Chapter 164: Why Say 'Again' (Long Chapter)
"Um, Hachiman, see you tomorrow... no, in two days. You're still going to Chishima-sensei's place, right? I had a lot of fun today. Also, thanks for walking me home. Um... could we... go on another date sometime?"
"Ah! That... yeah, of course. Thanks for inviting me out, too."
"Then... Hachiman, goodbye! Get home safe. I'm going inside now. I'll definitely be at Chishimaya in two days!"
"Yeah, okay..."
Before Hachiman could even finish his sentence, Yui clutched her giant Pan-san plushie and hurried into her house. Seeing her stumble along like she was about to trip really made a guy worry, especially with her small face flushed a deep crimson.
Hachiman watched her until she disappeared into the nearby apartment complex. He shook his head with a small chuckle, glancing at the large bag of gifts for Komachi in one hand and his own small Pan-san in the other. He looked up at the thousands of stars dotting the sky and began the trek home.
As he passed through the busier districts, the lingering heat of the festival celebrations hadn't quite cooled down. Drunks and noisy groups of young people were scattered everywhere.
Hachiman had no intention of getting involved with that crowd. He walked alone along the edge of the street, savoring the solitude of the night. Without thinking, he slipped into his Breathing Technique, and the insights from his Meditation began to drift through his mind...
With every step forward, the noise and distractions of the world seemed to peel away, layer by layer.
Once he reached an area cleared of crowds and skyscrapers, the passing cars began to pick up speed. A vehicle coming from the opposite direction accelerated, its headlights flashing with a blinding glare. Hachiman was forced to avert his eyes and stop in his tracks.
The strange, ethereal sensation vanished instantly!
Dammit! He had been so close to grasping it.
Unable to contain his frustration, Hachiman kicked an empty can sitting on the curb. It soared through the air, perfectly flying through the open window of a passing car...
"Hey, hey! What kind of bastard throws a can like that?! You wanna die? Get over here!"
Hachiman promptly made a run for it.
...
After bidding farewell to the Nito couple at the intersection nearest the Hiratsuka estate, Shizuka watched their car speed off. It wasn't surprising; they were likely in a hurry to get home and get started on making a baby.
The smile on her brother-in-law's face hadn't faded once the entire way.
Shizuka felt genuinely happy for her older cousin. Misaki-nee had finally let go of that stubbornness rooted in her idealism.
Often, idealism and reality find themselves at odds, and that's when a choice has to be made.
For a logical adult, they make choices based on their identity, their position, and the expectations of others.
For Misaki Nito, she was a wife to Ichiro Nito first, a mother to a future child second, a daughter to her parents third... and only after all that was she a corporate executive.
There was no doubt that Ichiro Nito loved her.
If Misaki had insisted on chasing her ideals, Ichiro would have continued to support her.
That was the sacrifice Ichiro was making—a massive one. But that kind of one-sided love and sacrifice rarely lasts forever. Maybe it would work for three years, maybe five, or even longer, but if it continued indefinitely, there would come a day when Ichiro would inevitably feel let down.
No human being is truly a saint.
Marriage is a reciprocal thing; it's about looking out for one another and finding compromises. Perhaps even if Ichiro hadn't spoken up, Misaki would have returned to her active career within a year or two anyway. But because Ichiro had been the one to take the initiative and speak his mind, Misaki—after her initial confusion—had given the answer her husband hoped for.
This was Misaki's sacrifice. She loved Ichiro too, a love that was very, very deep.
No, perhaps 'sacrifice' wasn't the right word. It was the effort and contribution they both made for the sake of their family.
For her family, Misaki Nito was willing to set aside her own ideals.
—After all, a home guarded by only one person isn't a home at all.
Being trapped in a dilemma between 'family' and 'ideals' is as silly and pathetic as the question "If your mother and wife both fell into the water, who would you save first?" It's a meaningless hypothetical.
The real choice is only known when you're actually facing it. You only know which side the coin lands on once it stops spinning.
—Of course, we're talking philosophy here. Don't go bringing science into this.
"Chi... Akishin, do you think we played a part in Misaki-nee accepting Brother-in-law's request? Did we? Did we?"
"Hmm~, I suspect we did..."
"Ha~ I thought so! Misaki-nee must have been triggered because we're officially dating... so this is basically our achievement. When my little nephew or niece is born, I'm definitely going to ask her for a huge red envelope..."
"Wait... shouldn't we be the ones giving the big red envelope when their kid is born?"
"Those are two different things! The money I give the baby belongs to the baby. The money she gives me is a 'thank you' to me. There's no conflict there."
"..."
