The atmosphere in the Yukinoshita family's living room was so heavy it felt almost liquid.
On the massive television screen, a video was playing on loop—the full sequence of events that had unfolded at the construction site.
The twisted vengeful spirits. The fallen bodyguards. And the boy who had appeared out of nowhere, seizing one of those spirits by the throat with a single hand.
Mrs. Yukinoshita sat on the sofa, her eyes locked on the screen. Her face was filled with disbelief.
"Are you certain this isn't special effects, or some kind of edited footage?"
Her voice was slightly hoarse, carrying a faint tremor even she had not noticed.
As the head of the Yukinoshita family, she had weathered countless storms. She had always believed her composure was strong enough to handle anything.
But what she was seeing now had gone far beyond her understanding of the world.
What were those vengeful spirits floating in midair?
What had happened to the bodyguards who had been killed so easily?
And that boy—how could an orphan her daughter had supported for two years possess power like that?
Haruno sat across from her mother. She lifted her teacup, took a delicate sip, and wore a faint smile.
"Mother, do you think I would joke about something like this?"
She set the cup down, looked at her mother, and her gaze was calm and serious.
"The dead family bodyguards are the best evidence. Their bodies are still in the hospital morgue, and the medical examiner is performing the autopsies now. You can go see them yourself and judge whether those wounds could have been caused by ordinary human strength."
Mrs. Yukinoshita fell silent.
Of course she knew her daughter would not lie to her.
But knowing that was one thing. Accepting it was another.
The existence of something so abnormal, something that overturned her entire worldview, required time to process.
"You and the person in this video…"
Mrs. Yukinoshita paused, carefully choosing her words.
"What is your relationship with him now?"
When Haruno heard that, the smile on her face grew even brighter.
"Mother, aren't you already well aware?"
Her voice was soft, but there was a meaningful note beneath it.
Mrs. Yukinoshita could not help falling silent again.
Because she understood all too well.
Long ago, she had warned Haruno not to develop any inappropriate feelings for an orphan.
Supporting him was not a problem.
The Yukinoshita family was not lacking the few hundred thousand yen a month.
But the family would never allow Haruno, its future heir, to develop feelings she should not have for an orphan of humble background.
Simply put, Genichi was not worthy of Haruno.
That was the naked reality, and as the head of the family, it was a principle Mrs. Yukinoshita had been forced to uphold.
"Mother, do you still remember what you said back then?"
Haruno's voice remained gentle, but her eyes looked straight at her mother.
"You said that child wasn't worthy of me. You said the heir of the Yukinoshita family should marry a son from a family of equal standing. You said momentary pity and sympathy couldn't be used as excuses for love."
Mrs. Yukinoshita opened her mouth, wanting to say something, only to discover that no words came out.
Because she had indeed said all of that.
"And now?"
Haruno's smile became even more radiant, but within that smile was a hint of smugness even she herself had not noticed.
"Mother, do you think he is worthy of me now?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita was silent.
She looked at the boy on the screen. She watched him seize the vengeful spirit by the throat with ease, standing there with absolute composure, as if everything was already under his control.
An existence like that could no longer be measured by ordinary standards.
What kind of power was that?
What kind of being was he?
If someone like him was willing to stand with the Yukinoshita family—
Mrs. Yukinoshita's thoughts began to move.
She was, after all, a businesswoman and the head of a family.
After the shock faded, the first thing she considered would always be benefit.
"Since he saved you, invite him to our home. We should thank him properly."
At last, she spoke. Her voice had already regained its usual calm authority.
When Haruno heard that, the smile on her face grew brighter still.
"Of course, Mother."
Her voice was sweet, carrying a trace of obedient girlishness.
But as Mrs. Yukinoshita looked at that smiling face, she felt for the first time that her daughter had gone a little too far.
Because she could sense what was hidden behind that smile.
It was the posture of a victor.
It was a silent taunt—See? You said he wasn't worthy of me back then. What about now?
A direct, shameless taunt.
Mrs. Yukinoshita took a deep breath and forced down the displeasure in her heart.
She knew that, in this matter, she had indeed misjudged him.
The orphan she had once deemed unworthy of her daughter had now become an existence even she had to look up to.
But as a mother, and as the head of the family, she had to remain calm.
"Haruno."
"Mm?"
"Do you like him?"
That question made Haruno's smile pause slightly.
She was silent for a moment, then nodded softly.
"I do."
Her voice was very quiet, but it carried undeniable firmness.
"From the first time I met him, I felt that child was special. For the past two years, I've gone to see him every month, brought him living expenses, talked with him… I don't know if that counts as love, but I know he is different from everyone else in my heart."
Mrs. Yukinoshita looked at her, a complicated emotion flashing through her eyes.
"And what about him?"
Haruno shook her head.
"I don't know. He never expresses much, and he never comes close. He's like a hedgehog, keeping himself perfectly protected and refusing to let anyone near."
She paused, and the corner of her mouth curved into a smile.
"But now, he was willing to show me his true self. He was willing to save me, willing to tell me the truth. That should count as trust, shouldn't it?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita was silent.
She looked at the expectant smile on her daughter's face, and a complex feeling rose within her.
This daughter of hers had been sensible since childhood. She had been strong since childhood. She had never needed her mother to worry over her.
But now, for the first time, Mrs. Yukinoshita saw this kind of expression on her daughter's face—an expression filled with anticipation, unease, and a young girl's particular shyness.
She was worried.
Worried whether that boy would accept her.
Worried whether she might be rejected.
Mrs. Yukinoshita sighed.
"Haruno, what Mother said before… Mother was wrong."
Haruno froze slightly and looked at her mother.
There was a rare gentleness on Mrs. Yukinoshita's face.
"Mother misjudged him. That child is indeed not simple. If he is willing, Mother will not oppose the two of you."
Haruno's eyes brightened slightly.
"Thank you, Mother."
Mrs. Yukinoshita waved a hand.
"Don't thank me yet. Although I won't oppose it, whether it works out in the end still depends on you."
She paused, her expression becoming serious.
"Haruno, remember this. People who possess extraordinary power are different from ordinary people like us. Their world, their rules, their way of thinking—none of it is something we can fully understand. If you truly want to be with him, you must be prepared to face everything that comes with it."
Haruno nodded.
"I know, Mother."
Mrs. Yukinoshita looked at her for a moment, then stood.
"All right. It's getting late. Rest early. As for inviting that child here, you can arrange it yourself."
She turned and walked toward the stairs.
When she reached the stairway, she suddenly stopped and looked back at Haruno.
"Haruno."
"Mm?"
"No matter what choice you make, Mother will support you."
Haruno froze for a moment, then revealed a sincere smile.
"Thank you, Mother."
Mrs. Yukinoshita nodded and went upstairs.
Only Haruno remained in the living room.
She sat on the sofa, gazing at the frozen image on the screen. A gentle smile appeared on her lips.
"Genichi-kun…"
She murmured so softly it was almost inaudible.
"Mother agreed."
Outside the window, moonlight spilled down, draping the night in a layer of silver gauze.
Haruno's heart was filled with anticipation.
She looked forward to how that boy would respond to her.
And she looked forward to what kind of future might await them.
(End of Chapter)
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