Chapter 59: Sinking with the Sea Level

Chapter 59: Sinking with the Sea Level

Uncle Sato?

This form of address was something Yatsuno Gen had heard from this girl’s mouth for the first time, and this man was also someone Yatsuno Gen was seeing for the first time.

Yet the man seemed very natural, and the concern and gentleness on his face were also very convincing.

Judging from his clothing and bearing, it was also very easy to associate him with the kind of successful person who held a proper job and had a smooth life.

Especially with the Mercedes parked beside him.

He smiled and said, “I originally planned to go straight to find you, but when I knocked on the door, I found you weren’t there. I asked the security guard at the gate, and he said you had gone out. So I waited here for you.”

These words caught Kiyono Mitsuki somewhat off guard.

“I went out today... Why did you suddenly come over? You didn’t wait long, did you?”

The man smiled and said, “It’s fine. I didn’t wait very long. I was just worried that it would be inconvenient for you to go out. Seeing you return safely puts me a little more at ease... Right, is this your friend?”

His gaze finally turned toward Yatsuno Gen.

Yatsuno Gen’s expression was calm.

“I’m her neighbor, Yatsuno Gen.”

“You look so young. Are you still studying?”

This question was somewhat abrupt and sharp.

But Yatsuno Gen did not deny it.

“Mm, second year of high school.”

“It must be quite difficult for a second-year high school student to take care of Mitsuki, right? I’m grateful there are still kind boys like you in this world.”

Yatsuno Gen felt there was something strange about these words, but for the moment, he did not show it. He merely answered blandly,

“It’s fine. She isn’t any trouble, and it isn’t hard.”

“That’s good, that’s good.”

The man nodded repeatedly, as if he were truly grateful for all this.

Kiyono Mitsuki was somewhat unnatural. She raised her head and asked,

“Uncle Sato, did you come specially today for something?”

The man looked at Kiyono Mitsuki, then sighed softly.

“It’s nothing else. I just learned about some things and came to see how you were doing.”

“Things...”

“Mm. Those debt collectors are still pestering you, right? I saw the paint at your door. It’s truly going too far.”

The good mood Kiyono Mitsuki had accumulated over the day seemed to scatter in an instant. Yes, so what if she had played happily before? The troubles of life would still entangle her. That glaring paint and those words would still remind her that she was the mire.

The girl with a gloomy expression shook her head.

“It’s nothing. I’m used to it.”

“No, of course it can’t be like this.”

The man suddenly said so.

He looked at the girl and said gently with a tender expression,

“Back then, when your father started his business, it was also my fault for not stopping him. He acted impulsively and ended up owing so much money. At any rate, I watched you grow up. I can’t let you bear all this alone.”

“Ah?”

“Mitsuki, I want to help you pay off your debts, provide you with a better living environment, and find the most suitable treatment plan for you. I can’t let Kiyono’s child live in such a terrible life.”

“Wait, wait a moment.”

Kiyono Mitsuki seemed somewhat unable to believe it. She looked at him hesitantly.

“Uncle Sato... what my father owed was loan-shark debt, a lot of money. I can’t trouble you like this. I’m grateful for your kindness, but since it’s my father’s matter, I’ll just take responsibility for it myself.”

“But how will you take responsibility? As you are now, you need other people’s help just to go out. You don’t need to feel embarrassed either. In my heart, you’re no different from my own daughter. Besides, I haven’t married or had children yet, and I don’t have any other financial burdens. Helping you is only natural. Don’t you trust me?”

The man’s eyes seemed full of heartache and tenderness.

It looked like a tempting proposal, as if a door had suddenly been pushed open for her dark life.

But in truth, Kiyono Mitsuki did not consider it for very long. She did not believe much in pies falling from the sky, nor did she want to abuse someone else’s kindness as if it were only natural.

Or rather, the only thing she trusted was the pair of hands behind her, tightly gripping her wheelchair.

She raised her face, a smile appearing that was not forced.

“I understand your kindness, Uncle Sato, but I really can’t trouble you.”

Some regret appeared on Sato’s face.

He shook his head.

“It’s alright. You don’t need to refuse so early, and don’t force yourself too much. If you run into trouble, you can contact me at any time. You have my number.”

“Mm, I know.”

It seemed this conversation should have ended there.

But at this moment, Sato looked toward Yatsuno Gen.

“Yue... Yatsuno-kun, right? Could I speak with you alone? It’s nothing else. I just want to thank you for taking care of Mitsuki.”

Yatsuno Gen glanced at Kiyono Mitsuki and did not refuse. He also wanted to know what this man who had suddenly appeared wanted to say to him.

After first sending Kiyono Mitsuki over to the old security guard at the gate, Yatsuno Gen and Sato stood beside the car.

The man smiled as he looked at the boy.

“Mitsuki really is a very strong child, isn’t she?”

“Mm. Life has already treated her this way. Other than being strong, she has no other choice.”

“That’s very insightful. But as her father’s best friend while he was alive, I have no reason to sit by and do nothing. Because watching her unable to free herself from the mire would leave my conscience uneasy. Can you understand that feeling?”

Yatsuno Gen looked at those eyes that seemed very sincere. He did not agree. Instead, he said,

“I think Mitsuki is already an adult. Although her body is inconvenient, her thoughts are mature. She has the right to choose what kind of life to live. Sometimes, what other people think is better for her may not be what she wants.”

These words were said very tactfully, but he felt Sato would understand.

Sato did indeed understand. He simply laughed lightly.

