Chapter 61: Chapter 20

"Thanks for the meal."

The three of them finished the short prayer together as the dining room grew quiet.

The soft clatter of chopsticks against ceramic faded as Aiko collected the plates with her usual calm rhythm.

Suzune stretched her arms up, satisfied, while Seijirou leaned back slightly and let out a small breath, the warmth of the home, the faint citrus scent of Aiko’s cleaning products, and the familiar lighting made the entire scene feel almost unreal to him.

When was the last time he actually had dinner with others?

"I’ll wash the dishes." Said Aiko, "Kageyama-kun, you can go and take a bath. If you’re staying for the night, you can use the guest room."

Seijirou nodded. "Thank you, Miss Korukawa."

He stood and headed down the hallway, his steps echoed lightly on the polished wooden floor while looking around in wonder.

Everything was the same since the last time he has been here. Their house was still large, quiet, and far too spotless for a place for two people who are barely even home.

Completely unlike his place.

If Suzune wasn’t visiting him from time to time, he would’ve already been buried under all the mess.

Just then, Suzune also rose from her seat, intending to prepare the guest room for Seijirou to stay in, but a hand suddenly pinched the back of her collar.

"Urk." She choked out a half squeak, half cough.

Aiko pulled her back with no effort at all, her eyes staring at her daughter, "You’re not going anywhere, you lady. You’re helping with the dishes."

Suzune turned with a dramatic pout. "But Moooom."

Aiko looked at her with the quiet, emotionless stare that all children feared, the stare that announced dominance, the stare that crushed rebellion.

Suzune shrank instantly, "Fine. I’ll do it."

She grumbled under her breath.

Unfortunately for her, Aiko heard her grumbling something as she handed her a stack of bowls. "What did you say? Are you complaining?"

"I didn’t say anything. I’m not complaining. Swear!"

"You did."

"...Okay maybe I did."

Aiko said nothing more, after all she isn’t really planning on punishing her daughter for grumbling a little.

Suzune sighed, rolled up her sleeves, and turned on the faucet.

As the water ran, she peeked toward the hallway where Seijirou disappeared, and her eyes softened.

Aiko noticed this immediately.

"Focus on your work." Aiko said, not taking her eyes off the plates.

Suzune blinked. "What?"

"I said focus on your work. You’re moving like a puppy waiting for its owner."

Suzune slapped her own cheeks. "I am not."

"You are."

"I am helping with dishes, see? Productive. Mature. Calm."

Aiko glanced at her. "You dropped a bowl."

"Eek!"

Suzune scrambled to catch it as Aiko sighed in helplessness. Her daughter have become completely hopeless just because her crush was going to stay over.

Aiko wondered where she inherited that trait.

On the other end of the house, Seijirou stepped into the bathroom.

He shut the door behind him, and the exhaustion of the day hit him all at once.

His muscles ached, his arms felt heavy, and his legs had a dull throb under the skin. Honestly, today was probably the most exhausting day of his life, both the past and the present.

He sighted as he removed his clothes, stepped into the shower, and let the warm water fall over him.

As he washed away the grime and blood from the fight, his mind immediately thought of his future plans.

He had no time to relax, well, not really.

Once the Basuta incident concluded, events in the original game should progress toward the Himejima Haruka arc.

He leaned against the shower wall, water running down his face as he frowned, thinking that the next event should not happen.

After all, the villain of Haruka arc was him, or rather, his mother.

In that route named "The Chill Moon, The Burning Sun", Haruka have become a slave for Seijirou.

Her family was a simple household. Although they couldn’t be considered rich, they are definitely above average where they have a rather big house and their own car.

But in the game, it is revealed that her father worked for the construction company owned by Seijirou’s mother.

In the original storyline, an internal audit exposed missing funds and it is found that Haruka’s father was the one pocketing them.

Seijirou’s mother pushed for prosecution, after all she had always been ruthless with business and politics.

For her, law existed to be used as a tool.

It was actually Seijirou who stopped her mother from sending Haruka’s father into prison.

And no, it wasn’t because of the goodness of his heart, but because he made a deal with Haruka’s father.

In exchange for his mother not pursuing this incident, Seijirou wanted him to hand over his daughter Haruka as a slave to him.

And to save himself, Haruka’s father accepted that worst deal possible, sealing his daughter’s fate as a slave.

A single signature, that was all it took, and he had pretty much sold his daughter over.

Not only that, he had even sold away his wife for some cash, which Seijirou also accepted.

He then fled the country days later, leaving behind his wife and daughter at the mercy of Kageyama family.

And the original Kageyama Seijirou, the monster of that route, completely used them as he pleased.

In the game, Seijirou soon got bored of Haruka’s mother and gave her away to his subordinates.

As for Haruka, Seijirou have her dropped out of school and chained her to his room to be used whenever he pleased.

A cold stone settled in Seijirou’s chest.

Well, not this time.

He submerged himself in the bath, letting the heat seep into his bones.

The ceiling lights glowed softly, steam rose, and the quiet felt too peaceful for the storm inside his head.

He closed his eyes.

He will not interfere this time. He will let his mother imprison Haruka’s father, and although this would probably affect Haruka and her mother, at least they wouldn’t suffer their fates in the game.

Just then, a soft knock echoed lightly from behind the door.

"Seiji, are you done?" Suzune’s voice sounded muffled, but cheerful.

Seijirou sighed. "I’ll be out in a minute."

"Okay. I left your clothes and a towel here."

Her footsteps retreated, from how her steps felt like it was skipping, she was probably skip hopping due to joy.

He stayed in the water a little longer before finally stepping out.

He dried himself, put on the clothes Suzune left for him, and left the bathroom.

He took a deep breath, the hallway felt cooler after the warm bath as he ran a hand through his damp hair.

As he approached the living room, he heard Suzune humming while wiping the table.

Aiko sat on the couch with a cup of tea, watching the news with half-lidded eyes.

Suzune spotted him immediately.

"Seiji! Done?"

"Yeah. You can go ahead and take a bath now."

Suzune smiled, nodding. "Mn, I’ll take one later."

Aiko looked up. "Guest room is on the second floor. First door on the right. Well, you probably already know that."

Seijirou nodded. "Got it."

Suzune placed the rag down and walked toward him, observing him up and down.

"Are you still tired?" she asked.

"A bit."

"Then rest. I have already prepared the room. You can go there now." She grinned, "For now, imma go take a bath."

Seijirou nodded and watched as Suzune already disappeared into the bathroom.

He then turned his gaze back to Aiko, who calmly sips her tea.

"Be gentle with her," she said quietly.

Seijirou paused. "I know."

"She’s fragile when it comes to you."

"...I know."

Aiko watched him with calm, sharp eyes that made Seijirou unable to look her straight, so he looked away, looking guilty.

After a moment, she relaxed and looked back to the screen. "Go. You don’t have to think about me."

He nodded and headed upstairs to the guest room.

He looked around, and everything looked the same as he remembered. Nothing changed since he last been here.

Clean white sheets. Soft lighting. A shelf filled with books Aiko used to read her daughter when she was young and the window that overlooked the quiet street outside.

He sat on the bed.