novelraw Chapter 147: Samurai Movie Immortal? Koyama Musae Wore Her Sister's Pajamas!
Chapter 147: Samurai Movie Immortal? Koyama Musae Wore Her Sister's Pajamas!
But Nohara Hiroshi fundamentally didn't care about these things. He only cared about how to film "Seven Samurai" in the shortest amount of time!
Monday at two o'clock in the afternoon sharp.
When the clapperboard for the first scene let out a crisp "snap" in the still slightly trembling hand of Assistant Director Soejima Shohei.
"Seven Samurai" officially raised its curtain!
"Lighting! The key light for Camera 1, raise it up another five centimeters, stop down the aperture halfway. I want that kind... of feeling of a ray of heavenly light barely squeezing out from the crevices of the clouds."
Nohara Hiroshi didn't sit behind that monitor symbolizing a director's authority, but rather acted like a ghost, wandering through every corner of the set.
And carrying out all sorts of instructions with eyes burning like a torch.
Or rather.
All instructions.
"Eh?" That master worker named Otomo responsible for lighting, a man who had worked in the Kurosawa Team for almost twenty years with a temper more explosive than a lightbulb, upon hearing this subconsciously frowned.
He glanced at that soft light screen specially arranged overhead to simulate a cloudy day, then looked at that already practically perfect picture in the monitor. In that voice, carrying a trace of impatience belonging to seniority: "General Director... Nohara, right now this lighting is already the most in line with natural light logic. If raised further up, the characters' faces, will appear... flat, without a three-dimensional feel."
Although these words were spoken politely, the meaning between the lines was glaringly obvious ——
Layman, don't point fingers here!
The entire set instantly quieted down.
All the members of the "Kurosawa Team", like a group of sharks smelling blood, in unison focused those gazes full of the meaning of watching a good show onto that young man.
They waited to see him make a fool of himself, waited to see him be refuted speechless by Master Otomo's set of "lighting theories" full of professional jargon.
However, Nohara Hiroshi didn't even bother to lift an eyelid.
He merely spat out two words calmly.
"Do it."
In that voice, there wasn't the slightest room for negotiation, only an unquestionable absolute command.
Master Otomo's already tanned face instantly flushed into the color of pig liver!
He had just opened his mouth, wanting to use a more intense method to defend his dignity belonging to a "professional", when an icy voice inappropriately sounded from behind him without any warning.
"Otomo, are you deaf?"
Kurosawa Eiji stood behind him at some unknown time.
Those sharp eyes stared fixedly at him, like looking at a disobedient ashigaru about to be beheaded under a horse.
"Didn't you hear the General Director's command?!" Kurosawa Eiji reprimanded.
"..." Otomo's body violently shuddered.
All those rebuttals of his that had reached his lips, under that gaze sufficient to freeze a person alive, turned into a rush of grievance and poured back into his stomach.
This lighting technician Otomo was very obedient towards Kurosawa Eiji.
So he pursed his lips, not daring to spout another half word of nonsense. He could only act like the most obedient marionette, hurriedly commanding his subordinates to readjust that damn lighting according to that young man's request.
The atmosphere on the set instantly dropped to the freezing point.
Everyone understood.
Director Kurosawa, was playing for real this time.
He, truly intended, to hand over all the power of life and death of this movie, into the hands of that young man who looked harmless to humans and animals!
"Camera! Camera 2, pull the lens down another three degrees. Yes, I want a, perspective from bottom to top, carrying a bit of looking up."
Nohara Hiroshi's voice sounded again.
"But, General Director..." The cameraman responsible for Camera 2, a young man similarly quite famous in the industry, hesitated for a moment, but eventually summoned his courage, reminding in a small voice: "This angle... will make the character's chin look very... very weird. It doesn't conform to traditional aesthetic composition."
"I said, do it."
Nohara Hiroshi didn't even bother to turn his head, merely casting his gaze towards that veteran actor playing "Kambei", Miyoshi Taiji, who was standing in the muddy rain waiting for the shooting to start.
"Miyoshi-san." Nohara Hiroshi was still giving instructions: "In a while, when the peasants kneel before you, I don't want you to show 'sympathy', nor do I want you to show 'arrogance'. I only want one expression ——"
He paused, and amidst those countless gazes full of confusion, slowly, spat out two words.
"—— Annoyance."
"Annoyance?!" Miyoshi Taiji was stunned.
