110. Marriage declaration / Second resolution
「...That is my house」
gu points at a house.
The sun has already gone down...
The cloudy night sky cos.
On the corner of the low-lying residential area...entering a compact shopping district, right at the back of the alley.
An old small house was built there.
「Waa...Small」
Maika says.
Perhaps, there’s only one or two rooms on both floors.
The first floor is the parent’s living room and the second floor is gumi’s room and the storage?
The glass door has a crack and is patched by a brown packing tape.
The lamp in the front door is burning darkly.
The paint on the wooden wall has faded away considerably.
It’s a rag house with poor light inside.
By standards...You can’t think that they’re relatives of the famous family Shirasaka.
「Right...It’s smaller than Maika-san’s house」
Yuzuki-sensei told Maika.
「Ah...Sorry. I didn’t an it like that」
gu smiles at the apologizing Maika.1
「It’s fine. Yamamine house is being aided by Shirasaka house on the livelihood...」
gu said.
「The head of Shirasaka house...the second wife of the founder of the newspaper company was coming from Yamamine house」
「Yes, she’s originally a daughter of an employee of the company. The founder fell in love with her then...as far as it goes, they put her in the family register and made her a concubine」
gu answers Sensei question
「Yamamine house has beco Shirasaka house’s relative like that but...because other marriage proposals other than Yamamine house has been on the distinguished families...they’ve beco a complete luggage of the clan」
Yamamine house who ca from commoners has been looked down by the people of Shirasaka house all this ti.
「My foster father, and all of his brothers are all employed in a company affliated to Shirasaka house」
「Did any of them enter the newspaper company?」
gu shook her head?
「...People from Yamamine house will never be hired in the newspaper and big companies. They’re appointed at the place that is the subsidiary of the subsidiary of the company group. Even if they work for that company for years, they cannot get anything higher than section chief. They’re driven to the standpoint where they can’t go against the people of Shirasaka house」
They’re such a clan who do such things without concern...
「They’re like idiots...Even Shirasaka house was just a commoner until the founder made the newspaper company succeed. Mistaking that they have risen to such nobles, they justify such foolish things, but...!」
Sensei speaks out.
「Maika-san...Misuzu-san will have her symposium the day after tomorrow. Go with Yoshida-kun and gumi. That’s where the genuine nobles of the country gather」
Sensei tells Maika.
「Take a look at the genuine first class people. You will understand that Shirasaka who’s an upstart isn’t the real one」
Misuzu’s learning the Konpeki style traditional dance from the headmaster2
The headmaster’s class would be performing the day after tomorrow.
It’s just a presentation of a traditional dance class and yet, they’re using the 『National Theatre』
The girls dancing with Misuzu are all students of the headmaster...They must all be daughters of prestigious families.
Naturally...Their family would co to see the presentation.
Japan’s...wealthy socialites.
「Right, I think it would be a good study for you. You should go there」
Katsuko-nee says so, however...
「Nei-sama and Margo-sama will be coming too...If I recall, Nagisa will do the sa?」
「Huh, Katsuko-nee won’t co?」
I asked instinctively.
「I cannot go to such places.... Nagisa is already 『Retired』for years so she can pass...But I’m still in 『Active service』 There’s a lot of people I would be troubled to face」
Katsuko-nee choses her words carefully in front of Maika.
...I see
Katsuko-nee will have lots of her guests coming in there too...
「I will be alright but...those people」
The guest would be coming with his wife and daughter and yet, he would see Katsuko-nee’s face...That’s certainly hard.
「Therefore, I will be just a support on the day after tomorrow...!」
...Eh?
Not 『House watching』...But 『Support』
That ans that there’s sothing scheduled to be executed at that day...
As 『Kuromori』...
「...Katsuko, how’s the rear?」
Sensei has been observing the state outside the car since a while ago.
She’s been staring at the darkness where the street lights doesn’t hit.
「There’s no abnormality on the rear as well. There’s no lookout or ambush it seems...」
Katsuko-nee is also checking the outside through the rear window.
「It seems that Shirasaka’s head doesn’t begin to move yet...」
「Yes. Shirasaka Sousuke from Australia cannot contact Japan...the clan and the company still thinks that he’s on a normal business trip」
Sensei turned to us.
