Chapter 630: The Final Day and Return

“I humbly receive this food.”

“We humbly receive this food!”

Our morning began with this scene, which had become so familiar.

We ate divided between the kitchen table and the long table in the living room, but since there were no assigned seats, everyone sat wherever they pleased.

Today’s breakfast was a Japanese menu: rice, daikon radish miso soup, grilled salmon, natto, dashimaki tamago (rolled omelet), and spinach ohitashi.

Mine was the Japanese menu, but Yumina next to me had the Western menu: ham and eggs, croissant, vegetable salad, and onion soup.

It seems Lucia and Arcia made the dishes separately. Lucia prepared the Japanese meal.

The children were eating whichever they preferred. The Western options seemed more popular, but Yakumo, Yoshino, and Arcia were eating the Japanese meal. Arcia probably wanted to eat—no, check—the meal Lucia made. Lucia was actually eating the Western meal herself.

“Thank you for the meal!”

When they finished eating, everyone cleared their dishes. We took a short break, drinking the tea Lucia and Arcia brewed for us and watching the morning news on TV.

“Alright, let’s start cleaning.”

“Oh!”

Around nine o’clock, when I stood up, the children all stood up at once. Fuyuka also stood up, following them, but you don’t have to, sweetie.

Today was our last day in this world. We had decided to clean the house we had stayed in until it was sparkling before we left.

Honestly, we could finish instantly using the [Clean] magic. But, you know, that feels like a half-hearted expression of our gratitude. I want to clean it until it shines, properly putting our “thank you” feelings into it. And I wanted the children to feel that way too.

We each took on a share of the work and started cleaning. I was in charge of weeding the garden. I silently pulled weeds from the rather large garden. …Maybe I shouldn’t use magic… My earlier resolution was starting to waver.

After finishing the weeding, I started cleaning the storage shed in the garden. I dumped the shed’s contents into [Storage] temporarily, cleaned the empty shed thoroughly, and then put the dusted-off contents back.

Did I use magic? Well, this is fine, right?

At any rate, the garden was tidied up, so I brushed off the dirt and went back inside the house. I called out to Yumina, who was cleaning the living room.

“What areas are left?”

“Ah, then could you please take care of the bathroom or the toilet?”

“Sure thing.”

I headed straight to the bathroom and took out the bath detergent, sponge, and scrubbing brush from the vanity cabinet.

Although we didn’t use it every day, it was quite dirty after two weeks. We washed the tub every time, but not the washing area. I’m going to make the gaps in the floor tiles shine using this disposable toothbrush!

I scrubbed the water stains and dirt with detergent, rinsed the floor with water, and finished cleaning the bath floor. I washed the hand pail, the bath chair, and the bathtub to complete the bathroom cleaning.

“Phew…”

I came out of the bath, wiping my slightly wet body, and saw Kuon cleaning the toilet. Oh well, I was going to do that next.

Passing through the kitchen, I saw that Lu, Arcia, and Mom had already started preparing lunch. Since my hands were free, I decided to help the children who were cleaning other areas. With more than twenty people, the cleaning was finished in no time.

“Lunch is ready!”

Everyone stopped cleaning at Lucia’s call, brushed off the dust outside, went to the washroom, and thoroughly washed their hands.

Oh, for lunch, it’s hiyashi chuka (chilled ramen). I was just craving something light, so this is appreciated.

“We humbly receive this food!”

The toppings were cucumber, ham, shredded egg crepe, chicken tenderloin, red pickled ginger, and a half of a boiled egg. It was the typical simple hiyashi chuka. Oh, nice. This is what I wanted, this kind of thing.

There are lavish hiyashi chuka dishes piled high with shrimp, lettuce, and wood ear mushrooms, but I prefer this simple version.

“It’s delicious,” Elna said. “I’m glad. Eat plenty,” Mom said, gently stroking Elna’s head. Elze watched this with a gentle expression. Elna is a bit shy, but she has completely warmed up to Dad and Mom. Everyone knows that tomorrow is the farewell, but no one is saying it out loud.

“Most of the cleaning is done. What should we do this afternoon?”

“Go shopping with Grandma!” Steph called out. “Play with Grandpa!” Linne added.

I tried to speak, but Steph and Linne spoke up. I didn’t let on that I was slightly hurt that no one said, “Play with Dad.”

In the end, we decided to split into a group going shopping and walking with Mom, and a group playing and staying home with Dad. Since Fuyuka was staying home, I decided to remain at the house too.

“I’m home.”

