Tokyo Soft Rice King.

It's not unreasonable to say that he only used the mother and daughter as a meal replacement to make up for his own regrets.

"You might think I'm a bit cold, but in reality, very few people care about people outside of their family and friends. After all, everyone lives in their own world and thinks from their own perspective."

Upon hearing this, Kuroba Akira understood that Murasaki Kazuhiro and he were the same kind of people.

It is precisely because they are clearly aware of the egocentric nature of human beings that they choose the option that allows their thoughts to be fulfilled.

Regardless of his motives, he did take action, accepted responsibility, and showed his goodwill.

With such 'concrete actions', does the origin of this feeling really matter that much?

Perhaps this cannot be called 'true love', but it is definitely 'sincere' without a doubt.

Just as a reborn person who returns to the past will definitely try to make up for past regrets, Kazuhiro Murasaki also made a choice based on his own experience, which allowed him to get out of the shadows of the past.

Therefore, Kuroba Akira neither criticized Mr. Murasaki nor flattered him, but spoke as if agreeing with a 'fellow traveler'.

“I admire your decision. After all, not everyone can take this step. Most people only think about it most of the time. When it comes to actually taking action, they will back down for fear of losing their interests.”

With his understanding restored, Kazuhiro Murasaki let out a deep breath, his previously tense shoulders slumped slightly, and a smile of relief and relaxation appeared on his face.

"Yes... Actually, I hesitated for quite a while, but it wasn't that I was afraid Fumiko would run off with my money, but rather that I was afraid the tragedy she suffered was 'fake'... In fact, I was initially skeptical about what Fumiko had gone through."

"Oh? Could you explain your reasons for your doubts?"

"Of course, I originally planned to tell you about my journey, and it also relates to what I wanted to tell you when I came to see you, Kuroba-kun."

So my father-in-law began to tell me the whole story of how he and my mother-in-law met and how he was "captured" by her.

"The most important reason is that Fumiko is very beautiful. She has a beautiful face that would make most men's hearts flutter. I think you can tell from Shion's appearance as well. Her mother is not much different either. She is a top beauty who can be a top courtesan in Ginza."

Indeed, from a genetic point of view, Ziyin is so beautiful that her mother could not possibly be ugly.

For women, being good-looking is their greatest asset, and they can't possibly live a miserable life.

"Moreover, Fumiko is especially good at pleasing men. The kind of natural goodwill she exudes makes men mistakenly believe that this lady is interested in them, and they are easily captured by her... In fact, before I married Fumiko, many men came to this bar just to pursue Fumiko."

"This……"

She sounds like the kind of woman who's good at seducing men, but if Ziyin's mother really is that kind of promiscuous woman, how could she have experienced two failed marriages in a row?

A master of romance, but a complete failure in marriage?

Or is it that Ziyin's mother is attracted to useless, good-for-nothing men?

No, if she really had such a strange fetish, she wouldn't have married her wealthy and powerful Uncle Murasaki no Miyako.

"Fumiko herself didn't realize that she would unintentionally try to please men, because she grew up watching her mother, who always tried to please men."

"Your aunt's mother?"

That is, Ziyin's maternal grandmother.

"That's right. Fumiko's mother used to be a hostess at a high-end nightclub in Ginza. Later, she was kept by a tycoon and gave birth to Fumiko... However, as you can probably guess, the child of a mistress can never be acknowledged."

"..."

Kuroba Akira nodded silently.

Irresponsible men deserve to die.

"In the end, Fumiko's mother was beaten by the other party's wife because her status as a mistress was discovered. She ended up disgraced and died in depression. As a result, she died very early, just like my mother."

"They're all unfortunate people..."

"So I think Fumiko probably subconsciously felt that 'if she didn't please men, she would be abandoned by them,' which is why she developed this people-pleasing personality."

"I see……"

"Later, Fumiko followed in her mother's footsteps and became a hostess. However, she learned from her mother's mistakes and did not become a mistress to any so-called big shot. Instead, she married an ordinary office worker and retired from the business. She was content with a modest life. That was probably what she was thinking at the time."

However, things didn't go as planned. Ziyin's mother was betrayed by a man, and this was the second time.

Fortunately, she eventually met Mr. Murasaki no Miyako, otherwise it would have been truly tragic.

Is this considered a safety net in life?

But life shouldn't have any guarantees... and whether you're born lucky or unlucky is predetermined.

"As for what happened to Fumiko later, I won't say more. If she's willing to tell you, she'll meet with you in person and tell you."

"Okay... In short, you only dispelled your doubts about her after learning about your aunt's experiences."

"Yes, the most important thing is that after I pointed out that Fumiko was 'unconsciously trying to please men,' she realized her problem and then kept a certain distance from me... And when I explained to her why I cared about her and proposed to her, she only agreed because of Shion."

"This...sounds like a transaction...Ah, sorry, I didn't mean to question the feelings between you two..."

Hearing Kuroba Akira's evaluation, Murasaki no Miyabi Kazuhiro showed no dissatisfaction whatsoever. He put down his glass, and the corners of his mouth gradually turned up, revealing a satisfied smile.

"It's alright, don't worry about the wording, Kuroba-kun. Besides, your assessment is quite accurate. In fact, this is a transaction, but I'm very satisfied with this form because this clear exchange of benefits is much more reliable than vows of eternal love, isn't it?"

Kazuhiro Murasaki was originally a businessman, and exchanging benefits was his most common form of social interaction.

"I agree, it is indeed much more reliable."

