Chapter 29 – Returning Home
<– Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter –>
Yuuta came back to the Yoshiwara estate and rested up for a while. After he woke up, Lilith ran several tests and attested that he had no problems. Further examinations at a Yoshiwara hospital only confirmed that he was perfectly healthy.
He considered attending the second term, which started in September, after observing his health. Because he had been bedridden for around two weeks, his muscles had deteriorated, so he put emphasis on getting back in shape first.
Now that he was back at his mansion, he was nursed by Aoi, Manami, and Yukishiro to such a degree that you might as well call it overprotectiveness. He had made them worry by remaining unconscious for so many days, thus Yuuta gratefully accepted their nursing.
The indirectly affiliated girls were likewise overjoyed upon hearing of his return to the Yoshiwara residence. They had been informed about Yuuta’s hospitalization, but since no further details had reached them during the following two weeks, all of them spent their days on tenterhooks. Currently, they were rejoicing over the reunion with Yuuta on the days they were allowed to stay at the Yoshiwara residence as his caretakers.
While Yuuta had been unconscious, big changes had occurred. Regarding Yukishiro, the discussions within the Minato family had been concluded, resulting in Yukishiro being acknowledged as Yuuta’s girlfriend, his second wife, and the next family head. Because of that, the necessity for the Yoshiwaras to shelter Yukishiro had disappeared, but she was currently staying at the Yoshiwara residence out of worry for Yuuta.
“I’m happy that you and your friends have joined my class, Yukishiro-san.”
“Thank you ever so much. I, too, am delighted. I will work hard to support you together with everyone, Yuuta-sama.”
Yukishiro had become Yuuta’s direct affiliate, and the fifteen high family daughters around Akari had become his indirect affiliates. With this, Aoi, the next family head of the Yoshiwaras, and Yukishiro, the next family head of the Minatos, were both directly affiliated with Yuuta. He entrusted those two with the future coordination of his class. Given that they shared a good relationship, he could leave things to them without worrying.
“I will prioritize the recommendations of the girls in my class when it comes to Service requests.”
“Let us consider the options while keeping an eye on the condition of your body.”
Yuuta had the girls in his class recommend some Service Activities to him. The Yoshiwara group around Aoi accounted for thirty-nine people, while the Minato group around Yukishiro had sixteen people. That meant the class consisted of fifty-five girls, including the two direct affiliates. If he were to get a recommendation from everyone, it’d likely result in Yuuta taking on one recommended Service request per person during the second term. Considering his other plans, he wouldn’t have much time to rest.
But being able to recommend a Service request to Yuuta and having him accept it was important. Although not as important as Yuuta’s health, of course. Up until now, Yuuta’s schedule had also been handled with the burden on him in mind, but in the future…especially during the second term…it’d be necessary to set up a schedule that would take even more responsibilities for him into account.
“As I just recently regained consciousness, I feel slightly unsteady, but I’ll get better in no time.”
“Yuuta-sama, the most important matter is for you to fully recover.”
Obediently listening to what the girls were telling him, Yuuta devoted himself to recovering his strength. This was also important for the sake of doing the things he had to do.
First, Suzune’s case. He had asked Tomoe, Ayaka, and Boss to request a retrial for Suzune. Suzune herself had returned to the Kanagawa Penitentiary. Yuuta had wondered whether it might be possible to prevent her from being sent back to jail, but Tomoe and Ayaka had told him that it’d be better for her to go back, since it’d also work in Suzune’s favor. They argued that forcing special treatment at this point would only negatively impact her impression hereafter.
It was a fact that Suzune had committed sexual assault on Yuuta. Even if there was some sort of reason behind it, a crime remained a crime. Suzune herself also said she’d go back to jail, and so she did.
Once the retrial was approved, Yuuta would confess his own deeds and plead for a reduction of Suzune’s punishment. He believed he should be judged as well, since he had committed a crime.
Next, Naoto-kun’s case. After regaining consciousness, Yuuta spoke with Aoi about Naoto-kun, which led to Nanase visiting him. In response to Takashi’s request, she was in the middle of negotiations with the state to allow Sakurako to stay in Toukyou. However, those negotiations were contingent on Sakurako not meeting Naoto-kun.
Yuuta considered it to be bad for the growth of a young man to be forced into separating from his mother at the age of six. However, Nihon’s history had shown that an overly powerful motherly influence on the son could cause problems large enough to shake the country’s foundations. It didn’t seem like the current system could be changed based solely on Yuuta’s opinion.
What would be the best option here…? I might have the opportunity to meet with Nihon’s prime minister through Lilith. But what should I insist on during such an occasion? Maybe it’d be fine for a mother to be allowed to live in the same region as her son on the condition of not being allowed to meet him, just like Nanase, Takashi, and Sakurako were vying for. But even if they live in the same region, the child’s sadness won’t be any less if it can’t meet its mother.
