The saleswoman glanced at the dress in Yor's hands, then smiled politely.
"If I may make a suggestionsummer has already passed. Perhaps she'd be more interested in clothing that suits the current season?"
She gestured toward a section of the store filled with layered outfits in warm, earthy tones that matched the hues of autumn leaves.
The display showcased cozy ensembles: long coats and jackets, neatly arranged in coordinated sets.
Popular fabrics like wool, corduroy, and cashmere were featuredoffering both warmth and style.
Nakui's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Wow! Yor, let's go check those out!"
Yor glanced at Mugiho's mother, who was practically bouncing with enthusiasm.
She let out a quiet sigh, a fond one.
The moment reminded her of times spent with Eririhow she would excitedly recommend books to her and Mugiho, always full of energy and opinions.
A soft smile crept onto Yor's face.
Without resistance, she allowed herself to be swept away, becoming Nakui's dress-up doll for the day.
Outfit after outfiteight full sets in totalYor tried them all.
Long-sleeved blouses, thick knit sweaters, flowy skirts, cardigans, lightweight jackets, and dresses paired with leggings or stockings.
Each look seemed to draw more praise than the last.
Then, she stepped out in a particularly striking ensemble: a red cardigan over a crisp white blouse, a pleated skirt, and sleek black stockings that hugged her legs just right.
Nakui's hands clasped together with delight.
"As I thought, Yor! You look amazing in that outfit!"
She turned to the saleswoman without missing a beat.
"Could we get everything she tried on, all in her size?"
The saleswoman's eyes lit upnot just with admiration, but with the sparkle of a hefty sales bonus.
'Yes! With this total, I can finally take it easy for the rest of the week!'
Of course, on the surface, she kept her flawless professional smile. Bowing politely, she replied,
"Of course, madam. Please wait just a moment while I gather everything in the proper sizes."
With that, she carefully picked up the neatly folded pile of clothes and disappeared into the back room.
"Nakui-sama, you really don't have to do this..." Yor whispered softly
Mugiho's mother simply pouted, puffing her cheeks slightly like a stubborn child.
"Yor, it's fine. You only have that one black dress, that old sweater, and a single shirt you wear when you go outside, right?"
"But... but these clothes are too nice to move around in. And that black dress is perfect for blending into the dark when working, and some of the bloo"
Before Yor could start spilling details about her... profession, Nakui gently pressed a finger to her lips.
"Yor, we're still outside,"
"Ah!" Yor's eyes darted around in panic, scanning for any eavesdroppers. When she saw no one nearby, she let out a small sigh of relief. "I'm sorry..."
"It's okay, Yor," Nakui said with a gentle smile. "How about we sit on that couch over there while we wait?"
"Y-Yes..." Yor nodded shyly.
Yor and Nakui sat together on the cozy couch, waiting for the clothes to arrive. The atmosphere was quiettoo quiet. Neither of them felt comfortable with the heavy silence lingering in the air.
"Yor," Nakui said gently, breaking the stillness. "When I asked you earlier is there something bothering you?"
"N-No, nothing's"
Before Yor could finish, Mugiho's mother reached out and gently took her hand, softly stroking it with comforting warmth.
"Yor," Nakui said with a kind smile, "even if I seem carefree like this I'm still a mother. I can tell when someone has something weighing on their heart."
Her eyes met Yor's, calm and sincere. "If there's something troubling you you can tell me."
Yor stared at Nakui's gentle face, and for a fleeting moment, her heart was carried back to her own childhoodback when her mother had been the safest place in the world. That same warmth now radiated from Nakui's hand, wrapping around her like a soft blanket. Her lips trembled.
"I"
Taking a shaky breath, Yor finally opened up.
She spoke about the confusion that had been swirling in her heart.
How, the more time she spent around Mugiho, Eriri, Mahiru, and Mashiro... the more she began to wonder if she was truly needed anymore.
Her brother was already grownstrong, capable, holding a good job with a bright future ahead of him. He didn't need her protection like he once did.
And Mugiho...
Mugiho, who had been training with her over the past month, growing stronger day by dayclosing the gap between them little by little.
All these thoughts swirled inside Yor's heart.
It made her wonder if everyone was slowly drifting away from her.
