novelraw Chapter 170: This is the First Day of 1991! The Koyama Family's Happy Moment!
Chapter 170: This is the First Day of 1991! The Koyama Family's Happy Moment!
Today is the first day of 1991, the daylight is in an extremely stingy manner, carefully poking out a few pale rays from behind the heavy clouds, spilling on this Akita countryside covered by thin snow.
All sounds are silent, only a few dog barks transmitting from afar, further setting off this New Year's morning, as peaceful as an ancient dream.
Nohara Hiroshi woke up very early, or rather, he fundamentally didn't sleep soundly.
That tranquility belonging to his hometown, conversely made that heart of his that had long grown accustomed to the hubbub of Tokyo, produce a trace of subtle unfamiliarity.
He didn't turn on the light, merely relying on that bit of faint daylight outside the window, picking up that mobile phone at the bedside which was considered a luxury item at the time.
The phone screen lit up, that faint blue light illuminating his young and handsome face.
[Remember this site's domain name Taiwan Novel Net -> twkan.com]
This is 5:30 in the morning.
Nohara Hiroshi's fingertips danced on the small keyboard, sending carefully considered blessings one by one, towards those numbers intertwined due to chance happenings, named connections.
Bureau Chief Sakata, Deputy Bureau Chief Asumi, Director Kurosawa Eiji, Editor-in-Chief of Future Comic Club, Editor of Shueisha, those close or distant colleagues in the TV Tokyo Production Bureau... every name, represented a past, a battle, a friendship, or a tacitly understood exchange of interests. He even sent greetings to those former classmates and teachers.
Not only mobile phone text messages.
Also pager text messages.
After all in this era where mobile phones haven't yet been popularized, more people's blessings, still need to be transmitted through pager text messages to help out.
He was like a web weaver sitting in the center of a spider web, using these invisible silk threads, to tightly connect himself with this massive world.
Very quickly, that little starry sky, began to respond to his existence in an even more enthusiastic manner.
"Beep beep——"
"Beep beep beep——"
The phone's text message notification sound and the pager's buzzing sound, intertwined into a unique symphony in this quiet bedroom.
"Hiroshi-kun, Happy New Year! The box office of 'Seven Samurai' is still continuously rising! At the celebration banquet after you return, I will properly toast you a cup!" —— This is sent by Deputy Bureau Chief Asumi, between the lines revealing a hearty feeling of feeling proud and relieved.
"Happy New Year. How is thinking about the script coming along? Must properly chat about it when you return." —— This is Director Kurosawa, concise and comprehensive as always, yet carrying a kind of anticipation.
"Sensei Nohara! Happy New Year! 'YuYu Hakusho' 'Doraemon', as well as 'Midnight Diner' are all selling hotly! Looking forward to your new achievements in the new year!" —— This is the Editor-in-Chief of Future Comic Club.
The Mayor of Omagari City, Agricultural Cooperative Chairman, those former classmates, teachers, and even some business figures only met once at the wine table... countless blessings surged over like a tidal wave, turning his small mobile phone into a, scalding token carrying countless goodwill and expectations.
Nohara Hiroshi flipped through them one by one, always hanging a faint smile on his face.
Only then did he suddenly realize, unknowingly, his life trajectory had already produced such profound intersections with so many people.
That youth who had nothing who once walked out of the Akita countryside, today, also finally in this vast world, possessed a place of his own.
He truly changed his life.
Nohara Hiroshi lay on the bed, thinking of the life of that battered and exhausted middle-aged man in the memories of his previous life, the corners of his mouth revealed a trace of smile.
If the original version Nohara Hiroshi was a battered and funny supporting character in a comedy anime.
Then now.
This version of his Nohara Hiroshi.
Is the protagonist in a gratifying and hot-blooded anime!
"At least for me, it's still quite good." Nohara Hiroshi lightly chuckled. No one is willing to become a battered protagonist.
Even if it's the supporting character for one's own son it's the same.
Right at this time, footsteps came from outside the bedroom, as well as the voice of his mother Nohara Tsuru: "Hiroshi, awake? Quickly get up and eat something, later have to follow your dad to pay New Year visits."
