Hearing what Mrs. Yuriko just said, I stare at her with wide eyes in shock.
She definitely takes me completely by surprise, as I wasn't expecting anything like this at all.
Be adopted by her?
I repeat those words in my mind.
I don't remember if I had a happy or dysfunctional family in my previous life. But in this life, I definitely don't know what it's like to have a real family, as I don't have a warm home to return to or the genuine affection of a loving mother.
"O-okaa-san... Answer me! Are you really serious?"
I hear Saya's voice asking again urgently, abruptly pulling me out of my shock.
I turn my head toward her and notice that Saya is extremely surprised by her mother's words. But at the same time, I can see hope shining in her orange eyes.
Even so, when I focus my senses on the emotional frequencies she is emitting, I also detect that Saya is emitting a little fear.
I'm not surprised by that mixed reaction, after all, her orderly life as a rich little lady is about to be invaded by a stray zombie of dubious origin.
Well, that's only if I accept the offer, of course.
Rei suddenly lets out a squeal of excitement and jumps off the sofa, looking as if she's just won the lottery.
"That's wonderful! Arata, you'll accept, right?! You'll be able to live here comfortably with Saya! You won't have to be alone in that lonely place anymore! You'll also be Saya's onii-chan... Hehe!"
She looks happy about Mrs. Yuriko's proposal. And although she said that last part in a lower voice, to the point where Saya and Mrs. Yuriko didn't hear it, I was able to hear it with my sharpened hearing.
'Why do you seem so excited specifically about me becoming Saya's onii-chan?'
I don't understand this girl's brain circuits at all, nor what the hell is going on in her head.
Then Mrs. Yuriko speaks to me again in a determined voice.
"Arata-kun, Saya told me everything they found out yesterday about your situation. You are an incredibly brave boy who has survived alone for far too long. That's not right. A child your age shouldn't have to live like that. This house is very large and spacious. I always wanted to have a sibling for Saya. But before I could make that happen, Souichiro left."
Her lips and eyes tremble as she mentions her husband.
I look at Saya for her reaction.
She is staring at her hands clasped in her lap. With her cheeks intensely red, she gives her mother a sharp, somewhat annoyed look.
"What I asked you last night, Okaa-san, was to buy him some land and a house where he could live. But having Arata as an adopted brother is... it's..."
She can't finish the sentence, and at the same time, her cheeks turn even redder as she looks at me shyly.
Rei looks at her with a triumphant expression on her face.
'What's wrong with these two girls?'
But I have something much more important to think about right now.
And that is what to do with this unexpected offer.
If I think about it deeply and am honest about it, I find that the human part of me that still survives inside me tells me to embrace this opportunity, as this is the moment when I can finally begin to fit into normal society.
However, at the same time, I find that my monstrous side is insistently warning me that this is extremely dangerous because my constant hunger for human flesh will not be quenched by the love of a family, and that one inevitable day, the tempting smell of their flesh will tempt me too much and my control will finally fail. And then I will seriously hurt them, I might even kill and devour them.
Breaking my train of thought, I said to Mrs. Yuriko.
"What about my biological parents? Won't it cause legal problems?"
Mrs. Yuriko then asks me.
"Since when exactly have you been living alone, Arata-kun? Looking at your current physical condition, it's natural to think that you've spent a long time abandoned."
I remember telling Saya and Rei this morning that I was abandoned at the age of five.
I repeat that same lie to Mrs. Yuriko.
"I was abandoned when I was five years old."
She opens her eyes wide in shock and horror as she brings a trembling hand to her mouth.
"Five years old... So young..."
Then she gets up from her chair and approaches me.
As I look at her curiously, I am drawn into a firm, warm embrace.
This is the second time I have been hugged like this by an older woman. The first was Miss Marikawa this morning, and the second is Mrs. Yuriko now.
Embarrassment runs through my body and I want to pull away, but Mrs. Yuriko holds me tightly.
She then speaks again and I feel sadness emanating from her.
"They left you all alone when you were very young. Five years old is barely a baby. Those negligent parents won't show up again after so long, so there's no legal problem if you agree to be my adopted son. And even if by some miracle they do show up now, we can face them together. Because I won't hand you over to someone who already abandoned you so cruelly once."
After stroking my hair, she stops hugging me and pulls away. She looks at me with a warm, motherly smile before showing me the piece of paper she has in her hand.
"This document, once signed by both parties, will make you legally part of my family. You will officially be Takagi Arata."
Once signed? Hey, I'm a kid, I don't have a signature. She's probably just saying that to make me feel more secure.
I thoughtfully bring my hands to my chin as I put my mind to work at full speed.
'How will I be able to hide my diet if I agree to live here?'
That's the most important question.
'Also, how will I explain that my skin is always cold to the touch? Or that my eyes are dull and lifeless if I don't wear contact lenses?'
These are things that both Saya and Mrs. Yuriko will eventually notice if I live with them under the same roof.
'What if the CCG discovers my existence one day? Or some ghoul organization detects me?'
For some reason, I feel that day is not too far in the future. Especially since I'm considering going out to hunt ghouls soon.
In that risky way, I may find some way to 'evolve' further by consuming their special organs. Maybe I can become more like a normal human. Or maybe I'll become a complete monster one hundred percent.
It's a pretty risky gamble if I say so myself. But at the same time, I feel like it's the only viable path available to me.
"Okaa-san..."
Saya starts to say something in a worried voice.
But Mrs. Yuriko raises her hand and says.
"I know, Saya."
She nods before looking me in the eyes and flashing a motherly smile that she normally directs at Saya.
"Arata-kun, I understand that this is a very, very big decision. You may need considerable time to think about it. And I want you to know that there is no rush. I don't want to pressure you into making a hasty decision. But at the same time, I cannot consciously allow a child, let alone such a dear friend of my daughter, to continue living in those horrible living conditions."
She pauses and then continues.
"So I propose this. You can stay here at the Takagi mansion from now on. There are many empty and comfortable guest rooms. Live with us for a while. And if after a while you feel comfortable and happy here, then we'll proceed with the official adoption. But if you feel uncomfortable or prefer your independence, then I'll buy you a piece of land with a suitable house where you can live decently."
"I see..."
Well, that definitely takes away the enormous burden of having to immediately accept or reject being her adopted son.
Staying here for a few days or weeks doesn't sound bad at all. I can try out what it feels like to live in a real house.
And if any serious problems arise or I feel like I can't control my hunger, I'll just say that I'm not used to living with other people and leave. It's an easy way out.
Although from what Mrs. Yuriko just said, she won't let me go back to that shitty abandoned building anyway.
'Ugh...'
I feel a little bad.
She wants to buy me an entire plot of land and a house just for me. That must cost a lot of money, right? It's an absurd amount of generosity.
She's such a good person...
That said, Takagi family is wealthy, so buying land and houses may not be a serious financial problem for them.
As I feel warmth in my chest, I look Mrs. Yuriko in the eyes to express my gratitude.
"Thank you, Mrs. Yuriko. This is honestly the biggest and kindest thing anyone has ever done for me in my entire life."
Rei lunges at me and grabs my arm.
"Arata! So will you accept? You'll be Saya's onii-chan! You have to accept!"
She shakes me back and forth.
I see Saya narrowing her eyes dangerously at Rei from her position.
I calm Rei down by patting her head.
"I'll think about it, Rei."
Then I turn back to Mrs. Yuriko and put a smile on my face.
"For now, I agree to live here at the Takagi mansion. Let's see how it goes."
The smile on Yuriko's face widens enormously.
"Excellent! Welcome home, Arata-kun."
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20 advanced chapters on Pa-treon.
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