Chapter 1367. School Festival B / Goodbye Castle Part 2
「 It was Yuzuki who told me to stay here and watch the school festival 」
Yukino said.
Minaho-neesan had Yukino watch what was going on in the school through the surveillance system in the princ.i.p.al’s office?
「 At first, I thought that she might just be hara.s.sing me 」
Yukino can’t show up in the middle of the school festival.
It’s been half a year since Shirasaka Sousuke’s tragic end was shown on TV.
「 I felt like I was supposed to sit here and watch you and Megumi, and the rest of the group have a good time 」
Yukino said.
「 But, it went sideways. You’re as busy as ever. Seriously, watching you run around frowning, you don’t even laugh 」
I didn’t laugh?
Yeah, that might be.
「 I just can’t, after all, I’m not in a situation where I can 」
I said.
「 Right. To you, baking bread, getting attacked by weird people, raping a high-handed young lady, are things you take seriously 」
That’s…
「 It was the same with me. You had the face like you’re on the brink of death when you were raping me. You always do. You don’t treat it as a game, you’re serious 」
Yukino smiled wryly.
「 You know, I recently watched the video of Papa raping Yuzuki again. Of course, Yuzuki gave permission 」
A record of when Minaho-neesan was kidnapped and raped at age 12?
「 That was so bad. Papa’s such a hopeless perverted sc.u.m. He’s grinning so disgustingly, and he’s attacking women just for his own pleasure. He’s the worst 」
Yukino, why did you watch it again?
「 And he’s been doing that for years. I get why Yuzuki and Katsuko and everyone can’t forgive Papa. I get that they want to kill him. I now get that Papa did things that deserve his death.
That’s…
「 That’s why I’m okay with what Yuzuki and Katsuko did to Papa now. I’m not forgiving them. I don’t even have the status to say that. So, I’ll just accept it. It’s already happened and I can’t do anything about it now. Papa had to die 」
Yukino finally sorted her thoughts on Shirasaka Sousuke’s death.
「 I also figured out why I didn’t turn out like Yuzuki or Katsuko…becoming crazy from shock after you raped me 」
Yukino looked at me.
「 I’ve known from the beginning that you liked me, see? 」
I fell for Yukino at the entrance ceremony.
Then, I kept staring at her from a distance.
Yukino herself knows that I was into her.
「 So, when you raped me, I could think that “This guy just likes me too much that he’s doing this” You always had that desperate look whenever you raped me. You don’t make the same face as Papa, where you smile, joke around, and look down on women. You always embraced me with all your heart and soul, right? That’s why I could keep my pride as a woman. That’s what kept my heart from breaking 」
Is that so?
「 Katsuko and others seem to think that I have the nerves of steel, but I don’t. In the end, it’s only because of you. No matter how much they messed me up, I was able to endure it because I felt that I’m loved 」
Yukino said.
「 You’re such a weird guy. You’re dumb, it’s beyond saving. I mean, it’s abysmal 」
She laughs.
「 I got so amazed by that one that I laughed so hard 」
「 What? 」
I asked.
「 You know, the weird foreign girls, how many was it again? Was it ten? 」
「 Thirteen 」
The former a.s.sa.s.sins that Kyouko-san brought from Southeast Asia.
「 You remember their names? 」
「 Err. Dolly and Anna. Then, Penny Su, Vah Geena Quatro, Ososo, Fera Chiyo, Anne Rose, Yin Ran, and Yin Lin. Akme Iku Ecstasy, Kunni Manjiru Kaupa, Olga, and the last one is c.l.i.to 」
I reply while counting with my fingers.
「 You do remember them 」
「 Obviously. I’m taking custody of them after all. At least I could remember their names 」
If I don’t even know their names, how can I welcome them to the family?
「 That’s what’s abysmal about you. Normally, if you’re asked to take care of a group of 13 unknown foreign girls, you’d say “I can’t” and refuse, They don’t even understand j.a.panese, right? 」
「 Well, they seem to understand a bit. Besides, Anya and Edie can understand them. And they seem smart so they’ll learn j.a.panese soon enough 」
I don’t worry about that.
「 Besides, Kyouko-san told me to take custody of them. She’ll never give orders that you can’t do. She believes that I can take custody of the 13 of them. Therefore, I’ll show them that I can get it done 」
I…
「 I won’t say “I can’t, sorry” before I try. People have expectations of me, so I’ll meet their expectations. I have to do as told. That’s always been my standpoint from before 」
「 Since when did you have that thought? 」
Well, uhm…
「 Hmm, I made that kind of resolve when Agnes called me Papa. I became aware of my responsibility 」
I replied to Yukino.
