Chapter 31: The Girl Who Holds Grudges the Most

Chapter 31: The Girl Who Holds Grudges the Most

Yatsuno Gen was not very used to hugs.

Even during his childhood in this orphanage, after all, he was not actually that age mentally, so he found them somewhat awkward and sentimental.

Of course, in other people’s eyes, it became a sign of being withdrawn and unsociable.

Fortunately, Yatsuno Gen behaved normally in other respects, so it never caused too much concern.

However, this elderly woman named Chishima Kazuko still cared greatly about Yatsuno Gen in daily life. When Yatsuno Gen finally felt the time was right and proposed going out to support himself, she had been extremely worried.

She had even taken the initiative to help him look for part-time work opportunities. If he wanted to attend school, she had been willing to contact suitable schools for him.

Most of the textbooks and study materials Yatsuno Gen used while teaching himself at the orphanage had also been brought by her.

Therefore, when she hugged Yatsuno Gen, the young man did not feel anything out of place about it. Feeling that familiar warmth and scent from her, even a young man who had never thought fate favored him felt somewhat fortunate.

He smiled and said softly, “I haven’t run into any difficulties. I just came back to see you.”

Chishima Kazuko released him and nodded with her familiar smile.

“If something does happen, don’t hide it from me. You have no idea how worried I was after you’d been gone for so long. I was terrified that you weren’t living well out there.”

She pulled the young man over to sit in a chair and kindly poured him a cup of hot tea.

Holding the teacup, Yatsuno Gen nodded.

“I know. But you really don’t need to worry too much. I can handle anything well. You know that better than anyone.”

“Hahahaha.”

The elderly woman laughed heartily, a nostalgic expression appearing on her face.

“That’s true. Back then, in the entire orphanage, you were the most sensible one. You never cried secretly, never threw tantrums, never caused trouble for anyone. You even helped organize the library books. Honestly, you’re the one I should have worried about the least.”

Then she sighed softly.

Her gentle gaze settled on the young man.

“But for some reason, precisely because you were the most sensible, I always felt that this world treated you the most unfairly.”

Yatsuno Gen shook his head.

“That’s not true. Just having a place where I could grow up was already enough. Whether I had parents or not didn’t really matter.”

In fact, Yatsuno Gen felt there could hardly have been a better starting point.

Because he had no so-called biological parents, he did not need to be bound by “false” familial affection, nor did he need to adapt or pretend.

“You child... Oh right, you only came back to see me? Nothing else?”

Chishima Kazuko asked with a smile.

Yatsuno Gen took an envelope from his clothes and placed it on the table under Chishima Kazuko’s surprised gaze.

“Nothing else. This is just a small token of my appreciation. You don’t need to worry that it’s money from questionable sources. It’s from part-time jobs, school scholarships, and things like that. My living expenses are more than covered. There isn’t much money here, but I hope you’ll accept it.”

Chishima Kazuko looked at Yatsuno Gen in disbelief.

“How can that be acceptable? You’re still so young, and you’re already thinking about donating money to the orphanage? You should at least take care of your own life first. It may seem sufficient now, but what about later? Your grades are so good. You’ll continue your education, won’t you? And if you start dating, you’ll need money too. Renting a place and all that...”

She immediately shook her head and pushed the envelope back.

“I absolutely can’t accept this. I’m deeply touched by your kindness, but since becoming the director, my greatest wish has never been for you children to repay us. It’s been for every one of you to live well out there in the world. Especially you. Knowing that you’re still the same kind and gentle Yatsuno Gen, that’s already the best thing possible.”

As she spoke, her lips trembled slightly, and she could not help raising a hand to wipe the redness from the corners of her eyes.

Yatsuno Gen fell silent for a moment before reaching out and taking the money back.

He knew this woman was absolutely not the type to be merely polite. If she said she would not accept it, then she truly would not accept it. Nothing he said would change her mind.

The main issue was that his status as a student was simply not convincing enough. He was still in the role of someone others worried about.

Yatsuno Gen felt the atmosphere had become a little heavy, so after some thought he asked softly,

“By the way, when I came here, I saw roadwork outside, and the signboard had been removed. Is the orphanage being renovated?”

Chishima Kazuko nodded.

“Yes. The road is being repaired recently, and the inside and outside of the orphanage will be renovated as well. The children’s living environment, as well as their study and recreation facilities, will become much better. It’s a shame. Back when you were here, we didn’t have conditions like this.”

Yatsuno Gen smiled.

“How is that a shame? I was very happy during that time too. But how did the orphanage suddenly gain the resources for all this?”

“Oh, a large corporation suddenly invested in us recently. Maybe it’s some kind of social welfare project. I’m not really sure. But it doesn’t matter. As long as real money is being invested and it helps the children, I don’t care whether it’s for publicity or something else.”

After that, Yatsuno Gen and Chishima Kazuko chatted about various small matters, some about the past, others about Yatsuno Gen’s current situation.

Learning that the young man was doing well, earning outstanding grades, and even ranking near the top of his year at Shoujitsu Private High School, Chishima Kazuko felt greatly comforted.

When the young man was about to leave, Chishima Kazuko personally escorted him to the entrance.

She smiled teasingly at him.

