novelraw Chapter 58: Everyone Meets
Chapter 58: Everyone Meets
The Shinkansen "Hikari" was like a white steel long serpent, traveling steadily and swiftly across the lands of the country of Neon.
The scenery outside the car window was dragged into streaks of blurry greenery and gray shadows, fleeting momentarily, exceedingly resembling the unreturning past times in certain people's hearts.
Koyama Yoshiharu had his hair combed back, his face rigid, holding a cup of steaming hot green tea impeccably straight like a samurai. It was as if what he held in his hand wasn't a paper cup but a precious tea utensil passed down for hundreds of years.
He took small sips, the boiling hot tea sliding down his throat, yet completely failing to melt that face of his that was as cold and hard as the winter rocks in Kumamoto Prefecture.
His gaze was serene, yet carried an unsuppressible burning anger.
As if the next second it would erupt from those not too large eyes and burn all the unruly hustle and bustle in this carriage to ashes.
A career serving as Head Teacher for twenty years made him accustomed to maintaining order using silence and gazes.
Unfortunately.
On this train heading to Tokyo, his majesty obviously didn't have much of a market.
Especially thinking about his second daughter who made him both love and angry, Koyama Misae. As a father, his heart couldn't help feeling sulky and angry.After all, according to Koyama Yoshiharu's arrangements, the life of his second daughter at this time should be staying obediently in their hometown Kumamoto Prefecture attending blind dates, marrying the son of a local civil servant whose roots and bottom line were well known.
Rather than having her heart abducted by an unknown kid popping out from nowhere.
To the point that upon thinking about these matters, Koyama Yoshiharu felt his blood pressure soaring faster than the speed of this Shinkansen!
Especially hearing the muttering complaints of the old lady beside him.
Koyama Yoshiharu's face grew even gloomier.
"Aiya, honestly, a single bento costs 1500 yen, this is way too expensive!"
His wife sitting beside him, Koyama Takasae, was sighing at the menu. On that well-maintained face was written full of denunciation towards Tokyo's commodity prices: "If it was in Kumamoto, this price would be enough for our entire family to eat a decent set meal."
"Hmph." Koyama Yoshiharu let out a cold snort from his nasal cavity, serving as a response to his wife's words.
He upheld his status and was disdainful to answer these words.
Of course.
The family members also didn't expect this old man who had been extremely pedantic and strict since serving as a Head Teacher to say any comforting words.
"Mommy is right, it is a bit expensive." The eldest daughter sitting beside the mother, Koyama Masae, echoed gently at this time.
She wore a decent beige suit, her temperament gentle and demure, just like her father Koyama Yoshiharu, her bones permeating a conservatism and reserve belonging to traditional local elites.
As a middle school teacher, her planning towards money had always been carefully calculated.
After all, she had already stepped into society.
And knew the importance of money.
However, before she finished speaking, a voice as crisp as a wind chime sounded, carrying a bit of disapproving teasing.
"Sister, Mommy, aren't you guys making too big a fuss over a minor issue?"
Sitting on the outermost side, holding a fashion magazine and reading with profound interest, the youngest daughter Koyama Musae spoke without raising her head: "This is a Shinkansen heading to Tokyo hey! What kind of place is Tokyo? It is the capital of Neon, it is an internationalized metropolis! The commodity prices are of course expensive, this is called integrating with international standards!"
Reaching the end, those dark and glossy large eyes of hers flashed with an undisguised yearning towards that prosperous metropolis legendary for being full of opportunities and handsome guys everywhere.
Seeing the gaze of his youngest daughter, Koyama Yoshiharu's eyebrows furrowed even deeper.
He put down the teacup, using that sharp gaze unique to Head Teachers that seemed capable of penetrating all disguises to stare at his youngest daughter, speaking in a low voice:
"Musae, upon arriving in Tokyo, don't make a fuss over minor matters, and even more so don't let that fake prosperity infatuate your eyes. The people of Tokyo, in their bones, all look down upon us people coming from small places. You must remember, our Koyama family in Kumamoto is also a family with prestige, don't go outside and lose face."
Although these words were spoken to Koyama Musae.
It was also spoken to his wife Koyama Takasae and eldest daughter Koyama Masae.
"Hah?"
But youngest daughter Musae upon hearing this rolled her eyes exaggeratedly, closed the magazine and complained: "Daddy, our family is just an ordinary civil servant family, what prestige do we have. Besides, what era is it now, who still looks down upon whom?"
As she spoke, she leaned her body forward, that youthfully vibrant small face instantly lit up by gossip and excitement:
"Moreover, I heard second sister say on the phone that her boyfriend is super formidable! Not only a minorly famous manga artist, he also works at TV Tokyo. Already a director assistant at such a young age, and even participated in planning that most popular horror anime right now! Deeply appreciated by their Section Chief!"
She paused, holding her face with both hands, those large eyes already starting to bubble with pink bubbles: "Aiya, I wonder... is he handsome?"
"Cough! Cough cough!"