"Oh, coming!" Nohara Hiroshi snapped out of his thoughts, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
His mother's words had already pulled him back from that virtual world constructed by information, into this most authentic mortal world full of the vitality of life.
"Then, continue working hard, Nohara-kun!" Nohara Hiroshi cheered himself up.
...
Winter in Omagari City, has a kind of biting cold yet pure beauty.
In the village, under the eaves of every household hung crystal clear icicles, the air permeated with the clear fragrance of burning pine wood and the aroma of food.
The Nohara family walked on the snow-covered country path, their feet making "creak creak" sounds, like a simple winter love song.
Nohara Ginnosuke today wore a brand new down jacket, his scalp also waxed until it was shiny and oily, on that face always full of vitality, at this moment was even more overflowing with an undisguise-able smugness almost bordering on showing off.
Well, or rather it was un-disguised showing off.
At this time Nohara Ginnosuke walked at the very front, like a peacock spreading its tail, wishing to let the whole world know, following behind him, were his two exceedingly proud sons who had stood out and achieved success.
"Yo! Ginnosuke! Happy New Year ah!"
"Happy New Year Happy New Year! Aiya, aren't these Hiroshi and Semashi! Both came back ah!"
The main branch of the Nohara family in the village, as well as those old neighbors connected by kinship and having a hundred years of friendship, were already waiting at the doorway.
When they saw the Nohara family, they enthusiastically welcomed them, on those weather-beaten faces, written full of the most simple goodwill.
"Hiroshi ah! You are truly the pride of our Nohara family ah!"
A gray-haired elder retired from the Omagari City Hall, at this time after seeing Nohara Hiroshi, those cloudy eyes flashed with excited light: "That 'Seven Samurai' you shot, I watched it! Shot too well! Especially that part scolding farmers, is simply... simply speaking right into our hearts! Us farmers, aren't we just like that! Sly, stingy, but those were all forced out ah! You brat, truly understands us!"
"Yeah yeah!" Another middle-aged man also chimed in echoing, his face written full of the pride of sharing the glory: "My son is attending university in Tokyo, he told me, now the entire Tokyo, is discussing that movie of yours! They all say, you viciously vented the anger for us country folks! Hiroshi, you are truly... promising!"
The gazes of the younger generation, were even more full of undisguised worship and fanaticism.
They looked at Nohara Hiroshi, that gaze, like looking at a hero who walked out of a legend.
Nohara Hiroshi merely smiled and nodded, responding to the enthusiasm of the fellow villagers.
He didn't explain those grand narratives about "class" and "era", he merely peacefully, accepted this, purest recognition from his homeland.
Because he knew, for these simple fellow villagers, those complex theories, were far less authentic, and far less warm than a sentence of "you understand us".
And right in this noise full of praise, Nohara Hiroshi also keenly discovered, his elder brother Nohara Semashi, similarly became the focus of everyone's attention.
"Semashi ah, you are now a famous big president in our Omagari City!" A middle-aged woman grabbed Nohara Semashi's hand, her face beaming with smiles: "My boy, is now helping out at your Akita Inu breeding base. He says ah, you this president, don't put on airs at all, and even often treat them to drinks! Working under you, he feels at ease!"
"Yeah! And that plot of land of my family, sold to your corporation, and then still working at your family's corporation, makes much more than us farming ourselves!" Another man also smilingly said: "Semashi, you truly... helped us a big favor!"
"Uncles and Aunties are too polite." Nohara Semashi stood in the crowd, on that dark face, carrying a bit of honest and simple smile.
While he was at it leaving no trace to pull his hand out from the fifty-something Auntie's hand.
He was no longer that farmer who only knew to bury his head in farming, facing the praises of the fellow villagers, he was unhurried and calm, handling it with ease, that steadiness and magnanimity, actually really had a trace of the flavor of a mature president.
He while he was at it lowered his voice to explain to Nohara Hiroshi: "Hiroshi, our corporation is now large in scale, the farmlands and breeding base, all hired the fellow villagers in the village to help take care of. Everyone is a fellow villager, helping each other out, life gets better and better."
