Majo Kon-ki The Marriage of Tanya the Witch
(The marriage chronicles of a witch)
Interlude 4
February 22, AD 2013, Tokyo, Japan.
"… I am aware of my deficiencies as a human." Ruminated a salaryman with a touch of self-deprecation. He was acutely conscious of the unsettling contortions within his personality and the possession of nearly every imaginable complex. Nevertheless, he wasn't ashamed; on the contrary, he took pride in himself, finding solace in the belief that he stood above the incompetent he had recently dismissed.
However, in his arrogance, he remained oblivious to his limited understanding of people. Only too late would he grasp this oversight, finding himself thrown in front of an approaching train as a petty act of retaliation by the same incompetent he had let go.
"I guess the kind of person who gets laid off, will prioritize an immediate emotional impulse over reason." This would be the last lesson this man would ever get in life… or would it?
Oddly, he sensed himself frozen in midair.
"What? What happened? What is this?"
"I am getting tired of this. Humans these days have no sense of right and wrong…" He heard a person in the crowd say.
"What are they-"
"Answer me! Are you alright?"
With a startle, the salaryman opened his eyes.
"What- where…?!" He felt disoriented; one moment, he was frozen in midair, on the brink of colliding with the oncoming train; and the next, he found himself lying on the rails, a strange woman calling him out.
"Sir?"
"What- ugh!" A strong pain came from his left arm.
"Please, don't move!" The woman said to him.
"I believe you broke your arm, we must see if you didn't hit your head or damaged your spine!" That said, the woman began to search his body for wounds.
"What… happened…?"
"You were attacked, pushed in the way of the train."
"Right… it was the man I fired today. How come I am still here?" At this question, the woman seemed to get upset.
"Because you were a cheating- I-I mean…" She cleared her throat.
"You were incredibly lucky. That man hated your guts so much he pushed you with all his strength, causing you to avoid the train and fall onto the empty rail track nearby."
"I see… ouch!" He winced as she poked his left arm.
"Everything is perfect! Except for a broken arm, you are alright!" He grunted at her cheerfulness.
"Do you think a broken arm is something trivial?!"
"Stop whining! There are much worse fates!" She screamed, apparently angry with him again.
"Like dying and being reincarnated in a body totally incompatible to you!"
"Sorry, I don't believe in things such as reincarnation and god-"
"… or having your body stolen just as you are about to reclaim it!" At this, she shot him a fierce glare with full intensity.
"Why does she look as if I have offended her in some way?!" At last, the salaryman cast a thorough gaze upon the stranger. For starters she was a foreigner even if she spoke perfect Japanese, a blond with icy blue eyes wearing a suit.
"Huh? Aren't these the same clothes I am wearing?" Except by the size, it was exactly the same clothing as his and he had to recognize that they fit her better than him. Far from being weird, the male clothing gave a nice contrast to her young beauty. Only, maybe not so young as her eyes gave an air of someone older and wiser.
"Wait! Those eyes…"
"Have we met somewhere?"
"C-certainly not!" She was quick to reply.
"I have a very common face!" Despite his opinion to the contrary, he chose to not press the matter.
"Then, don't think I am complaining, but why are you helping me?"
"I-I am helping you… because… I am… a NURSE! That is it! I am a passing nurse who felt obligated to help someone in need!"
"Oh?"
"Yes, I know! You narrowly escape death and a highly competent nurse also comes to your rescue. It's truly your luckiest day ever!"
"I wouldn't go that far-"
"IT IS! Especially since this was balanced by giving awful misfortune to someone else!"
"Eh?"
"Ahem! I mean, don't move, I believe an ambulance is on the way."
"O-okay…"
"And while we wait, do you mind if I perform small tests? To see if you were affected in any way by the experience."
"She must mean to see if I have a concussion." He saw no trouble and nodded his head.
"First, what do you remember after you were pushed? Did you, perhaps, dream of something?"
"I- !" All of a sudden, his mind was bombarded with a barrage of images.
'… a little girl…'
'… magic…'
'… fake god…'
'… job in the rear…'
'… major…'
'… world war!'
Everything flashed too quickly; he could barely discern a few scenes of destruction.
'… destroy the enemy…'
'… put out the flames of war…'
'… the lieutenant colonel is very dear to me…'
'… it's okay…'
'… my doll…'
'… you lost!'