「 I thought that I can’t get away with it when I first raped Yukino. It has always been like that. But, back then, all I thought was “I don’t mind dying now” Now, I think “I can’t die” to keep my family safe 」
「 You sure are an abysmal idiot. 」
Yukino said.
「 You just swallow it all. You’re naively honest. Yet, you’re not so desperate, you’re ready to digest what you swallowed, no matter what. You sure are an idiot. You’re not mad, but still, an idiot nonetheless. You’re an idiot beyond saving 」
「 Yeah, maybe 」
I think so too.
It’s not about whether I can or not.
I just swallow everything that’s in front of me, even if it’s beyond my tolerance.
I receive and digest, and do something about it.
「 But, you’re that kind of guy, that’s why it goes well for us 」
Our family.
No matter what happens…
I’ll make my whole family happy.
I need to continue my efforts to make the family, no matter how laborious and struggling it is.
「 I get why you’ve become a guy who can’t even smile. What you carry on your shoulders is heavy, and it continues to increase. 」
I don’t laugh at that.
「 I too couldn’t laugh tonight 」
Yukino?
「 You see, returning back to the topic of why Yuzuki told me to watch over the situation during the school festival 」
Okay…
「 The twins had a talk show, and Mitama and Kinuka did some street performances in front of the cafe, right? 」
Yukino’s watching those through the cameras too.
「 That was bad. For me 」
For Yukino?
「 Putting Mitama’s performance aside. What’s bad is Mitama has a good appearance. She’s got a good physique, and she’s a natural airhead. She’s wild that the audience can’t imagine what she’ll do, and that’s what charms her audience 」
Yeah, she’s such a beauty, but you don’t know what she’ll do next.
Furthermore, her strength is absurd.
「 But, the real threat to me is the twins 」
Why?
「 I already earned my rating as someone who speaks abusively on TV, right? 」
Yukino said.
「 The twins, especially Eri, is quite the wicked tongue too, so she’s overlapping with my character 」
Overlap?
「 Furthermore, the twins get to retort to each other and neutralize the poison that they spit out. The skill of the duo is amazing 」
I think so too.
「 This is just between us but did you know that those girls are getting offers to appear on other TV shows and stations? I’ve been on TV for six months and my show has some good ratings. But, I never got that offer. Yet… 」
「 Well, that’s because Jii-chan’s forcing Yukino’s show to air by putting pressure on the TV station owned by the Shirasaka house 」
Yukino’s TV show is a whole hour of just her and her friends talking, without any commercials and sponsors. It’s an irregular show.
「 In Yukino’s case, a lot is going on, and I think the “dark power” seems to be having an effect on the show’s broadcast that hardly anyone approaches you 」
「 It’s the same for the twins, right? Everyone knows what happened to their parents 」
Eri and Rie’s parents went and had a shootout with their boss and died while under the Miko power’s control.
The news was widespread so everyone knows about it.
「 Even with that kind of guilt, they recognize the star quality of the twins. You’ve seen it on the talk show earlier, haven’t you? 」
Yukino sighs.
「 I get it now. Those girls are better than me. Both in star quality and talking 」
That’s…
「 You get it right? A group of middle-school girls who aren’t even students in our school started a talk show, and they attracted a crowd. They just watch it, not finding it as weird 」
Eri and Rie have star quality.
「 s.n.a.t.c.h and Francie approves both of those girls 」
The comedian and columnist on Yukino’s show praised the twins highly.
「 To be honest, it’s frustrating, but when I see their talent objectively like this, I had to admit it. Those girls are much more amusing than me 」
Yukino.
「 But, that doesn’t mean that I’ll give the show to the two and retire. Right now, all I can do is appear on TV. I can’t escape. After that execution of my devilish father, raped, impregnated, spread all the shameful images for the whole world to see. I’ll just continue to show my face to the world with all my composure. That’s my fight’ 」
Yukino said.
「 However, I thought that I had to go head-to-head with the twins and win, but after watching their talk show today, I realized that’s not the case 」
What is?
「 If those girls are much more amusing than me, then I’ll just change to take advantage of it. I don’t have to oppose them but support them instead. It’s my show so I have to stand strong 」
Yukino looked at me and smiled.
「 Just like you do 」
Me?
「 You’re also changing. Back then, you were too uptight about having to do everything yourself, but now you entrust the girls to do what they can, right?
「 Well, I can’t do anything alone. And besides, we have a lot of girls who are much more talented in the family 」
「 I started thinking that way too. If someone’s much more skilled than me, then let them take care of it. I get that I don’t have to force myself 」
I…
「 Yukino’s changed too 」
「 I wonder? 」
「 You did. Back then, if things don’t go your way, you start bawling and stop thinking 」
I said. Yukino rubbed her stomach.