Nohara Hiroshi looked at his elder brother's face full of confidence, also smilingly nodded: "You did very well, elder brother."
"Hahahaha! Did you guys hear?! Did you hear?!"
And Nohara Ginnosuke looking at his two sons surrounded by the crowd, that smugness, finally couldn't be suppressed anymore, he put his hands on his hips, laughing out loud, that voice, wishing to transmit throughout the entire village: "The two sons of my Nohara Ginnosuke! One, is the most awesome television producer in all of Nippon! One, is the youngest big president in our Omagari City! I'm telling you guys, my life, is worth it!"
The fellow villagers looked at his appearance of forgetting himself in his smugness, and all smiled in tacit understanding.
"Oh! Ginnosuke is right! But there's still corn roasting in the stove at my house! I have to go back and check!"
"Yeah yeah! The kids at my house are also waiting for me to hug them!"
"No good! What did I forget to do again?..."
They knew the temper of this old man, and didn't expose it, merely playing along, finding various excuses, and dispersed in twos and threes.
"Hey! Don't you guys leave ah! I haven't finished speaking yet!" Nohara Ginnosuke looking at the instantly deserted scene, that smugness instantly got stuck in his throat, neither going up nor going down feeling extremely uncomfortable.
He couldn't help but softy complain: "These guys, are truly... not giving face at all!"
"Alright, you just say a few words less." Nohara Tsuru covered her mouth, lightly laughing out loud, she reproachfully rolled her eyes at her husband, in that gaze, yet full of un-melt-able tenderness and pride: "The kids being promising, is their own capability. You this father, just don't follow along and mix in blindly."
"How am I mixing in blindly?! I'm... I'm feeling proud for them!" Nohara Ginnosuke un-convincingly argued.
The two began to bicker again, that bickering sound full of the vitality of life, intertwined with the sound of firecrackers transmitting from afar, constructing a most warm, and also most moving New Year picture scroll.
...
The noon sunlight, carrying the unique warmth of winter, through the lattice window, spilled onto the dining table of the Nohara family.
Lunch was still sumptuous, full of rich rustic flavor.
The family sat around, enjoying this rare reunion time.
Nohara Semashi put down the ozoni in his hand, on that face flushed slightly red from the hot steam, carrying a trace of just right solemnity.
"Hiroshi," He looked at Nohara Hiroshi, his tone carrying a trace of discussing meaning: "In the afternoon, should we go together to Omagari City? Give those leaders of the City Hall, some New Year gifts, and greet them?"
Nohara Hiroshi was slightly stunned upon hearing this.
He looked at his elder brother somewhat surprisingly.
The Nohara Semashi in his impression, although hardworking and simple, but was always somewhat dull in aspects of human feelings and worldly wisdom.
He never thought, this kind of relationship needing meticulous maintenance, his elder brother actually also considered so comprehensively.
Nohara Semashi looked at his younger brother's surprised gaze, somewhat embarrassedly scratching his head, an honest and simple smile surfacing on his face: "Hehe, don't look at me like that. I also... also learned following you. During the time you weren't home, I read a lot of books regarding business management, and also consulted quite a few people. They all said, wanting to make a business big, just relying on burying one's head in hard work is no good, still have to... still have to build a good relationship with those above."
Nohara Hiroshi looked at his elder brother's face full of thirst for knowledge, all the surprise in his heart, transformed into a deep sense of gratification.
He knew his elder brother had truly grown.
He was no longer that elder brother who needed his protection, but rather had already grown into a, true partner who could fight side by side with him.
"Okay." Nohara Hiroshi heavily nodded, a heartfelt smile appearing on his face: "Bro, what you said is right. This matter, inherently was also in my plans. We'll go together in the afternoon."
...
The afternoon sunlight, dyed the streets of Omagari City with a layer of warm golden color.
The black Toyota Crown, drove smoothly on the somewhat deserted streets.
Inside the car, Nohara Hiroshi and Nohara Semashi, sat shoulder to shoulder. In the trunk, was already stuffed full of meticulously prepared New Year gifts.
In Nippon, giving small gifts for the New Year is a very common thing.
