novelraw Chapter 193: Meeting Ogano Junro Again! Ikuna Explicitly Says Dislikes! Nohara Semashi's President Demeanor!
Chapter 193: Meeting Ogano Junro Again! Ikuna Explicitly Says Dislikes! Nohara Semashi's President Demeanor!
“What ——?!”
Those originally already very large eyes of Sakurada Ikuna, instantly widened roundly, that cherry small mouth also slightly opened, sufficient to stuff in an egg.
That crisp and also full of shock exclamation sound of hers, instantly then resounded through the entire coffee shop!
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Inside the shop the scattered few customers, all subconsciously looked over following the sound, inside the gazes carrying a few parts of curiosity and probing.
Sakurada Ikuna only then realized her own loss of composure, fair cheeks "swish" blushing completely red, like a thoroughly ripe apple.
She hurriedly reached out both hands covering her own mouth, inside those sparkling large eyes, yet still brimming with unbelievable shock.
“Ma... Mayor Excellency's family banquet?”
She lowered her voice, inside that sound carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling, as if she herself just experienced a hallucination:
“Semashi-kun, you... you aren't joking with me right?”In her view, Mayor, that is a big figure high and mighty, only existing in TV news and newspaper headlines.
And now, Nohara Semashi, that fiancé of hers although career successful, but essentially still an honest and sincere farmer, actually... actually being invited by the Mayor, to attend a private family banquet?!
This is simply much more unrealistic, more impactful than her hearing the box office of the movie filmed by Nohara Hiroshi broke tens of billions of yen!
Looking at the fiancée's that cute appearance of being thoroughly dumbfounded, inside Nohara Semashi's heart surged up a stream of unable to be explained clearly satisfaction and pride. He knew, this glory, wasn't only belonging to his personal self, even more belonging to the entire Nohara family, belonging to that younger brother far away in Tokyo, currently stirring up winds and clouds.
“Of course not joking.”
Nohara Semashi honestly and sincerely smiled, he reached out his hand, gently scraping Ikuna's perky little nose, that dotting, making Ikuna's heart warm.
He lowered his voice, using a kind of plain tone carrying a few parts of showing off, yet perfectly appropriate explaining saying:
“This morning, didn't I go to the City Hall, delivering twenty-five heads of best appearance Akita Inus from our breeding base to the Mayor Excellency. The Mayor Excellency he ah, extremely happy, then specially invited us to eat a meal together tonight, saying it is... in the name of families, enhancing enhancing feelings.”
He spoke these words "name of families" exceptionally clearly, that subtext, self-evident.
However, Sakurada Ikuna after finishing listening, the shock on her face not only didn't fade, instead becoming even more rich up.
“Twenty-five heads?! Still with best appearance?!”
She once again exclaimed out loud, this time, she couldn't even care about the gazes of surrounding customers anymore:
“Semashi-kun! You... are you crazy?! Although I know Hiroshi-kun's movie is very popular, bringing up the reputation of Akita Inus as well, but... but that after all is only a movie ah! Akita Inus... seemingly the value isn't big right?”
In her cognition, Akita Inus, although because of Nohara Hiroshi's movie becoming highly sought after, but essentially, aren't they still the native dogs able to be seen everywhere in their Akita Prefecture countryside?
Even if more precious, wouldn't go as far as letting the Mayor Excellency, treat it this solemnly right?
“Hehe, Ikuna, you exactly don't know about this.”
Nohara Semashi looking at the fiancée's that cute appearance of "little money-grubber", couldn't help but laugh out a sound.
He reached out his hands, pulling her into embrace, that confidence and composure belonging to men, making him appear exceptionally charming at this moment.
“Current Akita Inus, are not the native dogs of the past anymore.”
He moved close to Ikuna's ear, using a kind of tone carrying a few parts of mystery, softly saying:
“They now ah, are cultural symbols representing 'loyalty' and 'intelligence'! Even those wealthy and powerful big figures in Tokyo, are also scrambling to want 'scarce resources'!”
He paused, tone becoming even more proud:
“Hiroshi said, what we sell now, isn't the Akita Inu itself, but... is the right of speaking... in the future entire Nippon's Akita Inu market!”
