Ecstasy. Pure, unadulterated ecstasy.
The centerpiece of the room was the sprawling weapon vault at the far end. It was an impressive glass display that housed an arsenal of deadly beauty.
Japanese katanas with curved, polished blades gleamed under the recessed lighting, their hilts wrapped in silk of various colors. Next to them, sleek wakizashi sat like their elegant younger siblings. A pair of twin Chinese butterfly swords with intricate dragon carvings rested on an ornate wooden rack.
Further along the display, a massive Viking axe with a weathered iron head and a leather-wrapped handle leaned menacingly against the wall. Nearby, a pair of Roman gladii gleamed, their short, double-edged blades exuding a lethal simplicity.
In one corner, nunchaku and throwing stars were arranged neatly, while a modern twist came in the form of tactical knives and batons, each polished to perfection. A longbow and quiver sat proudly above them, its carved wood and taut string ready to deliver silent precision.
And then, towering above the rest, was the pièce de résistance: a massive halberd with an ornately engraved blade, its pole adorned with gold inlays. It seemed to command respect from every other weapon in the room.
I let out a satisfied sigh, my fingers itching to wield each one. My father truly was a menace to have assembled such a collection.
It was time to practice. I cracked my knuckles, grabbed a katana, and prepared to unleash the divine power of High-god Makoto.
(P.S. Makoto isn't actually a god)
*
I ended up spending four hours at the training room—not nearly enough time for me to reach orgasm, but there was dinner waiting, so I had to call it a day.
As I wiped the sweat off my face, my gaze landed on the power cage, its weighted bar loaded with massive steel plates on either side, easily totaling over a thousand pounds. The kind of weight that would make even the legendary Arnold Schwarzenegger cry like a toddler.
With the grace of an emperor, I approached the monstrous contraption, my footsteps light despite the crushing intensity of my aura. Placing one hand under the bar, I gave it an experimental lift.
"Hmph, too light," I muttered to myself, the plates clinking faintly as I hefted the bar overhead. Dissatisfied, I released it, letting it crash back onto the rack with an ear-splitting clang that reverberated through the room.
I crouched down, grabbed the entire base of the power cage, and began lifting myself with one arm, using the weight of the structure as resistance. My other hand casually reached for a 50kg weight plate nearby. I tossed it into the air, and when it came back down, I caught it on my outstretched leg, balancing it with ease.
"Still not enough pressure," I thought, frowning. But it would have to do.
"MONSTER!!" came the deafening shriek from the entrance.
"Quit yelling, Cherry. It's almost 11 PM," I rebuked her calmly, still upside down, lifting myself and the cage.
"Exactly, 10:30 PM! Dinner's already over!"
GASP!!!
I froze.
Dinner's over?
I... I somehow, completely forgot!
Snapping out of my shock, I sprang up in a somersault, the plate I'd been balancing shooting skyward. As I landed gracefully, the heavy metal disc descended, only to meet my outstretched hand with a solid thud.
"Bakemono," Cherry mumbled, her glare losing none of its intensity.
Bakemono? Says the girl who's a carbon copy of her mother! Seriously, how does one look EXACTLY like their mother?
I sighed and tried to smooth things over. "Look, Cherry, I didn't do this on purpose or anything. I just…"
Before I could finish my half-baked excuse, she suddenly darted forward and... Hugged me?
Hugged me...? She's hugging me?
Me?
I froze again, more alarmed by this sudden display of affection than any weight I'd lifted tonight.
Suddenly, I feel like my life's in danger.
Is there a knife on her? Where's the knife? Find the knife?!
"Big bro…" she began, her voice muffled against my museum-worthy chest. "You realize this is how it started with Dad, right?"
Started…? Oh, my God!
"Mother is Father's sister, and it all started when she buried her face in his chest, like you're doing right no—"
"Shut up, idiot! That's not it!" she snapped, her face still buried against me.
She took a deep breath before continuing. "When you left six years ago, Mom and I thought you'd never come back. Mom cried, you know? All of a sudden, you decided to go with Dad—that asshole. I cried too, you know?"
