The aroma of Yuriko's homemade katsudon wafted through the air, mingling with the aroma of freshly baked anpan bread. Touya's mouth watered as he took in the feast on offer: in addition to the katsudon and anpan, there was gyoza, tonkatsu, agedashi tofu, edamame bowls, and shredded cabbage.

Yuriko lovingly stroked Touya's hair as he rummaged through the food.

"Ara~, you've grown into a very handsome young man." She said with a smile. "I bet all the girls at your school had a crush on you. Don't you want to go back?"

Touya almost choked on a dumpling. "What, no way."

As if any girl would like a loner like him. Not to mention that he looked like an ugly duckling two years ago when he was still attending the Academy.

"My, don't be so modest." Yuriko said with a smirk. "With your tall, athletic figure, your kind personality, and your dreamy blue eyes, you sure have your own fan club."

"As if Touya even knows how to talk to a girl, let alone create his own fan club." Saya snorted. She bent to pick up a napkin and, not for the first time, Touya wished his sister wore less revealing blouses: her cleavage, which barely concealed her breasts, was distracting. Though he certainly wasn't complaining about the paradise's view.

"Hmph!"

As she stared at her brother, Saya frowned with disdain. Although she didn't notice the opposite sex, she must admit that Touya looked like he was straight out of a shōjo manga. Since his body had always been hidden under an oversized sweatshirt, his actual physique may have never really been seen.

'He really is my brother? I can't believe he's changed so much overnight!'

Yuriko brandished the chopsticks toward Saya as if they were a weapon.

"There, there, no need to be mean to your brother." She gave Touya a complicit smile; as always, she enjoyed teasing her two dear children. "Don't mind your sister. I'm sure girls secretly admire your left and right."

Touya shrugged as he drank from the juice's glass. His nonchalant reaction surprised his mother and Saya. They had expected that, as usual, Touya would burst out blushing after Yuriko's teasing.

"Mother?" He asked to change the subject. "Do we have a training ground for sparring practice?"

Yuriko paused tofu halfway to her mouth. "Sparring practice? For what?"

"I don't want to fall behind." Touya said earnestly. "I know you were very skilled when you worked as a stockbroker, and with crime on the rise these days, self-defense is important. Please teach me."

"..."

Yuriko's violet eyes sparkled with surprise as she watched her son devour another rice mouthful. Her gaze swept over Touya's face, his cheeks bulging with food like a squirrel.

"I'm impressed by your motivation, but such intense training is unnecessary for a teenager. Your bones and muscles are still developing. Focus on what you like; when you want to, there will be time for this. If you still feel like it, of course."

The garlic and onion aroma of katsudon filled Touya's senses, the taste of sticky rice and dashi still dancing on his tongue.

"I have a lot of free time. I also don't attend the Academy, so I can use that time to prepare."

'Power waits for no one. The sooner I start, the more of an advantage I'll have by the time the apocalypse comes.'

With a quick groan, Touya playfully pushed away Saya's indiscreet hand, which was stealthily trying to steal a piece of his tonkatsu. She let out an irritated snort and stuck her reddened finger in her mouth to soothe the pain.

Touya laughed at her annoyance and decided to tease her even more. He picked up a particularly crunchy tonkatsu strip with his chopsticks and held it tantalizingly close to her nose.

"Is your mouth watering, little Saya?"

Saya's eyes bore into the tasty meat, but she retained enough pride to turn her head away with a "Hmph!"

Touya's smile did nothing but widen. He brought the tonkatsu close to his sister's beautiful lips and pushed it against them, smearing her skin with the fatty juices. The smell penetrated her nostrils, and her traitorous stomach let out a loud desire growl.

"Come on, don't be shy." Touya laughed. "Open your mouth and say 'ahh~."

Against her better judgment, Saya parted her lips to retort, but Touya hurriedly shoved the tonkatsu into her mouth.

She let out a choked surprise's sound and looked at him heatedly as she chewed with exaggerated resentment.

Only when she had swallowed, did Saya regain her voice. She pointed an incriminating finger at Touya and shouted. "Why...? You can't put food in people's mouths, you unscrupulous rascal!"

