I Am Not Great Cook

Relying on having twenty percent of peak Jack Hanma's physical abilities, Mutou Judai rushed back to Mutou Orphanage at top speed.

When he returned here, seeing that the lights in the orphanage were still on made him, who had been somewhat uneasy, breathe a sigh of relief.

Although he had forgotten to bring things back, he felt somewhat relieved. After calming his emotions a bit, he slowly pushed open the familiar door.

"Old man, I'm back~"

Mutou Judai was an orphan in this life.

Compared to the house where only he lived before, this was the home where he could say "I'm back" when he pushed the door open.

After hearing Mutou Judai's voice, the first to come out wasn't Mutou Yugi, but a group of children, the youngest not yet in elementary school and the oldest probably just starting middle school.

"Judai-nii~"

These children all ran out together, and Mutou Judai crouched down and opened his arms to them.

Whether it was old man Mutou Yugi or these children—these were all his family here.

So...

—He really needed to deal with Toyo Electric's matter.

"Alright, it's already past nine o'clock, you should go to sleep."

At this time, Mutou Yugi came down from upstairs, first saying this to the children, then coaxing them to sleep, and only then did the old man look at Mutou Judai.

"Judai, you're back. Have you eaten dinner?"

"Not yet..."

Hearing Mutou Judai say this, Mutou Yugi slowly smiled.

"Then come in first, eat dinner, and we'll talk while you eat."

"Okay."

Mutou Judai accompanied Mutou Yugi into the kitchen, but he only helped with simple tasks like washing plates and passing ingredients.

When it came to actual cooking—he really wasn't very good at it.

Mutou Yugi busied himself for a bit, then made a bowl of seafood rice. Since they were eating at home, he separated the seafood and rice, and also gave Mutou Judai a dish of vinegar, a dish of soy sauce, and a little wasabi.

"Let's eat~"

Mutou Judai said this, then picked up his chopsticks, took a shrimp, dipped it in vinegar, and put it directly in his mouth.

Mm...

"Old man's cooking is still delicious."

Hearing Mutou Judai's appreciation, Mutou Yugi slowly smiled.

"Don't eat too quickly."

Mutou Yugi said this, then seeing Mutou Judai slow down his eating pace, he gradually revealed his purpose for calling Mutou Judai back this time.

"Judai... although you've lived in the orphanage all these years and used my surname, I've actually always known your real surname..."

Mutou Yugi said this, but Mutou Judai didn't mind.

He simply nodded and continued eating.

If the old man didn't eat at night, Mutou Judai would have been listening to the old man while going to get him alcohol.

Regarding things like real surnames or real family members.

Mutou Judai didn't care at all.

"None of that matters, old man. People live to cherish everything around them with limited time. You've raised me for over ten years. Whether it's you, those later children, or those who left here before, aren't you all my family? I'm Mutou Judai, I don't have any other identity."

"If you want to talk about this... then if you want to tell me, I'll listen like it's a story. If you don't want to say it, that's fine too—I don't mind."

Hearing Mutou Judai say this, Mutou Yugi had no particular reaction, just looked at him.

"Judai, you feel excited when fighting, right?"

Hm!?

"And from the Kengan match you fought a few hours ago, after you killed your opponent, you had no reaction in your heart, did you?"

Hearing Mutou Yugi say this, Mutou Judai blinked.

"That's indeed the case... I actually think it's quite strange. Do you know why, old man?"

Initially, Mutou Judai thought this was brought by Hanma blood.

But now it seemed to really be his own issue.

Facing Mutou Judai's inquiry, Mutou Yugi shook his head slightly.

"I know... but telling you so much now wouldn't benefit you. I called you back today mainly because you fought in Kengan matches and could take down that super rookie with one punch, which shows you have quite outstanding talent in this area."

"Regarding your identity, even if I don't tell you, it will eventually be noticed by interested parties—since that's the case, I think it's better to tell you these things in advance, at least to give you time for psychological preparation and consideration."

Saying this, Mutou Yugi sighed.

"Judai... I should have told you before that this country's conglomerates have developed from ancient times to today, and developing to this point, there are four conglomerates originating from this country that are the most outstanding."

Hearing Mutou Yugi say this, Mutou Judai nodded.

This world's history was subtly different from his previous life's history. For example, some countries that had ceased to exist or dissolved in his previous life still existed here, or the number and timing of world wars were different, plus the restraining measures against conglomerates that existed in his previous life's history of this country seemed to have never been implemented here.

That's why conglomerate power was exceptionally prominent.

"Among the four major conglomerates, one has almost disappeared so we won't discuss it. The other three domestically are Shinomiya, Sanzenjin, and Jujin—among which Sanzenjin and Jujin gradually developed into global conglomerates."

Saying this, Mutou Yugi looked at Mutou Judai.

"And you actually have some connection to Sanzenjin... Your real name should be Tennozu Judai, and you have a marriage contract with the Sanzenjin family heir. But because the Tennozu family you belonged to had some problems back then, you ended up wandering outside, and this marriage contract's binding force became less powerful after that incident."

Mutou Yugi said this, then sighed.

"Judai, if you plan to give up everything you have now and feel you want to marry into the Sanzenjin family, then you don't need to worry about whether they'll break the engagement. As long as you show up at their door, they'll definitely recognize you and agree."

"And if you feel this marriage contract disrupts your original life rhythm, then you can ignore these things and continue living as Mutou Judai—that's also a choice."

Mutou Yugi stopped talking here.

He stood up, planning to let Mutou Judai think about this issue properly.

After all, marrying into Sanzenjin—for ordinary people, this kind of thing was like a pie falling from the sky. He thought Mutou Judai might agree.

But he still left time for him to think.

Then the moment he stood up, Mutou Judai finished the seafood rice, then also cleaned up the dishes and stood up.

"Old man, since you've finished the story, you should go sleep. I'll clean up the dishes, and I'll lock the door too. You've definitely kept my room for me, so I'll just tidy up and be fine. Don't worry."

Hearing Mutou Judai say this, Mutou Yugi looked at him.

"This isn't a story..."

Before Mutou Yugi could finish, he saw that Mutou Judai still had the same expression, always smiling, not caring at all about Tennozu, Sanzenjin, or anything else.

"I know... but just like I said at the beginning, old man, people live to cherish everything around them. I'm still saying the same thing—if you want to tell stories, then I'll listen just like when I couldn't sleep as a child. If you feel tired, then just go rest. As for me..."

Mutou Judai smiled very naturally under Mutou Yugi's gaze.

"I'm Mutou Judai. As for other things—they have nothing to do with me. And things that have nothing to do with a commoner like me, aren't they just stories? What do you think?"

Mutou Yugi was stunned for quite a while before slightly nodding.

Seeing Mutou Judai really didn't care about his origins at all and was just cleaning dishes there, completely unaffected, he felt somewhat emotional.

—Since this is your choice, then I'll help you a little within my capabilities, Judai.

Thinking this in his heart, but actually Mutou Yugi showed no difference from before he had said these things.

"In that case, I'll leave things to you—oh right Judai, tomorrow morning a little girl named Soryuin Akemi might come to help at the orphanage. If I'm still sleeping then, please help me receive her."

"I understand."

Mutou Judai nodded, then repeated the name "Soryuin Akemi" several times.

"Soryuin Akemi... Soryuin... Strange, I clearly don't know anyone with this surname, but why does this name sound somewhat familiar?"