Rebirth

She glances at the other three, “I've said it before, but I'm going to warn you again in case it's slipped your mind, this method tends to be somewhat… unpleasant for additional passengers.” She gets nods, so she glances at the three, “We already decided I'm taking Mom and Yuki at first and coming back for Honami, so unless there were last minute changes I wasn't informed of..?”

Honami shakes her head, “No. Taking them will get them behind the security the main house possesses rather than potentially leave them vulnerable if a poorly timed attack hits while you're gone.”

She nods and holds her hands out to her Mom and Yuki, though the latter is admittedly somewhat reluctant given how gleeful he's been about holding her hand, as briefly as it'll be for and despite the fact it's just for a purpose. Regardless though, it is necessary for apparition, so she takes his hand and once she's sure she's got a good grip on them both, apparates away.

She drops Yuki's hand like it's a hot coal the moment she safely can, blatantly ignoring the way he was staring at his hand with some freaky awe and studiously not thinking what he's going to use the hand she touched for. Ignoring it steadily, she just apparates back to their house to pick up Honami and the small bags of things that they don't have at both and subsequently take with them.

After apparating to the main house with Honami and making sure they're good, she heads up the stairs to go to Maya's office, a grin already slowly stretching on her face, especially given the nearly panicked look a couple of the servants give her. She makes sure to remember their faces, since whether they realize it or not, they're basically admitting they're loyal to the likes of Osamu and the others who tried to stop them from attending the gathering and at least know she's not supposed to be there.

She'll have to speak to Maya, but she'll also have to remind her that they're trained to be loyal to the Yotsuba, and while Osamu and the others were skirting the edge of defying Maya despite her being the clan head, they don't deserve to be killed just because those branch head assholes dragged them into the middle of a… disagreement between their various employers.

She can understand punishing them a little since they should know better when it comes to who they owe more loyalty to, but the Yotsuba tended to drill utter unquestionable obedience into their staff and there isn't exactly a lot of infighting in general, so it's very likely that it didn't even occur to them that they were technically betraying the Clan Head for mere Family Heads. Some questioning to confirm if they even understood that they were technically defying and betraying the Clan Head, a scolding, straightening out what to do when someone else from the Yotsuba pulls something like this that's technically counter to the Clan Head, possibly some minor punishment she can understand, but she will not let Maya take it too far.

She files the thought away for a moment when she reaches the door to Maya's office and knocks. She's let in quickly, and Maya smiles happily at her as she enters, “You're here Toshiko. I assume there wasn't any trouble since they don't exactly know about your ability for that?”

She shakes her head as she closes the door behind her, “No, not any trouble on my end. They may run into some trouble from the fact their plans fell apart so spectacularly and subsequently backfiring in some capacity depending on what the plan was, but that's entirely on them.”

Maya laughs, “Too true. And that's before even touching on the punishment I'll be giving them for attempting to interfere with my orders.”

She shakes her head in amusement, then grins, “I wasn't just coming up to check in and let you know we got here just fine though.”

Maya raises an eyebrow, “Oh?”

Her grin widens, “It's been a while since I've terrorized the Family Head chat.”

Maya starts laughing at that and without a word, she turns around as she pulls out her mobile terminal to snap a photo of herself taking up the bottom right corner with a peace sign and a trouble maker grin and Maya laughing in the focus of the rest. She shows it and her message to Maya before hitting send, face the picture of innocence, which only makes Maya's laughter redouble as she nods in happy agreement to the message.

Without hesitation, she hits send on the picture as well as the attached message, “Ohhh. Too bad, so sad. Better luck next time!”

The group chat starts blowing up in confusion and rage from those who had been plotting against her, with just confusion from those who had started to realize she wasn't the monster they'd been making her out to be and had started reevaluating her. She explains what they'd tried more politely to the latter group, even as she messes with the ones like Mitsugu and Osamu who are freaking out.

Even better, Maya jumps in and drops vaguely threatening messages to freak out the plotting group even more, though from the way she's giggling at her desk, she's pretty sure she's mostly messing with them.

Nevertheless, she settles in with Maya to double team the ones like Osamu and Mitsugu on the group chat, giggling and occasionally making mischievous comments to each other like children the whole while, even as Hayama watches on in indulgent amusement.

She suppresses the urge to stretch after leaving Maya and having sat at her terminal a little too long, idly working on the paper on the study's findings. Mostly because it creeps her out how Yuki will watch in hunger when he catches her stretching.

They settle at the table, seated next to each other, much to Yuki's absolute delight and her displeasure.

She's just glad that they seem to be the last arrivals, since the Kuroba twins, Yuuka, as well as Katsushige are already there, a situation which swaps which of them is pleased and which is displeased when it comes to her and Yuki's feelings when it comes to that matter.

She starts idly chatting with the kids while they wait for Maya to arrive, but unsurprisingly given how prompt she almost always is, Maya shows up exactly as the clock strikes seven, which was the official start time given for the dinner.

Everyone rises respectfully, and Maya smiles, “Thank you all for coming. Please, return to your seats.” They do so without hesitation, and Maya glances at the older kids, “First, let’s have our meal. Katsushige, Yuuka, if you wish, we have sake for you to drink.”

Yuuka shakes her head, “Sorry to reject your precious offer. However, I’m not much of a drinker.”

Maya nods, “Ah, that's right. Yuuka isn't much of a drinker.” Then she looks over to Katsushige, “And you Katsushige? I've heard you're quite a strong drinker.”

Katsushige smiles a little awkwardly, not as comfortable with Maya as she is, “I only look strong on the spot… actually, I’m the type who’d have a terrible hangover. That’s why, I’m sorry Honored Head(1). We have an important meeting tomorrow, please allow me to refrain myself from indulging in your proposal.”