The first stop, was the home of the Agricultural Cooperative Chairman.
This elder who was quite prestigious locally, when seeing the Nohara brothers personally visiting, on that face always full of majesty, revealed a rare amiable smile.
"Hiroshi-kun, Semashi-kun, you two, are truly... the younger generation is formidable ah!" He personally brewed hot tea for the two, his tone full of admiration: "Your corporation, made massive contributions for the agricultural development of our Omagari City. Especially your Akita Inu breeding base, is now a name card for our city! His Excellency the Mayor, has mentioned you by name and praised you in quite a few meetings!"
The second stop, was the Omagari City Mayor's official residence.
This mayor in the prime of his life, when seeing Nohara Hiroshi again, was even more enthusiastic somewhat out of expectation.
"Nohara-kun! I've long looked forward to meeting you! Long looked forward ah!" He tightly shook Nohara Hiroshi's hand, in those astute eyes, flashing a kind of, keen light belonging to a politician: "That 'Seven Samurai' of yours, I watched it! Shot too well! It isn't just a movie, even more so it is a, great work sufficient to awaken the spirit of our nationals!"
"You flatter me." Nohara Hiroshi answered courteously.
And at this time, this Mayor of Omagari City, with eyes shining, stated his ultimate goal: "Then, what Hiroshi-kun mentioned before, regarding the movie related to the Akita Inu of our Akita Prefecture, has it been put on the agenda?"
After all this Mayor of Omagari City had seen Nohara Hiroshi's ability to shoot movies.
Before when he first met Nohara Hiroshi, seeing this twenty-three-year-old young man, although very respectful, but in his heart toward Nohara Hiroshi he still had a bit of apprehension.
But when 'Seven Samurai', this movie shot by Nohara Hiroshi, even Director Kurosawa Eiji whom he worshipped the most in his life, held a press conference to clarify that this was Nohara Hiroshi's movie, and was more wonderful than his own movies appeared.
This mayor, truly became full of expectation towards Nohara Hiroshi.
"Mr. Mayor, after returning to Tokyo, the Akita Inu movie will undergo preparation, at that time whether it is Akita Prefecture or Omagari City, I hope both will experience a massive increase in fame because of my movie."
Nohara Hiroshi smilingly answered.
And his tone was very confident.
Exactly this stream of confidence, made this mayor also beam with smiles: "Hahahaha! Hiroshi-kun, then I will be looking forward to it very much!"
The two chatted in detail for another period of time, then Nohara Hiroshi left the City Hall.
When that black Toyota Crown once again drove out of Omagari City, the horizon, had already been dyed with a layer of gorgeous crimson red by the sunset glow.
Nohara Hiroshi looked at the rapidly receding scenery outside the window, in those clear eyes, flashing a kind of, profoundness and calmness belonging to a layout planner.
He knew, this visit this afternoon, wasn't just simple reciprocity.
Even more so it was paving a, most solid road leading to success, for that, massive plan regarding "Hachiko" that he had already been brewing in his heart for a long time.
He wanted to let the entire Omagari City, become the most loyal supporter of this plan of his.
He wanted to let that Akita Inu named "Hachiko", become this city's, and even the entire Nippon's, eternal cultural totem.
And all this, had only just begun.
...
And at the same time, at the other end of the Nippon archipelago, Kumamoto Prefecture the central city of Kyushu Island, the first ray of sunlight of the New Year pierced the floor-to-ceiling windows of a modern single-family house, plating a layer of warm golden edge inside the room.
Differing from the vast countryside covered in pure white snow in Akita Prefecture, winter in Kumamoto City, lacked a bit of biting cold, adding a bit of exquisiteness and order belonging to the metropolis.
The streets were bustling with traffic, New Year celebration decorations had already been hung at the entrance of malls, the air permeated with faint plum blossom fragrance and high-end perfume scent wafting from department stores.
The Koyama family's New Year visiting itinerary, was also completely different from the Nohara family's visiting relatives and friends full of rustic flavor.
As a retired middle school head teacher, Koyama Yoshiharu's network circle, mostly concentrated in the education field.
His New Year visits, were more like tea parties for old friends full of nostalgia and decency.
