Magical Boy ~ English version

Chapter 109

Gradually all the wooden numbers were found. The remaining students were then recalled, the suppressors withdrawn and the scepters returned. The eight winners had returned to their respective schools and received congratulations from their classmates.

The camera drones flew again to Nakamara who picked them up while turning off the screens. After a few last checks with the teachers and principals, he took his microphone back.

"The participants to the duels," he announced, "will then be Schultz Maggie from Acadia, Noken Rakko from Saurity, Shime Kōtarō from Saurity, Mcgowan Sean from Heritage, Zakara Emiri from Aitori, Booth Morgan from Ravenwood, Sakitaki Makami from Darkeas and Katagiri Rena from Aitori. These first duels will take place next week. Tomorrow, the test for the duels using the powers will take place here, at the same time, with the same rules. Thank you all for being present today and congratulations to all the participants."

The assembly applauds the winners one last time before starting to disperse.

Nakamara just joined his son and his group of friends to wish them a good evening before heading to the car that Thoki was holding open for him. He moved quickly to avoid the few reporters who remained in the hope of being able to speak to him. He didn't want to, he still had work to do.

When he entered the manor, he greeted the dogs and pigs who came to celebrate him, before settling in the living room to work on an order for Uchiri Corporation.

After a while, Thoki came to put a plate on the coffee table in front of him, calling out to him.

"Maybe later," Nakamara muttered, just looking up at him, "I'll have to plan a trip to France soon if this hospital keeps ordering at the last moment."

"Master," Thoki growled softly, "you've been skipping every other meal for a week. And you are exhausted."

He landed beside him and put his hand on the tablet Nakamara was holding, forcing him to lower it.

"Can't the factory manager there handle it?" asked the butler.

"It's not the first time this hospital has done this..." Nakamara sighed, "Mr. Marchant wondering if we shouldn't just refuse since they don't seem very serious, but it's still a hospital, so-"

"Master. Since they made this order at the last moment, they can wait a little longer, right? At the moment, the tournament is taking up a lot of your time. Factories aren't going to collapse in three weeks, and the various supervisors you've hired aren't always going to rely on you. If they can't get by without calling on you for help, they're not qualified."

"You know that I personally choose these employees. They don't necessarily call me, I just can't calm down about that."

"Master. Eat. I'll run you a hot bath and you'll go to sleep."

Without letting him answer, he grabbed the tablet as he stood up.

"I'm confiscating this," he said.

"Thoki, I am no longer a child, give me back-"

"Then do me the favor of acting like an adult and being attentive to your well-being without me having to remind you. Eat."

"... well , I'll probably just go to bed."

Nakamara was about to get up, but Thoki forced him back down, taking the plate with his other hand.

"Master," Thoki hissed menacingly, "what did I just say about being an adult?"

"...you know what I think..."

"Do me the favor of eating your tomatoes, you're no longer a child!" 

Nakamara had seen, or rather smelled, that Thoki had prepared a tomato dish as soon as they returned. Although he really had a tendency to forget to eat when he was busy with his work, this time he had looked for an excuse to skip the meal, but his butler knew him too well. Nakamara had never liked eating tomatoes. He wasn't allergic to it, he just hated it and Thoki tried every possible trick to make him eat it, even when he became an adult.

And again, the butler had made him finish his plate. He was later forgiven by pouring him a hot bath with relaxing oils. But Nakamara couldn't blame him for long anyway.

Wearing simple joggers and a sweater, he was heading upstairs when he heard a noise in the kitchen, finding Thoki doing the dishes by hand. He then approached.

"We have a dishwasher, you know," he said, laying his head on his shoulder, "aren't Uchiri Corporation home appliances enough for you? I seem to have brought back the latest industrial-type model specifically so you have less work to do..."

"I'm not going to run such a big machine for so few dishes," Thoki said simply, smiling, "you should go to bed now."

"You're not coming ?"

"I still have laundry to do, and if Kemori wakes up, I should go. You are tired and I know you are a light sleeper."

Nakamara sighed. He resigned himself, kissed Thoki and finally went up to his room. The butler wasn't wrong. He was exhausted and fell into a deep sleep as soon as he laid his head on the pillow.

He saw himself as a child. Only four years old, he tiptoed out of his room to reach the railing and cast a discreet eye over the hall. Thoki helped Uchiri Natsuo put on his coat and followed him outside. Shortly after, the engine of the car was heard.

Little Nakamara straightened up immediately and ran to the bedroom closest to his parents' to slip into it.

The room had no decoration. Just a bed, a wardrobe and a desk. The only objects indicating that someone slept there were the school bag at the foot of the bed and the stationery neatly stored on the desk. Desk at which sat a nine-year-old boy, a bandage around his head, concentrating on solving difficult equations.

Nakamara walked over and grabbed his shirt.

"Aniki?"

Narino jumped and fixed his yellow eyes on his little brother. At that moment, his face lit up with a smile showing all his sharp teeth. He put down his pen and grabbed Nakamara to bring him to his lap and hug him.

"My Sun," he breathed in relief, "thank you, my batteries are charged now. But you have to go back to your room, if father sees you here-..."

"Father went out with Thoki-san!" The little brother announced proudly, "so I came to see you!"

Narino smiled more and hugged his little brother tighter.