

"Ah, right." Kazuto nodded, picking up his controller again. They finished their match just as Akemi walked in, the girl sitting down and leaning her head on Kazuto's shoulder. "You okay?"

"I will be." She said softly. "I might get yelled at later for causing unrest in the house, but that's fine…" she added, smiling as she perched her chin on Kazuto's shoulder. "So, what game are you guys playing?"

December 27, 2025 – 9am

The following day, Akemi and the others left the Aihara compound to head back home. "Kiku and Riku must have been driving aunty crazy while we were gone." Akemi said with a small smile, having received an invitation to dinner with Ayaori's family.

"They're getting older, of course they're driving her crazy." Ayaori stated, adjusting his glasses. "She never had to handle two kids at that age at the same time."

"Mm, but she did a good job of raising you. And she helped out so much with Makoto." Akemi smiled. "But I think she needs a break." She nodded her head. She then turned to Kazuto. "So tonight is probably the last time I'll see you till after New Years." She stated.

"We'll be fine, I think." He said, taking her hand. "After all, it's not like we're too far away."

"Hehe, maybe not for you." She chuckled, Makoto glancing away and Ayaori pretending to sleep as she leaned over and pecked his cheek. "Call me sometime. I'll do my best to answer."

"Of course." He returned the gesture. "So long as you promise that you come online every now and again." they both smiled before continuing their earlier conversation. There was a strangely serene peace about the whole situation. Akemi watched her brother, cousin, and boyfriend all begin talking about games, smiling a little. It was nice. She didn't feel a need to prove anything to anyone; she didn't feel responsible for her relationship to Kazuto like she had been. She didn't feel like she had to show people that she had made the right decision anymore.

'Is this how you felt when you chose father, Mama?' she thought as she stared out the window at the passing scenery. "… It must be." She mumbled, Kazuto glancing over at her but remaining in the conversation with the other two, glad that she seemed to be much calmer now than she had been. He just continued to hold her hand, every so often feeling her tighten her grip a little and then loosen it again. She eventually came back into the conversation, the four of them continuing the conversation until they arrived at Ayaori's house. They were greeted by the twins rushing over and grabbing onto Ayaori's legs, then onto Akemi's, both smiling and greeting them. "Ne." Akemi said to Kazuto as the twins got off and ran to the tv to get Makoto to play games with them and their brother.

"Hm?"

"If we're still together in a few years, maybe we can consider having kids."

"… Yeah." They looked at one another, smiling with blush tinting their cheeks. Even if only as a passing thought, it was something to look forward to.

(Here it is, the final chapter! Please look forward to the epilogue that will be out within the week~

-Winter Cheshire)