Abruptly, it all came to a halt, and he welcomed the darkness. Yet, without warning, new scenes began to play.
'… magic school…'
'… the hallows…'
'… careful with the boy…'
'… trouble maker…'
'… a mother to me…'
'… a princess?!'
However, they were entirely different from before; this time, the majority of the images were set in a medieval castle.
'… powerful witch…'
'… misunderstanding…'
'… body won't obey…'
'… my most beloved…'
'… you mustn't leave!'
'… hurry up! Use your life to destroy the hallows! Before the universe ends!'
Then, as sudden as it started, it was over.
"What is wrong?! What did you see?!" The nurse asked, worried at his silence.
"I… think… I saw… saw-"
"W-what?!"
"I… huh? I forgot." He tried in vain to recall the flashes he saw mere seconds ago.
"I think I dreamed I was playing video games. First a war game and next a visual novel- no, an otome game." The woman grimaced at his response.
"Aff! Yeah, my life turned into an otome game! And guess whose fault it remained that way…"
"Excuse me?!"
S-sorry, I was recalling a certain cheating BITCH that literally jumped on me! Do you remember anything else?"
"… no."
"It's for the best. Some things are better forgotten."
"I don't follow what you are-"
"Next…" She took a rock and held it over his head.
"Please, try to levitate this."
"Eh?! What are you- OUCH!" She released the stone and it fell straight on his face.
"Hum… I see! No magic, good!"
"T-the heck are you doing-"
"Just one more thing to find out!" At this, the woman shows him two pictures, one of a very popular and gorgeous idol and another of a handsome boy.
"Tell me! Which one do you feel attracted to?"
He was puzzled and meant to ask her what sort of test this was when she began to open his pants' zipper.
"H-hey?!"
"And be honest! In any case, I am watching your reactions down here!" With his fly completely open, she was about to pull down his underwear.
"GAH! W-what are you doing?!"
"I must see for myself if this experience didn't cause any permanent damage! Now, concentrate in the boy's picture and let me-"
"Y-y-you are crazy! Get away from me!" He tried to crawl away from her.
"I ask that you trust my methods-"
"Are you the one in need of assistance?" Asked one of the two people the salaryman identified as paramedics.
"YES! Please help me!" In the nick of time, he was saved by the arriving ambulance.
After a complete examination, receiving a cast for his arm, and giving his testimony to the police, the salaryman learned he would have to stay overnight in the hospital for observation.
"Meaning, I will be late for my job tomorrow!" By his calculations, a substantial delay of a full FIVE minutes awaited him… He could only hope this wouldn't tarnish his reputation and hinder his chances for promotion.
"In any case, there goes my perfect record! I hope that incompetent wanna-be-killer rots in- huh?" He glimpsed someone quickly slipping into his room, promptly burying their head under the covers.
"What are you-"
"Sorry, sir! I am the nurse appointed to you and I have to check your covers."
"Is that so?"
"In the meanwhile, please, hold these for me, will you?" Fast, she threw a magazine at him.
"What is- A yaoi magazine?!" And with the headline: Hot British young men in school uniforms.
"I confiscated it from a patient. Can you hold these while I inspect your bed? You can look at it if you want."
"I-I am not interested in this stuff!"
"How can you be so sure? You never read one of those!"
"Of course I never read- Wait a moment, how do you know that? And… didn't I have a similar discussion today?" He threw away the covers to reveal a blond foreign woman staring at his groin.
"Aren't you the pervert from earlier?!" Despite the trade of the suit for nurse clothing, it was her alright.
"Pervert?! ME?!" She seemed genuinely offended.
"Here I am worried that your experience left a lasting symptom and you dare call me a pervert?!"
"I was already examined by a doctor! You were right, all I have is a broken arm!"
"Imbecile! There are limits to what doctors can perceive! What of psychological wounds? Trust me, browse the magazine and let me check any-"
"LEAVE!" He said, finally losing his cool.
"… listen here pal. I don't care whether you understand my impeccable reasoning or not; this is going to happen regardless. I can have your cooperation or I can force you. Your choice?"
"Pfff!" It was pointless to say anything.
"No, you listen here, nurse… Yuki Aoi?" Like him, she stared at the name-tag on the clothes with a surprised face.
"Err, I was adopted!"
