[T/N: Lmao! What's that title?]
Hearing Jinno Sumire's order filled with anger, the other members of the Jinno family hurriedly lowered their heads and acknowledged it.
The Jinno family's influence in Ino Town was extremely strong, and there were only two true people in power in the family. Aside from the family head Jinno Takashi, the other was Jinno Sumire. Because of this, a single sentence from Jinno Sumire was enough to decide the survival or downfall of any merchant in the town. People living in and around Ino Town all felt both reverence and fear toward her.
Although the Yoshizawa family also had considerable power in nearby towns and some financial influence in Ino Town, they were still a step below the Jinno family.
So naturally, no one had any objections to striking at the Yoshizawa family's forces.
After issuing the order of retaliation, Jinno Sumire then soothed her subordinates, saying, "Right, those thugs looked like they weren't easy to deal with. You've all worked hard as well. This time, you managed to rescue Little Ai in time, and that's a merit. Go to the steward later and collect the rewards you deserve."
Hearing Jinno Sumire's words, however, these subordinates did not show much joy. Instead, they said somewhat nervously, "Um, Lady Shrine Maiden… those thugs sent by the Yoshizawa family weren't dealt with by us."
"When we arrived, those people had already all been knocked to the ground."
Hearing this, Jinno Sumire raised her slender brows and asked in confusion, "Not handled by you? Then who took care of them? Little Ai? With her half-baked judo skills? Impossible."
"Could it have been a Metropolitan Police squad passing by, or…"
The subordinate shook his head and replied, "Neither. All those guys were taken down by that boy who escorted the young lady back to the shrine. He's the one who saved the young lady."
"Hikari?", Jinno Sumire's brows lifted slightly.
The subordinate nodded repeatedly, "Yes, the young lady seemed to call that young man that."
"That Hikari can take on so many thugs?", Jinno Sumire frowned slightly, the look in her beautiful eyes clearly filled with disbelief.
When she saw Jinno Ai being brought back by the Jinno family's people, Jinno Sumire had assumed by default that the people she sent had dealt with the black-clad strongmen and rescued Jinno Ai.
Only now, after hearing the detailed report from her subordinates, did she realize that all those people from the Yoshizawa family had actually been taken down by Hikari alone. The people she sent had merely played the role of movers?
Thinking of Hikari's handsome, refined, beautiful-boy appearance that looked like he had been born to live off others, Jinno Sumire found it hard to believe.
To be honest, if he hadn't been constantly getting close to her daughter Jinno Ai, Jinno Sumire believed that the first time she saw Hikari, she would definitely have felt a favorable impression of this overly good-looking boy.
This was something all women found hard to resist, the attraction coming from a perfect younger man.
But precisely because Hikari's looks were too good, Jinno Sumire was even more vigilant and dissatisfied with his approach toward Jinno Ai.
So at this moment, she truly found it hard to believe that Hikari, with that pretty-boy sacred-physique look, could actually fight this well.
Jinno Sumire asked her subordinates several more questions, making them recount the previous situation once again.
In the end, Jinno Sumire still arrived at a conclusion that was hard to believe but impossible not to accept. That was, Hikari's combat strength was indeed far beyond that of ordinary people.
After reaching this conclusion, Jinno Sumire's mind subconsciously began to search through her previous impressions of Hikari.
After breaking the poor impression that he was just a pretty boy trying to deceive her daughter's feelings, Jinno Sumire suddenly realized that this young man Hikari did indeed seem anything but ordinary.
Not only was it now known that his body was strong, his strength astonishing, and his fighting power exceptional, even his bearing seemed quite uncommon.
Jinno Sumire recalled the scene earlier when the two of them faced each other in the side hall. Ordinary people, when facing her, a shrine maiden who had long held a high position and naturally carried an imposing aura, would almost always subconsciously lower their heads. But Hikari, despite his young age, remained neither servile nor overbearing from beginning to end. He not only met her gaze directly, but also seemed to have not the slightest fear or reverence.
And earlier, when she had caught him and her daughter Jinno Ai fooling around intimately in the shrine, even the daughter she had deliberately raised, Jinno Ai, had been scared out of her wits, keeping her head lowered like an ostrich, timid and fearful, afraid of making her angry.
On the contrary, Hikari, such a young man, seemed completely unperturbed, as if he wasn't afraid of her anger at all.
If it were an ordinary male high school student, he would probably have been trembling long ago, maybe even scared into kneeling under her presence.
Of course, Hikari might simply be born with a lot of courage, but courage alone already surpassed many people.
Not to mention that the excellence Hikari had shown so far clearly wasn't limited to just being bold.
'That boy truly does not seem to be an ordinary high school student.'
The more Jinno Sumire thought about it, the more she discovered how extraordinary Hikari was, completely unlike what she had originally imagined, a pretty boy trying to hook and deceive Jinno Ai and then live off her.
After understanding Hikari a bit more deeply, Jinno Sumire couldn't help but look at him in a new light. Her impression reversed quite a bit, and her view of him changed a great deal.
"If this guy really is that capable and outstanding, then giving him a chance, letting him try things out with Little Ai, and considering letting him become my future son-in-law… doesn't seem completely impossible."
"And if he really is as impressive as these people say, then perhaps I might even need to ask him to help me with something."
In Jinno Sumire's mind, a bold idea she had previously abandoned suddenly surfaced again.
"Forget it. I should go talk to that guy first, see if he's qualified enough to be with my precious daughter, and then decide."
Shaking her head, Jinno Sumire pressed the jumble of thoughts back into her heart, slowly left the secret room, and walked toward the shrine's side hall.
———
In a room not far from the side hall, lamplight flickered.
"Hikari, I rank first in my girls' school, and I…", The pure blue-haired girl was enthusiastically sharing details of her past life with the boy in front of her.
Hearing Jinno Ai's proud descriptions, Hikari cooperated with a smile and offered a few words of praise.
Each time he praised her, the joy on Jinno Ai's pretty face grew by another degree.
However, just as she was speaking with great enthusiasm, Jinno Ai's voice suddenly stopped, as if someone had abruptly grabbed her throat.
Hikari turned his head to look, and under the illumination of the lamplight, through the thin paper-cut window, a graceful and curvaceous shadow stood outside the door.
This place, this somewhat familiar mature silhouette. Even with the thin paper separating them, Hikari guessed at once that the person outside was Jinno Ai's mother, Jinno Sumire.
Sure enough, after a polite knock, the coldly beautiful woman pushed the door open and entered.
She first swept her gaze over the two youths sitting on the tatami. Seeing that they weren't pressed together in an embrace this time, Jinno Sumire's expression eased slightly.
"Good evening, Little Ai, Hikari," Jinno Sumire walked in slowly and even took the initiative to greet them.
"M-Mother, good evening!", Hearing Jinno Sumire speak, Jinno Ai was extremely nervous.
Hikari, on the other hand, calmly responded, "Good evening, Madam Jinno."
"You and Little Ai are friends. Call me Auntie," Jinno Sumire said.
After saying that, Jinno Sumire glanced at Hikari. She said nothing more, nor did she continue to scold Jinno Ai as the girl had expected.
Instead, in a calm tone, she told Hikari and Jinno Ai the information she had just forced out in the secret room. For example, that those people had been sent by Yoshizawa Eigen, that she would handle the matter, and so on.
After finishing all this, Jinno Sumire suddenly pressed a hand lightly to her ample chest, bent deeply toward Hikari with her slender waist, and said with heartfelt gratitude, "Hikari, thank you very much for saving my daughter today."
Seeing her mother's actions toward Hikari, Jinno Ai at the side couldn't help but be greatly shocked. Her beautiful eyes widened, looking rather cute.
Hikari, who was being thanked, remained calm and waved his hand, "It's nothing. Little Ai and I have known each other for a long time. Helping her is only right. There's no need to thank me."
"No. Being close to Little Ai and saving Little Ai are two different matters. As her mother, the necessary thanks can't be omitted," Jinno Sumire didn't specify any concrete reward, only saying that if Hikari had any difficulties, he could come to her to discuss them.
This promise from the person in power of the Jinno family was something countless people in Ino Town dreamed of, but Hikari showed no particular reaction.
Seeing Hikari's indifferent demeanor, Jinno Sumire also didn't bring up the matter of catching Hikari and Jinno Ai being intimate in the shrine and desecrating the gods.
She only gave Jinno Ai a few admonitions.
"Little Ai, be more careful when you go out in the future. You must have your protectors with you. You're not allowed to go out alone!"
After issuing this stern warning, Jinno Sumire sent her away.
"All right. Go out."
But what puzzled both Jinno Ai and Hikari was that while Jinno Sumire told Jinno Ai to leave, she actually indicated that Hikari should stay behind alone.
Seeing Hikari's confused look and Jinno Ai's worried expression, Jinno Sumire said helplessly, "There are just some things I want to discuss with Hikari. Little Ai, you go out first."
Hearing her mother's words, Jinno Ai was still somewhat worried, but she didn't dare to disobey her mother's order. After Hikari also signaled with his eyes that it was fine, Jinno Ai had no choice but to leave the room first.
Under the dim yellow lamplight, in the narrow room, only the mature beauty and the handsome youth remained.
Hikari looked at Jinno Sumire kneeling across from him, her coldly beautiful face expressionless and unreadable, and felt some confusion in his heart as well.
After Jinno Ai left the room, Jinno Sumire turned her gaze back to the young man opposite her.
Looking at Hikari's flawless handsome face, his upright posture, and that inexplicably attractive aura, she fully understood why her daughter, who had shown no interest in other men, would be drawn to Hikari.
