Upon hearing Kasumigaoka Utaha's words, Yukima Azuma blinked a few times.
"So why did you..."
Kasumigaoka Utaha gently pushed her index finger to the center of Yukima Azuma's forehead.
"Because that guy told me that in his club, you would be in charge of programming the game."
"I reluctantly accepted the invitation to that untrustworthy club because of you."
"You're such an idiot. What the hell are you even jealous about? Seriously, high school boys only have their heads full of nonsense."
Yukima Azuma took a deep breath.
He covered his face.
So that's how it is.
Yukima Azuma only felt a wave of embarrassment rising in his chest, as if his intelligence had been insulted.
Such a small trick, he should've figured it out the first time.
It could only be said that he got confused because he cared too much.
His thoughts were distorted because of the memories from his past life in his head.
What was all this about the choice of the door to destiny, or the convergence of timelines...
But upon thinking about it more, how could any of that really happen?
After all, how many connections had he and she truly shared?
How could the timeline change in such a way as to erase everything from the past?
So, in the end, Aki Tomoya was just a fraud.
To put it simply, he was deceiving both sides.
Before Yukima Azuma joined, he used Azuma's name to invite Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri.
Then, he reversed it, using their joining to pull Yukima Azuma in.
"Did he really dare to do that?" Yukima Azuma smirked maliciously.
Kasumigaoka Utaha realized something was wrong too.
She immediately became cold.
"Want to back out? If you do, I'll back out too. As for repaying the favor, I'll find another opportunity," Kasumigaoka Utaha said.
Repaying a favor was one thing.
But ultimately, what really mattered was thisKasumigaoka Utaha didn't need to think twice to answer this internal question.
"No need. On the contrary, I want to end this now."
Yukima Azuma drew a kitchen knife and twirled it in his hand.
"You can use this script to repay that favor."
"Quietly backing off after being deceived is not my style."
"Since it's come this far, I should give a little back. It's only natural."
"Anyway, let Aki Tomoya hold on to that unrealistic dream and drown in the nameless sea on his pursuit."
The sharp kitchen knife skillfully sliced through the fish, removing the innards, cleaning the scales.
With Yukima Azuma's skill, the fish was quickly deboned and neatly arranged.
Watching his swift and efficient movements, Kasumigaoka Utaha had some thoughts.
"Ex-boyfriend-kun, it seems like you've become more extreme during our time apart?"
Yukima Azuma paused for a moment, his hand still resting on the clay pot.
Had he become extreme?
The answer was definitely yes.
After all, it was for survival.
To escape the trap of being surrounded like a wolf three years ago.
To avoid being devoured to the point of leaving nothing but scraps of bone.
Yukima Azuma had changed to adapt.
"Yes, there's a bit of truth to that. After all, humans aren't immutable. Growing up does come at a cost, i just adapt" Yukima Azuma replied.
"By the way, what happened after we broke up?" Kasumigaoka Utaha seemed to be asking, yet it felt like she was speaking to herself.
'After we broke up, he gave up shogi. What exactly happened?'
'What forced him to change and become who he is now?' Kasumigaoka Utaha thought.
With the Yukima Azuma she saw now, the one who could smile and say, "Let him drown in his illusions," Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't feel scared; she only felt sorrow.
What had really happened?
"If you want to know, I can tell you," Yukima Azuma said with a smile.
Of course, it was a somewhat awkward smile.
Talking about a dark past was fine, but...
The fact that he had multiple girlfriends over the past two years...
He decided not to share that part with Kasumigaoka Utaha for now.
"No need. If I hear it from you, it might lose its meaning. I'll investigate on my own," Kasumigaoka Utaha responded with a thoughtful look.
...
Flowers bloom in pairs, each person on their own branch.
"I'm home!"
"Welcome home... eh? Eriri, did something good happen today?"
Sayuri quickly noticed her daughter's cheerful mood.
It was obvious that something had happened.
Ah, it was worth it for her to make the special trip to Toyosaki.
Transferring her daughter from class 1-B to class 1-E... this...
"Something good? I guess you could say that," Eriri replied, in a genuinely good mood.
After all, she would now be able to participate in club activities with Yukima Azuma.
