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"Sincerity & Courage" – Speech
Sincerity & Courage – Thoughts
Sincerity & Courage – Narration by the character

Steps to Romance – Chapter 29
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Mimi's POV

I saw Sora sitting on her bed, looking depressed. I sat beside her.

"Sor."

"Meems, I'm sorry. I was just pretending to bully you."

"Why are you apologising again? It's okay, since we've made up again."

"However, it's all thanks to you and Taichi that I had the courage to confess to Yamato. My heart's beating very quickly now. After so many years, I finally told Yamato how I feel. It feels wonderful."

I took her hand. "Sora, you're a very strong and brave woman. I believe that Yamato will be moved."

"I hope so."

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Sora's POV

"What? Yamato left?" Mimi asked.

"Did he say anything?" I asked.

"When I woke up today, his luggage wasn't there. He must have called someone to pick him up in the morning." Taichi replied.

"Was Yamato scared by my confession, or is this his way of rejecting me?"

"Sor, Yamato isn't that easily frightened. He must have had something to do, so he went back. When we return, he'll be at home." Mimi said.

"Or Yamato might be wondering how to answer you. Sora, just give him more time." Taichi added.

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Yamato's POV

Sora doesn't seem like the women before who came and went. Sigh. Maybe I shouldn't have paid her any attention from the start, so I wouldn't have given her false hope. However, to be seriously loved by a woman for eight years, it's a wonderful feeling.

"Yamato, what's wrong? You told me to fetch you from the vacation house early this morning, then you spend the time deep in thought. Is it because of a woman? You know, it's better to cut them off early, it's better to suffer for a short time than a long time."

"Wasn't I the one who taught that to you?"

"Oh yeah. I might not know what the problem is, but Yamato, do you want to stay at my house and lie low for a few days, or head back to the Takuya family mansion?"

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Mimi's POV

We were in the car. Taichi was driving us back. I looked at Sora, who was sitting at the back. "Taichi, what will happen to Sora when we get back?"

"I'm also worried about how to explain this to Emp., Meems."

"Sora should be alright, she's from a close family of the Takuya family. Emp. wouldn't punish her for not being able to help." Taichi replied.

"Even if I get punished, I'll still stand on you guys' side."

We reached the mansion, and got out of the car. Emp. still pretended that Sora was his granddaughter, and asked her questions, until he asked, "Did you have fun?"

"Yes, grandpa." I replied.

Head Manager Gennai came over. "Err, Emp., it's good as long as the young people had fun."

"Y…Yes!" Emp. said.

"Everything there was nice. Actually, you old people should follow us more, and have fun too. It's good for your body, and if it's good for your body, it's good for your brain, and then maybe you guys wouldn't come up with stupid ideas." Mimi said.

"Emp., Emp., I think… I think there's an important phone call for you to answer." Head Manager Gennai said.

"I'll go answer my phone then." Grandpa walked away.

"Emp., the phone's that way." Head Manager Gennai said.

"Yes, of course I know where the phone is."

Taichi, Sora and I were trying not to laugh.

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Emp.'s POV

I sat down on the chair in my room. "I think now even Sora is on their side."

"I think Miss Takenouchi did very well, just that they were on vacation, so they may have got carried away…"

"I've made so many business deals before. What battles have I not won? I can't believe I lost to a few young people."

"We got so close, but yet we failed."

"However, Mimi is my granddaughter, and Taichi's my successor. From now on, back to the starting point! Simply put, I won't admit or deny anything. We'll just return to the fact that Mimi's my granddaughter. I'll just watch what happens next."

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Mimi's POV

"I can't believe grandpa would hide and not explain anything."

"I think this is Emp.'s temporary way of handling things." Taichi replied.

I sat down beside Taichi on the sofa. And then I saw Yamato. "Yamato."

"Have you guys talked to Emp.?"

"Yes, but he seems to be pretending that nothing has happened." I replied.