Early in the morning, Misae was dragged out of her warm blanket by her mother Koyama Takasae, changed into proper kimono, accompanying her father, carrying meticulously packaged gift boxes, shuttling through various high-end apartments and detached houses in Kumamoto City.
The objects of visit, were either highly respected old principals, or old colleagues they once worked with in the education sector.
Everyone sat together, drinking high-quality tea, chatting about former glorious years, talking about present retired lives, between the lines, fully revealing a stream of reservation and decency belonging to intellectuals.
Of course, the ultimate landing point of topics, would always inevitably, land on their respective children.
And this, is also exactly what Koyama Yoshiharu, was looking forward to the most today.
Then time arrived at noon.
During the morning, Koyama Yoshiharu's laughter just never stopped, that kind of gratifying feeling truly made him enjoy it until now.
At noon time, when that antique Toyota sedan maintained to the point of being shiny and bright, drove smoothly on the road returning to the apartment, the atmosphere inside the car, became like a cat's belly warmed by the sun, full of lazy yet satisfying coziness.
In the driver's seat, Koyama Yoshiharu, this old-school intellectual who always kept a stern face, at this moment was humming an out of tune enka, that unsuppressible smug smile on the corner of his mouth, almost reaching the root of his ears.
That heartfelt joy, was simply more brilliant than the sunshine outside the window.
This morning he truly showed off to his heart's content.
Especially those guys who previously all had excuses not to come out, successively saying they had matters at home and couldn't join the gathering, he grabbed them one by one and began to speak.
Speaking in meticulous detail.
Looking at them holding their noses with faces full of helplessness, but because it was the New Year having to listen to his showing off appearance.
Koyama Yoshiharu couldn't help but let out a long sigh: "Today, is truly too wonderful!"
"I say Dad." In the back row, the youngest daughter of the Koyama family, Koyama Musae who was still attending high school, was bored flipping through a fashion magazine, she glanced at her father's spring breeze appearance through the rearview mirror, couldn't help but curl her lips, using a tone full of girlish complaint opening her mouth: "This smile of yours today, hasn't come down from your face at all right? Were those uncles again praising you up to the sky? Us three sisters, have now all become the capital for your showing off right!"
Mother Koyama Takasae sitting in the passenger seat upon hearing this, turned her head, reproachfully glaring at her youngest daughter, that gaze was gentle yet not lacking in majesty: "Musae, how are you speaking to Dad? Having no respect for elders."
"I don't have!" Koyama Musae un-convincingly pouted, throwing the magazine to the side, in those big eyes resembling Misae by seventy or eighty percent, but even more nimble and sly, flashing a mischievousness that saw through everything: "I just feel, Dad's showing off momentum today, is a bit too much. Simply treating us three sisters, as his most proud trophies, exhibiting us door to door."
Now thinking about her old dad when showing off to those old friends, having zero contrast to his stern-faced serious appearance.
Directly made Koyama Musae laugh out loud: "Dad is too funny! Didn't expect Dad is also a person who loves showing off!"
"Musae, don't say that." Eldest sister Koyama Masae sitting beside Musae, this dignified female serving as a teacher in middle school like her father, upon hearing this merely smiled helplessly: "Got to give Dad face."
"What face? Didn't Dad earn enough face when showing off?" Koyama Musae opened her mouth even more smugly.
"Aiya, Musae! How can you speak of Dad like that?" And Misae on the other side, covered her mouth, letting out a "pffttt" light chuckle, in those big bright eyes, also full of smiling at this "treasonous" remark of her younger sister.
"Nonsense!"
However, right when everyone thought Koyama Yoshiharu would as usual put on a stern face to lecture his youngest daughter, he yet merely through the rearview mirror, plainly glanced at Musae, and then, using a tone full of logic and rigor like correcting a student's wrong answer, slowly opened his mouth.
"Musae, this sentence of yours, is fundamentally wrong."
"Eh?" Koyama Musae froze for a moment, not expecting her old dad to actually so lightly and breezily lecture her, having zero appearance of being angry from embarrassment like before.
