Episode 405: The Person Known as Mayumi-san

「Mayumi-san…」

「Mother…」

「M… Ma, Madam, it’s been a very long time.」

「Yes. Managing Director Yamanashi, you seem well too.」

Mayumi-san, who had suddenly appeared from the shadow of the hallway, gave Sara-san and me a quick glance before starting a conversation with the Managing Director as if nothing were out of the ordinary.

The air between the two of them felt slightly tense, an indescribable atmosphere…

「Not at all. You’re as beautiful as ever, Madam.」

「I don’t care about such boring flattery. More importantly, I’d like you to tell me what you meant by that… I’d love to hear it.」

「Before that, I’d like to hear from you as well. What exactly is the meaning of what I just heard from the young lady?」

「It’s exactly as it sounds. As Sara-chan said just now, these two are dating.」

Against the Managing Director, who showed a conversational posture twenty percent more exaggerated than when he spoke to me, Mayumi-san exchanged words with a fearless smile that even suggested a sense of ease… but her eyes weren’t smiling at all.

Rather, they were filled with an overwhelming power that seemed to pierce right through the Managing Director, incomparable to how she looked during that first commotion in the venue. She was overflowing with a force that surpassed everything. Perhaps because of that, it was clear that the Managing Director didn’t feel as composed as his voice suggested…

「I see. And are you two actually acknowledging that?」

「Of course we are. He’s the fated partner that Sara-chan finally found, and interfering with that isn’t something parents should do.」

「Fated partner… haha, that’s quite a bold statement.」

「Oh, I wonder what’s so funny? I’m only stating the fact.」

Every time they spoke, the tone of their voices dropped further, and it felt as if invisible sparks were flying, or rather, a clearly dangerous atmosphere began to drift…

Could it be that these two don’t get along?

「Well, even if we accept that while they’re students. The young lady still needs to think a bit more about her own position…」

「There’s no need to worry about that. Kazunari-kun is going to become our adopted son, so he’ll be a member of the Satsukawa family in name and in reality.」

「…What?」

At Mayumi-san’s words, which quite simply blurted out the core of the matter, the expression of the Managing Director, who’d maintained a facade of composure until now, finally began to crumble…

But putting that aside…

Wasn’t that supposed to be a top secret!?

「We actually intended to announce it formally after this, but since it can’t be helped, I’ll tell only you, Managing Director. This boy… Kazunari-kun, will become our adopted son in the near future.」

「An adopted son!? T-that… by any chance… by any chance!!??」

「It’s exactly what you’re thinking. Kazunari-kun will become an adopted son of the Satsukawa family and marry Sara-chan in the future. That’s how everything will be settled…」

「W-wait a moment!! Why was such a major matter decided without any consultation with us…」

「Huh? Why would we need to consult with executives and the like about our personal matters every single time? Your sleep-talking is…」

「Sara-chan, things will get complicated, so leave it to me for now, okay?」

「…Yes.」

Mayumi-san softly restrained Sara-chan, who interjected against the Managing Director as he started shouting in a panic… and I completely agreed with her. Why should we have to clear our personal business with the company people every single time?

「…Madam, do you truly intend to let them get married like this? I don’t mean to be rude, but they’re still high school students, are they not? To link a romance at such an age so deeply…」

「Oh, but these two are already engaged. Didn’t you see Sara-chan’s ring finger?」

「…I thought that was just a fake to ward off pests.」

「Well, it’s no surprise that someone who only knows the usual Sara-chan would think that… but unfortunately for you, that is a genuine engagement ring that Kazunari-kun worked and bought himself, you know? And Sara-chan accepted it.」

「!?」

「What!?」

After hearing Mayumi-san’s explanation, the Managing Director and his son turned toward me with expressions of shock… but perhaps the Managing Director still had some composure left, as he cleared his throat to pull himself together and looked at Mayumi-san again.

「Since we’re at this point, let’s set aside how seriously two high school students are thinking about the future. More importantly, Madam… and the Executive Director too, do you really think this story will be accepted?」

「Accepted or not, we have no intention of letting anyone meddle in the relationship of these two. That’s exactly why we’re going through with the adoption.」

「Even if you go that far, do you think everything will be settled smoothly? To welcome him as an adopted son while considering the young lady’s position, that means you’ve thought that far ahead, right?」

「Of course. Both Masaomi-san and I… and even the Chairman and my mother think so too.」

「The Chairman and even the Great Madam!?」

The Managing Director showed a level of surprise that seemed almost exaggerated. I also felt confused…

Is this story really something that should shock others that much?

「You seem to be misunderstanding something, so let me tell you one thing. Even if we’ve prepared positions for executives as a corporation, we have no intention of letting anyone speak on this matter. You don’t mean to say that you don’t understand the meaning of me, who doesn’t usually appear in public, saying this much, do you?」

「T-that’s…」

「Or rather…」

Mayumi-san paused for a breath after saying that much…

She stared down the Managing Director with a piercingly sharp and cold gaze, one that surpassed even Sara-san when she shows her anger, enough to make me feel a chill just by watching…

「I’ve been listening quietly, but you seem to look down on my cute son quite a bit… you’ve got a lot of nerve, don’t you?」

「!?」

「Or are you just panicking? It seems the people stepping forward as candidates are being given strange priority within the company. If your own son fails, you want to settle it with someone related to those under your influence… perhaps?」

「W-w-what on earth are you saying…」

「Don’t underestimate me too much. It seems you were moving around secretly in the shadows during Masaomi-san’s time as well, but you’re sadly mistaken if you think you can do as you please just because my father is gone.」

「Guh…」

Just like a frog being glared at by a snake. Even as a witness, I felt genuine fear at Mayumi-san’s incredible intensity, which was completely different from her usual self. The Managing Director fell silent. Looking at his son, who was just trembling behind him, I could only feel it was inevitable in front of the current Mayumi-san.