He subconsciously wanted to rebut: "But... but General Director, isn't the character of Kambei a 'benevolent person'? Seeing these peasants suffering so much hardship, shouldn't he... feel compassion in his heart? How could it be... annoyance?"
"Because, he has seen through it."
Nohara Hiroshi looked at him, in those calm eyes, a trace of profound insight into human nature flashing: "He has seen through war, seen through slaughter, and even more so seen through, these peasants before him, who seemingly simple, but are actually more cunning than mountain bandits. He is annoyed by all of this, he only wants to escape. But, that damn 'Benevolence' of his belonging to a samurai, however, doesn't allow him to do so. What I want, is exactly this, ultimate contradiction of annoyance woven together with compassion."
This interpretation full of philosophical dialectics acted like a flash of lightning slicing through the chaos, instantly illuminating Miyoshi Taiji's heart full of confusion!
He blankly looked at that young man. On that steady face, all doubts had faded.
Leaving only a deep shock akin to a sudden enlightenment!
"I... I understand!" He nodded heavily.
And those members of the "Kurosawa Team" around who originally still harbored the mentality of continuing to watch a good show, after hearing these words, on those faces quietly surfaced an undisguised astonishment.
For the first time they realized, this young man, perhaps... truly was a bit different from those "academics" they had seen before who only knew how to talk on paper.
"Alright, all departments prepare!"
Nohara Hiroshi clapped his hands, instantly pulling this set full of surging undercurrents back onto the right track.
"Action!"
Accompanied by an order, that scene of pleading for help in the rain full of suppression and despair officially began filming!
And then, a miracle, happened.
Under Nohara Hiroshi's "god-tier" guidance precise to every micro-expression, every look, even the breathing rhythm of every line of dialogue.
Those Kanto Faction actors who had long grown accustomed to this "nanny-style" filming style of his, like a group of war machines whose all potentials were instantly activated, erupted with an unprecedented energy!
That contradiction of annoyance woven with compassion from Kambei.
That struggle of humbleness and cunning coexisting from the peasants.
That innocence and shock ignorant of the world from Katsushiro...
Everything, under the precise control of that young man, like a painting infused with a soul, was brought to life before the camera!
One take pass!
Another one take pass!
Even those few extra peasants with not even a single line of dialogue, guest-starred by amateur contestants from "Kasou Taishou", contributed Best Actor-level performances sufficient to make any professional actor sweat out of shame under those few magical pointers from Nohara Hiroshi!
The entire filming process was as smooth as a symphony rehearsed thousands of times, without the slightest dragging of mud and water!
And those members of the "Kurosawa Team" who originally still harbored contempt, had long acted like a group of marionettes collectively subjected to an immobilization spell, standing blankly on the spot.
They watched that young man strolling leisurely on the set as if everything was under his control. On those faces, remained only a deep numbness and... fear, after their worldview had been repeatedly crushed by a heavy hammer!
They had never seen, that a movie, could still be filmed like this!
Even Director Kurosawa Eiji, this giant of samurai movies once famous throughout the country, had never possessed such a smooth filming progress!
...
When the sky grew dark, and the first day's filming tasks were announced concluded ahead of schedule at a near-miraculous speed far exceeding everyone's imagination.
That rudimentary screening room temporarily built from a tent, was already packed with people.
The air was permeated with a thick curiosity.
All the members of the "Kurosawa Team", like a group of prisoners about to face trial, with solemn expressions, stared at that massive screen where a "public execution" was about to be staged.
They didn't believe it.
From the bottom of their hearts, they didn't believe that using that kind of filming method full of "layman" and "anti-common sense", something decent could be filmed.
"Let's begin."
Nohara Hiroshi's voice rang out calmly.
Editor Watanabe Ichiro took a deep breath and pressed the play button.
And then, the entire world went quiet.
On the screen, that light deliberately adjusted to be somewhat "flat", not only did not make the characters appear rigid, but conversely created a unique texture akin to a classicist oil painting, full of suppression and a sense of destiny.
That shot from bottom to top full of "looking up" perspective, magnified that face of Kambei written full of contradiction and struggle to a degree sufficient to suffocate all audiences!
That annoyance, that compassion, that ultimate pain produced by a declining hero of a class, when facing a world he both wanted to save and escape from...
Acted like the sharpest knife, fiercely plunging into the heart of everyone present!
No editing needed!
Even a soundtrack wasn't needed!
