Episode 213: Surrounded on All Sides + Cover Fire

Incredible…

What’s so incredible is that I’ve never seen such a textbook expression of shock. It’s like he’s the living embodiment of a「picture-perfect」reaction.

And Mayumi-san is just smirking, waving her hand back and forth in front of Masaomi-san’s face as if she’s checking if he’s still alive.

Please stop doing that to him…

「Kazunari-san, leave the rest to me. Let’s finish this talk quickly so we can go back home, okay?」

!?

Masaomi-san’s eyes suddenly snapped wide open.

Wh-whoa, that startled me.

Even Mayumi-san, who’d been playing around, jerked her hand back in surprise.

「S-S-S-Saraaaaa!? What was that just now!!!??? Wh-wh-wh-what, what was that? Am I dreaming!? And what do you mean by ‘going home’!!?? This is your home, Sara!! Aaaah, and what about that kiss just now!!!??」

He’s clearly panicking, his questions becoming slightly incoherent as he grills Sara-san. On the flip side, Sara-san is projecting an extremely calm, cold gaze.

「This is home? A place where someone who brings up pathetic marriage meeting proposals lives isn’t my home anymore. Also, you’re being too loud.」

GONG!!

I’m starting to feel bad for Masaomi-san; I can practically hear the sound of a heavy bell ringing in his head.

His face has gone completely blank, like he’s about to collapse to his knees at any second…

「Oh my, it looks like a certain ‘someone’ finally got demoted by his own cute daughter. Well, putting that certain someone aside for now since he brought it on himself… Sara-chan, you’re late, aren’t you?」

「……」

…The atmosphere is getting a bit dicey. Mayumi-san, who was being playful just a second ago, is suddenly looking at Sara-san with a very strict gaze…

「I know it’s natural to hate the marriage meeting talk, and I understand you got scared thinking about being separated from him.」

No, this isn’t just dicey. Mayumi-san is clearly angry. That Mayumi-san…?

「He contacted me on the very day you ran away, having already made up his mind to come here alone… but what about the person in question? Have you just been running away this whole time?」

「……That’s」

「Pathetic… But I assume since you’ve come here, you’ve reached an answer of your own, right? So, what are you going to do?」

The air in the Satsukawa living room has turned sharp and tense. This development was unexpected for me too; I never thought Mayumi-san would get angry.

Sara-san hesitated for a moment, but her eyes remained firm.

「I’m going to talk to that person. Including how the marriage meeting is handled, I’m going to make sure he absolutely recognizes the relationship between me and Kazunari-san for the sake of our future. Then, I’ll have him figure out how to deal with the company. After that, I’ll make my judgment based on his answer.」

Sara-san said it clearly.

It seems she’d been thinking about this even before getting here. And Masaomi-san takes even more damage from being called「that person」… ah, he’s far beyond that level now…

「I see. Knowing you, I figured you’d reach the answer of making him acknowledge you after considering the company’s situation. I’ll give that a passing grade.」

I felt relieved when Mayumi-san finally softened her expression. There were parts of that conversation I didn’t quite grasp, but it seems those two were on the same page.

「So, Masaomi-san, you were listening, right?」

The conversation turned back to Masaomi-san, who had been left in silence until now. He looked startled to hear his name and turned his gaze toward us.

「Ah, yeah. I… I was listening… though it was so shocking I doubted my own eyes and ears.」

Masaomi-san looked like he was barely holding on, just enough to manage a reply.

If one more thing happens, he might actually faint.

「Then…」

「Wait, I’ll be the one to talk. This is something I have to do.」

「I see, then good luck.」

Satisfied with Sara-san’s strong attitude, Mayumi-san retracted her words with a smile. Sara-san stood beside me, placed her hand on my arm, smiled at me, and then stared straight at Masaomi-san.

Masaomi-san also steeled his expression, sensing something from her demeanor.

「……Father, it’s exactly as you see. I like Kazunari-san… no, I love him from the bottom of my heart. I don’t need anyone else but him. So…」

「Please recognize our relationship!! Sara-san is more important to me than anything. Also, I’m saying this because I’m thinking about the future too! I know I’m not reliable enough yet, but for Sara-san’s sake, I’ll study and I’ll put in the work. I’ll work hard so that you can acknowledge me in the future!!」

Since I hurriedly jumped into the conversation, Sara-san looked at me in surprise. I’m sorry, but this is what I’d intended to say from the start, and I’m not stepping aside for anyone, not even her. I’d panicked when it looked like she was about to say it first.

「K-Kazunari-san? What are you…」

Maybe she realized what my words implied, because Sara-san’s face turned bright red.