“When someone has encountered a major change in life and lost their closest relatives, it’s easy for them to get stuck in a dead end. I understand. During days like that, you must have accompanied her through great difficulty. But this is only the beginning. What about the future? Without money, without conditions, those legs of hers will never recover. And her situation doesn’t seem to allow her to earn enough to satisfy everything she needs in life.”

“So this is a vicious cycle. As the years pass and time flows on, her life will only become more and more painful, more and more inconvenient. That’s why I want to help her change all this. I believe Yatsuno-kun, you also have a kind heart and truly want what is best for her. So... you should understand the meaning of my words even more.”

Yatsuno Gen narrowed his eyes and stared at him.

“I think I understand.”

“Mm.”

Sato nodded.

Then he said, “Then I’ll have to trouble you to persuade her properly. While she’s still young, it’s not too late to change everything. I’ll be going first. I’ll trouble you to take care of her.”

Yatsuno Gen watched this man get into the car. Before starting it, he even smiled at him in a very friendly manner.

Only then did he leave politely.

Everything seemed impeccable.

The contents of his words also seemed flawless, even like a heart of gold.

If Yatsuno Gen really were an ordinary second-year high school boy, and an orphan besides, the best choice at this moment would be to consider things from Kiyono Mitsuki’s perspective and trust this best friend of Kiyono Mitsuki’s father from when he had been alive.

Was that really the case?

Yatsuno Gen returned to Kiyono Mitsuki’s side and pushed her home.

They did not talk immediately. Yatsuno Gen first received a call from an unfamiliar number.

He found it somewhat strange. After answering, he said, “Hello, who is this?”

He asked, but the other side gave no response at all, quiet as if there was no one there.

So he hung up with a frown. He confirmed this phone number again and again. He had never seen it before. His memory was terrifyingly good.

But why did it happen to call at this time, without making any sound, coincidentally on the very day Sato came to see Kiyono Mitsuki...

The words of the girl, whose mood was somewhat low, interrupted his thoughts.

“His name is Sato Yuta. He was a good friend of my dad and mom. They went to high school together and university together. They already knew each other when my parents first got together. When my parents had their accident, he was also the one who helped handle the aftermath. After that, he kept calling to check on me and tried to give me some financial assistance and things like that... but I refused all of those. I’m afraid of accepting excessive kindness from others. I’m afraid I won’t be able to repay it.”

Yatsuno Gen lowered his head and looked at her dense black hair, falling against her fair neck, falling into the hollow of her collarbone.

“What are you trying to say?”

Kiyono Mitsuki raised her head, her eyes somewhat deep. She seemed a little sad.

“I know roughly what he said to you... Do you want to persuade me to accept his help?”

“Do you yourself want to accept it?”

Yatsuno Gen asked.

The door opened, using his key.

He did not turn on the lights immediately. After closing the door, the inside was somewhat dim.

He and she seemed to both sink into the shadows, brewing an unfamiliar atmosphere.

Kiyono Mitsuki bit her lower lip.

“If I accept, will you respect my decision?”

She was very worried.

When she asked this question, her heart was beating very fast.

She even had the weak impulse to simply close her eyes in the darkness.

But Yatsuno Gen turned on the light, allowing her to clearly see his eyes at this moment.

Serious and forceful.

“I don’t think that is necessarily kindness, and I won’t let you accept it.”

Hearing this, Kiyono Mitsuki visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

She smiled, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

“What, do you really think of me as the little cat you raised? Not allowed to go to anyone else?”

She deliberately made the topic lighter, turning the atmosphere into the state most familiar to the two of them.

Yatsuno Gen nodded as a matter of course.

“Nonsense. I’ve taken care of you for so long. If I let someone else take you away so easily, and they really cured you, then wouldn’t I get nothing at all? I’d be taking a huge loss.”

“Mm?!”

Kiyono Mitsuki’s face immediately turned red. She knew this boy spoke without restraint, but wasn’t this too direct?

What exactly do you want to get from me? Even if I give it to you, you don’t want it. Honestly.

After sending the flushed girl to the living room, he naturally and skillfully lifted her onto the sofa.

She looked at this boy, whose mouth was so stubborn, but whose movements toward her were always very gentle, and said softly,

“When I listened to Uncle Sato’s words at the time, I actually wasn’t tempted at all.”

Yatsuno Gen looked at her in amusement.

“Even when he said he’d cure your legs, you weren’t tempted?”

The girl shook her head decisively.

“You might not know this, but sometimes I even want to just cut off both my legs. That way, I won’t keep fantasizing about whether they can recover, and there won’t be any gap brought by hope. Maybe that way, I could live most normally.”

But Yatsuno Gen shook his head.

“You can’t cut them off.”

“Why?”

“There’s one reason I absolutely won’t agree.”

“What reason?”

Kiyono Mitsuki asked curiously.

Then she saw Yatsuno Gen also sit on the sofa, right beside her, though a little far away this time.

But very soon, he fell toward her side.

He lay down on her legs, which had no sensation, then looked at her eyes, trembling with shock, and said,

“If you cut them off, there’d be no way for you to give me a lap pillow.”

He closed his eyes, seeming to enjoy this moment.

Kiyono Mitsuki, unable to speak, ultimately accepted all the shock and shyness.

She glanced at the nearly full bag of plush toys placed on the other side of the sofa.

Then she slowly reached out and gently stroked the short hair on his forehead.

She was not completely without value to him either, right?

The sunset outside the window sank away. His and her even breathing was like a calm sea.

Sinking.