Uneasy daily life

Chitanda Eru said: "I know that a long time ago there was no Chitanda family. It was just a group of displaced people banding together for warmth, looking for a way to survive on this land, and creating a future together. The ancestors who were recognized by everyone were the Chitanda family. I don't think that things are the same now as before, nor do I think I am particularly rich or talented. In fact, I haven't made any plans for what to do in the future."

"I lack confidence in my success, and I don't believe the future will be as I wish."

"However, I feel that if I don't do something, I will definitely feel very resentful and regretful in the future."

"If the old man thinks I'll regret it, then please leave it to me so I won't regret it."

"I am a daughter of the Chitanda family, and I should shoulder this responsibility."

Chitanda Eru bowed her head sincerely and pleaded.

After a long silence, a complex and lingering sigh was heard.

"it is good."

……

……

"No royal power is eternal, only the king's eternal dream; there is no glory and wealth, only the unique affection of human life."

"You have obtained the special item 'Formation,' which will provide you with 10000 wealth for each subsequent square. After each turn, the wealth provided by this item will decrease by 1000. While holding this item, you cannot obtain any other cards or items. All subsequent event squares and decision squares will be related to this item."

The white figure rummaged through the pile of props and pulled out a palm-sized architectural model, handing it to Chitanda Eru.

While described as an architectural model, it is actually more closely modeled after the terrain, surrounded by mountains on all sides with undulating land. Various buildings are scattered throughout the basin, including modern cement buildings as well as various rustic wooden houses.

"Huh? Is it an attack?"

Chitanda Eru was somewhat surprised, then scratched her head and said, "But many parts are not right."

"After all, I modeled based on online images without conducting on-site research, so the result is bound to be subpar."

Bai Ying encouraged her, "Since you've made this choice, then I wish you good luck."

"Uh-huh!"

Chitanda Eru carefully placed the prop next to herself, looking quite pleased with it.

"Little sister, do you plan to return to Jinde after you finish your studies?" Yukinoshita Haruno asked with a smile.

Chitanda Eru nodded and said, "Yes, my dream is the same as the two Yukinoshita ladies, which is to inherit the family business. However, in terms of ability, I feel that I am still far from being able to do so. That's why my father and mother wanted me to go out and see the world, which is why I went to study in Chiba."

"From the perspective of this game, this item will be very useful at the beginning, but its usefulness may not be so good later."

Yukino Yukinoshita analyzed, "Each round will reduce the chips provided, and you will not be able to obtain other items and cards. The rest of the game will be tied to this item, and the whole game will revolve around this item. It will probably be very difficult to win."

"It's okay, my luck is so-so, as long as I have fun."

Chitanda Eru answered with great delight. She reached out and fiddled with the model, thinking that she would ask Uncle Bai for help to make a more detailed one.

Also, I feel like there's something strange about Yukinoshita's tone and emotions. Doesn't she also want to take over the family business? I don't quite understand.

Just as Yukino was about to chat for a bit, Houtarou Oreki rolled the dice and raised his hand, indicating, "I'm activating my identity ability to skip this event check."

Bai Ying said, "Then, Oreki-kun, you had a peaceful day, without encountering anything good or bad. That's it."

Very good, this is a very energy-efficient identity card. So far, we haven't seen Bai Ying dig any traps. The other party is indeed very dedicated to hosting and hasn't added any troublesome little dramas for herself.

Houtarou Oreki gradually calmed down. The white shadow's firepower was indeed aimed at Yukinoshita's house. Let's just get through the game like this.

Chitanda unsurprisingly chose Jinde. When she went to school in Chiba, she had mentioned many times the comparison between Jinde and other places. She even tried to make Jinde the destination for the school trip. Considering Shirakage's position as the 'uncle,' he probably prepared a supermodel identity card for Chitanda so that she could have a smooth journey.

"Event Grid: Social Card! Player, please roll the dice to determine the outcome! Successful result! Good luck!"

"Today you received a call from your father, who said he wanted to see you. Although you were busy with work, you still made time to go home and see him. Your father asked about your recent situation with concern and shared some of his work experience with you. He hoped that you would selectively listen to his advice because times and circumstances are changing, and his experience may not be accurate. You felt a little emotional and recalled how you were scolded by your mother when you were a child, and how your father would quietly comfort you when you were sad and give you a piece of candy, while also warning you never to let your mother know."