「Okay...We’re about to go. gumi and Yoshida-kun will be with . Katsuko and Maika will wait inside the car」
「...Okay」
gu’s nervous...
「I’ve brought a hidden microphone so Maika-san will be listening with Katsuko in here」
Sensei tells Maika.
「...Maika-san, you still don’t trust us from the bottom of your heart, don’t you?」
...Eh?
Maika swallows her saliva.
「Therefore...I’d like you to listen to my talk with Yamamine-san. You don’t think that Yamamine-san is also conspiring with us just to fool Maika-san, do you?」
「Well...Yes, I think that uncle Yamamine won’t do that」
Sensei looks straight at Maika...
「Then...Listen. I want Maika-san to understand the truth about Shirasaka house」
「Yes...understood」
Maika replied.
「...Bring this」
Katsuko-nee handed a small digital cara
「Take photos of gumi-chan’s family and her room as well」
...Take photos
「gumi-chan will be parting from this house today...take a commoration photo」
gu can no longer return to this house
The house she lived for ten years.
She’ll part from her foster parents.
「I’ll quote a famous photographer I respect...『Take as much photos as possible. We’ll forget about it anyway』...Human’s are quite forgetful. Therefore, you should leave it as a photos as much as possible so you won’t forget it3」
...Katsuko-nee
「Got it...I’ll take photos」
I hold the cara firmly.
「Yoshi-kun...I」
gu’s trembling.
「It’s okay...I’m here with you」
I kiss gu.
◇ ◇ ◇
「...I’m ho」
The glass door opened with a rattling sound...And gu calls out.
Footsteps can be heard from the house
A middle aged man and woman with an age around fifty shows up.
「...gumi」
gumi bows to the two.
「I’m sorry for staying overnight yesterday...Father, Mother」
gu’s parents...doesn’t look like gu at all.
That’s obvious however.
gu’s foster parents have a third of their hair white. They look like decent people. They must’ve been back just from work. He’s still wearing a necktie on his gray suit. A shabby worn out suit. It feels like he’s wearing an RTW from a bargain sale for very long.
The mother is just a usual simple mother. Short hair and no makeup. She looks at gu in worry.
「I’m Kuromori...the one who contacted you the other day」
Yuzuki-sensei greeted gu’s foster parents
「You...?」
「Yes...I’m the current head of Kuromori」
Sensei answered with her usual cold eyes.
「Well...whatever it is, let’s talk inside...dear」
gu’s foster mother talked to her husband.
「Y-Yes...we should. Kuromori-san...please co in」
「...Excuse 」
Sensei took off her shoes...
「Uhm...This person?」
gu’s foster mother looks at
「...gumi’s friend?」
...I
「Yes. I’m gumi-san’s classmate. And...A person of 『Kuromori』house」
gumi’s foster parents might not know the na 『Kuromori』as a cri syndicate.
That’s why I answered like that.
「He’s not a suspicious guy...He ca with us to help gumi-san carry her luggage」
Sensei explains.
I see...if we’re going out of this house
We have to take gumi’s luggage.
「It’s okay, father, mother...he’s a trustworthy person」
gu told her foster parents with serious eyes
「Understood...please co in」
I took off my shoes as well
「This way...」
The room next to the door is the living room
There’s a low table in the Japanese style room.
gu’s foster mother puts out a floor cushion.
When everyone sits on a 8.42 square ter room4, it’s narrow.
There’s a Kokeshi, and a wooden bear on the cupboard.
There’s a simple calendar on the wall.
Sohow, this looks like Showa era.
When tea was distributed to everyone, the foster father started the talk.
「gumi...Are you sure that they’re the people you stayed with before?」
「Yes father. There’s no doubt. I’ve been indebt with Kuromori-san before I ca to this house. I was small back then but I rember it well」
「gumi-san’s mother...Keiko-san has been kind with . I think that this is the ti to repay the kindness she has given 」
Sensei talks to gu’s foster mother...
「I think that you already know this but...gumi’s real father, Shirasaka Sousuke will make her a prostitute. I will never allow that to happen. I will take custody of gumi. And, I’ll protect her at a place where Shirasaka house cannot reach」
「But...Kuromori-san. Weren’t you managing the prostitution organization with Sousuke-san?」
gu’s foster father seems to hold clear distrust.
