Volume 9 Chapter 504 - Father and Daughter
Akeno made stewed meat and potatoes for everyone and when Baraqiel tasted it, he almost cried due to it being his favorite food, which was always made by his late wife, Shuri.
Before they had their dinner, Akeno already sent a secret message to Serafall about the unexpected guests. Although Odin knew that Serafall stayed in this place, as that was pretty much public information among the higher-ups, it was still disadvantageous for Serafall to meet Odin now because she wouldn't be able to avoid certain questions. It was better for them to meet in a formal meeting rather than in a private setting.
So when Odin asked about her, Akeno told them that she was busy with the production of her own show in the Underworld.
During their dinner, only Odin and Akeno were talking, with the former asking various questions while the latter only giving him short but vague answers.
Baraqiel also wanted to talk to his daughter, however, he didn't really know what to say.
After their dinner, Odin didn't waste any time and bid his farewell, "Well then, Akeno-chan. Thank you for the wonderful dinner. But this old man and the regrettable Valkyrie will only get in the way. We'll take our leave first."
"Who're you calling regrettable!?" Rossweisse stood up and followed Odin to complain to him. But before she left, she bowed slightly towards Akeno, "Thank you for the meal."
The two quickly went away and left the father and daughter duo alone. Akeno didn't say anything and just silently cleaned the table. "Let me help you.", offered Baraqiel.
"No. Please just wait for me. I'll prepare some tea.", replied Akeno.
Baraqiel didn't insist and just waited for her. After the tea was served, the two of them kept quiet for 10 minutes while only sipping tea, not even looking at each other's eyes. Not being able to take the silence anymore, Baraqiel started, "First of all… I would like to apologize for all those years. I know it's my fault that Shuri perished that day and I also know that you won't be able to forgive me. Nevertheless, I'd like to apologize, not to make myself feel better but to face my responsibilities."
Akeno didn't say anything and only looked down on her cup of tea. Baraqiel however, was already happy that she was willing to hear him out, a possibility that he'd only dreamed of before.
"I'm happy that I was able to get a chance like this. When we suddenly came across you, I really thought that you'd be ignoring me, or even worse, trying to shove me away." Baraqiel wanted to tell her what really happened back then, but he knew that, if he told Akeno that he had to choose between protecting Shuri and her, she'd only blame herself. Besides, it was his own weakness to blame.
Baraqiel drank the rest of his tea and stood up, "Thank you for listening… I have to go."
Akeno didn't stop him, but before he could leave, she called out to him, "Please wait."
"Hmm?" Baraqiel turned towards her with a mix of confusion and nervousness.
But contrary to his expectation, Akeno passed him a warm box of food. From the smell, Baraqiel could tell that it was some leftover of the stewed meat and potatoes. With a shocked expression, he asked, "T-this is?"
With a small smile, Akeno answered, "I noticed that you really liked it but you're hesitating to ask for more. Or did I see it wrong?"
Baraqiel shook his head vigorously, "No, no! I'll take this. Thank you." Some tears even threatened to fall from his eyes, caused by sheer happiness, "Well then, I won't disturb you any longer." He then left with lighter shoulders.
Akeno watched him leave until his figure disappeared while thinking about what really happened in her childhood. After opening up her mind, a few things which she never thought of before started appearing in her mind, including some suspicions in regard to the cause of her mother's death. Due to that, she asked her cousin in the Himejima clan, to whom she still had contact with even after she was expelled from the clan, to investigate the events at that time.
Although the investigations weren't complete yet, Akeno already had some inkling into what really happened, 'He could have explained himself, but didn't do so in fear of hurting me… I wish my view at that time wouldn't have been clouded by hate. Then maybe, I wouldn't have come to needlessly hating him… Father…'
Contrary to Baraqiel, Akeno reentered the shop with guilt in her heart.
While walking towards Odin and Rossweisse with light steps, Baraqiel came across Azazel, who seemed to be waiting for him, "Aren't you gleeful tonight?"
"Well, my wish from long ago was granted tonight. Of course, I'm happy.", replied Baraqiel.
Chuckling, Azazel added, "Is that so? By the way, is that nikujaga? I'm hungry. Let me have some."
As if he was a dog, who's food was about to be taken away, Baraqiel growled at Azazel, "Even if you're my superior, I won't surrender the nikujaga that my daughter made for me!"
Azazel gave him a dirty look, "Stingy bastard."
"Whatever you say."
Azazel glared at him for a few more moments, before his expression became gentle, "I see that you're finally able to make up with your daughter."
Although Baraqiel was smiling, he shook his head, "Not quite. Though I really didn't expect her to listen to me apologize."
"Don't beat yourself too much. It's also partly my fault that something like that happened. I should have dealt with those from the radical factions before that incident happened." Azazel sighed.
"Please don't say that. After all, it's also because of them that I met Shuri. Although it's also their fault that it ended and I'm still regretting that day, I'm happy that it happened."
"I see… By the way, if I'm not wrong, you owe Kisuke Urahara." Azazel suddenly changed the topic.
"What? What's this about? Where did that come from?"
"Well, considering the stories that I heard from the kids, it's because of him that your daughter was able to accept her lineage and learned how to use her holy lightning. Due to that, she opened her mind and wanted to hear your side of the story. In hindsight, you owe Kisuke Urahara… And if things go further the way they are now, he'll probably become your son-in-law."
"W-what!?"
While Baraqiel was trying to squeeze out info from Azazel, Serafall returned to the shop via a magic circle and the first thing she asked Akeno was, "How did it go with your father?"
"I'm happy that I listened to him.", replied Akeno with a smile. "What about you, Serafall-sama? How did the production go?"
"It was great! I enjoyed it more than I thought! Why didn't I think of this before?" Serafall then started telling Akeno some of the Behind the Scenes stories. Akeno happily listened to her while preparing snacks.
A few minutes later, Serafall suddenly changed the subject, "Ah, by the way, Your next opponent is already decided. His name is Diodora from the House of Astaroth."
"Hmm… I know him. When we met at the party, he was strangely attached to Asia. Frankly speaking, he doesn't give me a good feeling."
"Take that feeling seriously as there are some suspicious activities from his side."
"Suspicious?"
"Yep. Though we still don't know what exactly he's up to, it's possible that he's planning something that could endanger you during the Rating Game. Keep that in mind."
"Got it. I'll do as you say."
"And I only told you this so that you can get ready. There's still no official announcement but it doesn't hurt for you to be aware."
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Editors:
28th00: I wonder, did Ophis ever give him a snake? I think Kisuke was teaching her moderation in blessing legitimately evil people, and Diodora is Affably Evil… Eh, he's weak even with her blessings. Just because you have a massive power boost, doesn't mean you know how to use said power, or even how to fight properly. It's nice to see that Akeno… Grew up? Matured, in her line of thinking and life philosophy a bit. She mentioned her cousin, so I assume it's Suzaku who is arguably at least as stacked as Akeno, if not more? That whole clan is so stacked, it's legitimately concerning on a genetics standpoint.
Alexander: I'm very happy about her growth. Even though it gives me more of a housewife feeling, rather than a maid. That thought gifts me with a beautiful picture. The aspiring househusband cooking and joking together with a smiling Akeno.
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