Dinner unusually started at six o’clock.
Looking at the table full of dishes, it was a bit too much for three people. A whole chicken, duck, and fish, plus large chunks of red-braised pork. My mouth watered just looking at it. Whenever there’s red-braised pork, I basically can’t be bothered to talk. I raised my chopsticks, shouted, and began my assault. The whole house was filled with the sound of me chewing loudly. I didn’t stop until I’d devoured more than half a bowl of red-braised pork, half a chicken, and half a fish.
"Hey? Dad, Mom, why aren’t you eating?" I asked in confusion, feigning politeness while my eyes had already locked onto another piece of red-braised pork.
"Fuitsu." Mom’s voice sounded gentle, which sent a chill through me. Normally Mom never talked like that. Being loud and casual was her unchanging style. If she suddenly changed her tone, it was definitely not normal, or she wanted something from me!
"Huh?" I looked at Mom nervously.
"These were all specially made for you." Mom said, smiling at me as if she could read my mind.
"That’s right, you brat, just eat up!" Dad chimed in as well. "Tomorrow is the college entrance exam. This is to cheer you on!"
"..." Now I couldn’t taste the food anymore.
"Sigh, actually, deep down we both understand. We don’t hold much hope for your exam this time, but we still want to cheer you on. Work hard! Don’t put any pressure on yourself. It’s okay if you don’t do well. After all, today’s society isn’t like back in our day. As long as you’re hardworking and willing to work, you won’t go hungry. Although your mother and I don’t usually pay enough attention to you, you have to believe that we absolutely love you. The reason we pushed you so hard was because we wanted you to have a good future. Your dad isn’t as capable as your second uncle, so I couldn’t hold my head up at home. Now Shohi has better grades than you, and he’ll probably have no problem getting into a prestigious university. The day before yesterday when I went to your grandfather’s place, your grandmother was saying you had no prospects! Sigh... no matter what, you’ll always be my son. There isn’t a parent in this world who doesn’t love their own child. If you don’t pass, so be it. It’s no big deal. Our Fuitsu is smart—maybe one day you’ll even become a big boss or something!" Dad’s voice was a bit choked up as he spoke. Mom also looked at me gently.
Dad’s words made my heart ache. The Fuitsu family could be considered quite a large clan. My eldest uncle and second uncle were both wealthy big shots, considered prominent figures in our city. Because my dad didn’t do well in school and was honest and simple, he could only find an ordinary job. Because he wasn’t as successful as my eldest and second uncles, my grandparents didn’t really like my dad. When my dad and mom were dating, my grandparents also opposed it, so to this day my mom has never visited my grandparents’ home. After I was born, Dad took me to my grandparents’ house, trying to use me, their grandson, to smooth over the conflict. Unfortunately, Grandma never liked me, but she doted on Second Uncle’s Shohi. I used to envy that, but after seeing Mom secretly crying at home several times because Grandma and Grandpa wouldn’t accept her, I never went back to my grandparents’ house again. I started to hate them! Second Uncle always acted all high and mighty around us, which made me angry just looking at him. Eldest Uncle at least still talked to us, though I think that was because he had a daughter—after all, the mindset of valuing sons over daughters is still deeply rooted! But even that cousin sister of mine ignored me, acting like a pampered princess. And that Shohi mocked me at every opportunity.
Hearing Dad’s words, I truly hated myself for being useless. I looked at Dad and Mom and said, "Don’t worry, Dad, Mom. Even if I’m not good at studying and can’t get into college, I can still work and earn money. I’ll definitely make something of myself to show those who look down on us!"
Mom looked at me with a smile and said, "We know. You’re the best. You just haven’t shown it yet! Here, have another piece of red-braised pork!" She picked up a piece and put it in my bowl.
I knew in my heart that Mom was just comforting me. Tears welled up in my eyes as I nodded firmly! After dinner, I said nothing, washed up, and went back to my room. I wasn’t even in the mood to read novels. I lay on the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling!
"Little brother, what’s wrong? Are you feeling down?" At some point, the lovely Athena had appeared and sat by my bedside, her big sapphire eyes looking at me with concern.
Without turning my head, I asked directly, "Sis, do you think I’m really useless?"
"Of course not! You’re kind and upright. Much better than most people!" Athena said.
"But I really am useless. I make my parents so sad. They can’t hold their heads up in front of others, and I let others look down on me too!"
"Little brother, who dared bully you? Tell me, and your big sister will go eat them!" Kavuri also came to my side and flopped directly onto my bed!
That made me break out in a cold sweat. Athena looked at her with utter contempt. "Brutes will always be brutes. All you think about is eating people!"
"You’re not a brute. You’re the Goddess of Wisdom. So think of a good idea! Didn’t you hear what your dad said?" Kavuri replied.
Athena said angrily to Kavuri, "I’ll say it again: Fuitsu is my little brother, not yours. Stop pretending you’re close to him!"
Hearing Athena say that, Kavuri immediately widened her big eyes and looked at me pitifully, saying, "Little brother, will you accept me as your big sister?" Then she leaned closer to me, her fingers lightly trailing across my face, teasing me.
I practically surrendered at once and quickly said, "You’re both my good big sisters. Kavuri-chan, as long as you stop talking about eating people or harming people, I’ll accept you as my big sister! And Sister Athena, after all these years, she’s had it rough too. As long as she’s willing to change, we should stop targeting her!"
Hearing me say that, Kavuri said smugly to Athena, "You heard him. If we’re going to argue, we can do it back home. Right now, let’s help our little brother first!"
Athena shot me a resentful look, seemingly unhappy with what I said but unable to object. So she lowered her head and began to think. After a moment, she smiled and said, "I am the great Goddess of Wisdom. I’m sure tomorrow’s exam won’t stump me. I’ll be right beside you teaching you. I guarantee you’ll get a perfect score!"
"Isn’t that a bit wrong? After all, it wouldn’t be my own work!" I said hesitantly.
"I think you’re not just kind and upright—you’re also hopelessly naive! Think about your parents’ hopes for you, and the mockery from your relatives. Is pride really that important? What’s the harm in cheating just a little for your parents’ sake? I agree with Athena’s plan!" Seeing my hesitation, Kavuri quickly spoke up loudly.
This time, Athena unexpectedly agreed with Kavuri, nodding in agreement.
"Is there any other way to actually improve my learning?" I asked.
"Even if there were, there’s no time for it now. Let me help you this once. In the future, I’ll teach you ways to improve your studies!" Athena explained.
Hearing Athena’s words, I was a bit tempted. If I failed this college entrance exam, I’d lose the chance to study again. Thinking of Dad and Mom’s hopes, of Grandma and Grandpa’s favoritism, of my eldest and second uncles looking down on us, I nodded and agreed!
Athena and Kavuri beamed with joy and immediately started plotting with me about how to cheat. Kavuri, the vampire queen, had already begun thinking about how to humiliate my relatives. Athena chimed in as well: "Right, these people need to be taught a lesson!"
Then Kavuri suggested things like making them lose their sex drive, making them find bugs in their food, making them streak in public—nothing but nasty tricks. Unbelievably, even a holy goddess like Athena agreed, and even came up with a few even more vicious ideas! I was stunned listening to them. So even goddesses could go crazy!