Chapter 37 – A Promise Etched in Twilight
The dojo was dim, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. The silence that lingered within gave the space an oddly intimate stillness.
There, standing face to face, were Yukinoshita Akira and Busujima Saeko. A boy and a girl—alone, with nothing but quiet air between them.
Saeko's cheeks were tinged with red, her expression shy and delicate—like the soft bloom of a cherry blossom just beginning to open.
"Umm… Akira-kun, I…" she began, her voice barely a whisper.
She wanted to ask how he truly felt about her, to voice the growing emotions inside her heart. But her pride as a woman—and the weight of her own shyness—held her back.
Akira met her eyes with a calm, unwavering gaze. "Saeko, I'm a greedy man. You know that, right?"
"Sa… Saeko…" she murmured in a daze, not even hearing the rest of what he said.
Her thoughts were consumed by how he had just called her name.
In Japanese culture, to call someone by their first name without any honorific was a gesture of closeness—something reserved only for family, lovers, or dearest friends.
For a girl like Saeko—whose heart had already begun to sway—that single word was like an arrow piercing straight into her chest.
"I really am greedy," Akira continued. "I can't promise to have only one woman by my side. Can you accept that?"
His tone was gentle but honest.
He spoke the truth, not to tease, but to avoid any future misunderstandings. After all, one careless misstep in a relationship could lead to irreversible disaster—like the infamous tragedy from that one visual novel every fan knew by heart.
"So… Akira-kun plans to build a harem openly?" Saeko asked, voice low but steady.
"To be honest, I don't think there's a single man alive who wouldn't want that. The difference is… not every man has the strength or value to make it a reality. Unfortunately," he smiled faintly, "I'm one of the few who does."
"I see… I understand now," Saeko whispered. "Then… is there a place for me in your heart, Akira-kun?"
"Of course there is," he replied. "I am greedy. I won't lie and say I'll always think of only one name."
"Then… I'll be by your side, Akira-kun."
Raised in a traditional Japanese household, Saeko wasn't troubled by the idea of a man with multiple women—so long as it was grounded in genuine strength and worth.
To her, a man who could make many women fall for him was a man worth chasing.
Her father had only married once—her mother—but even he had attracted attention from other women. And yet, because his heart belonged solely to his wife, he had never remarried.
"…Still," Akira said softly, "I think it's too soon to talk about this seriously."
"Even so… I don't think it'll take me long to fall for you," Saeko replied with a quiet smile.
In this country, strength was everything. Especially for women, having a strong man by their side was the surest form of security—and the truest form of love.
"Who knows," Akira murmured with a faint chuckle.
"Believe me… it'll happen quickly."
They exchanged gentle smiles. There were no grand declarations or formal vows, but something invisible had quietly connected them—an unspoken thread that now tied their fates together.
Of course, Akira hadn't begun this relationship solely because of emotion.
He saw immense potential in Saeko.
As a swordswoman, her talent was extraordinary. One day, she would surely surpass even her father.
And if Akira managed to obtain a Breathing Technique, he planned to teach it to others—just as Yoriichi Tsugikuni had once done.
Though Sun Breathing could only be used by himself, there was still hope of creating derivative forms—new techniques adapted to the physical traits of others.
If that goal became reality, Saeko would be the ideal partner—both in battle and beyond.
Aside from Saeko, Akira had two other candidates in mind: Yukinoshita Haruno and Hiratsuka Shizuka.
He had initially considered Yukinoshita Yukino as well, but after observing her condition, he realized she wasn't suited for intense physical training or combat.
As powerful as Breathing Techniques were, they relied heavily on the user's physical endurance.
And so, when Busujima Munemasa later heard about Akira's words from his daughter, he was overjoyed. Without hesitation, he officially welcomed Akira as his future son-in-law.
That evening, the Busujima family hosted a grand dinner.
Though only three people sat at the table—Akira, Saeko, and Munemasa—the dishes and atmosphere rivaled that of a noble household feast.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the food and drink served that night were luxuries that the average person could never afford, no matter how many years they worked.
This was the reality of Japan's class system.
Those at the top lived in a completely different world—one where so-called luxuries were simply part of daily life.
It was an unfair truth, but a truth nonetheless—especially in a country dominated by corporate dynasties and ancient noble families.
"Akira," Munemasa said warmly, "it's late. Why don't you stay the night?"
Saeko, who had been pouring her father's sake, froze mid-motion. Her body didn't move much, but her eyes quietly glanced toward Akira—hope flickering within them.
"Thank you for the offer," Akira replied politely. "But I have some matters I still need to handle. Maybe next time."
"No problem at all. Another time, then," Munemasa smiled. "Besides, you and Saeko attend the same school. You'll see each other plenty. Oh—would you like to transfer into her class? That way you could train together every day."
"No need. Things are fine the way they are. I'd rather not stand out too much at school."
Munemasa nodded in understanding. His prior investigations had revealed that Akira was a quiet type—known by name at Sobu High, but rarely seen mingling with others.
Except for the duel with Saeko, his name had barely made waves.
Incidentally, Saeko and Yukinoshita Yukino happened to be classmates—both enrolled in Class 2-J, the international section.
As the evening wore on, it was finally time for Akira to leave.
Of course, he wouldn't be walking.
The Busujima family had already arranged a car and driver to escort him home.
"Akira," Munemasa said, standing beside the front gate, "know this—the doors of the Busujima household will always be open to you."
"I appreciate that. I'll definitely come visit again when I get the chance."
"Take care out there."
"See you."
With quiet dignity, Munemasa personally saw him off.
"Saeko, I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow…"
After saying their goodbyes, the car drove off, slowly disappearing into the night.
Father and daughter stood in silence, watching until the vehicle vanished beyond the gates.
Inside the car, Akira leaned back in his seat, eyes narrowed.
"The next step," he muttered to himself, "is to raise the inheritance level as quickly as possible… and acquire a Breathing Technique."
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Read ahead and support the story on Patreon:
🔗 patreon.com/FaaanzKun
✅ 90+ chapters ahead of WebNovel
✅ 2 new chapters every day (Monday–Saturday), exclusive on Patreon
✅ Be among the first readers to experience Arc 4 and the new season before anyone else!
📖 The first chapter of Arc 4 is now live!
You can read it right now on Patreon~
🌙 Note: Sunday is a rest day, so there will be no updates tomorrow. Regular uploads resume as usual on Monday.
Thank you all so much for your amazing support 💖
Your encouragement keeps this story alive and growing stronger every single day! 🌟
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —