The hand-blade strike came down in a sweeping arc, slicing cleanly through the dense steam and blasting straight toward Ren Kuroda.
Ren responded in kind.
He brought his fingers together, forming a blade with his hand, and swung forward—unleashing a powerful vacuum slash of his own.
The two invisible blades collided head-on in midair.
The shockwave that followed was explosive, instantly dispersing every trace of steam in the bathroom.
This time, it wasn't just Ren who got a clear look at his opponent.
She saw him clearly as well.
Strong.
From that single exchange alone, Ren could tell—this woman was an accomplished swordswoman.
It was common knowledge that only those who had reached the level of a Sword Master could project cutting force outward.
Yet the woman before him hadn't used a blade at all—just a hand-blade strike—yet the power behind it was this terrifying.
To be frank, Ren had only managed to cancel her attack because his yokai power was superior.
But while Ren wore a surprised expression—
The woman was far more shocked than he was.
Just from Ren's youthful appearance, Yamato Miku could tell he was barely more than a teenager.
For someone that young to casually block a spiritual hand-blade strike driven by her own power… that alone meant he was anything but ordinary.
At first, she'd assumed he was just a shameless peeping pervert abusing a movement spell.
But now?
Compared to a voyeur, he felt far more like an assassin.
After all, no ordinary pervert possessed strength like this—especially not at such a young age.
Given the recent upheavals in the world, the Yamato family's standing had risen significantly.
Naturally, that meant there were plenty of people who didn't want to see the Yamato clan continue to grow.
As Ren watched the beautiful woman's expression shift again and again, she suddenly extended a pale hand toward the bath.
In the next instant, water surged upward—condensing into a long blade formed entirely of liquid.
Ren's expression finally changed.
He hadn't brought Demon Scar or his Sunwheel Blade with him today—this was supposed to be a visit, after all.
And judging by her stance, she was about to get serious.
Ren immediately raised his hands.
"Wait—wait a second! Miss—uh—beautiful big sister, please hold on! I swear I'm not a pervert or someone with ulterior motives!"
Her appearance resembled Yamato Kuuka by at least seventy percent—and this was the Yamato estate.
Ren quickly put the pieces together.
"I'm Yamato Kuuka's friend! I only ended up here because my Blinking Talisman malfunctioned mid-cast!"
The woman gripping the water blade was clearly not someone to mess with.
And yet…
For some reason, this whole scene felt strangely familiar.
The only difference was that last time—at the Onmyo Academy—he'd seen everything.
This time?
He genuinely hadn't seen anything he shouldn't have.
Right now, Ren could only pray that this "Kuuka's older sister" would be a little more rational than Kuuka herself—and wouldn't immediately try to chop him in half.
Being chased by Kuuka with a sword was one thing—at least there had been… benefits.
But this time, he'd seen absolutely nothing.
If he still got cut down, that'd just be too unfair.
As he hurriedly explained himself, Ren mentally sent a thousand curses toward Kanzaki Isshin, wherever that bastard was.
Hadn't Isshin said the Yamato family specialized in support?
Blessings, purification, low combat ability—Kuuka being the sole exception?
If Isshin dared say that to Ren's face right now, Ren would punch his lights out.
This was "low combat ability"?
Just the woman in front of him alone—
Her spiritual power and swordsmanship far surpassed Kuuka's.
In fact, unless Ren activated Half-Demon Transformation, even wielding Demon Scar, he'd only be able to fight her to a draw.
Hearing Ren's explanation, Yamato Miku hesitated.
She didn't attack again—but her guard remained fully up.
"You say you're Kuuka's friend. Proof?"
"And what exactly are you to her? I'm her family—and in all these years, I've never once seen her bring a male friend home."
To be fair, after hearing Ren out, Miku had already mostly dismissed the idea that he was an assassin.
Anyone planning an assassination wouldn't recklessly crash into the Yamato barrier using a movement spell.