Those shots that could be called perfect, themselves, were a silent poem full of tragic solemnity and power!
"..."
Inside the screening room, one could hear a pin drop.
Assistant Director Soejima Shohei blankly looked at the screen. On his face at this moment only a deep powerlessness and... awe remained!
He finally understood, he seemed to have thought wrongly from the very beginning.
This young man, he simply wasn't "breaking the rules".
He was, making the rules!
A brand new set of film rules, belonging only to himself alone, named "Nohara Hiroshi"!
"Back then during 'Tales of the Unusual', I told you all, but you didn't believe it."
Kurosawa Eiji's voice full of emotion slowly rang out, like a giant boulder, thoroughly smashing this deathly silence.
"Now, do you believe it?"
"..."
No one answered.
Or rather, answering was no longer needed.
Those gazes that were once full of doubt and disdain, at this moment, had long been thoroughly filled by a nearly pilgrimage-like fanatical flame!
However, that young man who created the miracle, seemingly had long grown accustomed to all this.
He merely stood up calmly.
Amidst those countless gazes full of awe, slowly spat out a brand new command: "Alright, rest for ten minutes. Then, prepare to shoot night scenes."
Night... night scenes?!
Everyone was stunned.
They looked at that already deep night color outside the window, then looked at their own exhausted bodies whose all energy had long been squeezed dry, those faces all written full of unbelievable shock.
This... this guy... is he still human?!
Could it be... he doesn't need to rest?!
However, this time, no one dared to raise any objections anymore.
Because they knew, they were following a monster, creating a brand new, unheard-of history!
At the same time, everyone in their hearts also understood, the reason why over at the TV Tokyo Production Bureau Headquarters Building, everyone was shouting Nohara Hiroshi... was a monster!
Therefore, in the entire week that followed.
Studio 7, turned into an unsleeping purgatory full of miracles and wails.
Nohara Hiroshi, just like a precise war machine wound up with a perpetual motion spring, frantically pushed the progress of the entire filming forward with a nearly "perverse", outrageously high efficiency.
During the day, they rolled in the mud, fought amidst flames, and under pouring artificial heavy rain, interpreted the tragic solemnity and curtain fall of an era.
At night, under dim oil lamps, amidst dialogue full of calculation and probing, they dissected the hypocrisy and struggles of a class.
Everyone was pushed to their limits.
Those actors who usually lived in comfort, had long lost half a bit of celebrity airs, each and every one covered in dirt, yet excited as if injected with chicken blood.
Those battle-hardened veterans of the "Kurosawa Team", had long discarded all inherent experience and pride, acting like the most devout believers, nearly blindly executing every instruction issued by that young man, seemingly absurd yet always able to create miracles.
The lighting master Otomo, even for a so-called "catchlight that could shine into the depths of the soul" from Nohara Hiroshi's mouth, led his team, and forcibly stayed awake in front of the monitor for a full forty-eight hours.
The entire crew seemed to have gone mad.
They were like a group of ants swept into a massive whirlpool, involuntarily following that young man standing at the center of the storm, sprinting frantically towards that unknown finish line at a speed surpassing all common sense!
Until the dusk of the seventh day.
When that final shot, Kambei looking at those joyous fields and saying the line "In the end we lost this battle too", passed in one take with a nearly perfect posture...
"Cut!"
Nohara Hiroshi's calm voice, finally, drew a perfect period for this war full of madness and miracles.
"'Seven Samurai', officially wraps!"
"..."
The entire world, seemingly pressed on the mute button once again.
Everyone blankly stood on the spot. On those faces written full of exhaustion and mud, only a deep blankness produced after experiencing an unreal dream remained.
It's over?
This is... over?
An epic masterpiece sufficient to be dubbed an "epic", unexpectedly... really, only used one week of time, to... finish filming?!
"Oh——!!!"
After a brief deathly silence, a cheer full of ecstasy and catharsis sufficient to overturn the entire studio, exploded like a volcanic eruption!
Everyone cheered!
They hugged, roared, wept, like a group of soldiers who had won an unwinnable war in a desperate situation.
Using the most primal roars, venting out that emotion in their hearts that had long accumulated to the limit!
And right amidst this boiling ocean full of revelry and tears.
That young man who created all this, merely calmly handed over those few heavy reels of movie film, into the hands of Kurosawa Eiji who was already so excited that old tears crisscrossed his face.