“Oh, welcome back, dear. Working on a Sunday must be tough?”

“Huh? Oh, well, yeah…”

“I see… By the way, who was that lovely woman you were walking with during the day?”

“Eh?! What are you talking about…?”

“Trying to play innocent, are we…? How could you, when you have me…! Unforgivable!”

“Wait, wait a minute! The flow of this pretend play is wrong!”

I stopped the game when the Mother Rabbit doll, which Linze was operating, picked up a toy knife. What kind of story is this?! Why is it that I’m cheating?!

I pulled the Father Rabbit doll I was holding away from the Mother Rabbit. The Father Rabbit seemed to be trembling slightly.

“I was trying to add a touch of reality…”

“What kind of reality?!”

We don’t need that kind of reality! It’s bad for my heart in all sorts of ways! Although Fuyuka, watching next to us, was giggling and having a blast!

“Done!”

“Very well done,” Dad said.

Linne held up a drawing she had made on a sketchbook toward Dad. Uh, what is that…? A shape that cannot be named…?

“You drew that quite well. Don’t you think so, Touya-kun?” Dad turned to me, his face smiling but looking extremely troubled. Wait a minute, I bet Dad doesn’t understand it either!

“I’m sure Touya-kun can appreciate the quality of this drawing.”

What is that supposed to mean? Is it because I’m a “Master Artist”?

“Uh, well… yes, it has, um, a lot of character, doesn’t it?”

“I drew you looking cool!”

“C-cool?! Yes, it is cool! I think it’s very cool! Wow, I’m captivated!”

Linze next to me chuckled at my outburst. Don’t laugh! I had no choice but to say that, right?!

“Yes, it is very cool. Linne, did you draw Daddy?” Yumina asked. “Yes!”

Eh?! That’s supposed to be me?! It doesn’t look human at all! Are there four arms?! And how did Yumina recognize me?!

Is this the power of a mother…? That means I was just earnestly praising myself earlier… I’m embarrassed…

“Next, I’ll draw Grandpa!”

“Haha… be gentle…”

Dad forced a strained smile. Linne is definitely a “Master Artist,” too… All because she inherited my blood… I’m sorry…

Kuon was diligently building something on the handheld game software I bought him. Last time I saw him, he was continuously flattening mountains, but now he seemed to be starting to build something on the leveled ground.

Allis was leaning against Kuon, looking into the handheld game with him. They get along so well. I should take a picture. Ende would cry with joy. Or maybe cry out of frustration?

“We’re home.”

“Ah, Grandma and the others are back!”

Linne, Yoshino, and the others rushed to the entrance to greet them. Mom is so popular.

“Grandma, where are the souvenirs?”

“Yes, yes, I bought them properly.”

Oh, so they just wanted the souvenirs. Linne and the others were delighted, receiving the dagashi (cheap sweets) Mom and the others bought. It’s time for a snack anyway, so it’s fine.

“Here, give this to Daddy too,” Frei said. “Thank you…?”

The dagashi Frei handed me was the last one, containing three round pieces of gum. Wait? Isn’t this the kind where one of them is extremely sour? And Frei and Mom are eating theirs normally. Eh, was it on purpose? No, Frei isn’t that kind of child, right?

Unable to refuse, I accepted it, and Frei went off to Dad. As expected, Dad seems oblivious… Since I received it, I have no choice but to eat it. I put the gum in my mouth and chewed, and a strong sourness spread throughout my mouth.

Mom saw this and struggled to contain her laughter. You villain…! Were you the mastermind?! My mouth is stinging from the sourness… I need tea…

We spent some time together, watching evening anime on TV, playing board games, and playing in the garden.

Eventually, Lucia, Arcia, and Mom started preparing dinner, so I helped them a bit. It seems they will be using quite a few large platters. Wait, is that…?

“It’s nabe (hot pot) tonight!” Lucia announced.

I knew it. That’s the clay pot we bought at Kappabashi Street. But…

“Aren’t there too many?”

One, two, three… nine hot pots? I mean, since there are so many of us, it’s inevitable, but do we need this many?

“We are making each one a different hot pot. Everyone can go to the pot they like and serve themselves,” Lucia explained. “You’re making nine different kinds?”

“Yes. We have Yosenabe (assorted), Sukiyaki, Mizutaki (chicken and vegetable), Seafood Nabe, Shabu-shabu, Chanko Nabe (sumo wrestler’s stew), Motsunabe (offal), Oden (fishcake stew), and Mille-feuille Nabe.”

