Light Novel Chapter 25

筒隠さんの家のなか (Tsutsukakushi-san no Ie no Naka, lit: Inside the Tsutsukakushi Home) is the twenty-fifth chapter of the light novel series of The "Hentai" Prince and the Stony Cat.
==Plot==
Youto wakes up to the sensation of someone sitting on his stomach, finding Tsukiko perched on him, watering can in hand, muttering something about "water torture." Startled, he jolts upright. Expressionless as always, Tsukiko explains that she was joking, and puts away the watering can, seemingly disappointed.
As Youto regains his bearings, he realizes they are still in the park where they last confronted the Stony Cat. However, the rain has stopped, and the atmosphere feels strange. When they check their phones, they realize there is no reception. As the sun sets, Tsukiko suggests they head to Youto's home to borrow his landline phone and consult her sister about the situation. When he brings up that his mother knows her, Tsukiko's cryptic remark, "Even if I know her, there might be a chance that she doesn’t know me right now," catches Youto off guard, but he laughs it off.
Upon arrival, they discover that the nameplate on the gate does not say "Youto" but instead reads "Higuchi." When Youto takes a closer look, the house itself looks different — newer with fresh paint, almost as if it's just been built. Confused, he turns around to see a few grade schoolers playing, one of the boys standing out among the rest — he bears the spitting image of Youto's childhood friend, Ponta, but much younger. Tsukiko walks up to a bulletin board, voicing her conclusion: the cat god seems to have granted her wish in an unbelievable way. Hanging on the bulletin board are election posters for the town mayor, except the date displayed is from ten years past.
Youto panics slightly, and begins thinking about how the two of them must find a way to live as family if they are stuck in this alternative world. However, Tsukiko, staying exceedingly calm, reminds him that since the cat god can grant any wish, they should be able to return at any point. However, she does not yet want to look for the cat god — this is the perfect opportunity to prove that she and Youto have met in the past, and to prove that Tsukushi's memories are correct, and they don't have to rush to return since they know it's possible. Tsukiko convinces Youto with sound logic, who agrees on the condition that they immediately go home if things get dangerous, or if he wants to leave. Tsukiko extends her palms, inviting Youto to hold hands, and declares the start of an adventure with just the two of them.
They board a bus, deciding to take a look around the Tsutsukakushi estate. As the bus takes sharp turns, Youto, standing firm, manages to support the weight of a family next to him, who turn out to be a young Azuki Azusa and her mother.
Arriving at their high school, they wait for a transfer. However, something in the direction of the nearby Tsukimi Nursery School catches Tsukiko's attention as she suddenly grows restless. She points at one particular young boy, but Youto struggles to get her message. Claiming this encounter to be the greatest miracle bestowed upon her by the gods, Tsukiko runs towards the boy with the speed of a wild animal. After exchanging a few words with the boy, she turns around to introduce to Yokodera Youto, Yokodera Youto.
The six-year-old Youto greets the sixteen-year-old Youto, brimming with energy. Realizing that they've created a paradox, Youto calls Tsukiko aside for an emergency meeting, but she assures him that it'll be fine as long as they don't do anything drastic. As the young Youto compliments Tsukiko's beauty, she becomes increasingly enamored, treating the young boy with doting affection. Her excitement escalates to the point where she begins inspecting the boy's hair and comparing it to Youto's present self. The boy voices embarrassment with Tsukiko ruffling his head, but this only boosts her enthusiasm. She passionately lectures the boy to never gain any weird interests or turn into a pervert, prompting an innocent response, promising to grow up to be someone cool like the big brother in front of him.
Tsukiko asks the boy if he's waiting for his mom, but he answers that he's instead waiting for a "Tsukasa-san" who is a teacher at the nursery school, a name that immediately jumps out to both Youto and Tsukiko. However, their perfect image of Tsukiko's mother soon shatters when she walks out — far from being a warm and maternal figure, Tsukasa exudes a sharp, rebellious energy. She greets them with what looks like a cigarette, unkempt hair, and tattered clothing, and speaks with a sharp tongue, addressing the little Youto as "shitty brat."
Beneath her exterior though, she evidently has a soft spot for the six-year-old. Despite insisting that she has no obligation, Tsukasa eventually gives in to his persistent pestering, allowing the boy to come to her home for dinner. He then goes a step further, inviting the big sister and the big brother as well. Tsukasa scolds him to not get ahead of himself, only to agree anyway "just this one time."
Tsukasa's dinner "menu" apparently just consists of ready-made convenience store meals. The pristine banquet hall that they knew is near unrecognizable, showing no sign of any cleaning effort with scattered items, spider webs and crude paintings full of holes. There also appears to be no one else living in this household.
Avoiding to reveal their true identities, Tsukiko introduces herself and Youto as step-siblings "Kikko Y Azukiella" and "Toyo T Azukiella." She claims that they were supposed to stay at Youto's mother's place but found she wasn't home, and thanks Tsukasa for her kindness. Tsukasa goes on to reiterate how much of a bother this causes her, all while offering her remaining food to Tsukiko at the same time, insisting that she needs to grow. When the young Youto also asks for seconds, she scolds her again but spoils him regardless with ice cream.