「I’ve already stopped the operation of the prostitution organization already. At the sa ti, I’ve already banished Shirasaka Sousuke from our organization. We’re currently separated completely from Shirasaka Sousuke」
Sensei answered clearly.
「...You say that but...I cannot trust you」
The foster father declared so.
「To be honest...I don’t want to hand gumi to Sousuke-san. There’s no parent who wants to make their treasured daughter a prostitute. But...Kuromori-san and Sousuke-san are in the sa prostitution organization, weren’t you? There’s no guarantee that if I leave gumi to you, she won’t beco a prostitute」
For normal people...There’s no difference between Shirasaka Sousuke and Sensei.
Both of them were managers of the prostitution organization 『Kuromori』...
It must be unreasonable to trust them...
「...Shirasaka Sousuke has already been caught in a trap」
Sensei declared with cold eyes.
「He’s captured by our people in Australia. His trouble with the gangs will be found out soon. Shirasaka Sousuke will lose his position certainly. Shirasaka house will banish him」
gu’s foster mother is startled.
「If that happens...gumi-san will be taken over by the head of Shirasaka house. For the head of Shirasaka house, gumi-san is Shirasaka Sousuke’s shaful child. She’ll be likely to be hidden from the world. I think that she’ll be separated from Yamamine-sama too. I think that she’ll be entrusted to soone in the province that’s under Shirasaka house and she’ll be kept there until she dies」
「That’s better than her being a prostitute!」
gu’s foster mother shouted.
「gumi-san should be the one to decide which is better and what life she’ll live. gumi-san...what do you want to do?」
Sensei looks at gu.
gu...spoke to her foster parents.
「Father, Mother...gumi will be going to Kuromori-san」
gu bowed to her parents.
「I don’t want to live being dragged around by Shirasaka house anymore. gumi wants to leave Shirasaka house no matter what result it gives 」
Her foster parents look at each other.
「But...gumi」
The foster mother tries to persuade gu sohow.
But, gu is...
「I’m sorry, Mother...I’ve already decided. gumi right now has been living, obediently following fate. But, not anymore. I’ll fight my own fate. I want to be happy...!」
...gumi
「I will get out of this house without your permission. If I ran away from ho...that way, the head of Shirasaka house won’t be blaming father」
...I see
Her parents would be suffering...
If they handed gumi to Sensei, Yamamine house would be erased by the head of Shirasaka house.
「gumi-san...you don’t get it. If you do that, Shirasaka house won’t be forgiving Yamamine-san. I think that they will attach various false charges and make Yamamine-san suffer」
Sensei said.
「...That’s」
gu is at loss.
「...Therefore, I will take gumi-san by force. Please report to the head of Shirasaka house 『gumi-san has been kidnapped by Kuromori』 We have already restricted Shirasaka Sousuke so it’s okay to tell the head of the house」
...Sensei
「I understood the feeling of Yamamine-san not being able to oppose Shirasaka house. Yamamine-san’s brother, kinsn...are all working on companies related to Shirasaka house. I can understand that you cannot betray Shirasaka house by all ans」
Sensei...said with a strong tone
「...No, I」
gu’s foster father tries to object but he can’t speak.
「Kuromori house is a genuine criminal organization. Because we’ve committed such cris multiple tis, Shirasaka house will surely believe Yamamine-san’s report」
『Kuromori』kidnapped Katsuko-nee and Nagisa-san.
And...turned them to prostitutes.
It’s not just the two of them.
A lot of won...
「...The young lady has been kidnapped by a cri syndicate. Yamamine-san’s a victim...not our a cooperator. Please contact Shirasaka house at the mont we bring gumi-san out of this house. And, there would be no more worry about the sparks falling to Yamamine-san」
...In exchange.
『Kuromori』will confront the head of Shirasaka house...
「...Then, Kuromori-san and gumi」
「There is no need to worry...We are prepared to fight Shirasaka house. We’ve already taken a hold of Shirasaka Sousuke himself」
Saying that, Sensei took out her phone.
She pushed the call button.
「...Katsuko, Phase 3」
That’s the only line she told over the phone.
「With this, Shirasaka Sousuke on Australia will be imprisoned to a place we only know. We will negotiate with Shirasaka house in exchange for Shirasaka Sousuke...!」
「...That’s unreasonable. Kuromori-san doesn’t know the terror of Shirasaka house!」
gu’s foster father muttered.
