Haruno suddenly thought of her aunt, who had married into the Fujiwara family and was now Toru's stepmother.
She hesitated before asking her mother.
Mrs. Yukinoshita's rapidly rising chest gradually calmed down. She nodded with a cold expression and said, "It is related to that woman."
"She couldn't have children and was disliked by the Fujiwara family. Your uncle had always wanted to divorce her."
"She was lucky that Fujiwara-kun appeared. After having this child, your uncle no longer cared whether there would be any other children, and that marriage was maintained."
Mrs. Yukinoshita gently hugged her daughter and said, "Haruno, you don't understand. You don't understand the relationship between Mother and your aunt."
"Mother can ask anyone for help in this life, but absolutely not anyone related to her. Mother doesn't want to be mocked by her again."
"Mother's luck in this life hasn't been good. I've always lived a hard life. With you and Yukino, you are both good daughters who put Mother at ease. Let's not talk about these things anymore."
"I understand, Mother." Seeing that her mother was not in a good mood, Haruno did not say anything more.
"Alright, you should go back and rest early too. Tomorrow, accompany Fujiwara-kun to the venue."
"Although Mother doesn't like your aunt, Fujiwara-kun has nothing to do with her. I quite like Fujiwara-kun. He saved you sisters' lives, and he is capable. You should interact with him more and get along well."
Mrs. Yukinoshita gave Haruno some advice.
"I understand. Then I'll go back to my room now?"
"Yes, go."
Haruno said goodbye and left.
After leaving her mother's master bedroom and gently closing the door, Haruno returned to her own room.
She leaned against her door with a complicated expression, feeling as if the sky had fallen.
In Haruno's life, her mother had always been her role model, the goal she wanted to pursue.
She had believed that her mother was rational enough to sacrifice everything for the family, and that she should learn from her mother.
But today, just now, she realized that her mother was not as strong as she had imagined, and her mother was not as admirable as she had thought.
It turned out that Mother was not truly rational. She could not sacrifice everything for the family.
Perhaps Mother's heart had always held resentment, resentment that her sister could have everything while she herself had to bear such immense pressure.
A marriage without freedom, unable to pursue her hobbies, dedicating her entire life to the Yukinoshita name, she lived without any real sense of self.
And her sister was exactly the opposite.
She did not need to bear any responsibility and could carefree pursue everything she wanted. It was precisely because Mother bore all the responsibilities that she felt both envy and resentment toward her sister.
Especially after the intimacy between the sisters was completely gone, that resentment had been magnified endlessly.
Even though the most correct choice for the Yukinoshita family right now was to seek help from Fujiwara, Mother did not make the right decision because of her own selfishness.
"Could it be that Mother likes me because I am more like her?"
Haruno suddenly felt afraid.
Because she realized that she was a copy of her mother.
She had no freedom, could not make her own decisions, and everything she did had to follow her mother's instructions. All of her efforts were for the continuation of the Yukinoshita family.
And her sister Yukino, just like her aunt, was the one who could choose to pursue her own interests and live for herself.
Had she really bullied her sister in the past purely out of love, without even the slightest trace of jealousy?
Haruno felt afraid.
Afraid that one day, after the sisters had grown up, she would hate her sister just like her mother did, perhaps even to the point that they would never see each other again until death.
And if things continued developing like this, perhaps that day really could come.
Haruno did not dare let herself think any further. She quickly washed up, lay in bed, and forced herself to fall asleep.
...
The next day,
"Morning, Toru-kun. How did you sleep last night?"
The Yukinoshita family did not have a habit of sleeping in, and Toru also got up early.
Early in the morning, around seven o'clock, everyone had finished washing up and gathered in the living room.
"I slept quite well. I adjust to beds very quickly."
"That's good. I was worried the house might not be comfortable for you, Toru-kun." Haruno smiled with pursed lips.
Everyone had a simple breakfast, and then Toru left with the Yukinoshita sisters.
Downstairs from the apartment building, the Yukinoshita family car was already parked there. The three of them got in and sat in the back seat together as they headed toward the venue.
Even before reaching the venue, there was already a sense of huge crowds on the road. Many people were chatting and laughing as they headed together toward the Chiba Prefecture competition venue.
Toru sat in the car, looking at the scene outside through the window, and said in surprise, "So many people came for a preliminary round."
Yukino said softly, "Karate has been very popular in Japan in recent years. The national tournament every year attracts countless people to watch."
"But even so, there haven't been this many people at the Chiba Prefecture preliminaries in previous years."
Haruno rested her chin on her hand and smiled. "That's because Toru-kun is here. They all came to see you, Toru-kun."
