Aunt Xiangzi, how did you manage to live?

Watching Xiangzi disappear through the bedroom door, Kazama let out a long sigh of relief, then tilted his head to look at the light green-haired girl who was still clinging to him and unwilling to get down.

"Is what Chu Hua said true?"

Muya, who had been as quiet as a chicken, finally spoke at this moment. She even loosened her grip on the boy's neck, leaving enough distance between them.

"We are...family?"

She gave up on trying to figure out her own feelings and instead began to carefully examine the boy's features and appearance.

His handsome face, sculpted yet still retaining a touch of youthful innocence, features striking amber eyes that clearly capture the essence of Xiangzi.

She reached out and gently stroked the boy's face, as if wanting to feel the contours of his features with her fingers. Xiao didn't avoid her touch and obediently let Mu knead his cheeks.

Now everything can be explained clearly.

Why does he bring me an unprecedented sense of security? Why do I want to be number one in his heart no matter what? Why do I feel it's only natural to do things that cross the line to him?

"Xiao is my son...?"

Chapter Thirty: No Longer Just Family

"Xiao...is my son?"

The moment that guess slipped out, Ruoye Mu herself was stunned.

The boy in front of her, who looked older and much taller than her... became her son in Chu Hua's mouth.

At first, she thought that Chu Hua had lost control of her emotions because she saw them behaving intimately, and had said such confusing things in a moment of impulse.

But upon closer reflection, these most unconventional words seem to perfectly explain why things turned out this way.

Why didn't she resist Xiao's advances when they first met? Why did she want to be the most important person in his heart? Why didn't she feel any aversion to physical contact with him, but instead felt as close as family?

Why was he able to arrive at the accident scene just before Xiangzi's car accident and save the girl's life at the cost of his own?

If we connect Chu Hua's explanation with these events one by one, then everything makes sense.

"I know this is really hard for people to accept, and I understand if you can't understand it right now. But... it really is."

Isn't this just giving up? Kazama gritted his teeth; it's not like he hasn't done this before.

"Yes, I did indeed travel from the future, and I am the genuine son of [Wakaba Mutsu]—[Wakaba Akira]. Due to some unexpected circumstances, I traveled to several decades ago, which is now."

After taking a deep breath, he cleared his throat and formally revealed his long-hidden true identity to Mu.

"This is a bit difficult to explain. If you really believe that I am a time traveler from the future, you can try asking me some secrets that only family members know."

Kazama pointed to himself with his index finger, already mentally prepared for it to take a lot of effort to persuade Mutsu.

Mu shook his head after a brief moment of thought.

"No need for self-proof, I believe in Xiao."

"Hmm...Eh? You believe me so easily?"

This flattered Xiao, who had thought Mu would be as stubborn as Li Xi or Su Shi.

"Wakaba...Akatsuki".

The girl with light green hair did not question his identity again and again. Instead, she called out the words in a light and melodious voice, words that were very familiar to her but somewhat unfamiliar when put together.

The pronunciation of these three words together is also exceptionally beautiful, enough to bring a satisfied smile to Mu's lips.

"If I were to have children in the future... this would indeed be a good name."

Without needing much explanation, Ruo Ye Mu opened his arms and gently hugged the boy who was much stronger than himself.

"Keeping this secret for so long must have been incredibly difficult, Akatsuki?"

Even though Ye Mu is not good at comforting others or expressing care and concern, at this moment she feels that it is perfectly normal to care for the boy in front of her.

"Although I don't know if I will be a good mother in the future... but I'm so grateful for Xiao's perseverance."

She rested her head on Xiao's shoulder and gently patted the boy's back with a somewhat clumsy but endearingly awkward movement.

"...!"

Since arriving in this unfamiliar time and space, Xiao, who had never uttered a discouraging word even when exhausted, suddenly felt a lump in her throat for no reason.

"...Mumu, who raised me, is an exceptionally wonderful mother."

He suppressed his slightly bittersweet feelings, buried his head in Mu's neck, and stretched out his arms to embrace the girl in front of him who gave him so much warmth.

He knew that the girl in front of him could not be the mother in his memory, and could never become her or even replace her.

Even though this was an experience that had never happened to her before, Mu would still try her best to show the utmost gentleness, offering comfort and warmth as she did now.

...She's such a likable girl.

Xiao squinted, inhaling the fragrance emanating from the girl's hair filling her nostrils.

He remembered his mother, Wakaba Mutsu, as someone who would never use shampoo with this scent.

However, he didn't dislike the smell.

Just as Xiao closed his eyes to quietly enjoy the peace and comfort of being understood, a battle between heaven and man was taking place in a place he had never noticed.

【Huh? Xiao is our son?! What kind of nonsense is this?!】

Within Ruoye Mu's consciousness space, Metis, who had just learned of this earth-shattering secret, immediately sprang from the bed and jumped in front of the calm-looking Mu.

Mu Fei quickly accepted this fact, but Metis not only didn't believe it at all, but was also so shocked by the news that he couldn't remain calm.

"Ruo Yexiao...that's a very nice name."

Mu, who appeared in the consciousness space and was dealing with Metis, completely ignored her question. She sat quietly on the edge of the bed holding a doll, and even a slight smile appeared on her lips when she murmured those three words.

【What are you grinning about, Mu?! You actually believe such ridiculous things?!】

"Xiao confessed to me, and I believe what he said."

[Huh?! Xiao Mu, you fell for it so easily? The more handsome a man is, the more likely he is to lie!]

"Xiao wouldn't lie to me."