“Shoujitsu Private High School is an excellent school. I’ve heard there are plenty of pretty girls there. Haven’t you thought about finding a girlfriend?”

“Not for now.”

“Then is there at least someone you like?”

Yatsuno Gen revealed a thoughtful expression.

“Well, there is. The problem is...”

“She doesn’t like you?”

“No. The problem is that there’s more than one. Is that considered a problem?”

Chishima Kazuko froze for a moment, then could not help patting the young man on the head.

“You child. How did you become such a flirt? Breaking a girl’s heart isn’t something a boy should do. I don’t want to see you become a scumbag and end up on the news being condemned by everyone.”

“Hahahaha, don’t worry, Director. That won’t happen.”

When they reached the entrance, Yatsuno Gen glanced at the signboard that had been removed.

In his memory, on the day he had truly left the orphanage, he had looked back at it the same way. At that time, the signboard had already been covered in rust.

But now, even the traces of it were gone.

“By the way, Director, what are you planning to change the sign to?”

At that moment, a somewhat strange expression appeared on Chishima Kazuko’s face.

“Actually, this matter is a little strange. When they invested in us, they only made one request.”

“What request?”

“That Cradle Orphanage change its name.”

“Change it to what?”

“Paper Airplane Orphanage.”

“...”

On the way back, a torrential rainstorm began.

Accompanied by flashes of lightning and rolling thunder, it soaked the young man from head to toe.

Because there were too many people around when he boarded the subway, it was inconvenient to use his inner force to evaporate the water. Thus, the drenched young man stood in the carriage, watching the scenery race past outside the window.

A gloomy sky.

Fractured storm clouds.

And rain striking the glass without restraint, shattering into countless droplets before his eyes.

The fleeting scenery resembled the revolving lantern of one’s life, familiar and unfamiliar things alike hurriedly passing by and disappearing.

What would remain in the end?

Beneath that dark and gloomy horizon, Yatsuno Gen seemed to see a paper airplane drifting through the air, uncertain upon whose rooftop it would land.

Whose windowsill.

Or whose courtyard.

By the time Yatsuno Gen returned home, his clothes had already been completely dried through evaporation, and his hair was once again neat and fresh.

That was one of the advantages of a cultivation method. As for bathing, it had become little more than a recreational activity. After all, he had no interest in places like Kabukicho or bars.

After showering and changing clothes, he lay down on the bed.

This time he did not practice.

Instead, he took out his phone and easily found the number that had once called him first.

After thinking about it, he still disliked being indecisive.

So he directly called back.

“Beep.”

“Beep.”

“Beep.”

The call was not answered immediately. The repeated tones were like a heart monitor, signaling the final direction fate would take.

Or perhaps the owner of the phone on the other side was deliberately making him wait as a form of revenge.

Though Yatsuno Gen had no idea what he had done that deserved revenge.

Just as he thought she would not answer, or perhaps had forgotten the number and treated it as spam, and was preparing to hang up,

“Click.”

The call connected.

“Hello.”

Yatsuno Gen spoke first.

From the other side came a familiar voice, calm and composed, yet extremely cold.

“Who is this?”

Yatsuno Gen looked at the ceiling.

“You obviously know it’s me. Pretending otherwise is pointless, Asagiri Rin.”

“...And why should I know it’s you? Weren’t you the one who said I shouldn’t contact you? What exactly does this phone call mean?”

So she was still holding a grudge.

Compared to before, she had become even more petty.

And even more resentful.

Yatsuno Gen could not help smiling.

“It’s nothing. I just wanted to ask why you invested in the orphanage.”

“Invested? I don’t know. What orphanage? Oh, are you talking about your orphanage?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know. Maybe it was my mother’s investment decision. Surely you don’t think someone my age has that kind of authority in my family? Or do you think this is another way I’m ‘compensating’ you?”

“Why do you hold such a grudge?”

“...If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”

She really did hold grudges.

She even insisted on returning every single thing he had once said to her.

After thinking for a moment, Yatsuno Gen said,

“No matter what, thank you. At least, on behalf of the children in the orphanage, thank you.”

“That’s what you called for?”

“Is that such a meaningless thing?”

“It is. And it has no significance. Even if this were my doing, it would still be meaningless, because with your experience, you’d never understand how much wealth I control. This so-called investment is just a drop in the ocean. It amounts to nothing. It doesn’t even qualify as kindness or goodwill. It’s merely a boring business activity. You don’t need to thank me.”

She answered coldly and stiffly.

Yet she completely failed to notice that she was speaking more and more to this young man.

And she was increasingly reminding Yatsuno Gen of those days long ago.

She spoke.

He listened.

Yatsuno Gen smiled.

“It doesn’t matter. My thanks are cheap anyway. Besides those words, I don’t have to pay anything.”

“It’s good that you know that. I’ll say it again. I don’t know anything about this matter, and I wasn’t compensating or trying to please you. If there’s nothing else, hang up.”

“Okay. I’m hanging up.”

Yatsuno Gen ended the call.

And on the other side of the line, the girl holding her phone, dressed in a black dress, cold in appearance yet breathtakingly beautiful, visibly frowned.

“Why is it you who hangs up first again?”