He had invited everyone to move in with him.
For now, each had their own affairs: the Amagamis needed to run the shrine, Shirahi had to finish her studies, Mahiru had children at the orphanage to look after
But there would be plenty of chances in future.
If there was one thing Rei Ao was never short of, it was time.
At those words, Chiharu finally showed a faint smile,
so quick it was almost imperceptible.
She nodded lightly and smoothed the robe ruffled by the wind.
When she looked toward the horizon again, the dazed confusion in her eyes was gone, replaced by a firm anticipation.
"You're right,"
her voice regained its former gentleness, now tinged with something new.
"We should enjoy ourselves, because"
Her fingertips brushed the amulet on her chest. "Tomorrow is another day."
At the same time
Inside the Shinomiya mansion in central Tokyo, the atmosphere was oppressive enough to suffocate.
Heavy curtains filtered the sunlight into a dim amber; the expensive marble floor reflected a cold gleam.
Shinomiya Kaguyastood straightbacked in the centre of the hall, her long black hair falling like a waterfall.
Since returning home she wore a simple white blouse and a navy pencil skirt,
no unnecessary adornment, yet she radiated an aura that brooked no infringement.
Hayasaka Ai stood half a pace behind her like a shadow,
golden hair neatly tied back, her expression flawlessly masklike.
Before them, Shinomiya Okoregarded his sister with a cold gaze.
He wore a meticulously tailored charcoalgrey suit; the diamond tiepin on his necktie glittered dangerously in the gloom.
"Kaguya Shinomiya, where have you been these past few days?"
Oko's tone dripped with arrogant condescension, every syllable squeezed through his teeth.
"Father is gravely ill, yet you left without permissionis this what you call a daughter's duty to the Shinomiya family?"
A sharp light flashed in Kaguya's crimson eyes, like the glint of steel on a blade.
In the past she would have lowered her head, apologised, and silently endured her brother's scolding.
But not now.
"Brother," her voice was preternaturally calm, as deep and still as bottomless water.
"Where I go is not something I need to report to you."
She chose the word "report"a term normally used from subordinate to superior.
Oko clearly froze, his brows knitting tighter.
For years, this sister had always presented an obedient face to him.
Today was the first time he had seen this attitude.
His gaze slid past Kaguya and settled on Hayasaka Ai.
"Hayasaka Aiare you just going to stand there and watch the young lady of the Shinomiya family behave like this?"
His voice carried not only reproach but a subtle threat.
~~~
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Chapter 798: Shinomiya's Father and ... Daughter Confrontation?
"..."
HayasakaAi's fingers tightened ever so slightly.
Her perfectly manicured nails almost dug into her palms.
That's right.
She was supposed to report everything about Kaguya-sama to ShinomiyaOko.
Yet, ever since her confession, she had reported nothing at all.
Oko's appearance today could only be read as a warning.
But before Ai could open her mouth, Kaguya stepped forward.
Her body completely cut off Oko's line of sight.
The gesture looked casual, yet brimmed with protectiveness.
"Ai-chan is my personal maid. What she does is no concern of yours, Brother."
Kaguya's voice was still calm, but it brooked no dissent.
"If there's nothing else, I'm heading to the hospital to see Father."
She inclined her head ever so slightly.
The etiquette was flawlessimpossible to faultyet it carried an icy distance.
Oko's face went livid, a vein throbbing at his temple.
Never had he seen Kaguya so unyielding.
Still less had he expected Hayasaka Ai, long under his thumb, to slip free of his control.
Just as he was about to explode,
Kaguya turned and left the hall, taking Ai with her.
Their heels struck the marble floor in crisp beatslike the drums of victory.
A luxurious black sedan glided smoothly through the streets of Tokyo.
Only after Ai confirmed in the rearview mirror that the privacy partition was up, and the driver could not hear, did she finally blurt out:
"Kaguya-sama, angering Oko-sama like that"
Her voice carried unconcealed worry.
"Ai-chan."
Kaguya cut her off, gazing through the window at the distant, flickering lights.
"Do you remember what Rei Ao said?"
Ai blinked.
Rei Ao had indeed said many memorable things, but the one that stood out most was:
"You are not anyone's appendage."
Back then she had stood behind Kaguya, habitually maintaining a maid's deferential postureyet Rei Ao had looked straight into her eyes as he spoke, as though piercing every disguise.