"Anyway… you forcing me?! Even with a single arm I can- GAH!" Indeed it was with a single arm that SHE immobilized him on the bed.
"Browse the magazine and this will be over quickly." Next, she turned her free hand to his gown.
"S-stop-"
"What is going on here?" Turning in unison, they spotted a woman with flowers at the room's entrance. He promptly identified her as the newest employee at his company.
Caught off guard, the crazy nurse quickly released him.
"I-I was… checking on him!"
"That is a lie! She is trying to- mmpphhh!" He shut up as she stuffed a thermometer in his mouth.
"Hohoho! You won't believe how scared some adult men can be of a simple check up!"
"As if anyone in their right mind would believe-"
"Wow! The chief is afraid of doing exams?"
"I forgot this woman is extremely gullible!"
"And you are… Ah, I remember! I got- I mean, he got a new secretary a few days ago."
"How does she know that?!" He was starting to wonder if this nurse isn't a stalker.
"Well, in any case, I am sorry to inform you that visiting hours are-" The nurse stopped talking abruptly and stared transfixed at his secretary.
"Err… can I help you?"
"…" The nurse didn't speak, she just stared at her and then, was agape.
"V-Visha?!"
"Who?"
The nurse fell seated on the floor, appearing to be in shock.
"No! This can't be! She- He is going to have everything?!"
"I am sorry, I don't understand." His secretary tried to reason with the hysterical woman.
"What are you-"
"This is not FAIR! You stole it all from me!" She screamed, glaring venomously at him.
"It was supposed to be me! I should be here- sob!" Following that, the woman rushed out of the room while weeping uncontrollably.
"What… was all that?!" He concluded the woman was schizophrenic as nothing of what she said made any sense.
"Was it my fault? Did I offend or hurt her in any way?" This was another aspect of his secretary's personality he learned in their brief time together. She would genuinely worry if she unintentionally caused pain to another human being.
"The reason why I had to fire that man away from her eyes…" Regardless, he was very grateful as she drove away the lunatic who was starting to drive him insane.
"By the way chief, isn't that a rectal thermometer?"
"!" He spat away the instrument from his mouth, gone was the last drop of his patience.
"That is it! Help me find my clothes! I am leaving!" He realized he could have this woman help him escape.
"No more crazy nurses and I won't be late tomorrow!"
"No, chief!" As he meant to get up from bed, his secretary stopped him.
"You should be resting!"
"No need, I am fine!"
"But, chief- kya!"
"Careful!" Trying to keep him in bed, she fell on top of him.
"Oh, yeah. She has another trait I had forgotten… she is extremely clumsy!"
"S-s-sorry!"
"Pay it no mind, it was my fault." She blushed harder, probably embarrassed at her clumsiness.
"Can you, please, move away?"
"I-I… can't…"
"Huh? Why?" He pondered if she was unwell, watching as she grew increasingly red.
"C-C-C-C-CHIEF!" Then, she hugged him strongly.
"Whoa?!"
"I was so scared!"
"About what?"
"Hearing that someone tried to kill you made me so scared! You could have died before I… could confess to you!"
"Confess?" He wasn't liking the direction this conversation was going…
"T-t-that I… since we first met… I-I fell in l-love with you!"
"What?!" No, it was much worse than he anticipated.
"I love you! Love you so much! P-please, I want us to always be together!"
"…!" It took significant effort for the salaryman to manage to hide his annoyance.
"And now this?" Not that she wasn't beautiful, he just wasn't looking for a partner yet.
"I am honored, and you are very attractive-" As he began to say his piece, he was met with his secretary's earnest eyes full of hopeful anticipation.
"Shit!"
"Err, I- ah! Can I have a cup of coffee, please?" He had to gain time to think how to delicately give her the proper turn down.
"After all, the last person I dismissed sent me here and by a hair's breadth I didn't end in the morgue."
"Leave it to me! I will have one ready quickly!" Eagerly, she began to work using the few ingredients in the room.
"How should I break this to her-"
"Here you go!" She proudly presented him, placing a cup on his hands.
"Already?!" Another notable trait of hers: her considerable efficiency.
"Ugh I need a few more minutes to think of something!" Again, at her earnest gaze, he was thrown out of his pace. He immediately brought the cup to his lips.
"Grr! Know what?! I am going to fire her and be done- !" The moment the coffee entered his mouth, he was assaulted by a strange and powerful feeling.
