Chapter 392: How Should a Kimono Be Taken Off?
Even at night, the hospital was still fairly crowded — with patients' relatives and medical staff moving about.
Doctors in white coats walked back and forth along the corridor.
As a private hospital under the Shinomiya family, the treatment environment here far surpasses that of ordinary medical facilities.
Just a few glances were enough for Kaguya to recognize several doctors whom she had only ever seen on television or her phone.
Her colorful kimono drew everyone's attention, but since everyone was in a hurry, no one stopped for long. Even if she was beautiful, they only gave her a quick glance.
On the contrary, a few young nurses secretly looked at Sakurai Saki, but only for a few seconds before quickly turning away and leaving the hallway.
The medical staff leading them stopped before a ward door and softly said:
"Sir, Miss, it's here."
After saying that, she immediately left, her face showing clear fear—she looked exactly like someone fleeing from a disaster.
"The Shinomiya family didn't even send anyone to guard this place."
"A business tyrant ending up like this… truly makes one sigh."
Sakurai Saki felt that this old man was rather pitiful.
Shinomiya Kaguya said nothing more.
She gently knocked on the door and opened it.
Sakurai Saki stood at the entrance; he didn't step in immediately.
Father and daughter meeting—he didn't want to intrude.
...
Under the moonlight, the man on the hospital bed leaned against the headboard, turning his face toward the moon.
Tonight's moon was exactly the same as the one on the night he first met Kaguya's mother—a full moon unforgettable in its beauty, its pure light just like hers—Shimizu.
Shimizu Nayotake.
Even her name sounded far more beautiful than Shinomiya Nayotake.
Knock knock!
The sound of knocking echoed from the ward door.
Shinomiya Gan'an didn't turn his gaze away from the moon; he continued to stare outside.
Listening to the approaching footsteps, he spoke: "Is that you, Oko?"
His voice was hoarse—just by hearing it, one could tell how frail he was now.
"Father."
It was the first time Shinomiya Kaguya had ever met him alone.
It was almost absurd—having grown up this much, she had never once had a proper conversation with her own father.
"Kaguya… hmm." Shinomiya Gan'an sighed upon saying her name.
At this moment, seeing Kaguya filled him with a mix of emotions—fear, anxiety, countless tangled thoughts pressing on his weary mind.
"Yes. It's me, Father."
Shinomiya Kaguya approached his bedside.
Even though this man had never cared for her, he was still her father.
"Looking at your face reminds me of her. Your mother looked exactly like you—like a mirror image. But… she was much gentler than you…" Shinomiya Gan'an said wistfully. "If only she hadn't been born with that heart condition…"
Shinomiya Kaguya said nothing—just stood silently in response.
"…Like a Princess who descended from the moon, stole my soul, and then vanished again. I was like the Emperor in that tale, yet she never gave me the elixir of immortality, and I could not ascend to the moon to bring her back."
"I've lived like an empty shell for nearly twenty years now."
Kaguya listened quietly to his story, her gaze drifting to the round moon outside the window.
"Sometimes I think… if she hadn't given birth to you back then, maybe she could have escaped her doomed fate."
"If you are my child… no, you are my child—my daughter." Shinomiya Gan'an muttered, then shook his head, his hoarse voice contradicting his own words.
Shinomiya Kaguya had long known her mother's true identity through rumors.
She also understood why her father had always been so distant since she was young.
Shinomiya Gan'an feared that Kaguya might not truly be his daughter. He had once investigated it—but never dared to see it through to the end.
"You're still young. I think after I die, letting you inherit the cosmetics company under my name would be fine. It's something the younger generation enjoys—leaving it to you to manage wouldn't be bad. I've already written my will…"
He still couldn't bring himself to face Kaguya directly.
He only quietly turned his gaze back toward the moon, as if searching for the "Hime-Kaguya" that belonged to him alone.
"I came to save you."
Shinomiya Kaguya's emotions were in complete turmoil.
"The matter between you and that brat — I know about it. But I don't need to prolong my life, nor do I need his alms."
Shinomiya Gan'an seemed already mentally prepared to die.
Otherwise, this time he would not have refused the treatment plan proposed by the hospital.