However, she definitely couldn't tell her mother about this.
But even if Eriri was shy, Sayuri wasn't shy to ask.
"Is it related to Yukima-kun?"
A single question from Sayuri left Eriri flustered.
"W-What! How did you think it had anything to do with him! Seriously!"
— — — — — — — — — — —
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Chapter 33: Anyone is fine, just take my daughter into your hands!
"Wha... what! Why do you think it's related to that person! Seriously!"
Eriri proudly turned her face away.
Sayuri smiled more cheerfully.
Yeah, it really is related to Yukima-kun.
This answer is so obvious!
No way to deny it!
Oh, by the way...
"So, if it's not related to Yukima-kun, could it be related to Aki-kun?"
She asked while still smiling.
But this time, Sayuri's smile didn't come from her heart.
Speaking of Aki Tomoya,
Eriri instinctively furrowed her brows.
"No, no way, mom, really! I'm going to my room!"
After saying that, Eriri ran upstairs.
Sayuri rubbed her face with her left hand, seemingly deep in thought.
Looking at her daughter's reaction,
It seemed there was indeed something going on.
So, should I have been more decisive back then and moved that person out of class 1-E?
Thinking of this, Sayuri shook her head again.
It should be fine.
After all, Yukima-kun is there.
With Yukima-kun's skills and intentions, that person shouldn't be able to mess things up.
When it comes to relationships, it's always better to decide quickly rather than drag things out.
Regarding Yukima Azuma and Aki Tomoya,
Sayuri could say she understood both very well.
In elementary school, Eriri had been victim in a bullying incident.
Sayuri noticed something unusual and immediately intervened.
She thoroughly investigated the cause of the incident and decisively transferred Eriri to a different school.
But the transfer wasn't the end of the matter; it was only a significant turning point.
The reason Eriri is an otaku is mainly because of Sayuri's influence.
After all, Sayuri is an otaku herself.
Therefore, regarding Aki Tomoya's identity as an otaku,
Sayuri didn't have the aversion that most parents would feel.
But after the bullying incident, Sayuri started to see Aki Tomoya differently.
Although the main reason Eriri was bullied was because of her otaku interests,
the process of it happening was very thought-provoking.
Aki Tomoya had been an avid fan of otaku culture since he was young.
Because of this, he "evangelized" those around him.
In other words, he promoted otaku culture.
But it was the kind of promotion where he didn't understand the situation at all.
Naturally, he was disliked by his elementary school classmates.
As for Eriri, she shared the same otaku interests,
but in fact, she and Aki Tomoya were different.
Eriri's interest in otaku culture was more about personal enjoyment.
Even though she participated in doujinshi activities out of passion, she kept them completely separate from her everyday life.
However, Aki Tomoya dragged Eriri into the mess.
Because in school, he freely discussed otaku culture with Eriri.
This led to Eriri being disliked as well and eventually being bullied.
After thoroughly investigating the cause of the incident, Sayuri understood it very clearly.
Aki Tomoya was the type of person who, for the things he wanted to do, was enthusiastic enough to go to any lengths.
When he was in elementary school, Aki Tomoya might not have had any deep thoughts.
But his instincts led him to drag Eriri into this situation.
Because Eriri was a brilliant young lady.
Unlike ordinary people, she was the daughter of a diplomat, a true young lady, and her presence was a resource.
Just by letting others know that Eriri was an otaku,
people couldn't help but think, "Even that young lady is an otaku, maybe otaku aren't so bad after all."
This was something Sayuri couldn't accept.
As part of Japan's upper class, those who truly hold power and wealth,
Sayuri had one thing she couldn't allow to be touched: her daughter, Eriri.
Eriri might not excel in school, might not have anything in her hands,
as long as she's happy, that's enough for Sayuri.
That's Sayuri's heart.
If this had happened in high school,
Sayuri probably would have acted against Aki Tomoya.
But since it was elementary school, an unintentional action from an elementary school student, Sayuri reluctantly let it slide.
In fact, after transferring Eriri to a new school,
Sayuri had worried for a long time.
She feared that Eriri wouldn't be able to overcome the shadow of being bullied.