It made her believe that the blood on her hands, the stains of her past, made her unworthy to even stand beside Mugiho, Eriri, Mahiru, and Mashiro.
And deep down, the cruelest question echoed in her minddid this world even need someone like her anymore?
Nakui listened in silence, her expression unreadable.
Then, without a word, she gently rested her head on Yor's shoulder.
"Yor before I answer that question," she murmured softly, "Can I ask you something first?"
Yor blinked. "What is it?"
"Are you happy now... being by my son side?"
"Eh...?"
A faint blush colored Yor's cheeks at Nakui's unexpected question.
"U-Um w-what do you mean by that?" she stammered, her voice flustered.
Nakui chuckled softly. "What I mean is... after spending almost a year with my son, how do you truly feel? I want you to think carefullyremember how you felt when you were with him, and the others around him.
Do you really believe that your presence brings no joy to anyone?"
".."
She didn't know how to respond.
Her mind wandered back, back to the first time Mugiho had invited her over for dinner. Back when she'd first met Mahiru, Eriri, and Mashiro.
She remembered the quiet afternoons she spent at their place... even when there was nothing special to do. Reading the manga Mugiho had drawn.
Playing the silly games Eriri had recommended with that usual tsundere attitude. Laughing, smilingmoments she rarely had in her past life.
And yet...
"I still do," Yor said with a faint self-deprecating smile tugging at her lips.
"No one is truly happy. No one can be... not with someone like me around."
Her gaze dropped to her trembling hands, clenched tightly in her lap as if trying to hold herself together.
"These hands... they're far too stained with blood."
"If I stay by their side... if I stay by your family's side... all I'll bring is misfortune."
"Sigh" Nakui sighed softly as she listened to Yor's words about herself. "How did you get to that conclusion Yor?"
"Eh...?" Yor froze, her breath catching in her throat.
"You think that just because your hands are stained... you don't deserve happiness." Nakui's voice was gentle but firm. "But that's just running away, isn't it? Running from the kindness that's being offered to you. From the warmth you've finally found here."
"Do you really think the people who know about you are so fragile they'd break just because you're around? That our happiness is so weak it would crumble because of you?" Nakui shook her head softly.
Nakui knew how much this girl had suffered.
She had met Yor when she was just a little thing, clinging to her younger brother with uncertain eyes, the shadow of her violent family background darkening every step she took.
Nakui had always known this moment would comethe moment Yor would start doubting herself again.
Even though she was older than her son, Nakui firmly believed that Yor was the perfect match for him.
It wasn't just because of Yor's unwavering loyaltybut also because of her strength. Ever since Mugiho was born, Nakui had lived with a quiet fear for his safety.
She knew all too well how her husband's side of the family was always scheming, and constantly eyeing Mugiho's rightful place.
The future felt uncertain and... dangerous.
But if Yor was by his side, Nakui could finally breathe a little easier.
It wasn't that she cared who her son fell in love withwhether it was Yor or someone elsebut deep down, she feared something far greater: if an ordinary person stepped onto the same battlefield that she and her husband had walked for years, they would be crushed.
Hurt beyond repair.
That was something she could never allow.
"..."
Seeing Yor fall silent, trapped in her own spiraling thoughts, Nakui decided to give her a little push.
"Yor," she said with a small smile, "If you're still felling uncertain, how about we make a little bet?"
[254] Preparing For Rainy Days
Akifumi let out a quiet sigh, recalling the conversation he'd just had with his father.
"Even if you tell me not to worry... how could I not?"
No matter how he spun it in his head, his father had clearly kept something from him. Probably because the less Akifumi knew, the less trouble he'd get involved in.
But from what he knew from the original work there's probably nothing good will happen in the future, better start preparing early,
'But just to be sure when I get back, I'll check the internet and news sites again. Maybe there's also something about the supernatural going on in this world,' he thought to himself.
If a world-ending scenario actually happenedlike some messed-up event straight out of a dark animehe'd probably grab his loved ones and his parents and run somewhere safe. Anywhere far from danger.
'But if that really happened where would we even go? Antarctica? The moon?' he wondered with a wry smile.
With a resigned shake of his head, he slipped the pendant back into his pocket and stretched his limbs.
His father had told him not to worry, and right now, that was all he could dokeep moving forward. Overthinking it would only give him a headache.