"Mimi, I think we should tell Emp. everything. Explain to him everything." Taichi said.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yes. Tell him that we're together, but I don't want to be his successor."

"I agree." I said.

"However, aren't you guys afraid of the consequences?" Yamato asked.

"Based on Emp.'s personality, he will retaliate, but we have to tell him." Taichi replied.

"Taichi, I'll follow and support you no matter what." I stood up, saying.

"I'll follow you." Sora said.

"Sor?"

"I'm involved too, and I want to help you to explain it. Besides, Emp. loves Mimi, so I think he'll understand."

"Since it's like this, I'll join in too." Yamato said. "Since Tai's going to say that he doesn't want to be the successor, I'll follow and say that I don't want to be the successor too."

"We're all thinking along the same lines." Taichi said, smiling.

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Sora's POV

I walked towards where Yamato was standing. He was standing by the fountain.

"Yamato, you were looking for me?"

"Sora. I'm sorry about this morning. I didn't know how to react to your feelings, so…"

"Yamato, it's alright. It's just my one-sided feelings. You don't have to accept it so quickly. Just like what Meems said, we have a lot of time to be together, so…"

"You're a really special girl."

"Of course. I'm Takenouchi Sora, the girl who had an eight-year plan to accomplish her dream of love."

"So, Sora, I called you here to tell you that I feel that the two of us… I'm willing to see how it goes with you."

"With me? Really?" I smiled.

"I can't guarantee that it will turn out good though. You know that I used to be a playboy, so… I'm not sure if my habits from those years have gone."

"However, my trust in you will not be gone. Plus, you seem so sincere now, right?"

He smiled.

We walked back to the mansion, hand in hand.

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Mimi's POV

Taichi, Yamato, Sora and I were standing in grandpa's room.

"Grandpa, Taichi and I are truly in love. You don't have to use any methods to test us. We can't stand it. I have decided to give up the right of succeeding the Takuya family."

"Emp., I'm really grateful to you for bringing me up, but my dream isn't to be here. I have decided to give up the right of being the Takuya family successor, and building my own family with my own hands."

"Even though I didn't make my stance before, but Emp., I want to use this opportunity to say that I don't want to be the Takuya family successor."

"Emp., please let them do as they wish."

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Sora's POV

"I have never seen Emp. like this. Is it too shocking for him?" I whispered to Yamato.

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Mimi's POV

"Were the words I said just now too harsh?" I whispered to Taichi.

"We're just saying what we buried in our hearts for so long. Whatever happens next is out of our control, so don't worry too much about it."

Grandpa stood up. "Okay. I've decided. From today onwards, all of you will move out of the Takuya family mansion. I've decided to train Hikari and Takeru to be my successors. If you want to live your own lives, you can. You don't have to go to school anymore, you can depend on yourselves. You want to start your own family? I'll let you start with nothing!" We looked at each other. "Get out! GET OUT!"

We left.

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Gennai's POV

Emp. sat back down on the chair, his face red. I massaged his shoulders, saying, "Okay, don't be angry… don't be angry…"

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Mimi's POV

Taichi, Yamato and I walked towards the gates with our luggages, Taichi helping to carry mine. I smiled at Taichi. He smiled back.

"Yamato!" We looked behind. Sora was running towards us with her luggage in hand. "Wait for me!"

Yamato ran towards her. She stopped, saying, "Wait for me, okay?"

"Why are you following me? You don't have to leave."

"I'm not part of the Takuya family, so why should I stay? Besides, all of you are leaving."

"Then go home."

"I don't want to. I want to get kicked out of the Takuya family with you guys, and face problems together."

"This isn't a vacation. We don't even know where we're going. You have a home, go home, then we'll call you, okay?"

"No way. I waited for eight years before finally being with you. I want to follow you no matter where you go."

"Don't be like that."

"Yamato, let her come with us." I said.

