"You only have the power because the kids gave you one. The moment they decide to rebel, that's the end."
"I don't understand what you're talking about, Hikigaya-kun." Daichi sat down across the table, somewhat offended. "Are you implying I don't have the power to control my own daughter?"
Hachiman might dislike how Toyomi invaded his private space, but he could not refute her words. Minister Daichi only has power over Chika because Chika lets him do so.
That's why Daichi feared Chika becoming as rebellious as her big sister. Once Chika decides it's enough, then there's nothing Daichi can do. Nothing that would not wound Chika's heart, anyway.
"At this stage, no. If I guessed right, you stopped giving Fujiwara Toyomi money. Perhaps even cutting her college tuition." Hachiman said. "But somehow, she found a way out of it. Now that she's financially independent, you can't do anything. Not without abusing your power to destroy her livelihood."
"..."
Chika closed her mouth in response, while Daichi was proverbially gagged and unable to argue.
"Father won't do that... would you?" Chika grimaced as she looked at Daichi in the eyes. "Right?"
"No," Daichi said. "I would never do that to my own child. I'd sooner disown her and write her off the family inheritance rather than rob her of what she earned."
"Everyone else is a fair game, though." Hachiman helpfully added, which made Daichi twitch.
"Should she do anything disturbing, you have my word that you can use any proportional approach to stop her." Daichi firmly told Hachiman. "Should she cross the line, I will deal with her myself. Harshly."
"I'm home!" The heavy and hostile atmosphere was dispersed when another woman came. "Oh, we have a guest? Good evening."
Hachiman looked at her, then at Chika and Daichi.
The woman has a stark physical resemblance with all the Fujiwara sisters... except for her relatively modest chest and neck-length hair. It wasn't flat, but it was below average for her age.
"Oh."
"You were thinking something rude just now, weren't you?" Chika slapped him with a paper fan. "Anyway, this is Hikigaya Hachiman, a friend in the student council. He is helping me study this week! Hikki-san, this is my mother."
"I see! So you're the famed Hikki-san. My name is Maho. Fujiwara Maho." She bowed a couple times. "I don't know how you persuaded her, but thanks for instilling the value of hard work on my lazy daughter."
"Uh, that was a little too much," Hachiman said while Chika fumed hard. "Actually, Secretary Fujiwara was the one who asked me for help. She definitely had the drive to push herself even without me around."
"Is that so?" Maho blinked.
"IT IS TRUE!" Chika shouted and left angrily.
Apparently, the mother had even less faith in Chika than the father, which says a lot. At least Daichi did not question Chika's motivation and reason to study hard.
"Well, he helped to identify her strength and how to study efficiently." Daichi coughed. "So I am somewhat thankful."
"Are you that confident about it, Hikigaya-kun?" Maho questioned. Her eyes gazed at him like those of a hawk. "To be honest, I've hired several tutors in the past, and they all gave up."
"I would only say what I know and refuse to say what I don't know for sure." Hachiman gave a half-committed answer because he was annoyed. "As for the tutor you hire, perhaps they're too rigid and unwilling to think outside the box."
"Define," Maho demanded.
"You can't put a round peg in a square hole," Hachiman said. "If everything the school taught is enough, there's no need for cram school and private tutoring. There's no such thing as ultimate problem solver."
"Everyone has the best way to study something," Daichi defended Hachiman. "It's just that Chika-san hasn't found most of them."
"I see." Maho softened. "That's rational."
The Fujiwara parents sure aren't the most welcoming. But Maho, at least, wasn't as upfront about her suspicion. However, it seems that she is even more stubborn than her husband.
But Hachiman is alright with that.
"How about you, Hikigaya-kun? You're an external student. How do you find a way to enroll in Shuchiin? Although it is open to the public, few are willing to tackle the challenge. Especially without inside sponsors."
"In my third year of middle school, I began to study seriously. So I could enter any elite high school. Originally, I planned to enter Soubu Municipal High." Hachiman said.
"Soubu High." Maho checked her phone. "It's Chiba's #1 elite high school and #27 nationally. Not bad."
It was a far cry from Shuchiin Academy but prestigious on its own. Everyone who studied at Soubu High is considered an elite students in Chiba.
"But a close friend of my father tried to sponsor me to get into Shuchiin. Should I fail to earn scholarships, he probably would end up paying for my tuition." Hachiman said. "But I said I would not enroll without securing scholarships anyway. I'd rather not have someone outside family paying for my tuition."
"And this person is..."
"President of the Saionji Conglomerate Group." Hachiman uncharacteristically grinned. "They have known each other since they were young."
Hachiman saw Daichi's face turned ashen white while Maho's eyes bulged out in shock.
At that time, Daichi was arrogant. He thought he could get away with everything because the Fujiwara family had money and power... how wrong he was.
