CH 92

Chapter 92 – Leaving the Fukuzawa Residence

“…! Do you really insist…? If you’d like, you can keep staying in this house.” (Jouichirou)

“I’m really indebted to you for your wonderful hospitality all this time. I really appreciate it a lot. But my goal is to travel around and broaden my horizons.” (Torimoto)

When I said this, Jouichirou made an unfortunate expression and said, ‘I see’.

“I’ll miss you. Especially… Kanna. She’s become quite attached to you.” (Jouichirou)

Kanna had an older brother, but he was quite a bit older than her and didn’t live with her. Surely Kanna not only thought of Torimoto as a benefactor who had cured her illness, but also as an older brother.

As Torimoto, I had been treating her like a little sister, so it wasn’t like I was completely without emotional connection to her.

“Have you already decided when you’ll leave?” (Jouichirou)

“Yes, I have. It’s already late today, so I was thinking of leaving around noon tomorrow.” (Torimoto)

“…Tomorrow, huh? That’s a bit sudden, isn’t it? It’s a pity.” (Jouichirou)

Jouichirou looked dejected, in low spirits. It may be goodbye for him, but I was still planning to show up here often, since these high-end residential areas were a good hunting ground for me.

I would still be visiting him, not as Torimoto, but as a door-to-door salesman.

“It may not be much, but let me treat you to one last dinner. I’ll let my wife know.” (Jouichirou)

“Please don’t worry about it. If possible, I’d like things to remain normal. I wouldn’t really like a party like that.” (Torimoto)

“Really? But it would be nice to have a meal with everyone.” (Jouichirou)

Jouichirou left the room. After a while, Kanna made a dynamic entry.

“Torimoto-san! Are you really leaving?!” (Kanna)

“Kanna-chan… Yeah, that’s right.” (Torimoto)

“Nooo! Why?! You don’t like us anymore?!” Kanna wrapped her arms around me and started crying.

“Sorry. I can’t stay here forever.” (Torimoto)

“Torimoto-san… But… But…..” (Kanna)

I smiled and patted Kanna on the head. This really was a comfortable place to live. That wasn’t a lie.

Until now, I had always been surrounded by nothing but people who held malice towards me. I had only been able to enjoy peace in my own home. But even there, I ended up being alone, and it felt like I was only letting the days tediously pass me by.

The world changed, and I happened to be allowed to stay at the Fukuzawa residence, but I ended up spending more time here than I thought.

Everyone in the Fukuzawa family was nice, and Kanna… I could tell that she adored me from the bottom of her heart. If I had a younger sister, this would surely be what it was like. But to me, it was still just a false relationship.

Torimoto was just a temporary persona that I had created, and I had been deceiving Kanna and her family for a long time. If I continued to stay here, though this relationship would never crumble, we would never truly become close in a true sense.

So… I decided it would be safer to part with them here.

“I’ll definitely come back to visit you again, okay?” (Torimoto)

Even still, Kanna kept on saying, ‘no, no, no’ as she hugged me tightly. At that time, her mother, Minako, came in and gently persuaded Kanna to go downstairs to the living room with her.

I said I would also go downstairs after getting ready, and I started to clean up the room that they had let me stay in all this time. That said, I hardly had any belongings.

I quickly cleaned up and headed to the living room, where Kanna pulled me by the hand to sit on the sofa. Then, I kept Kanna company until dinner was ready.

Kanna sat there with Sol, whom she cherished so much, on her lap as she asked me all kinds of questions. She asked me where I was planning to go, when I would come back, and how I had liked staying here, and so on.

I answered her questions as I had my last conversations as Torimoto.

Dinner was a merry occasion with all of the people living in the Fukuzawa residence talking and laughing together.

With the world like this, how many families out there could still laugh together like this?

With nothing but fear awaiting them once they step outside, it might be rare for a family to be able to enjoy such a warm daily life.

….I pray that this place won’t change while I’m gone.

Of course, part of that was because I wanted to keep coming here as a door-to-door salesman for their business, but it was also from the viewpoint that they had once taken care of me and let me stay here.

After dinner, Kanna wanted to sleep with me, but I had to refuse in the end. Instead, I convinced Sol to make the sacrifice.

