NOVEL NEXT Chapter 47
“Nice to meet you, I’m Rindo Shizuna.”
Shizuna began with those words as she stood in front of the grave before Ryuichi’s eyes. He was watching quietly next to her, but the reason he’d come today was to report to his parents that, unlike them, he was living a fulfilling life. No matter how unforgettably cruel and detestable they may have been to him, however, he wryly smiled at his heartlessness for doing something like this to the deceased.
“Ryuichi has told me a lot about you. I know that no matter what I say here, my words will not reach you two anymore. So…I won’t say all the curses and insults I so desperately want to say.”
She seemed to be desperately trying to hold back her words as she put her hand on her chest. Ryuichi could tell that she had been as heartbroken as if it were something that’d happened to herself when she heard about his parents. Even though he told her it was nothing to be that concerned about, she was extremely kind to a fault, and that was why she was this serious about Ryuichi.
“But I will tell you one thing; just one thing.”
She briefly paused her words and looked at Ryuichi. Her eyes were still their same beautiful, unblemished color, and they were shining like jewels. He’d once said that Shizuna had her own unique color that couldn’t be tainted by any other color, and that she was a woman with a very strong heart…and he was exactly right.
“I’m glad I met Ryuichi. I met a man I truly care about, love, and want to be by his side forever. Our meeting itself was sudden, and I don’t know if our relationship from there was correct or right, but I love him—that’s all I have to say.”
“………”
Ryuichi, who had been listening intently to her words, closed his eyes. It had only been about two months since he realized that he had been transmigrated into this world, but he still had all the memories of his life since he was a child. He had always been frightened of his parents, and his past memories were filled with disappointment. After his parents were gone, he spent his days with nowhere to go, harboring resentment and hatred in his heart.
…I probably have Shizuna and the others to thank, huh. For how much I’ve changed, that is.
As usual, he couldn’t tell if he’d really changed that much, but he could still properly notice the obvious difference from his past self. It was a big step forward and proof that he was free from the curse of his parents that had haunted his heart.
“All I can remember from you two is how you always quibbled with each other. I…never saw either of you smile at all. At best, you would’ve been grinning at the money you got from the guys you were having affairs with.”
Just thinking about it for a moment brought back his memories of the past. All of them were memories he didn’t want to recall, but again, unlike before, he had Shizuna snuggled up next to him now. It really showed just how much her presence supported his heart.
“Well, that’s okay. I’m not gonna ask you to bless me with some kind words, or ask that you think of me at least a little bit as your son. Not after all this time.”
The words that followed from him were words for the future. His reply showed his strength, that he was no longer frightened by the shadow of his parents.
“I’m not going to be haunted by you guys anymore. I’m me…and I have people who want me and need me, even if you don’t.”
“Ryuichi-kun…”
Ryuichi embraced Shizuna, placed his hand on her cheek, and kissed her. It was not a deep kiss, just a light peck on her lips, almost as if he was showing off to the graves.
“I better not get some sort of divine retribution for this… Shizuna, let’s go.”
“Yes, let’s.”
He placed the flowers he had bought and proceeded to walk away with Shizuna, satisfied that he had done what he’d come to do. However, an unexpected encounter awaited them there.
“You… What are you doing?”
“Huh?”
“…Tch, what shitty timing.”
The voice that’d suddenly called out to him was a familiar one. Shizuna tilted her head in confusion, but for Ryuichi, that voice was one he would never forget.
“So it’s you, old man.”
“Huh?”
Yes, it was his paternal grandfather who’d showed up just then. His grandmother was also behind him, and neither of them seemed to be able to hide their hatred for Ryuichi. It had been a long time since they’d actually seen each other, but it seemed that they did not want to see him even more than he’d expected.
“‘What am I doing?’ What else would I be here for other than to visit their graves?”
He didn’t mean to be provocative, but his wording may have been a little poor. Ryuichi’s grandfather lifted his eyelids, glared at Ryuichi, and opened his mouth with so much intensity, saliva came flying out of his mouth.
