Chapter 04 – Betrothal
"Tsukushi, welcome home," her mother said. Tsukushi made no reply and headed straight to her room in a daze. "Tsukushi…" called her mother, staring after her daughter's back. "What's the matter, dear?" asked her husband, coming out of the kitchen with a sandwich in hand. "Don't know," the wife replied and noticing the sandwich in his hand, "That's Tsukushi's supper!" He protested, "But I'm hungry." His wife raised her hand and hit him hard on the head. "Don't you dare!" she exclaimed, "You don't deserve it! You've not earned enough to have it! Now, give that back to me!" Pouting, her husband meekly returned the half-finished sandwich. "Don't do it again," warned his wife, eyes narrowing, "If I catch you at it again…don't say I didn't warn you!" Her husband watched helplessly as she entered the kitchen with the half-finished sandwich.
Meanwhile, in the room, Tsukushi sat staring blankly out the window. "He remembered," she muttered. "Who remembered?" came a voice behind her, startling her. "Susumu!" exclaimed Tsukushi, embarrassed, "What are you doing here?" Susumu rolled his eyes. "I share this room, remember?" he replied, passing his sister and placing his books onto the table. "So, who remembered and what?" he probed. "It's none of your business," replied Tsukushi, blushing, "And since when have you become such a busybody?" Susumu shrugged and turned away from her. "I'm just showing my concern," he said nonchalantly.
Tsukushi ignored her brother and opened the cupboard. "Well, I'm going to have my bath now," she announced, pulling out her pyjamas, "It's your turn to lay the beds." Susumu make an inaudible sound as she left the room.
Tsukasa strolled into the mansion, still deep in thought. "Where have you been, my man?" said Soujirou, throwing an arm onto his best friend's shoulder, startling him. "Yo," he replied without emotion. "Hey, what's wrong?" nudged Akira, "Not happy to see us?" Tsukasa shook his head. "Troubled over something," said Rui matter-of-factly. The duo turned with surprise whereas Tsukasa shrugged. Rui is the only one who knew him best; in fact, he is the most insightful one. "I'm all right," replied Tsukasa, "By the way, is there something you want to see me about?" All three shook their heads. "Only for a cup of coffee," replied Soujirou. Tsukasa smiled and replied, "Sure."
"Oh, that's right," said Akira with a snap of his fingers, "I need to borrow your biology homework." Tsukasa frowned. "It's not good to be copying mine all the time," he replied, "How are you going to succeed your father?" Akira shrugged. "Never mind," sighed Tsukasa, "I'll go and get it for you."
"Thanks," replied Akira as Tsukasa disappeared up the stairs. "Are you sure his mother ain't home?" asked Soujirou suspiciously. Akira nodded, "Called and checked before we came." The trio then set themselves comfortably onto the couches of their usual private room in the mansion and awaited Tsukasa's return. "What have we here?" came a voice behind them, startling the trio. "Tsubaki!" exclaimed both Soujirou and Akira, both jumping out of the couch and running towards her like little children who are happy that their mother has returned home from work. "Gosh! The both of you aren't kids anymore!" chuckled Tsubaki as she gave each a big hug, "It's good to see you too."
"We've missed you," cooed Akira. "Don't try that on me," said Tsubaki as she pulled his ear. "Arghhh!" cried Akira, trying desperately to escape her clutches but failed and resigned to have his ear pulled and dragged along while Soujirou tried to contain his laughter. "It's been a long time, Rui," said Tsubaki, releasing Akira's ear and sitting herself opposite of him, "I see that you haven't changed a bit." Rui sat up and returned the greeting in his usual casual manner, "Long time indeed."
"What brings the three of you here?" she asked. "Nothing," replied the trio together. "I see, the usual hangout sort of situation," said Tsubaki, "I do hope you realised that my mother is at home this very minute." All three sat up immediately. "I thought you said you've checked," muttered Soujirou between clenched teeth. "I did," replied Akira defensively. Tsubaki watched the trio and burst into laughter. "Got you there!" she laughed heartily. She knew that the boys were afraid of her mother and it has always been fun to see them tensed up at the mention of her. "Geez, Tsubaki," sighed Soujirou in relief, "Couldn't you cracked a better joke!? My heart almost stopped there!"
"Would it?" winked Tsubaki and they broke into laughter. "Guess I missed something interesting," came a voice behind them. "Ah…Tsukasa," said Akira, "We were just telling Tsubaki about you and your aversion to girls." Tsukasa frowned, "Just because I don't go round with raging hormones like you doesn't mean I've got an aversion to girls!"
"Then, explain yourself," demanded Soujirou slyly, "Popular, tall, handsome, rich – a guy like you could have any girl you want! And Eitoku is full of beautiful girls." Tsukasa narrowed his eyes and replied, "I said I don't need a relationship to complicate matters!" In truth, Tsukasa was waiting for the right one but he knew as well that the right one may not be the approved one. The girls in school do like him, but it's his family background that they are attracted to and not who he is as a person. "That matter is closed," he said firmly, handing his biology homework to Akira.
As the clock ticked by, sleep seems to be deluding her. She has been tossing and turning for the past 2 hours and yet, sleep has yet to come within her sight. Sighing, she got up and threw on her night coat. "Might as well get some warm milk," she thought, walking towards the door. The long narrow corridor was dimly lit, as it always was at that time of the night. As she proceeded downstairs, voices could be heard coming from the drawing room. "Look, dear," a female voice said, "Her siblings are given the freedom to choose, why not her as well?" Yuki knew the voice. It was her mother's. She paused by the stairs and listened to the conversation. "I'm sorry that I can't give her that freedom," came a male's voice which was her father's, "I'm much concerned with the family business and you do know it's not easy to get a deal like this."
"I thought we've agreed that the children should be given the freedom to choose their life," protested Noriko, "I don't agree with this. She's much too young to be betrothed, let alone be engaged to the second son of the Nishikado-Meiji Corp." Yuki gasped. This is what her father had meant when he told her a few days ago that she has to take care of the family business. "Don't you understand the consequences of rejecting that offer?!" bellowed her father, "The family business is on the line. I want my daughter to be happy as well and if rejecting this offer allow her to complete her university education, I would do it." Takuya sighed and looked at his wife. "You know the finances of the company. I don't know how much longer we can hold out without this deal."
"If you need me, just say the word," said Yuki as she stepped out of the shadows, her mind still swirling with the conversation between her parents. Silence filled the drawing room as her parents turn around to find their youngest daughter at the door. "If you need me, just say the word," repeated Yuki, her voice quivering a little, "I'll do it for the family."
"I'm so sorry, Yuki," apologised her mother as she walked over to her daughter and hugged her, "I'm so sorry." Yuki forced a smile and looked at her father. "If I am to be the one to save the family," she said solemnly, "then so be it."