Disciple Bizarre!
Ch. 45 - After 53 Years

(Kihara Lullin POV)

Today, Akemi invited me to meet her grandmother in Osaka. We went on a train with Shino who inexplicably came with us. But it was not strange considering that the two people were indeed quite close.

I'm so nervous right now. Feelings of longing and fear are mixed. However, what I did before was a mistake. I have to apologize to him when I meet him.

"Akemi, it doesn't seem like it, your grandmother must have scolded me when she met. I'm scared." I intend to return home even though I have now gotten off the station.

"He's your brother. You don't need to be afraid, Saori Obaa-san."

"Don't call me that! We're the same age, Akemi!"

"Alright, then, Lullin Obaa-san."

"We're the same age!"

Shino just laughed at our conversation.

Before long, a black sedan stopped in front of us. The window glass began to open. A beautiful woman with glasses looks from the steering wheel.

"Let's go in."

Akemi opened the front door, and sat there. Me and Shino sat in the back. This short-haired beauty turns out to be Akemi's mother, her name is Yoshino Akane.

"Yoshino is my father's clan, not my husband's. I've been divorced from her since Akemi was a child. Akemi's never even seen her father."

Unasked, Akane-san kept telling me about herself and Akemi. Shino did not look surprised, as she had heard before.

"Oh, so Yoshino's his grandfather's clan Akemi, huh?" my many.

"Yes." Yeah."

"What's my father's price?" ask Akemi.

"I won't tell you."

"Why? From childhood I wonder, why do you always keep it a secret?"

"He's alive, I don't want you looking for him."

"Hee...."

Akemi seemed familiar with her mother. If you see Akemi acting like this, it feels strange to think she is a quiet child.

Akane-san used to steal a glance at me through the front view. Even though he's my brother's son, he's still older than me. Mental age he is more mature. I was nervous to see it continue like that.

"Saori... Lullins. You're my mother's sister, right? Should I call you Auntie?"

"Eh, no, no. Just call Lullin, Akane-san!"

"Haha, okay. But you really look like the one in the photo, just a little bit more mature. The one in the picture when you were Junior High, huh?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"Meanwhile, 53 years ago?"

"true."

Before long, we arrived at Akemi's house. Akemi said her whole family lives here. I'm getting nervous.

"Not many people, really. In this house there is only a mother, grandmother, and two other people. I don't have a brother, I'm an only child." As if knowing about my nervousness, Akemi suddenly calmed down.

By the time we entered, an old woman was already standing in front of the door holding hands. His face is old, but I can still recognize him.

Feeling guilty, I raised my hand.

"Hi!"

"Basin' stupid boy!" Shiori slapped my cheek.

However, before I retaliated, he immediately hugged me tightly.

"Welcome, Onee-chan. I miss you." Tears running down my neck. I suddenly wanted to cry too, but still I could bear it.

"I'm home, Shiori."

By the time I arrived, the dining table was already full of delicious dishes. Akemi said they were going to provide food, so we deliberately delayed lunch.

"It's all the grandma cooking. My mother can't cook" Akemi said as she looked at me.

"Achemy!!!"

"Already, let's eat, Saori Obaa-san."

"Achemy!!!"

"Right now your name is Saori."

"Alright...."

We ate at the five-table. I sat next to Shiori. She seemed so happy to see my arrival that she probably never expected before.

"So, after I left, did you continue playing Shogi?" my many.

"Shogis? I haven't touched that board in a long time. But as I recall, I haven't played Shogi since Onee-chan left. I played Shogi because of Onee-chan. If you're not around, why would I play Shogi!"

Even though I was old, I could see his childish behavior. Maybe it had been a long time that he had not spoiled on someone older than him.

"How much money are you now? Is your husband still alive?"

"My age 63. My husband died three years ago. My son is only one, Akane. Although he does not look smart, he is a graduate of the University of Tokyo, you know!" shiori said as she looked at Akane.

"What do you mean I don't look like a smart person?!"

"Aren't you, Onee-chan?"

Everyone's staring at me.

My answer made Akane-san happy, and made Shiori shake her head. Akemi doesn't seem to care.

The fruit does not fall far from the stem. Shiori's intelligence fell on her son and grandson. Seeing Akemi who is smart like this, I became curious, will her son be smart as well?

"Onee-chan, what did you run away for? Is it because I'm so good at Shogi that it makes you always compare to me?"

"No, no, not that, really. That's kind of bothering me, but that's not the main reason."

"What's the main reason?"

I then told her about the man I liked, but instead liked Shiori. I was a little embarrassed to tell you this, it felt like the reason was too stupid, but at that moment my heart was really being shaken.