At night, as I was lying in bed, thinking that I would soon have to say goodbye to this room, Shiki informed me that someone was slowly approaching this room.

I pretended to be asleep, and the door quietly opened. Moments later, a figure quietly slipped into my bed.

….Oh dear.

I already knew who it was. Sol had already let me know before this.

As I lay there on my side, Kanna snuggled up against my back and held tightly onto my shirt.

……Well, I’ll let it slide just for today.

Since it was the last time, I decided to cut her some slack and let her do what she wanted.

—

The next day, I woke up and let out a sigh when I saw Kanna curled up comfortably next to me, fast asleep. She’s really attached to me, huh?

I got out of bed and went to the bathroom to get dressed. When I came back to my room, Kanna was already awake and sitting on the bed, hugging a pillow.

“T-Torimoto-san… Errr, umm….” (Kanna)

“Did you sleep well?” (Torimoto)

“Ah, yeah… I slept really well.” (Kanna)

“I’m glad to hear that. Ah, but it’d be best if you kept this a secret. If Sensei hears about this, he’ll give you a good scolding.” (Torimoto)

“…I’m sure Papa would forgive me though.” (Kanna)

“Haha. Your father wouldn’t forgive you so easily for something like this. You’re his sweet, adorable daughter after all.” (Torimoto)

Even if it was just me, if he found out that his daughter was sleeping in the same bed as a guy, he wouldn’t like it very much. On the other hand, if it was his son, he would be totally fine with it and might even praise him for that.

“…Are you really leaving?” (Kanna)

“Come on, don’t make such a sulky face. I told you that I would come visit you again, didn’t I?” I said while patting Kanna’s ruffled bedhead.

“…I want to see you once a week.” (Kanna)

“That’s a tall order.” (Torimoto)

“Mmm… Then once every 8 days.” (Kanna)

“That’s only one more day though.” (Torimoto)

“Then once every 10 days!” (Kanna)

“…Come on, don’t make things hard for me, Kanna-chan.” (Torimoto)

Kanna said sorry and buried her face in the pillow. It felt like I was bullying her, which made me feel a bit complicated inside, but…

“…Call me… Kanna.” (Kanna)

“Huh?” (Torimoto)

“…I won’t try to stop you anymore, but I want you to call me just Kanna from now on.” (Kanna)

“………Okay, Kanna.” (Torimoto)

“If you’re up, then go wash your face.” (Torimoto)

Kanna said ‘okaaay~’ and jumped down from the bed, running to the bathroom. Jouichirou wasn’t there for breakfast, but he came back just before noon. The entire Fukuzawa family came to see me off.

“Sol-chan, I’ll definitely see you again! I’ll be waiting!” (Kanna)

“Puuu~! Puuuuu~” (Sol)

Kanna embraced Sol, gently stroking her feathers. Sol also looked somewhat sad to part ways with her.

Come to think of it, in terms of time spent together, Sol might have even spent more time with Kanna than I had. Sol really seemed to enjoy playing with her.

“Torimoto-kun, I’m really glad that I met you.” (Jouichirou)

“Likewise, Fukuzawa-sensei. Thank you for letting me stay here for so long. I was able to spend many wonderful, fun-filled days here because of you. Thank you so much.” (Torimoto)

“…Please come and visit any time you feel like it. You’re already pretty much part of our family after all.” (Jouichirou)

“…Yes, some day. Sol.” (Torimoto)

Sol left Kanna’s embrace and returned to my shoulder. Then, Kanna stood before me and looked up at me with tears in her eyes.

“….Sniff. I won’t say bye… So… See you later, Kentaro-san!” (Kanna)

As if trying to not make me worry, Kanna called me by Torimoto’s first name, trying her best to keep a smile on her face.

“…Yeah. I’m off, Kanna.” (Torimoto)

When I turned around to leave, I could still hear Kanna’s sobs behind me. Minako held onto her shoulders and gently rubbed her on the back.

Everyone, the chauffeur Sasaki, and the maid Shinomiya, included, bowed their heads and sent me off.

Once I disappeared from their sight, I dispelled the transformation and immediately used a [Teleportation Crystal] to teleport to the island.