Chapter 1088. Night of Retrieval / zan-nen
「 Well, aren’t you? If Megumi’s not unfortunate, then who is? 」
Yukino said laughing.
「 You were too back then. Yukino 」
I said.
「 During the entrance ceremony last April, I thought that she’s the greatest beauty ever created 」
I believed that she’s a beautiful, bright, and kind girl.
「 What are you talking about? I’ve always been the greatest beauty in your eyes 」
Yukino looked at me, laughing.
「 Back then, you were so madly in love with me, weren’t you? I know it 」
Err.
「 Even now, you still say that you love me, you live with me, and I’m bearing your child. Be grateful 」
Yukino said.
「 I’m also grateful to you in a lot of ways 」
She speaks with an embarra.s.sed tone.
「 I know that Maika and I were saved because of you, and that’s not all, if you weren’t there, we wouldn’t be able to move forward from the despair we had. After all, you’re quite the abysmal idiot. Even if we fall to the bottom of our fate, we can just laugh it off. I mean, I actually did laugh it off. When I look at you, I feel like the pain has no point, no matter what it is, and so I can face forward 」
Yukino.
「 No, that’s not true… Even I had my hopeless moments 」
My parents abandoned me, and I spent my nights in such a dark room in despair.
Back then, my love for Yukino made me bear it somehow.
Actually, it wasn’t love, but still…
I was able to escape from the reality using my thoughts on Yukino.
「 I’m also grateful to Yukino 」
「 Huh, why? 」
Yukino looked at me curiously.
「 No, nothing. I mean, I can’t fall to despair now. If I fall there, I can’t save my family. That’s why I can’t fall into despair, no matter how horrible the situation I’m in. I need to find hope no matter what method I use. If I was alone, I could just give up right away and end the game, but I’m no longer alone. That’s why I… 」
I can’t run away and I have to face reality.
「 Yoshida-kun…cool 」
Huh, Ai?
「 I love, love you 」
Ai hugs me from behind.
「 Hey, Ai-san! 」
Megu’s angry.
「 We’re having an important conversation here, don’t cling to Yoshi-kun 」
「 Oh right. We were still talking about how Megumi’s “unfortunate,” right! 」
Yukino, you’re going back to that topic?
「 What’s wrong with being “Unfortunate,” I like girls like Megumi-san 」
Mariko smiled.
「 Yukino-san too 」
「 Me? 」
Yukino’s surprised.
「 After all, you all speak your honest feelings. You’ve got no secrets. It’s quite an open personality. You’re so frank with everything that sometimes, it makes me think that you can’t read the mood, but, I like how refreshing that is 」
Err. Uhm.
「 Mariko, that’s also you 」
I said.
「 Speaking of everything as soon as you think of it, unable to read the mood, but, there’s no ill-intent, and so you can take it, no matter how harsh the line was. Mariko, you were like that last week 」
「 Oh, really? If it made you feel uncomfortable then I’m sorry 」
Mariko apologized.
「 No, there’s nothing for you to apologize, but… 」
I said. Then Mariko stopped me
「 I had no leeway. I now get it 」
Leeway?
「 Remember? I’m not born n.o.bility and yet, I had to compete with them. That’s why I pushed myself too hard. Always belligerent with anyone, looking down on people, making fun of them. I’m such a disgraceful girl 」
Mariko speaks about her past self.
「 Thinking about it now, I may have been imitating Momoko-oneesama. Even though I’m not her. 」
Kaan Momoko-neechan.
The young lady above others as her blood belongs to a family that stands in line with the Kouzuki house.
「 Momoko-oneesama is a young lady who’s above others, and so she’s allowed to have such an att.i.tude, and yet, it’s comical for me to mimic her behavior since I’m not even from the n.o.bility. It’s truly disgraceful. It makes me want to disappear 」
Mariko said.
「 Today, Kou, Kana, and Ai-san were here. Haiji-san and Yomi-san, and Michi-san’s father too. We went to some bakeries and it was fun. That’s when I understood. I’m different from the young ladies of the n.o.bility. It would be rude to say that I’m a commoner, but I think that I’m more like Kana and the girls. I wasn’t someone who lives in the world of the young ladies of n.o.bility. It’s much more comfortable and fun in here. It’s just suffocating on the other side 」
Well…
「 Oh? I think that it’s weird for the young lady of the president of Torii Electronics, a world-cla.s.s company to call herself a commoner, right? 」
Kana-senpai smiled wryly.