Koyama Yoshiharu was violently choked by a mouthful of tea water, coughing severely, that cold and hard face blushing into the color of pig liver.
He deadly clenched the paper cup in his hand. That pitiful cup let out an overwhelmed moan in his hand that trembled slightly due to anger.
Nohara Hiroshi!
This name was like a poisoned awl fiercely stabbing into his heart.
Not only abducted the second daughter he loved the most, now, even this worrisome youngest daughter was about to be corrupted by that kid's sugar-coated bullets!
Moreover, there weren't even sugar-coated bullets yet!
"Wait until we arrive in Tokyo."
Koyama Yoshiharu gritted his teeth, speaking word by word, that voice like squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a stubborness unique to Kumamoto Prefecture: "I definitely will let that kid know, the daughters of our Koyama family, aren't that easy to abduct! I'd like to see just how much he weighs!"
He wanted to give him a show of strength, a show of strength unforgettable for a lifetime!
Beside him, Koyama Takasae looked at her husband's flustered and exasperated appearance, but the corners of her mouth curled up into a helpless and pampering smile.
She knew, this husband of hers who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside, was nothing more than a paper tiger.
Only, when her gaze shot towards that rapidly passing scenery outside the window, deep within those gentle eyes, involuntarily rippled a deep worry towards that second daughter far away in Tokyo.
...
Tokyo, Isetan Department Store.
This is the sanctuary of material desires, the weather vane of trends. Floating in the air was a dazzling smell consisting of a mix of high-end perfumes, leather products, and money.
"Hiroshi-kun, this... isn't this too expensive?"
Misae watched Nohara Hiroshi unhesitatingly place an exquisitely packaged bottle of "Juyondai" sake into the shopping basket, that exquisite small face written full of heartache for the money.
She knew, the retail price of this legendary "Phantom Sake" was enough to equal her entire living expenses for the past month.
"To deal with a stubborn tank-type boss, one must use special attack weapons." Nohara Hiroshi pushed the shopping cart, a smile of devising strategies within a command tent hanging on his face.
That posture, didn't seem like shopping, but rather like configuring ultimate weapons for an impending final battle.
He then led Misae to the dessert section on the basement level, and in front of the counter of "Wako" that always had a long queue, he used an authoritative tone allowing no room for interference to say to the exquisitely made-up shop assistant: "That seasonal limited white strawberry cake you guys newly released today, please give me one."
"Hiroshi-kun!" Misae stomped her feet anxiously.
Even knowing this was purchasing gifts for her family, this kind of procurement regardless of cost made even her feel the pain in the wallet!
But Nohara Hiroshi instead gave Koyama Misae a reassuring smile.
Takeshi Kaneshiro's brilliant smile.
Thinking about the perfect servicing experience Koyama Misae gave him inside the car, Nohara Hiroshi would absolutely not fail this destined wife who loyally followed him.
"To deal with a gentle support and intelligence officer type, one must use limited edition items, one hit absolute kill."
Thus Nohara Hiroshi didn't turn back, merely pulling out a credit card flashing with golden light from his wallet.
Making the eyes of the shop assistants in front of him light up on the spot.
Who doesn't like a golden legend!?
Next, he used an almost sweeping posture to select a set of Shiseido's highest-end skincare products for the domineering eldest sister Masae; and bought the newest Chanel lipstick and cosmetics for the vain youngest sister Musae.
When the two walked out from Isetan's revolving doors carrying large and small bags, Misae still felt like she was stepping on clouds, somewhat dizzy.
She looked at the man beside her who carried twice as many shopping bags as her yet remained calm and collected. In those watery large eyes, flashed an almost intoxicated light.
She never thought, one day, she too could be like the female protagonists in those fashion magazines, enjoying this pampering of being held in the palm of ones hands and spending as much as one liked.
"Let's go, my Princess Highness."
Nohara Hiroshi swapped the shopping bags in his hands to one hand, then naturally held her small hand. In that tone, carried a bit of teasing only the two of them understood: "Our castle, is still waiting for us in the parking lot."
...
Tokyo Station, Shinkansen exit.
The surging crowd of people surged like a river constrained by invisible dams, erupting from the narrow ticket gates, instantly filling up this small square.
Misae somewhat nervously gripped Nohara Hiroshi's clothing corner. On that small face that always bore a bit of vitality, at this moment was written full of the apprehension of an ugly daughter-in-law meeting her parents-in-law.
Of course, who she should be meeting at this time was her biological parents, yet she instead felt a guilty conscience at this time.
After all, originally coming to Tokyo was a spur of the moment decision for her.
And upon arriving she found a boyfriend.
And cohabitated together.
The current Neon was still relatively traditional, and her parents were also considerably traditional, Koyama Misae would of course feel a guilty conscience.
"Hiroshi-kun... I... I'm a bit scared..." Her teeth lightly bit her pink lips, her voice trembling.
"Scared of what?"
Nohara Hiroshi gently squeezed her small hand. That warm touch, like a warm current, instantly smoothed the uneasiness in her heart: "You just need to remember, from today onwards, you are no longer alone. Behind you, stands me, stands our castle."