「Sorry, Sara-san. I had to be the one to say this…」

「No, I’m happy you said it, but… um… th-that talk just now…」

With her face still crimson, Sara-san started fidgeting and swaying. She’s probably worried about the meaning of「acknowledge me in the future.」

「Ahem!」

Masaomi-san, who’d been watching us with a sour face, suddenly cleared his throat. In response, Sara-san met his gaze with a look that was almost a glare.

Now, what kind of answer is he going to give…

「………I’ll be honest. I never dreamed that Sara, who hated men so much, would actually go as far as saying she loves someone. After seeing you two with my own eyes and hearing it with my own ears, I still have feelings of disbelief, but the shock was so strong that it’s actually made me feel strangely calm. So… I realize there’s no more room for doubt.」

He still seemed a bit dazed, stumbling over his words, but Masaomi-san gave us an answer. I almost felt happy for a second, but his phrasing made me pause, is there a「but」coming? I decided to hold back and wait for him to continue.

Sara-san also seemed to judge that she should listen first, and she quietly waited too.

「Since you’ve shown me this much, I have no intention of doubting your relationship. Part of me still thinks what’s happening in front of me might be a dream, but I have to accept it as reality. However… we can’t forget that we are the Satsukawa family.」

I knew it would come back to this.

This is the second stage of the talk. Masaomi-san is implying that for him to recognize our relationship, it has to be discussed within the context of the company. The saving grace is that it feels like he’s already acknowledged us as individuals.

「Takanashi-kun, I need to have a serious talk with you, okay?」

「…Go ahead.」

Masaomi-san’s expression shifted, becoming incredibly stern as he looked me in the eye. It looks like the real negotiation is finally starting. I have to steel myself…

「Takanashi-kun, you said earlier that you wanted me to acknowledge you in the future. Does that mean you said that while understanding what this family represents?」

「…Yes. But I won’t pretend that I understand everything. I won’t say something so presumptuous. But no matter what it is, I won’t hesitate if it’s for the sake of being with Sara-san. If there are things that need to be done, I will definitely make them happen.」

I kept my eyes on Masaomi-san, staring straight back to show that I wouldn’t back down an inch.

I definitely don’t know how much work is going to be required from here on. So, just like with Mayumi-san, I’m not going to act like I know everything; I’m just going to hit him with my true feelings.

「……I can tell you’re serious. But that alone isn’t—」

Ding-dong…

………A visitor at this timing?

The timing couldn’t be worse. The conversation came to a dead stop.

「…Please wait a moment.」

Mayumi-san stood up from the sofa with a wry smile and headed to check the intercom monitor, only to let out a surprised「Eeeh!?」.

「Mayumi, let me in.」

!?

That voice… could it be…

「……Grandmother?」

Yes, it was Sachie-san.

Of course, there’s nothing strange about Sachie-san coming to this house. But is this timing really a coincidence?

I hadn’t said anything, and when I looked at Sara-san, she shook her head. That means she didn’t say anything either… so it really is a coincidence?

Mayumi-san hurried to the entryway with a pitter-patter of slippers. When she returned a moment later, Sachie-san was indeed following behind her.

「It’s been a while since I’ve been to this house.」

「M-Mother-in-law, what’s the matter? If you had business, I would have come to visit you myself.」

It seemed Masaomi-san also didn’t know Sachie-san was coming.

He spoke to her with a look of surprise at the sudden visit.

「I came because I have things to talk about.」

Saying that, Sachie-san gave a warm smile to Sara-san and me.

「I’m sorry, Takanashi-san. I’m a bit late. And Sara-chan, I’m sorry you had to feel so scared.」

「N-No, more importantly, why…」

「Grandmother…?」

It seems she definitely came here knowing the current situation.

Even though no one told her…

After bowing to Sara-san and me, Sachie-san looked up and turned toward Masaomi-san and Mayumi-san.

「Mother-in-law, do you know Takanashi-kun?」

「Of course I do. I knew Takanashi-san before he even started dating Sara-chan, and he’s helped me out in various ways. He’s a very good boy.」

Being praised like that is a bit embarrassing… but more importantly, what’s Sachie-san’s goal?

「By the way, you two… do you remember what I said before?」

Sachie-san was getting down to business, and the atmosphere shifted instantly. She was looking at Masaomi-san and Mayumi-san in a way I’d never seen before.

「I’m sure I told you to always talk to me if anything happened at the company regarding Sara-chan. I let my guard down thinking it was still too early, but a marriage meeting proposal came up, didn’t it?」

So Sachie-san really did know about the marriage meeting… we didn’t tell her, and it doesn’t look like Masaomi-san or Mayumi-san did either… where did she hear it from?

