After calming down, Natsue Hatamoto looked once more at the boy in front of her.
"Sir, what exactly did you an by what you just said?"
"Ren. Just call Ren."
Not knowing his na would make things awkward, so Ren gave it without hesitation.
"As for what I said earlier, the aning is pretty straightforward, just take it literally."
Seeing that he wasn't going to elaborate, Natsue Hatamoto grew more anxious.
"Please, explain in detail."
"Miss Natsue Hatamoto, are you aware of your family's current situation?"
Natsue was a little taken aback by the sudden question but still gave a slight nod.
"I know. Grandpa told a bit about the Hatamoto family before. Right now, we've hit a dead end. He's been working hard to find a way to turn things around."
"Lately, Grandpa's mood has been pretty good. He told he found a way to reverse the Hatamoto family's decline."
Ren nodded slightly. It seed Miss Hatamoto had indeed been told the truth, at least enough to understand the stakes.
"It's true. Your family found a potential breakthrough, through the adopted son of the Takasugi Conglorate."
Speaking of the Takasugi Conglorate, Ren had nearly forgotten about that already-fading na, if not for the Hatamoto family surfacing today.
The last ti it ca up was during the wedding of Ran and Sonoko's elentary school teacher.
"In order to quickly increase liquidity, your family has been aggressively liquidating assets recently."
"Even so items that were once considered important to the family have been sold."
"If your grandfather continues to operate like this, I believe he does have a real chance of turning things around."
"But... only if he's still alive by the ti this entire plan is completed."
Natsue's heart clenched. So in the end, this still ca down to Grandpa's safety.
Having lost her parents, she couldn't accept the idea of losing another loved one, especially not her grandfather, the one person she still regarded as true family.
"Is soone trying to harm Grandpa because of this?"
Ren waved it off.
"Not exactly. Your grandfather's been good at keeping it secret. Thankfully, the rest of your family isn't too sharp, they haven't picked up on the Hatamoto family's recent situation."
"The problem lies with your engagent."
"My engagent...? Could it be... Takehiko?"
Natsue's expression shifted. She couldn't imagine doing anything to hurt Grandpa, so the only possibility was Takehiko?
Ren didn't answer directly but instead looked to Hayasaka.
Hayasaka Ai gave a slight bow.
"Miss Hatamoto, based on our investigation, your fiancé's father is nad Zaiki."
"Zaiki...?"
Hearing the surna, Natsue frowned. It sounded familiar, she felt like Grandpa had ntioned it before, but in what context?
Hayasaka hadn't expected her to rember, it had happened quite a while ago.
"Zaiki was once a company president. Due to mismanagent and crushing debt, he ultimately committed suicide."
"His son's na is Zaiki Takehiko."
"He changed his family registry a few years ago and took the na Nakahara Takeshi."
When she heard the na "Nakahara Takeshi," Natsue froze.
Then slowly, she lowered her head.
"I see..."
She looked like a balloon that had been punctured. After learning the truth, she finally understood why Grandpa had ntioned soone nad Zaiki. So that was his way of warning her about why Takehiko had been so persistent.
Grandpa had known Takehiko's true identity all along.
But for her sake, he never explained it outright. He even allowed her to get engaged to Takehiko.
Because he knew, once she found out the truth, she'd definitely reject the engagent.
Grandpa didn't want her to be put in that position, so he kept quiet.
Now, Natsue finally understood why Grandpa's mood had been so unstable ever since the engagent.
It was all because of Takehiko.
"So, it really is Takehiko?"
Natsue's previously fragile deanor vanished, replaced by a rare firmness, as if she'd made up her mind.
"He's the root of it all, isn't he?"
"..."
She didn't say anything more but of course, it was Takehiko.
"One last question. Why are you telling this?"
She had been planning to ask how he knew all this, but now it no longer mattered.
"Miss Hatamoto, try picturing your relatives."
Natsue instinctively pictured them in her mind.
"Would they be saddened by the death of the person holding the reins of the Hatamoto Conglorate?"
Natsue tried very hard to think positively, but it didn't work.
Her aunt and uncle would never be saddened by Grandpa's death. They might even be happy about it.
The very thought made her heart ache.
"I respect the choices and fates of others."
"But Hayasaka reminded , this is human nature. That's why I have the right to offer others a choice."
"Miss Hatamoto, you have the right to choose."
After taking a deep breath, Natsue looked at him, her gaze filled with doubt.
"But... why are you telling this?"
"What can I possibly give you in return?"
She couldn't understand what she had to offer in exchange.
Ren simply smiled.
"If you really want to repay ... then believe in ."
That confused her even more.
Believe? In what? So kind of ideology?
Believe in... a person?
"Miss Hatamoto, you've been here long enough. It's ti for you to return."
Hearing Ren's words, Natsue subconsciously nodded.
"If you've made a decision, be sure to stay close to your grandfather."
"And if you ever face sothing you can't overco... maybe believing in the power of faith wouldn't be a bad choice either."
The power of faith?
Natsue didn't fully understand what he ant, but she gave a small nod anyway, silently taking his words to heart and locking them away in her mory.
(To be continued.)
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