La Nostra Vita

Our life

Chapter 13

Sostenuto

At the park, 6.00 PM

A light breeze was blowing, making a certain girl's hair wave. In the evening sun's light they looked like they were on fire. She was still in her uniform with the new green necktie, which she had been wearing two months already.

"Kaho-chan, have I made you wait long?" Hihara was out of breath, panting, with his hands on his lap.

"Haha, Hihara senpai, you've made my day! It's ok – you didn't have to hurry. No one put a gun on your temple and threatened you to blow up your mind, if you aren't on time."

"If I can be any help to Kaho-chan and besides it's been some time I haven't seen you. So, tell me. You sounded a little worried…"

Kahoko turned serious. Hihara stared at her sorrowful visage with sympathy.

"Have you contacted Azuma-san lately? Have you received any news from him?"

"No, you see him more than I do. We aren't on the same university and I seldom meet him."

"I am so sorry." Kahoko's hand squeezed Hihara's hand. "It's my fault that you and Azuma-san aren't so close anymore."

"What are you talking about? Yunoki is still my friend!"

"I know, but if it wasn't for me, you two…" Kahoko comprehended that there was a small crack in their relationship ever since she got with Yunoki.

"Kaho-chan, don't say this again!" Hihara squeezed her hand. "Both of you are very important to me. And you don't find a good friend every day on the contrary, it becomes rarer. And Yunoki needs you. He may not request it, but please stand by him." Kahoko hugged him and he blushed like a child.

"You are such a great person! I hope you'll find a girl to love you as you deserve it."

"Now, back to what you asked me – I don't have any idea. He may be busy?"

"I've send him - God knows how many e-mails and he hasn't replied even to a single on. He also usually picks me twice a week and goes out the two of us. It's almost three weeks that he has disappeared and I'm going to get crazy soon, if he continues not to give any signs of life!"

"His grandmother… he perhaps faces family problems and doesn't wish to get you involved."

"But I WANT to get involved! I WANT to be a part of his life! Why is he always leaving me out when it comes to such matters? I may be able to help!"

"What can we do? I don't like to admit it, but no one can go against Yunoki Shigeko, the head of Yunoki clan. Are you going to have a talk with her and persuade her that Yunoki has to make his own choices for his own live?"

"That's it! Thank you, Hihara senpai!"

"Wait, Kaho-chan! Do you..." Kahoko was gone from the horizon. "…think you'll make it? Arg, this girl is undescribable… or better indescribably innocent and stubborn." He smiled with the thought of the girl which he was still fond of. "Even if I tried to change your mind, it would have been in vain. I wish you good luck. You'll need it."

Three weeks earlier at the Yunoki Mansion

The youngest boy of the family was called to have a conversation with Shigeko, and it wasn't for good – that was certain.

"Azuma, it's time we had a discussion about your marriage."

"I'm listening carefully" he didn't want to open a conversation with a refusal and in a negative way. He knew what was to come.

"Eiko ojou-san would make a fine wife. The Fuji are powerful people, respectable in financial and political circles and don't forget the help they offered us when we were in need. It's a good choice."

"Choice? It sounds more like something predetermined." He said calmly.

Shigeko was surprised. Azuma surely wasn't the same person, since that girl came here, but he hadn't disagreed or argued with her so openly before

"Azuma, you are forgetting to who are you talking to and what your position."

"I am fully aware, grandmother. I won't marry Eiko-san or Ayano-san or anyone else. I can't." he was looking her in the eyes.

"And I am well-informed of your reason. Don't think that I don't know about your relationship with that Hino girl. I haven't spoken until now, because I needed you to help your brothers in the crisis we passed. You are a grow-up person and you have responsibilities towards your family. You can't believe in children's fantasies about marrying out of love. So I'll give you three days to change your mind."

"My decision wouldn't change even if I had a century's time."

"You say it's final?"

"Yes, grandmother."

"Then you leave me no choice." Shigeko was determined to use all means to get what she wanted. "Starting from today, you're under surveillance. You'll dispose of your cell phone and your laptop. I'll put guards to report about your schedule. You'll be only allowed to go from the mansion to university or to the office and backwards. And you are not allowed to get out of your room unless I call you."

Yunoki looked at her indifferent. He wouldn't succumb. Or at least he didn't want her to see him doing so and be content with it.

'You defied me once, when you canceled your studies in England. It won't happen twice. If you want to play tough, I'll play tougher.' Shigeko thought.

"And… if you try anything crazy. Hino will meet some hardships- or a lot of hardships. To extinguish her out of the map would be easy. But this won't last long enough to torture both of you and her. Let's say her entrance to any of Japan's University will be problematic. Just for start"

Yunoki gritted his teeth. Basically, he wanted this woman to get lost. She was so manipulative, kind of admirable.

"If grandmother is finished, may I return to my room?" 'If I stay another minute here, I won't be able to stay impassive.'

Shigeko knew her words had some sort of impact on her grandson, so she let him go. But she also understood that she had only won a battle not the war. For that reason she would keep an eye on him.

Kahoko's heart was beating frenzily. She should face the horrible woman and convince her that Yunoki has some rights apart from responsibilities. Firstly, she wanted to see her Azuma.

Her hand suspended in mid air, hesitant to push the doorbell. A limousine stopped outside the car and someone got out of it. This someone approached Kahoko from behind and when she notices the footsteps and turned around, she saw…

--- Chapter 13 End ---

Note: Sostenuto= sustained

Cliffhanger! Just wait to see next weekend. Hardships and sorrows ahead!

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