「Wh-where did you hear that? Well, yes, it did, but I thought this marriage meeting would end at just the talk stage…」

Masaomi-san’s eyes started darting around as he began to make excuses in a fumbling tone.

「Listen, Mother. I had already thought of a solution on my end for this matter…」

「I see, and was it solved?」

「Ugh… well, not yet. Masaomi-san said that for them to be acknowledged, he had to consider the company first…」

It’s rare to see Mayumi-san on the defensive.

Even she can’t stand up to Sachie-san, it seems.

「Sigh… honestly. Anyway, I’m joining this talk. I have some things I need to tell you as well. Is that clear?」

「「Y-Yes…」」

Looking at this rare sight, the hierarchy of the Satsukawa family seems to be: Sachie-san > Mayumi-san > Sara-san > Masaomi-san. It’s a very easy-to-understand power dynamic…

「Actually, I ran into Marina-chan and the others on my way here. It seems all of their friends have gathered and are waiting for a report. It’s good to have such great friends. Also, the Nishikawa girl was there too. I heard some very interesting things.」

Sachie-san suddenly shifted the topic and started talking about everyone. I’d heard from Yuji and Hanako-san that they were on standby, and if Todo-san is there, then Hayato is probably there too. If Nishikawa-san is there, then Natsumi-senpai must be too. If Tachikawa-san is there as well, that means everyone has gathered…

「Masaomi-san, I heard you did something with the President of Nishikawa regarding a company called Yamazaki Industries recently? Eri-san told me about it.」

「Y-Yes. Our company wasn’t directly involved, but Sara reported it to me, and so…」

This was news to me. I’d heard Eri-san’s father was the one who cornered Yamazaki’s dad, but Masaomi-san was involved too? Or rather, that means Sara-san moved as well.

「I heard Takanashi-san was the center of that entire operation. In other words, Masaomi-san’s achievement was ultimately thanks to Takanashi-san, wasn’t it? Shouldn’t you show some gratitude?」

「Eh!?」

Masaomi-san turned his eyes toward me in surprise. The one who told Sachie-san that was probably Nishikawa-san, but that’s a bit of an exaggeration, she’s giving me way too much credit.

「No, that was… everyone…」

「It’s true. That matter was solved because Kazunari-san made the plan and acted as our leader.」

Sara-san spoke up in agreement before I could even finish.

Sachie-san nodded after hearing her and continued.

「Yes, I heard the same thing from all of your friends. They were all praising Takanashi-san. In particular, I have a message from Eri-san that President Nishikawa wants to thank Takanashi-san soon.」

「Thank me?」

After hearing Sara-san and Sachie-san, Masaomi-san looked at me with even more shock. By the way, Mayumi-san seems to be hearing this for the first time too, as she’s just listening in silence.

「Also, Masaomi-san, I brought a message from President Nishikawa via Eri-san.」

「Eh!? From President Nishikawa!?」

So many unexpected things were happening that Masaomi-san was looking a bit confused. Honestly, I’m feeling a bit confused too since I can’t read the situation…

「’The next generation is very promising, which is quite delightful. We can expect further development for both our companies’… is what he said. He said he’d contact you with the details later.」

Next generation? Development?

It’s a meaningful but vague phrase, but if he says development, it’s definitely something good. I wonder if Masaomi-san understood?

「Pfft…… fufufu…… hahahahaha!!」

!?

Masaomi-san suddenly burst out laughing.

I didn’t think there was anything funny in that talk, but Sara-san and I were both startled by his reaction.

「This is… hahahahaha…… Sorry about that, Takanashi-kun!」

His laughter didn’t seem to be dying down as he spoke to me through his chuckles.

Honestly, I can’t read the situation at all…

「Masaomi-san, what’s wrong?」

Mayumi-san asked curiously, but Masaomi-san still couldn’t seem to stop.

「Man, I didn’t think I wouldn’t even be allowed to say a word. When things go this far, I have no choice but to admit defeat, do I? Alright, I get it. This is my complete loss!! Between Mayumi, Mother-in-law, and now even President Nishikawa showing up, you’ve really surprised me. There’s nothing more for me to say. We still have problems to solve, and I’d definitely like your help in dealing with them. But before that…」

Masaomi-san approached with a smile and smoothly held out his right hand. It was as if he were asking for a handshake…

「I’ll be counting on you to look after Sara!」

He had just given me the declaration I’d been waiting for, spoken with true strength!