「 But, I’m different from the n.o.bility. The people in that world are different 」
Mariko tries to explain, but…
「 Oh well. We don’t get them. After all, to us, Misuzu-san, or Mariko-san, you both belong to the wealthy upper cla.s.s, and we see the world differently 」
「 But even so, it’s still different. Kana 」
「 I know, you don’t have to explain it that hard. I know that you find it comfortable to stay with us. That the world of the n.o.bility is suffocating and boring 」
Kana-senpai looked at me.
「 When Misuzu-san and Ruriko-san are with n.o.bu, they’re quite merry, but they have a strict life most of the time. Therefore, they release everything they hold back when they’re with n.o.bu and they have a lot of fun during s.e.x, right? 」
「 Right. I think that’s it. Kou’s the kind of guy who’ll accept anything, no matter what, and furthermore, he has no weird desires 」
Mariko said.
「 Right. He won’t even seize the Kouzuki house and do as he please. n.o.bu’s got no material desires. He’s surprisingly docile most of the time. Even though he’s such a beast in bed 」
「 Right, he’s a beast 」
Kana-senpai? Mariko?
「 But, n.o.bu never gets crazy in his l.u.s.t and do something the girls would hate during s.e.x, right? 」
「 Indeed. He’s in control of himself. Therefore, you never feel uneasy when having s.e.x with Kou 」
「 That’s because he’s already done it with me 」
Yukino interrupts.
「 He’s already done everything horrible to a woman during s.e.x with me and he’s already bored of it, right? That’s why he’s not going to do it with you girls 」
「 Really, n.o.bu? 」
Kana-senpai looked at me.
「 Well, look, Kana-senpai and Ai should remember your first time, I was quite cruel there 」
「 I wonder? I already forgot about it 」
Kana-senpai laughed. She actually remembers it.
「 Ai…is a lewd girl…so it’s okay 」
Ai said.
「 Despite that, it wasn’t as horrible as my experience, was it? 」
Yukino said.
「 So, what did n.o.bu do to you? 」
Kana-senpai asks.
「 I was tied up during my first experience, and then he raped me ten more times until it reached morning 」
「 That’s nice 」
A-Ai…
「 Then, while I was on a date with another guy, he called me over to the park’s restroom and raped me, then he had me cosplay as a race queen then raped me in the middle of the city 」
「 Ai wants to do that too 」
Ai’s quite greedy when it comes to s.e.x. Although, it’s within my limits.
「 He even put a tattoo above my genitals 」
「 Above? Like here? 」
Kana-senpai points at the crotch.
「 That’s right, where else would you put it? It could be exposed if I put on a small panty, and so I had to wear an old lady’s panty for a while! 」
Yukino screams.
「 Then, he also raped me while broadcasting the video to the whole school 」
「 Oh, that happened. I remember. Oh, I see. So it was n.o.bu 」
Kana-senpai’s a student of our school so she knows about the incident last May.
Officially, it wasn’t me who raped Yukino but Endou.
「 Ai wants to do that… 」
I’ve had enough of that.
「 Hmmm. You’ve done quite a lot, Kou! 」
Mariko smiles.
「 Well, I don’t really mind. But, you’re right. Since he already had such experience with Yukino-san, he could deal with Misuzu-sama’s desires with such composure 」
「 Are those two troublesome? I mean, they’re the young ladies of the Kouzuki house 」
Kana-senpai asks.
「 Well, they’re quite grand. People always watch them, and so they have to behave gracefully. I think they have quite a lot of stress 」
「 Oh, so that’s why they get crazy when having s.e.x with n.o.bu 」
「 Of course they are. Kou’s the only male they could lose themselves and get crazy to 」
Mariko said.
「 I see 」
Kana-senpai laughs.
「 Even I went to the parties of the upper-cla.s.s before, and so I know how troublesome it is for Misuzu and Ruriko 」
Yukino said.
This girl’s got the blood of the Shirasaka house, owners of a TV station and newspaper companies.
She also loves going to gorgeous parties in high-cla.s.s hotels too.
「 That’s why, I get that they can’t help but want to monopolize this idiot, like last week. Those girls can’t stop once they let go of their control 」
Oh right, I did spend the weekend in the Kouzuki house last week.
Yukino remained in this mansion, and I didn’t see her for three days.