Sakurada Ikuna blankly leaned in Nohara Semashi's embrace, she listened to that powerful heartbeat, feeling that reassuring warm aura on his body, inside her mind yet a patch of chaos.
Right of speaking? Cultural symbols?
These vocabulary sounding profound and unfathomable, making her feel a burst of dizziness.
She only vaguely felt, this fiancée of her own looking honest and sincere, as well as that younger brother of his far away in Tokyo, existing like a god, seemingly exactly playing a game, a game she completely couldn't understand, yet incomparably grand, incomparably shocking... massive chess game.
“Truly is... too awesome.”
She muttered to herself, inside those sparkling large eyes, at this moment only left a kind of, worship and affection originating from the bone marrow.
However, exactly within this warm and also sweet atmosphere, outside the coffee shop, yet suddenly transmitted over a burst of ear-piercing car roaring sound.
That sound, arrogant and also full of provocative meaning, instantly then broke that tranquil artistic atmosphere inside the shop.
Sakurada Ikuna's brows imperceptibly slightly frowned, she subconsciously raised her head, looking towards outside the window, inside those always gentle eyes, flashed an imperceptible trace of annoyance.
“That Ogano Junro came again.”
She softly muttered a sentence, inside that sound, carrying a trace of helplessness and disgust.
Nohara Semashi upon hearing this, the space between the brows also slightly frowned up.
Ogano Junro.
This name, he wasn't unfamiliar.
That was a pestering suitor Ikuna met during working at the coffee shop.
An idling, not engaging in honest work, relying on having a bit of money at home, then all day causing trouble outside... delinquent youth.
Nohara Semashi originally thought, ever since he and Ikuna got engaged, this guy should have retreated after knowing the difficulties.
But didn't expect, over half a year already passed, he actually still lingered on like a ghost!
Exactly at this time, the door of the coffee shop was fiercely pushed open.
“Ding-ling ——”
The wind chime emitted a burst of hurried and also ear-piercing sound, as if prophesying the arrival of an uninvited guest.
A young man looking in early twenties, dressed exceptionally "trendy", stepping paces denying all relatives, swaggeringly walked in.
He wore a set of loose, American hip-hop style clothing printed with exaggerated graffiti, hanging a gold chain thicker than a finger on the neck, wearing a massive gold watch on the wrist, that appearance of a nouveau riche, appeared incompatible with this warm and elegant coffee shop.
On that slightly pale face of his, at this moment hanging an arrogant and also full of provocative smile, those eyes always flashing malicious light, upon seeing Sakurada Ikuna leaning in Nohara Semashi's embrace, instantly then ignited a ball of jealous flame.
“Yo, isn't this Ikuna.”
Ogano Junro's voice, carrying a kind of nauseating greasiness, he walked directly to the front of the two, gaze contemptuously swept a glance at Nohara Semashi, that look, like viewing an eyesore fly.
“What? Not seeing for half a year, still following this country folk ne?”
He curled his lips, inside the tone full of disdain and mockery:
“I already told you early on, following him, won't have futures. You look at him, dressed rustic, at one glance exactly a country bumpkin not having seen the world. You look at me again!”
He proudly straightened his chest, that thick gold chain, flashing blinding light under the illumination.
“I now, am completely different from the past! I already poured all the money at home, into the stock market! Now, I am a huge wealthy tycoon with a net worth of fifty million yen!”
He roared with laughter loudly, that sound, full of arrogance unique to a nouveau riche:
“Ikuna, if you turn back now, it's still in time! Following me, I guarantee letting you live a life above others!”
This "confession" of his full of money and stench of copper, letting Sakurada Ikuna's cheeks, instantly blushed completely red.
That wasn't bashfulness, but... anger!
“Ogano Junro! What nonsense are you spouting!”
Sakurada Ikuna fiercely struggled free from Nohara Semashi's embrace, inside those always gentle eyes of hers, at this moment yet ignited raging flames of anger:
“I already told you early on! Semashi-kun and I already got engaged! What I love is him this person, not his money! Moreover, I exactly like this kind of simple and steady country folk like him, also absolutely won't like this kind of delinquent youth like you, looking unreliable at first glance!”
Her words, like the sharpest knife, accurately poked into that fragile and also inferior heart of Ogano Junro.
“You... what did you say?!”
Ogano Junro's face instantly blushed completely red, that arrogance of a nouveau riche, completely vanished into thin air at this moment, only leaving a kind of flying into a rage from shame after being pierced through the disguise.
He fiercely clenched his fists, inside those malicious eyes, at this moment flashing a kind of nearly crazy anger.
“You actually say I am a delinquent youth?! You actually disdain me?!”
He hysterically roared, that voice, sharp and also ear-piercing:
“I tell you! I now am a huge wealthy tycoon having fifty million yen of stock assets! I am within the time of half a year, using my entire family fortune, exactly wildly increasing out the wealth! I am a stock genius! I tell you! I able to take a fancy to you, is the glory of you this country woman! You actually still dare to disdain me?!”
That flustered and exasperated appearance of his, exactly like a mad dog having its tail stepped on, ugly and also laughable.
Sakurada Ikuna was angered by him to the point her whole body trembled, she still wanted to rebut, yet was gently pressed on the shoulder by a broad and also warm large hand.
Nohara Semashi unknown when, already stood in front of her body, that tall and also solid figure of his, like a mountain, blocking all the wind and rain behind.
He didn't look at that still roaring Ogano Junro, merely gaze peacefully observing his own fiancée, inside those always honest and sincere eyes, at this moment yet flashing a kind of reassuring steadiness.
“Alright, Ikuna, don't lower yourself to the level of a child.”
Nohara Semashi's voice, not loud, yet exactly like the morning bell and evening drum, instantly suppressing down the clamor inside the coffee shop.
He slowly turned his body, gaze peacefully falling onto the body of that still flustered and exasperated Ogano Junro, that look, like viewing an ignorant child, no anger, no disdain, only a kind of... higher-up towards lower-up's, faint disregard.
“I don't want to communicate with a child like this.”
Nohara Semashi's voice, still was that peaceful, that composed, as if what he heard just now, wasn't a bout of speech full of insulting nature, but merely some irrelevant nonsense:
“Moreover, tonight, I still have to accompany my fiancée, to participate in the Mayor Excellency's family banquet. Therefore, please don't here, waste our time.”
His words, resounding and powerful, every single word, all exactly like a heavy hammer, ruthlessly striking onto the heart of Ogano Junro.
“What?! Ma... Mayor Excellency's family banquet?!”
Ogano Junro's body fiercely trembled, those malicious eyes instantly widened, face written full of unbelievable shock!
He blankly looked at Nohara Semashi, inside his mind a patch of blank.
“You... you are spouting nonsense! You a country folk! How is it possible... how is it possible to be invited by the Mayor, to attend a family banquet?!”
He subconsciously rebutted, inside that sound, carrying a trace of unable to suppress trembling.
However, his rebuttal, yet appeared thus pale and powerless.
Because, he saw those peaceful and also profound eyes of Nohara Semashi, inside that gaze, not having the slightest lie, only a kind of, reality making him feel suffocated.
“Country folk?”
Sakurada Ikuna at this moment also cleared her mind from that massive shock, she looked at that panicked and flustered appearance of Ogano Junro, on her face revealed a disdainful cold smile.
She straightened her waist, that pride belonging to a woman, making her appear exceptionally dazzling at this moment.
“Ogano Junro, you listen clearly to me.”
Sakurada Ikuna's voice, crisp and also full of power:
“My fiancé Nohara Semashi, he now is the President of Nohara Agricultural Corporation possessing over thousand acres of land! Just the assets alone, has hundreds of millions of yen! That mere fifty million yen of yours, in front of him, can't even be counted as a fraction!”
Boom ——!
Sakurada Ikuna's words, like the most precise nuclear bomb, instantly resoundingly blasted in Ogano Junro's heart!
Over thousand acres of land!
Hundreds of millions of yen assets!
These tongue-clicking numbers one by one, thoroughly, crushed that fragile self-esteem of his, into fine powder.