His voice was not loud, yet carried a steadiness sufficient to resist thousands of troops and horses.
Misae's heart was set at ease.
Nohara Hiroshi comforted Misae a few more sentences, seeing Misae's cute pretty face also relax, he also revealed a smile at this time, the strength of the hand holding her small hand tightening even further.
Right at this moment, Misae's eyes violently lit up.
"Daddy! Mommy! Over here!"
She stood on her tiptoes, forcefully waving her arms.
Within the crowd, a family carrying luggage was somewhat dazedly looking around in all directions. The one heading them, was precisely that Koyama Yoshiharu with a rigid face acting as if the whole world owed him money.
When his gaze, met the young man holding his daughter's hand for the first time, within those eyes that weren't large to begin with, two sharp lights like searchlights erupted instantly.
He's here.
Nohara Hiroshi chuckled lightly in his heart, yet hung the most humble and gentle smile on his face. He led Misae and went up to greet them.
"Uncle, Auntie, Sister, and this is sister Musae right? You must have had a hard journey."
He gave a standard ninety-degree bow, his posture impeccable, his voice warm as jade: "I am Nohara Hiroshi, Misae's... boyfriend."
Koyama Yoshiharu let out a cold snort of unclear meaning.
Those sharp eyes of his, like X-rays, thoroughly swept Nohara Hiroshi up and down carefully from head to toe.
He looked well-dressed enough, unfortunately, he didn't look like someone who could endure hardship.
"Mhm." He merely answered faintly, and stopped looking at him, instead turning to say to his daughter: "Misae, carry the luggage properly. We will go find the subway station first, heading to where you live."
He deliberately emphasized those three syllables "subway station" especially heavily, the implied meaning going without saying.
However, Nohara Hiroshi acting as if he hadn't heard that show of strength at all, merely continuing to smile and say: "Uncle, no need for that trouble. I have already arranged a car, it's just in the parking lot."
"A car?" Koyama Yoshiharu was stunned, then a smear of mocking ridicule surfaced on his face: "Rented?"
In his view, for young people struggling in Tokyo at such a young age, being able to afford renting a small Corolla was already considered very capable.
Nohara Hiroshi didn't answer, merely making a gesture of please.
"Yoshiharu!" Right beside him, the mother Koyama Takasae tugged his arm and pouted lightly, clearly a bit angry at the old man for being so stern.
And proactively spoke: "It is Nohara-kun right? Misae told me about you, a very young and promising good boy."
This could be considered easing the atmosphere.
"Thank you." Nohara Hiroshi chuckled lightly.
Leading everyone to continue walking forward.
The group of people passed through the noisy station hall and arrived at the underground parking lot.
Then when Koyama Yoshiharu saw that Toyota Crown Majesta entirely pitch-black, smooth lines, and even under the dim lighting still radiating a steady and restrained kingly aura. That always rigid face of his, for the first time, appeared a trace of a crack.
"This... this is..." He somewhat couldn't believe his own eyes.
"Wah! It's a Crown! And a Majesta too!" Beside them, Musae had already let out an undisguised exclamation. Those large eyes of hers flashed with a light even brighter than seeing any handsome guy.
Young people all know cars.
What's more, Toyota is Neon's national-level brand, how could she, this fashionable young girl, not understand?
Nohara Hiroshi pressed the car key once.
Two light "beep beep" sounds, that luxury car resembling a black steed lit up two bright headlights, as if giving its owner its most respectful greetings.
He pulled open the rear car door. That interior exuding the scent of premium wood and genuine leather, that space spacious enough for an adult to cross their legs, like an open laughing mouth, revealed that bit of petty complacency in Nohara Hiroshi's heart.
"Uncle, Auntie, please get in the car."
Nohara Hiroshi's voice, remained gentle, remained humble.
This is a Toyota Crown.
Majesta!
The front passenger seat for the prospective father-in-law Koyama Yoshiharu, the super-large space in the back seating the prospective mother-in-law, eldest sister-in-law, and youngest sister-in-law, plus Misae, squeezing a bit just made it possible to sit spaciously.
The space of a super-large luxury car is truly just spacious!
"Ah... then let's get in the car." Koyama Yoshiharu gulped his saliva at this time. When looking at Nohara Hiroshi, his complexion was also a bit off.
This car is so brand new.
Just like newly bought... absolutely didn't seem like a rented used car.
He thought of what he heard on the phone from his daughter Koyama Misae saying Nohara Hiroshi was highly appreciated by the leaders of TV Tokyo, it was said not just Section Chiefs but even the Deputy Bureau Chief above greatly appreciated this young man.
Therefore Koyama Yoshiharu inhaled a breath of cold air: "Could it be the Deputy Bureau Chief of TV Tokyo appreciates Nohara Hiroshi so much that he even lent such a fine luxury car to him?"
In a Neon that dislikes bothering others, being able to lend one's own luxury car to a subordinate, that belongs to the level of trusted confidant!
PS: Brothers, begging for monthly tickets, begging for recommendation tickets~