Although she tried to look sternly angry, the lingering flush on her cheeks softened the effect. Touya smiled back at her without remorse, hugely amused at teasing his adorable little sister.

Saya babbled on for a while longer before realizing she was fighting a losing battle against her brother's silliness.

'What's wrong with him today? He looks so different from the previous days'. With a snarl in her mind, she got up from the table and headed for her room a miniature fury, her well-proportioned ass wiggling under her skirt in time with her footsteps.

Touya watched her leave with a fond smile, inwardly pleased that he had finally spoken normally to her without his shyness getting the better of him.

His mother shook her head in wry amusement at his antics. "Do you have to tease your sister so much?"

She asked Touya, though the laughter in the corner of her eye tempered any honest admonition in her words.

"But mother, teasing Saya is one of life's greatest pleasures. The faces she makes are so funny."

"But don't push her too hard." Warned his mother. "You know how fiery she is."

"I know, I know."

'She's a tsundere.' Added Touya in his mind.

His gaze drifted to his mother with unveiled curiosity and admiration.

Today she was a vision in a crimson dress accentuating her ample curves. Her long purple hair pulled back in a ponytail, cascaded down her back, and her eyes, of a matching amethyst hue, sparkled with wisdom and grace.

An air of mature beauty and composure enveloped her, filling Touya with pride, knowing that he alone had the privilege of witnessing this side of his mother.

To the rest of the world, she presented herself as the capable, strong-willed head of the family, but here, at home, she could relax her cautious posture and let her softer qualities surface. The way she smiled indulgently at him now, her eyes crinkling with joy, revealed the deep affection hidden behind her more distant, public mask.

"However, Touya..."

His mother ran her fingers over her lips as if hesitating to speak. However, her gaze shone with unperturbed curiosity. "This change in you is most intriguing. Not only your physical transformation, remarkable as it is, but also your mental metamorphosis. The son who refused to leave his room for days now seeks the hardest training and teases his sister as if he were not the shy boy he was before."

Yuriko cocked her head to one side, and a lock of lilac hair escaped her elaborate hairstyle to stroke her bare shoulder. "What has caused such alterations in your habits and nature?"

Touya shrugged and wiped a napkin across his lips.

"All things must change in due time. I have decided to reorient my life, for better or worse, and reshape my purpose. I admit that in the past, I was not the most exemplary or motivated son, but I hope to make amends in the future."

He closed his eyes, satisfied with his words. He only prayed that he would not arouse more suspicion than necessary.

Memories assaulted him vividly: the blinding cannon flash, deafening crack that made his whole body vibrate, sudden prick in his chest... And then the darkness, while his life slipped away.

At that moment he had been so fucking helpless that he could do nothing but accept his fate. But now? Now he had just the right opportunity in front: the chance to increase his abilities and power to supernatural levels. Would he really be such an asshole as to let it slip away?

Although he wasn't sure how far he could soar in this new life thanks to God's Grimoire, he craved strength the most. He no longer wanted to feel that helplessness of leaving his life and death in the other's hands. He wanted to take control; he wanted to be master of his destiny.

While strength was his primary goal, he also craved happiness. He sought a balance: to be powerful enough to protect those he loved and to enjoy life with them fully; that was his purpose in his new life. Everything else could go to hell.

Save the world? Nah, he was no hero. He would just make sure those nearby could feel safe.

'... I see. My motivation is really simple and selfish'.

He then opened his eyes again with renewed determination. "Mother, I ask you to train me. Help me to reach my potential and become stronger."

While he was undoubtedly strong, much stronger than his sister and mother could imagine thanks to the 'Ambrosia,' he did not possess a technique that harnessed that strength, so being trained under the tutelage of a former stockbroker focused on fighting to protect himself was the best possible action's course for the time being.

"If that's what you wish, I'll fulfill it. But you must be prepared for your bones and muscles to ache. Even if I'm your mother, I will not allow you to be lazy during your training."

"..."

Read up to 20 advance chapters in my P atreon

p /OlwinMoriarty