Deciding that staying too long might be a bother to the Ryouzenji family, Yuzuru and Arisa prepared to take their leave.
As they walked down the stone steps, Hijiri scratched his head.
“Man… sorry about that. I honestly thought my grandad wasn’t home.”
He had only intended to show them around and offer some tea before seeing them off.
Kiyoshi’s appearance had been entirely unexpected.
“Guess he got a bit excited hearing a young girl was visiting… sorry about that, Arisa-san.”
Hijiri apologised.
Arisa gave a small, wry smile.
“No, it’s alright. …It just seems like things are quite complicated.”
She hadn’t fully understood the meaning behind the exchange between Yuzuru and Kiyoshi at the end.
But it was clear there had been some unspoken intent behind it.
“Well… you don’t need to overthink it. Your response was more than good enough, Arisa. …Considering it was a surprise test, I’d say you scored full marks—and then some.”
Yuzuru said this to reassure her.
Arisa tilted her head slightly, still uncertain.
“Honestly… I hate that kind of pointless, riddle-like back-and-forth. Especially with friends.”
Hijiri muttered, frowning.
Yuzuru gave a small smile.
“Agreed. I’d rather just get along with you normally.”
At present, it wasn’t even certain whether Hijiri would become the successor.
That was why Kiyoshi had deliberately said “the grandchildren.”
From Yuzuru’s perspective, dealing with Hijiri’s uncle or cousins would actually be easier.
…For better or worse, he wouldn’t need to hold back with them.
Before long, they reached the bottom of the hill.
“This is fine.”
“Thank you for today.”
“Yeah, see you.”
Parting ways with Hijiri, the two of them stood under a sky dyed in the colours of sunset.
“…Um, Yuzuru-san.”
“What is it?”
“You said my response was correct… but which part of it was actually right?”
If there was a “correct” answer, then there must also have been wrong ones.
It was only natural she’d want clarification.
“Hm… well. In truth, that question about ‘it being proper to come and greet you personally’ was more about gauging your character. So I don’t think there was any absolute wrong answer. …But you noticed how overly deferential that old man was, right?”
“Yes… it was a bit confusing.”
Being shown deference by an elderly man of high standing wasn’t something one experienced often in modern Japan.
Her confusion was understandable.
“The fact that you didn’t say you would go and greet him yourself—that was the right move.”
“…Is that because the Takasegawa family outranks the Ryouzenji?”
“…Not exactly. That old man would love to bring things onto equal footing with the Takasegawa if he could.”
From Kiyoshi’s perspective, he likely would have been pleased if Arisa had casually said, “I’ll come and greet you myself.”
But for Yuzuru—for the Takasegawa family—and for Arisa’s future position, that wasn’t necessarily ideal.
“By not saying that you should be the one to go greet him, you showed that you recognise the Takasegawa as being above the Ryouzenji. That was enough.”
Modesty was a virtue.
But too much modesty could lead to being underestimated.
“Saying ‘Ryouzenji level’ might sound rude, but… the Takasegawa’s humility isn’t something to be handed out cheaply.”
For instance—
it must never lead to being looked down on by someone like the son of a minor local politician.
“…Would it have been better if I acted more arrogantly?”
“Not really… If it’s too obvious, that’s not good either. In your case, that balance was just right.”
Saying “I’ll come to greet you” would be wrong.
But saying “I’ll wait for you to come” would also be wrong.
That was why her answer—
“I’ll be visiting the Takasegawa household as well, so I’d be glad if we can meet then”—
was perfectly balanced.
There was nothing strange about Arisa visiting the Takasegawa family.
“Mm… this is difficult…”
Arisa murmured anxiously.
If she had to navigate conversations like that every time she met someone important, it was no wonder she felt uncertain.
Unlike school tests, there were no clear answers—and no warning.
“Let me tell you this, Arisa… there aren’t that many people who make things this troublesome.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. Some people hate that kind of roundabout nonsense.”
“I see… that’s reassuring.”
“It is. That old man just happens to be one of the most troublesome types.”
If there were many like him, it would be exhausting.
Those kinds of exchanges only worked when both sides could properly read the intent.
If the other person just stared blankly, it defeated the entire purpose.
“I’ll be by your side. As long as you carry yourself with confidence, you’ll be fine.”
Saying that, Yuzuru gently squeezed her hand.
Arisa’s cheeks flushed faintly as she nodded.
“Yuzuru-san…”
She squeezed his hand back.
Then she moved a little closer, wrapping herself around his arm and pressing against him.
Whether intentional or not—
her soft chest pressed lightly against his arm.
Yuzuru felt his pulse quicken slightly.
“…I love you.”
Arisa murmured softly.
Looking up at him, she gave a small smile.
“I… yeah, I love you too.”
Yuzuru replied under his breath.
Arisa pouted slightly.
“Could you say it a bit louder?”
“W-well… love isn’t about volume, is it?”
Yuzuru answered, a little embarrassed.