"Oh, Yamada-san. She did ask me out, but I refused."

"Why?!"

"Yes, since I know, Onee-chan likes Yamada-san. So just in case Onee-chan comes back, I continue to reject her invitation to date, and choose to marry Kyojuro. Akemi's grandfather."

Ah, right too. Yoshino was a close friend of Yamada's when he was in school. He's my classmate. Smartest student in class. Yoshino Kyojuro.

We talked about a lot after we finished eating. Shiori dominated the conversation. Shino and Akemi sometimes chimed in, curious about our relationship. Akane-san is quiet more often.

"I really feel guilty. I should be as old as you are now, Shiori. Or maybe he's dead. I think I've broken the rules of the world."

"It's okay, Onee-chan. Just seeing you again makes me happy. Moreover, you are still this young, I am so grateful that you will have a long life. Ah, I hope I'm old enough to see you have a partner later. I wonder how your son is, will he look like you? Haha."

I'm grateful to still be able to see Shiori. He still looked healthy at the age of six. I have so many things to ask him. About 50 years lost. About how he grew up, got a job, and also a partner. About how he's dealing with the loss of my beloved sister.

I think I'm going to sleep with him tonight and tell him a lot of things.

"By the way, how did mom and dad react when I left? They must be furious, right? Where is their tomb? Please take me there, Shiori!"

When chatting with Shiori, it felt like I could be myself, not be as shy as when talking to others. I didn't even realize I was being noticed by Shino and Akemi.

"The grave? What is onee-chan talking about? They're still alive. Just ask them how they reacted back then!"

Shiori then pointed towards the door. There were two parents who were much older than Shiori, both wearing peasant hats, topping baskets filled with apples. They smile at me.

Unknowingly, my tears welled up, I ran towards them and hugged both of them. Really, I didn't think they were alive.

"Mother, Dad, I'm sorry!!!"

Both of them rubbed my head. It feels nostalgic. I haven't bothered with someone in a long time.

"Why are you still alive? How old are you now?!" my many.

"Dad 85."

"Mother 84."

"Heee...." I smiled and hugged the two again.

It turns out there is a possibility like this. There's a possibility where both my parents are still alive. I thought I was alone in this world. Apparently my family is intact.

I'm happy because my mom and dad still seem so healthy. Thank goodness they were both farmers.

"Akemi, marry quickly and have children. I want to see my grandson's granddaughter" said the father.

"Yes, there's Erza Erza's quick application, before people take it." Mother added.

Akemi's face flushed.

"I-I didn't think it got there! Erza is just a friend!"

"Heee. but at every tanabata festival, your wish is always to see Erza again. Great yes, your dream has been fulfilled now," Akane-san said.

"Mother looking at the paper I hung on a bamboo tree?!"

"Every year."

"Aaaaar!!!" Akemi immediately shouted and drowned her head on the table.

It was funny to see Akemi's timid expression. Never seen at school.

After that, I spent three days in Osaka, at Akemi's house, we skipped one day on the grounds of family events. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why Shino wanted to come here.

I spent a lot of time chatting with my parents and brother. Even though their age was far away from me, it still felt the same as when they had gathered first. I don't feel lonely anymore. I was so happy that I couldn't express it.

At night, while watching the moon shine on the balcony, Akemi and I talked.

"Since your parents are still around, do you want to change your surname and first name again like you used to? To become Tsuruga Saori again? You've got a real guardian now."

"No, Tsuruga Saori has been gone for a long time. I only became Tsuruga Saori while I was here. When I'm outside, I'll still be Kihara Lullin. I want to live by my new name."

"Heee, you're talking good now. Not as nervous as before. As expected of her sister Grandma. Great."

"E-uh? W-was I being too pretentious?! I-I'm sorry Akemi, but after knowing you're my sister's granddaughter, I can't consider you someone else. I've taken you as my family, Akemi! And Akane-san." So too."

Akemi smiled. "Yes, it's okay. I'm just happy."

I looked at Akemi who was smiling at me.

"Akemi, try smiling like that to Erza. He'll definitely like you."

Akemi's face flushed. "Bo-stupid! Don't talk about it, Saori Obaa-san!" He punched me in the shoulder.

"Eeehh...."

We talked about Erza there. Shino didn't come because she was asleep. Akemi said she did her best to get close to Erza. But Akemi feels Erza always avoids or pretends to be insensitive.

I do not know how to advise my friend and grandson on this one, because my own love story does not end well.

I just said a word to him.

"Keep fighting, Akemi!"