"W-what is this…?" A warmth like he never experienced before spread through his body.
"No… I have felt this before… but where… and when…?" He couldn't be sure. All that resonated deep within him was the memory of savoring such flavor, only to have it… wastefully thrown away without a second thought.
"Chief?! Is something wrong?"
"… nothing. Why do you ask?"
"You are crying!"
"Eh?!" He touched his cheeks and confirmed she was right.
"Why- what is happening to me?" He recalled what the crazy nurse had said, that there was a possibility he had psychological wounds.
"Is my coffee bad?" His chest tightened at the hurt tone of her voice.
"No, it's the best I ever had."
"Wah! Really?! Tehehe! I am so happy!"
"!" Praising her was a mistake. Her radiant face triggered another powerful wave of the same strange sensation from before. It overwhelmed him, all he comprehended was the undeniable urge to CLAIM that bright smile, or rather, the entire person it originated from.
"… I accept."
"Eh? What?"
"… going out with you."
"Y-y-you mean it?!" She asked tears beginning to come down her cheeks, he gave a small nod of his head.
"This is the best day of my life!" She jumped back into his arms.
"I really can't believe this is happening!"
"… me neither."
"Does she always have to be late?!" The salaryman tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for his girlfriend to show up in the cafe they had set for their date.
This was a part of his new routine in the last year and a half that always made him annoyed.
"Why the heck did I accept her?!" Reflecting back, the foreign nurse was right all along, he noticed many changes in his behavior. For starters, he doesn't enjoy war games anymore. As soon as he started playing one, he began to wish he could place his avatar somewhere safe.
Additionally, news about lolicons deeply disturbs him. Despite always considering them disgusting, it now feels oddly personal. In truth, the only subject that seemed to annoy him more was religion and god.
"Still, I can't comprehend how examining my groin would detect all of this… or would prevent me from falling for the first woman I came across!" In any case, today he was going to get rid of his always-late-and-clumsy-girlfriend. Actually, the main purpose of today's date was to break up with her.
"Nonetheless… all these months were by far the best of my entire life. It was like a dream, but…" It was too good. In all his happiness he was starting to get complacent in how to deal with his life.
"How many times did I wake up late because of night dates or found myself unfocused at the office, recalling our INTIMATE moments?" No matter how nice the dream is, eventually one has to wake and face reality. And the reality was that there were more wealthy women available in the 'market' and within his grasp. Such as the other day, the sector director hinted how his daughter was in the 'marriageable' age.
"This is not gold digging, I am merely after the most optimal candidate for the vital role of partner for life!" His life is smoothly sailing towards the solid and stable position he always fought for. All that remains is to choose a proper woman, a true Yamato Nadeshiko as demanded for the most successful Japanese man.
"Yup! This is my greatest opportunity to get a job in the… rear?" He blinked at his own thoughts.
"'Job in the rear'? What does it mean? Why have I-" His pondering was interrupted as someone took the seat in front of him.
"You are never late for your job, can't you give the same dedication to- eh?" Once more, he blinked. Instead of his girlfriend, there was a completely different woman in front of him.
"GAHHH! You?! What are you doing here?!" He was shocked to see the crazy foreigner who tried to molest him.
"Hmpf! Believe me, I didn't want to see your body-thief face ever again!" She said, throwing a glare at him.
"I wouldn't need to come back if you had the decency of marrying Visha already!"
"'Body-thief'? 'Visha'? Who the heck are you talking about?!"
"Don't play dumb! I am talking about your secretary and current girlfriend, why didn't you marry her?!"
"How do you have this information?! Are you stalking me?!"
"Let me guess: you plan to ditch her and take a more 'convenient' partner for life! You want a 'Yamato Nadeshiko' wife to look good in front of people!"
"Wha-" The salaryman was starting to fear this person.
"For starters, a Yamato Nadeshiko is something better in theory than in reality… b-believe me, I can tell!"
"The way she is staring at me, it is as if she can read my mind!" She let out a grin.
"Don't be ridiculous, I can't read your mind!"
"T-t-then how the hell are you doing this?!"
"How? You are merely too easy to read."
"!" He was utterly terrified to the point of not allowing himself to even think about anything.
"Or, could it be… just to make sure, you aren't trying to dump your girlfriend because you found out you prefer men, right?"