"Director Kurosawa, the rest, I'll leave to you."
"Good... Good!" Kurosawa Eiji slowly nodded, looking at Nohara Hiroshi's face that despite also being full of exhaustion, was still so calm. His tone grew even more emotional: "Nohara-kun, do you know?" He spoke softly.
"What?" Nohara Hiroshi looked at him.
"I am very glad I wasn't born in the same era as you." Kurosawa Eiji spoke, a smile of rejoicing appearing on his face.
Especially looking at those heavy films in his hands, he slowly shook his head even more: "I once took pride in those samurai movies I filmed, but after watching your 'Seven Samurai', I realized, those samurai movies I filmed were just some action movies, still stuck at the stage of 'technique'..."
As he spoke, Kurosawa Eiji looked at Nohara Hiroshi who raised his eyebrows in front of him, sighing with emotion: "But you, Nohara-kun, you are already at the level of 'Dao', already at the level of 'Immortal'!"
"...Director Kurosawa, your meaning, you couldn't be saying, that the samurai movies filmed by me, Nohara Hiroshi, can be called 'Samurai Movie Immortal', right?" The corner of Nohara Hiroshi's eye twitched as he made a joke.
But Kurosawa Eiji at this time didn't have half a bit of joking meaning. Looking at Nohara Hiroshi, he unexpectedly nodded seriously: "That's right, you, Nohara Hiroshi, are exactly the 'Samurai Movie Immortal'!"
"..." Nohara Hiroshi was a bit speechless.
Although he knew that in his past life in Japan, the "Seven Samurai" filmed by the famous director Akira Kurosawa could be called an international-level movie surpassing the national level.
From the individual to the class and then to class contradictions and conflicts.
The principles expounded were close to 'Dao'.
But having come to this Japanese world, being praised as the overused title of 'Samurai Movie Immortal', was still a bit like weaving a cocoon to trap oneself.
"No, no, no, I'm no 'Samurai Movie Immortal'." Nohara Hiroshi smiled bitterly: "I'm just an ordinary person."
Immortal... Immortal my foot Immortal!
These were no longer good words!
Nohara Hiroshi slandered in his heart, but had to maintain that humility belonging to a junior, and exchanged a few more pleasantries with this master who had thoroughly fallen into fanaticism, before finally being able to extract himself.
"Nohara-kun, Monday!" Kurosawa Eiji stood beside the black commercial vehicle, saying seriously: "On Monday, I will take the edited demo, and personally go to the Production Bureau to find you and Deputy Director Asumi! Be there or be square!"
"Alright, Director Kurosawa." Nohara Hiroshi helplessly agreed, but in his heart let out a long breath.
He felt that this one week of his, was even more tiring than the past three months combined.
The physical exhaustion was secondary, more importantly was the mental consumption.
Especially when dealing with a stubborn old man whose energetic vigor completely didn't conform to physiological laws, he truly couldn't parry it.
In the driver's seat, that driver who acted like the most loyal background board from beginning to end inquired: "Manager Nohara, where are we going now?"
"Let's go home, back to my house."
Nohara Hiroshi leaned against the soft leather seat in the back row. After stating the address of his own home, he closed his eyes, intending to squint for a while first.
The car silently slid into that never-ceasing traffic flow of Tokyo. Outside the window was the gradually sinking twilight, and those patches of brilliant lights being lit up one by one, like stars plummeting into the mortal realm.
He didn't think about anything else anymore.
Because in his mind, only one figure remained.
A figure wearing a cute little bear apron, who would always use those watery large eyes, carrying a bit of coy reproach, complaining about him not coming home on time for dinner again, yet would also plunge into his embrace like a fledgling swallow returning to the forest the moment he pushed open the door to their home, a pretty figure brushing away an entire body's exhaustion for him.
Misae.
That only, and also warmest harbor of his in this cold city.
...
The night color was like ink, gently wrapping the entire city.
That dim streetlamp downstairs of the apartment threw a lonely yet warm halo on the cold concrete ground.
Nohara Hiroshi declined the driver's good intention to escort him upstairs. He dragged those legs that seemed to be filled with lead alone, walking step by step towards that familiar house door that carried all his sweet memories.
He didn't ring the doorbell.
Instead, from his pocket, carefully, he fished out that key that had long been warmed up by the temperature of his palm.
He wanted to give her a surprise.
The key inserted into the keyhole, emitting an almost inaudible soft click.
The door was silently pushed open a crack.
A cooking aroma mixing the fresh scent of vegetables and rich sauce scent scrambled out through the opened door crack, acting like the gentlest hands, instantly smoothing out that exhaustion of his that had long accumulated to the limit.
She was cooking.
"What is it?"
Nohara Hiroshi's heart was instantly filled by a massive warm current.
He changed into his slippers, casually placed that heavy briefcase on the shoe cabinet in the entryway, and then, tiptoed, like the most cunning cheetah, silently sneaking towards that kitchen emitting tantalizing aromas and a warm halo.
The main light in the kitchen wasn't turned on, only that dim small light under the range hood was lit.
A petite figure, was facing away from him, standing at the kitchen counter.
On her body was wearing that pink pajamas printed with a cute little bear pattern he was most familiar with. A head of supple black long hair casually draped over her shoulders, currently gently swaying along with that chopping motion of hers full of rhythm.
That picture was full of the tenderness of years of peace and quiet.
The corners of Nohara Hiroshi's mouth uncontrollably, curled into a bad smile full of doting.
Especially those buttock contours already propping up the pajamas under that slender waist.
"The big tiger is coming!"
Thus Nohara Hiroshi opened his arms, like a fierce tiger about to hunt, silently, step by step approaching that poor little lamb completely defenseless against him.
However, just when his hands were about to touch that delicate body emitting a faint fresh scent, his movements froze in mid-air without any warning.
Those eyes of his that were always calm and collected, uncontrollably shrank violently at this moment!
No!
This figure... isn't right!
Although wearing the same pajamas, keeping the same hairstyle, but... too petite!
Compared to Misae, at least a head shorter!
That slender skeletal frame uniquely belonging to a young girl, and that slightly unworldly body curve full of youthful vitality, clearly outlined a strange silhouette under that dim light, that was both familiar, yet full of fatal danger!
Nohara Hiroshi felt his brain, as if fiercely struck by a clap of thunder!
A thought full of absurdity and shock, frantically blossomed from the bottom of his heart uncontrollably!
Nohara Hiroshi blurted out: "Koyama... Musae?!"
"Aiya!"
That petite figure currently focused on chopping vegetables violently shuddered!
She was like a frightened little rabbit, swiftly turning around.
A pretty face holding seven parts similarity to Koyama Misae, yet appearing more charming and lively, appeared in Nohara Hiroshi's line of sight.
Those pitch-black large eyes, like two of the most dazzling obsidians, upon seeing clearly the person arriving, first flashed a panic of being caught in the act on the spot, and immediately, was thoroughly filled by a stronger light full of pleasant surprise and fanaticism!
"Brother-in-law!"
She dropped the kitchen knife in her hand, like a happy little butterfly, taking brisk steps, bringing a gust of fragrant wind, and pounced flying towards Nohara Hiroshi!
"You're back! I missed you so much!"
"..."
Nohara Hiroshi felt his temples throbbing frantically.
He subconsciously reached out his hand, and before that delicate body full of youthful vitality was about to crash into his embrace, he used a posture full of an older brother's majesty, firmly, pressing down on that furry little head of hers.
"Stop." His voice, was flat, yet carried an unquestionable power: "Why are you here?"
"Why can't I be here?"
Koyama Musae's little head was pressed by him, only able to stop at a distance of one meter away from him. She pouted that cherry-like small mouth dissatisfiedly, but in those pitch-black large eyes, flashed an excited light: "This is my second sister's house, which is also half my house! I came to my own house, do I still have to report to this 'outsider' of you?"
She deliberately emphasized the tone on the word "outsider", that confident and self-righteous "provocation" unique to a sister-in-law, overflowing in her words.
Nohara Hiroshi's forehead, instantly sprouted a few clearly visible black lines.
He just opened his mouth, wanting to use a brother-in-law's majesty to suppress this unhealthy trend, when a voice full of pleasant surprise, transmitted from the doorway of that bathroom full of water vapor.
"Hiroshi-kun! You're back!"
Accompanied by a soft "whoosh", the frosted glass door of the bathroom was pushed open from the inside.
On Koyama Misae's body was wearing another set of equally cute pajamas. A head of dripping wet long hair was currently casually wrapped with a towel. On that pretty face fresh from the bath, carried a bit of moving flush, like a fully ripe water peach, emitting a tantalizing aroma.
