One week later—
“““We’re home.”””
““Welcome back.”””
Yuzuru’s family returned from their trip abroad late at night.
“Sorry about that. We ended up coming back after just a week.”
At Ayu’s teasing, Arisa gave a wry smile, while Yuzuru nodded with complete seriousness.
“Honestly… you could’ve stayed another two weeks.”
“Adults can’t take that much time off.”
After saying that, Ayu leaned in and whispered near Yuzuru’s ear.
“You didn’t get up to anything you shouldn’t have, did you?”
Yuzuru thought for a moment before replying.
“I did cross some lines—but not the ones I shouldn’t have.”
“My, that’s quite the clever answer.”
Ayu sounded impressed, then turned to Arisa.
“…Nothing happened, right?”
“No.”
“I see. That’s a relief.”
Ayu’s expression softened with quiet reassurance. Leaving two young people alone for a week had clearly worried her, as a parent.
“I’ll help carry the luggage.”
“I’ll help too.”
Yuzuru and Arisa helped unload the car. With souvenirs added, there was a bit more than before.
“I’m… sleepy… I’m going to bed…”
After they finished bringing everything inside, Ayumi rubbed her eyes and staggered off towards her room. Ayu called after her, “Brush your teeth first.”
Watching his wife and daughter, Kazuya gave a wry smile before turning to Yuzuru and Arisa.
“It’s late. …Shall we leave the rest for tomorrow?”
They all went to bed soon after.
Late that night—
“Huh… Yuzuru-san?”
As Arisa sat on the engawa, gazing at the moon, a man approached. At first she thought it was Yuzuru, but quickly realised her mistake.
“…Kazuya-san?”
It was Yuzuru’s father, Kazuya. Resting his hand on his chin, he asked:
“Ah, that’s right. …Do I really look that young?”
“Ah—well, it was dark… though you do resemble him.”
“So you won’t confirm I look young, then…”
Kazuya’s shoulders slumped in mock disappointment, and Arisa hurried to correct herself.
“N-No, not at all! You do look very young… I think?”
“Ah, it’s fine. I’m well aware I’m not that young.”
Saying that, Kazuya sat down a short distance away from her, keeping a polite gap.
“Why are you up at this hour?”
“…I woke up. Um, what about you, Kazuya-san?”
“Jet lag. Couldn’t sleep… I’m just glad tomorrow’s a day off.”
He shrugged lightly. After a brief silence, he spoke again.
“Would you mind if we talked a little?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you. …Well, you can just think of it as me talking to myself.”
With that preface, he began.
“I’m grateful to you—for getting along with my son, and for coming to care about him.”
“No, not at all! If anything, I’m the one who’s always being helped by Yuzuru-san.”
Arisa shook her head. It was true—she’d always been the one receiving help. She hadn’t repaid any of it.
“That just means Yuzuru cares about you that much. And you’re responding to that. As a parent, there’s nothing more I could ask for… especially considering this is a political marriage.”
At the words “political marriage,” Arisa fell silent.
Kazuya, meanwhile, murmured with a faint hint of regret:
“I brought Yuzuru into this world as an heir.”
“Um, that is…”
“There’s no doubt I love him as my son. But before that, he’s the next head of the Takasegawa family—and I’m the current head.”
He let out a small sigh.
“Ayumi too… they’re good children. They understand their positions well. Well, that’s how we raised them, so it’s only natural…”
“I… see…”
Arisa didn’t know how to respond.
“The only time my son is selfish… is when it concerns you.”
“Um, I—I’m sorry…”
“No, there’s no need to apologise. It makes me happy.”
As Arisa bowed her head, Kazuya smiled warmly.
“You’re the only one Yuzuru truly lets his guard down around.”
“I’m happy you’d say that, but… I don’t think that’s true.”
She was giving herself too much credit—so she thought.
Yes, she was his fiancée, someone special. But Yuzuru had childhood friends and close companions too—people who had known him far longer.
“Tachibana Ayaka. Uenishi Chiharu. Satake Soichiro. Ryouzenji Sei. And… Nagiri Tenka. That about covers your mutual friends, doesn’t it?”
As if seeing straight through her thoughts, Kazuya listed them. Arisa nodded.
“Yes. I’m close with them. And of course, with Yuzuru-san as well…”
“But before they’re friends, aren’t they heirs to their respective families—or connected to them?”
At that, Arisa fell quiet.
Their circumstances differed slightly, but like Yuzuru, they all carried the weight of their families.
“They may be friends. They may join hands. But there will be times when they point their bows at each other.”
“That’s…”
She couldn’t deny it. Yuzuru had told her about the complicated interests and conflicts between their families.
“But Ayumi-san—”
“She’ll marry out.”
“…!”
Even siblings—bound by blood—aren’t necessarily people you can fully trust. That was Kazuya’s firm conclusion.
“Of course, I’d like them to get along. But in the history of the Takasegawa family, cases where siblings stayed close from birth to death… are fewer than those where they didn’t. Unfortunately.”
“…I see.”
“Well, inheritance tends to complicate things. …Just as I’m preparing for war, my younger brother is probably doing the same.”
“…”
“Of course, I intend to avoid an actual clash as much as possible. It’s always better for siblings to get along. There’s nothing more foolish than letting a third party reap the benefits.”
Kazuya smiled as if amused. Arisa couldn’t share that feeling.
“For Yuzuru, the only ally who will never betray him is you.”
“…I see.”
“That’s right.”
He nodded firmly.
“So just being by his side—you’re already a source of strength for him.”
“…Is that really how it works?”
“It is. You just don’t realise it yet.”
Having said what he came to say, Kazuya stood up.
“Well then, I’ll leave my son in your care.”
With that, he walked away.
Arisa watched his retreating back.
“Just by being there…”
Was that really enough?
She tilted her head slightly.
Arisa couldn’t quite grasp the weight of his words.
At least, not yet.