How can I stop them from being sad? No, that’s impossible, isn’t it? Then how can I help them face the sadness? So long as I don’t have an answer to that question, it’s pointless to meet the prime minister. I have to think it over while I’m resting at the Yoshiwara residence.
The class management, starting with the second term, Suzune’s case, and Naoto-kun’s issue, there were a lot of things to consider.
As for Dreamseducers, Yuuta was slated to return to his own room in the Exclusive Male Zone after August to meet Ayaka and discuss the future with her.
Besides all these matters, there was something else weighing on his mind a bit. It was about Yukishiro…or rather, the Minatos. Currently, Yukishiro was staying with him out of concern, but once her private issues were resolved, she would eventually return to the Minatos. Once that happened, his future interactions with Yukishiro would transform into an exchange with the Minatos, Yuuta assumed. But not once had Yukishiro mentioned this.
Yuuta suspected that she intended to talk with him once he was fully recovered. But, he asked himself whether it wouldn’t be fine to have some sort of discussion about the general course of action. Hence, he tried to bring up the matter by himself, but Yukishiro’s replies remained somewhat vague. Because of that, Yuuta tried to ask her openly.
“Was there some sort of problem?”
Yukishiro wore a troubled expression at his question. The problems weighing on her were all internal issues within the Minato family… or rather, a problem between mother and daughter.
“I still have some matters I must discuss with my mother. But, this is…a problem between her and me.”
“I see. I know it’s better for me to stay out of it, but please consult me whenever you find yourself in a bind.”
“Yes. Thank you kindly, Yuuta-sama.”
Yukishiro didn’t know the whole picture of the problems plaguing Saori either. Saori had said she wouldn’t be able to meet Yuuta at the Minato residence together with Yukishiro. She said to invite Yuuta after she left the residence. In reality, Saori would only leave the residence after handing over the family headship to Yukishiro. And that would happen when Yukishiro and Yuuta got married, according to Saori’s current plans. Maybe Saori planned to avoid meeting Yuuta.
‘Mother, why…?
Yukishiro was cherishing the dagger she had received from her mother.
‘Mother was unable to give her dagger to her beloved. In other words, Father…hasn’t been offered a dagger by Mother. No…Mother…said she wasn’t even allowed to offer him her affection. In short, the one denying to receive the dagger was Father? In that case, my father is the one I should ask about the details.
Yukishiro had no memories of her father. Was the relationship between her mother and father actually bad? Or had her father rejected her mother?
‘It’s not completely unimaginable. I mean, you could say Father…was bought by the Minatos in order to become Mother’s husband. Just like Mother tried to arrange a man for me… Having a fake love story thrust at him must have been a bother, but Father likely had never gone out of his way to talk about this fake story in front of others. The one who had to do so was Mother.
‘Even if we assume Father hated the Minatos…he still fathered Iori and I… He shouldn’t have experienced any inconveniences in his life whatsoever. Even if he still hates the Minatos, does it mean he hates Mother to such an extent? As long as he possesses empathy for others, their relationship shouldn’t be that broken, right?
Yukishiro wondered.
‘Will he meet me…if I send him a letter, requesting a meeting with him? Under the pretext of reporting that I have become Yuuta-sama’s girlfriend… But I cannot send a letter to Father without Mother’s permission. If Mother reads the letter… Which reminds me, there was a time in my childhood when I wrote a letter to Father, but I never received a reply.
Yukishiro couldn’t imagine Saori giving her permission. When Yukishiro searched her memories, she found no instance in which Saori had arranged for her and Iori to contact their father. Though she couldn’t tell whether this was based on her mother’s or father’s will.
What sort of person is father…? When it comes to me not being able to meet him…
Oddly enough, there was someone who knew what sort of person Yukishiro’s father was. Because he pulled off the irrational and absurd stunt of visiting her father without prior notice, he was able to see him.
Meeting with Takuya-sama now would be a stab in Yuuta-sama’s back. Yuuta-sama might show his understanding if I explain the situation to him, but if the whole thing got leaked by some odd chance…the people around us would likely assess this to be a betrayal. Besides, it’s also possible…for Takuya-sama to spread groundless rumors.
Given that Takuya was under complete state surveillance right now, it might have been possible to create an opportunity to discuss things if she had followed the required steps. Though everything would be over if Takuya refused a meeting with her.
For now, I will try to go with the plan of asking Mother while telling her that I want to meet Father to personally report to him about Yuuta-sama.
“Yukishiro-san.”
“Y-Yes?”
Yuuta gently called out to Yukishiro, whose mind was preoccupied with thoughts of her parents, and slowly stroked her head.
“Please rely on me, okay? Don’t worry about things on your own. Instead, discuss them with me.”
“…Okay. Thank you so much.”
Yukishiro leaned her head against Yuuta’s shoulder, allowing herself to get enveloped by the kindness of her beloved.
<– Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter –>
Translation Notes: