In just a few words, the Togawa Family Master was actually telling Toru that the Togawa Family would support the Fujiwara Family politically.
Although the Togawa Family was not a political family and had no resources in the political world, they were still one of the old Kazoku families with considerable influence, and they were also considered a small zaibatsu. The support of the Togawa Family was ultimately good for the Fujiwara Family.
While Toru was talking with the Togawa Family Master, the door to the intensive care unit opened, and Sakiko walked out with red eyes and tears streaming down her face.
Naturally, people could not stay in the intensive care unit for long, so Sakiko had not stayed with her mother for too long.
After coming out, Sakiko sniffled and said in a hoarse voice, "Grandfather."
The Togawa Master nodded and said, "I have something to do, so I'll leave first. Sakiko, you should stay here and spend more time with your mother these next two days."
Sakiko nodded gently and watched her maternal grandfather leave.
After the hospital corridor quieted down, Toru said softly to her, "Let's talk somewhere else. This is a hospital, so it isn't very convenient."
Sakiko followed Toru out of the hospital. They did not go far. There was a convenience store nearby.
The convenience store sold oden. Toru bought two drinks and some oden, then sat at a table in the convenience store with Sakiko.
"Thank you."
Sakiko took the tissue Toru handed her. She blew her nose, then lowered her head and sobbed twice.
Toru carefully chose his words and asked, "How is your mother's health?"
Sakiko shook her head, her voice hoarse. "The doctor said the situation is very bad. I'm afraid Mother doesn't have much time left."
Toru gently patted Sakiko's back, silently comforting her.
Sakiko lowered her head and said, "Actually, Mother's health has always been poor. She already had cancer two years ago, but the situation was still under control."
"She didn't want me to know, fearing I would worry, so she never told me."
"More than a year ago, Father... that man used Togawa Group's capital for investments, and the investments failed, losing ten billion yen."
"But actually... actually, not all of that money was lost because of the failed investments. Part of it was taken by him for gambling, and in the end, he made fake accounts to pretend it was an investment failure."
"Because I was young, the family didn't tell me about this. Seeing that man being kicked out, I left the Togawa Family in a fit of anger."
"He and Mother were once very loving, and they met because of music. They used to have deep feelings for each other."
"I didn't expect that man to fall so far. As his daughter, I didn't understand Mother, and instead left with that scoundrel. Mother's illness worsened drastically because of grief, and now it's in the late stage."
Sakiko sobbed, covering her face as she wept.
"It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, Mother wouldn't be like this. If it weren't for me, Mother's condition wouldn't have worsened so quickly."
Sakiko finally could not hold back and cried out loud.
It was already night, and there were no other customers in the convenience store. The staff also heard what Sakiko said, but they only continued working quietly and did not chase her away.
Toru held Sakiko in his arms, unable to say any comforting words for a moment.
He was reincarnated, and his sense of immersion in this world had not been very deep from the beginning.
Although he now acknowledged this place, Toru had experienced too many things, which made it difficult for him to feel overly sad. In fact, Toru himself had seen too many separations and deaths.
Even so, he could understand Sakiko's pain and the sorrow of losing a loved one.
"This has nothing to do with you. If it weren't for that scoundrel father of yours, you wouldn't have lived such a bitter life this past year, and your mother wouldn't have suffered such a blow."
"It's all that bastard father's fault. Sakiko, don't blame yourself here."
Toru could not do anything else. All he could do was offer this kind of comfort and stay here to accompany her.
"I know, it's actually all his fault... But I just can't get past this hurdle in my heart."
Tears soaked Toru's clothes, and Sakiko wiped her eyes hard.
Toru sighed inwardly. This girl's life really was quite miserable. Not only had she been a poor young lady for a year, but just when she had finally gotten through it, she had to experience something like this again.
However, life was often unsatisfactory, and there were always more unfortunate people in this world. Everyone would also encounter tragic things. It just depended on whether they had the perseverance and courage to get through the sadness.
Even Toru himself, in the eyes of some people, actually had a sad past.
He had no parents since childhood and grew up in an orphanage. Until he was trained to enter the CIA, his childhood life had not been very happy.
After all, CIA training was very cruel, and that training was not something ordinary people could endure.
The reason Toru was able to persevere was because after reincarnation, his physical fitness far exceeded that of ordinary people, and together with his astonishing perseverance, he was able to do it.
"Toru-kun, I need to stay with Mother these next few days, so the band's matters might have to be postponed."
"It's okay. The band can be formed anytime. Being with your mother is the most important thing. I just talked to your grandfather, and the Togawa Group is also willing to support your band."
Toru said softly, "...With my funds and the Togawa Group's resources in the entertainment industry, I believe you will definitely succeed."
Sakiko would no longer refuse the help of the Togawa Group.
If she had left the Togawa Group in anger back then to abandon her identity as the young lady of the Togawa Group, then she was now willing to return to the Togawa Family, not for wealth and glory, but because only the Togawa Family was her family, and it was her only remaining family now.
That damned father had run away just like that, and her mother was also seriously ill, with only a few days left to live. Sakiko's only remaining close relative was the current head of the Togawa Family, her grandfather, who was already quite old.
Naturally, she was willing to return to the Togawa Family and stay by her grandfather's side to spend more time with him.
Sakiko stopped her tears. "This time, I will definitely make the band succeed. I want the band to become the most famous band in Japan. I want to perform at Budokan. I want to perform at Tokyo Dome."
"Mother said that when she was young, she liked music and had thought about forming a band, but because of family reasons, she ultimately didn't succeed."
"She said that if possible, she really wanted to see me and my friends hold a concert together at Budokan and the Dome."
"For Mother, I will definitely succeed."
Sakiko could not help crying uncontrollably.
Because her mother probably would not live to see that day.
Toru remained silent, simply holding Sakiko, without any impure thoughts, only pity and calmness.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)