"What?! Of course not!" He almost felt relief at the question as this proved she couldn't really read his thoughts.
"You sure? Aren't you feeling attracted to young foreign boys, with scars on their forehead, green eyes and wearing glasses, perchance?"
"NO! And isn't that kind of too specific?!"
"Good! You must keep your promise to give at least one grandchild to your parents!"
"Is there anything you don't know about me?!"
"Well, in any case, back to the business at hand, I am here to give you the most important advice of your life: don't dump your girlfriend!" She said, shaking her head.
"Because if you do, you will regret it for the rest of your life."
He raised an eyebrow at her air of wisdom.
"Who does this lunatic think she is to order me around or tell me how to live my life?"
"I am not saying how you should live your life! This is an advice, not an order!"
"Are you reading my mind or not?!"
"Okay, I thank you for the advice. You are free to leave!" He said in a clear direct way to make her understand he wanted her gone.
She sighed hard.
"Oh, well. Apparently, like me, you will need a bit of shock treatment." With these ominous words, she got up from her seat and…
"H-hey!" … sat on his lap.
"B-be quiet!" She gazed intently at his eyes while blushing. Funny enough, the proximity of such a beauty didn't stir anything from within his being.
"This is so similar to when mother hugs me." Thus, he experienced embarrassment instead of lust.
"W-we must time this correctly."
"What do you-"
"And… now!" Unexpectedly, she kissed him.
His shock over, he tried to break free, but her hold on him was as strong as the one she had over him at the hospital.
"Hm? Is this really a kiss?" There was no emotion, no desire in the act. It was a very chaste kiss, basically, only their lips met.
"C-chief…?"
"!" With a startle, they broke the kiss and the salaryman was met with the sight of his girlfriend looking at him with tears in her eyes.
"T-this is not what it seems!" Panicking, he tried to explain.
"N-no… it's okay." For some reason, this sentence sent shivers down his spine.
"I always knew this was going to happen eventually… you are a wonderful person while I… I am so plain- sob!" She began to hiccup.
"I-I am already lucky for all the good memories we have together… I WISH YOU TWO ALL THE HAPPINESS IN THE WORD!" Leaving these words, she turned and ran.
He couldn't avoid a melancholic gaze at her departing figure.
"What- WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" He angrily inquired from the foreigner.
"Why? I believe I ended the inconvenient relationship you were going to end anyway."
"Ah!"
"You are welcome."
"She is right! I am… a free man…" Surprisingly, he wasn't as satisfied as he thought he would be.
"By your face, you are not relieved to be free." The blond woman took back the seat across from him.
"In truth, your face has REGRET written all over it." She finished by grinning at him.
"N-no… I-"
"Let me guess: you feel so empty that it is as if a hole was drilled into your chest."
"…" As usual, she was absolutely right about him.
'It's okay!' And these words made him tremble to his base. He couldn't help the irrational fear that he may never see his former girlfriend again.
"I… you shouldn't have done that!"
"And may I ask why not?"
"I-it's just… I believe there are proper ways to end a relationship. Besides, she could… could spread bad rumors in the company!"
"Of course! I am afraid she will slander my good name! If I am seen as a jerk, no other woman will want me!" Not to say that he refused to owe anything to this perverted nurse.
"No choice except to explain everything to her…"
"Then I suggest you do this as soon as possible."
"Tomorrow I will-"
"Are you that stupid? A pretty woman goes running while crying, and you think no men will try to 'console' her?!"
"GAH! She is right!" The realization hit him like a thunder, he immediately got up from his seat fully intending to follow his girlfriend.
"Before you go, take this." The woman threw a small gift-wrapped package to him.
"She will be more forgiving if you show up with a present."
"What is this? How can I give to her something-"
"Why are you wasting time here?! Right this moment, your girlfriend is a few paces from entering a love hotel with some pig! GO AFTER HER! NOW!" The salaryman was perplexed at the precision of her words. He turned to take a glance in the direction she pointed and, right there was a building so far that there wasn't a way to confirm it was really a hotel.
"From this distance you can tell- huh?" The nurse was gone, vanished as if by magic.
"… did I imagine it all?!" Perhaps the foreign nurse was all along a creation of his damaged mind.
"This would explain how she knew so much about me- no, if it was the case, my secretary couldn't- Ah!" He almost forgot the most important thing. Quickly, he sprinted towards the love hotel.