「Mayumi? And Sara too… Managing Director Yamanashi?」

Masaomi-san appeared there… in a way that reminded me of the scene from a little while ago. The air that’d been completely frozen relaxed just a bit.

Masaomi-san, who was once again looking at the situation with a curious expression, tilted his head innocently… well, he doesn’t know what’s happening, so it can’t be helped.

「Sigh… it’s because Masaomi-san’s follow-through is weak that I have to clean up after him.」

「Huh? Umm… is that so?」

「It is!! Honestly… you let your guard down too much!!」

「I-I’m sorry?」

Masaomi-san offered words of apology to a clearly offended Mayumi-san, then looked at the Managing Director suspiciously…

「Managing Director, was there something you wanted to discuss?」

「Executive Director… is the matter of the adoption true?」

「…Mayumi?」

Masaomi-san, asked that by the Managing Director in a strained voice, immediately tightened his expression and looked at Mayumi-san as if to confirm something… when Mayumi-san gave a nod, he seemed to realize everything, and his aura changed instantly as well.

「…Yes, it’s true. It’s still a little ways off, but Kazunari-kun here will become our adopted son.」

「Do you really understand what will happen if you do something so sudden? Without any groundwork, and in this situation where marriage proposals for the young lady are flooding in, if you make such an announcement…」

「It’s no problem. Groundwork with the necessary parties has already been completed. Once you hear the surprise announcement coming up next, no one will be able to meddle in this matter anymore. Even if they’re an executive officer… or even the Managing Director.」

Against Masaomi-san, who spoke with a level of dignity and power I’d never seen before, the Managing Director, who looked a bit intimidated, opened his mouth wide in a daze…

But that was to be expected. Because the meaning of what Masaomi-san said was, in other words…

「Ha… haha, hahahaha… I see, I understand well now. If you go that far, I’ll first wait for that surprise of yours. It won’t be too late to talk after that.」

「Yes. If you still have the composure to say something after seeing it, please feel free. However… in that case, I believe you’ll need a corresponding level of resolve.」

「Resolve… I see, I’ll keep that in mind. Well then, we’ll take our leave for now… Let’s go, Yukito.」

「Eh!? I-I understand. Um, Sara-san, see you lat…」

「Um… could you please knock it off?」

「…Huh?」

At my sudden intervention, the young man showed an expression of surprise and confusion that was very easy to read.

Until now, there were many things I wanted to say but couldn’t, so I could only watch. Regardless of whether this person meant any harm or not…

Even if I knew this was just a simple desire for monopoly…

「I understand well that you seriously like Sara-san, but she’s clearly uncomfortable, isn’t she? Besides, she’s told you many times not to call her by her given name.」

「T-that’s… but you have no right to say that to me…」

「I do have a right. No matter what anyone says, Sara-san is my fiancée. It’s only natural for me to feel unpleasant when another man makes eyes at her and hits on her. Wouldn’t you feel bad if another man hit on your lover?」

「Ugh…」

I chose my words so they wouldn’t sound too strong while speaking calmly to ensure my point was delivered.

To be honest, as both her boyfriend and her fiancé, I did have the urge to get properly angry. I had plenty of feelings I wanted to deny, but at the very least, I can’t complain about the feeling itself of this person liking Sara-san.

But at least, one thing…

「Also, let me say this clearly. I’m the only one allowed to call her「Sara-san」, and I’m the only man outside of her family allowed to call her「Sara」without an honorific. This is what Sara herself wants above all else, so please understand it already.」

I knew that this kind of phrasing could give off a bad image like being arrogant or insolent, but this was a line I couldn’t back down on. If I didn’t say this much, this person probably wouldn’t understand. Since there’s no way for a person to control someone else’s heart, there was no other way but to make them acknowledge the reality…

「It’s exactly as Kazunari-san says, you know? Even if you hold affection for me, I have absolutely no need for any affection directed at me from any man other than Kazunari-kun. I have nothing more to talk to you about. More importantly, it’s no joke for you to trouble Kazunari-san’s heart with this sort of thing.」

「T-to that extent…」

「Yes. I love Kazunari-san from my heart, and I truly wish to be with him for the rest of my life.」

「Sara, you don’t even have to wish for that. I feel the same way.」

The feeling of wanting to be with Sara forever and always is exactly the same for me… even if Sara didn’t wish for it, I’d be the one asking for it.

「Fufu… I’m so happy, Darling♪」

「My, my… this isn’t even a contest anymore.」

「G… guuuh…」

「…Let’s go, Yukito.」

「…Yes.」

While standing there in a daze, the young man still glared at me with a look of frustration. The Managing Director pulled him away somewhat forcefully and began walking away at a fast pace.

「Oh, that is right. Managing Director. About what we just talked about…」

「…I won’t speak of it to others. As long as the risks are unknown, moving carelessly is nothing but a bad move.」

「Fine. Well then, see you later.」

After giving a flat response to Masaomi-san’s warning from behind, the Managing Director walked away without looking back once.

「…This part is finally reaching its climax too.」

「Yeah. Thinking about what comes after is also a parent’s duty, after all.」

The meaningful conversation exchanged between the two while they were still facing the direction of the now-gone Yamanashi pair…

It stayed in my ears for a long time.