Her voice cracked slightly as she raised her face to look at me. Brushing a strand of deep brown hair from her face, her emerald eyes stared into mine, heavy with gloom.
"Makoto, you're not going to be like Dad, right? You won't leave Mom... No, you won't leave US, right?"
I could only stare at her, speechless. This brat—always acting like nothing could faze her, like she was impenetrable—was now pouring her heart out.
Geez.
I sighed inwardly. I never realized the hurt I'd caused them. I'd been selfish, hadn't I?
But they don't understand why Dad left, and they probably never will.
It's quite sad, for Dad... And them.
But, the saving grace is, I don't really want to join Father in his Job.
I don't care that much about the world to risk my life for it, anyway.
I think I'll stay with my family... They need me right now.
"Alright, alright, enough of the touching." I said, pulling Cherry away from my ultra-clear and polished chest. "Look, I'm not leaving this time. Actually, the reason I left before... I couldn't achieve my goals. Or rather, I had a change of heart. So, I'm here for you and Mom, okay?"
Cherry rushed me in yet another hug. "Idiot..." She muttered, muffling her voice against my shirt.
"You little girl, you can't just get enough of your brother's body, huh? That's no good, you understand. Siblings can't get married. Oh, what a sin my existence is maki—SMASHHH!"
My foolishness was interrupted with a German suplex from Cherry, so intense, I had to yell "smashhh!"
"STUPID BROTHER! Like I'll ever marry anything like you!!"
Thing? What did she mean by calling me a "thing?"
As she ran out, she added, "I'll microwave your food, we're having that diner whether you like it or not!!"
I was joking with that comment on marriage, actually. Why did she take it so seriously?
Though—I was caught unaware—that German suplex hurt! Why is she so strong?!
On the dinner table—10:40 PM—I sat, defeated by my mother and little sister, having a steaming bowl of rice, miso soup, and grilled salmon, with a side of pickled vegetables. It was the kind of meal that wrapped itself around your soul, comforting and familiar.
They'd eaten already, so it was just me eating, and them watching.
It was very creepy and embarrassing. Especially as Mother couldn't stop smiling, her eyes twinkling like a mischievous child watching me squirm.
Ti, ti, ti!
"Ah, no phones at the dining, Too-chan!" Mother yelled as my phone beeped.
I ignored her, of course.
But who the hell's contacting me this late?
Despite my smiting beauty, I have little, to no friends—Maybe they're scared of my divine nature?
Oh wait! I do have one friend! That stranger, I forgot about them!
I took out my phone and saw that it was actually them.
Ah, they sent another message.
"If you don't come out, right now, I'll come over to your house, myself. You won't like what I'll do... To your family..."
...I felt my heart sink as I stared at my phone, cold sweat rolling down my face.
My... Family...?
To be honest, I never intended to leave at all. I wanted to frustrate the challenger, but it seems I have no choice.
Whatever this person wants, if they're going to threaten my family, I hope they're prepared to die by my hands.
"Mom, I'm full." I muttered, standing up, pushing my bowl aside. "I have to go somewhere now."
"Ah, wait, Too-chan! This late? And you barely ate anything!"
"Mom, I know I've hurt you and Cherry, but see... I love you all very much, and I'll never let anyone hurt you... The hurting is for me and Father, only!" I exclaimed, the words feeling foreign on my tongue but true nonetheless.
"Everything was cool, until the end, stupid brother!" Cherry retorted.
She held my mother's shoulder, "Don't worry, Mom. Let's trust Makoto this time."
She held my mother's shoulder, her expression softening for once. "Don't worry, Mom. Let's trust Makoto this time."
Mother was shocked that Cherry could back me up for once in her bratty life, so she let me go. Only leaving these words; "make sure to bring her home, someday, okay Too-chan?"
Like, what the hell?! How did she come to the conclusion I'm going to meet with a girl?!
As for my challenger... They're definitely losing a tooth, tonight.