Mash-Up Anime World: Adopted by the Sawamura Family

"Eriri is such a hopeless case."

"Sometimes I can't help but wonder if her tsundere personality is an innate trait."

"Even the female leads in pure-love anime aren't as tsundere as she is."

Sayuri Sawamura felt that her loser daughter was truly beyond saving.

"As an otaku, hasn't she ever heard the classic phrase, 'Childhood friends can't beat the new girl?'"

"Fortunately, Akira, you're not just her childhood friend—you're her brother."

"Otherwise, I'd really be worried about her future."

Sayuri sighed, feeling grateful. Although she had teased Eriri since childhood, it was just their unique way of bonding.

"Eriri's the type who puts up a front and suffers for it—just like Grandma, who values appearances above all else."

"She was already mortified when I discovered she's a doujin artist. If she admitted to being a sis-con too, she'd never lift her head in front of me again."

"So that's why Eriri refuses to acknowledge she's a sis-con."

"Akira, what do you plan to do next?"

"Just let things take their natural course. What else can I do?"

"Besides, don't you find Eriri's tsundere behavior amusing?"

"Hehe, Akira, you've grown mischievous."

"I learned it from you."

"So what do you think Eriri will do next after losing face?"

"Judging by her experience drawing humiliation-themed doujins, she'll probably try to turn me into a sis-con, then take the initiative to confess."

"That way, her tsundere pride will be satisfied, and she'll regain the dignity she lost."

Sayuri was speechless.

How could Akira know exactly what Eriri's next steps would be?

Eriri had always been easily outmaneuvered since childhood. There was no way she could outplay Akira!

"Akira, it's a blessing that I got to bring you into our family."

"If it weren't for you, I'd really worry that Eriri would be conned out of her money and virtue someday."

Sayuri's words seemed to foreshadow trouble.

Based on the original plotline, Eriri was indeed heading down that path.

"And yet, both Eriri and I will be a burden on you for the rest of your life."

What should have been Spencer's responsibility now fell entirely on Akira.

"Mom, everything happens for a reason. Without you, I might have died in the snow that winter night in London, just like the Little Match Girl."

Akira joked, trying to ease Sayuri's guilt. From his perspective, it was he who owed Sayuri, not the other way around.

Whether it was the life-saving act of the past or the years of nurturing since, he felt deeply indebted.

"This is the bond between a mother and her son."

"When I was little, you held me in your arms. Now it's my turn to take care of you."

He lifted the petite Sayuri from where she sat beside him and placed her on his lap like a large doll.

"Mom, I'll do my best to fulfill any wish you have."

Akira could see that Sayuri was burdened by her guilt, convinced she wasn't worthy of being his mother.

"Akira, don't you think I've failed as a mother?"

Sayuri couldn't shake the feeling that her fujoshi tendencies made her unfit to be Akira's parent. Compared to her excellent son, she felt inadequate.

"I think any normal man would feel lucky to have such a cute and lively mom like you."

"Your personality is one of the reasons I love you so much."

"We've always had a relationship more like friends than parent and child."

"I'm incredibly fortunate to have been brought into your home."

Hearing this, Sayuri's worry finally lifted.

She never expected to hold such a high place in Akira's heart.

"Akira, you're just teasing me."

She squirmed slightly in his lap, blushing.

"I can't help but feel sorry for your dad."

"He's the one who let us down first. If it weren't for him, our relationship wouldn't have changed like this."

"And besides, he's the one who entrusted both me and Eriri to you."

Sayuri spoke with a hint of mischief.

But this kind of "entrustment" wasn't what she meant!

"Mom, you've done nothing wrong, so you don't need to feel guilty."

"My Akira is the best, most understanding son in the world."

"That stubborn old man who underestimated me will regret it someday."

She tilted her head up and kissed him on the cheek in encouragement.

Akira was used to his mom's frequent kisses and no longer tried to stop them.

After all, he'd been kissed by her countless times since childhood.

It had become an ingrained habit for Sayuri.

"Mom, it's getting late. You should wash up and get some sleep."

"After drinking, I'll warm up some milk for you."

"It's been a long day. I'm feeling a bit tired too."

Akira rubbed his temples, his voice tinged with fatigue.

"Akira, let's take a bath together."

Sayuri, abandoning all pretense, made the request with a straight face.

She wanted to seize this opportunity tonight—before Akira had a chance to regret it.

Cough, cough!

Akira's response was a fit of intense coughing.

Looking at Sayuri, who seemed to think nothing of it, he asked in exasperation:

"Mom, am I hearing things?"

"No, it's perfectly normal in Japan for families to bathe together."

"So what's the issue with us bathing together?"

"Then why didn't we ever bathe together when Dad was around?"

"He wasn't Japanese, so there was no need to follow that tradition. Besides, he didn't like baths."

Sayuri quickly provided a flawless excuse.

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