110. Marriage declaration / Second resolution

That is my house

Megu points at a house.

The sun has already gone down

The cloudy night sky comes.

On the corner of the low-lying residential areaentering a compact shopping district, right at the back of the alley.

An old small house was built there.

WaaSmall

Maika says.

Perhaps, theres only one or two rooms on both floors.

The first floor is the parents living room and the second floor is Megumis room and the storage?

The glass door has a crack and is patched by a brown packing tape.

The lamp in the front door is burning darkly.

The paint on the wooden wall has faded away considerably.

Its a rag house with poor light inside.

By standardsYou cant think that theyre relatives of the famous family Shirasaka.

RightIts smaller than Maika-sans house

Yuzuki-sensei told Maika.

AhSorry. I didnt mean it like that

Megu smiles at the apologizing Maika.1

Its fine. Yamamine house is being aided by Shirasaka house on the livelihood

Megu said.

The head of Shirasaka housethe second wife of the founder of the newspaper company was coming from Yamamine house

Yes, shes originally a daughter of an employee of the company. The founder fell in love with her thenas far as it goes, they put her in the family register and made her a concubine

Megu answers Sensei question

Yamamine house has become Shirasaka houses relative like that butbecause other marriage proposals other than Yamamine house has been on the distinguished familiestheyve become a complete luggage of the clan

Yamamine house who came from commoners has been looked down by the people of Shirasaka house all this time.

My foster father, and all of his brothers are all employed in a company affliated to Shirasaka house

Did any of them enter the newspaper company?

Megu shook her head?

People from Yamamine house will never be hired in the newspaper and big companies. Theyre appointed at the place that is the subsidiary of the subsidiary of the company group. Even if they work for that company for years, they cannot get anything higher than section chief. Theyre driven to the standpoint where they cant go against the people of Shirasaka house

Theyre such a clan who do such things without concern

Theyre like idiotsEven Shirasaka house was just a commoner until the founder made the newspaper company succeed. Mistaking that they have risen to such nobles, they justify such foolish things, but!

Sensei speaks out.

Maika-sanMisuzu-san will have her symposium the day after tomorrow. Go with Yoshida-kun and Megumi. Thats where the genuine nobles of the country gather

Sensei tells Maika.

Take a look at the genuine first class people. You will understand that Shirasaka whos an upstart isnt the real one

Misuzus learning the Konpeki style traditional dance from the headmaster2

The headmasters class would be performing the day after tomorrow.

Its just a presentation of a traditional dance class and yet, theyre using the National Theatre

The girls dancing with Misuzu are all students of the headmasterThey must all be daughters of prestigious families.

NaturallyTheir family would come to see the presentation.

Japanswealthy socialites.

Right, I think it would be a good study for you. You should go there

Katsuko-nee says so, however

Nei-sama and Margo-sama will be coming tooIf I recall, Nagisa will do the same?

Huh, Katsuko-nee wont come?

I asked instinctively.

I cannot go to such places. Nagisa is already Retiredfor years so she can passBut Im still in Active service Theres a lot of people I would be troubled to face

Katsuko-nee choses her words carefully in front of Maika.

I see

Katsuko-nee will have lots of her guests coming in there too

I will be alright butthose people

The guest would be coming with his wife and daughter and yet, he would see Katsuko-nees faceThats certainly hard.

Therefore, I will be just a support on the day after tomorrow!

Eh?

Not House watchingBut Support

That means that theres something scheduled to be executed at that day

As Kuromori

Katsuko, hows the rear?

Sensei has been observing the state outside the car since a while ago.

Shes been staring at the darkness where the street lights doesnt hit.

Theres no abnormality on the rear as well. Theres no lookout or ambush it seems

Katsuko-nee is also checking the outside through the rear window.

It seems that Shirasakas head doesnt begin to move yet

Yes. Shirasaka Sousuke from Australia cannot contact Japanthe clan and the company still thinks that hes on a normal business trip

Sensei turned to us.