Polite as always, the little Youto apologizes to present Youto and Tsukiko for his mom's absence, and proceeds to invite them to stay the night, asserting that Tsukasa-san is always lonely. Tsukasa's response is the same — scolding and protests followed by an immediate change of mind, disguised with a hasty excuse. Declaring that she's tired, Tsukasa lies down on the spot. The little Youto however returns with a blanket, lecturing her to not risk catching a cold. Despite her resistance, the boy forces her to change and take a bath.
Next, the boy offers to take Youto and Tsukiko to their rooms. Once they are a good distance from the banquet hall, he remarks that Tsukasa looked really happy today. Though the statement feels far from the truth to Youto, his young counterpart continues to speak of how Tsukasa was unusually talkative and kind, and thanks the two for coming along.
Noticing the boy saying "Tsukasa-san" just now, Youto asks why he addressed her as "Auntie Tsukasa" before, as she seemed to dislike it. However, young Youto instead finds that she looked happy instead, and believes that there are other names would make her even happier, like "Mama Tsukasa." Making a brave expression, the boy voices her resolve to work hard and take care of Tsukasa-san, who is actually quite lonely. Resonating with his words, Tsukiko calmly nods and rubs the boy's head, assuring him that things will eventually work out thanks to a hero like him.
Little Youto remarks on Tsukiko's fondness for headpats, who asserts that receiving special treatment from a senior is the special right of juniors. The boy then teasingly question who Tsukiko wishes to receive headpats from, prompting her to briefly glance at Youto with a look full of desire, before responding "who knows?" Unexpectedly, the boy jumps to grab Youto's hand and lays it atop Tsukiko's head. An awkward silence ensues, and little Youto becomes embarrassed to the bone despie being the one to start it. Youto decides to go alone and gently rubs Tsukiko's head, which lasts for a while without anyone speaking a word.
As Youto strolls through the courtyard after taking a bath, he is startled by the silhouette of a giant rat, which turns out to be Tsukasa wearing costume pajamas and reading a children's fashion magazine. Youto opens a conversation about the costume and the magazine, which eventually leads to more serious topics. He questions why Tsukasa tries to act intimidating to the young Youto more than necessary and confronts her about actually spoiling the boy quite a bit despite how she acts.
Learning that Tsukasa simply feels the need to take care of the boy, Youto suggests urges her to be honest, so both of them can be happy. However, she asserts it to be impossible. She describes herself as someone who "destroyed the family," blaming herself for the separation and believing she failed as a mother.
Spotting a black-haired girl on the cover of her magazine resembling someone that he knows, Youto slightly loses composure. He assures her that her daughters will still love her and think about her, even in the future. Tsukasa brushes off his remark, commenting that he said that as if he's seen it himself. "That's because I have," blurts out Youto, practically screaming.
Coming back to his senses, Youto is unable to elaborate further, and a brief moment of silence ensues. Eventually breaking the silence, Youto apologizes but begs her to tell him why she separated with her daughters. No longer resisting, she reveals that four years prior, her husband moved to Italy for work, but her complicated lineage bred succession disputes, so she stayed behind alone to resolve them. What followed was a series of unfortunate events: her husband's untimely death, and a custody battle over her daughters following a flood.
Cnvinced that everything is too late, Tsukasa downplays her pain, masking it with self-deprecating humor. Unable to bear this, Youto declares himself as someone from a different world, asking Tsukasa what she would do if he told her she could meet her daughters again. Despite dismissing it as a joke, Tsukasa muses that if a different world truly exist, she would go to that world and start over. However, a splash in the pond brings her back to reality. Feeling like an idiot, she sighs and lies down, unwilling to continue the conversation.
Returning to his room, Youto invites his young self to sleep together with him and Tsukiko. The boy tries to warn him before he enters the room, but is ignored. Opening the door, he finds a naked Tsukiko in the middle of changing her underwear. He quickly covers the six-year-old's eyes and shoves him out of the room, feeling relieved. However, what awaits him would be "divine punishment."
When Youto comes back to his senses, he finds himself alone with Tsukiko. After warning Youto in an oddly specific way to refrain from assaulting her at night, she rolls up in her futon with a sigh, and Youto cannot bring himself to tell Tsukiko about what Tsukasa said. Tsukiko speaks up with a sense of defeat, acknowledging that Tsukushi's memories were wrong, and that she had no connection with Youto in the past, thus has no right to be the "longest." She adds that her mother is completely different from who she thought she'd be, regretting her idea to confirm the past.
For a second, Youto feels that there is no need to stay in this world any longer. However, on second thought, he stops himself from making the suggestion to go home, hoping that they'd be able to find some sort of resolution when tomorrow comes around.
==Characters==
==Navigation==