"Hehehe! Come on, we are going to rest a little bit!" And there, exactly as the nurse had said, he found his girlfriend being pulled by a disgusting fat middle aged man.
"T-thank you for the consideration but I am not tired…"
"TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF HER!" By his shout, the old man flinched and released the woman's arm.
"Chief?" She, on the other hand, was puzzled.
"And what are you thinking of doing without a care in the world?"
"Me? This gentleman offered to rent me a room so that I could rest a bit. Right, mister- huh?" While they were busy talking, the fat bastard made his escape.
"Aff, still the gullible type!" He pulled her into a hug.
"This is another reason I can't let go of you."
"C-chief! Not here… people can see us!"
"So what? We are in front of a love hotel!"
"EHHHH?! Are we?!"
"Definitely can't leave you alone! And I told you to call me by my name when we are outside the company!"
"S-sorry!"
"It's bizarre to hear my own girlfriend calling me 'chief' everywhere!"
"I am sorry-" Unexpectedly, she pushed him away.
"We are not together anymore! D-don't you have a new woman? Where is your pretty blond foreigner?"
"Ah! Right…" During their exchange, he had forgotten what transpired back at the cafe.
"That woman means nothing to me! She is that crazy nurse, remember?"
Instead of understanding, she puffed her cheeks.
"Could it be… you two have been meeting behind my back?! Since the same day we started dating?!"
"What?!"
"How did she come up with this absurd idea?!"
"The chief is so good looking and- blush, so a-amazing in bed that I always thought he had to be practicing with someone else!"
"Don't slander me! Be aware that, so far, you are the only woman in my life!"
"Oh, chief- wait, 'so far'?!" She blinked at his words.
"Y-you are thinking of leaving me in the near future?! Sob!"
"Shit! What time did she decide to be sharp!" Seeing the woman about to fall to tears again, he knew he had to do something.
"I-I, err, hum… H-here! This is for you!" In his desperation, he gave her the gift he got from the crazy nurse.
"… for me?" Carefully, his secretary began to unwrap the small box.
"AHHHH?!"
"WHAAATTT?!" There was no way to know who was more surprised. The box contained a very expensive ENGAGEMENT ring with a small note saying: 'will you MARRY me?'
"Is that my writing?! How the heck- GAH?!" Before he could make any sense of this disaster, his girlfriend (now his fiancee) jumped into his arms.
"YES! I will marry you chief- no, ANATA!"
"H-H-HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?! AND HOW THE HELL DO I GET OUT OF THIS MESS?!" He just couldn't understand how it ended up this way… Or could he? The grinning face of a certain blond foreign nurse would haunt his nightmares for the rest of his life.
"… you sure you are alright now?" Concern laced his voice as the salaryman questioned his wife.
"Yeah… it's okay-"
"Please! Don't say that!" That sentence coming from her mouth always makes him panic, even more in these situations.
"… I am… just… sleepy." She replied, managing enough strength to beam at him.
He let out a breath of relief.
"Let me help you." Promptly, he adjusted the hospital bed to make her as comfortable as possible. It became a difficult job as he couldn't control the shaking of his hands. For a moment there, seeing his wife in so much pain, he truly believed she wasn't going to make it.
"Less than three years married and I am already this attached to her… what an utter disgrace!" In the end, he couldn't find an excuse (and the heart) to end their relationship. He would convince himself that he needed another day, another week, another month… By the end of the year, he was so used to her presence he ended up inviting her to live with him, the wedding ceremony was merely making it official.
"Anata…"
"Yes? Do you need something?"
"Have… you seen… HER?" She asked, full of anticipation.
"I only caught a glimpse, but don't worry, the doctor said she isn't in any danger, in a few hours, tomorrow at most, the three of us will be home."
"That… is not… what… I mean. What… do you… think…? Is she… cute…?"
He had to control himself to not give a sarcastic answer.
"It's a baby! They all look the same! It's like comparing whether my knee is prettier than someone else's!" No, he wasn't so heartless to say that aloud to his wife after she went into labor.
"Err, of course. The prettiest girl of the entire nursery."
"Really…?! Hehehe! I am… so happy…"
"…" A second time he had to control himself to not be a jerk.
"You've faced one of the most difficult ordeals a person can endure! What is there to be happy about?!" It was on these occasions that he finds comfort in being born a man, still, he would have to share all the burden the newly born baby would bring. He had to convince himself this was a necessary step for his future, to secure a person who would take care of him as he grew old.
