Here's your tea.
Oh, my goodness, hi. Sorry.

　First of all, I invited Suz-san to my house.
　Me and Kanade are sitting side by side, and Suzu-san is sitting on the other side of the room, facing her.
　Tina was waiting a little further away, and........
　Everyone else has been informed of what's going on and is watching at the edge of the living room, looking curious.
　They have zero intention of hiding.
　You should have just joined the conversation.

You're not going to be able to find out if it's a good tea. Isn't it made with good tea leaves?
Oh, you know what I mean?　It's a pretty expensive one. Normally I keep it in the back, but when Kanade's mother comes, I know I have to take it out.
Thank you.

　They seemed to be getting along well together.
　Would they be on the same page?

Mother, why are you here?
'I haven't seen you in a while and that's the first thing you say?　Mom, I'm sad....yo yo.
Stop crying. You'll know soon enough.
'You've grown up, Kanade. You used to be so easily tricked and floundered. Mom, does it hurt anywhere?　I'm here for you, so don't cry.
Yeah, you don't have to tell me that!

　Kanade turned red and hurriedly interrupted Suzu's story.
　That's how embarrassing it seems to be to talk about the old days.
　To a child, a parent is something that can't be disobeyed forever.......what a thought.

''And yet........Suzu-san, are you really Kanade's mother?　Actually, don't you have a sister or something like that as a punchline?
'She really is my mother. Do I look like I'm not doing a good job of being a mother...?
'No, I don't mean that... for all intents and purposes, she's more of a sister... or rather, a sister, than a mother...'

　She is shorter than Kanade and has a younger face than Kanade.
　It's impossible to call her a mother with this.
　Even an older sister is just barely there, and originally, it would be more fitting to be called a sister.

''Oh dear, you don't have to be so flattered, do you?　But I'm glad, thank you.

　He smiles and looks even younger when he smiles.
　Secretly, I overhear Kanade next to me.

'Hey, Kanade....'
Yeah, I know what you mean. Mom, things are strange. But she's an unmistakable mother...

　Is this what all cat spirit people are like?
　Do you think Kanade will remain this way as he gets older?
　It doesn't matter, but it bothers me a lot.

''Ha.......the tea is delicious.

　Alone, Suz was moping around.

''That's more like it!　Mom, what's going on here?　Maybe you're on your way to see the sights?
No, it's not, is it?
Then why are you so far away from home?
Of course, it's because you were looking for Kanade, isn't it?
Me?
'It's been hard, you know?　I talked to a lot of people and followed Kanade's footsteps... and that's how I managed to get to this city. Until we got here, mom, we had enough adventures to have a little talk...
'Already, enough with the hard work. More importantly, why were you looking for me?
You know what to do.

　Suzu held out her hand to Kanade.
　Then she said with a smile.

'Come on ... let's go home together.
...What?
""Eeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

　First, Kanade looked at him and then....
　Next, we, who had been watching, shouted loudly.

'Hey, wait a minute, Mom!　I'm going home with you... what?　Huh?　Wh-What do you mean?
'It's a word, okay?　Kanade, you're going back to the Cat Spirit Clan's village with me.
I didn't hear you!
I'm telling you now.
'That's not the point!　I mean, I'm not going back to the village!
Oh my God... is it a rebellious phase, Kanade?
That's not even the point!
'Well ... both of you, or rather, Kanade. Calm down for now.
Fushar...!

　He was so excited that he was even threatening.
　He managed to calm Kanade down by patting his head and stroking his ears.

　Suzu, in contrast, was calm from the start.
　Without being distraught at all, she looked at her panicked daughter with a compassionate expression.

　If it's a family matter, I shouldn't be the one to intervene, but.......
　Apparently, that's not what's going on.
　When the Kanade returns, it will be of great relevance to us.
　I don't know what you'll think, but I'll tell you what I'm going to do.

'Excuse me from the side. Is Suzu-san here to bring Kanade back?
'Yes, that's right!'
Why is that?　Could it be that Kanade... or perhaps there's a rule that the cat spirit clan is not allowed to go out of the village or something?
No, there's no such thing.
'Then would you mind telling me why first?　All of a sudden, we were confused, as was Kanade...
Oh, dear. Oh, I haven't told you about that. I'm sorry to have startled you.

　Is he a natural?
　Or are you just missing....