OkayWere about to go. Megumi and Yoshida-kun will be with me. Katsuko and Maika will wait inside the car

Okay

Megus nervous

Ive brought a hidden microphone so Maika-san will be listening with Katsuko in here

Sensei tells Maika.

Maika-san, you still dont trust us from the bottom of your heart, dont you?

Eh?

Maika swallows her saliva.

ThereforeId like you to listen to my talk with Yamamine-san. You dont think that Yamamine-san is also conspiring with us just to fool Maika-san, do you?

WellYes, I think that uncle Yamamine wont do that

Sensei looks straight at Maika

ThenListen. I want Maika-san to understand the truth about Shirasaka house

Yesunderstood

Maika replied.

Bring this

Katsuko-nee handed me a small digital camera

Take photos of Megumi-chans family and her room as well

Take photos

Megumi-chan will be parting from this house todaytake a commemoration photo

Megu can no longer return to this house

The house she lived for ten years.

Shell part from her foster parents.

Ill quote a famous photographer I respectTake as much photos as possible. Well forget about it anywayHumans are quite forgetful. Therefore, you should leave it as a photos as much as possible so you wont forget it3

Katsuko-nee

Got itIll take photos

I hold the camera firmly.

Yoshi-kunI

Megus trembling.

Its okayIm here with you

I kiss Megu.

Im home

The glass door opened with a rattling soundAnd Megu calls out.

Footsteps can be heard from the house

A middle aged man and woman with an age around fifty shows up.

Megumi

Megumi bows to the two.

Im sorry for staying overnight yesterdayFather, Mother

Megus parentsdoesnt look like Megu at all.

Thats obvious however.

Megus foster parents have a third of their hair white. They look like decent people. They mustve been back just from work. Hes still wearing a necktie on his gray suit. A shabby worn out suit. It feels like hes wearing an RTW from a bargain sale for very long.

The mother is just a usual simple mother. Short hair and no makeup. She looks at Megu in worry.

Im Kuromorithe one who contacted you the other day

Yuzuki-sensei greeted Megus foster parents

You?

YesIm the current head of Kuromori

Sensei answered with her usual cold eyes.

Wellwhatever it is, lets talk insidedear

Megus foster mother talked to her husband.

Y-Yeswe should. Kuromori-sanplease come in

Excuse me

Sensei took off her shoes

UhmThis person?

Megus foster mother looks at me

Megumis friend?

I

Yes. Im Megumi-sans classmate. AndA person of Kuromorihouse

Megumis foster parents might not know the name Kuromorias a crime syndicate.

Thats why I answered like that.

Hes not a suspicious guyHe came with us to help Megumi-san carry her luggage

Sensei explains.

I seeif were going out of this house

We have to take Megumis luggage.

Its okay, father, motherhes a trustworthy person

Megu told her foster parents with serious eyes

Understoodplease come in

I took off my shoes as well

This way

The room next to the door is the living room

Theres a low table in the Japanese style room.

Megus foster mother puts out a floor cushion.

When everyone sits on a 8.42 square meter room4, its narrow.

Theres a Kokeshi, and a wooden bear on the cupboard.

Theres a simple calendar on the wall.

Somehow, this looks like Showa era.

When tea was distributed to everyone, the foster father started the talk.

MegumiAre you sure that theyre the people you stayed with before?

Yes father. Theres no doubt. Ive been indebt with Kuromori-san before I came to this house. I was small back then but I remember it well

Megumi-sans motherKeiko-san has been kind with me. I think that this is the time to repay the kindness she has given me

Sensei talks to Megus foster mother

I think that you already know this butMegumis real father, Shirasaka Sousuke will make her a prostitute. I will never allow that to happen. I will take custody of Megumi. And, Ill protect her at a place where Shirasaka house cannot reach

ButKuromori-san. Werent you managing the prostitution organization with Sousuke-san?

Megus foster father seems to hold clear distrust.

