Volume 4 - CH 10

Anyway, while having a cup of tea with a little small talk…

Another visitor opened the sliding door and appeared.

“It’s been a while. Yuzuru-dono.”

He was a small, elderly man with a white beard on his chin.

He was wearing a kimono and was using a cane to help himself.

Only his eyes were very sharp.

Kiyoshi Ryozenji

He is the current president of an organization called Ryozenji.

“Ryozenji-san, it’s been a long time.”

He shook his head as Yuzuru tried to stand up, feeling bad for making the old man with the bad leg stand up for him.

“No, It’s fine. Please remain seated.”

He sat down on the cushions with a thud, with the help of Hijiri, who had rushed to Kiyoshi’s side.

He then turned his glare to Arisa.

Arisa straightened her back.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Arisa Yukishiro, a classmate of Hijiri-kun. Thank you for having me here today.”

“Hmmm… Arisa Yukishiro. I see, you are Yuzuru-dono’s fiancée.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right… I am Yuzuru-san’s fiancée.”

Arisa’s cheeks blushed slightly as she said this, looking embarrassed.

Seeing Arisa’s gesture, Kiyoshi smiled slightly.

“Hahaha, She’s quite a lovely young lady, Yuzuru-dono.”

“Yes. She’s too good for me.”

While saying that Yuzuru squeezed Arisa’s hand.

On the other hand, Arisa raised her voice in confusion, saying, “H-hey…”.

Kiyoshi’s eyes narrowed at the sight of such amity.

“Great, great… No, but I envy the old guy of Takasegawa. I hope that my grandchildren will soon have a girlfriend or two to make me feel at ease.”

“Having two would be trouble right…”

Kiyoshi’s words were met with a calm pout from Hijiri.

Kiyoshi ignored his grandson and shifted his gaze to Arisa once again.

“Considering the future Mrs.Takasegawa, I should be the one going to greet her next time… For the New year, I will be greeting you.”

“N-no, that’s…”

Arisa, on the other hand, looked a little confused.

He was much older than she was.

Though it’s only natural that the head of the Ryozenji clan and organization would have an attitude of deference towards her.

In terms of ranking of family, Arisa might be superior, but the senior citizen in front of her would never be inferior to her.

(…How can I answer this correctly?)

In the general sense of the word, Arisa is the “lower-ranking” of the two, so she should be the one to bow down to him.

But… Do general values apply here?

(I’m… Yuzuru-san’s fiancée, and um… Takasegawa is in a higher position than Ryozenji, and even if I’m in a lower position, maybe considering Yuzuru-san’s position…)

In the blink of an eye, such concerns and anxieties flashed through her mind.

But she can’t just sit here and not answer the other person.

“Yes. On New Year’s day… I and my father will be visiting Takasegawa-san to greet him. I hope we can meet again at that time.”

When Arisa replied in a clear voice, Kiyoshi gave a small “Fumu” nod.

“…Good. I look forward to that time.”

There was a hint of amusement in his words.

Yuzuru, on the other hand, frowned.

“Ryozenji-san… I would appreciate it if you would stop trying to annoy people’s fiancées.”

“President… I think it’s a bit immature for an older man to play such a prank on a young girl.”

Hijiri also blamed Kiyoshi in a strong tone.

Then Kiyoshi deliberately touched his beard.

“Well, I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

He tilted his head in a trance-like tone.

As expected, Arisa would also notice if they went this far.

It was a test.

Even after all this time, Arisa’s heart raced with nervousness.　　

“No, but I’m sorry. My punk son and another grandchild are out of town. Well… but as long as we can meet in the New Year, it won’t be a problem.”

As he deceptively said this, Kiyoshi looked straight at Yuzuru.

“No, but… the passage of time is quite fast. It seems like only yesterday that we were celebrating the marriage of Kazuya-dono and Sayori-san. Those two’s kid already have got a fiancée …and will have families in a few years. It means I’m also getting old huh.”

He said this in a nostalgic tone.

But his eyes were glittering and glowing.

“The last few decades have been very fast. Many things have changed rapidly. For Ryozenji and for Takasegawa. For example, it used to be unthinkable for the successors of Takasegawa and Uenishi to study at the same school.”

He was nostalgic for the past.

Marveling at the changes of time and feeling sadness.

“But some things never change… Yes, for example, friendship. The end of money is the end of a relationship. That’s why strong friendships that can’t be changed by money have value. Don’t you think so?”

That was, oddly enough, the same thing Kazuya had said to Yuzuru.

But this was not surprising.

It was probably the same words Yuzuru’s great-grandfather had said, and they had been passed down from generation to generation in both Takasegawa and Ryozenji.

“Yes… That’s what my father told me as well. And I think so too. I hope that I can continue to be personal friends with Hijiri, No, Hijiri-kun”

Kiyoshi nodded in satisfaction at Yuzuru’s reply.

“Oh, Kazuya-dono also said the same thing. That’s wonderful. No matter how the relationship between Takasegawa and Ryozenji may change in the future, I would be relieved… if my grandchildren and you could remain friends for a long time.”

Please remain on good terms with Hijiri and the others, and remain as equals and good friends.

Yuzuru nodded to Kiyoshi’s request.

And after a short pause for thought, he smiled softly in a calm voice.

“Of course. Ryozenji is an ally of Takasegawa. That will not change in my generation. I will carry on my great-grandfather’s will firmly and unchanged.”

The hierarchical relationship between Takasegawa and Ryozenji will not change in the future.

He stated clearly.

Arisa-chan’s anxiety degree – 20%