After bathing, members of the Kirishima Family, Hide, and Takeo immediately rushed to the Dinner Hut which was located 20 meters beside the Communal Bath, or rather next to the kitchen.

Dinner Hut had a thatched roof, one-meter high bamboo walls, with wooden floors, round tables, and chairs. Each table had a capacity of six people and there were at least 14 tables.

Once Hide and Takeo entered the Dinner Hut, from one of the tables Aizawa and Yukino waved their hands vigorously. Both of them wore light blue kimonos with scattered white cherry blossoms. The two were super cheerful and looked like a pair of siblings. Beside them, Shizuka and Kiritani were sitting casually. Without delay, Hide and Takeo immediately joined.

In a few minutes, other tables were filled with two adults, two teenagers, and two children. Kubota then put his hands together in front of his chest, followed by the rest of the Kirishima family.

"Thanks for the food."

""""Thanks for the food.""""

Onced the gratitude for blessings was offered, dinner began. The menu consisted of goose curry cooked with taro instead of potatoes, stir-fried taro leaves, taro croquette, coarsely chopped taro steam salad, and taro chips.

Swiftly, Kiritani took two boneless breasts for Aizawa and Yukino, then she took wings for herself as she said, "Don't hesitate, the boys on today's hunter duty brought home more than a hundred geese. So, we have plenty."

"Wait..." Shizuka turned to Kiritani as a question mark appeared on her forehead, "How did they manage to bring so many geese home?"

As he took the goose's neck and drumstick, Hide explained, "They are good hunters and the Kirishima Family make sure that the ecosystem in Hakka Plateau and the valleys around it are able to support various wild game in massive numbers."

"In the current season, there are at least 10-20 thousand wild geese in the lakes and rivers of the Northern Valley," added Kiritani.

Shizuka slightly nodded, then said, "I see."

Dinner then continued in a light and cheerful atmosphere. Hide, Takeo, and Shizuka admitted that the goose curry was a superb delicacy. The meat was tender and rich in flavor, while surprisingly the bones were also soft and could be consumed.

However, what really caught their attention was another menu. Takeo was drowned in enjoying the taro croquette, while Shizuka drowned in enjoying the stir-fried taro leaves which she enjoyed with the curry sauce.

As for Hide, he divided the taro chips and sprinkled them with chili powder, seaweed flakes, and black pepper. Then, he enjoyed the three-flavored taro chips with Aizawa and Yukino. It was so good that the three of them asked for another portion of taro chips up to three times.

After seeing this, Kiritani wanted to ask the maid to bring another goose curry, considering that other tables had already asked for another portion up to 2-3 times. However, in the end she canceled her intention.

'Well, let's enjoy what they want to enjoy.'

After a gentle smile, Kiritani then sipped the root beer made of purple grape.

- - - - -

After dinner, two tables would be in charge of washing the dishes while the other two would clean the Dinner Hut. Hide and Takeo wanted to help, but Kiritani forbade them because Kubota wanted to talk to both of them as well as Shizuka.

Kiritani then led Aizawa and Yukino to the log-house, while Kubota led the three to a stone table in a mini garden. As soon as he sat down, Kubota immediately lit a cigarette, then he turned to Hide.

"Kiddo, I believe you are aware that Elder Taro is our best gunsmith and he really loves back rubbing."

"Yup."

"Then, I hope you rub his back not because you want to get a gun."

"Of course not, I wasn't planning on visiting his workshop, and at the Communal Bath he was the one who approached me and not the other way around."

Kubota immediately nodded in satisfaction. "Good, I said to other family members that you all are a family from afar so they don't think there is a leak about our family. However, please remember that you are not a member of the Kirishima Family."

"Don't worry, we fully understand our position."

Kubota nodded one more time, then he said, "Now, let's talk about your request."

"Okay," replied Hide with a slightly tense tone.

"My wife has spoken to the Family Master about your request. He agreed, but there are some conditions that you must fulfill."

Hide replied firmly, "We are listening."

"We will adopt Yukino in full, so you don't need to compensate for anything. However, you must completely cut ties with her and the Kirishima Family."

Hide was silent for a moment before saying, "You are worried that we will use the Kirishima Family as a shield for our actions, either what we have done or what we are going to do."

"Yes, and even though you don't intend to use the Kirishima Family as shields, that doesn't mean other people will think the same way."

"I understand."

"Then, you have time until the weekend to decide."

"No need, we accept the conditions."

"Are you sure?"

Inwardly, Kubota was a bit taken aback. He never thought that Hide would immediately accept the condition. Given that from what he saw, his guests had a deep attachment to Yukino.

"Yes, I'm," replied Hide firmly.

"Okay."

Kubota then got up and left his three guests, who were sunk in deep contemplation. About twenty minutes later, Shizuka turned to Hide and looked at him deeply.

"Hide, you just prevented us from seeing Yukino again."

"I know." Hide took a deep breath before continuing, "If I have other options, no matter how harsh, then right now we have already packed our things and left this place."

"Maybe, we can change Yukino's appearance, place her in a remote town, and hire a maid to look after her. Then we'll visit her regularly," Takeo suggested.

After taking a deep breath Hide replied, "Eight out of ten private detectives in Nikko are affiliated with mafia families. Don't underestimate their intelligence network."

"I know we can't take any risk for Yukino's safety, but cutting all connection to her is too much for me," said Shizuka weakly.