The street was silent. They were still a few hundred meters from the front gate. A gentle night breeze blew past, and the stars twinkled above. Shizuka clung to Akishin's arm, her face glowing with happiness. Now that their relationship was truly set in stone, Shizuka had dropped all her pretenses.
The rhythmic clicking of geta and the scuff of shoe soles on the pavement blended together, echoing through the night. The streetlights stood lonely like sentinels, illuminating the ground, while a few summer insects chased each other around the glow.
Hearing Shizuka go on about red envelopes, Akishin wore a helpless yet affectionate smile. He thought for a moment, then asked with a grin, "So, Shizuka, do you want a child?"
Akishin immediately felt his arm being squeezed tight. He felt a softness that was hard to put into words, followed by Shizuka's panicked, embarrassed voice.
"What... what are you talking about?! We just officially started dating! We haven't even... haven't even gotten married yet! Why are you already thinking about children again?!"
Why did she say 'again'?
Akishin glanced at Shizuka. Her face, which had just started to cool down, was bright red once more. She gave his waist a sharp pinch.
That actually kind of hurt.
Akishin gave a small laugh. Seeing Shizuka like this, he couldn't resist teasing her a bit more. "Then, when does Shizuka plan on getting married?"
Shizuka bit her lip softly and looked up at Akishin's profile. Her eyes seemed to hold a swirling pink mist, and her cheeks burned with bashfulness. She asked shyly, "When do... you want to get married?"
Critical hit!
Akishin turned to look at Shizuka, stunned. He stopped walking, leaned in, and kissed her directly...
"Mngh—"
A dozen seconds later, their lips parted. Shizuka's vision was swimming, as if the starry sky itself was spinning around her.
Akishin reached out to hold her, looking up at the night sky. Even with his sharp mind, he couldn't stop his face from heating up, but...
Subconsciously, he licked his lips. They were a little sweet.
He couldn't help but let out a slightly foolish grin.
Why couldn't he hold himself back just now?
Well, Shizuka was just too cute. Right. It wasn't his fault; it was Shizuka's fault for being so adorable.
"As for the wedding, I'll go home and check for a good date. But it mostly depends on your father and mother. We should let them make the decision..."
"Just so you know, you're not allowed to... you're not allowed to..."
"Not allowed to what~?"
"You're not allowed to suddenly... suddenly kiss me like that. Do... do you understand? If you do it again... I definitely won't let you off easy."
"Understood." (He'd definitely do it again.)
Shizuka finally regained her composure. She looked left and right, and seeing no one around, she let out a sigh of relief. she turned to give Akishin a reproachful look as he continued to laugh, hesitated for a second, and then wrapped her arms around his again.
A feeling of warmth and peace filled her heart once more.
"Alright, let's go home. I'm hungry. I want you to make me something delicious for dinner!"
"No problem. I'll put in three hundred percent effort to serve the very best dish for the very best Shizuka."
Shizuka bit her lip again, then licked it gently, her smile blooming. She pulled Akishin toward the house. They were less than a hundred meters away now.
...
"Father, Mother, you're back so early!"
They entered through the back door, crossed the lawn, and stepped into the main Hiratsuka residence.
The Hiratsuka couple was in the living room watching television. A Taiga drama was playing, telling the story of Tokugawa Iemitsu, specifically the part featuring Yagyu Jubei.
Akishin glanced at the screen. The 'one-eyed' figure on the TV looked nothing like the real Yagyu Jubei. For someone like him, who had fought Yagyu Jubei countless times, seeing this portrayal was an assault on his eyes.
"We only got back a few minutes ago and just turned the TV on." Yuren looked at the two of them and smiled. "Tell me, why did you end up at the police station? Misaki even sent me a message thanking you both."
"That's actually Father's fault. Misaki-nee came to deliver documents to you and ran into a robbery on the way. Akishin and I just happened to be there..."
Shizuka took the documents Misaki Nito had entrusted to her out of the bag Akishin was carrying and handed them to her father. She sat on the sofa and recounted the events.
"Misaki ran into a robber? She wasn't hurt, was she?"
Yuren flipped through the stack of papers briefly. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes for just a second before he casually set the documents aside.
"Chishima-kun, have some fruit. A friend of mine brought this specifically from Kagoshima. I heard they're a limited variety. Don't be shy; we're all family now..."
"Ah! Right, thank you, Ma'am."
Akishin took a bright yellow orange and began to peel it slowly. His attention was on Shizuka, but out of the corner of his eye, he watched the TV. Even if one character was an eyesore, the others weren't bad. The actor playing Tokugawa Iemitsu was actually quite good...
"Misaki-nee wasn't hurt. Not long after, Brother-in-law Ichiro arrived. He was faster than the police and the ambulance."