　It's just not someone you can ever let down.
　It's a gut feeling, but that's what I think.

'Actually, I was against Kanade-chan leaving the village.
Is that so...?
'Your father said it would be a good opportunity, but I'm worried... after all, he's still a kid. I won't have to think about it when he's a little older, but I don't think Kanade-chan is ready to travel yet.
Oh, God, Mom!　I'm not a child, I'm a proper adult.
'That's just for your age, isn't it?　Kanade, you are so unreliable with everything else. Didn't you run out of food on your journey and pass out?
'Ugh!'

　That's exactly what happened, so Kanade is at a loss for words to argue.

'I understand your desire to travel. I agree with your father about going out into the world to broaden your horizons, but I'm not ready for that yet. But I think it's too early to tell. You are just a child, Kanade. There's no need to rush her. When she's older, she'll be ready to go on a new journey, and we've decided to bring her back.
'I see ... but you did allow me to go on the trip once, didn't you?'
''No. Everyone in the village said it was a good opportunity for Kanade to become a full-fledged adult, and instead of stopping her, they joined in. Because I was giving everyone in the village a 'spanking', I was slow to chase after Kanade.

　...I think I just heard a disturbing word?

　Softly, Kanade whispers into her ear.

''........I think she 'physically' spanked everyone in the village because of her mother.
''........Could it be that Suz-san is quite a martial artist?
Your mother is the strongest person in our village.
Really?

　It looks like a little version of Canade....
　I didn't know that he was the most talented person in the world, even though he seems to be so warm and friendly.

　Even among the cat spirit race, he is the pinnacle of existence.
　In other words, he's the strongest of the strongest.
　I finally understood the reason for my intuition that I should never underestimate this person.

''Come on, Kanade. Let's go home.
No!　I'm not coming home, okay?
Oh, that too. I can't leave without saying hello to the people who have helped me so much. Then I'll give you one day to say hello properly, okay?
It doesn't matter!
'Oh, you've already said hello?　Then there's no problem. Now, let's go home with your mother.
Oh, I can't understand you at all...

　Kanade screamed like a madman and scratched his head.
　Much confused....
　Well, it's hard to calm down when you're being told to go home.

I'm sorry to interrupt you so often.
Yes, what is it?
Will you stop talking about taking Kanade back to the village?
Hey.

　If Kanade wants to, there's nothing to stop him, but....
　It doesn't look like that, by all accounts.
　Then I have to stop Kanade from being taken back to the village.
　Why?
　Because I'm with Kanade.

'Miss Lane, was it?　Are you opposed to bringing little Kanade back?
I disagree.
Huh, you just say it out loud. I have a good impression of a girl like that. But.... why is that?　Can you tell me why?
'Because Kanade is one of us. And Kanade doesn't want to return to the village.
...I see.
Suzu, you said you were worried about Kanade because he was a child?　But that's not true. I think Kanade is a fine adult and a full-fledged cat spirit race.
Well that's a matter of opinion.
Wouldn't you agree with me?
I can't.

　Although her tone is soft, Suzu's intentions hidden behind it are hard.
　It's going to take a lot of work to convince her of this.......

You must respect Kanade's decision to return or not to return to the village. Forcing him back will only undermine the trust between you and Kanade.
'I know more about you than you do, Kanade, don't I?　I don't think that's a concern at all.
It's...
Wait a minute!

　As we continued to talk, Tania interrupted us.
　It's not just Tania.
　Sola, Luna and Nina are there too.

If you listen to me, you can say whatever you want. Kanade is not a child. She's a feline spirit family. Can't your parents just come out after you and tell you what to do?
I'm sorry to disturb you. My name is Sola, and I'm from the spirit tribe. Will you stop bringing back the Kanade?　The Kanade is a valued companion.
'Mmm, Sola's right!　Kanade is very important to us. We won't want you to proceed with the idea of bringing her back without permission.
"Uh, well Nina, I don't want you to take Kanade with you, but I want to be with you... ...

　Everyone who was listening to the story couldn't seem to keep quiet and joined in.
　Each of them eagerly complained about wanting to be with Kanade.

　At this, even Suzu-san, as expected, can't treat it without a fight, and makes a lost expression.

　A moment of silence passes...
　After a while, Suz-san opens her mouth.

''........Okay. Then let's do the test.''
A test?
As you all say, Canade-chan is really on her own I would like to put her to the test.