Maya laughs lightly, “Ah, you don’t have to be so formal. I have no such bad taste as to force you to drink.” Then she signals Hayama and he in turn signals other staff to start bringing in the food, “As tomorrow’s New Year’s Gathering is in the Japanese-style, I tried to arrange a Western-style cuisine course for tonight. Please enjoy.”

The meal itself doesn't touch on any serious topics, though given the surprise of some of the wait staff, it's probably lighter, more casual, and more talkative than what they're used to from people with Maya. She'll fully admit that's entirely her fault, since she doesn't let the kids slip into awkward silence, and prods them gently on any news about their lives. They're a bit uncertain and throw more than one questioning look at Maya, but while she was admittedly still struggling to connect to people emotionally from the contractor like state Miya had left her in after her… incident, Maya is more than happy to encourage them to speak.

Just because she struggles to connect doesn't mean she's uninterested or against hearing about the kids’ lives after all, so she's more than happy to encourage them to speak and ask questions as well. Perhaps because he's not familiar with how she is around either the kids or Maya, Yuki looks utterly out of his depth and baffled by the light and easily flowing conversation that picks up after a bit of prodding from her and encouragement from Maya.

After the dinner is done and the dessert is coming out, sherbet from what Hayama announced, Maya straightens her more casual posture, “Then, let’s soon get to our main issue.” While she did straighten her posture, the smile she lets out as she looks around at them is natural, “Katsushige, Yuuka, Toshiko, Yuki, and Fumiya. You’re the only five remaining(2) candidates in becoming the Yotsuba Family’s next Clan Head. At last, I will name the next Clan Head during the New Year’s Gathering tomorrow.”

She blinks rapidly. She'd vaguely known what the topic for the meeting she'd been called for was, but she'd honestly thought that much like Ayako, she was just invited since she was a sibling of a candidate, maybe to avoid them feeling left out or something. She wasn't aware she was even considered a candidate at any point after she was reinstated to the family, much less that she was still in the running though. She's a bit embarrassed to realize that the only other person who's surprised by her being in the running is Yuki. At least she's not surprised that all the staff except Hayama have left given the sensitive contents of the discussion.

Maya swirls her spoon through her sherbet that the staff had brought before they cleared out idly, “I arrived at the conclusion that it wouldn’t suit your feelings well if you’re told the result suddenly during the gathering. Therefore, I plan to tell everyone here who will be chosen as the next Clan Head in advance.”

Ayako suddenly elbows Fumiya, who sighs lightly before speaking up, “Honored Head, Can you excuse me for a short remark please?”

Maya tilts her head, “Oh, Fumiya. Is there something?”

Fumiya sighs again, “Firstly, I would like to admit that this isn't my opinion in the slightest, but my father is pressuring me -practically ordered me in fact- to remove myself from the candidacy and support Yuki in becoming the next Clan Head.” He shakes his head, “I don't particularly desire to become the next Clan Head, but…” Then he turns to Yuki and meets his gaze, “I don't personally support Yuki being the one to become the next Clan Head.”

Yuki looks surprised, and Yuuka barks a laugh, “Yeah, you aren't the only one who's in that exact position, with the only difference being where the pressure is coming from.”

Katsushige snorts, “Tell me about it.”

Maya smiles gently, “I can understand having issues with the unreasonable orders your parents have given you. Rest assured, Yuki is not going to be the Heir.”

If she'd thought Yuki looked surprised before, it has nothing on his expression when he whips his gaze to Maya in shock, which is to be expected given the majority of the clan and even the staff has been filling his head with the idea that he would be since he was a child. She hadn't expected otherwise from Maya, but she personally can't help but feel anything but a knee weakening relief at the confirmation that the dictator that is her brother won't be the next Clan Head. She may actually have had to abandon the Yotsuba if he was.

…She'd probably have convinced the kids at least to come with her though, or at least done her best to. Hell, maybe just stage a coup of some sort with them and immediately forcibly remove Yuki from power.

The others nod, expressions saying that they also expected it, but much like with her, it was still a relief to hear a more official confirmation. Yuki looks around at their expressions like his whole world is crumbling, from the look in his eyes when he settles on her last, her stomach drops and twists with the sudden suspicion that he'd been planning to at minimum bar her from marrying Sora, and potentially even attempt to force her to marry him after he gained the power of the Clan Head.

Not wanting to think about that in the slightest, even if that would certainly have chased her from the Yotsuba if Yuki becoming Head hadn't on its own, she turns away from him as she refocuses on Maya.

Before Maya can speak though, Katsushige does, “As Fumiya said, the older generation of my family are also in support of me withdrawing and supporting Yuki, though that last part is obviously already void. That being said, personally upon giving up the position in the candidacy for becoming the next family head, I have a request for the Honored Head.”

Maya narrows her eyes slightly, not because she has anything against bargaining but likely since as the Clan Head, Katsushige doesn't really have any room to challenge her judgment, “A deal, is it?”

Katsushige shakes his head though, “No. It’s a request. Not a deal.” Maya's expression changes to curiosity, but she doesn't say anything and waves for Katsushige to continue, “Since I have nothing in my hands to be held against the Clan Head or successor, it couldn’t be said to be a deal.”

Maya smiles at that, “How manly of you. Very well, please try to state your request. Katsushige, what do you want?”

Katsushige takes a deep nervous breath, “I, Shibata Katsushige, wish for your acceptance in wishing to marry Tsutsumi Kotona.”

Yuuka chokes on her water, and Fumiya was blushing. Maya tilts her head though, “Tsutsumi Kotona… She is one of your Guardians right?”

Katsushige nods, “Yes.”

Maya smiles again, “Well, I suppose most of the generations above you would find it inappropriate, but I'm not a fan of the Guardian system and have been setting up its official abolishment anyway, so I have no qualms with it. You have my permission.”