Kaguya did not wait for a reply.
"He said the rules of our world do not bind him.
At the time I thought he was just flaunting strength."
A wry smile tugged at her lips.
"But now I understand: rules shackle us only because we allow them to."
Ai was startled to see a light in Kaguya's eyes she had never seen beforea little like Rei Ao?!
The discovery left her both relieved and uneasy: relieved that her lady was finally living for herself; uneasy about the danger this change might bring, especially with Kaguya's two brothers watching.
"What does milady plan to do?" Ai asked softly.
Kaguya's smile was faint.
"First, we take back the Hayasaka familydon't you think?"
VIP ward, Tokyo Central Hospital
The scent of disinfectant was barely masked by costly aromatics.
ShinomiyaGan'an reclined in bed, his withered fingers pinching a financial report.
Sunset bled through the window, dyeing the room crimson and lending his gaunt face an eerie vitality.
When Kaguya entered alone, a flicker of surprise crossed the old man's clouded eyes.
He had expected Shinomiya Seiryu, Shinomiya Un'yo, or some other board member.
"Father."
Kaguya bowed respectfully, then met his gaze headonno longer avoiding it as before.
"I have something important to say."
Gan'an motioned the orderly out.
When the door clicked shut he rasped,
"Oko's giving you trouble again?"
His voice scraped like sandpaper.
"It's not about Brother."
Kaguya drew a deep breath, her chest rising slightly.
"It's about my origins."
The air seemed to freeze.
Gan'an's fingers quivered; the report slipped onto the sheet with a soft rustle.
"Mm"
A crow outside let out a harsh caw.
"I know I am not Father's biological daughter."
Kaguya's voice was soft, yet stabbed like a blade.
"And I know you have known from the very start."
Gan'an's chest heaved, and suddenly he coughed violently.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
His skeletal hand clutched at his chest.
Kaguya hurried forward, but he warded her off.
Even at his weakest the titan of commerce refused to show frailty.
"Who told you?"
His voice was frighteningly hoarse, a dying beast's last vigilance flashing in his eyes.
"That isn't important."
Kaguya shook her head, black hair glinting like red wine in the sunset.
"What matters is that I have come to ask Father for two choices."
A sharp glint reemerged in Gan'an's murky eyesthat gaze only the head of the Shinomiya clan possessed.
He signaled her to go on, fingers drumming the bedrail, betraying inner turmoil.
"First,"
Kaguya straightened, shoulders firm yet graceful.
"publicly acknowledge my identity and let me leave the Shinomiya family. I will return all assets and the Shinomiya name
"including the shares Mother left me."
Gan'an's pupils contracted; the wrinkles on his face deepened.
"Do you understand what that means?
Without the Shinomiya shield you will have nothing."
Sorrow impossible to fathom tinged his voice.
"The wolves who covet you will swarm"
"But I will have freedom,"
Kaguya answered evenly, eyes unwavering.
"True freedomto study, befriend, travel even love whomever I choose."
The old man was silent for a long, long time,
until the scarlet light outside faded to deep violet.
Shadows lengthened in the ward.
A nurse tapped softly, asking whether to turn on the lights, and was brusquely dismissed.
"And the second option?"
Stars seemed to spark in Kaguya's gaze.
"Keep me as a daughter of the Shinomiya familybut let me compete equally for succession."
She paused, then added,
"Not as a token vase, but a real contender.
"Whichever path, I will pursue my own freedom."
"Absurd!"
Gan'an's palm slammed the bedrail; the monitor lines spiked wildly.
~~~
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Chapter 799: Freedom at last! The Angry Oko!
"Father."
Kaguya stared straight at ShinomiyaGan'an without a trace of fear; her voice was rocksteady.
"You once defied everyone to acknowledge me as your daughter."
A spark of intelligence gleamed in her eyes.
"You knew perfectly well that the child my mother, Shimizu Nayotake, carried might not be yoursyet you still let her into the Shinomiya family."
"Today all I seek is freedom. One path is to abandon everything Shinomiya and be free; the other is to remain a Shinomiya and fight for my freedom from within. Why won't you grant me either chance?"
"I have never felt happy just because I was born a Shinomiya!"
Gan'an froze.
The "daughter" before him suddenly felt like a stranger.
