A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

"But I've already said those words..."

She first glanced back and forth between the two of them with doubtful eyes several times, and then she couldn't help but shook her head.

"Forget it, let's put this question aside for now... Xiangzi, if you've already decided to work hard towards becoming a designer, then what is your father doing now?"

"he……"

After hearing this, Toyokawa Shoko opened her mouth, and after a long while she said:

"He...disappeared."

"What do you mean?"

"I gave him living expenses before... but he didn't accept it. He just kept the money and disappeared. He didn't even tell me where he was going or when he would be back."

“……”×3.

This was the first time the three people present heard of this incident.

Chihaya Tetsuya and Wakaba Mutsu's expressions were filled with confusion and shock, while Mori Minami's originally calm and composed look suddenly became unhappy.

"Oh, it's like this again."

She snorted disdainfully at first, then said:

"Xiangzi, even if he's such a shabby guy... you still don't regret leaving the Toyokawa family with him?"

"……kindness."

While giving her response, Toyokawa Shoko unconsciously turned her gaze towards Chihaya Tetsuya.

This question has been asked to her by more than one person, and she herself has even asked herself this question countless sleepless nights.

However, no matter how many times she asked, as long as she remembered those gentle eyes that always looked at her proud soul, as long as she remembered the warm light that was enough to light up the entire night sky that night, as long as she remembered the man named Chihaya Tetsuya, her answer would always be the same.

"Because no matter what the reason, everything I've endured is an unchangeable fact. Rather than being a 'puppet' bound by constraints and a predetermined future, I would rather rely on my own will... and become a true 'human' named Toyokawa Shoko!"

Even in front of this adult whom she had always felt a little afraid of since she was a child, Toyokawa Shoko still mustered up the courage and expressed her thoughts with unprecedented determination:

"I understand the Toyokawa family's gratitude for my upbringing, and I also understand that everything my father has done is his own fault. So one day, I will return all that I owe them, including his share... When that time comes, I will be able to completely deny their rights."

"..."

After hearing Toyokawa Shoko's answer, Mori Minami frowned slightly.

Before this, Toyokawa Shoko had never acted so strong in front of her.

But this was normal. After all, the shadows of childhood often stay with people for life. Whether facing her own daughter or this cousin she was very optimistic about, her attitude was always strict and cold. The result was just like what Ye Mu was like now... Even though he had many resistances and objections in his heart, Mu was unwilling, or dared not, to express them actively.

Minami Mori originally thought that Toyokawa Shoko would never talk back to her, but now, the determination and courage she showed directly transcended this common sense of education and psychology, making her a more powerful adult who could no longer be easily defeated by "preaching".

This confidence, which allowed her to express her ideas clearly, was probably the precious growth she gained after leaving the Toyokawa family.

On the other hand, this young boy who looked only a few years younger than Xiangzi also showed himself strong enough courage and determination.

But... this alone is still not enough.

She also needed more concrete proof that would ensure that Toyokawa Shoko would not regret it later.

"Mr. Chihaya."

"Yes."

"Although I think you should be able to understand something from our conversation just now, I still need to explain the specific situation."

Mori Minami straightened her sitting posture and said:

"Shoko's father was a small businessman who married into the Toyokawa family. Due to the disparity in their social status, the relationship between him and my cousin was more like that of creditor and debtor than that of husband and wife, and that was indeed the case. To prove himself, her father borrowed a large sum of money from the Toyokawa family, and the result... was just as you can see. A complete loss. And because of her father, Shoko was treated like collateral by the Toyokawa family. In fact, to this day, the Toyokawa family still regards her as such."

"..."

Hearing this perfectly apt analogy, Toyokawa Shoko clenched her fists.

Then Mori Minami continued:

"I won't go into the specific amount of that debt. All you need to know is that it's an astronomical sum that the average person couldn't repay even if they worked their entire lives. Logically, her father should have been solely responsible for this debt, but... you know Xiangzi's character. This child has an excessive sense of pride and responsibility. Coupled with a lack of a sense of belonging to the Toyokawa family, she simply chose to shoulder this massive debt with her father and leave the Toyokawa family."

"I know you've made up your mind to stay with Xiangzi, but for the sake of fairness, I must emphasize once again that the debt Xiangzi carries is not a number that can be easily erased. If what you desire is an equal relationship, then the biggest problem you face is this number. Don't tell me you don't care about this. As a businessman, and as a man, the instability brought by debt is far beyond your imagination."

"Mr. Chihaya, even though you are a girl burdened with such a heavy burden and unable to control your own destiny, are you still willing to accept this 'burden'?"

"Xiangzi, are you really prepared to carry these heavy shackles and entrust your future to someone who is so generous and tolerant towards you and willing to devote his life to you?"

"This is my last question."

9

Chapter 9: Make a promise to your feather-light self.

From the first time she met the man named Chihaya Tetsuya, Toyokawa Shoko had always had an unrealistic and unrealistic impression of this man, as well as an indescribable sense of contradiction.

For a young girl who has just been forced to enter society, when she sees all her peers around her wearing uniforms and celebrating their youth, the sense of intimacy brought by a boy of the same age as her in formal attire is self-evident.

And everything that happened after that was even more like a dream.

Even though she couldn't answer the most basic interview questions, even though she racked her brains and couldn't figure out what value she had to him, even though he was a weak person who couldn't even pick up a fallen sewing needle, he was still willing to stop and give her a redemption warmer than the rising sun in spring on that windless night when people couldn't really feel the temperature.

It was a curtain from heaven, a miracle she had never imagined even in her dreams.

Even now when she recalls the scene of that night, Toyokawa Shoko still feels that his figure, which was shining with a faint orange fluorescence, was the most romantic existence she could imagine.