"It is often said that fatherly love is as majestic as a mountain, and motherly love is as gentle as a river, but in your family it seems to be the opposite—although the mountain of fatherly love always collapses easily, it has also given you a lot of comfort."

The white figure took out a card and handed it to Yukino Yukinoshita, saying, "You have obtained a [Old Father] card. By consuming this card, you can reset the dice roll in your duel phase once."

Yukino Yukinoshita accepted it in a good mood, and then nitpicked, "It seems that Shiro-kun is not omniscient after all. My father never gave me candy when I was a child."

"Huh?" The white figure was taken aback. "Could it be that I'm just letting you ride me like a horse to amuse you?"

Yukino Yukinoshita was startled and subconsciously glanced at her father outside the arena. Could it be that her father told Hakuei?!

Yukinoshita's father held his forehead with one hand, looking as if he couldn't bear to look at her.

Yukino Yukinoshita realized that she seemed to have inadvertently given herself away. Aren't there only a few harmonious interactions between parents and children?

She quickly averted her gaze, composed herself, and declined to comment on Bai Ying's question.

"Hmm? So something like this happened when Yukino was little?" Yukinoshita Haruno said with a smile, propping her chin up. "I thought my father was some kind of oblivious male protagonist in a light novel."

Yukino Yukinoshita jokingly defended her father, saying, "I think he should be considered gentle."

What kind of secret code among young people? Light novels?

Yukinoshita's mother, who doesn't read light novels, casually tossed the dice and said, "I didn't expect that you, at your age, would still have such a childlike heart."

Childlike innocence (×)

Shameless (√)

Under the snow, the father felt a chill in his heart. The goddess's subtle teasing and targeting were minor matters at this moment. Perhaps the goddess really hoped to use that villain's words to express to the younger goddesses that she had good intentions and that they would strive to improve themselves from then on—Wrong! Wrong!

That treacherous villain was clearly spreading slander, implying to the goddess that the problem wasn't scarcity but inequality!

The father frowned deeply, but was at a loss for what to do.

Because that traitor only pointed out the facts, the goddess in the middle simply went from not knowing to knowing.

When the goddess was born, it was his first time becoming a father.

When my little goddess was born, it was my second time becoming a father.

It is perfectly reasonable for people to experience, change, and behave differently depending on circumstances, and there should be no problem discussing these things most of the time.

It's just that we shouldn't be talking about it now, or letting the goddess know about it now.

You wicked villains, this is deliberately adding fuel to the fire!

Chapter 112 Siege

No wonder, no wonder.

Many things that I hadn't paid much attention to before, and whose reasons I didn't know, have suddenly become clear.

I had noticed Yukino's tendency to rely on others since I was a child. Whether it was her choice to accept Hayato Hayama's help or her usual behavior of being close to me, I could vaguely sense it.

The full discovery came after she returned to Japan. When faced with the question of which high school to attend, she instinctively wanted to ask her mother for help, but the answer was always the same: "I'll leave it to my mother." Soubu High School was the choice.

It turns out that when she was still young, and Yukino was still young, this kind of thing had already begun to happen. However, she was used to facing things alone because she was always thinking about how to satisfy her mother's demands.

As I grew up, the things that left the deepest impression on me from my childhood were mostly related to Yukino and her mother. The former was quite bright, while the latter was all a burden.

Yukino's problem of relying on others actually stems from her father.

I initially thought it was just Yukino who had a better relationship with her father.

Once suspicions were raised and memories were carefully examined, more details became suspicious—after the bullying incident in elementary school, the father supported Yukino's decision to go abroad; when Yukino returned to Japan and had a car accident, it was also the father who suggested that Yukino move out and live alone.

I thought my father was a block of wood and had gotten used to ignoring him, so I didn't pay much attention to him.

