Chapter 63: Carving Your Name into My Heart, with the Color of Your Voice
It wasn't over yet.
Naturally, the fact that Haruka had cured Shoko couldn't be kept under wraps.
Especially since he now held the position of Medical Supervisor for the Kaguya Shinomiya Group. Yes, he had been promoted again.
Relying on the special drugs he developed, Kaguya Shinomiya had finally managed to hold her ground in the brutal power struggle.
She didn't win.
But she survived. She preserved herself.
And because Haruka's performance during this process was simply too outstanding and critical...
The Shinomiya Group—specifically, the patriarch of the conglomerate—finally decided to meet him.
***
Gan'an Shinomiya.
The undisputed head of the Shinomiya financial empire.
An old man whose presence radiated an almost glacial coldness.
When Haruka, now possessing the state of mind of [Serene Mirror, Still Water], laid eyes on him, he couldn't help but sigh internally.
'Now this is a man who doesn't care about anything but gain.'
'Kaguya just looks cold. But when it comes to disregarding humanity, she's still a novice compared to this guy.'
"You are Haruka Kasugano?"
"Good day, Shinomiya-san."
!!
Hearing this form of address, everyone in the room stiffened. Some of the attendants looked as though they were afraid to even breathe.
Even Kaguya, who usually maintained a mask of indifference, tensed up.
It was obvious. She held a massive, deep-seated fear of the father standing before her. In this moment, she couldn't even lift her head.
"Hmm? Why address me that way? Am I not worthy of being called 'Family Head' by you? Or perhaps... you do not wish to acknowledge yourself as a retainer of the Shinomiya family..."
Under such oppressive atmospheric pressure, Haruka wasn't affected in the slightest. Instead, he smiled.
"I have only one liege. And it isn't you, old man."
The vassal of my vassal is not my vassal.
Beside him, Kaguya, who had kept her head lowered, twitched. She slowly lifted her head just enough to glance at Haruka.
"You're not bad."
"Do you want to marry my daughter?"
?!
Kaguya's expression shifted slightly, but she remained silent.
Haruka, on the other hand, looked slightly surprised. "There's no need for jokes, sir. You should have already investigated me thoroughly. You know I would never do that. Why don't we cut straight to the chase?"
"Very well."
"Your value is immense. For valuable talent, tolerance is warranted. You need not worry about the conflicts. You can ignore the internal strife of the Shinomiya family and the covetous eyes from the outside. You only need to contribute to the Shinomiya Group."
Haruka: "Of course. As a retainer of Kaguya-sama, that is what I have always done."
Not for the Shinomiya Group. For Kaguya-sama.
That was the subtext.
Gan'an Shinomiya looked at Haruka coldly. Haruka stared back, refusing to show weakness.
Beside them, Kaguya's hands clenched tightly beneath her wide sleeves.
"Can your drug be replicated?"
"Yes," Haruka responded with a smile.
Looking at the young man before him, Gan'an Shinomiya extinguished a certain dangerous thought he had been entertaining.
***
[Your negotiation was successful. Facts have proven that your value is even greater than you thought. When faced with massive profits, cooperation comes naturally—even if it means swallowing pride. The other party chose to compromise, as expected.]
[Your protection increased, and your status crossed into a higher tier.]
[Likewise, because of her connection to you, although Kaguya Shinomiya did not win the succession rights, she secured a portion of the industrial assets. This is enough to guarantee both of your futures.]
[One year later.]
[You and Shoko registered your marriage. You became husband and wife.]
[The wedding ceremony began.]
Tokyo.
A luxury hotel.
A fleet of Shinomiya luxury cars cleared the way.
At this moment, one-third of the hotels in Tokyo displayed banners blessing Haruka and Shoko's marriage.
Red carpets.
Fireworks.
Spotlights.
Fresh flowers.
Salutes.
A live orchestra.
It was a scene of dazzling splendor.