After that, as her understanding of Chihaya Tetsuya continued to deepen and as their experiences continued to increase, an inexplicable contradiction gradually began to arise in her heart.

The more experienced a person is, the more likely he is to despise fantasy and hope.

The more pain a person has experienced, the easier it is for him to give up pointless attempts.

However, Chihaya Tetsuya's behavior was completely different from her perception.

This is a blind man who is always willing to believe in the future and possibilities, a fool who is always on the road to progress.

Whether he is facing Hoshino Ai, who has gambled her career and even the rest of her life, or facing a prisoner who is burdened with huge debts and whose life no longer belongs to him, his attitude remains consistent.

"My answer will not change, Ms. Minami."

In response to Mori Minami's question, Chihaya Tetsuya replied:

"As long as I breathe, I will never give up the possibility of moving forward into the future with her."

"..."

The words were so heavy and warm that Toyokawa Shoko felt a little dizzy.

In a trance, she seemed to see once again the faint light that made her so obsessed shining on him.

But soon, the premise he mentioned brought her mind back from the brink of complete despair. The next second, his always calm expression and that desperate look in his eyes, along with the conversation he had just had with Minami Mori, turned into thunder in Toyokawa Shoko's mind.

Now, she finally understood the source of the contradiction she had sensed.

"...Chihaya-nii."

"kindness?"

Chihaya Tetsu, who thought that Toyokawa Shoko would answer Mori Minami together with him, was also stunned.

"What's wrong, Feng... Xiangzi?"

"Although this may be a little sudden, I want to ask you a question."

"what is the problem?"

"Which is more important to you, your own life or my freedom?"

“……”×2.

After hearing this question, Wakaba Mutsu and her daughter both showed confused expressions.

On one side is the precious and only one life, and on the other side is just an unpredictable future. No matter how you think about it, there can only be one answer.

As expected, after hearing this question, Chihaya Tetsuya answered without any hesitation.

However, his choice was completely different from what the two had expected.

"Your freedom."

"……really."

"what?!"

After hearing this, Mori Minami immediately showed an extremely stunned expression, and Wakaba Mutsu couldn't help but cover his mouth in shock.

Only a helpless smile appeared on Toyokawa Shoko's face.

"I've always found it strange. Why, despite going through so many difficulties and challenges, your resolve has never wavered? Why, being only three years older than me, you could so easily face a burden equivalent to the weight of another person's entire life... Thanks to Ms. Minami putting pressure on you today, I finally understand."

During his time in the orphanage, the reason he was able to persevere to the end in that hell of darkness and despair was because of Hoshino Ai's dependence on him.

After leaving the orphanage, he embarked on the path of a designer because of the encouragement of Chihaya Aine and his desire to repay the Chihaya family.

Now, the reason why he set up his own business was not because he wanted to achieve any goals, but to make his clothing a strength for others.

From the beginning to the end, every decision this man made wasn't for himself. Even when faced with someone he hadn't yet formed a deep friendship with, he was willing to risk his life without hesitation. The fundamental reason for his determination was... this man had never valued his own life, or rather, he had long since placed the meaning of his life on others.

Just as Mori Minami just said, the shadow of childhood will accompany people throughout their lives, and Chihaya Tetsuya's contempt for his own life must be derived from this.

In this case... I really have to thank Hoshino Ai. If it weren't for her, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to solve this series of mysteries, and I wouldn't even have the chance to meet him.

"Is that why what Ms. Minami just said didn't affect you in the slightest? Rather, after hearing about my experience, you should care about me even more than before."

Toyokawa Shoko tilted her head in some confusion.

"After all, in this way, all the burdens I carry will also become the meaning of your life."

"Xiangzi..."

Chihaya Tetsuya, who has always been frank, is not prepared to deny the truth discovered by Toyokawa Shoko.

"This way of living, which relies on the dependence of others for its meaning, is completely contrary to what you should be."

"Yeah, at least I can't imagine what it's like to live like a moth."

Toyokawa Shoko said:

"But this does give me one more reason to stay by your side."

"Yes."

Chihaya Tetsuya nodded.

"I need others to rely on me, and you need to constantly maintain the meaning of your own existence. The two of us can be said to be the perfect partners."

This extremely stable and complementary relationship is the most solid and powerful symbol of companionship in Chihaya Tetsuya's eyes.

At this moment, he couldn't help but sigh again about the choice he made that night.

As expected, Toyokawa Shoko is his indispensable partner no matter what.

"That won't do, Chihaya-nii. Although this way of living together does sound romantic, it... is not the future I envision."

However, to his surprise, Toyokawa Shoko not only did not accept it, but rejected it firmly:

"Everything I bear, whether it's that debt or the conflict with my family, is mine. Even for you, the one I admire and yearn for the most, I will never give up easily. So I'm sorry, your plan failed."

"But as a substitute, I want to give you something completely different in return. If Hoshino Ai and Chihaya Aine gave you redemption from the past, then I hope I can bring you a different future from now on."

"I will deprive you of the right to despise yourself. I will make the courage you gain from despising yourself disappear without a trace. I will make sure you can never say words like you did today to anyone else again. I will make your life belong to you again."

Seeing Chihaya Tetsuya's expression full of astonishment and trance, Toyokawa Shoko finally made the decision that would accompany her for the rest of her life.

"If you truly want to find the meaning of your life in others, then Chihaya-nii... no, Tetsuya-kun, please entrust your life to me."

Toyokawa Shoko held out her hand to him:

"——I will definitely help you find the weight of your own life."

10

Chapter 10 Before fulfilling the future promise.

"This is really... no matter what you say, it's already too late."

After watching the two of them leave the room, Mori Minami couldn't help but say:

"Let alone the Toyokawa family, at this point, no matter who comes, I'm afraid there's no way they can change that child's mind."