Katsushige lowers his head in a seated bow, “Thank you very much Honored Head.”

Yuki can't seem to keep quiet at that point, “But! If everyone else has withdrawn, who will be the Heir if not me?! There's no one else left!”

Maya smiles at her like she's being particularly foolish, “Not all of the candidates have withdrawn, and for that matter, neither has the person I already selected.” Yuki falters in confusion at that, and she suddenly gets hit with a suckerpunch of realization as Maya turns to her, “Toshiko, I intend for you to become the Heir and the next Clan Head(3).”

Yuki suddenly looks utterly torn between delight -probably at her gaining the spotlight he's been fighting to shove onto her for years- and horror at the fact that there certainly won't be anyone to tell her who she can and can't marry after she's Clan Head, or divorce if Maya for some reason went back on the fact she was the one to make sure their engagement was filed on Sora's birthday despite the fact it was New Year’s Eve and undoubtedly even if they weren't closed they were at least more difficult to file with on that particular day.

She blinks rapidly, “Excuse me? Me?”

Maya laughs, “Oh darling. You're the only one except Yuki here in your generation that didn't know it was coming.”

The others chuckle and giggle, nodding in agreement as she turns to them, though it's Katsushige who speaks, “Like I told you on the phone the other day, you can be blind in the strangest ways sometimes M-.” He glances at Yuki quickly, as he cuts off his habitual ‘Mom’, then his face becomes determined, “Mom.” At Yuki's surprised and confused look, he lifts his chin, “Emotionally.” He gestures to the other three, “For more than just me.”

She nods then jolts as something occurs to her, “Wait, is that why they were trying to prevent us from reaching the main house? They knew?”

Katsushige shakes his head, “No, like Honored Head just said, it was just our generation who knew. The older generations genuinely thought it was going to be Yuki, and were just trying to buy time to drive a wedge between you two.” He glances at Yuki tone turning dry, “Not that it's really necessary.” Then he shakes his head, the dryness reverting, “No, I was referring to the fact you didn't know amongst our generation.”

She blinks rapidly, then shakes her head as she turns to Maya, “Why should I even accept being in charge of this cesspool?”

Maya leans her elbows on the table, “Ah. And now we reach the negotiations I was expecting! For one thing, you'd have the power to fix a lot of the things you hate about the Yotsuba, such as finishing up the abolishment of the Guardian system.”

She falters at that, unable to deny that it's tempting. Buying some time, she quips at Maya, “You know, usually when negotiations are happening about naming an Heir, it's the younger trying to negotiate to become the Heir, or maybe their parents or something on their behalf.”

Maya smiles brightly, “Yes, but you don't like the spotlight and being the Head of the Yotsuba will certainly thrust it on you.”

She blinks as something else suddenly occurs to her, “Wait a moment actually, is this why you invited Sora, Miho, and Hoshi to the New Year’s Gathering?”

Maya's grin widens, “Why of course. It's only natural to have the Heir's romantic partners there, and on a purely professional level, Hoshi is somewhere between your subordinate and one of your advisors, so she also ought to be there. From the emotional standpoint, you and your partners are close enough to her that it makes little sense to disclude her.”

She gives Maya an unhappy look, “I haven't even accepted being the Heir.”

Maya takes her hands away from her face to pivot them without lifting her elbows from the table, holding them out to her sides, “Which is why we'll negotiate!”

She looks down at the table as she continues to think, “I'm not entirely sure there is anything you could give me in general beyond the additional control to fix the Yotsuba and guide them towards a better path. I mean, you're already working towards dismantling the Guardian system, I already have an engagement with Sora, and the resources to pursue my project given I'm head of the third division at FLT and have plenty of my own money for other projects that don't involve them from my paychecks. There's not a whole lot else I can really think of in all honesty.”

Maya laughs, “Oh dear. Have I spoiled you too much? Well, if nothing else, since I didn't abolish the Guardian system when I first took over and left it alone for a while, there's actually something similar to a statute of limitations, but in this case, it's that since there isn't new information to reasonably reevaluate it and I didn't change the policy before, it's practically impossible for me to do so. As such, while I can set things up so it'll be smoother, it has to be my successor that abolishes it officially.”

She snorts, “Technically, new information will be coming to light soon when my paper on the observation study of the developing magician fetuses is released. The short version is that how the parents feel about the baby, particularly the mother given her constant access, influences their development since their magic calculation area is stabilized by their parents. It's why the Guardians are so unstable. Given they're literally lab grown in vats, they never have a mother or anything like that to stabilize their magic calculation areas.”

Maya jolts, her cheerful expression falling away to mild horror. She doesn't hold it against her that it's only mild since again, she still struggles to connect with others emotionally. If anything she's actually a little proud of her for progressing so much that she's capable of feeling horror for them to begin with.

She glances up towards the ceiling, “Actually, funnily enough, given they don't connect physically like in the material world but purely through the genetic connection in the information dimension, other relatives beyond the parents can also help nurture them, though there is some emotional requirements. But that means that given the way the Yotsuba, who I absolutely share genetic connections with, were placing so many hopes and dreams on my birth that the Yotsuba would never be hurt like they were by Dahan again, while I can't confirm it, it's highly probable that ironically enough given how much they think me a monster, I'm literally essentially the crystallization of all those hopes and dreams.”

She drops her gaze, smiling faintly at the astonished Maya, “Actually, the closer the genetics, the better the connection and given you're identical twins with Mother, you probably had just as heavy an influence on me.” She shrugs, “I'd actually go further than that and say that given I did not develop mental magic, I'd wager you actually influenced me more than she did, and given the mother is usually the strongest influence even in the information dimension, and you're the one who influenced my development the most…” She smiles again, “One could arguably say that from a purely magical perspective, I'm actually your child.”