"Well... guess I'll just head home."
Standing up from the airport lounge seat, Akifumi made his way toward the exit.
Hmm?
By the lounge's exit, he spotted Yor standing still as a statue, her arms weighed down with some shopping bags. From the looks of it, they were all filled with high-end clothes and accessories.
Seeing that familiar sight, Akifumi let out a wry smile.
'Mom you're spoiling her rotten. but seriously, whose kid are you even pampering here?'
If Akifumi didn't know who his mother was, he might've seriously thought that Yor was her secretly adopted daughter.
'Wait a minute, now that I think about it having Yor my older sister wouldn't be so bad,' he mused with a small smile.
The way she cared so selflessly for the people around herso much that she willingly gave up her own childhood to raise and protect her little brotheronly made Akifumi respect her all the more.
She wasn't just a beautiful woman with a kind smile; beneath that gentle surface was an unwavering strength.
A strength that quietly endured pain and hardship without ever asking for anything in return.
In the pages of Spy x Family, Yor might have seemed clumsy, scatterbrained, and hilariously bad at keeping secrets... but to Akifumi, that only made her more human.
More real.
After all, how many people in the world could live such a dangerous double life, act as a loving sister, and still try to be a good wife even if only in name all at once?
Most would've broken under the pressure. But not Yor.
She smiled, laughed, cooked terrible meals, and tried her best without ever letting her burdens show.
To Akifumi, that strength the kind that didn't need words or glory was far more admirable than any flashy hero from manga or anime.
Shaking his head in mild amusement, Akifumi walked up to Yor.
"Yor-san, let's head back," he called gently.
But she didn't move.
She stood frozen in place, as if lost in thought, not even noticing he was right in front of her.
"Yor-san? Are you okay?" Akifumi asked again, waving a hand in front of her face.
"Eh?"
Yor blinked in surprise, she snapped out of her daze only to find Akifumi's face unexpectedly close to her.
Flustered, she quickly took a step backtoo quickly. But forget to control her strength, and she ended up bumping the back of her head against the wall behind her.
'Crack'
"Ouch..."
The shopping bags slipped from Yor's hands as she knelt down slightly, while rubbing the sore spot on her head.
Akifumi winced at the sharp sound. That wasn't the sound of someone merely bumping their head...
He glanced over at the wall behind herand sure enough, there was a small crack running across the surface. A cold sweat ran down his back.
'Thank god she stepped back instead of forward...' he thought, swallowing nervously. If she'd headbutted me with that force, I'd probably be sent flying into another world...
"Are you okay, Yor-san?" Akifumi asked carefully.
"I-I'm fine, young master," Yor replied, still rubbing her head.
Akifumi sighed. "Please... don't call me that, Yor-san. Just call me Mugiho, like usual."
"I... I can't do th" Yor started to protest, but the serious look on Akifumi's face made her swallow her words.
"...Yes... Mugiho-sama," she finally said softly.
Akifumi let out another quiet sigh. 'Mom... just what have you been telling her?' he thought to himself.
He could tell Yor had built a wall around herselfunlike before, when she acted like a clumsy yet dependable big sister. Now... she was acting like a proper "bodyguard", distant and formal.
"...Well, that's fine for now. Here, let me help you."
Akifumi gently offered his hand.
Yor stared at it for a moment before hesitantly taking it. With a gentle pull, Akifumi helped her back to her feet.
"I'm sorry, youn I mean... Mugiho-sama..." Yor muttered meekly, looking down.
"Don't worry about it. It was nothing, "But... is something wrong? You've been out of it the whole day."
Hearing that, Yor flinched.
She couldn't help but remember the promise she made with Akifumi's mother.
"I want you to tell him everythingabout yourself, about what you've done to my son. If he rejects you... if he's disgusted and asks you to leavethen fine. I'll let you do whatever you want. Disappear, quit this job, retire... it's your choice."
Nakui Akifumi's mother gently took Yor's trembling hand in her own, her voice soft but firm.
"But if he doesn't... then please, stop hurting yourself like this."
'There's no way... no way Mugiho-sama would even look at me the same if he knew what I really am...' Yor thought bitterly.
Her nickname in the underworld echoed in her mind, cold and sharp.