「 I have this now so I can’t just make a fuss. It’s bad for the child 」
「 Parenting? 」
「 I’ve started reading magazines for pregnant women. Nagisa gave me some 」
It’s not just Yukino, but Nagisa’s also pregnant with my child.
「 It helps to have someone with experience get pregnant at the same time as me. It’s honestly rea.s.suring 」
Yukino’s still in her first year in high school.
If she’s alone, she might not be able to endure it out of anxiety.
「 Yeah, your eyes say that you want to take a look, I’ll show it to you later. Papa might want to learn a thing or two as well 」
「 Yeah got it 」
I never studied childbirth to begin with.
「 Seriously. No matter what anyone tells you, you never show an “I don’t like it” face. You’re always okay with anything. That’s just boundless 」
「 Sorry 」
「 Silly, I was praising you 」
Yukino laughs.
「 Well, I guess that boundless part of you is also a talent 」
then.
「 I like you 」
「 Yukino? 」
「 I hated you before, but I like you now. I know it. My heart’s changed 」
I…
「 Can I touch your stomach? 」
I asked her.
「 Sure. It’s your child too, besides 」
Yukino…
「 I’m also one of your women 」
I embraced Yukino and pat her belly.
Then, I kissed Yukino.
「 Nfufufu 」
Yukino started laughing.
「 What’s up? 」
「 Nothing. It’s just I feel happy 」
This time, Yukino returned the kiss.
◇ ◇ ◇
「 Okay, I’m returning this idiot to you 」
I held hands with Yukino, followed after Megu and the girls who had gone ahead through the pa.s.sage.
Yukino said that Megu and the girls are waiting for the car to arrive in the faculty parking lot.
「 Thanks to you, I got to enjoy it a lot 」
「 I’ll go with Yoshi-kun to the closing party tomorrow, so you can have it, Ai-san 」
Megu told Ai.
Megu and I are recognized as an engaged couple in the school.
It’s half-obligatory for the two of us to be in the post-party for couples
「 How about Mana-san? 」
Ai asks mana.
「 No need to hold back. Ai-oneechan worked hard today 」
「 Then, Yoshida-kun!! 」
Ai embraced me.
I also hugged her back.
Kinosh*ta-san’s watching from the sides and Kurose-san’s looking dumbfounded.
「 Oh, they’re here 」
Mana said.
Then, the garage’s shutter opens.
Katsuko-nee’s business van is outside.
Seems like she sent the girls in the bakery to the mansion and has returned here.
As for Misato and the prost.i.tute cadets, Rei-chan’s sending them off to the new brothel.
We got inside the van and…
「 Huh? 」
Edie, Nei, and Grace Marinka-san are also inside.
「 We settled the talks with the school festival committee 」
Edie told me.
「 Tomorrow, we will be attending some of the regular events in the school festival, but in exchange 」
「 Edie and grace-san will do the school swimsuit Judo like they did the other day 」
Huh?
「 By the way, there will also be TV cameras 」
「 Huh? Is it going to be a live broadcast? 」
「 No way. The martial arts tournament was broadcasted on the midnight slot you know 」
Nei said.
「 We’re just going to do a promotional show before we go to America this December, and since Edie and the girls are selling the fact that they’re still high-schoolers, we thought that it might be a good idea to include a clip of them doing an exhibition match during the high-school festival 」
「 Haruka and Maria are coming too, those girls are also high-schoolers 」
Kudou Haruka and Kendou Maria (Tendou Otome) are third-years.
They’re also going to America.
「 While at it, Rodulfo-san and Line Haruko-san will come too! they’re in their second year after all 」
Oh yeah, Line Haruko-san from the creative martial arts Golden Balm gym
「 Monkey Mimi-san could come too, but she’s already past her 20s 」
「 That’s right, Jun is enough as our guest 」
Grace-san will be appearing too.
Edie, Kurou Haruka, Kendou Maria, Line Haruko, and Grace Marinka-san. That’s five people.
「 But, isn’t it hard to play with just five people? 」
Who will fight who?
If it’s an exhibition match, then it won’t be a tournament bracket.
It’s just pushed to the school festival in a hurry so I don’t think they can lend the venue for that long.
So, if it’s two at a time, there will be one excess
「 There’s no problem, I’ll be fighting the four in turns 」
Edie smiled.
「 One versus Four, that’s twenty minutes. We’ll just adjust the time and end it in thirty minutes 」
Edie’s fighting the four.
「 Don’t worry. I’ll be sure to make the fight look good on TV 」
Edie said calmly.