Maya flushes as a look of utterly delighted pleasure washes over her face and behind her Hayama uncharacteristically jolts in surprise before giving Maya a happy look, which isn't surprising given how staunchly he supports her, even on an emotional level.

She waves her hand, “Anyway, Retsu is gonna do a presentation at about the same time I release the paper to make it more widespread quicker and to help offset how counter it is to the current way society is handling magicians by applying his reputation to the situation.”

Maya's delight fades, but not because she becomes un happy, just as she refocuses on the conversation as she raises an eyebrow, “Retsu’? Since when are you close enough to Sensei to call him by his first name?”

She drops her hand, “Ah that? Since I helped sort out the root problem with his grandson's poor constitution.” She glances over, “Yuuka helped as well, since I had to leave stabilizing his magic calculation area properly post birth to her. After though, he said he owed me a favor, and originally I wanted to use it to have him make use of his reputation to help with the presentation I was already planning regarding my findings, but he refused to consider that as paying me back after I explained it, since he felt it was an honor due to the details. We've kinda been collaborating on it? I've mostly been trusting him and his experience to handle it though.”

Maya drops her head as a smile washes over her face, “Pfft! You do realize that getting Sensei to owe you such a huge favor and forging such strong ties with the Kudou only makes you an even better Heir candidate, right?”

She opens her mouth to dispute that, then slowly closes it when she realizes she kinda can't before pouting at Maya's increasing delight, “Shush it.”

The kids snicker as Maya laughs. After a beat Maya shakes her head, “Well, arguably those in favor of the Guardian program could try to push for the angle of just using related surrogates, but you aren't wrong that it's enough new information for me to easily abolish the Guardian system.” She places her head back in her hands, “But you know, if you don't take it, I'd have to hand dealing with the dirty mess that is the Yotsuba to one of the kids.”

She gives her a dirty look, and uncaring if it may be seen as rude sometimes by Japanese people, points at her sharply, “That's playing dirty Maya!” Maya's smile just widens as her eyes slip closed, and she tosses her hands up, “Fine! Fine! I'll accept being named the Heir, but! It's not my responsibility yet, so you get to deal with the older generation's reaction after it's announced! And I reserve the right to add other demands later since you sprung this on me out of the blue, and we're family, not business partners, so it's perfectly reasonable!”

Maya's smile widens, “Of course I'll handle them Toshiko. And that's fine with me. You aren't an unreasonable person, and unless something major changes the situation like me betraying you or something, you don't back out of deals so I'm perfectly fine with you reserving that right.”

She grumbles unhappily which everyone else just seems to find entertaining. She did not want to be the Clan Head. Particularly since while she hadn't quite minded given the circumstances, she'd been looking forward to not having to lead a family after her last life.

Another thought occurs to her, and while she falls silent, her displeasure increases. Her soulmates and sister in law had probably already realized somehow, and were probably gonna laugh at her for not having realized it was coming.

They wouldn't be mean about it in any way, and it's not like she takes it poorly like she's a laughing stock or something, but still. Sora and Miho were gonna get it and get paid back for this on Sora's birthday.

That's alright though. They'll probably enjoy it.

She's waiting outside, outwardly calm and composed, but inwardly feeling rather impatient from excitement. The new year's gathering technically takes place on the first of January, so to avoid the questions from anyone who shows up earlier than that, Maya had basically left her soulmates and sister in law's arrival until the last minute, having them arriving on the thirty-first. It was now though, and their arrival time is supposed to be soon. She wasn't technically alone while she was waiting, but that was just from employees who were waiting to take the small bags into their rooms.

She isn't exactly conversing with them, not because she's too uppity to like most of the Yotsuba are in general. It's just because their professionalism means they aren't very chatty, and while she knows they'd engage if she started the conversation, they'd undoubtedly be awkward and probably a little panicked at suddenly finding themselves in conversation with a Yotsuba and she doesn't want to do that to them. So she's been keeping her silence as they wait.

Given that she's not only waiting for them to arrive, but also can't even kill some time talking to the staff waiting with her without potentially distressing them, she immediately feels a surge of happiness when she sees the car coming and quickly confirms its occupants with Elemental Sight.

Given it was actually also Sora's birthday, his seventeenth birthday specifically, she finds herself focusing on him as the three climb out of the car, eager to see what her full impression of him is without the block. She eyes him appreciatively after he steps out. He's a rather fine man in this life actually. Or, to word it as her and her wife's beloved glutton would seriously be complemented by, an absolute snack. A full five course meal in fact that she would love to take her time savoring. He is certainly a man who's bones she could jump quite eagerly and just eat him up in this life, that's for sure... Just climb him like a tree and have her way with him… He certainly wouldn't complain or be against it.

Flicking a look at her wife, she finds her grinning and she raises her eyebrows ever so briefly in a silent, ‘I know, right?’

Her lips quirk up and she shakes her head in amusement, “The trip and security wasn't too strenuous I hope?”

Sora snorts, “Not in the slightest. I've broken in repeatedly over the years to make them realize the holes in security, and in fairness they're pretty good at closing them, but the security still sucks.”

She laughs, “Not everyone can have the level of skill you do Sora!”

He shrugs and Hoshi leans forward a bit, “Me and Sora are so going to have to take advantage of having the authority to do so and revamp security though.”

She suppresses the urge to pout since they're in front of people who aren't aware of the fact she's already officially the Heir and it's just the announcement that hasn't happened yet. Because that? Confirms all of her suspicions that they absolutely knew she was being named the Heir.

But again, the announcement hasn't been made, so it's not like she can talk about that. Or the fact that the authority Hoshi is referring to coming to them is due to her new Heirship. They won't be able to do anything until it's announced, but there's no harm in mentioning it vaguely like Hoshi did, since for all the employees around know, she's just referring to Maya hiring them officially to revamp it after Sora kept breaking in so easily.