"The current Toru-kun is Japan's top star. Wherever you go, countless people will gather to watch."
"That's why I wear a hat when I go out now, just so people won't recognize me," Toru said with a trace of helplessness.
The car drove into the venue's special parking lot, where ordinary spectators could not enter. It was only for special personnel.
When Toru and the Yukinoshita sisters got out of the car, a group of people in suits quickly walked toward them.
"Fujiwara-kun, good morning."
The group in suits came up to Toru, each of them wearing a flattering smile. The man leading them quickly stepped forward and shook Toru's hands with both of his.
"You are... Governor Morita?"
The person who came was the Governor of Chiba Prefecture, equivalent to the top local executive in Chiba.
Yet even this Governor of Chiba Prefecture was somewhat obsequious and flattering toward Toru.
When Toru had decided to accept the Fujiwara family's political resources, he had discussed Japan's political situation with his cheap father.
He had also learned about some politicians who belonged to the Fujiwara faction.
For example, this Governor Morita was one of them.
This man was a former movie star who had appeared in dozens of TV dramas, but he was only a second-tier actor and could not compare with the real top stars.
After growing older, he had decided to enter politics.
Unexpectedly, he had failed to make a real name for himself in the entertainment industry for so many years, yet he turned out to be very suited for politics. He quickly rose to prominence in his hometown of Chiba Prefecture and became a star assembly member.
After that, he joined the Fujiwara faction, and the Fujiwara family helped him rise from an assembly member to governor.
Within the Fujiwara faction, he was also one of the core figures.
Toru, who had seen his photos and information before, naturally recognized him at a glance.
"Haha, I didn't expect Fujiwara-kun to know me. I'm truly flattered."
"I heard that Fujiwara-kun was coming to Chiba Prefecture to participate in the preliminary rounds of the National Karate Tournament, and I've been looking forward to this day ever since."
"Fujiwara-kun, you don't know this, but because of your star effect, it is estimated that during the preliminary rounds, a large number of people will come to Chiba Prefecture from all over the country every day. This year's tourism results in Chiba Prefecture will definitely surpass previous years."
Although Toru was now very famous in Japan, he was very low-key most of the time, simply going back and forth between home and school.
The only place people could really see him was Tokyo University, but as Japan's highest institution of learning, not everyone was qualified to enter, and even if they did enter, they still might not see him.
And now that the news had spread that Toru was going to participate in the National Karate Tournament, his many fans and admirers had finally gotten a chance to see him.
Only during the competition did Toru truly face the public.
Governor Morita was telling the truth, but Toru was muttering to himself inwardly.
As expected of someone in politics, his skin was thick and his tongue was smooth.
It was clearly because Governor Morita knew that he was the Fujiwara heir, that he would definitely inherit all of the Fujiwara family's political resources, and that he would certainly hold a high position in the future, which was why he, the Governor of Chiba, would shamelessly grovel like this.
But in Governor Morita's mouth, it immediately became Toru bringing tourism revenue to Chiba Prefecture, making his groveling sound perfectly legitimate and leaving others speechless, unable even to make sarcastic remarks.
Toru could only secretly think, "Impressive!"
"Uncle Morita."
The Yukinoshita sisters knew Morita. As a prominent family in Chiba Prefecture, how could they not know the highest local official?
"So it's the girls from the Yukinoshita family. Are you very close with Fujiwara-kun?"
Governor Morita looked at Toru, then at the Yukinoshita sisters, and a trace of ambiguity and scrutiny flashed through his eyes.
Haruno smiled and picked up the conversation. "During this time, Toru-kun will be staying at my house."
A short sentence, as though it told the governor nothing, yet also as though it told him everything.
Toru was staying at the Yukinoshita house. So what was his relationship with the Yukinoshita family? Could it be especially close?
If the relationship was close, then should he, as an official within the Fujiwara faction, take better care of the Yukinoshita family locally?
It could only be said that Haruno had raised her family's standing with one ambiguous remark. Her ability was obvious.
In Haruno's view, if the Yukinoshita family wanted to get through this crisis, it would most likely need official support. Although the governor before her did not hold absolute authority in Chiba Prefecture, on the surface he was still the highest-ranking local official in Chiba.
Sure enough, Haruno's sentence made Governor Morita fall into thought.
Toru glanced at Haruno, who wore a proper smile and carried herself with dignity.
As for the way she used his name, Toru did not care.
When you stand in a high position, you have to be prepared for such things to happen. The more people used your name, the more it represented your power and ability.
It's fine to use my name, but the Yukinoshita family will have to pay a price!
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
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