They finally arrived in front of Senzaemon Nakiri's courtyard. Renz felt a little nervous.
He knocked on the wooden door, and after a booming "Hm" from within, Renz opened it to see Senzaemon Nakiri leisurely pouring tea.
"Renz, is that you?"
"Erina, you're here too?" Senzaemon Nakiri asked curiously. He wondered why the young couple was visiting him instead of being in their own room.
Looking at the scar on Senzaemon Nakiri's forehead, Renz cleared his throat. After a few seconds of hesitation, he decided against getting straight to the point. He opted to cautiously test the waters.
"Grandpa, do you think Rina is cute?"
"Cute, yes, but her personality is a bit naughty," Senzaemon Nakiri said slowly.
Oh no, oh no. Renz's feint to probe had uncovered a landmine.
"Then what are your thoughts on Haruna?" Renz asked again.
"Haruna? Very well-behaved and sensible, but a bit stubborn," Senzaemon Nakiri remarked calmly. "What's wrong? Why are you suddenly talking to me about your two children?" Senzaemon Nakiri's eyes flickered slightly. He precisely caught Erina Nakiri subtly poking Renz's side with her finger from behind him.
"Nothing," Renz paused. "Grandpa, there's something I want to say, but I'm not sure if I should."
"Just say it," Senzaemon Nakiri said cheerfully, without any pretense.
"We're planning to have a third child." As Renz said this, his scalp tingled, and the elder in front of him fell silent. Senzaemon calmly sipped his tea, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
This silence made both Renz and Erina's palms sweat with nervousness, and Erina involuntarily lowered her head.
"Have you planned it?" Senzaemon Nakiri finally spoke.
Renz chuckled awkwardly. "No, we already have it."
Senzaemon Nakiri, who was still drinking tea, suddenly choked, nearly spitting it out. He thought Renz was there to tell him about preparing for a child, not that one was already on the way. Married for seven years, they already had a son and a daughter, and now a third child was coming. Senzaemon Nakiri hadn't expected the family's growth to begin so strongly with Erina.
Back when she was at Totsuki Academy, Senzaemon Nakiri had always worried that Erina's personality would make it difficult for her to find a partner. He never imagined that not only did she find a partner, but after being married for so long, their relationship hadn't changed; it had grown even more loving.
However, Senzaemon Nakiri's brow furrowed slightly. While a flourishing family was what he desired, as a grandfather, he was more concerned about Erina's health.
"This is already the third, isn't it?" Senzaemon Nakiri asked slowly.
"Yes," Renz nodded.
"Young people should know how to protect their health," Senzaemon Nakiri said seriously. Renz and Erina were both nearing thirty. The children weren't present, so Senzaemon Nakiri raised the intensity of the conversation.
"You two have been married for seven years, so I won't lecture you on moderation in your marital life. I believe you two can control yourselves. This time, it must be something you both considered and prepared for." Senzaemon Nakiri, as an elder, presented himself as understanding and reasonable.
But both Renz and Erina felt caught off guard. What did he mean by "marital moderation" and "controlling yourselves"? We're practically still virgins! And this pregnancy was a complete surprise. There was no "consideration"; they never expected their future selves to leave them with such a huge situation.
"After the third child, don't consider a fourth. Too many children, and you won't be able to handle them," Senzaemon Nakiri continued his advice. His meaning was simple: he was worried about Erina's health if she had too many children. Three children were enough; truly, not too many.
Renz and Erina felt pierced by his words again.
"I understand, I know," Renz bravely stepped forward to take the blame, though tears welled up inside him.
"If you want a better experience, you can buy better quality condoms," Senzaemon Nakiri repeatedly advised. "I know people your age enjoy such things more."
"So, you must pay attention to safety measures."
Renz nodded frantically, like a student being lectured. "Next time for sure, next time for sure."
"Don't just say 'next time for sure.' I'll contact some acquaintances in a few days and get some custom-made for you," Senzaemon Nakiri's tone was exceptionally serious.
Renz and Erina both felt like they were spitting blood internally.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh! I want to leave! Erina had a terrible headache! Renz was also a bit bewildered. Old man, you're really something! Custom-made condoms? He was speechless.
"Then, what about the Food Soul Competition?" Renz, noticing Erina's dilemma, quickly shifted the topic to serious matters, hoping to end the inappropriate conversation.
"Don't you know what you need to do?" Senzaemon Nakiri asked in surprise.
"I'll contact them immediately to withdraw from the competition," Renz said without hesitation. "Old man, since we've finished discussing, Erina and I will leave now. I'll go contact the staff to plan the withdrawal immediately." He needed to find an excuse to escape quickly, or he feared the old man's continuous remarks would be the end of him.
"Hmm," Senzaemon Nakiri returned to his calm expression and nodded.
Renz steeled himself, reached out and took Erina's hand, and walked towards the door, turning back to offer the old man a polite and bright smile as a farewell.
Erina didn't refuse Renz's hand. When they were pretending to be a couple before, they often held hands, and now she had unconsciously stopped resisting this action.
As the two walked further away, Senzaemon Nakiri could no longer hide his true feelings. His previously calm smile gradually became wild and unrestrained. He secretly pulled out his phone.
"Hello, is that Soue?" Senzaemon Nakiri's call connected, and he spoke impatiently. "Erina is pregnant again!"
"Do you know, Erina already has a big healthy boy and a super cute daughter."
"Now, with another one, that makes three."
"I'm about to have three great-grandchildren!"
"Hahahahahahaha—"
On the other end of the phone, Soue Nakiri's expression stiffened. "Dad, what do you mean by calling me?"
"No special meaning, this old man just wanted to show off a bit," Senzaemon Nakiri's smile didn't stop. He was serious in front of others, but the more he thought about it afterward, the happier he became.
"This kind of thing, you can't just tell outsiders."
"Moreover, Soue, shouldn't you be happy too?"
"Happy, happy, of course happy," Soue Nakiri said with a wry smile. At this moment, he thought of his own daughter, Alice Nakiri. This unaccomplished daughter, let alone having children, couldn't even find a partner yet.
Thinking this, Soue Nakiri suddenly felt a bit sour. He decided to call his daughter.
---
What kind of reaction do you think Alice Nakiri will have when her father, Soue Nakiri, calls her with this "good news" about Erina?
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