They chat casually about that and their trip to the Yotsuba village on the way to Sora's room, and as soon as they're left alone in its privacy she playfully shoves at her husband, “Did you know I was going to be the Heir, and if so, did you have any intention of telling me?” The other three immediately start laughing and she rolls her eyes at the other three who are laughing their asses off, “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. Toshiko apparently missed all the hints that were leading to Maya naming her the Heir.”

Sora straightens up to run his hands through her bangs before resting them on either side of her face with a happy smile, “I'm sorry Xiǎolóng. It's not our fault that for all that you see so many other things coming from a mile away, even things we don't notice, that you never seem to see things like this and always end up blindsided.”

She huffs, “And you didn't tell me because..?”

Even though her laughing has calmed, Miho is still holding a hand in front of her face, “Because it's not like Lady Yotsuba told us, so we didn't know for sure. Though, given the way things were lining up it was pretty heavily leaning that way.”

She pouts, “It was not that obvious!”

Sora's eyes start twinkling with amusement as he grins, and she absolutely can't help but get distracted for a moment at how handsome he is, but she's snapped out of her momentary mental derailment when he shakes his head, “You mean like how it wasn't obvious that Watanabe was going to invite you to the Disciplinary Committee?”

She pouts and lightly whacks his arm with the back of her hand, much to the other three's amusement. She huffs, “I should probably show Miho and Hoshi where their rooms are so they can find them easily and so you guys can get settled, even if it's only for a couple of days.”

Sora lets her face go and steps back with a light chuckle, “Alright.” Then he glances at the other two, “I'll see you guys later?”

They both nod, not against her reasonable deflection so she heads out with her wife and sister in law.

The moment she opens the door to Sora's room and Hoshi sees her and Miho, she straightens. They'd given her a heads up a few weeks ago that she'd want to make herself scarce just to be polite, though she likely didn't need it, given how keen the ‘Hoshi Radar’ is. To that end, she's not surprised in the slightest, when she immediately hops off the bed after straightening from her slouch, “That's my cue to go back to my separate room! I'll catch up with you and get your birthday well wishes tomorrow!"

Sora has his back to the door, so he doesn't realize they're there and what's going on, or rather, he probably heard the door and clocked that it was them by their footsteps or something, but it doesn't click why his sister would be so eager to leave, so even as Miho steps out of Hoshi's way and closes the door behind her, his voice is somewhat confused, "What? Why?” She hears the slide of silk from her wife behind her as she leisurely makes her way forward while Sora obliviously continues, “We're always together at midnight so you can wish me a happy birthday before the clock ticks the day over and so I can wish you a happy birthday after. ...Hosh-?”

He cuts off in surprise when she slides her hands over his shoulders and down his chest as she leans forward, all but purring in his ear, voice practically dripping sin, "Oh, she's already longgone Love. We gave her prior heads up about your second birthday present from us, so as soon as she saw us open the door, she knew it was time to book it."

Her husband whips around, but having expected it, it's easy for her to step back quickly, grinning when he spots them. Her Elemental Sight easily confirms what she'd already assumed from the silk noises that their wife has already opened her own silk robe they'd put on to go between her room where they'd gotten ready and Sora's to reveal the lingerie they'd had more than a little fun picking out together in preparation for Sora's birthday since it would be when his block and their self imposed rules would end. She can also see with it the way their wife is grinning at him already, and only widens a bit more as she starts teasingly pulling on the tie to her own robe with enticing slowness, her husband's gaze locked onto the tie as she slowly pulls the end out hungrily like a starving hawk.

Once the tie comes undone and her own silk robe falls open to show her own lingerie, Sora's gaze eagerly takes them in, flicking between them quickly as a huge grin spreads over his face. Eventually he looks up to meet her gaze with excitement, “Well now. This is unquestionably the best birthday present ever.”

She laughs as his arm shoots out and starts slowly drawing her in. Tonight was certainly going to be fun, that was for sure. She'd just have to keep in mind the silent promise she'd made to herself earlier to get them back for not telling her their suspicions about her incoming Heirship. But well, as she'd been thinking earlier, given what she had in mind, it's not like they'd complain or be against it in the slightest.

She hums idly as she wakes up and takes things in, utter satisfaction still lingering in her body from their fun from last night. Unsurprisingly given his history, Sora is already awake, but he seemed to have zero desire to move from where he was in between her and their wife and was just idly stroking their hair where their heads were resting on his chest.

She blinks a bit sleepily as she turns her head slightly to press a kiss to his chest since she's too comfortable to move just yet, “Good morning Love.”

With Miho still asleep and using him as her pillow, Sora moves carefully to not disturb her when he turns his head and leans it to brush a kiss to her hair, “Certainly a fine morning Sweetheart.”

She giggles as she tilts her head and looks up at him in amusement, “I take it you enjoyed your second birthday present?”

He grins widely, “Oh yes.”

She snickers a little as she tilts her head back down, still way too comfortable in general to move. Not that Sora seems to mind in the slightest. He chuckles as something seems to occur to him, “Satisfied with your revenge last night from us not telling you about the Heirship?”

She hums happily, “Oh yes. Very satisfied.”

He chuckles again, “You do realize that technically acts as positive reinforcement to keep doing that, right?”

She snorts, “Like you two were going to start warning me about things like that. If you're not gonna, I may as well get something out of it.”

His chuckling becomes more of a laugh as he brushes another kiss to her hair, “As you wish Xiǎolóng.”

She nuzzles a bit into him, “Mm. …I should probably be getting up to start preparing for tonight's gathering and announcement though…”

He sighs, probably at the idea of her leaving their bed, even if they both know he won't move until Miho wakes up so as not to disturb her, “If you must.” He's quiet a beat then adds, “Are we expected to do any prep as well, or..?”