For a heartbeat he saw his younger selfthe man who braved his clan's wrath to marry a woman from the nightlife quarter, fighting the whole world for love.
"Give me one reason," the old man finally said.
The edge in his voice had faded, leaving only fatigue and a trace of curiosity.
Kaguya pulled out her phone and opened a chat thread.
Onscreen was a fresh text from Rei Ao:
"Come over any time."
A photo was attached: beneath a dazzling starry sky, steam rose from a hot spring, and in the misty glow the silhouettes of several girls could be seen.
"Because I have friends of my own now"
Kaguya turned the screen toward Gan'an.
"I want to prove to him that I can live well even without the Shinomiya nameor that I can be the very best as a Shinomiya."
Her fingertip brushed the stars on the screen.
"But if you'll let me compete, I'll show you I'm more suited than any other heir to lead Shinomiya Group into the future."
Gan'an stared at the unfamiliar chat windowthen burst out laughing.
"Hahaha"
The laughter rattled his frail lungs and triggered a coughing fit.
When the coughing stopped, his expression was calm.
"Who is that boy?"
His sharp gaze locked on Kaguya.
"Don't tell me you're doing this for him"
A rare blush tinted Kaguya's cheeks, but her eyes never wavered.
"He's someone who changed my perspective, my attitude toward lifemy entire world," she said, choosing every word with care, surprised herself by how deep an impression Rei Ao had left.
"But not the way you think."
"He showed me a wider world and helped me understand what I really want."
The old man sighed and pressed the bedside call button.
When the secretary hurried in, he issued an order that stunned everyone:
"Inform the board: effective immediately, Kaguya will take over all business handled by the Hayasaka family and will join nextquarter investment decisions."
He paused, glanced at Kaguya's astonished face, and allowed himself the faintest smile.
"And prepare a press conference. I will personally announce new rules for selecting the Shinomiya heir."
Kaguya left.
Gan'an suddenly asked his longtime secretary,
"Tell medoes Kaguya remind you of me?"
"Uh"
The secretary faltered, unsure how to answer.
"Haha, never mind"
Gan'an waved it off; he already knew the answer.
When Kaguya returned to the Shinomiya estate, AiHayasaka was pacing anxiously in her room.
Seeing Kaguya enter, she rushed over.
"Milady!"
Her voice could not hide her tension.
"Ai, I did it!"
For once Kaguya wore a genuine, radiant smileso dazzling that Ai froze.
"Ai, starting today, the Hayasaka household is officially under my command."
Drawing back the curtains, Kaguya gave the wideeyed Ai a gentle grin.
"Congratulationsyou're free."
Ai's eyes widened; her lips trembled.
"WWhat what does that mean?"
She'd guessed, but still couldn't believe it.
"It means you no longer have to report my whereabouts to anyone," Kaguya said, sincerity shining in her eyes. "You can stay with me"
She paused.
"or go live the life you want."
A wave of dizziness hit Ai; she grabbed the table to keep from falling.
Could the shackles that shadowed her for years really vanish so easily?
She recalled Rei Ao's words: "You deserve to live for yourself." Back then she'd thought it was mere politeness.
"I I choose to stay with you, Milady."
Tears spilled down her cheeks, washing away the perfect smile she always wore.
Meanwhile, in ShinomiyaOko's office.
A folder slammed onto the floor, scattering papers.
"Has Father lost his mind?!" Oko roared.
Veins bulged on his forehead; his already harsh features twisted.
"He's letting that woman Kaguya into company affairs? Even handing the Hayasaka family to her?"
His shout nearly lifted the ceiling.
His aides bowed their heads, too afraid to speak, sweat beading on their brows.
Oko snatched up his glass, drained it, and hurled the crystal cup at the wall.
Shards flew; one nicked an aide's cheek, yet he dared not lift a hand.
"Investigate!"
Oko growled, each word squeezed from hell itself.
"Find out exactly who Kaguya's met these past few daysand what she told Father!"
He overturned his heavy rosewood desk.
"I want to know who gave her the nerve!"
Glass fragments glittered on the plush carpetlike the Shinomiya power structure on the brink of shattering.
Outside, Tokyo's neon still flickered, but no one knew what kind of storm was brewing in the city's most powerful clan.
~~~
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Chapter 800: Hayasaka Nao