"It's better to have two girls anyway. They can take care of each other." Taichi added.

Yamato looked at Sora, nodding.

"Taichi, Mimi, Yamato, Sora!" Hikari called, running with Takeru towards us.

"You haven't been kicked out, have you?" Taichi asked, looking worried.

"How could you guys leave without telling us?" Takeru asked.

"Please, it wasn't our choice. We have been chased out and now we have to build up a family from scratch. Do we have to announce it?" Yamato said.

"Emp. must have only said that out of anger. You guys can probably return after a few days." Hikari said.

Taichi walked towards her, saying, "No matter when we're coming back, you guys will have the pressure of being the successors. Don't make Emp. angrier."

"Don't be sad." Yamato said.

"Work hard, good luck." Taichi said.

Takeru nodded, while Hikari looked as if she was about to cry.

We hired a taxi, and left.

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Yamato's POV

"Master Yagami, Master Ishida, may I confirm that you're booking two luxury suites, both on a non-smoking floor, for seven days?"

"Yes." I stood up, and passed him my credit card.

"Do we really have to stay here? It's expensive." Sora asked.

"Don't worry. Leave the money matters to me." I replied.

"Master Ishida, I'm sorry, but your credit card doesn't work."

"That's impossible. Try again."

"We've already tried thrice."

"This isn't good. I think Emp. has frozen all our accounts." Tai said.

"Use mine. There is only 100 of these black cards in the world." Sora said.

"Nice." I said.

"Of course. We're facing problems together."

"I'm sorry, Miss Takenouchi. The bank that issued your card is probably one of the Takuya family's company's branches."

I took her card, and looked at it. "We're doomed. Emp. has influence in all the banks."

"Isn't Emp. going overboard? He chased you guys out, not me. Why does he have to freeze my account too?"

"If it's not possible for you guys to use credit cards, cash is accepted too."

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Mimi's POV

"I can't believe I, Ishida Yamato, am reduced to sharing a room with three other people."

"We should have prepared for this! Emp. is not a person who makes empty threats." Taichi said.

"Yes. We have to pay for transport, food, housing…" I said.

"Meems, don't worry. You're Emp.'s granddaughter. He won't be so cruel to you." Sora said.

"Yes. Do you guys want to split up and look for a house?" Taichi asked.

"Yes. Taichi, you and Mimi go and find a house. I'll go with Sora to look for my friends to borrow some cash from them."

"Since we're out of the Takuya family, let's show them that poor people never give up!" I said.

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Emp.'s POV

"All the businesses of the Takuya family, including those with ties to the Takuya family, and even all the branches in Odaiba, whether big or small, to not give Master Yagami or Master Ishida any work opportunities. Also, all of the education organizations in the country, including tuition classes, have been alerted." Gennai said.

"We'll see how long they can last. Starting from scratch? We'll see how much ability they have! What did the Takenouchi family say?"

"They said that they would back us up. They're very supportive of you, and said that it's good to teach those naïve and ungrateful children a lesson. Also…"

"Say it."

"Emp., cutting off their opportunities this way, isn't it a bit too…"

"I want to let them know that starting from scratch is not as simple as they imagine it to be. It's not as easy as asking someone, and flashing the Takuya family name to get a job. What's so hard about that? Which business does not want to get closer to the Takuya family? How is that 'starting from scratch'? I don't want to force them till death, of course I want them to return as soon as possible, especially Mimi, my granddaughter. Her having to suffer outside… makes me feel worse than anyone else. Send someone to watch them 24/7 for me!"

Then, I felt dizzy. "Emp., are you alright?" Gennai asked, supporting me.

"I'm so angry at those brats that my blood pressure is rising."

"You should find some time to get a full check-up done soon."

"We'll see after this mess is sorted out. I'm not in the mood now."

"Okay. Emp., you should get some rest, you're tired after all that work."

"How can I sleep? Go and do your work." Gennai left.

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