"I understand Oko's decision; perhaps I would also force you into a marriage alliance…"
"I won't let you do that." Kaguya denied.
Shinomiya Gan'an fell into silence at her words.
If Kaguya didn't want it, would he force her? The answer, of course, was no.
Because she was Nayotake's child — even if not by blood, Gan'an would still take care of her properly.
Footsteps sounded again at the door.
Sakurai Saki entered the top-floor ward, where the moonlight shone brightly.
"You're much better than the others in the Shinomiya household; at least you don't make me nauseous," he said.
"That tone of yours, brat, is as annoying as your mother's."
Shinomiya Gan'an did not look at him.
Sakurai Saki didn't care; he spoke plainly: "I will call people to keep you alive for at least twenty more years. During that time, don't let the Shinomiya family interfere with Kaguya."
"You, a Showa-era monster, intend to let the Shinomiyas be trampled by the Shijo?"
"I have no interest in gambling my life for you." Shinomiya Gan'an's hoarse voice sounded while he still stared at the moon.
It seemed he had truly resolved himself to death.
Shinomiya Kaguya pressed her lips together; counsel flickered at the edge of her mouth but she couldn't bring herself to say it.
"If you want to die I won't stop you, but think carefully first."
Sakurai Saki continued to raise the stakes: "I will make Kaguya leave the Shinomiya family after you die — that's easy for me. From then on, she can bear the name Shimizu Kaguya, or Jinguuji Kaguya, even Sakurai Kaguya."
"The daughter of Shimizu Nayotake will no longer be connected to you."
Shinomiya Gan'an remained silent.
After a long pause——
"The promise your mother made to me still isn't fulfilled. Once that's done, I will sell my life for you."
"What my mother couldn't do, I can. At the latest in two years, at the earliest in half a year." Sakurai Saki didn't know the exact terms of their agreement, but he could guess most of it.
Ask what Gan'an desired most?
To make the Shinomiya clan dominate the globe?
Or was it…
To resurrect Shimizu Nayotake?
The answer was clearly the latter.
"That fox lied — you're its adopted child, I can't believe it."
Meaning: if he's going to do it, do it now; he couldn't wait even half a year.
"Old man, believe it or not, it's up to you." Sakurai Saki was no longer in the mood to bargain.
The two sides were unequal.
If not for the expression on Kaguya's face a moment ago, Sakurai Saki would be too lazy even to promise him anything.
If he wanted the man dead, the man would die.
Conversely, if he wanted him alive, he could keep him alive.
"Father…"
Kaguya called softly.
Shinomiya Gan'an was silent for a long time, then said: "One year."
"All right."
Sakurai Saki nodded.
Saving an ordinary person wasn't difficult.
...
Outside the hospital.
Sakurai Saki looked up at the moon.
"I've thought it through pretty well." He muttered softly to himself.
After all, a game had still been arranged, but it wasn't entirely a loss.
A debt owed by his mother will be repaid; he hoped he could make his mother's bad name better.
...
In the ward.
Shinomiya Gan'an leaned against the headboard, as if reminiscing about something.
'Seems that brat has figured it out.'
Since learning about Sakurai Saki with Hayasaka Ai and Shinomiya Kaguya, he had arranged this mess — or rather a gamble — with one end being the Shinomiya family and his life, the other being the person he'd always longed for.
Otherwise, how could the Shinomiya clan have been step-by-step defeated by the Shijo family?
Although old, his arrow was still sharp.
A business monster who lived from the Showa era to now, having to adopt this lowly posture to face the young — it was somewhat stifling.
But as for the result,
Shinomiya Gan'an was very satisfied.
He only hoped Sakurai Saki wouldn't be like his mother — promising but not delivering.
...
In the car.
Shinomiya Kaguya's expression was relaxed; her whole body at ease.
"Where to next?" she asked.
"That kimono of yours is pretty nice." Sakurai Saki turned to look at her. "By the way, I still don't know how to take off such complicated clothing — maybe we can try tonight."
A few seconds later, a schoolgirl's shy voice rang out in the car:
"Pervert."
"Hey, you just called me Prince — changing your tune so fast?"
"Perverted prince!"