Therefore Musae also somewhat un-convincingly asked in return: "Why is it wrong? Aren't you just showing us off?"
"No." Koyama Yoshiharu shook his head, on that serious face, at this moment written full of the seriousness of a teacher: "I admit, I indeed was showing off today. But..." He paused, that tone, like an announcing an unquestionable truth: "What I was showing off about, is that educated and well-mannered, inherited my mantle, serving as Japanese teacher in Kumamoto Municipal First Middle School eldest daughter of mine, Masae."
"As well as..." He looked through the rearview mirror, at the similarly somewhat surprised Misae, in that gaze, full of the pride of being a father: "That although somewhat muddle-headed, but relying on her own hard work, pioneering a career in Tokyo, becoming the president of Future Comic Club at a young age second daughter of mine, Misae."
When he spoke up to here, he deliberately paused, and then used a tone full of regret and sigh, slowly saying that final conclusion sufficient to make Musae petrify on the spot.
"As for you..." He gave a long sigh, that voice, full of expecting better but disappointed helplessness, "A youngest daughter who is still in high school, grades not ideal, only knowing how to read those messy fashion magazines all day, clamoring to go to Tokyo, yet not even having the most basic independent living ability... Musae, do you feel, what aspect do you have, that is worthy of me showing off to those old friends?"
"..."
The entire world, seemingly at this moment, was pressed the mute button.
After a brief dead silence...
"Pfft——hahahahahaha!"
Inside the car, instantly erupted a burst of earth-shaking loud laughter!
Mother Takasae laughed so hard she rocked back and forth, tears almost spurting out. Eldest sister Masae also covered her mouth, her shoulders continuously shaking, on that face always dignified and demure, at this moment also written full of un-suppressible smile.
"Hahahaha! Musae! You also have your day today!" Even Misae, also laughed so hard she shook, her whole person falling onto Masae's shoulder, letting out crisp silver bell-like laughter.
"Dad! You... you are too much!"
Koyama Musae, this little demon who was just sharp-tongued, at this moment that petite and pretty little face, had already flushed completely red, like a boiled shrimp.
In those nimble big eyes of hers, a layer of mist instantly shrouded, in that voice, full of annoyance and grievance after being publicly executed by her biological father!
Usually she was the one angering her old dad.
How come it flipped at this time?!
"Dad, you truly... won back a point ah!" Mother Takasae finally managed to stop laughing, she wiped the tears at the corner of her eyes, looking at her husband's elated appearance of a massive victory, couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
These words were undoubtedly adding oil to the fire.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Ahahaha!"
The laughter inside the car, became even more unbridled.
"Damn it!" Koyama Musae's defense thoroughly broke.
She felt that fragile girl's heart of hers, at this moment, was ruthlessly crushed into powder by the laughter full of "love" from her family.
She angrily snorted, no longer paying attention to those "unscrupulous" family members, but instead from her small satchel, pulled out an exquisitely packaged manga volume, flipping through it out of spite.
On the cover of that manga, impressively printed several warm large letters full of the vitality of life —— 'Midnight Diner'.
"I'm telling you guys!" Koyama Musae while flipping through the manga, using a tone full of "grief and indignation", viciously announced: "Once I graduate from high school! I will immediately go to Tokyo! At that time, I will go take refuge with my brother-in-law! Let him take me in! I will never come back! Humph!"
This "threat" full of girlish fantasy, not only didn't manage to quell the family's laughter, instead made the atmosphere inside the car, become even happier.
After the laughing and playing, the atmosphere inside the car also gradually calmed down.
Mother Takasae looking at the rapidly receding street view outside the window, that gentle smile resurfacing on her face, she turned her head, looking at the three daughters in the back row, softly asking: "Alright alright, stop playing around. Speak of serious matters, what do you want to eat for lunch? What arrangements are there for the afternoon?"
"Ah, then what about you Mom?" Misae caught the meaning in Mother Takasae's words, opening her mouth to ask: "Not together with us?"
"Me ah." Takasae's voice carried a trace of elegance and coziness belonging to a noble lady: "Made an appointment with Mrs. Suzuki and the others for the afternoon, going to flower arrangement class together, while at it also tasting the newly arrived matcha, what about you guys?"