She shakes her head, “Nah. I only have things to do as the Heir, since even if it hasn't been announced yet, I'm still expected to help Maya with her preparations as the Clan Head, and everything else is handled by the employees.”

With a bit of a sigh, she rises, stretching languidly for a moment before leaning over to kiss Sora on the lips properly, drawing a smile from him. Climbing out of bed, she gathers up her silk robe to put on, flicking a glance at the lingerie then looking over to Sora, “Can you and Miho gather those?”

He nods, “Certainly Sweetheart.”

She smiles in gratitude, “Then, I'll see you later since I need to head back to my room so I'll have my clothes after bathing.”

He smiles back, “Alright. I'll see you later Xiǎolóng.”

She heads out at that, not really caring what any of the employees who may happen to see her as she heads just a room over. She'd put something on to make sure she's appropriate. It's not her fault Sora was in a different room.

After helping Maya with her final preparations as well as having to go through the staff helping her get ready -she adamantly refused to let them be the ones to dress her in the traditional Japanese clothing, finding it inappropriate since she was an adult and also a bit insulting since she personally feels like its treating her like a baby or an incompetent, but she'd just be making their jobs unnecessarily difficult if she didn't let them do the natural looking makeup- she heads towards the antechamber that’s before the Hall, already feeling drained just from going through the staff getting her ready.

Maybe it was normal in general in her previous life, but it certainly wasn't normal in the families she'd once been the Head of to have others basically dress you up and do your makeup for you like a doll. Sure, it was somewhat normal to hire a hairstylist and makeup artist for particularly important events, weddings and the like, but by and large, her families had done their own makeup and hair and all that, even for things like more high class dinners.

She personally finds the whole song and dance exhausting and the gathering hasn't even started. If nothing else, at least she'll have her soulmates and sister in law there? And should get some amusement out of watching Maya shut down the protests on who the Heir is and put them in their place? She'd said it was Maya's job, but she may end up taking a few jabs and terrorizing them a bit herself. As a stress relief if nothing else. She normally wouldn't do that, nor even want to do that to most people, but given the sort of people Osamu and the like are … Well, can people genuinely reasonably blame her?

As she enters the antechamber, she finds more than a couple people already there, including Ayako and Fumiya. Probably not wanting to crease their clothes or anything, they're standing despite the plethora of chairs around. Ayako raises her hand in greeting as the two approach, careful to keep their decorum given this is an official Yotsuba event, despite the usual adorable excitement she can see they have.

They wait until they get close enough for politeness’ sake to speak to her so they aren't having to shout or anything, but as soon as they're in range, as though fighting to beat Ayako's verbal greeting after she beat him to waving at her, Fumiya hurries to speak, “Toshiko.” Then he glances at her mom, brother, soulmates, and sister in law she'd met up with on her way there, “Aunt Miya, Yuki, Sora, Miho, Hoshi. Happy New Year’s to you all.”

Ayako smiles, “Mm. Happy New Year’s everyone.”

She smiles back, “Happy New Year’s as well you two.”

There are murmurs from the rest, but as usual, once the formalities are out of the way, the two focus mostly on her, though they do pay more attention to Sora and Miho since they're also somewhat parental figures, as well as Hoshi as something of an actual Aunt rather than someone who just happens to be a relative who's an Aunt.

As they chat while waiting for the New Year’s Gathering to officially start, they're eventually joined by Yuuka, and though he hesitates a moment glancing at his father, for once Katsushige doesn't keep his distance with his father around and comes over as well, much to Osamu's shock and even horror if his expression is any indication.

When the start time hits, they start being led into the Hall in groups, a stuffy tradition to formally announce each family and it's members and let them pay ‘proper’ respects to the Clan Head and kneel as nobles, which her soulmates and sister in law had been instructed to do rather than follow the servants lead which from their already kneeling position were expected to drop further into full dogeza with their hands flat on the floor and their foreheads on the backs of them to greet each family. The whole thing was superficial and stuffy in her opinion, but the Yotsuba were utterly obsessed with following older Japanese traditions.

After they greet Maya, they're led by a servant to their spots next to her. Maya seems to have decided to pull some smoke and mirrors on who the Heir is by having Miya directly beside her, but it doesn't escape her notice that there's a gap left on the other side of her family, presumably so her mom can move to that spot after the announcement is made so as to not be in the place of the Heir directly at Maya's side. It also doesn't escape her notice that increasing the general confusion from most everyone else and much to Yuki's displeasure, not only are Sora, Miho, and Hoshi there, but they're between her and Yuki, given the seating order for them is Maya, Miya, herself, Sora, Miho, Hoshi, and then Yuki.

They'd been the last ones brought in, and needless to say, the majority of the Yotsuba were confused. First that there are three unknowns who simply kneel instead of preforming dogeza, then that the expected Heir Yuki is actually sat farthest from Maya in their group, at least for now since that will change when Miya moves.

Once they're seated in traditional seiza, Maya smiles around, “Everyone, once again, Happy New Year to all of you.” In perfect unison, the entire Hall parrots back the ‘Happy New Year’ greeting before Maya continues, “Today, on top of the auspicious new year, I have another piece of good news to be delivered to everyone. This matter is something that has made my heart truly delighted.”

She turns her gaze to Katsushige and Kotona, who for once wasn't sitting behind the lines of the Yotsuba on either side of the Hall like the rest of the servants, but was seated next to him, looking a bit uncomfortable, “Katsushige, the eldest son of the Shibata Family, and Tsutsumi Kotona have recently gotten engaged. From here on, it probably won’t be just happy times, there will be a lot of things you will struggle with, but please wish the young couple bountiful blessings ahead.”

Having just been waiting for the go ahead, the moment she gives permission, there's a bit of a surge in noise from people clapping and congratulating them, though she notices there's more people saying things along the lines of ‘finally’ then ‘really’, which was a good sign given Kotona was a Guardian up until now.

