Chapter 323: Heroine Chapter: Pamper me later [2/2]
After a short warp, Jo-san and I arrived at the first floor of the abandoned building. Of course, we used {Rewind} to clean our blood-soaked clothes. Under the brilliant morning, we both made our way to Ma and Pa's house. We both walked without making the slightest sound.
This was the Italian's {Program}. [Silent Steps], it used {Store} and {Dampen} to eliminate any trace of footsteps, regardless of shoes or terrain. Since {Dampen} was only supposed to work on the user's ears, the programming required to create [Silent Steps] was beyond complex.
As if that were not enough, ever since she learned how to use {Announce} with Death Resonance, Jo has been researching relentlessly. People would be surprised by her abilities tomorrow.
We eventually reached the back door and entered. It was early morning, about 7:30. The sun was already up and Pa was already at the dining table eating his breakfast.
Ma, on the other hand, was cooking as she hummed. Although my sister-in-laws were nowhere to be seen. It was a picturesque scene of a loving family.
According to my research, Bless loved to sleep, so she rarely woke up early.
And Alana was forced to call in sick at Shujin's request. So everyone was in the house right now.
Ma and Pa noticed us as we walked in. Earl Simmons smiled as he read the morning paper.
"Have you two had breakfast? Your Ma can whip something up if you are hungry," he offered.
Jo-san gave a heartwarming smile as she replied. "I am, thanks Pa!" I, on the other hand, gave a quick bow as I greeted my in-laws. "Aki greats Ma and Pa."
However, despite me adhering to the culture of respect in Japan, Noelle Simmons approached me and gave me a big hug. "I already told you, Aki, you are way too stiff. We hug in this house."
Not used to such affection, I returned her hug affectionately, albeit a little awkwardly. My mother and father disappeared quite early, and never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get a new family.
"Ah! Ma! Me too!"
Like a child starved for attention, Jo-san also asked for a hug and then gave one to Pa. After we settled in, Ma made us some eggs sunny side up with a slice of bacon and toast.
"Will my other daughters arrive later, Jo?" Ma asked.
"Um, I think so? But not in time for breakfast, Ma. Liv and Jas are with darling while Robyn, Lilly and Bella are out on a job."
Despite her talk between bites, Jo-san had impeccable table manners. She was graceful and moved with elegance. Concentrating on my own meal, I ate heartily the food Ma had prepared for me. When was the last time I tasted such a homemade meal?
Then I noticed that the sound of cutlery stopped. I looked up to see Ma and Pa looking at me and Jo. They weren't eating, but they were surprised for some reason.
"Ah, I'm sorry daughters, it's just that you two are eating so gracefully. It was like watching those rich people on TV. Do you two eat like that all the time?"
Embarrassed, I felt myself blush as I explained. "I don't particularly try, Ma. My mother was pretty strict about table manners."
"My Nana taught me! She said it was one of the qualities of a good woman."
Ma smiled as she added. "That's nice, they seemed like wonderful people. Where are they now? Are they okay?"
Jo and I froze at her words. I had no idea what had happened to Jo's Nana, but my mother had been missing and most likely dead since I was eighteen.
I was already 28, so it had been a decade. Sometimes I can't even remember what she looked like.
Then I felt a hand touch mine. The hand belonged to Noelle, she made a sad expression as she touched me and Jo-san.
"My babies, I am so sorry for asking. I know I can never replace them, but I will make sure that none of you will ever be alone as long as I am alive. Cheer up, okay?"
Unconsciously, tears fell into my eyes. And by the sound of it, Jo-san's as well. Ma tried to make us laugh and we had a nice breakfast. It was strange. How such a small house could be so warm, so full of love.
The twenty-four hours the White Guard had promised would only last until noon. Since the replacements hadn't arrived yet, Jo-san and I were on bodyguard duty. It was not as glamorous as being with Shujin, but the Italian and I knew how important our job was.
"Ma, Pa! I have a question. Do you like all the people in this neighborhood? If you could say goodbye to some of them and never see them again, who would they be?"
This crazy person. Was she going to kill the names that Ma and Pa would tell her? I didn't really know what her plan was. But since Bella-san agreed, it must be for the best.
"Hmm. I don't hate anyone in particular, but if you were to ask who I liked best, it would probably be the Joneses, Coopers, Mantles, and the Blossoms. Why do you ask?"
"Oh! Nothing, Ma! I just wanted to say hello and introduce myself to the community! You know, give them some cake or something!" Jo-san explained excitedly.
"Is that so? But daughter, unless you and Dipshit plan to live here, that would be inappropriate. Did Dipshit tell you to do that? No. It can't be him. that boy has nothing but guns in his brain."
"Hehehe! You're so smart, Ma! Well, the girls and I were just talking, we wanted to live around here! We wanted to surprise Darling! We already have the money!"
"KYA! Appleboo! Did you hear that?! Dipshit and the girls are going to move here! Daughter, you have no idea how happy that makes me!"
"Hmph. That boy doesn't deserve my daughters. I will tell him to get you all something nice."
It was amusing how these two would take our side over their own adopted son's. I couldn't help but smile at how sweet they were. If all families were like that, the number of broken people would be greatly reduced.
Jo-san and I chatted with Ma and Pa for another half hour. It was mostly about trivial things, but such a pleasant time was rare for people like us. Eventually, Jo-san made up a lie that we had a job to do and promptly left.
We walked toward the neighborhood at a fast pace. Since I didn't know what our purpose was, I just asked.
"Jo-san, what is this job you were talking about?" I curiously probed.
Without pausing, she replied in a cold tone. "To terminate every family in this neighborhood except the Joneses, Coopers, Mantles and the Blossoms."
"!!!"
Alarmed, I stepped forward and grabbed her shoulders.
"Jo-san! What are you talking about? We cannot just go ahead and kill humans for no reason."
"There's no way to separate the Trinity Spies, Aki. Let's just kill them all."
I put my hand to my temple and felt a headache coming on.
"Jo-san, think this through, these people are innocent. If Ma finds out, she will be disappointed in you."
"That's why Haru was taken away from you, Aki. You leave everything to chance."
This bitch. That was low. Instead of trying to sniff out the spy, this nutjob would rather kill everyone. And unlike me, who still wanted to follow the rules of the Reapers, this fool had no such reservations.
"Get out of my way, Aki. I will not ask again. This is for Darling!" Jo yelled. She then pulled out her AR-15 and widened her stance.
"Why did you even ask me to come with you, Jo-san? If you had asked Robyn or Jasmine, you know they would have agreed with you!"
"..."
"Sigh. Jo-san, you already knew that you were going to try something like this. That was why you brought me along, so I could stop you."
"You're delusional. I made no such plans. Move!"
Pouting, I invoked the MP5SD and the Ruger MK II as I prepared for battle.
"Hmph. Shujin, being the mistress of your house is taxing. Be ready to pamper me later." I told my master through the wind.
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