「I agree that it’s unreasonable. And, Yamamine-san should know this too...we’re a group of people who knows true hell」
Sensei...smiles coldly
「We’ve fought existence far more frightening than Shirasaka house. We don’t intend to lose...!」
And, she took out a white package from her back.
She puts it on top of the low table.
「Of course, we won’t just tell Yamamine-sama to give gumi for free...This is 10 Million in cash」
Sensei presented the package to gumi’s foster father.
gu’s foster parents are at loss.
「You want to sell my daughter?」
「This is a reward for reporting a lie to Shirasaka house. We will be kidnapping gumi-san in paper however. It’s regardless of Yamamine-san’s will...」
Sensei looks at gumi’s foster parents.
「...Check would be traced by banks. We’ve prepared bills that’s not in the circulation. It would be dangerous to leave the full amount on the sa bank. Subdivide it little by little and put it in different accounts with your na」
gu’s foster father looks at the package silently.
「I’m asking you father, please take it」
gu spoke powerfully.
「That’s saying that you want to sever connections with us?」
Her foster father says sadly.
「...That’s not it. Whatever the situation becos, gumi is father and mother’s daughter」
gu told her foster parents
「......Please think of gumi being sent off as a bride」
gu looks at .
I nodded.
「...Father, Mother...I really thank you for loving and raising until now」
gumi takes off the cushion, puts her hand on the floor and bows to her parents
「gumi...will marry this man...!」
gu looks at .
gu’s foster parents look at in blank surprise...
...I
I removed the cushion, imitating gumi.
Putting my hands on the mat...I bowed to gumi’s foster parents.
「...I’m Yoshida. Please let have the priviledge to marry gumi-san」
I said clearly.
「...I’ll make gumi-san happy. I will never let her feel sad...Please let have your young lady...!」
I...
I don’t like saying『Please let have your young lady』
gu...is already at the age where she can decide her own future.
Soone who’s will is being controlled should be liberated.
From Shirasaka Sousuke...
From Shirasaka house...
And...from her foster parents.
I look at gu once again.
「...gu, marry ...!」
...gu
「...Yes」
She answered.
「We will hold a proper ceremony when the ti cos. At that ti, please attend as gu’s parents. Please...!」
I promised gu’s foster parents.
「...You’re serious?」
gu’s foster father asked .
「Yes, I’m serious」
I answered clearly.
「Father, Mother...I’m also serious. I love this person. I believe him. I will be with him throughout my life...!」
gumi bowed to her foster parents again and again.
「Dear...What do you think about them?」
gu’s foster mother asked her husband.
「I think we should give gumi as a bride」
The foster father turns to his wife.
「...Are you sure?」
The foster mother nodded.
「It’s much more better than being taken and becoming a prostitute or being kidnapped... It’s a celebration as well...」
Her foster father sighs.
Then, he looked at .
「...Yoshida-kun, was it?」
「...Yes?」
「I leave gumi in your care」
The foster father bowed to .
...I
...I steeled myself.
「I’ll protect gu with all my best...!!!」
I created another big resolution.
◇ ◇ ◇
「This will be a slightly adult talk so...get the luggage」
Sensei told and gu.
「Right...I think it’ll take at least half an hours, pack everything by that ti. Just pack up the minimum necessities」
「...Okay」
gu answers Sensei.
「Yoshi-kun My room’s on the second floor...」
「Ah...Okay」
Coming out of the living room, we climb the narrow and steep stairs...
We can hear Yuzuki-sensei’s voice from the living room.
「...As for the contents that Yamamine-san have to report for the head of Shirasaka house...」
Sensei didn’t bla gu’s foster parents but instead...it seems that she has prepared the minimum information that would be the content that they would report to the head of Shirasaka house.
「This is my room」
...gu’s head.
A six-mat Japanese style room...A study desk, bookshelf, and a bed...
There’s nothing else.
There’s nothing that looks girlish...
「My luggage has already been packed」
There’s two travel bags in line on side of the bed.
「Look...I should be taken by Shirasaka-san5 after the golden week. That’s why...I’ve already finished preparations」
...gu
She was prepared for it.
His biological father making her fall to prostitution.
That’s why, gu is...
She has given up on her life...
