Tokyo Soft Rice King.

It was even recorded!

Those despicable bodyguards in black, were you all just hiding on the sidelines watching the show?

"Your words really struck me... Honestly, if I were in that situation and saw you reach out your hand to me, I would definitely fall for you too. You're like a savior, so dazzling."

"Please...please stop talking, I'm getting goosebumps..."

Kuroba Akira hugged himself, looking like he couldn't take it anymore.

"Izumi no Miyako and Hiro said with a smile."

"Hehe, anyway, the first thing I wanted to tell you today was to tell you that you should bring Ziyin home when you have time. I think you should also hope to see the mother and daughter reconcile."

Kuroba Akira nodded in agreement.

"Yes, I understand. I will pass it on to Ziyin. It will definitely be a surprise for her."

As a result, the opportunity for reconciliation between mother and daughter was achieved when the daughter got a boyfriend.

This immediately resolved Ziyin's family conflicts.

"Then, after Fumiko found out I was coming to see you, she asked me to give you a message."

"Auntie? What are you saying?"

"Hmm...she asked me to tell you, 'Do you think I didn't notice that kid's acting talent?'"

"……what?"

Hey?

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

Is this rhetorical question meant to be sarcastic or self-deprecating?

Is this what you mean by "I even went so far as to divorce my wife to prevent Ziyin from entering the entertainment industry, but you still ruined it"?

Kazuhiro Murasaki, who helped convey the message, also thought of the same meaning. Especially since he heard Fumiko say it to him in a sarcastic tone, he understood the meaning even more.

“I think that Fumiko has always been very ‘clear-headed’ when it comes to things related to Shion.”

"..."

"This is actually another reason why I'm willing to believe Fumiko: she never thought of using her daughter to make money, especially since she knew her daughter had acting talent. Even when life was at its most difficult, she never sent her daughter into the entertainment industry..."

"So, what do you think is the reason for this?"

"I previously thought that Fumiko was worried that letting Shion enter the entertainment industry would expose her to unspoken rules, so she didn't let her become an entertainer to protect her. But now, judging from what she's trying to tell you, there might be other reasons..."

Kuroba Akira suddenly felt like he had opened 'Pandora's box'.

"...Did your aunt say anything else?"

“Yes, she told me to tell you, ‘You’d better let Ziyin love you forever... Otherwise, she will be consumed by her own talent and will break down one day.’”

That was a warning from the mother who had raised her daughter from a young age.

Kuroba Akira remembered the ability that he had only truly unraveled today.

Today, the level of the characters on the right hand has taken on a completely new meaning.

What is the difference between A and S?

Is S necessarily better than A?

It's hard to tell, is it?

Akira Kuroba still hasn't figured out the difference.

I have never seen S-level products truly realize their potential.

It's actually caused by a misunderstanding.

After learning that Shion's mother was trying every means to prevent her daughter from becoming an entertainer...

Kuroba Akira suddenly realized that he was actually a link in 'Shion's fate'.

'Top' also means 'extreme'.

Being able to be controlled, and then turning around and devouring people...

This is probably the difference between A and S.

If you consider that talent, then it is unparalleled genius.

But if you consider it karma, then it is something you cannot escape...

curse.

Chapter 274 The Shameless Son-in-Law and the Clever Father-in-Law

Kuroba Akira leaned forward slightly, his brows furrowed into a deep frown, his eyes fixed on the bar counter, a look of self-reproach in them.

He has always been able to confidently guide Ziyin and arrange various specific matters for her because he believes that cooperating with Ziyin is a win-win situation.

He can help Ziyin acquire enough capital to be independent, and he himself can also profit from it.

Now that things have progressed to this point, and it's clear that Ziyin has fallen in love with him, what Ziyin wants is specifically aimed at Kuroba Akira. However, Kuroba Akira cannot belong to her alone, and this is the first point of contention.

Then, now that he knows that Shion's right hand talent contains powerful karma and the 'risk' of being devoured by that talent, Kuroba Akira has gone from being the one who saved her to the one who pushed her into the fire pit. This is the second debt he owes.

There was no way to fulfill Ziyin's wish, and she was forced into the treacherous world of entertainment... Things had progressed to this point and there was no way to turn back.

Even if you were to tell Ziyin now to 'give up becoming an entertainer,' she probably wouldn't agree, because for Ziyin, this is her greatest asset in competing with Anri Hitomi.

If Kuroba Akira were to force Shion to give up halfway, she might actually 'break down prematurely'.

He lost his life goals, lost the drive to realize his dreams, and also lost the right to compete with other women.

