Then I went home and told my mom that Tina was going to follow me.


    ''Oh, really?　Tina, you''re a man of action, too.


    Yeah, you scared the shit out of me, too.


    You didn''t think you''d leave your family because you didn''t want to leave me... no, I''m just like my family, so what''s a little different?


    Tina, you''re a girl.


    Hmm?　What does that mean?


    I say, and Mom lets out an understandable sigh.


    ''Tina, you''re going to have a hard time too...''


    You put your hand to your head and said that but what do you struggle with?　I don''t know.


    I''m home!


    As I was doing so, my dad came back in the doorway shouting at me.


    My dad forgot to drink his tea earlier and left, but he came back soon after I left.


    For all I know, he saw me leave in the backyard and then went into the house.


    Maybe he was embarrassed to come home so soon after saying something nice to me.


    So I had tea and then went out to run a few errands, and I just got back.


    ''Huh?　Dad, aren''t you alone?


    The footsteps aren''t just for one person, but definitely for several people.


    ''I''ve got Tina and her family here!


    Excuse me.


    Tina is behind my dad and comes into the living room, sounding cheerful.


    Tina''s parents come in later, looking a little apologetic.


    ''Sorry, we didn''t mean to interrupt you,''


    I wanted to talk to you about Tina...


    Then he begins to speak with an air of seriousness.


    ''Tina says she''s going to join the Order of Magic, but we''re fine with Tina wanting to go there.


    Tina''s mom says that, but her dad wants to say something about it.


    Maybe he''s still not convinced.


    After all, women have more power in married couples.......................and so does my family, Dad.


    ''''Hm?　What did you say, Eric?


    No, nothing.


    I was pitying him with my eyes and he noticed.


    ''I hear you''re going too, Eric, but what will life be like when you go over there?　I didn''t think there was any place for the two of us to live alone...


    Tina''s mother puts her hands over her face in concern and thinks about it.


    ''I''m sure it''ll be fine then.


    I answer for my mom.


    Come to think of it, in my past life I probably spoke to Tina''s parents in the same language. But once I became an adult in my past life, I''m a little uncomfortable not speaking in honorific language.


    Tina is usually a regular token to my parents...........but that''s okay.


    ''I heard there''s a place like a dormitory for people who come from far away to join the Order. So me and Tina can live there, so if you bring some clothes and other things with you, I think you''ll be able to secure food, clothing and shelter.


    Oh, really?　That''s good to know. Thank you, Eric, for that.


    Her mother''s side of the family thanks her, but her father is still a little depressed.


    If he hadn''t been able to secure food and shelter, he would have thought he could keep Tina around.


    ''I''m sorry dad, I want to be with Tina too so I''m a little desperate.


    ''We''re all for Tina following you Eric, so that''s a relief. Keep up the good work on Tina.


    It''s nice to meet you too.


    For some reason, Tina''s face turns red when she replies that.


    And her father next to her is shedding tears.


    ''''Oh, um ... what''s wrong?''''


    Ummm ... no, no, Eric, I can trust you with Tina. You take care of Tina for me!


    Then he shook my hand. That grip is as strong as my dad''s and it hurts.......


    ''''So, since Tina and Eric-kun are going to King''s Landing tomorrow, I''ve decided to have dinner with the whole family.


    Oh, is that so? Then let''s make a big meal today.


    Yes, of course!


    Oh, Mother!　Aunt Serena!　I''ll make one too!


    And so my family, Tina''s family, got together for dinner for the first time in a long time.


    Tina couldn''t cook because she didn''t have a knife, so she was happy to be able to cook for the first time in a while.


    She smiled even more when I told her the food was delicious.


    ''Ehehe, I''ll make you every meal in King''s Landing too!


    No, you can''t do that. You''ll have training, and you''ll be provided with regular meals.


    That''s what I''ve heard from Yelle.


    ''Mmmm ... then I''ll just make it in the morning.


    Well, that''s good, but you don''t have to do it, okay?


    It''s okay because I want to make it!


    Really?


    Yeah!


    Tina says that and gives a good smile.


    So, I didn''t know that Tina liked to cook that much.


    Well, she made quite a few dishes for me, so I knew she liked it, but I didn''t know it was that much.


    ''That face of yours Eric you don''t seem to understand why Tina wants to cook so much.


    ''I''m sorry, Tina, for being so appealing. She has a husband-like insensitivity.


    ''Don''t worry, Tina''s a lot like me. I think she''s going to go all guns blazing and drop it like I did.


    "...Mr. Diane, my wives are whispering to each other, what are they talking about?


    ''Hmm?　What do you care about that?　Ooh, your wife''s cooking is good too!


    ''Haha, it would have been easier for me if I were that dull...''


    And so the day before Tina and I went to King''s Landing passed--and so did I.