He blankly stood in place, on that pale face, all the blood color faded away in a flash, only left a patch of deathly gray.
He looked at that peaceful and also profound face of Nohara Semashi, looking at that face of Sakurada Ikuna full of pride and happiness, that heart already long filled up by money and desires, at this moment, was thoroughly, swallowed up by an unprecedented, emotion named "despair".
He fiercely clenched his teeth tight, inside those malicious eyes, at this moment only left a kind of humiliation and unwillingness after being thoroughly crushed.
He didn't speak one more word, merely fiercely turned around, stepping with staggering paces, exactly like a stray cur, battered and exhausted, escaping out of this coffee shop.
That back figure, full of flustered and distress, forming a sharp contrast with that arrogance and unbridledness when he just came in.
Looking at that battered and exhausted appearance of him, Sakurada Ikuna finally contentedly, revealed a brilliant smile of a prank succeeding.
She turned her body, once again pouncing into Nohara Semashi's embrace, that pride and happiness originating from the bottom of the heart, making her feel herself as if possessing the whole world.
“Semashi-kun, you just now... were truly too handsome!”
She raised that fair and beautiful small face, inside those sparkling large eyes, brimming with worship and affection towards the fiancé.
Nohara Semashi merely honestly and sincerely smiled, he reached out his hand, gently rubbing her hair, that gentleness, like spring breeze brushing past her heart field.
“But speaking of which,”
Sakurada Ikuna's mouth corners, hooking up a sly arc, that look, like a little fox having successfully stolen fish:
“That guy just now, exactly like a child everywhere showing off his toys, not mature at all.”
“Yeah.”
Nohara Semashi nodded his head, he looked at this charming and adorable little woman in his embrace, inside the gaze flashed an imperceptible trace of doting and... decision.
“Ikuna.”
He softly opened his mouth, voice not loud, yet full of power:
“From today on, don't work here anymore.”
Sakurada Ikuna upon hearing this, slightly stunned. She raised her head, inside those sparkling large eyes, full of bewilderment.
“Why ah?”
She inexplicably asked.
“Because...”
Nohara Semashi's gaze, casted towards that patch of vast Akita countryside outside the window, gaze profound and also full of expectations:
“Our Nohara Agricultural Corporation, currently is exactly the time needing to use people. I need an, capable of helping me manage the company, capable of fighting side by side with me... good wife.”
He paused, gaze once again falling onto Sakurada Ikuna's face, inside that gaze full of sincerity:
“Therefore, Ikuna, are you willing to come help me?”
Sakurada Ikuna looking at that face of Nohara Semashi full of expectations, that heart already long thoroughly conquered by him, at this moment, was thoroughly, filled up by an unprecedented, emotion named "happiness".
She knew, this wasn't only a job invitation, even more an, deepest trust and entrusting, coming from the fiancé.
Her cheeks, "swish" blushing completely red, like a thoroughly ripe apple.
She gently nodded her head, that sound, soft like a mosquito, yet also full of firmness:
“En... I... I'm willing.”
She paused, seemingly again thought of something, on that bashfully red pretty face, surfaced a trace of cute worry:
“But... but I don't know how to do anything ah. When the time comes, you can't disdain me for being clumsy.”
Nohara Semashi upon hearing this, on his face revealed a brilliant smile.
He reached out both arms, tightly, tightly circling this warm fragrance and soft jade little woman in his embrace, as if wanting to rub her into his own bones and blood.
“Absolutely won't.”
He moved close to her ear, using a kind of voice only the two of them could hear, softly, yet incomparably firmly, making out that, eternal vow, belonging to the two of them.
Outside the window, spring breeze brushing past, cherry blossoms brilliantly blooming, decorating this patch of countryside full of love and hope, exactly like a dream illusion.
The air inside the coffee shop, yet due to that brief and also intense confrontation just now, fell into a kind of peculiar silence.
The scattered few customers, all subconsciously casted their gazes towards the door, looking at that back figure arrogant just now, at this moment yet escaping battered and exhausted exactly like a stray cur, inside the gaze full of mockery and... a trace of reverence.
Mockery was towards that young man wearing American hip-hop style.