She transforms back into that empty girl, sitting alone with her knees drawn up in the abandoned divine setting, and this time even her heart's vessel is about to be damaged.

This is a classic case of spilled water that cannot be recovered...

The only thing he can offer Ziyin now is physical comfort.

Give her the purest and most intense joy, and temporarily forget all other desires... Then continue walking on this 'single-plank bridge' with no turning back, trying to maintain your balance and not let yourself 'fall'.

After hugging both the class monitor and Shion, Kuroba Akira was somewhat aware of his transformation into a scumbag.

But he never imagined that he would be such a 'scumbag'.

The surrounding air seemed to become heavy and oppressive, and Kuroba Akira's breathing became rapid and heavy, his lips trembling involuntarily as he spoke.

Did I do something...bad to Shion?

Kazuhiro Murasaki could understand his feelings. He didn't think it was a sign of weakness on Akira Kuroba's part, because what he feared most was not failure, but the fear of 'hurting someone important'.

The more sincere you are, the more afraid you become; it's a fear that you can never shake off once you've fallen in love.

"Kuroba-kun, don't get caught up in self-blame. Before the final outcome is determined, no one can judge whether things are good or bad, especially you who are involved... and Shion."

"In my personal experience, if you are just 'regretful,' then that is the most superfluous emotion, which will only lead you into endless self-torture. So what you need to do is to move from 'regret' to 'letting go.'"

“Indeed…you’re right. At least Ziyin hasn’t run into any problems yet. What I should do is ‘prevent problems before they occur,’ not complain about my past choices.”

"Yes, and Fumiko has already given you the 'solution' she came up with, hasn't she?"

"Yes."

I want Ziyin to always love you... otherwise Ziyin will break down.

In fact, Akira Kuroba didn't quite understand the connection between the preceding and following parts of this advice.

Literally, it means the mother-in-law is warning her future son-in-law that he must never betray Ziyin and must not let her fall into extremes.

However, the order of importance here is a bit strange. It says "Let Shion love you" instead of "You should love Shion".

To make Shion love you... If there are no conditions, any means are acceptable.

Lying, seduction, deception, hypnosis... any despicable method will do, as long as Shion always maintains her love for her, Aunt Fumiko seems to be emphasizing this point.

Of course, the most correct way is to give your true heart to win Ziyin's true love.

But what Ziyin wants is definitely not the 'true love that every woman has'.

Saying something as suicidal as "You are all my wings" so casually could end up making Shion completely disappointed in him, followed by losing Shion's love for him. If this leads to Shion herself breaking down, then he's really heading straight for the worst bad ending.

However, the advice that Aunt Fumiko...my mother-in-law gave to Akira Kuroba was not the only solution.

Kuroba Akira has discovered today that it is possible to transfer the karma of his right hand if certain conditions are met.

If S-rank talent is truly a curse rather than a blessing, then Kuroba Akira should find a scapegoat to take the blame for Shion.

Although this also involves sacrificing someone's life, Akira Kuroba is willing to commit this sin for Shion.

Because he is responsible for Shion Murasaki's life.

Seeing that Kuroba Akira's expression quickly recovered from his frustration and that he had regained his composure and begun to think of a solution, Murasaki no Miyabi once again looked at this young man with new respect.

Although he already knew that Kuroba Akira was a promising young man, after getting to know him personally, he realized Kuroba Akira's true value.

Unlike those brilliant young people who flaunt their talents, he is quite reserved. He may not be the most dazzling, but he is the most suitable.

Kazuhiro Murasaki felt that if he hadn't married Fumiko and gained a stepdaughter, but instead already had a biological daughter, he would most likely have hoped that Akira Kuroba would marry his daughter.

A father-in-law likes his son-in-law more and more the more he looks at him.

But one thing is one thing, and as a father, he still has to stand on his daughter's side.

“Kuroba-kun, I am not someone who is bound by formalities. Although I chose to marry Fumiko and give her a complete family, I will not ask you and Shion to be like me and Fumiko.”

"You...are quite open-minded."

Kuroba Akira heard the hidden meaning in Murasakimiya Kazuhiro's words, which was actually saying "It's up to you whether you get married or not", and the Murasakimiya family will not interfere with their daughter's freedom of love and marriage.

How you live your lives is your own business as young people.

A marriage certificate is just a piece of paper; it's not proof that you love each other.

"Of course, as Ziyin's father, I really hope you can give me a 'guarantee', but even if you agree, I won't care what you say, but I will see what you do afterwards. So prove with your actions that you can give Ziyin happiness."

"I will."

My father-in-law has only one condition: as long as you can make Ziyin happy.

The happiness here cannot be what Kuroba Akira feels; it must be what Shion feels.