19 Chapter 4 - Springtime (3)

'Let's save this and digitize it later!' was my abrupt decision after seeing the picturesque sight in front of me.

After that, Kaori led me to meet her father, who was the broad chairman of this school.

And soon, we arrived in front of the door written as the Chairman's Office.

Kaori knocked on the door. Then, I heard a calm and cultured man's voice from the inside.

"Come in."

""Excuse me.""

Kaori and I said that in unison. Then, we entered the room with me following behind Kaori.

Inside, there was a leather sofa, a light-brown table, a workbench, which everyone could see as good quality, and then a handsome and dandy middle-aged man sitting in the back of the desk. He and Kaori looked alike, somehow.

When my eyes fell on him, I couldn't help but get nervous. After all, he is my future father-in-law!

'This is my first time meeting the father of the girl I like!'

I screamed that inwardly, but my face remained calm as if nothing could crack my stoicism.

The man looked surprised for a moment when he saw me as I entered the room. However, he immediately greeted me with a gentle look.

I was amazed by his composure. Even ordinary men would get bewitched by my charm, after all.

"I'm glad that you came. I'm Tsukasa Houjou, the chairman of Ousei Academy. Tenjou Yuuya-kun… I've heard about you from my daughter, Kaori. Thank you for saving my precious daughter."

After saying that, Tsukasa bowed his head, and I quickly told him to raise his head.

"Please raise your head, sir! You need not to lower your head! That was not a big deal, really!"

"No," replied Tsukasa, still bowing to me, "No matter what you think, you had certainly taken action at the time. That's something to be proud of."

"Uh, well, I only did what I believed to be the right thing to do. And my body moved on its own at the time," I replied, lying through my teeth, though I didn't need to pretend to be bashful since I was really embarrassed at the time.

'The first time I met my in-laws and I lied to him! What a scoundrel I am!'

I thought that with mixed, conflicted feelings. However, my face remained awkward and bashful.

Then, I said to… ahem, father-in-law, "I understand. I accept your gratitude."

Tsukasa raised his head once I accepted his over the top show of gratitude. And then, I asked him something that was bothering me.

"Come to think of it, why was Kaori-san alone at that time? Doesn't she have an escort like the ones with her today?"

Of course, I could get the answers from Akashic Records, but I hadn't done it because I was not always cheating in everything. After all, life wouldn't be fun if I knew everything.

Actually, I have some assumptions about this matter. However, it was better to listen to Tsukasa's words directly.

By the way, Tsukasa didn't seem to mind that I was calling his daughter with such closeness. He was really an amazing dad!

He was better than those cliché stupid, overprotective, doting fathers who would get triggered if some boys getting close to their daughters!

Putting all that aside, Tsukasa answered my question. "To be honest, I want Kaori to live a normal life, and she hasn't had an escort since she was young."

"That's what I wanted personally. I won't be able to be independent if there is always an escort with me, and I don't have to give them assignments so they don't get bored just following me, right? But because of that one case before, I need to bring her with me now."

Kaori added while looking at her bodyguard-slash-driver-slash-attendant who has been following us around.

"Well, she's still my daughter. She's important to me," continued Tsukasa.

"I see…" I nodded in understanding.

In the end, my assumption was right. Even so, I'd assumed that since this was now a reality, it would be more realistic than how it happened in the original story.

I couldn't help but wonder if exaggerated "suspension of disbelief" that was abused so much in the original story is commonplace here too.

'Since this is a world that follows cliché tropes, I should expect unrealistic things in the future, huh? Good grief.'

As I thought that, my faith in this world took a heavy hit!

After that, the topic of our conversation turned to my acceptance as a full scholarship freshman student in the next school academic year.

Thankfully, I didn't have to bother with those complicated bothersome procedures myself because Tsukasa promised that he would sort everything out for me.

Once my business with Tsukasa ended, Kaori and I exited the Chairman's Office. Her attendant followed after us as we walked side-by-side silently.

★☆★

As she walked beside Yuuya, Kaori thought about what would happen next. Once she finished taking Yuuya to meet her father and process his acceptance at Ousei Academy, she would take Yuuya back to his house.

That's how it should be.

However, Kaori didn't want to part with Yuuya so soon. She wanted to enjoy his pleasant company for a little longer.

She didn't know why she wanted to continue hanging out with Yuuya. She assumed that it was just because she was happy to have a new friend.

Because of her status, she grew up sheltered and didn't really have a close male friend. And spending time with Yuuya was a novel experience, like a breath of fresh air, that she came to quickly appreciate despite their limited encounters and interactions.

In truth, since their first encounter that day, Yuuya had been in her mind. She couldn't forget his handsome and dashing appearance when he came to help her out while others stayed away as spectators, his fierceness when he quickly dealt with the delinquents who harassed her, and his reliable presence that gave her security when he checked her condition after dealing with those delinquents.

What's more, she felt that Yuuya had become more charming since that day!

Kaori wasn't aware of a certain fact… that she'd fallen in love with Yuuya Tenjou. Hard.

It couldn't be helped, though. She had never fallen in love with a boy before, so it was new for her.

Be that as it may, as she walked up to the gate, her mind worked hard to find an excuse to prolong their time together.

She didn't think much about why she was so desperate since her mind was focusing on getting an excuse to spend time with Yuuya.

And suddenly, an idea flashed in her mind, but she wasn't sure if it could work. Even so, she decided to act on it.

Right after they got into the car, Kaori asked Yuuya a question, "Um, Yuuya-san, have you prepared school supplies for the new academic year?"

As Kaori asked Yuuya that, her heart thumped with anxiety and expectation. She didn't know why doing this made her so nervous.

"Come to think about it, I've never had a chance to prepare something like that before. All my supplies are old stuff."

Kaori heard Yuuya's mutterings, and she had to restrain her emotions because she was reminded of his miserable past she'd read from the information her father's men gathered.

She was angry at those… animals from mistreating her Yuuya!

'Huh? Since when did I become protective and possessive of Yuuya-san? I have no rights for this! After all, we just met not long ago!'

Kaori realized her inappropriate thoughts and reprimanded herself. And yet, she felt dissatisfied when remembering her current relationship with Yuuya.

It's as if she wants to be more than just a friend for Yuuya!

Before she could think it through, Yuuya's voice took her attention away from her mind.

"Well, since now I have money to do it, I'm gonna go out to buy new school supplies once I'm home, I suppose."

After hearing that, Kaori felt like she got the right excuse to spend more time with Yuuya, so she acted on it.

"How about I help you buy school supplies? We can stop by the department store! That way, you won't need to bother yourself going out after coming home!"

"Won't it be a bother for you, though?"

Yuuya asked with uncertainty, and Kaori laughed elegantly when seeing how cute her Yuuya was when he was troubled.

"It's not a problem, I assure you! In fact, I'm free today! There's nothing to do at home! I don't mind helping Yuuya-san get his school supplies!"

"Well, if it's really alright, I humbly accept your generous offer, Kaori-san."

"Then, it's decided!"

Kaori was happy that she could spend more time with her Yuuya.

In her excitement, she forgot how she started thinking of Yuuya as hers. But, it was there, festering in her subconscious mind.

After that, Kaori told her bodyguard/driver/attendant to take them to the department store.