And their reverent gazes, yet all converged onto that tall and also steady figure —— Nohara Semashi.
This man who normally always dressed plainly, looking identical to them, all ordinary country folks, at this moment yet emitted a kind of, powerful aura making them feel both unfamiliar and reverent.
“Aiyaya! Ikuna-chan, you are truly... found a good man ah!”
Behind the bar counter, that coffee shop proprietress approaching fifty years old, always smiling, at this moment exactly carrying two cups of just brewed still emitting hot steam coffee, stepping brisk paces walking over.
On that face of hers always hanging genial smiles, at this moment written full of sincere praise and envy.
She gently placed the coffee onto the table in front of the two, those eyes always flashing astute light, at this moment yet full of appreciation towards Nohara Semashi and a trace of currying favor.
“President Nohara.”
She even changed the address, inside the tone carrying a few parts of perfectly appropriate respect:
“That bout of speech of yours just now, is truly... too grand in spirit! That stinky brat of the Ogano family, someone should have properly taught him a lesson long ago! Relying on having a few stinky money at home, then all day causing trouble outside, simply the disgrace of our Omagari City!”
She paused, again casting the gaze towards Sakurada Ikuna, inside that gaze, full of an elder's care and gratification towards a junior:
“Ikuna-chan ah, you truly have good eyes! President Nohara he, not only career successful, conducting oneself modestly, more importantly, he has sense of responsibility, has sense of duty! This is exactly the true man worthy of entrusting lifelong!”
Sakurada Ikuna upon hearing this, cheeks once again "swish" blushing completely red.
She bashfully lowered her head, that acknowledgement and praise coming from others, making her that heart already long filled up by happiness, at this moment, even more exactly like being poured with honey, sweet to the point of being cloying.
Nohara Semashi merely honestly and sincerely smiled, he scratched his head, that simplicity and sincerity, making him appear exceptionally charming at this moment.
“Proprietress you overpraise.”
He softly opened his mouth, tone peaceful and modest:
“I only... only did matters I should do that's all.”
“Aiya! President Nohara you are too modest!”
The proprietress smilingly saying, she glanced at Nohara Semashi, again glanced at Sakurada Ikuna, inside that gaze, full of gossip and curiosity:
“Speaking of which, President Nohara, I just heard you say, you tonight going to attend the Mayor Excellency's family banquet? This... this is real?”
Her voice just fell, those few customers inside the shop originally still conversing in low voices, instantly then pricked up their ears, that curiosity, practically about to spew out from inside their bodies.
Mayor Excellency's family banquet!
This towards ordinary country folks like them, is simply an unimaginable glory!
“En, it's real.”
Nohara Semashi nodded his head, he knew, this kind of matter, couldn't be hidden.
He paused, again adding a sentence:
“It's personally invited by the Mayor Excellency, saying is... in the name of families, enhancing enhancing feelings.”
Boom ——!
Nohara Semashi's words, exactly like thunder on flat ground, instantly resoundingly blasted inside the coffee shop!
“What?!”
“Mayor Excellency personally invited?!”
“Still in the name of families?!”
“Oh my god! President Nohara! You... you are simply too awesome!”
After brief death-like silence, inside the shop instantly fell into a patch of massive clamor and commotion!
Those few customers originally still watching the spectacle, at this moment all excited to the point of being incoherent, faces written full of unbelievable shock!
They looked at Nohara Semashi, inside that gaze, full of envy, jealousy, as well as a kind of, reverence originating from the bone marrow!
They knew, Nohara Semashi, this man who normally looked identical to them, all ordinary country folks, had already, step by step walked towards the height they, could never reach matching!
He, already became, the most highly sought after, star of tomorrow of their Omagari City, and even the entire Akita Prefecture!
......
Night color like water, dyeing the streets of Omagari City with a layer of gentle golden color.
“Shofutei”
, this high-end ryotei famous for exquisite kaiseki cuisine and elegant courtyard, at this moment exactly brightly lit, the entrance parked full of various luxurious sedans of considerable value.
When Nohara Semashi's that Toyota Land Cruiser, slowly drove into the parking lot, immediately then attracted the gazes of quite a few people.
However, when they saw the one walking down from the car, was exactly that Nohara Semashi nowadays gaining fame and reputation in Omagari City, as well as that one beside him, exactly like walking out from a painting, gentle and moving Sakurada Ikuna, the expressions inside the gazes all instantly transformed into understanding and envy.
“Aiyaya! Semashi-kun! Ikuna-miss! You finally arrived!”
At the entrance of the ryotei, Mayor Ito Kenji, as well as that wife of his wearing gorgeous kimono, appearing poised and luxurious, already waited for a long time.
They upon seeing Nohara Semashi and Sakurada Ikuna, then immediately bringing smiles all over the face welcoming up, that enthusiasm, as if it wasn't a Mayor receiving the merchants of a subordinate region, but a cordial elder, welcoming the junior he liked the most.
“Mayor Excellency! Madam Mayor!”
Nohara Semashi and Sakurada Ikuna hurriedly bowed returning the greeting, that modesty and composure, perfectly appropriate.
“Aiya! Quickly get up, quickly get up!”
Ito Kenji smilingly saying, he glanced at Sakurada Ikuna, towards this ordinary girl, didn't have the slightest contempt, instead enthusiastically nodding saying:
“This one, exactly is Ikuna-miss right? Truly is... a standard beauty ah! Semashi-kun, you are truly having good fortune ah!”
His wife also followed chiming in, she held Sakurada Ikuna's hand, face brimming with loving smile:
“Yeah, Ikuna-miss, you are truly... too beautiful! Me this acting as auntie, looking at it all likes it! Quickly, quickly come in, it's cold outside.”
Sakurada Ikuna was praised by them to the point cheeks blushing crimson, that acknowledgement and praise coming from higher-ups, making her feel a burst of being overwhelmed by unexpected favor.
She subconsciously glanced at Nohara Semashi beside her, inside that gaze, full of reliance and affection.
Nohara Semashi merely smiled, he reached out his hand, gently holding the fiancée's hand, that warmth and power, letting her instantly then feel reassured down.
Inside the private room, already prepared a sumptuous kaiseki cuisine.
Exquisite utensils, meticulous presentation, as well as those dishes exactly like artworks one by one, all displaying the standard and sincerity of this family banquet.
During the banquet, the Ito Kenji couple, towards Nohara Semashi and Sakurada Ikuna, showed utmost solicitude, inquiring after their well-being.
They didn't talk about official matters, only chatting about family matters, from Nohara Semashi's childhood fun, to Sakurada Ikuna's hobbies and interests, from Nohara Hiroshi's movie dreams, to their future wedding plans.
That closeness, that enthusiasm, let Nohara Semashi and Sakurada Ikuna, all feel an unprecedented, satisfaction of being valued, being acknowledged.
They knew, this family banquet, wasn't only as simple as a meal.
It was even more a silent "political investment", an "exchange of interests" full of warmth and calculation.
And they, Nohara Semashi and Sakurada Ikuna, as well as the entire Nohara family behind them, will all inside this "investment", obtain unimaginably massive returns.
......
Exactly when this family banquet in Omagari City, was proceeding like a raging fire.
Inside a luxurious hot spring inn not far from Omagari City, a "family trial" full of anger and unwillingness, was also quietly staging.
“Slap!”
A crisp slapping sound, resounded inside the silent room, appearing exceptionally ear-piercing.
On that already pale face of Ogano Junro, instantly then surfaced a clear five-finger mark, that burning pain, making that heart of his already filled up by humiliation and unwillingness, at this moment, even more exactly like being thrown into a boiling oil pot, instantly then boiling up.
“You this unfilial son! You... you are simply trying to anger me to death!”
Ogano Jijiro, this somewhat famous and prestigious rice shop President in Omagari City, at this moment exactly angered to the point his whole body trembled, he pointed at his own disappointing son, on that face always hanging genial smiles, at this moment written full of unable to suppress anger.
He just received a phone call from a friend, inside the phone, that friend used a kind of schadenfreude tone, taking the entire process of how his son today in the coffee shop, "courting death", vividly and colorfully, describing it to him once.