The moment she saw Nohara Hiroshi, those beautiful large eyes, instantly smiled into a sweet crescent moon. She took brisk steps, wanting to step forward, to give him a hug full of love.
However, when her gaze, fell on those two figures, deadlocked at the kitchen doorway with a posture full of the meaning of "confrontation", all those sweet words that reached her lips, turned into a soft exclamation full of helplessness.
"Aiya, you two, what are you fussing about again?"
She quickly stepped forward, like a protective mother hen, gently patting respectively in the "gunpowder-scented" confrontation of her younger sister and her own man.
"Musae, no being disrespectful to your elders, this is your brother-in-law!"
"Hiroshi-kun, you too really, what are you bickering about with a child."
As she spoke, she naturally hooked onto Nohara Hiroshi's arm, pulling him to her side. That posture, was like a most competent hostess, mediating a harmless family dispute.
"Don't listen to this girl spout nonsense." She lifted that slightly red little face, and towards Nohara Hiroshi, revealed a sweet smile full of apology: "Musae ah, she only arrived yesterday. It's not just her, Mom and Dad also came together."
"...Ha?"
Nohara Hiroshi felt that heart of his that was already somewhat fragile due to a week of high-intensity work, at this moment, was thoroughly drowned by an even more absurd, nearly unrealistic feeling!
Father-in-law and mother-in-law also came?!
"Yeah."
Misae nodded her head, on that pretty face, brimming with pride: "Don't you know, that 'Kasou Taishou' of yours, how popular it is nationwide now! Over in our Kumamoto Prefecture, there is also a folk art troupe called 'Land of Fire Taiko', pushing through all hurdles, fighting their way into the national finals! Dad ah, as a representative of Kumamoto Prefecture's educational circles, this time was specially dispatched by the prefecture, to act as the leader of their 'Family and Friends Cheering Squad'!"
"..."
The corners of Nohara Hiroshi's mouth, uncontrollably, twitched.
He could almost imagine, his own father-in-law who was as stubborn as a rock, at this moment wearing a happi coat printed with "Kumamoto Must Win", waving a small flag, leading a group of middle-aged uncles and aunts similarly full of rural flavor, on the streets of Tokyo, using that bold tone full of Kumamoto dialect, shouting cheering slogans, a picture full of magical realism.
"Then... where are they?" He asked weakly.
"Oh, Mom and Dad ah, they today followed that art troupe, went to the television station over there, to familiarize themselves with the venue, and incidentally participated in the dress rehearsal."
As Misae spoke, she pulled him, and sat down before that small dining table. Immediately acting like a little squirrel offering a treasure, serving up that pot of vegetable miso soup that had long been stewed to exude a mouthwatering aroma.
"This kid Musae, also insisted on following along to join the fun. She said, she wants to see with her own eyes, how that legendary genius brother-in-law of hers, exactly plays the entire Japan, in the palm of his hands."
As she spoke, she even playfully directed a coy glare at that younger sister currently sticking out her tongue and making a funny face.
"So, just bear with it a bit today, Hiroshi-kun." She served him a bowl of steaming miso soup, in those beautiful large eyes, filled with gentleness and apology: "Home... might be lively for a while."
Nohara Hiroshi looked at this scene full of life's breath before him, listening to the chattering sound full of youthful vitality by his ear, smelling the aroma of food full of the taste of hometown at the tip of his nose.
That originally exhausted heart, inexplicably was filled by a warmth full of the vitality of life.
He exhaled a long breath.
That breath, seemingly took away all his exhaustion and loneliness of this week.
He looked at these two girls before him, one big and one small, equally lively and fragrant, equally making him care deeply, on that handsome face, finally bloomed a gentle smile from the bottom of his heart, full of helplessness yet incomparably doting.
"I know."
He picked up that bowl of miso soup full of the taste of "home", and gently took a sip. That warm liquid sliding down his throat, like the gentlest warm current, instantly dispelled all the gloom in his heart.
"Welcome home, Musae."
His voice was calm, yet carried a power sufficient to make any wandering soul feel at ease.
"Also... my Mrs. Nohara, next time uncle and aunt come over remember to tell me in advance. Preparing no gifts now, this counts as me the future son-in-law being impolite!"
"Aiya aiya!" When Misae heard terms like 'Mrs. Nohara' and 'future son-in-law', her small face instantly blushed red.
But she also said happily: "Isn't this afraid you're busy~"
(End of Chapter)