Faced with each of Metis's questions, Mu remained calm and responded briefly in a nonchalant tone, but her face always wore a smile.

[Although I don't know where you get the confidence that Xiao wouldn't lie to you, Xiao Mu, what are you grinning about like an idiot for from the very beginning?]

Metis pouted slightly, making his cheeks puff out like a hamster's.

Is becoming family with Akatsuki really something to be happy about? With so many people like Minami, wouldn't it feel even more restrictive?

"It's troublesome with other people. But it's very happy with Xiao."

Why? What's there to be happy about? Besides, Xiaomu isn't just thinking about Xiao... If they were family, she shouldn't have any other thoughts!

"That kind of thing, it's okay, right?"

Mu put down the doll and looked at Metis sitting next to her with a puzzled expression. In this space of consciousness where she could speak her mind without restraint, she spoke with a calm and firm tone as if stating an established fact.

"It's not bad that fate and destiny are buried in the veins."

【…………………Um?】

Metis was stunned for several seconds. Such a large amount of information was somewhat incomprehensible to her, whose IQ and EQ were comparable to those of a child.

Mu didn't care about that, and in the most natural tone, he uttered a confession that was even more unexpected to Metis.

"No matter when or in what capacity, I will always be with Xiao—I like it this way."

Mu said this with a smile, as if he didn't care at all what Metis or anyone else thought.

【Xiao Mu…?】

Metis, being cautious, came to her senses and realized that something was truly wrong.

It's far more than just attachment to family or friends... Isn't Mu's relationship a bit too heavy?

Chapter Thirty-One: Little Mother, Harmonious Relationship, and Aunt Xiangzi

About two or three minutes ago, Xiangzi, who had been chasing after her, caught up with Sanka, who was fleeing in a sorry state from Ruoye's house onto the road. She reached out and grabbed Sanka, who was still trying to escape.

"Wait—Chu Hua! Why did you just say those things?"

Chu Hua's departing figure was successfully stopped by Xiangzi's questioning, and her silence made Xiangzi throw out all the questions he wanted to ask.

"Kazama-kun is actually someone who traveled from the future, and Mutsumi is his mother who raised him... Is this the secret between you and Kazama-kun all this time?! This is utterly absurd—"

"This is such an absurd thing... Xiao Xiang definitely won't believe it. Forget it, hiding it now would just be creating more mystery..."

With her back to Xiangzi, Chu Hua suddenly pulled her hand away and finished making up the rest of the secret under Xiangzi's somewhat astonished gaze.

"Xiao Xiang has always wanted to know the inside story, so I'll tell you everything exactly as it is."

When Chu Hua turned her head, Xiangzi noticed that the edges of her eyes were already tinged with red.

"Xiao Mu is Xiao Jun's mother, and I, along with classmates Su Shi and Li Xi, are Xiao Mu's good friends who accompanied her in raising Xiao Jun."

"Eh……?"

Toyokawa Shoko noticed that her name was not included.

"Yes, as clever as Xiao Xiang is, he should have noticed that something is wrong."

Sanjiao Chuhua took a deep breath and then told Xiangzi, who was still completely in the dark, the truth word by word.

"Xiao Xiang's life wasn't invited by the future. Xiao Jun already knew this. He stubbornly changed your fate, and everyone's fate as well. So at least..."

At least Toyokawa Shoko is the one who should be on the side of her savior.

"what……"

For a moment, Xiangzi was unable to refute Chuhua's words, and the latter broke free from her grasp and gradually walked away while she was in a daze.

The person she used to hate the most was the savior who changed the course of her life—and who was also the future son of Xiao Mu, who witnessed her death.

Toyokawa Shoko stood there, staring at the ground with longing eyes.

She couldn't tell which side was reality.

On the other side, Yiqi VI Yi ③ Er (two) Gui Er.

While the truth revealed by Misaka Chuka was perplexing, Mutsu's reaction returned to calm after she understood everything.

“I will be Xiao’s mother in the future, and Xiao will be my son… We will become family.”

The bond between mother and child, bound by blood, is an unbreakable tie that can never be severed in this lifetime, and a shackle that can never be easily broken.

Anyway, let's just be neighbors. As long as Yue-yi can stay with Xiao, Mu doesn't care what their specific roles are.

No, no, no, I'm not prepared for us to have a child! Even if it's Xiao!

In contrast, Metis's face was full of resistance and avoidance.

“We…? Xiao is my child.” (8) 2

Mu frowned, and even though she was usually good-tempered, she rarely showed displeasure on her face.

【Ugh—Xiao Mu, isn't your son practically my son?! Seriously, why did you accept this argument so readily? Xiao Mu, what are you planning to do? I certainly don't want to be a mother so soon!】

Actually, only the last sentence was sincere, Miss Metis.

“It’s alright. If you’re not prepared, Metis, you don’t have to force yourself.”

Mu sat up from the bed in the consciousness space. Before leaving her conversation with Metis, she conveyed her feelings to this second personality in a firm tone.

"I will take this responsibility myself and be a good mother."

Wakaba Muku made up her mind.

After withdrawing from his conscious space, Mu, who had buried his entire upper body in the boy's embrace, looked up and reluctantly pulled himself out of this comfortable place of refuge.

She looked into Xiao's eyes, and then solemnly expressed her firm feelings to Xiao.

"...I will become a competent mother to Yingqi (-six) and Er Er Qiu Er Yueyi. Please take good care of me."

"………Um?"

This time, it was Kazama, who was being quite frank, who lost his composure.