When he heard, his own son actually dared to publicly insult Nohara Semashi, even dared to mock him being a "country folk", Ogano Jijiro felt his own heart, almost about to jump out from the throat.
Nohara Semashi!
That nowadays in Omagari City, and even the entire Akita Prefecture, highly sought after "hot person"!
That "big figure" with Nohara Hiroshi standing behind, even the Mayor Excellency also has to yield three points!
This stupid son of his own, actually... actually dared to go provoke him?!
This is simply courting death!
“Dad! You... on what basis did you hit me?!”
Ogano Junro捂着 held his own burning cheek, inside those malicious eyes, at this moment full of unyielding and resentment:
“I... where did I speak wrongly?! That Nohara Semashi, isn't he exactly a country folk?! He...”
“You still dare to be stubborn!”
Ogano Jijiro angrily again raised his hand, but ultimately, still helplessly put it down.
He looked at this spoiled son of his own, that anger, gradually replaced by a kind of deep powerlessness and fear.
He knew, this time of his own, truly provoked huge trouble.
“Country folk?”
Ogano Jijiro sneered a sound, inside that sound, full of self-mockery and... fear:
“What do you know?! That Nohara Semashi, he now exactly the President of Nohara Agricultural Corporation possessing over thousand acres of land! Just the assets alone, has hundreds of millions of yen! That mere fifty million yen of yours, in front of him, don't even count as a fart!”
He paused, tone becoming even more solemn, that fear, almost about to thoroughly swallow him up:
“Moreover, do you know, who his younger brother is?! It's Nohara Hiroshi! That Nohara Hiroshi who filmed "Seven Deadly Sins" and "Hachiko Monogatari"! That Nohara Hiroshi even the Tokyo Metropolis Governor has to personally receive!”
“You... you actually dared to go provoke him?! Do you feel our Ogano family, dies not fast enough right?!”
“Current Nohara Semashi's relationship with JA is extremely good, also still buying land in Omagari City! We are but a rice shop! The rice of the entire Omagari City are all acquired by us! If Nohara Semashi this country folk, united with other country folks, not selling rice to us! What end do you think we will have!?”
Ogano Jijiro angrily roaring, that fear, making this normally living a pampered rich life President of his, also lost confidence towards his own this son.
Especially looking at Ogano Junro this set of hip-hop style.
Even more letting him hate to the point teeth itching.
This people from the older generation of his, definitely dislikes America!
Ogano Junro blankly stood in place, he listened to father's roaring, inside his mind continuously replaying Sakurada Ikuna's that face full of pride and happiness, as well as Nohara Semashi's those peaceful and also profound eyes.
That heart of his already long filled up by money and desires, at this moment, was thoroughly swallowed up by an emotion named "fear".
He fiercely clenched his teeth tight, inside those malicious eyes, at this moment only left a kind of, despair and unwillingness after being thoroughly crushed.
He knew, this time of his own, truly kicked an iron plate.
Although he earned quite a bit of money through stocks, but he also understood very well, if his own family's chain rice shop and rice trading business appeared problems, his own home, exactly truly going to go bankrupt!
......
Under that quaint and elegant porch of "Shofutei", the gentle lantern halo dyed the returning late spring night with a layer of warm color.
The Ito Kenji couple and Nohara Semashi and Ikuna after bidding farewell, then drove away leaving.
Until those taillights representing authority thoroughly disappeared at the corner of the street, Sakurada Ikuna only then let out a long sigh of relief, inside that breath, carrying a trace of as if being relieved of a heavy burden, also carrying a trace of trance exactly like a dream illusion.
She subconsciously turned her head, those sparkling large eyes under the light, at this moment exactly unblinkingly viewing that tall and also steady figure beside her, inside the sound carrying a trace of uncertainty, exactly like floating in the clouds.
“Semashi-kun... I... I'm not dreaming right? We... we just now, truly ate dinner together with the Mayor Excellency and his Madam? Moreover it was still the Mayor paying the bill?”
She felt her own both feet still somewhat soft, those two hours inside the private room just now, simply more tiring than her continuously working ten hours in the coffee shop.
