The group of four was escorted inside the traditional Japanese mansion by Atsuku's mother and some scary guys wearing flashy clothes with arms filled with tattoos.
If you were wondering what line of work the Fujiwara Family had, then the answer was evident from their clothing. They were yakuza.
They were taken inside a hall-like room, sitting on their knees in front of Atsuku's mother. The sitting position was Atsuku, Gaia, Rio, then Yamada from left to right. The scary guys didn't enter the room. Instead, they were waiting outside, standing still to look out for the watch.
Atsuku's mother was a beauty, even though she was already in her fifties. Her name was Fujiwara Kiyo, and she was the one who controlled the people in this house.
After a few seconds, Atsuku's mother, Fujiwara Kiyo, spoke first.
"I am happy that you decided to return, Atsuku." She said, then she turned toward Rio and Yamada, who sat beside Atsuku.
"I am also glad to see you again, Gualtiero's child. Your father contacted me last night, and thanks to that, we managed to get by the situation without panic. A part of it is also thanks to that girl, but I am grateful because your father contacted us, too, out of worry."
"Please don't worry about that, Lady Kiyo. Our families are allies, so it's natural to help each other. Also, I believe the situation of the Fujiwara Family is not that bad because of the presence of the Young Miss?"
Yamada answered with a business-like smile. He looked like a calculated businessman right now, mainly because he was in another's family house and talking to the head of the said house.
"Yes, you're correct. She suddenly took control of my men and told them to catch those shadows. She also got one herself and helped me get one while my son was gone in some place I don't know about."
She glanced at Atsuku with a poison-laced gaze. A hint of disappointment was mixed in it.
"I have returned due to the situation, so don't complain again, mother. I am also ready to take over your position if you want to step down." Atsuku replied seriously as he looked straight at his mother.
He exuded the aura of an experienced veteran. It was really different from his usual self, as he was being serious right now.
Kiyo also noticed something different about her son. The usual Atsuku wouldn't even say he was ready to take over her position.
"Are you serious, Atsuku?" She asked, feeling a bit happy that her son had finally changed his mind. But she hid it from him.
"Are you not joking because you fear the current situation and are willing to take over my position? You even ran away from the house, shouting that you refused to be the head of our family a year ago."
"I am serious." He answered without breaking eye contact.
The atmosphere suddenly became heavy as Atsuku and his mother glared at each other with their sharp gaze.
After a while, Kiyo smiled a little, happy with her son's seriousness.
"Alright then. I am glad you returned to us, Atsuku."
"Yeah…" Atsuku nodded, smiling back. "Talking about coming back, is the house situation no different from when I left?"
"It is roughly the same. A lot of people asked me to find a successor and forget about you, but then, you returned. However, there should be someone who tries to get in our way to make you take over my position. We can find them later. For now..." Kiyo said.
Then she snapped her finger.
Snap!
As soon as she did that, the sliding door opened, and a guy with slicked-back black hair and a scary face and neck filled with tattoos entered the room slowly. He wore a red shirt and a black suit. Covering his eyes were sunglasses; he looked like a seasoned office worker.
The man was also as tall as Atsuku after his change, which was around 180 cm. Quite tall for a Japanese person.
Atsuku recognized the man, and the other party also nodded in respect when he saw him. However, the man's expression turned serious the next second as he sat three steps behind Kiyo on his knees.
"Did you call me, Ma'am?"
"Yes. From now on, I order you to be Atsuku's man. Help him and follow his order seriously." Kiyo ordered.
The man bowed his head down low as he answered. "Yes, Ma'am!"
Then he raised his hand and looked at Atsuku. "It has been a long time, Young Boss. I am looking forward to working with you."
"Yeah. It's nice to see you again, Masa."
"Alright. I bet you're going to live here with Gualtiero's child and that lady, no? You can have your old room. We have taken care of it when you're gone." Kiyo stood up as he said that.
Turning to Masa, she continued, "Show them their room. I will leave them to you as I have something else to be taken care of."
"Certainly.." Masa bowed once again as he watched Kiyo leave the room. Then, he turned to Atsuku and the others and said. "Young Boss, let me escort you to your room."
"Show the way," Atsuku answered.
"Hey, hey. Can I get the room next to Atsuku, Masa?" Rio asked excitedly, to which Masa responded with an apologetic look.
"My apologies, Miss Rio. Young Miss has already used the room next to Young Boss. If it's the room next to hers, then I believe you can use it."
"Ah, I see. That's okay, then! I will take that."
"Alright. Then this way." Masa stood up and gestured to them to follow.
***
After dropping Atsuku in his old room, Masa escorted the others to their respective rooms.
Of course, Atsuku didn't forget to ask Masa about where the Young Miss was. The man answered that she was still in the branch family in Kyoto to settle some matter in Kiyo's stead a few days ago and was currently locked in that city.
Atsuku thanked him then he entered his old room, feeling nostalgic. The room was a Japanese-styled one with Tatami mats and a futon.
The paper sliding door connected to the hallway, and the big wooden window at the end of the room was connected to a garden outside, giving the room a pleasant atmosphere.
The room was also fully furnished with a closet, a round table, and a high-spec computer with only one monitor on the side. It brought a good memory to Atsuku's muddled mind.
"Well, this hasn't changed from what it was before. They really took care of my room carefully." Atsuku murmured as he walked to the table in front of the big window and sat in front of it.
He took out a notebook and a pen and began to write something.
"Let's see. My family is the main one, composed of my Mother, me, and my older step-sister. We take care of the Tokyo region. Then there are 3 branch families under us, which each has their own areas to take care of. Yokohama, Saitama, and Kyoto."
He scribbled the connection between his own family in the form of a tree.
"That girl is settling the matter with the branch family in Kyoto, so the possibility of the Kyoto branch family being the one who wants to get in my way of taking over the family is slim. I trust her. So that left me with the one in Yokohama and Saitama."
Atsuku tapped his pen on the word Yokohama and Saitama, respectively, before circling them. He had no information whatsoever, so he couldn't say anything about them.
'Hmm, this is troublesome. I don't want someone to get in my way. I also don't want to decrease my power by destroying the branch family.' He put the tip of the pen in his mouth, thinking about how to deal with them.
As he did that, a voice called out to him from the outside.
"Young Boss, this is Masa. I have escorted all your friends to their respective rooms."
'Oh, perfect timing!' He thought as he turned around.
"Good job, Masa. Say, you are my mother's right hand for a while, right?"
"Yes, Young Boss."
"Then, you must've known about this someone who tried to get in my way to become the successor, right? Tell me about it." Atsuku said. He slowly stood up and walked toward the door, stopping right in front of it.
"Of course, Young Boss. My apologies. I wasn't able to do anything before because we can't refute their words."
"It's not a problem, but…" Atsuku opened the sliding door, revealing Masa, that was standing right in front of it. Atsuku looked straight into Masa's eyes with a grin as he continued, "Tell me everything about what I missed when I was gone. I will take care of it myself."