Not only did Hachiman run roughshod all over his spying, but even the Hikigaya parents had begun to retrace everything.
Japan had a nebulous relationship with private detective agencies. The line between legitimate investigation and stalking can be thin. Doubly so about the internet footprints and public records. To say nothing of secret information that could be obtained via internal connection (a breach of corporate trust) or outright data theft...
As far as Daichi is concerned, that last part is actually the sore point in his mind. The Hikigaya family had a nearly spotless public record, and the in-depth information was buried in a place many detectives were unwilling to touch.
In hindsight? That might have saved Daichi's bacon should a legal battle ensue. Because there IS such a person behind Hachiman's father. Someone even he could not recklessly offend.
When Chika returned, she gave Daichi and Maho a bowl of pasta ramen. "Here, you must be hungry."
"Hmm? Ramen?" However, Daichi noticed when he took a small slurp after he prayed. "This is pasta."
Then Daichi remembered Chika said Hachiman preferred Italian food. Did they change it into a ramen?
"It's delicious, though," Maho remarked. "Albeit unique."
"I know. Right?" Chika giddily nodded. "The Chef really pulled out a miracle on this one. I'm glad he listened to Hikki-san."
?
"What did you tell him, Hikigaya-kun?" Maho asked.
"How to turn pasta into ramen without ruining the taste." Hachiman lightly answered. "It also takes skill and innate knowledge to pull it off. He did it much better than I ever could."
"Oh."
The husband and wife felt Hachiman did that for Chika because they knew what the second daughter liked to eat. Sometimes, she would even go to a ramen shop AFTER the dinner...
Maho always chastised Chika whenever she did it, but it wasn't like she was at home often enough to catch her. Which leaves Daichi to pick up the slack.
It's not like Daichi is too worried about her gaining weight and losing her prettiness. No, he's just worried she would ruin her health that way. Not only the calories. But the loads of sodium commonly used in commercial ramen stalls worried Daichi.
Needless to say, wheat pasta is also slightly healthier than genuine ramen noodles. So Daichi could only grudgingly be thankful.
This boy is too sneaky.
Daichi was surprised that Hachiman resisted Toyomi so vehemently, to the point of humiliating her. Daichi was all too aware of her eldest daughter's body count, something he was truly ashamed of.
"What do you think of Toyomi-san, Hikigaya-kun?"
"Scary." Hachiman openly told him. "Should anyone let their guard down, they'll be swallowed whole. I'm not an exception. And I feel unsafe around her."
Ah.
Daichi doesn't know whether to laugh or cry. Chika seemed to be satisfied with the outcome, at least. He knew she still loved her big sister dearly, but that didn't mean she approved of her behavior.
Especially seducing her crush.
"Excuse me, I'm going to the toilet." Hachiman stood up and left the study.
やはり, 彼らが望む告白は間違っている - 藤原編
As expected, the Confession they want is wrong - Fujiwara Chapter.
Original Story by: Watari Wataru and Akasaka Aka
Side Chapter 03 - Fujiwara-san wants to listen
Daichi took a deep breath and sighed as if an invisible burden had been lifted off his shoulders. Somehow, even though he went out of his way to corner this boy, he had always been the one who ended up intimidated.
He hated it. Hachiman's words made him feel powerless because they were objectively true. And unlike many adults who behaved similarly, Daichi's conscience is too strong to ignore the truth.
"Toyomi-san is here?" Maho asked. "And what happened? Seems like everyone is on edge."
Chika told Maho the things that happened to her when they were studying, all the way to the moment Hachiman put Toyomi in a literal corner of shame. Chika even had pictures on her phone to prove it.
Maho was so furious that had it not for Daichi holding her, she was about to kick the bedroom door open!
"I will make sure that girl understands!" Maho screamed.
"Please be patient," Daichi begged.
"To be honest, I don't dislike Nee-san at all," Chika said. "But at this rate, Hikki-san will end up making enemies of half the household."
"That's a little too much." Daichi scoffed.
"Right? What exactly is the problem." Maho frowned. "It is normal for us to be worried."
"He felt so uncomfortable and restless," Chika said. "As if he was always watched. He always looked as if everyone was ready to stab him when he was not looking. He feels unwelcome here, and as someone who asked him to come, it was awful for me as a host."
Daichi twitched.
"I mean, we have a CCTV system. But most of the time, the stations are empty." Chika remarked. "...Right?"
Fujiwara Chika dreams of being a Prime Minister. But she also has an unusual hobby. That being a self-proclaimed detective. She liked mysteries and had a sharp sense, even if her clumsiness, inability to focus, and gullibility got in her way.
This time, her mind was focused. Daichi is in danger.
"Right. The CCTV." Maho coughed. "What about it?"