Ive already stopped the operation of the prostitution organization already. At the same time, Ive already banished Shirasaka Sousuke from our organization. Were currently separated completely from Shirasaka Sousuke

Sensei answered clearly.

You say that butI cannot trust you

The foster father declared so.

To be honestI dont want to hand Megumi to Sousuke-san. Theres no parent who wants to make their treasured daughter a prostitute. ButKuromori-san and Sousuke-san are in the same prostitution organization, werent you? Theres no guarantee that if I leave Megumi to you, she wont become a prostitute

For normal peopleTheres no difference between Shirasaka Sousuke and Sensei.

Both of them were managers of the prostitution organization Kuromori

It must be unreasonable to trust them

Shirasaka Sousuke has already been caught in a trap

Sensei declared with cold eyes.

Hes captured by our people in Australia. His trouble with the gangs will be found out soon. Shirasaka Sousuke will lose his position certainly. Shirasaka house will banish him

Megus foster mother is startled.

If that happensMegumi-san will be taken over by the head of Shirasaka house. For the head of Shirasaka house, Megumi-san is Shirasaka Sousukes shameful child. Shell be likely to be hidden from the world. I think that shell be separated from Yamamine-sama too. I think that shell be entrusted to someone in the province thats under Shirasaka house and shell be kept there until she dies

Thats better than her being a prostitute!

Megus foster mother shouted.

Megumi-san should be the one to decide which is better and what life shell live. Megumi-sanwhat do you want to do?

Sensei looks at Megu.

Meguspoke to her foster parents.

Father, MotherMegumi will be going to Kuromori-san

Megu bowed to her parents.

I dont want to live being dragged around by Shirasaka house anymore. Megumi wants to leave Shirasaka house no matter what result it gives me

Her foster parents look at each other.

ButMegumi

The foster mother tries to persuade Megu somehow.

But, Megu is

Im sorry, MotherIve already decided. Megumi right now has been living, obediently following fate. But, not anymore. Ill fight my own fate. I want to be happy!

Megumi

I will get out of this house without your permission. If I ran away from homethat way, the head of Shirasaka house wont be blaming father

I see

Her parents would be suffering

If they handed Megumi to Sensei, Yamamine house would be erased by the head of Shirasaka house.

Megumi-sanyou dont get it. If you do that, Shirasaka house wont be forgiving Yamamine-san. I think that they will attach various false charges and make Yamamine-san suffer

Sensei said.

Thats

Megu is at loss.

Therefore, I will take Megumi-san by force. Please report to the head of Shirasaka house Megumi-san has been kidnapped by Kuromori We have already restricted Shirasaka Sousuke so its okay to tell the head of the house

Sensei

I understood the feeling of Yamamine-san not being able to oppose Shirasaka house. Yamamine-sans brother, kinsmenare all working on companies related to Shirasaka house. I can understand that you cannot betray Shirasaka house by all means

Senseisaid with a strong tone

No, I

Megus foster father tries to object but he cant speak.

Kuromori house is a genuine criminal organization. Because weve committed such crimes multiple times, Shirasaka house will surely believe Yamamine-sans report

Kuromorikidnapped Katsuko-nee and Nagisa-san.

Andturned them to prostitutes.

Its not just the two of them.

A lot of women

The young lady has been kidnapped by a crime syndicate. Yamamine-sans a victimnot our a cooperator. Please contact Shirasaka house at the moment we bring Megumi-san out of this house. And, there would be no more worry about the sparks falling to Yamamine-san

In exchange.

Kuromoriwill confront the head of Shirasaka house

Then, Kuromori-san and Megumi

There is no need to worryWe are prepared to fight Shirasaka house. Weve already taken a hold of Shirasaka Sousuke himself

Saying that, Sensei took out her phone.

She pushed the call button.

Katsuko, Phase 3

Thats the only line she told over the phone.

With this, Shirasaka Sousuke on Australia will be imprisoned to a place we only know. We will negotiate with Shirasaka house in exchange for Shirasaka Sousuke!