Haruka was dressed in a sharp suit, while Shoko wore a pure white wedding dress.
Amidst the blessings that filled the sky, they walked onto the ceremonial stage together.
Neither of them paid attention to the emcee's words.
They only looked at each other.
At this moment, the world seemed to fall silent.
Everything was quiet.
There were only the two of them.
"Shoko. I finally changed fate."
"I fulfilled my promise to you."
"Mm. I know. You did it. I always believed in you." Shoko wore a soft, beautiful smile on her face.
"From the moment I met you, I've always believed in you. Whether it was your singing at the Cultural Festival or the gathering of the Service Club, you have never disappointed anyone."
"It was you who gave me the courage to face life, the hope to live on, and true friends. I obtained my redemption because of you. You are my everything."
"I always fantasized about this day, about becoming your wife. Before, I thought it was just a delusional dream. But... this time, it seems it's real." Shoko placed her hand on Haruka's shoulder.
"Of course it's real. I've worked hard until now just for this day."
"And... I have to thank you, Shoko."
"If not for you, maybe I never would have untied the knot in my heart. The old me... was really different from the current me. It's because of you that I found redemption."
"I didn't sink into the abyss of desire."
"Thank you, Shoko."
Haruka slid a diamond ring onto Shoko's finger.
And Shoko placed a folded paper crane into Haruka's hand.
The two looked into each other's eyes.
Their silhouettes gradually overlapped.
The salutes roared.
Flower petals filled the sky.
The scent of happiness permeated the air.
Below the stage. Many people were offering their blessings.
The gratified blessings of both sets of parents. The complicated blessings of Sora and Yuzuru. The resigned blessing of Kazusa Touma. The beautiful blessing of Yukino Yukinoshita...
And then…
A kiss to seal their love.
Haruka looked at Shoko, whose face was flushed with shyness. He wrapped one arm around her slender waist and pulled her into his embrace.
Shoko buried her face in Haruka's chest, murmuring softly, "Haruka, I love you."
"Shoko, I love you."
***
[Age 28: You married Shoko.]
[Age 30: Shoko gave birth to a pair of twins.]
[Age 32: Your career is successful, and your life is completely worry-free. You begin planning for retirement.]
[Age 36: Grandma Nishimiya passed away peacefully of old age.]
[Age 38: You became the Executive Director of the Kaguya Company. With Ai Hayasaka gone and Kaguya Shinomiya unmarried, you became Kaguya's most trusted confidant.]
[Age 39: Sora and Yuzuru joined the company. You tried to make them forget you and move on, only to be met with the same familiar mockery.]
[Age 40: You led the Kaguya Company to become bigger and stronger, becoming a titan in the pharmaceutical industry.]
[Age 42: Shoko became the head of a world-renowned charity organization and a famous pianist in Japan—though there was a little bit of artificial boosting involved.]
[Age 48: You became a famous model couple. Your children successfully tested into the University of Tokyo, choosing Medicine and Management respectively.]
[Age 54: You decided to retire. At Kaguya Shinomiya's repeated requests, you chose to stay on for three more years to teach your children how to continue helping her.]
[Age 57: You successfully retired and began a trip around the world with Shoko.]
[Age 65: Your parents and Shoko's mother passed away one after another.]
[Age 80: Your bodies began to weaken. Even with your powerful medical skills, Time remains an unconquerable enemy.]
[Age 85: Shoko left. She passed away in your arms. She had no regrets; she died with a smile on her lips.]
[That night, after the children returned, you chose to enter the afterlife to meet her. You knew she was definitely waiting for you.]
In the courtyard.
An incredibly aged Haruka looked up at the sky.
His gaze was deep and boundless, as if he were looking at some unknown entity.
A faint, harmonious smile appeared on his face.
"To the me of the next time... I hope you can preserve this beauty."
"No matter what happens, protect Shoko well."
"She is 'my' treasure."
"I'm counting on you."
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