"I have no clue what you're talking about, Chika-san." Daichi feigned ignorance. "But after what happened today, I can understand his feelings. This boy valued silence like no one I've seen before."
That was a lie.
If Daichi truly cared for Hachiman's feelings, he wouldn't be so on guard and watch his every move. Indeed, he didn't even bother to check on Shirogane Miyuki when he spent a night or two here.
Because Chika did not fancy him as a boy in the slightest. Shirogane Miyuki is not a threat.
Although Hachiman had been a great help in motivating Chika so far, it only made Daichi even more uneasy. Perhaps Chika was right, and he wanted Hachiman not to come at all.
But in that case... it would ruin Chika's hard-earned motivation and good mood. And Daichi would slap himself should that happen. He could not forgive himself if he let his insecurity ruin his daughter's largely positive development.
"Hikki-san absolutely values personal space. That's why he reacted to Nee-san violently."
Daichi furrowed his eyebrows.
"He's like this at school, too?" Daichi questioned.
"Very much." Chika nodded. "If the girls teased him too much and he felt harassed, he'll just hit them with a slipper."
"Have you got hit?"
"All too often." Chika winced.
Maho and Daichi don't like the sound of that.
"But I will try to behave as much as I can from now on." Chika's face suddenly grew darker. "It would be a shame if he refused to come because everyone refuses to behave. Right, Father and Mother?"
Busted.
Daichi knows his daughter's temperament. And right now, Chika looks so much more like her mother. An angry Chika would have a temper tantrum, but this was not one of them. An angry Chika, who is calm and focused, terrifies Daichi more.
Their expression was way too alike. And as much as Daichi tends to appear as a strict Asian father figure, his wife is even more rigid and scarier.
As Daichi looked at Maho, she was equally unsettled. She knew that Chika was also on the edge. They could only push her around so far before she blew up.
The current Fujiwara Chika is basically a walking landmine.
"I think your mother understood," Daichi gently said. "Be sure to remind Moeka-chan to behave as well."
"I will." Chika's face brightened again, with a radiant smile that would make boys melt.
Daichi had been thinking about it for a while. If Hachiman wanted to ruin everything, he could've just told Chika the spying incident. From what Daichi saw, he kept the lid shut, which Daichi was thankful for.
God knows what her reaction would be if Chika ever found out.
In other words, Hachiman has the perfect blackmail material that he hasn't used, so Daichi can't be too zealous about his treatment of him. He was sure his wife would agree.
...they haven't really talked about that, have they? Daichi knew that his wife understood it from the uneasiness on her face.
...
"So, speaking of Toyomi-san." Maho continued the train of conversation as soon as Hachiman returned. "She wasn't always like this. But looking back, I have difficulty finding where we did wrong."
Hachiman said. "If we were talking more vague and broad concepts like abandonment, neglect, abuse, smothering, and so on, it is easier. But few parents could tell when exactly things went wrong. To find the turning point where their child changed overnight."
"Because most children don't change overnight. So trying to pinpoint past mistakes is a waste of time." Chika added as she put her hands on Hachiman's shoulders. "We changed whimsically over time, sometimes without realizing it ourselves. Unlike adults who consciously have to push themselves to change."
...Honestly? Daichi and Maho were peeved that they looked so good in that pose. Thankfully, Hachiman slapped her hands away within seconds. Looks like Chika was not lying. Hachiman really values personal space.
But their words weren't incorrect. Children, by definition, grow up and change over time. It is said that a person's mental growth only settled around thirty years old.
"It reminds me of something," Hachiman said. "The story of an acquaintance."
"A story?" Chika asked. "Sounds interesting!"
"There were two sisters, two years apart. The big sister is always lovable, outgoing, and a bit of a bully. The little sister has always been weak and quiet." Hachiman began retelling the story. "The big sister has always been the face of the family. Everyone praised her for achievement and loved her for her beauty and personality."
"The little sister is nothing more than a wallflower. She was bullied and ostracized at school for being outstanding yet asocial. No matter how she tried to achieve something, people kept comparing her to her big sister. In the end, she has always been alone. Left behind and forgotten."
The story is honestly not that specific. Japan, for the most part, still believes in strict familial hierarchy. The man before the woman. Older before younger. The older one gets more privileges in exchange for more responsibilities. While the younger one is ignored as long as they don't make an embarrassment of the family name.
"The little sister, in her loneliness and isolation, became cold and hateful. But she realized she could not bear to commit evil and tarnish her proud family's name. Her heart was too pure, and her moral was too strong. So she seeks a different path to commit revenge." Hachiman continued, his voice full of awe and respect.
"She decided to avoid retracing the path her big sister climbed. She went to a different school, bigger and better than the one her big sister went to."
"She aimed to change the world and erase all forms of injustice. To ensure the nail that sticks out does not get hammered. She aimed to prove to her bullies and doubters that she could beat the odds. She surpassed her big sister in every way conceivable."