Thats unreasonable. Kuromori-san doesnt know the terror of Shirasaka house!

Megus foster father muttered.

I agree that its unreasonable. And, Yamamine-san should know this toowere a group of people who knows true hell

Senseismiles coldly

Weve fought existence far more frightening than Shirasaka house. We dont intend to lose!

And, she took out a white package from her back.

She puts it on top of the low table.

Of course, we wont just tell Yamamine-sama to give Megumi for freeThis is 10 Million in cash

Sensei presented the package to Megumis foster father.

Megus foster parents are at loss.

You want me to sell my daughter?

This is a reward for reporting a lie to Shirasaka house. We will be kidnapping Megumi-san in paper however. Its regardless of Yamamine-sans will

Sensei looks at Megumis foster parents.

Check would be traced by banks. Weve prepared bills thats not in the circulation. It would be dangerous to leave the full amount on the same bank. Subdivide it little by little and put it in different accounts with your name

Megus foster father looks at the package silently.

Im asking you father, please take it

Megu spoke powerfully.

Thats saying that you want to sever connections with us?

Her foster father says sadly.

Thats not it. Whatever the situation becomes, Megumi is father and mothers daughter

Megu told her foster parents

Please think of Megumi being sent off as a bride

Megu looks at me.

I nodded.

Father, MotherI really thank you for loving and raising me until now

Megumi takes off the cushion, puts her hand on the floor and bows to her parents

Megumiwill marry this man!

Megu looks at me.

Megus foster parents look at me in blank surprise

I

I removed the cushion, imitating Megumi.

Putting my hands on the matI bowed to Megumis foster parents.

Im Yoshida. Please let me have the priviledge to marry Megumi-san

I said clearly.

Ill make Megumi-san happy. I will never let her feel sadPlease let me have your young lady!

I

I dont like sayingPlease let me have your young lady

Meguis already at the age where she can decide her own future.

Someone whos will is being controlled should be liberated.

From Shirasaka Sousuke

From Shirasaka house

Andfrom her foster parents.

I look at Megu once again.

Megu, marry me!

Megu

Yes

She answered.

We will hold a proper ceremony when the time comes. At that time, please attend as Megus parents. Please!

I promised Megus foster parents.

Youre serious?

Megus foster father asked me.

Yes, Im serious

I answered clearly.

Father, MotherIm also serious. I love this person. I believe him. I will be with him throughout my life!

Megumi bowed to her foster parents again and again.

DearWhat do you think about them?

Megus foster mother asked her husband.

I think we should give Megumi as a bride

The foster father turns to his wife.

Are you sure?

The foster mother nodded.

Its much more better than being taken and becoming a prostitute or being kidnapped Its a celebration as well

Her foster father sighs.

Then, he looked at me.

Yoshida-kun, was it?

Yes?

I leave Megumi in your care

The foster father bowed to me.

I

I steeled myself.

Ill protect Megu with all my best!!!

I created another big resolution.

This will be a slightly adult talk soget the luggage

Sensei told me and Megu.

RightI think itll take at least half an hours, pack everything by that time. Just pack up the minimum necessities

Okay

Megu answers Sensei.

Yoshi-kun My rooms on the second floor

AhOkay

Coming out of the living room, we climb the narrow and steep stairs

We can hear Yuzuki-senseis voice from the living room.

As for the contents that Yamamine-san have to report for the head of Shirasaka house

Sensei didnt blame Megus foster parents but insteadit seems that she has prepared the minimum information that would be the content that they would report to the head of Shirasaka house.

This is my room

Megus head.

A six-mat Japanese style roomA study desk, bookshelf, and a bed

Theres nothing else.

Theres nothing that looks girlish

My luggage has already been packed

Theres two travel bags in line on side of the bed.

LookI should be taken by Shirasaka-san5 after the golden week. Thats whyIve already finished preparations

Megu

She was prepared for it.

His biological father making her fall to prostitution.