"A long date investment! My job in the rear is surely- WHAT THE HELL?!" He caught himself once more thinking this strange sentence.
"I really must have suffered brain damage!" Seeing how much his life changed ever since the attempt against his life, he concluded that the crazy foreign nurse was right all along.
"Speaking of 'adopted' Yuki Aoi, I never saw her again." Occasionally, he would wonder about the mystery which was that woman…
"… have you… decided on… a name…?" His thoughts trailed off by his wife's question.
"A name?" Funny enough, there was one that popped in his mind.
"I can't believe I am going to suggest this…"
"How about Aoi?"
"Shhh! Don't cry, Aoi-chan!" Tanya hummed to the small infant in her arms.
"There is nothing to worry, I am your dad (kind of)!" As if she noticed the truth, the baby stopped weeping.
"Yes… I am a father!" It was unimaginable the feeling of having a child which she didn't have to carry for months or end up breast feeding.
"Better yet, I am the father of Visha's child!" Tanya recalled the shock she felt on that day. She had returned to Japan to certify the salaryman would continue with the same old life she missed so much, only to find out his recently hired secretary was her adjutant in another life.
Despite her eyes being the common Japanese brown, somehow, Tanya could see the green which captivated her so much to the point that she accepted to marry a person with similar eyes.
"She was so close to me…" Meaning, if Tanya didn't commit that STUPID mistake with the hallows, today they would be together.
"Grr, this is all that TRAMP's- Argh! I need to stop insulting myself!" And to add to the injury, her tense mood made little Aoi start crying again.
"Ah! Sorry, sorry! Shh!" Once more, a few swings and she was back sleeping.
"Ohhh! What a well behaved girl!" On the other hand, this could be the result of Tanya's extensive experience with babies, having cared for five of her own.
"Ugh! Just recalling those little devils!" Frankly, their first years were alright (except for feeding time). However, as they grew up, it would become painfully obvious they were Potters.
To begin with, there wasn't a single year at Hogwarts in which Vika didn't find herself in some form of significant trouble. Her graduation was met with great relief from both her parents. They were a little optimistic that by becoming an adult, she would calm down a bit.
"Still… there is the fact that she is going to work at Hogwarts!"
Then, there was James who was at school for two years… two years he had been entering the forbidden forest regularly trying to find new beasts to impress his godmother.
"Magical creatures are all he has on his mind, it is as if he is actually Luna's!" She wasn't much worried as the forest became much more civilized these days, ever since Tanya had enforced the loyalty of the acromantulas and the centaurs. No one there would dare to hurt her son and it helps that he is always in the company of Grawp.
At least she was certain that Severus was bound to be well behaved at school.
"All Sev has from Harry is his face; the eyes and the good sense, he took from me!" Tanya couldn't recall a single moment her third born had caused any trouble and she was confident he would remain that way in school.
"I thought it was because I was more present in his first years but Lily…" Her youngest grew up hearing the tale of Degretschow from her older sister and 'second mum' (as Ginny liked to call herself). It resulted in the girl believing she is of 'high birth' and turned into the typical 'snobbish little princess'. Her attitude was at a level that even Harry became worried sick about his daughter adhering to the pure-blood radical beliefs.
"He wasn't amused when Lily merrily declared that she deemed all people equally inferior to the royal blood of Degretschow."
And, of course, she couldn't forget Albus. He was someone Tanya readily forgave for any misbehavior. Being around such peculiar half-sisters and brothers did nothing positive for his self-esteem. He already carried an inferiority complex for not being Tanya's, and it didn't help that everyone was so eager to remind him of this fact.
'T-Tanya, you will come see me off, right?' The boy was so shy that Tanya was the only person he dared to ask anything.
"That reminds me, my portkey back to London will be up in a few minutes." She would need to leave immediately for her meeting with the boys.
"Very well. Bye-bye Aoi-chan." Slowly, she placed the baby back-
"Eh?" … or it was what she meant to do. Tanya found herself unable to let go of the little girl.
"… MY baby with VISHA. I have as much right to her as that bitch- as him!" In fact, had everything unfolded as it was supposed to, this child would have belonged to her.