"If her big sister is the beautiful moon, the little sister is the sun. Unimaginably distant, yet immensely imposing. Her parents know this, and they were too spooked to try and rein her back. Their conscience is eaten alive by their past sins. Their unfair treatment and neglect. They could not even boast about her without dying inside."
"But the most important is not the honor and glory she earned. By leaving her sister's shadow and the burden of family legacy, the little sister can prove herself and find true companionship. Because her name is no longer special." Hachiman warmly smiled. "She found happiness in self-exile."
"...What happened with the big sister?" Chika asked, suspenseful.
"Wasting her time in a mediocre college, realizing that her past achievements as a high school student matter little, and the people surrounding her don't care about her, only her family name. But now she couldn't even bully her little sister because the little sister is the superior sister." Hachiman scoffed.
All the Fujiwara family members became silent.
"Whatever moral message you take from this story is up to you." Hachiman finished the retelling at the same time he packed his bag.
"What is your take, Hikki-san?"
"The past is full of regret, and the future is uncertain. You don't have to surpass your past self or be afraid of failing to achieve your future goal. For me, doing my best in my present is all I wanted." Hachiman carried his bag. "Because dreams betray many, but hard work betrays no one."
In other words, it does not matter that the little sister is more successful. The big sister's fleeting days of decay are a hell of her own making. This is what Hachiman believed.
Daichi remembered the first time he talked with Hachiman about Toyomi and his fear of Chika.
"But Secretary Fujiwara isn't her older sister."
Hachiman said in full conviction, even though he had never known Toyomi, because he knew Fujiwara Chika and believed she would never be led astray as long as she held onto her dream to become a Prime Minister.
Hachiman had faith in Chika, something the parents did not have.
"I'll have to wrap this up early, Secretary Fujiwara." Hachiman bowed at them politely. "Thank you for the hospitality, everyone. I most likely won't be able to make it tomorrow."
Fujiwara Daichi and Maho felt like they got stabbed in the heart. Although they appear cordial, they were anything but. Hachiman was correct. Not only did the CCTV network do something more than simple recording, but the housekeeping staff were there to observe his actions, too.
In other words, the entire household members, except for the Fujiwara sisters, were enemies.
Chika ended up being the one who saw him leaving at the entrance.
"Sorry, things get so chaotic that you feel uncomfortable." Chika sighed.
"You misunderstood," Hachiman told Chika. "I'm going home early for a different reason. Also, tomorrow I have something important to do. Not because I don't want to come."
"Really?" Chika asked in disbelief.
"If you have time, we can study on Thursday afternoon, too," Hachiman said. "Since I plan to go out with Komachi in the morning, I might have some free time later."
"Hmm, I see." Chika nodded. "Then I'll mail you again."
"To be honest, I am envious," Hachiman told Chika. "Despite the various disagreements and conflicts, the Fujiwara family is extremely close with each other. My family is different. We all operate on the same wavelength and understand each other, yet cold and uncaring toward each other."
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Chika often wished she had Hachiman's near-absolute freedom, but if the price is losing the love and care of her family...
Is it worth trading?
"You still on unspoken terms with your father?" Chika asked.
"Nah, things are certainly improving," Hachiman replied. "Father has been fumbling to reconnect with me since the spring vacation. And my relationship with my mother wasn't poor, just distant."
"That's why you agreed to go with them to Hiroshima!" Chika clapped in realization.
"You bet it."
He wouldn't agree to go if Hachiman was still mad at his father. Although Hachiman is stubborn, he's not heartless. If Hachiman's father had been genuine in his attempts to apologize, Hachiman would return the sentiment.
"Although I am uncomfortable with your parents' suspicion, I can perfectly understand them. Whether it was their emotional distress or their rational reasoning for doing so." Hachiman told Chika. "Don't be too hard on them."
"I can't," Chika said. "Hikki-san had been nothing but helpful and nice to me. If they still want me to see them as a loving family, they better treat you well as my guest."
"Your choice." Hachiman scoffed. "Just don't regret it."
"Also..." Chika hesitated to ask, but she asked anyway. "The little sister in the story, was it someone in Shuchiin? And are you close with her?"
The way he spoke about the little sister, his eyes were full of admiration, and his voice was colored with reverence, which made Chika super jealous.
"First of all, yes." Hachiman nodded. "Secondly, no, we're not exactly close friends. We don't meet all that often. Not anymore."
"I see." Chika sighed in relief. "For a second, I thought you were talking about a secret girlfriend or something."
Hachiman burst out laughing.
"Crazy talk." Hachiman wore his helmet. "See you later."
"Mmmh." Chika happily waved. "Be careful."
As Hachiman's bike disappeared in the evening street, Chika's smile turned into a frown.
Today was really a disaster!