What a variety… With this, we won’t get tired of it. So that’s why all the large platters. We’ll place the ingredients for each one on these, right?

They’ve already prepared things like Oden… I think Lucia and the others were doing something like this a few days ago.

Oh, there’s a rolled cabbage! You know what’s up. The Mochizuki family Oden just isn’t complete without this.

…I suddenly understood why Mom, who usually doesn’t cook much, has been spending time in the kitchen lately. She’s probably trying to pass on the Mochizuki family flavor to Lucia and Arcia… Mom apparently learned how to make this rolled cabbage from Grandma, too. It’s the whole parent-to-child, child-to-grandchild thing. Although, technically, I’m the grandchild.

I helped arrange the ingredients on the large platters. Since there are over twenty people, it’s like a party every day. I was once again impressed by how large our family is, feeling like an outsider.

Nine portable gas stoves, too. I think Grandpa’s house had two, and my home had one, so when were the rest bought…? Did Mom and the others buy them while we were out at the British Museum and other places?

Anyway, we lined up the stoves and large platters on the living room table. We tightly packed the pots with ingredients, put on the lids, and lit the burners.

After simmering for a while, they began to boil nicely. Nine hot pots is a magnificent sight.

“Dinner’s ready! Go wash your hands!”

“Yes!”

The children, who responded cheerfully to Mom’s call, headed to the washroom. The wives followed them. Lucia and Arcia were serving the freshly cooked rice I took out of [Storage] into rice bowls. Everyone who had washed their hands took their seats.

“I humbly receive this food.”

“We humbly receive this food!”

The pots were opened all at once, and a delicious aroma filled the room. Everyone took a small bowl and picked out ingredients from their favorite pot.

I took a rolled cabbage from the Oden pot I was interested in and took a big bite.

Yes, it’s delicious. It’s fully permeated with the Oden broth, and I can taste the sweetness of the cabbage. It’s the familiar rolled cabbage from the Mochizuki family Oden.

The daikon radish and egg simmered with it are also delicious. Oh, tama konnyaku (ball-shaped konjac). Did they copy the one we ate at the hot spring town? I put some mustard on it… Yes, this is good too.

I didn’t want to fill up just on the Oden pot, so I reached for the others. I’ve never had Mille-feuille Nabe before. Even though it’s just pork belly and napa cabbage, they enhance each other, and it’s also delicious. I took some shabu-shabu meat and shoveled down my rice. Ahhh…! Irresistible!

From there, I moved on to Sukiyaki, Chanko, and Mizutaki, going through the pots one after another. It was like a hot pot buffet. I also piled up a meat-centric dish for Blanca, who was let inside the house. Eat up, eat up, don’t be shy.

Perhaps because the children don’t eat it much, the Motsunabe isn’t very popular. Dad and Mom are eating quite a bit, though. Frei and Yae also don’t seem to be reaching for the Motsunabe. Offal is something that divides tastes. I can eat it, but I rarely seek it out…

Well, even if there are leftovers, it’s not a problem since storing them in [Storage] will prevent them from spoiling.

Even so, after an hour, the ingredients had disappeared from most of the pots.

“The finish is zousui (rice porridge) or udon. Please choose your favorite,” Lucia announced.

Oh, so that’s how it is. In that case, I’ll have udon in this Sukiyaki pot…

Some pots had conflicts over whether to make it zousui or udon, but they settled it peacefully with rock-paper-scissors. Since I couldn’t eat everything for the finish, I put down my chopsticks with this Sukiyaki udon.

Phew. I ate so much. I am satisfied.

“Thank you for the meal!”

After eating, we cleaned up and took turns taking a bath. I helped wash the dishes. After washing the dishes and wiping off the water, I put them into [Storage]. I used to put them in the cupboard, but we are leaving here tomorrow. I plan to return in a year, but the children won’t be here then…

“What’s wrong, Touya-san?” Yumina asked. “Ah, no, nothing at all,” I replied.

I hurriedly accepted the plate Yumina handed me, wiped off the water with a cloth, and tossed it into [Storage].

“…It was fun, wasn’t it?” Yumina said. “Yeah…” I agreed.

Yumina was probably thinking the same thing as me. Two weeks of traveling Earth. So many things happened. It became a wonderful memory. It was fun.

Tomorrow we say goodbye to Dad and Mom. But we can see them again in a year. But when will we see the children again…?

When they return to the other world, the time for farewell will come in one week. I have to prepare my heart and send them off with a smile before then…

After everyone took a bath, I took the last one, changed into my pajamas, and spent the evening relaxing while watching an animated movie on TV. Then it was time for bed.

