Ok.

Things, Aren't going according to plan at all.

I was gonna go as a casual visit to the Kagenou's to cure Claire which is all well and good... until it really wasnt.

Yeah so you see, before i left my house to the Kagenou territory i got an idea and then confirmed said idea. (which isnt good)

Since Claire is the only Kagenou and is talented and there's no Cid, nobody took the heat off Claire when she needed it.

As far as im currently aware, ill be one of the only people who are gonna try to be her friend at all without the training motivation.

So what this means is that, if i missed the timing window of the canon by literally a single day... lets just say Claire was gonna be a shadow garden member.

Its fine though! ill save the heroine! (i dont really know if i can call her that...)

Ok, right so i thought it might be time for introductions to my parents.

"Kazoto! you better be ready, were leaving in a minute!"

Shouted my biological mother in this world.

Diana Shimo.

If he interacted with her, Cid would have definitely called her a 'main character'.

Strong, intelligent, hardworking and compassionate is how everyone in the field knows my mother.

The complete opposite of my other world mother.

But thats a story for another time.

They say Diana was able to slash a mountain with her sheer finesse with the sword.

...Ive gone far past that point but this is no ordinary feat for regular humans.

Diana was also one of the only people to receive a mithril sword instead of an iron one thanks to her pure hardwork and dedication to the country.

Strong indeed.

...

I sigh and get up to walk to my mother.

I eat what i assume to be a mint before leaving my room.

What? even I dont want my breath to stink ok?

"Kazoto... dear, your hair is all messed up..."

She says that as if shes holding back tears?

Why?

"Im sorry mother, ill go back and fix it then."

Before i even turn around to leave my mother catches me in a hug and says

"Please dont forget that we will always love you, ok kazoto?"

"Yes mother."

I hug her back.

I always have been pretty bad at social interactions so i can never tell the vibe im giving but i can tell that its atleast a sad one or my mother wouldnt be getting so worked up...

I let the hug go and she reluctantly does aswell.

"...Kazoto dear, do you mind if i do your hair today instead?"

...This isnt new.

She does this everytime i leave my room with messy hair.

I glance around to see alot of the servants stare at me with pity and sadness in their eyes.

What the hell is going on?

"Its fine to do as you like mother."

I should really use more tone when i talk...

All i said earlier sounded like i was deadpanning.

Not good, what if people see me as unsociable?

That would ruin a bunch of Shadow Garden's plans and choices going forward seeing as im liked by nobody i would never be able to be seen with somebody without someone thinking trouble is going to happen.

Sucks, i know.

But its life so what can you do.

My mother finally finishes doing my hair.

I turn around to face her and try to smile only for it to come out weakly and i say

"Thank you mother, its really nice of you to do this everytime for someone like me."

There!

She should be happier now right?

...

Why am i getting hugged while she is wailing in tears?

Oh! Dad suddenly barges into the room.

Dad is also a named figure but i dont think this is the time to talk about it.

"Whats going on? Kazoto? why is your mother crying?"

I look at my dad and try to smile again only for it to end up the same as the first time.

"Im not sure father, i just told her thank you for everything she does for someone like me and then she burst into tears..."

My father looks... mad?

No, thats not it...

Sad? Maybe a mix of both?

Next thing i know my father joins the hug.

"Im so sorry..."

"Why? Everything is perfectly fine, isnt it?"

Suddenly the hug gets tighter.

"Yes, yes it is..."

...

I have a feeling i might have played my cards wrong.

Suddenly i blank out and next thing i know were in the carriage going to the Kagenou barony.


What the hell just happened?

Apparently i fell asleep due to exhaustion.

That shouldnt be possible.

...

I think i took one of my dad's sleeping pills on accident earlier...

...I might be the smartest dumbass i ever met.

What were dads pills even doing in MY room?

Well that doesnt matter were almost there!

Directly after saving Claire my number one priority is Alpha.

I NEED to save Alpha.

I wouldnt have Shadow Garden without her, i wouldnt have one of my most trusted companions in this otherwise lonely path, and on top of it all...

I dont really think i can live with myself if i let more innocent people suffer from the possession.

...

Im not a hero but even someone like me would try to help and stop this if they can.

This is why in the first place im creating Shadow Garden even though its basically child labor...

I guess this is why they say the people with good intentions always find the way to hell first.

"Kazoto dear, were here."

"Are you excited son?"

Mom is smiling at me sweetly while dad is smiling like a goofball.

I give back a small smile and nod my head while saying

"Yeah, im actually pretty excited about this."

I FINALLY added a little bit of tone to my words and made it seem like im excited.

Another day, another victory for the otherworlder's...

My mom and dad seem genuinely taken back by what i just did.

...

I need to regularize using tone holy shit they stopped functioning completely!

"Mom? dad? whats wrong?"

My small smile disappears and instead i have a look of worry on.

That seems to have snapped them out of there stunned state.

"O-oh! its nothing, dear!"

"Don worry bout it champ!"

My mother looks away quickly.

And my dad does a little thumbs-up to show his fine.

Admirable really...

We finally exit the carriage as were greeted by Mrs. and Mr. Kagenou. (they dont have names! curse you, Cid!)

"Welcome to the Kagenou territory! im terribly troubled to say that our daughter Claire is sick and therefore you should be careful if you insist to visit her..."

Well, here goes nothing i guess.

...