Looking back now, her father probably realized it, didn't he? His actions of comforting and caring for Yukino fostered a very bad habit in her, making her like to escape and rely on others. So he turned to trying to solve Yukino's inability to be independent, which really took a lot of effort.

what the hell……

He assumed Yukino was in the same boat as him, sharing a similar fate—both were unlucky souls unable to defy their mothers. He liked her, wanted to protect her, and support her. He was happy yet uneasy about Yukino's dependence on him, and pondered how to keep it from his mother's eyes and ears, so that Yukino wouldn't suffer too much as she grew up. He thought that by taking on the family responsibilities, he could prevent Yukino from following in his footsteps…

It was all wishful thinking on their part.

Sometimes I want to play pranks on her, maybe because I vaguely feel that something is wrong? Or maybe it's just that it's fun to tease her.

never mind.

Yukino suddenly felt that the family she had lived in for more than ten years had become so unfamiliar—her wooden father was not a wooden man, only not a wooden man towards Yukino; Yukino's interest in actively jumping into pits just happened to be in line with her mother's wishes.

In the end, it seems that only my mother, who always says no, is consistent in her words and actions... No, my mother is not consistent in her words and actions; she is more ruthless and heartless than I thought.

What cruel reality? Is this what you want me to see? You bastard.

Yukino Yukino absentmindedly threw out the dice, moved the piece to the next square, and suddenly noticed that there was another person's piece on the square.

Yukinoshita's mother's gaming experience went quite smoothly. Accompanied by the narration, "You started a company, and business is booming," "You used swift and decisive methods to dismantle the attacks from other companies," and other life progresses that perfectly suited her wishes, her wealth had now accumulated to the highest level in the entire scene.

"I will turn against Mother."

Yukino Yukino spoke up, somewhat surprised by her own audacity.

Even if it's just a game, how dare you go against your mother?

No, no, it's precisely because it's a game that I dared to go against my mother.

Yukinoshita's mother didn't say anything extra, simply following the rules as usual.

Yukino Yukinoshita was startled—"Is my sister crazy?!"

Both sides placed their bets and then rolled the deciding die.

"Wow, looks like I'm having a lucky day."

Yukino's wealth increased significantly, but she felt little joy; her mood decreased by 1.

"It's really good."

Yukino's mother nodded slightly. It seemed that Yukino's expression of her ambition had indeed given Haruno more fighting spirit, enabling her to make the right choices in the game despite the pressure of reality.

This is certainly the right choice. Since you want to win and happen to have the opportunity, choosing to fight the person with the most wealth in the entire arena to gain more wealth and further gain an advantage in the competition is not wrong, is there anything right or wrong?

Bai Ying did a good job.

The mother played the game intently under the snow, her mood increasing by 1.

"I want to become an enemy of my sister."

With the temporary buff of '+100 affection for mother' above her head, Yukino Yukinoshita rolled the dice and took the initiative to launch an attack.

Yukino could tell that Yukino was excited and overjoyed to have gained her mother's approval. She wanted to show off in front of her mother, even if it was just a game—no, it was precisely because it was just a game that she could act so easily.

Aren't I the same? I use games to convince myself, protesting openly yet secretly.

Do I dare say it? No.

It's infuriating! Maybe I'm like Yukino-chan, prone to escapism. I'm also looking for a way to escape this house. Ha.

Off the court.

The father was relieved by the snow.

This is exactly what that treacherous scoundrel meant when he said it was difficult to advance or retreat.

If she progresses to become Yukino, she will develop a tendency to escape and become dependent; if she regresses to become Haruno, she will watch as Haruno swallows her pride and puts on a mask to protect herself.

Now these two are about to collide.

Hahahaha—what could be worse than this?

Just wait patiently for the game to end, and then think about how to solve the problem.

The elderly father felt very frustrated.

Numbness +1.

……

Grief, bitterness, fear, confusion, jealousy, envy, dissatisfaction, anger, relief, acceptance, numbness, pain, and the ever-present repression...

The voice of the human heart has never changed; it is always just as noisy.

The human heart is frighteningly resilient; no matter how many voices are heard, they can be suppressed within it.

This is probably what Xu Bai meant when he said, "The more wounds you have, the thicker the scars, the colder your emotions, and the harder your heart becomes."

Human hearts are so noisy, I don't understand why Xu Bai likes it.

The puppet sings silently, singing between emotions, harmonizing every string of the heart.

He doesn't know how to proactively regulate his emotions to a balanced and appropriate level; he just pretends to understand.

……

A high-end restaurant, with a torrential downpour outside.