"I don't like it either. If I can't check her condition then it will deeply worry me." said Takeo in a slightly irritated tone.

After a deep sigh Hide said, "Believe me, it's also damn frustrating for me."

Actually, Hide has other options. By using all the money they got at Villa Tigera, he could change his ID along with Yukino and Aizawa. Then, the three of them would go abroad through illegal routes via 2-3 countries, and arrive in the destination country as its citizens.

In the new place, Hide had to start from scratch to raise money. But he didn't mind it, just as he didn't mind leaving his personal life at Nikko. However, he could not leave the life of Takeo and his family to fate.

'If only I have six months to raise the money, then I will be able to adopt Yukino and take her away without sacrificing Takeo and his family.'

As he clenched his fists tightly, inwardly Hide gritted his teeth.

- - - - -

In the log-house, Kiritani accompanied Aizawa and Yukino to play poker. Turned out, she was also a strong poker player. To made sure their opponent couldn't read their play, the three had their own weapons that they deployed as if their life was on the line.

Kiritani would make a face with a constant gentle smile no matter what card she got. Therefore, if someone tried to read her card through her facial expressions, their souls would be sucked in by her absolute beauty.

Yukino would make a cute chihuahua face. It was so cute that people who saw it would definitely think that she was the reincarnation of a chihuahua.

As for Aizawa, she made a perfectly expressionless face. An expression that would reflexively appear when she was doing a solo study. Kaede Sensei was the first person who discovered it and taught Aizawa to use it in poker.

However, the ultimate weapons of the three poker players immediately collapsed when Hide, Takeo, and Shizuka entered the log-house.

With full consideration, Kiritani immediately said goodbye. Without delay, Hide, Takeo, and Shizuka then approached Yukino and Aizawa. Using the gentlest tone possible, Hide explained to Yukino that the Kirishima Family was willing to adopt her along with the conditions they put forward.

With a calm that even adults rarely showed, Yukino then asked, "Is Yukino really not allowed to meet Big Bro Hide, Big Bro Takeo, Big Sis Shizuka, and Little Sis Aizawa if she joins the Kirishima Family?"

"Unfortunately, those are the conditions they put forward," Hide replied as complicated emotion surfaced on his face.

"Okay." After a cheerful smile Yukino continued, "I'll sleep first then."

When Yukino turned around and walked towards her sleeping sheet, somehow it was clearly visible that her back gave a deep impression of loneliness.

In reflex, Hide wanted to explain that he and his two friends had no intention of abandoning her. However, he failed to form any words, while from his chest he felt a crushing tightness. In the end, he could only close his lips tightly. For the first time in his second life, Hide lost his composure.

Meanwhile, even if Aizawa could not fully grasp the situation, she understood that after this she would not be able to meet Yukino. So, she immediately followed Yukino and slipped into her sleeping sheet. Yukino then hugged Aizawa tightly.

As for Takeo and Shizuka, the two of them could only sit in silence. This was the first time they realized that their attachment to Yukino was deeper than they thought. Therefore, the farewell with her was also more painful than they thought.

- - - - -

After breakfast, Hide's group immediately said goodbye to Yukino. Hide, Takeo, Shizuka, and Aizawa took turns hugging Yukino and kissing each other's cheeks.

As she hugged Aizawa, Yukino softly whispered, "Someday, I will look for you and we will play together again, Lil Sis."

"Mhm," in reflex, Aizawa tightened her embrace.

Then, with a serious tone Kiritani said, "Please believe in us, we will raise Yukino as if she is our own daughter."

Although his heart was still bitter, Hide managed to force a smile and replied, "We believe in you."

Kiritani, Kubota, and Yukino then escorted Hide's group to the front yard where a van was waiting. Since it had been decided that Hide's group would cut off any contact with the Kirishima Family, only a servant and not Kubota would escort them to Kano Central Station.

From the van's window, Aizawa waved to Yukino. She kept waving until the van turned and Yukino was out of sight, then she sat quietly between Hide and Shizuka. However, a few seconds later she began to sob.

'This kid is really weak to a farewell.'

Gently, Hide wiped Aizawa's tears and snot, while the journey to Kano Central Station continued in gloomy silence.

- - - - -

By using the bullet train, the journey from Kano City to Nichiko City takes about 14 hours. But in short, Hide's group arrived at Nichiko at 11:00 pm.

In front of Nichiko Central Station, while carrying Aizawa who was fast asleep, Hide explained to Takeo and Shizuka. First, Takeo had to track Takeshi Torumada using GPS tracking or cellular tracking. Takeshi was a lethal threat to Shizuka, so Hide had to eliminate him as soon as possible.

Second, Takeo and Shizuka had to return the Green SUV to the illegal parking area undetected, so in the future they could still borrow cars from the illegal parking area.

Then, casually Hide said, "I hope you won't be scolded by your parents."

"After I said we have to meet our supervisor from Elven Robotic in Hakaido, my parents only said I had to take care of our job seriously," Takeo replied.

"I said I need to do self-training for the next competition, and my father asked no question after that," Shizuka replied.

"Glad to hear that." Hide slightly smiled before continuing, "Then, see you tomorrow in school and be ready to receive the wrath of our homeroom teacher."

""Roger.""

A moment later, Hide got into a taxi with Aizawa who was still fast asleep, while Takeo and Shizuka got into another taxi. The journey to their homes then began.

*****