Maya gives everyone a few moments, then nods at them happily before she turns away, signaling that she'll be moving along, and everyone immediately quiets down, an anticipatory air gathering once more, having been there before the announcement of Katsushige's engagement, but temporarily derailed by it.

Maya smiles, mostly polite, but with faint traces of a smile like she's a cat playing with a mouse, “Next, I shall be announcing what everyone has been most concerned about.” The anticipation ramps up, and she laughs lightly, “It is not as you have all anticipated it would go.” The Hall had already been quiet of course, but that certainly sends the eager expectant air crashing and burning in an instant as eyes widen with confusion as well as horror here and there, even then though, no one dares interrupt, “I have decided to entrust the position of being our next Clan Head to our Shiba Toshiko here.”

As surprised and horrified noises echo up and down the Hall, her mom gets up and moves over to Yuki's side to get out of the way of the Heir being seated directly to the side of the Head. She can't help but note that it isn't just the Yotsuba Clan members who are amongst those horrified, given even a good chunk of the servants are as well. Most notably being Aoki, the Fourth Butler -which really just means he's fourth on the totem poll for the ‘butler’ portion of the servants- as well as the Financial Manager for the Yotsuba Clan.

She can't help but take note of it since he used to work with her father a lot and also had a strong tendency to talk down to her and treat her like she was a ghost in favor of Yuki, despite her being reinstated to the Clan. That, and the fact she's butted heads with him frequently due to his being the financial manager and the fact FLT and ‘Tōkōkuro Mihana’ are such big cash cows, the latter half of that he's always been torn between loathing on sheer principle and being enraged she was ‘wasting time’ going to school that she could be dedicating to working at FLT full time.

Osamu breaks at that point, her being seated in the position of the Heir seeming to be the straw that breaks the camel's back for him, “Lady Maya, you can't select her of all people! If nothing else, the other candidates stepped down and gave their support to Yuki, and yet-!

Maya smiles at him in amusement, “I would like to remind you that I am the Clan Head, and my decision is final and my word law to the Yotsuba. I can and I have. That being said, you really ought to pay more attention to your kids you know? If you had, you may have predicted that when they each stepped down, what Fumiya, Yuuka, and Katsushige actually said was that they'd been instructed to say their branch family was in support of Yuki, but all three of them informed me that they personally didn't. Not that it would've changed my decision anyway. Furthermore, other than Yuki who you've all filled the head of with ideas about being the next Clan Head since he was a child, there wasn't anyone else in the younger generations who were surprised in the slightest by my decision.”

It was kind of Maya to not mention that she wasn't anticipating it either. There's a stunned silence at that as the older generations turn towards those of the younger generations in surprise. After a beat, Osamu suddenly looks betrayed, “It was you!You’re how she knew what we were planning. To betray your own father-! For the woman who killed your mother at that!”

Katsushige lifts his chin, “Yes it was. And I would like to remind you that even if you didn't know Toshiko was going to be the Clan Heir, it doesn't change the fact there is something of a rule that for all our scheming and the like, the Yotsuba are not allowed to betray one another. A rule you broke, and against the soon to be official Clan Heir. Yes. Yes I did reach out and tip Toshiko off and I do not regret it in the slightest.” Then his face turns disgusted, “And do not bring up your wife with me. I am utterly ashamed to be related to that woman. I thank the gods that Toshiko seemed to realize she was in danger and reacted on an instinctive level. That it cost Keiko her life is entirely on her and was a suitable punishment for the crime she attempted to commit in my opinion.”

Osamu's rage only increases, but before he can say anything, Maya speaks up, “As he should have. Not only because you broke the rules, but also because I apparently need to remind you that loyalty to the Clan Head and Heir supersedes any loyalty to Branch Family Heads or Heirs.” She glances at Katsushige, “Well done Katsushige.” Then she looks around at the Hall in general and announces strongly, “Let it be known that I will not allow any punishment to befall on Katsushige for his choices, be that being stripped from his position as Heir to the Shibata Family or anything else.” She turns back to Katsushige, “Do reach out and let me know if Osamu tries to ignore my orders.”

Katsushige bows, “Yes Honored Head.”

Maya nods then sweeps her gaze over the Hall once more, “Let it also be known that the younger generation is by and large in support of Toshiko being the Heir, and your recent behavior is dangerously close to starting something of a civil war within the Yotsuba. A civil war that will have the older generation against the younger, and that I will choose the side of the younger generations for. I don't know who else will, but I know for a fact that Miya will side with myself and the younger generations as well. Obviously, so will Toshiko. I would suggest you tread lightly while you come to terms with accepting that Toshiko is the Heir.”

There's a heavy silence for a while before Yuuka's mom, Touka, speaks up, “Before I ask what I'm wanting to, I wish to say that while it doesn't matter much given who all would be on the children's side as the other certainly wouldn't beat it, but for the record, so am I. That being said, if I may ask Honored Head, why are those three here?”

She'd gestured at Sora, Miho, and Hoshi at her questioning, and Maya's serious expression fades as she smiles, “Ah! It wasn't officially announced last year as Toshiko wasn't in attendance, but this is Amano Sora, he's been Toshiko’s fiancé for a year now.”

After a glance at Maya to make sure it's okay, the younger generations extend their official congratulations to them, even those that already knew. Yuki is an exception to that of course, but she'd expected that, and after giving them a beat to congratulate them, Maya continues, “While it's somewhat outside of the norm, to Sora's side is Yasuda Miho. Since the law doesn't allow it, it won't be legally official of course, but as she is in a closed polygamous relationship with Toshiko and Sora, let it be known that within the Yotsuba, she is to be considered as much their fiancée as they are to one another officially, and the same is extended to considering her their wife when they get married later. She will be treated as such.”