「Wait. I’ll gather my school stuff. I thought that I cannot go to school anymore after all. Therefore I didn’t pack my school stuff」
gu said...
All of the books and notebooks are piled up on gu’s desk.
Her uniform and spare gym suits are stuffed in a sports bag...
The packing ended in just a minute.
I took photos of gu’s room.
「...What are you doing Yoshi-kun?」
「Well...This is the room gu has lived since she was six, right?」
「Yeah...I lived here for ten years...」
「Then...I have to take photos」
「Right...I cannot go back here after all」
gu said sadly.
「...The room you’ve lived for ten years is really clean」
Or perhaps should I say there’s nothing but the minimum.
There’s no magazines or manga or even a novel on her bookshelf either.
Other than old textbooks...It’s empty.
There’s not a single stuffed toy, poster, or sothing that’s like a high school girl would own.
And, the windows are cleaned beautifully and there’s not a single dust on the floor.
It’s perfectly cleaned.
「I think that I’m just borrowing this room from Yamamine-san...」
When we were alone in the room...gu calls her foster father 『Yamamine-san』
In short...She never heartily think that her foster parents are her own parents.
They’re just the people who raised her. She wasn’t thinking that they’re living together.
「It’s just a borrowed room so you must not let it beco dirty, right?」
gu said seriously.
「Also...I thought that sobody would co to pick up soday」
...gu?
「...Soday, I’ll co back to the mansion and beco a prostitute. Ever since I was a child...!」
...That’s.
「Therefore...I was prepared to get out of this house since I was a child. I’ve been prepared all the ti. Soday, soone will co to get so I put my things on two bags and have it next to my bed」
These two bags have been prepared all this ti.
「This is the bag that I brought when I was taken from the mansion to this house. Mama’s bag...!」
gu’s mother...Keiko-san’s bag.
「I ca here with just two bags...so I thought that I should just have two bags when I will leave as well」
gu’s two old bags.
Sohow, I rember my cardboard boxes.
My private properties are collected in just one cardboard box...
gu and I are sa existence.
「Because the bag I use in school was added...It beca three」
gu smiles wryly.
「I’ll take all of it」
I’ll carry it out of the house with gu’s thoughts.
「It’s okay...let have half of it」
gu said bashfully.
「I want to be Yoshi-kun’s half」
gumi and I want to share the sorrow and the harsh mories.
「...Got it」
I answered.
「But, I’m glad. Thanks to Minaho-san...I will be able to continue going to school」
...Eh?
「...I’ve always thought of it. I’m able to live just like a normal child for now...I have to do all of my best while I’m living on Yamamine house. Thus...I do my best in study and sports. My foster parents are very pleased when I give good results...!」
Thus...The honor student, Yamamine gumi was made.
gu believes that her life ahead has the hell of prostitution waiting for her...
「...gu doesn’t need to beco a prostitute anymore...you’ll be my bride」
I embraced gu.
「Un...I’m glad I t Yoshi-kun...I’m happy」
I kissed gu.
gu returned a kiss to ...
「It feels strange...I never thought of kissing a boy in my own room」
gu said laughingly.
「Speaking of which...It’s my first ti in my life entering a girl’s room」
「Sorry...My room’s just a dull one」
「That’s not true...This room has gu’s scent in it」
Yup...This room definitely has gu’s scent soaking in it.
「Yada~...Don’t say embarrassing things」
「It’s true...look」
I lay down on gu’s bed.
I sniffed gu’s sll from the futon...
I spread my arms and legs and shoved my face on gu’s futon.
「It slls good...I feel like gu’s wrapping up...」
...Then
I can hear rustling sounds from the back...
When I look up...gu’s taking off her clothes...?!
「...gu?」
gu then said.
「Take a nude photo of in this room」
gu’s eyes are serious.
「Then...I want to be embraced by Yoshi-kun in this room...!」
...gu?!
「...I want to have sex here...!」6
1. The author might just still be adjusting on whether he would write gu or gumi ↩
2. We’re still in a debate on what should we change the “Head of School” into ↩
3. I guess gu’s a big photo of Yoshida ↩
4. That ans Rokujouma for those who ask ↩
5. Yes, gumi’s saying “Shirasaka-san” ↩
6. With my parents downstairs. I promise, it won’t be awkward. ↩
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