The Gemini Princess wants me to confess my feelings!

Chapter 88 "Recognition"

Let's talk about it next year.

next year.

This is an agreement, isn't it?

Agreement, what a beautiful word.

One year, two years, three years, four years—with agreements come expectations, and with expectations comes the future.

Having people to share the future with is the best medicine against madness.

Kirihara Akatsuki got a good night's sleep.

He was savoring that "kiss".

He was too lazy to think about whether it was a kiss, what it represented, or how Mori Kiyoha really viewed him.

The more people think about their emotions, the more uneasy they become.

Just enjoy it.

Having witnessed her rebelliousness, irritability, and indifference, now it's time to enjoy her straightforwardness, authenticity, and warmth.

This is Mori Kiyoha, every single one of them is her.

Mori Shizue's companionship was more rational, restrained, and introverted.

Kirihara Akira didn't know what the lady thought of his crazy actions, or what had happened behind the scenes, but the fact that everything was normal and he was safe and sound in the end was enough to show that she had put in a lot of effort.

There are two exceptionally good girls in this family.

My dreams that night were as sweet as that kiss.

The next day, he slept until noon, and was eventually woken up by a phone call.

Kirihara Akatsuki, still half-asleep with her head buried in the pillow, held her phone half-handled and looked at her ear, saying, "Hello, who is this?"

"It's me, Young Master Kirihara."

The man's voice sounded unfamiliar. Who was it?

Kirihara Akira took a moment to react, then suddenly woke up, sat up, and said, "Hino Harufumi?"

"It's me," Hino Harufumi said. "Please forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye a few days ago. Firstly, I was seriously injured and took a long time to recover. Secondly, I really didn't know what a suitable time would be to contact you. The situation was too chaotic."

"We've finally managed to make this call after things had calmed down for so long."

"I understand," Kirihara Akatsuki said. "Where are you now? Are you safe?"

"I have a safe house, which I've maintained quite a bit in the past," Hino Harufumi said. "Now that I have the time, if it's convenient for you, Mr. Kirihara, we can meet in person."

After a moment's thought, Kirihara Akira said, "Okay, I'll choose the place."

"Of course, I know the rules," Hino Harufumi said. "It's still this number. Contact me anytime if anything happens."

Then Hino Harufumi hung up the phone.

Kirihara Akatsuki stretched and made a comfortable sound before lying back down.

"Young Master was sleeping soundly." Asahi Kasano swaggered in without knocking, just like usual. He was about to make a teasing remark when his face turned red: "You're quite energetic even after waking up."

After all, he's a high school boy, and it's normal for Kogiri to be in a daze after just waking up.

Come to think of it, this isn't the first time something like this has happened.

Having lived in this house for so long, if there's anything Kirihara Akira has learned, it's how to accept other people's services with a clear conscience.

Asahi Kazusa prepared toiletries and helped him take off his shirt.

She prepared a damp towel and wiped away the sweat that had accumulated on Kirihara Akira's body from the heat and stuffiness after sleeping for so long.

Kirihara Akira noticed that Asahi Kasane seemed a bit reserved today.

In the past, she would have made good use of such a good opportunity to seduce someone. Even if she only dared to talk flirtatiously, she would never skimp on her verbal skills.

However, Kirihara Akira was too lazy to ask why.

Too much closeness breeds disrespect, too little breeds resentment—this is probably a sound principle. Trying to decipher the thoughts of every beautiful woman would be exhausting.

Kirihara Akira said, "I'm going out in a bit."

"Oh, should I take a shower first?" Asahi Kasana asked. "We're meeting guests, so we should at least present ourselves properly."

"No need, it's not like I'm meeting any strangers," Kirihara Akatsuki said, still feeling a bit strange. She looked down and asked, "Why are you being so polite today?"

"No way," Asahi Kasane said, gesturing with her lips. "I have always respected you, and that respect has never wavered."

"Respect..." Kirihara Akira pursed her lips, reaching into her sleeve to let her change her undershirt. "Tell me honestly, did something happen last night?"

"I can't say that this is the basic professional ethics of a servant," Asahi Kasana said. "I can only say that Madam wants you to study at a private school from now until graduation, and you must get into Keimei University."

Kirihara Akira was somewhat surprised and said, "We didn't have any definite news before, but you've already secured it today?"

Asahi and Kanade unconsciously mimicked his mannerisms, saying, "The lady must have given instructions a long time ago, I guess. Anyway, judging from Shimizu's confident look, this matter is a done deal, there won't be any surprises."

"I thought that Madam would be extremely dissatisfied with my performance yesterday," Kirihara Akira said.

Asahi Kasai paused for a moment, then carefully chose her words, saying, "Hmm...you look a lot like Mr. Hayato from back then."

Kirihara Akira paused for a moment, not understanding what kind of resemblance they meant by "very similar".

"Well, to put it more clearly... as you should know, in recent generations of the Mori family, the dominant figures have all been women," she said.

Kirihara Akatsuki nodded: "I've heard that lady's distant cousin, Ms. Akamatsu, is no ordinary person either."

"They are certainly among the best in the world, shrewd and capable leaders, but in this world, men cannot live without women, and women cannot live without men," Asahi Kazusa said.

"In this complex world, there are some things that only women can do, while other times men are needed to do them. For example, Mr. Hayato is not only rational, but also ruthless enough. He is good at navigating the gray areas that his wife cannot easily access, and he can suppress the voices of the outside world."

Kirihara Akira finally understood what she meant: "So that's why Mr. Hayato has the opportunity to become this son-in-law, and I, in your eyes, am very likely to be the 'Mr.' of the new generation of the Mori family successor, right?"

"You're really direct," Asahi Kasana said. "But well, that's probably how it seems to me."

"Nonsense," Kirihara Akatsuki said. "What you're saying sounds far too frivolous."

"You're a very perceptive person; you're bound to notice something odd, which is why you asked me the question you just asked—whether something had happened," Asahi Kasana said.

"Only this explanation can answer your questions and perfectly demonstrate the change in Madam's attitude over the past two days."

Kirihara Akira remained silent, her thoughts somewhat chaotic.

After a long pause, he said, "If that's really the case, then it's truly... disgusting."

"I know you're not someone who willingly accepts being told what to do." Asahi Kasana straightened his collar one last time and said with a touch of sadness, "But that's just how this family is. The Mori family has gone through so many years, swallowing up the will and ideals of so many people, no one is an exception, not even the lady herself."