Some of the ones who've grown more neutral to her over the years like Touka seem surprised but not inherently against it, but those who dislike her seem to take the fact she's not in a traditional relationship as even more of a reason to hate her.

With a quick glance at Maya, Katsushige pipes up at that, “Well, I already knew that it was a thing and I know it won't be legal, but congratulations to you as well Miho.”

The majority of the rest of the younger generation follows suit with similar sentiments, and after giving that a beat as well, Maya finishes, “Finally, we have Amano Hoshi. She is not in a romantic relationship with the other three, but on a professional level, she's arguably somewhere between a subordinate to them and an advisor, though given she's also the sister in law of the future Clan Head, I ordered her not to be seated with the other servants.” Maya's lips twitch, “And that's ignoring the fact they're so close to her that there's little point in not inviting her as she already knows where the main house is from her brother’s frequent… pointing out of gaps in our defenses, and that they'd inevitably have told her everything anyhow.”

Hoshi bows a bit at that, perfectly formal and polite for once, “Regardless of the practicality of it, I thank you for inviting me anyway Lady Yotsuba.”

Maya nods regally in recognition of it.

Almost immediately, Mitsugu stops holding his tongue, “Honored Head, if you truly intend for Toshiko to be the Heir, you can't seriously be allowing her to marry this man with no pedigree!”

Others in the same camp with Mitsugu and Osamu pipe up to add their agreement, but she just smiles as cold as a glacier at them, “You're always so intent on making sure I don't turn against the Yotsuba, but that? One, interfering with my relationship is a deal breaker right then and there. No questions asked, no second chances. And two, the only way that would ever happen since you're oh so concerned about my future husband’s family prestige -the same future husband who got past all the security and broke into the Yotsuba main house to check on me after the Yotsuba went into lock down following the GAU attack that saw me becoming a Special Officer I'll remind you-, then even if you did somehow get me to agree to sign that marriage certificate, you'd need to find me a husband who's totally fine with not living with his wife.”

“Whose totally fine with not having either a romantic or sexual relationship with his wife. Whose fine with the fact his wife is already in a romantic and sexual relationship and won't end it just because of a piece of paper that basically just says the government acknowledges their marriage to someone else. Whose fine with any children his wife has never being his in any way, shape, or form since they will never biologically be his, not even through artificial insemination, and I will put Sora's name down as the father and I don't care if you think it brings shame onto the family for the implied affair. And speaking of which, is also fine with being considered in every way except legally to be the affair partner via the legal marriage by said wife and partners even though again, nothingelse will ever happen between them."

She tilts her head and raises her eyebrows in amusement at their stunned outrage, “Find me a husband that fits all of those criteria and maybe I'll consider it. I wouldn't hold your breath even then though.”

Maya just smiles in amusement, “Also, you do realize that if messing with me is playing with fire, you are currently tempting a volcano?”

At the confusion that sweeps away the outrage, she signals Hayama who'd she'd given a quiet order to and was manipulating a tablet terminal while she'd told them the only sort of husband she'd even consider that isn't Sora. He presses a button, and a large TV taking up the majority of the wall behind Maya is revealed as the walls slide away. With another press of a button, he calls up a video, lightly edited to remove any mention of her reincarnation but of security footage of her conversation with Miya regarding Sora and Miho.

She watches idly as her younger self speaks to her mom, “I'd suggest you do your best to dissuade the Yotsuba from trying to do anything to them. Because they are very much not from even the Hundred Families, much less higher, but I can and have killed people for threatening their lives,(4) and if I was willing to do that over the possibility of one of them dying, what do you think I'd have done if their attempt to kill him had succeeded?” On screen, Miya isn't even breathing, eyes incredibly wide, and her younger self leans back into her former position, then gets a bemused smile, “I suppose in a way, me being born to the ‘Untouchable’ Yotsuba was fitting, given they earned that nickname in response to what happened to Maya.”

Her younger self tilts her head, “For the record, if it made me snap enough to override the knowledge that innocent people who had nothing to do with it would also be victims of it, that would be the thing to push me over the edge to become the very monster the Yotsuba feared the day I was born. Even in the unlikely event it didn't though, I would end up reminding the world why the Yotsuba are called the Untouchables. Except anyone who had anything to do with that plan, particularly any of the Yotsuba who planned it or took part, would play the part of Dahan in that remixed repeat rendition of the performance.”

The video Miya's brow furrows, “You may be unusually mature for your age, but you are still physically a child, and one that has been fairly sheltered from this world and the Yotsuba, you couldn't possibly-”

Her younger self cuts Miya off and starts rattling off every asset of even mild importance for the Yotsuba. When she's done, she can't see the light sweat she remembers Miya breaking out in, but it's obvious even in the video she's not okay from how still she is and her expression. Her younger self smiles, “I'm the Yotsuba and they're my Maya in this situation. If you care about the fates of those who would be inclined to hatch such plots, I'd suggest you do everything you can to keep them from volunteering to be the party to follow in Dahan's footsteps.” She tilts her head, “Are we clear?”

Miya smiles as tensely as she remembers in the video, “Crystal.”

There's more than a few terrified expressions amongst the older generation, and Yuuka can't seem to resist commenting sarcastically, “Mm, you wouldn't have to have such scared expressions if you didn't have ill intentions towards Sora and Miho you know. You're kinda giving yourselves and what you were thinking about doing away right now.”

They blanch even further and throw even more scared looks her way, but after letting it linger a moment, Maya claps, “Well then, I feel like my position was already clear since I was the one who introduced Sora as Toshiko’s fiancé and he's officially been so for a year now, but that officiallyends the discussion.”

Whether they like it or not. For now at least, she's sure they'll harass Maya more tomorrow. She's not going to waste any thought on their nonsense now though. Maya swore to her that she'd deal with it, so she'll leave it to her.