Both Atsuku and Yamada ended up sparring for more than an hour. After that, they took a bath at an open-air bath behind the dojo. The bathing area was big and divided between men and women.
Atsuku sat on the rock at the edge of the bath while Yamada was fully submerged in the water.
"Woah, this is nice. It's been a long time since I took a bath in a big bath like this." Yamada said. "It takes all my fatigue away."
"Indeed, that's true," Atsuku answered as he took out a box of cigarettes that he had opened from his space storage.
Then he took one cigar and put it in his mouth, lighting it with the fire that he created from his finger. "Fuu… It's really relaxing. Enjoy it, Yamada. This is the last time we can feel like this."
"Haha, that's true. Anyway, is that what you smoke in Fantasia? Can I try one?"
"Sure. Take this."
Atsuku threw one cigar at him, and Yamada caught it between his teeth.
"Thanks, mate. Care to light it too? As you know, I have no power to create a fire." Yamada asked, pointing at the cigarette in his mouth.
However, Atsuku's answer wasn't what he had expected.
"Nah, too lazy." He threw the cigarette pack back into the void and took out a lighter. "Take this one instead. You can have it."
"Really?" Yamada caught the lighter that Atsuku threw at him and looked at it. "This is made from gold! Are you sure I can have this?"
"Feel free to." Atsuku puffed out a cloud of smoke. "Anyway, can you accompany me later? The house is now calmed down compared to earlier. It seems the preparation for the celebration of my return has finished."
"Of course, dude. Thanks for the lighter." The blonde boy answered with an excited voice as he lit his cigarette with the new lighter he got.
Puffing off a smoke, he looked at Atsuku and asked, "Should I act like your subordinate too?"
"No need. Our relationship is equal. If you act like my subordinate, your father will definitely get angry at me. I don't want that trouble."
"Hahaha, I can see that."
"Anyway, I am counting on you." Atsuku answered and looked at the door that led inside the dojo.
A loud footstep rang from there, and he frowned while taking another puff of the smoke. "It seems our escort is here."
As soon as he said that, the door was opened, and Masa entered the bath, bowing his head a little.
"Young Boss, it is time. Everyone has been waiting in the main hall."
"Well then." Atsuku stood up from the bath and replied. "Shall we go?"
***
Inside a big hall in the main hall of Fujiwara House, many people in suits sat alongside the tables, looking at the front where Kiyo was sitting.
There were two empty seats beside Kiyo, and the announcement had it that the Young Master had returned to the house with Gualtiero's successor. That was why they gathered here in a hurry.
The attendants were all people from the main house, not the branch house. So they were all quite loyal to Kiyo and her direct descendant.
They muttered to each other in a low voice, talking about Atsuku. Their tones were merry; they had all been looking forward to this day. Kiyo watched them with a satisfied smile. She was waiting for their reaction when they saw the new Atsuku.
'Even I was surprised at how mature that kid has become. He reminded me of my late husband.'
She reminisced about Atsuku's father, her late husband. Her son that she saw earlier was a split image of her younger husband. Charismatic and dependable.
Her son's golden eyes didn't even waver under her pressure, either. She wasn't really thinking about anything when she saw the difference in her son's appearance, but now she was proud of him.
'Misaki's appearance went through a greater change than his. A change in eyes' color is normal.'
Misaki, her step-daughter, went through a 180 change in her appearance after last night. So she wasn't really surprised about it anymore. A leader must be calm all the time.
"Ma'am! Is it true that the Young Boss has returned? Is this not a happy occasion? Hahahaha! The young brat has returned to the family after running away a year ago!"
"Hahaha, is the Young Boss still as immature as a year ago, Ma'am?!"
"Don't worry. We will teach him the way of men!"
""Hahahaha.""
The rowdy men laughed together as they drowned in alcohol. Each one of them had a small table prepared. On it were various kinds of side dishes and Sake. As Yakuza, they never shy away from it and drink without any reservation.
Of course, they were only joking around, and Kiyo understood that.
'They will be surprised.' She smiled softly, and the room immediately went quiet.
After a while, the man who sat nearest Kiyo backed away a little and gulped.
"D-Did Lady Kiyo just smile in a meeting?!"
"She looks happy too!"
"What actually happened?"
They were confused. Kiyo's expression returned to stoic as she took a folding fan beside her and spread it in front of her mouth.
"Enough talking." She said, immediately silencing the hall. "It seems he's here."
As soon as Kiyo said that, the attention of the people in the room turned to the door at the end of the room. Masa, who sat on the ground, opened the sliding door from outside, and two young boys entered.
One of them was the boy everyone was familiar with, Gualtiero's successor, with his blond hair tied in a ponytail that swayed when he walked and a white shirt underneath a black suit like a mafia.
The other was supposed to be the Young Master of Fujiwara House. He wore a black Japanese Kimono. He was the Young Master of the house, but no one seemed to recognize him. The aura and charismatic air around him made them mistake him for someone else.
Their mouths slacked open as they watched the two young men walk to their seats beside Kiyo.
"Hey… I took back my word. He… He's already a man." One of the men said, smiling widely.
"Yeah. It's like the return of our Boss. The future of the Fujiwara Group is bright."
"I agree."
Ignoring their chatter, Atsuku sat beside his mother while Yamada sat beside him. He looked over at the room with a serious expression. He needed to show his dignity here.
Kiyo glanced at him and nodded. She then snapped shut her fan.
"Do you have something to say, Atsuku?" She asked.
Atsuku glanced back at her mother and nodded slightly. He took a soft breath and looked over the rowdy men.
"I guess most of you never expected me to return after I left the house a year ago. But the situation has changed. Last night, those numbers, I call it countdown, appeared in the sky, bringing shadows from the crack."
He began his speech by bringing up the incident yesterday. The men listened quietly and nodded slightly, agreeing with his words. Yakuza were a rowdy bunch, but they were loyal. So they welcomed him warmly even if they didn't expect Atsuku's sudden return.
"You can say that I return because I need you lots. I need loyal men! The world has changed, but we won't change. Fujiwara Group won't succumb to it; we will use this opportunity to expand our area!" He shouted with all his energy, rousing the men's spirit.
"So I hope you will follow me. I can't promise you glory. But I will show you that I can use you much better than anyone." He ended his small speech, raising a cup full of sake on the table in front of him. "For Fujiwara Group! Cheers!"
The men all had excited smiles as they raised their respective cups. Even Yamada raised a glass due to the atmosphere. Then they shouted together.
"Cheers!"