CH 48.2

TL/ED: Bogdi

“I thought you might have a grudge or two against me.”

“There’s no point in saying that, and …… since it turned out so well for me, I won’t do anything to strangle myself here.”

There’s no advantage to damaging Kagen-san’s good mood in this situation.

I’m not going to choke myself here.

“I thought you were a more direct person, but you can turn your head in a certain way…… So, you still tried to run to me that day.”

Kagen-san muttered and turned on his heels.

Kagen-san walks out with a glass of wine in his hand and motions me over. He wanted to change the location.

The destination was a balcony connected to the hall. I walked a little further and turned the corner to come to a calm place where people were not listening. Kagen-san stopped there, rested his elbows on the railing and took a breath. I stood next to him in silence.

“Hinako is a genius.”

Suddenly, Kagen-san said.

“It seems she’s the best student at the Academy.”

“I’m not talking about that sort of thing.”

Tipping his glass to his mouth, Kagen speaks.

“Hinako’s personality is the problem, but when it comes to practical matters, she has a natural gift……. Although she looks like that, she has inherited talents that are worthy of the Konohana family bloodline.”

Gazing into the distance, Kegon said.

“This is why I want Hinako to take over the house. Of course, ostensibly, her son-in-law will take over, but …… there’s no way she can’t make use of her talent. As soon as she graduates from the academy, she will be free from the constraints of time, and if she is given a private room for work, her burden will be greatly reduced. If she overcomes the current situation, she will be able to find her way.”

I felt like I understood just a little bit what kind of future Kagen-san was envisioning.

But even if I understand it, I don’t want to sympathize or agree with it.

“…… Does Hinako really have to be the one?”

“Haha, if there’s a replacement, I’ll jump at the chance.”

Kagen-san smiles.

“It’s just, the Konohana family is rather overwhelming.”

The smile quickly disappeared, Kagen-san said with a mysterious look on his face.

“The entire Konohana Group employs about eight hundred thousand people. It takes more than a little talent to take on the lives of all of them. A single mistake can cost you many employees or you can be crushed by the pressure and lose your loved ones.”

As he said this, Kagen stroked the ring he had placed on his ring finger.

According to what I heard from Shizune before, in the Konohana family, not only the head of the family but also his wife is involved in the business. However, …… I heard that Kagen-san’s wife has already passed away.

Something must have happened to him in the past.

However, that doesn’t mean that Hinako should be treated with disdain.

“What do you think of Hinako, Kagen-san?”

I had always wanted to ask.

Kagen-san lowered his gaze and answered.

“I put the household above my daughter. At that point, I saw my daughter and son as nothing more than cogs in the Konohana family.”

Lifting his elbows from the railing, Kagen-san turned to face the hall.

“Of course … myself too.”

He left the balcony, muttering softly to himself.

A chilly night breeze caressed my cheeks. The heat of the hall did not reach here.

I decided to stay on the balcony for a while in order to cool my messed up head.

“Itsuki.”

Someone called out to me.

“…… Hinako.”

There was a pretty girl there, with amber hair.

Hinako, wearing a beautiful white dress, approached me with small steps.

“Why are you here?”

“Dad told me that Itsuki was here….”

“…… I see.”

There are no people around. So, Hinako is now back to her true self.

“Thank you for continuing to be my caretaker …….”

Hinako said as she touched the balcony railing.

“What Itsuki said made me …… very, very happy.”

It must have been the time when I dared to speak in front of Shizune. It’s a slightly embarrassing memory for me, because I was so vigorous that I vented a lot of my feelings, but if …… Hinako is feeling happy about it, it might not be a problem.

“I will continue to trust you, Itsuki.”

She looked at me with pure and innocent eyes.

Her attitude, her expression, her words and actions, strongly shook my emotions.

“…… Oh.”

I suppressed my agitation and replied.

Sometimes – I almost forget.

Hinako doesn’t see me as the opposite sex. In order to live up to Hinako’s expectations, I must not see her as the opposite sex any more than I have to.

“Fee …………”

Hinako’s chin rested on the railing and she let out a distracted sound.

“Are you okay?”

“Greetings a lot, I’m tired …… and pat my head.”

“……Yes, yes.”

I chuckled as Hinako offered her head to me.

After all, what she wants from me is the warmth of a family member. In order to meet her expectations, I stroked her head as gently as I could.

“……mu?”

As I stroked her head as usual, Hinako let out a strange voice.

“……mu? ……mu?”

As I continued to stroke her head, her face began to redden.

“…… Mwah!?”

Hinako, who had turned bright red up to the tips of her ears, instantly took a big step back.

Her eyes widened, and Hinako looked confused.

“Oh, Re……?”

“What’s wrong? Your face is suddenly red……”

“…… nothing, nothing.”

Hinako was puzzled, as she didn’t seem to know what had happened to her.

I think she might be sick. Worried, I walked over to Hinako.

“If you’re not feeling well, you should take it easy.”

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing, it’s ……!”

In a weird moment, Hinako backed away again.

–What?

Don’t tell me she’s avoiding me ……?

As far as I know, this is the first time Hinako has gotten so upset so clearly. ……Does she want to get away from me so badly that she’s expressing her feelings so clearly?

Was I being too rough with her?

No, but I’m sure I’ve patted her head plenty of times before.

“…… strange.”

To hide her bright red face, Hinako touched her cheeks with both hands and muttered curiously.

“I…… feel strange…….”