And there was the influence of Aki Tomoya.
Eriri had always been the type of person with simple thoughts.
Her feelings for someone could easily be something she would hold onto forever.
Fortunately... after transferring schools, someone else appeared in Eriri's sight.
In fact, when Sayuri first met Yukima Azuma,
she had some rather extreme thoughts.
"Whoever it is, as long as they take my daughter into their hands, even if they abandon her later, it's fine!"
Sayuri even had such thoughts.
In Sayuri's view, having romantic experience as early as possible was ideal.
As long as Eriri could escape the shadow of Aki Tomoya, that would be enough.
It would be better for her heart to embrace many people than to be consumed by just one.
But the appearance of Yukima Azuma really surprised Sayuri.
Only a week after transferring,
Eriri was smiling again.
Sayuri subtly inquired and found out that it was Yukima Azuma who helped her integrate into the class.
It was hard to imagine an elementary school student being able to easily break through the social barriers in class.
He pulled Eriri in, even elevating her to the position of a "goddess."
His ability to transcend his age made Sayuri very curious about Yukima Azuma.
When the two officially confirmed their relationship, which was during middle school,
Sayuri conducted a thorough investigation into Yukima Azuma.
What she discovered once again surprised her.
"The Yukima family" had disappeared.
For a child who hadn't even entered middle school yet, the first reaction to such a situation would likely be devastation.
But that boy,
returned to Chiba alone from Tokyo.
Then, he took care of everything in his family.
Afterward, he took whatever he could carry and moved back to Tokyo.
Just by looking at the documents, Sayuri could imagine the scene of wolves closing in.
Other branches of the family, like "uncles" and "aunts," would rush in, wearing ominous smiles.
A group of adults surrounding a child, all wanting to sink their teeth into the boy.
Just thinking about it sent a chill down her spine.
— — — — — — — —
Trans p.s: Honestly, I'm confused. The main character is currently 15-16, but previously, due to a family incident, they moved to Chiba 3 years ago. So, the main character started dating Utaha at 12-13????? and Utaha like 14-15???
Chapter 34: I am honored one to be stepped on by Sora Ginko.
In the scene where numerous people wanted to carve out a piece of flesh from his body,
Young Yukima Azuma calmly held a kitchen knife and faced each of them one by one.
In the end, he secured the greatest benefit for himself.
Though he had to sacrifice a shop that could not be reclaimed, the custody rights remained under the name "Yukinoshita."
He took whatever he could carry and safely withdrew from Chiba.
Sayuri wondered, if it had been her as a child, she certainly wouldn't have been able to do something like that.
But Yukima Azuma, just a middle school student, displayed the intelligence, charisma, and decisiveness that even people of Sayuri's age rarely had.
Learning about this,
Sayuri began to reassess the relationship between her daughter Eriri and Yukima Azuma.
If she were younger,
Sayuri certainly wouldn't have let go of this person, using all kinds of methods to hold onto him.
She wouldn't have let him slip away.
But Eriri is not Sayuri.
When it comes to choosing a son-in-law, what's more important than ability is whether he can make Eriri happy.
And after thinking it through carefully,
Sayuri realized that,
Yukima Azuma treated Eriri so well that nothing could compare.
So much so, that Sayuri started to suspect whether Yukima Azuma might be after her family's fortune.
That could already be called "indulgence."
His heart and soul were entirely devoted to Eriri.
Sometimes, Eriri's arrogance even made Sayuri feel it was unbearable.
But Yukima Azuma was very patient when dealing with her.
After some time of observation,
Sayuri's feelings began to change a bit.
In the end, she decided to match the two kids together.
But that foolish daughter of hers dared to let him go!?
After the two broke up, this was the first time Sayuri felt dissatisfied with Eriri.
How could she let go of a man like that!?
Moreover, she broke up because of her arrogance!
Sayuri nearly had a blood pressure spike.
So, theoretically, Sayuri should maintain a completely neutral attitude towards Eriri's emotions.
She should let Eriri's wishes take priority.
But theory is just theory.
In reality, Sayuri had shown so much favoritism toward Yukima Azuma that it couldn't have been any more biased.