"I can appreciate that. Ichiro has always been good to Misaki... but Shizuka, what was that you called Chishima-kun?"
Yuren finally asked the real question. He had noticed the ring on Shizuka's finger. He crossed his arms, his expression becoming serious.
Akishin, who had just put a piece of orange into his mouth, felt his gaze sharpen.
Sachiko patted Akishin's shoulder with a light smile. "Don't worry, Chishima-kun. Ever since we allowed Shizuka to live with you, we've fully entrusted her to your care..."
She shook her head slightly, her hands resting naturally in her lap. Her eyes were downcast, carrying a complex mix of emotions, though mostly they held prayers and smiles.
"...I understand, Ma'am."
Akishin hesitated for a moment, nodding with a smile before turning his eyes back to Shizuka.
Yuren glanced at his wife but didn't comment on her words.
Shizuka had expected this. She stood up, took a few steps back, and held up her hand to show Yuren the silver ring. Her eyes held a trace of tears as she spoke with a radiant face.
"Father, Akishin and I are officially together. You... you don't have to worry about your daughter anymore. I've found the person I can truly entrust my life to."
"..."
Silence fell over the living room, save for the sound of the television.
Yuren looked at his daughter. Standing there in her kimono, she looked graceful and beautiful. In the dim light, he almost saw the little girl who used to whine for him to play games with her...
"Shizuka, you've grown up..."
Yuren stood up, reaching out as if to pat her head, but he hesitated and patted her shoulder instead.
Shizuka smiled through a single falling tear. She took her father's large, rough hand and placed it back on her own head, giving him a wide grin.
"Hehe. No matter how much time passes, no matter what I become, I'll always be your best daughter."
"...Hahaha, that's right. No matter how Shizuka changes, you're still my daughter." Yuren touched Shizuka's hair, pulled his hand back, and barked, "Chishima-kun!"
"Sir."
Akishin stood up instantly. He was still holding the half-eaten orange, and he was honestly more tense than when he was in a life-and-death struggle with Gin. His palms were actually sweating.
"When do you two plan on getting married?"
Akishin: "??!"
Shizuka: "??!"
Sachiko smiled and shook her head, giving her husband a reproving look.
Yuren pretended not to notice. He stared at Akishin with a serious, stern gaze, emphasizing, "Don't tell me you've lived together all this time without even thinking about marriage!"
Akishin felt his scalp tingle. He was terrified of saying the wrong thing and offending his father-in-law; his entire future happiness was on the line here.
And besides, what did he mean by 'marriage preparations'? Isn't this a bit fast? Shizuka and I literally just made it official! I just got the first kiss of three lifetimes!
Akishin hesitated for five seconds before saying solemnly, "Sir, I will discuss this with Shizuka. We've decided to let you make the final call."
"Very good. Your mother and I were thinking the same thing. Actually, we've been thinking about it for a long time. Once Shizuka resigns in three months, you two should get married immediately..."
Yuren stepped closer and patted Akishin's shoulder with relief. "I'll be at peace entrusting Shizuka to you in the future. Also, remember our promise."
Sachiko gave Yuren another look before standing up happily to take her daughter's hand, examining the ring closely.
Shizuka asked in confusion, "Father, Mother, you knew I was going to resign in three months?"
Sachiko smiled. "Don't we know you by now? You care so much about the students you teach. Even if you resign, you'd definitely wait until this term is finished."
"Haha, well... thank you, Mother."
"You have to get along well with Chishima-kun from now on. You can't be spoiled like you are at home. And that bad habit of yours... is there something engraved inside this ring?"
"Yes. Our mutual oath is inside."
Shizuka glanced at Akishin, carefully took off the ring, and showed it to her mother. After Sachiko read the oath, she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and personally placed the ring back on her daughter's hand.
On the other side, Yuren and Akishin seemed to have finished their brief talk. Akishin checked the time and said, "Sir, Shizuka mentioned she was hungry earlier. I was going to prepare a late-night snack for her."
"No need to rush. Making a snack is fine, but wait until I finish explaining this matter."
Yuren gestured for Shizuka to sit. "Shizuka, you sit down properly too. This is an important matter, second only to your wedding."
Sachiko pulled her daughter down to sit.
"What important matter?"
Her father was rarely this serious with her, so Shizuka adopted a serious expression as well. She placed both hands on her thighs and sat up straight.
Sachiko turned off the television.
Yuren picked up the stack of documents he had tossed onto the coffee table. He spoke in a heavy voice.
"Regarding the two of you inheriting the Hiratsuka Group!"
After a moment's hesitation, he handed the documents to Akishin. "In here is detailed information on every staff member in the group, including all their various weaknesses..."
...
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