“You have no right to visit my son’s grave! You have that woman’s blood flowing in your veins!”
“……….”
His manner of speech was still as abusive and full of hatred as always. Ryuichi was tempted to tell him to expand his vocabulary a bit, but he didn’t say anything back because he knew that if he said anything out of turn, he would make things even more annoying. However, his grandfather seemed to be incensed that Ryuichi was looking at him with a disgusted look, so it seemed that no matter what he did, he was doomed to fan his anger.
“Let’s go, Shizuna.”
“…Yes.”
Holding Shizuna’s hand, Ryuichi started to walk away. However, his feet stopped dead in their tracks at the words of his grandfather.
“The women who gather around you are just like you too! They are filthy, nauseating, and disgusting—”
“Shut up.”
“—gh?!”
His voice was so low that even Ryuichi himself couldn’t believe it. He didn’t care what they said about him, but he couldn’t stand it when they said whatever they wanted about Shizuna. Last time, when Chisa had taken the reins, he was stunned by the suddenness of the situation, so he just stood by and left it to her, but now it was different.
“I don’t care what you say about me, but I won’t forgive anything you say against Shizuna.”
“What are you…”
“This girl means a lot to me. She’s supported me, she’s taught me warmth…and she’s an irreplaceable girl.”
“Ryuichi-kun…”
His words would not stop, and his feelings for Shizuna spilled out. Overwhelmed by Ryuichi’s frenzy, his grandfather could not say anything, only being able to stare at him in amazement. He found it ludicrous, seeing as his grandfather instantly lost his words the moment he talked back to him like this to his face, and he wondered what his grandfather could’ve been hard at thought about.
“…Guh.”
“Shizuna?”
Shizuna stepped out in front of Ryuichi, but looked down as if she was holding something back. As she did, she took small, deep breaths and clenched her fists powerfully. Ryuichi continued.
“…Well.”
“?”
“You guys did keep me alive. And you’ve been sending me money, so…thanks for that.”
And with that, Ryuichi finally walked away with Shizuna. They exchanged not a single word as they walked by Ryuichi’s grandfather and passed by his grandmother.
“…Man, I never would’ve thought we’d run into them there.”
“Yup. I was surprised, too.”
It was like an irregularity that they’d met. He had had no intention of letting Shizuna meet them at all, and he was sure he must’ve made her uncomfortable, but she was in fact smiling.
“Fufu, there were so many things I wanted to say, but you looked pretty satisfied, so I just left it at that.”
“Really? I don’t think I said that much, though.”
“I just had a feeling. A hunch.”
“I see…”
As he walked with Shizuna in his arms, he turned around again, but his grandmother and grandfather were still standing in front of the grave and hadn’t moved at all. He wondered what words they were saying to the graves, but he didn’t look back at them anymore after that.
“Say, Ryuichi-kun.”
“Yeah?”
“You said that I mean a lot to you…and that I’m an irreplaceable girl. ♪”
“…That I did. I wasn’t lying, y’know?”
“I’m so happy! Ahh~, I think I’m going to have a good night’s sleep today!”
Regardless of this development, it was actually already decided that she would be having a good night tonight,though…
But, seeing her smiling and laughing was such a refreshing feeling that he didn’t bother to worry about the small details.
“…I’m really glad to have you by my side, Shizuna.”
“That again? But I’ll say this as many times as you want—I’ll always be with you. ♪”
Ryuichi nodded without hesitation. Thus, the curtains closed on their grave visit and their encounter with Ryuichi’s grandparents. It was by no means a small encounter for Ryuichi or Shizuna, but they came out feeling somewhat satisfied.
“Well then, since we’re already here, let’s take a look around, shall we?”
“Yes. This is where our date begins.”
Smiling as if nothing had happened earlier, they headed out into the city. They enjoyed their date, cuddling up to each other as if they were a couple who’d been together for years.