(MC POV)
"So… Mother is the winner?" I asked, looking at Mother who was smiling at me proudly.
They had told me of the results of their little competition when we were gathered for lunch. Manami, Kiyomi and Cai Hong had lost their matches so they had came out to find me and thus ended up napping with me.
"Fufufu~ It does seem so, won't you take a bath together with Mama later?"
Mother, that sounds wrong, please don't say that while looking at me with those eyes. Don't think I forgot you made me crossdress that night too.
Also, how did my disciples lose to Mother? Was Mother secretly some kind of Master Practitioner or something? I don't think my disciples are that terrible at ping pong, right? Or is it just Mother is really, really good at it?
"How did all of you get beaten?" I asked, looking at my disciples.
All of them looked away, refusing to meet my gaze.
Huh, I guess the loss must have hurt their pride so they're trying to preserve what face they have left. I guess I shouldn't push the matter then.
"So… A lot of foxes on this mountain, huh?" I pointed out, trying to change the topic.
Mother chuckled, "Oh yes, there's a few of them living on top of this mountain. They're really cute aren't they?"
I looked under the table where several of the foxes had decided to snooze, even Akari and Shiori were under there and looking up at me with sparkly eyes.
"Yes, they are really cute."
"Although… I remember that they are usually very wary of people, at least, they've never approached anyone before…" Odriana commented, also peeking under the table. "For them to flock to little brother like that, how interesting."
"Papa! Warm!" Cai Hong squealed, looking up at me while seated on my lap.
How cute, little Cai Hong thinks the foxes are flocking to me because I'm warm. I don't think the cold bothers them that much, Cai Hong.
Nah, they're most likely here because of Shiori and Akari, these two might seem like gods to them after all, I'll ask them about it later.
I took a napkin and wiped the bits of sauce that was on Cai Hong's mouth, the little girl giggling as I did so.
Manami leaned against my arm, resting her head on my shoulder, "It is Master after all… They know of Master's… Allure…"
Kiyomi leaned against my other side, "Yes… They must have smelt Master's scent and came running…"
Is it just me or are these two more assertive than normal? Do the hot springs have this effect on them or is it because of something else?
Both of them are even rubbing their cheeks on me and purring.
"Ufufufu~ Now, now. Can Mama claim her prize from her darling son now?" Mother asked, standing up from the table.
Looks like she's serious about it.
Oh well, I guess this might be a good time to bond with Mother after being separated with her for so long. Though I'm still curious how she won against everyone else?
She couldn't have bribed them, could she?
I can't figure out what she could bribe them with though, which is even more scary.
Mother led me to the higher floors of the resort, bringing me to one of the en suite rooms where there was a bath outside attached to the living room.
Both of us rinsed quickly before entering the bath with towels wrapped around us. A little against tradition, but well...
Mother smiled at me, "Ufufufu~ I remember when you were just a little boy, mama would always bathe with you and your sisters together. How I miss those days~."
It was unfortunate, but I do not remember such an occasion.
"It must have been nice," I said noncommittally.
"Oh, my darling son. You have no idea," Mother sighed, moving closer to me. "Our family was happy then, I could not ask for more…"
She looked up at the sky, "Mama still remembers that day… Your elder sister and I were out for a walk, wandering in the forest just behind our mansion. We were picking flowers at that time and we wandered a little further than we normally would."
I tactfully kept quiet, knowing that Mother was most likely talking about the day she met me which she has never told me before.
"We heard the sounds of a baby crying then, so we investigated. And there you were, so innocent and pure, crying in a little cradle."
I raised my eyebrow, "Cradle?"
Mother nodded, "Yes. At first I thought your parents might have been nearby but there was a note asking whoever finds your cradle to take care of you… There was no way I could have left you there all alone, so I took you back home with me."
"So… I was abandoned huh..."
Mother moved to hug me, "It does not matter, you are my darling son and nothing can change that. You may not be of my blood, but I love you all the same."
Oh, don't get me wrong, I actually don't really care about that. Mother is my Mother, there's no changing that. Even if one day my biological parents showed up to claim me, I wouldn't have recognised them as my real parents. It's this family that I've grown up with, after all.
Ignoring the fact that I don't remember half of it but that's beside the point. The fact still remains that this is the family that took me in and brought me up and that won't change.
"Thank you for taking care of me, Mother."
She pulled back and smiled at me, her face oozing of motherly warmth.
"No, Mama should be the one thanking my dear son for bringing joy into my life."
"Wasn't I the reason the family fell apart?"
Mother patted my head, "Oh my cute darling son. You are the reason why this family is rid of the useless things. We have no need for them, just us is enough for our family."
That's harsh… Isn't one your husband and the other your son as well?
I wonder what they did to make Mother cut ties with them like that?
Mother leaned her head on mine, "Mama is sorry for not being there for you… If only Mama was a little bit stronger that time, Mama wouldn't have needed to leave you."
I shook my head, "It's not your fault. I understand why you had to leave. Who knows what brother and father might have done if you were there."
"Fufufu… Hearing my darling son say that… It does put Mama's heart at ease… But Mama is still not satisfied you know?"
Before I could ask what she meant, Mother had moved behind me to hug me from behind, "It's ok now, Mama is now here for you. There's no need for my dear son to suffer anymore, Mama will protect you now."
I closed my eyes and let Mother pat my head, so this is what a mother's love feels like.
I suppose it's a feeling that I can get used to.