That kind of formless pressure coming from upper society, as well as the massive mental impact brought by talking cheerfully and humorously with the Mayor couple, making that ordinary maiden heart of hers, at this moment still exactly like a frightened little deer, thumping straight jumping.
Looking at the fiancée's that cute appearance of being thoroughly dumbfounded, inside Nohara Semashi's heart surged up a stream of unable to be explained clearly gentleness and pride.
Once upon a time, he was also exactly a country kid like this, tense for half a day even when seeing the Village Chief.
But now, he actually already able to unhurriedly, sharing alcohol at the same table with the Mayor Excellency, talking cheerfully and humorously.
This growth, this metamorphosis, all originated from that younger brother far away in Tokyo, existing like a god.
Also originated from, that steadiness and confidence accumulated by himself rolling and crawling during this period of time.
“Of course not dreaming.”
Nohara Semashi honestly and sincerely smiled, he reached out his hand, gently rubbing Ikuna's smooth long hair, that gentleness, like spring breeze brushing past her heart field.
He walked to beside that Toyota Land Cruiser fully sufficient in overbearingness, gentlemanly pulling open the passenger seat's car door for her, that action, natural and also full of sense of power.
“Come up, my future Nohara Semashi Madam.”
He smilingly saying, that gentleness carrying a few parts of overbearingness, making Sakurada Ikuna's cheeks, once again "swish" blushing completely red:
“I'll send you home.”
The car steadily drove amidst the night color, outside the car window, the street scenes of Omagari City slowly retreated backwards, under the illumination of neon lights, appearing tranquil and also full of life's aura.
Inside the car cabin, that excited heart of Sakurada Ikuna, yet still unable to calm down.
She turned her head sideways, looking at Nohara Semashi's that side face appearing exceptionally distinct in edges under the dim light, inside those sparkling large eyes, brimming with unable to suppress worship and affection.
“Semashi-kun, you are truly too awesome!”
She couldn't help but sigh with emotion saying, inside that sound, full of praise originating from the heart:
“I just now at the dining table, heard the Mayor Excellency and Madam saying, when we get married at the end of the year, he... he actually going to personally officiate the marriage for us! That is but the Mayor Excellency ah! I... I simply dare not believe my own ears!”
In her view, this is simply the supreme glory of honoring ancestors, bringing glory to the family gate!
Nohara Semashi upon hearing this, on his face also revealed a brilliant smile.
He steadily controlled the steering wheel, that composure and confidence, making him appear exceptionally charming at this moment.
“Yeah, I also didn't expect, the Mayor Excellency would give face this much.”
He softly opened his mouth, inside the tone carrying a trace of sighing with emotion, also carrying a trace of pride:
“This isn't only valuing towards the two of us, even more towards our entire Nohara family, acknowledgement towards Hiroshi. The Mayor Excellency he ah, is a smart person, he knows, our Nohara family, futures promising.”
This respect coming from the Mayor, making him this man normally immersing in hard work, also felt an unprecedented, satisfaction of being acknowledged, being valued.
“But speaking of which,”
Sakurada Ikuna's mouth corners, hooking up a sly arc, that look, like a little fox having successfully stolen fish:
“I just now at the dining table, also heard you say, our family's Akita Inus, one head going to sell one million yen now? This... this is also too exaggerated right? They... are they truly worth that much money?”
This question, already held back in her heart for a whole night.
In her view, Akita Inus although cute, although loyal, but after all only dogs, how is it possible to sell out such sky-high price?
Nohara Semashi upon hearing this, on his face revealed a mysterious smile.
He knew, this was younger brother Nohara Hiroshi, teaching him, the most important "business lesson".
“Ikuna, listen to me.”
Nohara Semashi's voice, became low and also full of power, that confidence, making Sakurada Ikuna also feel a trace of unfamiliarity:
“Current Akita Inus, are not the Akita Inus of the past anymore. They, are split into two kinds.”
He paused, tone becoming even more solemn:
“One kind, is the native dogs able to be seen everywhere in Akita Prefecture. Perhaps they are also very cute, also very loyal, but they, don't have 'identity', don't have 'bloodline', therefore, they aren't worth money.”
(End of Chapter)