「 Well, in Ruriko’s case, a lot happened in her home so I can spare her, but Misuzu’s always so bossy, that it’s irritating. Oh, but since “everyone has to get along,” I don’t really complain to the person 」
Yukino thinks that way.
「 Well, you’re doing well dealing with young ladies who do as they please. Well, since you’re just as eccentric as those girls, I think it’s just the perfect fit 」
「 Ai also wants to have eccentric kinds of s.e.x. Yoshida-kuuun 」
「 S-Sure. Maybe someday 」
I promised Ai.
「 By the way, Yoshida-kuun 」
「 What? 」
Ai, you still have something you want?
「 Are you done… with the conversation… about Megumi-san? 」
Huh?
「 We…we were talking about…how unfortunate…Megumi-san is…right? 」
I looked at Megu.
「 I think we’re done 」
M-Megu?
「 I’m just that unfortunate girl whose forgotten twice in the same conversation after all 」
「 Ah, sorry. I did derail the conversation too much 」
Mariko apologized.
「 That’s right, you love talking about yourself after all 」
Yukino tries to push the responsibility to Mariko but…
「 Oh? Aren’t you also the same Yukino-san? You always talk about yourself 」
Kana-senpai smiles.
「 I-I haven’t…a-anyway, Megumi’s an unfortunate girl! 」
Yukino returns to the topic.
「 Geez, I get it already. I’m unfortunate 」
Megu sighed.
「 I’m already doing everything I could about myself. I didn’t understand that I couldn’t let out my acc.u.mulated emotions to Mariko-san, Yukino, Misuzu-san, and Ruriko-chan, I can only tell Yoshi-kun. I didn’t understand the hardships of other people. I’m convinced that I’m the only one holding myself 」
Oh, Mariko and Yukino’s conversation resonated with Megu’s heart.
「 I need to understand how others feel. I’m also a senior in this place already 」
Yeah, new girls keep on coming.
「 I can’t help but get jealous. Yoshi-kun never picks weird girls. Everyone’s beautiful, smart, and kind, and so that’s why I feel a little irritated 」
Huh, Megu?
「 Ah, you don’t have to mind it, Yoshi-kun! It’s just that I’m narrow-minded-it’s my problem 」
「 Right. Megumi-san has to fix that insecurity by herself 」
Kana-senpai smiles kindly.
「 That’s why, first, you should start dressing up. 」 Megumi-san can’t leave from that place unless you change your outward appearance 」
「 R-Really? 」
Megu asks Kana-senpai with a timid face.
「 Megumi-san’s also a girl n.o.bu chose, you have quite the cute face. It’s a waste of your appearance if you just cloud it over with your insecurity towards other girls 」
「 That’s right, Megumi, you and I are sisters so you should have some good foundation 」
Megu is Yukino’s sister from a different mother
「 Compared to me, your eyes are smaller, you’re too tanned that it’s almost black, you’re too trained that your muscles are hard, but you should be able to manage! You could shine better! 」
I think you’re going too far, right?
「 No, even Megu…wait, no, it’s weird hearing you say that. I mean, Megu’s cute, and I think that she’s beautiful 」
I said.
「 B-But. I… 」
Megu looked down.
「 I’m not as beautiful as Nei-oneesan, I’m not a young lady like Misuzu-san, I’m not good at housework like Ruriko-san and Mana 」
「 Megumi-san, I think you should stop thinking that way 」
Kana-senpai speaks intensely.
「 In this group, Mariko, Yukino-san, Ai, the other girls, and not even I can beat Nei-san when it comes to beauty. That girl’s breaking the rules with her beauty so don’t compare with her. Also, you can’t beat Misuzu-san in her status 」
「 Yes, Kana’s right. Even I, a family member of the founder of Torii Electronics, a world-cla.s.s company, can’t win against the Kouzuki house. Our status and lineage are different, and even in wealth, they’re clearly above 」
「 Even if you compare, you can’t do anything about it, it’ll just chaotic while worrying 」
「 Yes. It’s useless to worry. You can’t do anything about those anyway 」
Kana-senpai and Mariko teamed up as they speak to Megu.
「 Ya-chan’s too beautiful that she was involved in so much trouble in America. 」
I said.
She was beautiful, and that’s why Cesario Viola killed her parents.
「 Misuzu’s family is too high up there that she’s been lonely 」
She couldn’t make friends because she’s born a daughter of the Kouzuki house.
