The Porsche was very quiet. After saying this, Toru closed his mouth, allowing Kaguya to slowly grasp the meaning of his words and think over the deeper implications.
After a while, Toru spoke again. "Once you gain Old Master Shinomiya's support, you will have a chance, a chance to make the truly influential executives of the Shinomiya Zaibatsu willing to believe in you."
"The next thing you need to do is simple. As long as you can prove yourself and earn their trust in your abilities, becoming the head of the Shinomiya family will be a sure thing."
"Your three older brothers, apart from Oko, pose no threat. And even your eldest brother, after losing the support of the board, no matter how angry he is, can only rage helplessly."
Kaguya was startled out of her contemplation. Many thoughts raced through her mind, and at this moment, she began to seriously think about things from the perspective of the head of a large family.
This time, she did not hide her thoughts and emotions, but spoke frankly. "Toru-kun, the situation facing the Shinomiya family is very dangerous right now. I'm not confident that I can get through this crisis."
"I'm afraid I'll disappoint the uncles and aunts on the board."
Toru praised her, "Excellent. Your current way of thinking is correct, and you've started to speak your mind instead of keeping it bottled up like before."
"If you don't speak up, how can others know what you're thinking? Daring to acknowledge your shortcomings is a sign of growth and maturity, Kaguya. The current you truly has the bearing of the young lady of the Shinomiya family."
This praise from Toru made Kaguya feel a little embarrassed.
She thought to herself, Toru-kun is right. I used to be too sentimental and never expressed my thoughts.
Moreover, the old me was too arrogant. Even if something was clearly impossible, I didn't dare say it, afraid that others would laugh.
And the final result was that she ended up with nothing.
However, Toru's praise also made Kaguya unable to suppress the joy in her heart.
Toru-kun finally acknowledged me. That's more important than anything!
"Don't worry, Kaguya. I will help you. I'll help you get through this difficult time together!" Toru turned his head and looked at Kaguya's beautiful, exquisite face, like a cold, ascetic goddess, and said seriously.
"Then I'll leave it to Toru-kun. This time, I won't run away again. No matter what Toru-kun asks me to do, I will definitely do it. I will fully cooperate with you."
Kaguya seemed to be cheering herself on. She took a deep breath and said it with a firm attitude.
"Aren't you afraid I'll fail? You know, the opponent we're facing this time isn't that simple."
Toru chuckled.
"No, I believe Toru-kun will definitely succeed. Even if Toru-kun fails, it doesn't matter. I have nothing to begin with, and I have nothing to lose!"
Kaguya's tone was resolute. This was Kaguya's weakness. She had no foundation in the Shinomiya family.
But this was also Kaguya's greatest advantage, which was that she had nothing to lose, not even her freedom.
When life is at its lowest point, every direction forward is upward.
"Very good, Kaguya. That attitude is correct. I have stood at the peak, and I have also fallen into the valley. Both have benefited me greatly."
"Toru-kun's words are so philosophical," Kaguya said with admiration.
"I didn't say it. It's a line from a game."
"..."
For a moment, Kaguya's face turned red, and she did not know what to say.
Toru laughed heartily and started the car again.
This time, the reason Toru wanted to help the Shinomiya family, aside from the Black Organization needing a new source of income, was also because Toru was unhappy with those overseas financial conglomerates.
Toru had already confirmed through Vermouth that the founder of the Organization and its funding sources were related to those financial conglomerates.
Now that the Black Organization was split apart, those overseas financial conglomerates would definitely not support Toru's side and would inevitably support That Person.
Since that was the case, they were enemies.
And when facing enemies, Toru never showed mercy.
Helping the Shinomiya family overcome its difficulties was also a way to make those overseas financial conglomerates suffer.
It was difficult to defeat those conglomerates on an economic level, and Toru did not intend to confront them head-on using their strengths.
Even Toru himself was not confident he could outplay those conglomerates.
Therefore, he used the simplest method to deal with enemies: physical elimination.
The only trouble now was that the people standing on the surface of these conglomerates were all frontmen. The true rulers of these conglomerates had always been hidden in the shadows. What he needed to do was find them, then send them a bomb and blow them straight to heaven!
This was the most correct way to conduct business warfare!
Toru drove Kaguya back to her home along the same route they had taken.
Just as Toru was about to leave, Kaguya suddenly grabbed his sleeve.
Toru was puzzled. Kaguya lowered her head and said seriously, "Toru-kun, I want to tell you something."
"Hmm? Go ahead."
"I like you, Toru-kun. Not because of the family engagement, but because I like you as a person. Wait for me... wait until I become the head of the Shinomiya family. Please give me a chance to pursue you, Toru-kun!"
Kaguya's delicate body trembled slightly. She lowered her head, very afraid that Toru would coldly refuse.
Toru said softly, "How could I bear to refuse a beautiful girl like Kaguya saying she wants to pursue me? I'm already overjoyed."
Kaguya's heart sped up.
Toru-kun said I'm a beautiful girl, so Toru-kun doesn't dislike me after all.
Countless people had praised Kaguya's beauty since she was a child.
Even though Kaguya had never cared about her appearance, she knew very well that she possessed exquisite beauty that would make many boys like her.
But the praises of those people, even if they said ten thousand words of praise, could not compare to Toru's single, casual remark.
Because only the beauty praised by the person she liked was true beauty.
Toru left.
Kaguya lay on her large bed, unable to sleep.
So much had happened in just a few hours today. It was... a change that could alter her entire life, a moment she would never forget.
...
Several days later, the sky was overcast, and a light rain was falling.
In the cemetery, Toru, dressed in black and holding a black umbrella, quietly watched the girl's back in front of him.
Sakiko wore a long black dress, letting the fine rain fall and soak her beautiful hair.
She stood quietly in front of a tombstone. Not far away were the priest's prayers and the core members of the Togawa family who had come to attend the funeral.
Sakiko's slender fingers slid across the tombstone as she softly called out, "Mom.."
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)