Thats why, Megu is

She has given up on her life

Wait. Ill gather my school stuff. I thought that I cannot go to school anymore after all. Therefore I didnt pack my school stuff

Megu said

All of the books and notebooks are piled up on Megus desk.

Her uniform and spare gym suits are stuffed in a sports bag

The packing ended in just a minute.

I took photos of Megus room.

What are you doing Yoshi-kun?

WellThis is the room Megu has lived since she was six, right?

YeahI lived here for ten years

ThenI have to take photos

RightI cannot go back here after all

Megu said sadly.

The room youve lived for ten years is really clean

Or perhaps should I say theres nothing but the minimum.

Theres no magazines or manga or even a novel on her bookshelf either.

Other than old textbooksIts empty.

Theres not a single stuffed toy, poster, or something thats like a high school girl would own.

And, the windows are cleaned beautifully and theres not a single dust on the floor.

Its perfectly cleaned.

I think that Im just borrowing this room from Yamamine-san

When we were alone in the roomMegu calls her foster father Yamamine-san

In shortShe never heartily think that her foster parents are her own parents.

Theyre just the people who raised her. She wasnt thinking that theyre living together.

Its just a borrowed room so you must not let it become dirty, right?

Megu said seriously.

AlsoI thought that somebody would come to pick me up someday

Megu?

Someday, Ill come back to the mansion and become a prostitute. Ever since I was a child!

Thats.

ThereforeI was prepared to get out of this house since I was a child. Ive been prepared all the time. Someday, someone will come to get me so I put my things on two bags and have it next to my bed

These two bags have been prepared all this time.

This is the bag that I brought when I was taken from the mansion to this house. Mamas bag!

Megus motherKeiko-sans bag.

I came here with just two bagsso I thought that I should just have two bags when I will leave as well

Megus two old bags.

Somehow, I remember my cardboard boxes.

My private properties are collected in just one cardboard box

Megu and I are same existence.

Because the bag I use in school was addedIt became three

Megu smiles wryly.

Ill take all of it

Ill carry it out of the house with Megus thoughts.

Its okaylet me have half of it

Megu said bashfully.

I want to be Yoshi-kuns half

Megumi and I want to share the sorrow and the harsh memories.

Got it

I answered.

But, Im glad. Thanks to Minaho-sanI will be able to continue going to school

Eh?

Ive always thought of it. Im able to live just like a normal child for nowI have to do all of my best while Im living on Yamamine house. ThusI do my best in study and sports. My foster parents are very pleased when I give good results!

ThusThe honor student, Yamamine Megumi was made.

Megu believes that her life ahead has the hell of prostitution waiting for her

Megu doesnt need to become a prostitute anymoreyoull be my bride

I embraced Megu.

UnIm glad I met Yoshi-kunIm happy

I kissed Megu.

Megu returned a kiss to me

It feels strangeI never thought of kissing a boy in my own room

Megu said laughingly.

Speaking of whichIts my first time in my life entering a girls room

SorryMy rooms just a dull one

Thats not trueThis room has Megus scent in it

YupThis room definitely has Megus scent soaking in it.

Yada~Dont say embarrassing things

Its truelook

I lay down on Megus bed.

I sniffed Megus smell from the futon

I spread my arms and legs and shoved my face on Megus futon.

It smells goodI feel like Megus wrapping me up

Then

I can hear rustling sounds from the back

When I look upMegus taking off her clothes?!

Megu?

Megu then said.

Take a nude photo of me in this room

Megus eyes are serious.

ThenI want to be embraced by Yoshi-kun in this room!

Megu?!

I want to have sex here!6

1. The author might just still be adjusting on whether he would write Megu or Megumi

2. Were still in a debate on what should we change the Head of School into

3. I guess Megus a big photo of Yoshida

4. That means Rokujouma for those who ask

5. Yes, Megumis saying Shirasaka-san

6. With my parents downstairs. I promise, it wont be awkward.