Looking back, Akira Kuroba realized that he was also the one who most enjoyed proposing deals.

I won't feel like I've been taken advantage of, nor will I feel guilty, so I feel quite comfortable.

That being said, Kuroba Akira now feels he owes the class president a lot, and also feels quite indebted to Shion, and to the Takanashi family whom he treats like his own children...

The concept of "debts of gratitude" is a murky matter; it's impossible to calculate it clearly no matter how you look at it.

"In short, Fumiko has become much more normal now. She has abandoned the way of thinking that prioritizes men and instead starts to think about problems from her own feelings."

"This is really good news."

In other words, Ziyin's mother has graduated from being obsessed with romance.

You actually managed to cure my love-struck brain... Father-in-law! You're amazing!

“She is now my good wife, we treat each other with respect, and she plans to have a child for me. Originally, our family could have lived happily ever after, but because of me, Fumiko and Shion... the relationship between them has cracked, and the scene I least wanted to see has happened.”

Why is that?

Is it true that the mother is afraid her daughter will steal her man?

That's why he deliberately drove Ziyin away?

But why didn't Aunt Fumiko drive Shion away before?

Is it because things have come to this point that I've truly fallen in love with my father-in-law?

Or perhaps, watching Ziyin grow up while she herself grows old and loses her beauty, she begins to fear that her daughter will threaten her position?

However, Mr. Kazuhiro stated from the beginning that his purpose was not because of Fumiko's beauty... Could it be that he still doesn't trust her?

What Kuroba Akira couldn't understand was why Shion's mother was only acting up now.

"Just as I suspect that Fumiko's misfortune is an act, Fumiko probably also suspects my motives. So she may be worried that I actually chose to marry Shion because I was interested in the younger Shion. After all, her previous husband chose to marry Fumiko because he was attracted to Shion's youth and beauty. It is understandable that she would worry about this."

"This is just too amazing!"

"Trust is built up little by little, so I can understand Fumiko's overreaction. In order to 'prove my innocence,' I had no choice but to let Shion leave the Murasomiya family temporarily... Originally, I planned to send Shion to an old friend's house first, and then pick her up after the mother and daughter had calmed down, but..."

Murasaki Kazuhiro gave Kuroba Akira a meaningful look, and Kuroba Akira also raised his glass to drink his beverage to cover up his embarrassment.

As a result, his daughter was kidnapped by the intruder, Kuroba Akira.

"But actually, Fumiko is quite calm. She's just pretending to be 'crazy' in front of Shion. Ah, please keep this a secret for me, Kuroba-kun..."

With a wry smile, Kazuhiro Murasaki raised his index finger in front of his mouth, hoping that Akira Kuroba would keep it a secret. Akira Kuroba quickly nodded and made a zipping gesture over his mouth to indicate that he would not say anything.

Good grief, so Ziyin's mother was faking her madness to drive Ziyin away.

This dramatic talent is definitely hereditary!

"Fumiko told me that if I wanted to take Shion home, there was one condition: I had to wait until Shion found a man she liked before I could take her home."

"what?"

It sounds like a marriage-forcing statement like, "Next time you come home, you have to bring a man back, or don't come back at all!"

"Actually, the reason Fumiko suddenly had a seizure was precisely because I changed her way of thinking. The 'awakened Fumiko' discovered that her daughter was practically 'cut from the same mold' as her. This doesn't refer to appearance, but rather 'personality'..."

At this point, Kazuhiro Murasaki gave Akira Kuroba a meaningful look again and continued.

"I think you, Kuroba-kun, are the one who understands the specific meaning of this sentence the most right now... because Shion is the kind of perfect woman who will satisfy all your needs. She has a people-pleasing personality, just like her mother."

"Uh……!"

You are right!

Kuroba Akira's mind drifted back to all his interactions with Shion so far.

It seems that in most cases, Kuroba Akira serves Shion, but in reality, Shion changes into his favorite clothes first in order to please Kuroba Akira, giving him a reason to 'take action'.

Actually, Shion was just setting a trap! She just enjoyed it when Kuroba Akira touched her inappropriately!

A woman who is naturally good at being loved by men... that's what a bewitching woman is.

“Even if I only treat Ziyin as my daughter, Ziyin will try to please me because I am her father. In this process, if either of us has any bad intentions, it will cause our family, which we have worked so hard to come together, to fall apart. That’s why Fumiko temporarily drove Ziyin away before such a thing happened.”

In other words, Ziyin's mother actually realized that her daughter was love-struck before Ziyin's love-struck behavior took hold, which is why she kicked her daughter out of the house before things got worse.

In essence, it prevented a foreseeable family breakdown.

Is this what they mean by "no one knows a daughter better than her mother"?

"Just as I don't want to repeat the same mistakes, Fumiko doesn't want to repeat them either... And as long as Shion has a man she likes, the Murasomiya family will be safe, that's probably what Fumiko thinks."

“It makes sense, doesn’t it? I think your worries aren’t unfounded. Ziyin is indeed a bit… well, ‘straightforward’.”

To put it bluntly, she's a bit of a yandere.

She'll follow a man she fancy to to the death.

The love is intense, and the possessiveness is exceptionally strong.

“I didn’t expect that Shion would find a man she liked so soon, but I didn’t expect that she would meet you as soon as she left home… Kuroba-kun.”

"Ah ha ha……"

Kuroba Akira could only manage a forced laugh.

Seeing his embarrassed expression, Murasaki no Miyabi continued to tease and joke with him.

"Speaking of which, my men recorded the scene...it was truly a very cinematic moment."