「 It’s not like everything’s good for them 」
「 When it comes to housework, Maika and Ruriko achieved it because of their perseverance, if you’re frustrated, then just work harder 」
Yukino scolds Megu.
「 Ai…can’t beat anyone…and so, I’m doing…my best…when it comes to…bread… 」
Ai said.
「 Right. If Megumi-san wants to deal with her insecurity, then you need to find something you think “I can win against everyone in this” 」
Kana-senpai said.
「 But, I’ve got no special talent nor skill 」
「 If you’re going to say that then, me too 」
Kana-senpai said.
「 You know, compared to Misuzu-sama and the girls, I’m quite the half-baked girl 」
Kana-senpai said.
「 But, I don’t have the same insecurity as Megumi-san. After all, even if I’m not as beautiful as Nei-san, nor as high-cla.s.s as Misuzu-san, I’m still myself 」
Kana-senpai smiled at Megumi.
「 n.o.bu still loved me despite that, and I love him too. That’s all I need. Everything in between has nothing to do with my relationship with n.o.bu 」
「 Right. I think the same way. It’s just my relationship with Kou, and everyone else doesn’t matter 」
「 Ai…is okay…as long as…she’s with Yoshida-kun 」
They all tell Megu.
「 I mean, if this idiot gathers so many women around him then you’ll gain nothing from complaining. Furthermore, the group grows stronger by increasing people. Compared to May, there’s a good balance nowadays. Weird talk but, everything went smoother now that there are more people 」
Yukino said.
「 They don’t feel depressed like Megumi-san because they think that they can’t do anything. They all focus on what they can do and support each other 」
「 “Everyone gets along” 」
Ai said.
「 Despite that, Yukino’s not doing anything 」
Megu said.
「 You never help out with the housework, and you always just watch TV or read magazines 」
「 No, Yukino’s playing along with Mao-chan and the girls 」
I said.
「 My current job is to bear a healthy child. Besides, Maika and Ruriko are doing their best in housework so I won’t be forcing myself in. I mean, it’s too early for me to start moving actively in this mansion. You know, I was their subject for revenge 」
Yukino laughed lightly.
「 Yukino’s revenge won’t end until I give birth to his child. But instead of killing me off, the punishment is to embarra.s.s me on TV, and I plan on just fulfilling that 」
「 Yukino? 」
「 So it’s okay for me to do nothing and just be a good-for-nothing. Then, get swarmed on TV. It’s to make sure I don’t weirdly stimulate Yuzuki or the people who had a grudge on Papa 」
Oh, Yukino knows.
If Yukino helps out with the housework voluntarily…
She’ll only stimulate Minaho-neesan and the former prost.i.tutes who have a grudge against Shirasaka Sousuke.
「 I’m pretending to be dead as much as possible. I can’t do anything else 」
「 S-Sorry, Yukino, I’m 」
Megu apologized.
「 You don’t have to. We’re sisters, you don’t have to mind it. Megumi 」
Yukino said.
「 Back then, and now, you and I are on the back and front. Maybe, we’ve swapped places now 」
The two were born of the same age, of the same father.
Yukino is the daughter of Shirasaka Sousuke’s legal wife.
Megu is the daughter of a woman Shirasaka Sousuke kidnapped and impregnated.
Yukino was a member of the Shirasaka house, she was raised without discomfort, where she can be as selfish as she wants, but…
Megumi who’s adopted to the Yamamine house, she’s been under a harsh life.
Then, Minaho-neesan’s revenge happened.
Megu’s on the suffering side, while Megu’s on the culprit’s side.
They were placed in different standings.
However, now…
After some various events, the two now live in the mansion.
「 The family’s rule is to “get along,” if that’s the case, then Megumi and I have to get along too 」
「 S-Sorry, Yukino. I-I… 」
Tears gather in Megu’s eyes.
「 I never understood Yukino 」
「 Really? Not that I mind 」
Yukino smiled.
「 I never understood Megumi either 」
Yukino bullied Megu back then.
「 I’m the one who should say sorry. I wanted a chance to apologize all this time 」
Yukino said.
「 It all happened because of these people here. So, I think that it’s the right choice to add more people 」
Kana-senpai, Mariko, and Ai joined the family.
I see.
These people don’t know about Shirasaka Sousuke.
They’re girls who came in after the May incident.
Therefore, they could make Yukino and Megu face each other.
They didn’t know what happened to us during the golden week.
「 Right, it also helps that Kana-san and everyone’s here 」
Megu says while crying.