Still—
Kuuka having a male friend?
That alone was shocking.
"I'm Ren Kuroda. I work with Kuuka in the Non-Natural Countermeasures Division. As for why I'm here—it's because she asked me to pretend—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Not because he didn't want to continue—
But because Kuuka suddenly appeared behind him, panic written all over her face, clamping a hand over his mouth and dragging him aside.
She wasn't alone.
A stern-looking middle-aged man stood with her, dressed in ceremonial shrine robes embroidered with the Yamato family crest.
He stared at the unfamiliar boy his daughter was whispering with, his expression dark.
"Mother, he really is my friend," Kuuka said quickly."I didn't know the main barrier had been activated, or this wouldn't have happened. I apologize on his behalf."
"And of course—if he actually saw anything he shouldn't have, please tell me immediately. I promise I'll personally gouge his eyes out for you."
Ren froze.
Mother…?
He stared at Kuuka.
Then at Yamato Miku.
No matter how he looked at it, they resembled sisters far more than mother and daughter.
Wait—
Wasn't Kuuka the sole heir of the Yamato family?
Which meant she had no siblings.
In other words—
This absurdly youthful, stunning woman really was her mother.
By all logic, Kuuka's mother should've been at least forty.
So why did she look like she was barely in her thirties?
Was Kuuka adopted?
No—just looking at their faces made it obvious they were blood-related.
Seeing the disbelief in Ren's eyes, Kuuka explained calmly,
"My mother's clan is… special. Their lifespan is much longer than ordinary humans."
"And the spiritual techniques they cultivate allow their bodies to remain in a youthful state for extended periods—so they can enjoy combat more fully."
Ren's soul left his body.
What was this, a Saiyan bloodline?
And worse—
He was here today as Kuuka's boyfriend.
Which meant—
His first meeting with his future mother-in-law…
Had happened in a bathroom.
Nearby, the Yamato family head's face was already darker than the bottom of a cast-iron pot.
To be honest, his self-restraint was admirable.
Anyone else would've already beaten Ren into the ground.
In fact, he'd wanted to.
But after hearing his wife's explanation—and learning the boy hadn't seen anything inappropriate—and recognizing Ren's strength…
He'd decided not to risk getting beaten instead.
Kuuka and her father had originally been searching everywhere for Ren.
But the violent clash between Ren and Miku had released such a powerful wave of spiritual energy that it immediately caught their attention.
And when they realized it had come from the bathhouse—
Only Kuuka and the family head had entered.
After confirming things with her daughter—and seeing how close she seemed to Ren—
Miku smiled meaningfully.
The water blade dissolved back into the bath.
"Are you planning to keep standing there posing?"
"Kuuka rarely brings friends home. Shouldn't you at least invite him to the living room?"
She then turned to Ren with a gentle smile.
"You're Ren, right? Auntie's a bit occupied at the moment. After I finish bathing, I'll come chat with you properly."
"For now, would you mind having some tea in the guest room?"
She shot an irritated glare at her husband before smiling again—making it abundantly clear who truly ran the household.
As spacious and traditional as the Yamato bathhouse was, it was hardly a place to entertain guests.
On the way to the reception room, the Yamato family head kept his face black as thunder—clearly holding a grudge against Ren.
Ren, walking beside Kuuka, whispered urgently,
"I thought you said the Yamato family wasn't good at combat?! Why is your mother that strong?!"
Kuuka replied quietly,
"My mother was originally from the Kūsuhane Clan, one of the Twelve Demon-Slaying Houses. Their lineage specializes in sword-based exorcism."
"Of course she's strong."
Then she glanced at him.
"By the way… you really didn't see anything, right? If you did, you can tell me. I won't blame you."
Ren shook his head so hard it looked like it might snap off.
Not a chance.
He knew better now.
That line had fooled him once—never again.
And besides—
This time, he truly hadn't seen anything at all.