"I..." Eldest sister Masae upon hearing this, that already pale cheek, instantly flew up a suspicious blush.
She subconsciously, used her fingers to twirl the tips of her hair hanging in front of her chest, voice thin like a mosquito hum: "I... in the afternoon, made an appointment with Fujiwara-kun... to go watch a movie together."
"Fujiwara-kun?!"
This name, like a small pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirred up layers of ripples inside the car!
"Wao——!" Koyama Musae was the first to let out a weird cry, those big eyes of hers slightly red from grievance, instantly were replaced by the blazing fire of gossip!
She put down the manga book in her hand, violently leaning close beside her eldest sister, on that small face, written full of a malicious smile: "Eldest sister! Not bad ah! So fast having a date to watch a movie? You two... what stage have you developed to? Held hands yet? Hugged yet? Have you..."
"Musae!"
Mother Takasae's voice, carrying a trace of imperceptible strictness, timely interrupted the youngest daughter's questioning full of "tiger and wolf words".
She lightly patted Musae's arm, in that gaze, carrying a trace of reproach belonging to traditional females: "A girl, must speak with propriety! Must have the appearance of a girl!"
"Exactly!" Koyama Yoshiharu also from the rearview mirror, cast a gaze full of "majesty", agreeing in a deep voice: "Not steady at all!"
Although their mouths said so, but whether it was him, or Takasae, deep in that gaze, fully revealed an undisguise-able curiosity and concern.
Koyama Masae, under the gazes full of "scrutiny" from her family, that already shyly red cheek, at this moment was so red it was almost dripping blood.
She lowered her head, voice thin like a mosquito humming: "Didn't... nothing like that... Fujiwara-kun he... he is a very good person."
She paused, seemingly gathering courage, and supplemented another sentence: "Although he... although he looks somewhat aloof, and also always speaking in a business-is-business manner, but... but actually treats me very well. And... and he also said, after the New Year is over, will... will personally come to the door, to visit Dad and Mom."
These words, were undoubtedly a heavy bomb.
Personally come to the door to visit?
This in the traditional context of Nippon, is almost equivalent to, a formal "marriage proposal".
A very important matter indeed!
"Oh——!" Koyama Musae once again let out a meaningful weird cry, she looked at the eldest sister's appearance of being unable to suppress her shyness, the smile on her face blossoming all the more brilliantly.
She turned her head, casting that gaze full of "malicious intentions", towards Misae sitting beside her similarly snickering.
"Eldest sister's side the dust has settled, after finishing engagement, then next up, is it your turn second sister?" Musae winked, in that tone, full of excitement of watching the fun not minding it being big: "I heard, brother-in-law he, is much more proactive than that whatever Fujiwara-kun oh!"
"None of your business!"
Misae's cheeks, with a "swish" also turned red.
She reached out her hand, lightly giving Musae a push, in those big bright eyes, although carrying a bit of shy annoyance, but more of it, was a kind of undisguise-able, happiness full of sweetness and pride.
She puffed up her chest, using a tone full of confidence, lightly snorting: "Anyway, just wait for eldest sister's side to end. Our family's Hiroshi, can come anytime!"
"Aiyo yo! 'Our family's Hiroshi'!" Koyama Musae immediately caught the key point in the words, she imitating Misae's tone, pinching her voice adopting a bizarre tone mimicking: "Listen to this! Listen to this! Before even marrying over, already 'our family', 'our family' calling out! Truly... aren't you ashamed ah!"
Looking at the eldest sister and second sister, those two pretty faces coincidentally, blushing completely red, Koyama Musae, this girl who was just immersed in the grief of being "publicly executed" by her father, at this moment finally felt satisfied, revealing a brilliant smile of a prank succeeding.
She felt, that girl's heart of hers that was crushed, at this moment was again pieced together piece by piece by her sisters' "embarrassment".
Sure enough, the happiness of the family, is exactly built upon the "pain" of the family ah!
PS: Spent the whole day sorting out the outline today, next I'll smooth things out, updating explosively too fast, got to get the outline done well.
(End of Chapter)