A Warm Place

XXVII The Sun Rises

I brush aside the wildly-grown grass and tree branches as I push my way through the rough animal trail. After she had pulled my hand to take me outside so many times, I managed to memorize this path to the mansion. It's difficult to look around along this path, and it's been so long since I last used it. I was worried about possibly getting lost, but it turned out to be a needless worry.

After walking in the forest for a while, I arrive at an opening.

"Unlike how I had assumed, this place didn't change much."

It has been 16 years since my last visit. Nobody inhabits this place anymore, so I imagined the wilderness that would have taken over, as there was no one to maintain the site. Although apparently, it hasn't changed that much. This is a place of memories, where I met her for the first time, and being here truly brings me back--but at the same time, I feel a sharp pain running through me.

I walk around the garden while gazing at the old mansion in front of me. I wonder how long it had been since the last time I looked at this mansion up close. Since I moved to my current house, I rarely passed by this area. Never would I return to this mansion anymore, I thought, but here I am.

I inadvertently recall the past, which makes me feel sick in my stomach. Even though I try not to think about it, the despair, hatred, and sadness that I've hidden deep inside my heart are bubbling their way out. I bite my lips to endure the nausea, and I move my heavy legs forward, one step at a time. Then, I enter the mansion and head towards the meeting place.

"Hey, you're early."

When I open the door, that man is standing in front of me sluggishly. His slovenly grin is discomforting. I would like to leave this place as soon as possible and remove this man from my sight.

Wanting to finish the matter quickly, I open my mouth and say:

"I wonder if I failed to tell you not to meet Tsubaki the last time we talked."
"Haha, you're so cold. Isn't it fine? She's my child."

"You have the nerve to say that, how impudent. I don't recognize you as her father, and you don't have the right to call yourself that, either."

"But, my blood still flows within her body."
"......That's all it is."
"Then is it wrong for me to meet my cute child?"
"Stop joking around."

My voice is shaking due to my anger. Even when I'm staring at him, he doesn't seem perturbed in the slightest as he remains smiling with composure.

"......What is your aim?"
"You're so harsh. It's like I've told you the other day, I want to properly register our names and get married."
"Your joke isn't funny. What you want isn't me nor Tsubaki, but Kurasaka family's fortune, correct?"
"...Aah, come to think of it, you've always been the sensible one."

He contains his smile for just a bit, and he stares at me like he's trying to sound me out.

"I investigated right after we met. Which is how I know your motive in approaching us after all this time."
"......I see."

"Business isn't going well for the company that you're managing, correct? You seem to be suffering quite the loss. From what I heard, you'll get in trouble if you can't prepare the down payment by the end of the month."

"Geez, just how did you manage to investigate all that? Truly terrifying, you're really that woman's child...."
"......hh."

I bite my lips so strongly that I think they're going to tear.

"Did I touch a nerve? Well, everything you said is pretty much spot-on."

Huff, he breathes out as he approaches me.