"If I can't have Visha, I'll go for the next best option! That is it! I am taking you home with me!" Turning around, she calculated the best route to leave the hospital unseen as she wouldn't risk the baby by apparating away.
"Not a good idea to use a portkey either or my flight spell…" The best course would be to rent a plane, fortunately, she has an account in a normal bank for her dealings in the muggle world.
"I won't be able to keep my promise to Albus having my and Visha's-"
'Someone stole my baby!'
"!" She was assaulted by the image of Visha desperately crying over her missing daughter.
"… shit!" This seemed to be the necessary trick to bring back her sanity.
"And… how would I… explain this child to Harry…?" Returning the baby to the crib caused her to feel a tug at her chest… and tears followed suit.
"Sob! G-great! I gave birth to four kids and now I am crying over the single one I can't have!" She stared at the baby, fighting the urge to just take her away.
"… I don't think I will ever be able to come back here." She realized that the temptation to reclaim both mother and daughter would be too strong.
Gently, Tanya caressed the infant, earning a tiny giggle from her.
"F-farewell, Aoi-chan! Sob!" The tears wouldn't cease, it was as if she was leaving Visha for a THIRD time.
"I want you to know that I…! That I will always…! L-l-lo- GOODBYE!" Whipping away her tears, Tanya apparated away.
Unknown to Tanya, her entire interaction with the baby was watched by a nurse with glowing yellow eyes.
"… such a wasted opportunity." For a fleeting instant, Being X was certain he would grant redemption to at least one of the two halves of that faithless child. However, neither of them could admit the overflowing holy feelings from their hearts.
"Alas! After having sought the purest soul available and molding it into the most impeccable physical form conceivable…!" The 'nurse' gently picked up the newborn.
"… one might surmise that this providence would warrant a modest praise to the heavens yet those two choose to remain ignorant to their own bliss!" She let out a deep sigh.
"No, the father is destined to recognize the joy within his heart, even if the realization unfolds over the course of an entire lifetime." The salaryman couldn't know but the heavens had granted him an existence as joyful as possible. He was destined to have a fulfilling life and die surrounded by his many loved ones.
"Upon drawing his final breath, he shall come to acknowledge the multitude of blessings bestowed upon him and, at last, find faith in me." Unfortunately, for Tanya Potter, there were many other variables at play. In all her possible futures, the most probable scenario was of her spitting on his name in her last moments.
"I dread the prospect of reverting to my previous ways, as they inflicted considerable suffering upon her soul. Nevertheless, I perceive no other viable options…" Hence, Being X determined that before the break of a new day, he would conclude this prolonged conflict with Tanya Potter, by any means necessary.
End of interlude 4
AN: Here we go, this is my shortest chapter in a while but it was supposed to be short as there wasn't much happening here. My last interlude will maybe be longer, I plan to tell the complete story of Scorpius and Albus, their motivations to travel in time and show the consequences of their actions too.
Tanya wearing male clothing is based on Saber from Fate/Zero. I thought that Tanya, as soon as she finished school, wouldn't want to ever use a skirt again. Also, she thought that this would make her undesirable but it only attracted more attention to her.
By the way, an otome game is a sort of visual novel. It is usually centered in relationships but the main difference from the common visual novel is that it is all in a girl's perspective and she will pursue relationships with male characters.
Anata means 'you' in Japanese and is, too, the way some couples refer to each other. I thought of using 'Dana-sama' but I thought it would be too formal for Visha. And Yamato Nadeshiko is a type of ideal model for Japanese women. She is loyal, has domestic skills, is humble and wise; and, in some versions, she is completely servile to her husband.
The Japanese Visha is not exactly as she was before, after all, she is reincarnated and without her memories. Exactly the same person, she can't be.
Visha being reincarnated as the salaryman's secretary is based in a moment of the manga where Tanya has a dream about it. She also has another dream where Being X shows her the life the salaryman would have had if he survived, somehow he would have a daughter identical to Tanya. Oh, and for the people who don't know, Yuki Aoi is Tanya's voice actress.
I believe you all must be very confused at how Tanya can exist at the same time as the salaryman but, don't worry, I will explain it in the first or second chapter of the next arc.
And about Being X, his confrontation with Tanya will only happen at the epilogue! Oh, I have yet to reveal just how much suffering he brought to Tanya. Wait and see in the next arc.
Next chapter: We will see how Harry becomes Being X's new 'apostle'.