While Jinno Sumire was appraising Hikari, Hikari was also looking curiously at this coldly beautiful shrine maiden.
At this moment, Jinno Sumire, kneeling there, carried a noble and dignified air that perfectly matched her identity as the person in power of the Jinno family and a shrine maiden.
📍 Jinno Sumire
But even with that noble status, her gorgeous and captivating face was still extremely alluring. Her mature, beautiful figure beneath the shrine maiden's uniform made one's thoughts wander involuntarily.
Under the dim yellow lamplight, the fullness of her chest rose high, the loose kimono pushed outward, casting a thick shadow.
Her kneeling posture caused the fabric behind her to cling tightly to her hips, outlining a mature, peach-like, enticing shape.
The small slit at the hem of the shrine maiden's uniform, meant to make walking easier, spread open into a long line as she knelt, revealing a stretch of fair thigh.
Just as Hikari was wondering why Jinno Sumire had kept him alone and whether he should break the somewhat awkward silence, Jinno Sumire spoke first.
"Hikari, thank you again for saving Little Ai today," Jinno Sumire expressed her thanks once more.
"It's nothing," Hikari still waved his hand calmly.
Then Jinno Sumire, with a slightly apologetic tone, said, "Auntie needs to apologize to you. Earlier in the side hall, I misunderstood you. When I saw the two of you acting like that in the shrine, I was too shocked and spoke too harshly in the heat of the moment. I hope you won't take it too much to heart."
This shrine maiden, who had always been cold and stern, was actually apologizing to him with an apologetic expression. Hikari was a bit surprised.
He believed that if Jinno Ai were to see her mother's apology, she would probably be even more shocked.
Perhaps this was the reason Jinno Sumire had kept him behind alone.
As for this, Hikari didn't have much of an opinion. He waved his hand and said, "It's fine. Auntie Sumire's actions earlier were out of concern for Little Ai. I understand."
"That's good," Jinno Sumire patted her ample chest and nodded in satisfaction.
Then Jinno Sumire suddenly began to show concern for Hikari. She asked, "Hikari, you're living in Tokyo now, right? Recently you've come back to the town. Are you adapting well to life here?"
"It's fine. There are a few familiar aunties helping out, so there aren't any problems," Hikari replied casually to Jinno Sumire, who was now speaking in a tone like an elder showing concern.
Jinno Sumire then asked, "What do you think of Little Ai? Your feelings between the two of you… are they serious?"
"Mm," Hikari answered politely.
Jinno Sumire asked many more questions, such as the nature of their relationship and their future plans. Most of them were expressions of concern toward Hikari.
Hikari answered casually, not taking them too seriously, because he vaguely sensed that Jinno Sumire was also asking offhandedly.
Although this coldly beautiful shrine maiden's attitude had clearly improved a lot after learning that he had saved Jinno Ai, it still didn't seem likely that she would so easily let him be with her precious daughter.
Being so attentive to him now, aside from probing his background and details, seemed to carry some other intention.
Hikari felt that Jinno Sumire's interest wasn't really in the questions themselves, but he couldn't quite tell what she was really after.
Could it be that Jinno Sumire was questioning him like this because she intended to hand Jinno Ai over to him? Obviously impossible.
Hikari directly denied that possibility, but then he couldn't figure out Jinno Sumire's purpose either.
Just as Hikari was responding while pondering, Jinno Sumire's expression suddenly turned serious.
"Hikari, I have something very important I want to tell you."
Seeing Jinno Sumire's coldly beautiful face suddenly become extremely solemn, as if she had made some major decision, Hikari knew the main point was coming.
After the earlier conversation, with Jinno Sumire's probing questions and subtle pressure, Hikari guessed that she treasured her daughter Jinno Ai too much and was afraid she was getting into early romance, so she wanted him to leave her daughter.
Hikari was even waiting for her to say that classic line, ["Name your price. As long as you agree to leave my daughter, any amount of money is fine."]
But instead, Jinno Sumire said something entirely different.
Something even more shocking than he had imagined.
"Become my husband!", Jinno Sumire clasped her hands in front of her full chest, her coldly beautiful face filled with serious resolve as she spoke.
Hearing these words, looking at the exquisitely beautiful face and the mature, peach-like alluring body of the coldly beautiful shrine maiden before him, Hikari widened his eyes and stared at her in utter astonishment.
"Auntie, are you teasing me?", Hikari frowned, staring intently at Jinno Sumire's mature, coldly beautiful face.
Realizing that her rushed words had caused a misunderstanding, Jinno Sumire hurried to explain.
"I-I'm not teasing you, Hikari. Don't misunderstand!"
"I'm not really asking you to be my husband. I just want you to pretend, to act in that role."
After Jinno Sumire's explanation, Hikari finally understood.
[T/N: And on that Bombshell it's time to end.]
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.