“Sleep with Grandma!” Steph announced.

When Steph said that, the other children also rushed to hug Mom. My mother is too popular!

She looked troubled, but I could tell she wasn’t entirely unhappy.

Ah, Dad looks a bit dejected.

“…Then I will sleep with Grandpa,” Kuon said.

As expected of Kuon! He can read the room! The wilted look on Dad’s face instantly brightened. Is that okay, my father…?

In the end, the children decided to spend their final night sleeping with Dad and Mom and stayed over at the family house.

After sending the children off with [Gate], the air suddenly felt quiet. I don’t know why. It just returned to how it was before.

“Shall we go to bed too?”

“It is our last night spending time on Earth.”

“We went through a lot, but it was fun.”

“We gained a lot of knowledge.”

“I was able to listen to a lot of music.”

“Kappabashi Kitchen Town was the best.”

“The animals at the petting farm were cute.”

“The aquarium was fun too.”

“I want to go to a hot spring inn again.”

“I look forward to next year.”

Lying in the futons spread across the room, we chatted excitedly about our travel memories until we eventually drifted off into the world of dreams.

---

“Waaah, I want to play with Grandma more!”

The next morning.

I sighed, looking at Steph weeping and clinging to me. I knew it would come to this. When I went to pick them up from the family house with [Gate], not only Steph, but the other children were also clinging to Mom and wouldn’t let go. Kuon and Allis seemed to be holding up, though.

“Now, now, it’s not like you’ll never see them again. You’ll see them again soon. Right, Touya?” Mom said. “That’s right. I think my future self probably wanted to bring the children home for a long time, so I think he’ll be able to come very soon,” I replied to Mom’s words.

My future self will probably come here immediately after the children return to their time. From his perspective, he hadn’t been able to bring the children home for a visit for over ten years. I think he made annual visits but kept them a secret from the children. If he asks Granny Tokie, it’s possible for him to come to this time axis. Now that they can finally come home as a whole family, I think Dad and Mom will be able to see the children again very soon.

Hearing that, the whimpering children finally calmed down.

“Well then, we’ll come again next year.”

“Take care. Treasure your family.”

“I’ll make sure both of us take time off next year.”

“…Big Brother, bye-bye,” Fuyuka said. “Woof!” Blanca barked.

Bidding farewell to Mom, Dad, Fuyuka, and Blanca, I waved my hand and activated [Dimension Transfer].

In an instant, we arrived in the familiar living room. It was our castle after two weeks away. A sense of relief at being home and a sense of melancholy that the trip was over intertwined in my chest. When you return in an instant, it’s hard for your mind to adjust right away…

The journey back home might be surprisingly important. A gentle slope, you could say, to transition from the extraordinary back to the ordinary…

“Oh, Master! You’re back! I’ll go let everyone know!” Ripple, who was in a picture hanging on the wall, popped out and disappeared. By now, she must be announcing our return to everyone else in the castle.

Immediately, the hallway became noisy, and Kohaku and the others, Gold, Albus, Paula, Lapis, Cecil, René, Karen, and Moroha—everyone who was free—came into the living room one after another, saying, “Welcome back,” and “Welcome home.”

“Well, I’m going home too. Kuon, see you tomorrow!” Allis said and jumped off the living room balcony. Stop entering and exiting that way!

I had already put Allis’s share of the souvenirs into her smartphone’s [Storage] yesterday. Melle and the others will be happy. Oh, I need to transfer the photos of Allis from the trip to Ende.

“Touya-san, could you take out the souvenirs here?” Yumina asked. “Got it.”

I started taking out the souvenirs we bought in Japan and various parts of the world, placing them on the living room table and rug. If I say so myself, it’s an unbelievable quantity.

I didn’t take them out here, but I also bought groceries, clothes, and personal items.

“Alcohol, alcohol, alcohol, alcohol!”

“Wait, Suika. That one is mine,” Uncle Takeru said.

“Takeru snatched and drank the one I got last time! I won’t give this one up!”

Immediately, Suika and Uncle Takeru  were fighting over the alcohol. Unlike last time, I bought a considerable amount, including wines from around the world, so they should share nicely…

The time for farewell with the children is in one week… It feels long, yet short, since Quun first arrived… The children have become an inseparable part of us, so much so that we had the illusion that these same days would continue forever.

But the same is true for our future selves. We must properly send them back to the future.

Let’s cherish the remaining days. We need to be able to see them off with a genuine smile.