V5Ch4: Family Part 2

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Translator: Soafp

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“I see. So, you're going with a two-family house.”

“Yes. I thought it would be good for my sister to have some support. I'm glad we managed to arrange it smoothly.”

Sipping tea on the veranda, I explain the situation to Rishyu-san. After hearing about the Sougetsu family’s home from my mother, I decided to visit it directly.

It was a splendid single-family house, but it was only occupied by my grandparents, who were overwhelmed by the space.

It was a very lonely house. It must have been lively in the past, but now, it seemed that they only went up to the second floor once a month to clean. The large space had become an unnecessary burden.

They were planning to move to a nearby facility soon. So, I suggested the idea of living together with the Touren family. My grandparents, knowing that their granddaughter, Kikyo-chan, was suffering, quickly agreed.

Since old man had severed ties with his parents, they hadn't been able to see their grandchild for a long time, and this had been a lingering regret for them. Living together would surely provide Kikyo-chan with a sense of security.

The issue was the relationship between Kikyo-chan and Tsubaki-san, but all I had done in the Touren household was household chores. I prepared meals, ironed my old man's shirts every day, and did sewing.

I was basically a househusband. Tsubaki-san was a full-time housewife, but I showcased my domestic skills to her. Of course, there was a reason behind it. I took over all the roles Tsubaki-san had in the household.

Although she was a full-time housewife, Tsubaki-san had nothing to do. I negated her existence.

I insulted her for not being able to even handle fish, despite being a housewife. I criticized her for not being able to properly make a single piece of clothing. I mocked her as if she were a useless NEET merely leeching off others.

Tsubaki-san, in her rage, nearly killed me and almost threw me down from the second floor, but since I had sown the seeds myself, that was, in a way, the intended result.

It was something she needed. I had adjusted the intensity due to her mental and physical imbalance, but it was sufficient to drive her to the edge. She must have realized the foolishness of denying everything about Kikyo-chan.

What I had done was equivalent to what Tsubaki-san had done to Kikyo-chan: negating their very existence. Not recognizing efforts, demanding infinite devotion, and ruthlessly discarding results. When such things happen, a home turns from a sanctuary into a hell.

Tsubaki-san had been dependent on Kikyo-chan. She controlled her, treating her like a puppet to project her own regrets, dissatisfaction, and desire for revenge.

She had been toying with Kikyo-chan's dignity. Even if she wished for her child's happiness out of love, if she depended on her child, neither could be truly happy. Just as Kikyo-chan had her own life, Tsubaki-san had hers as well.

That's why I poured all my effort into diverting her attention. Once, Tsubaki-san had hobbies and lived her own life. I was deeply moved by the Japanese dance she performed, which hadn't lost its luster.

Seeing my admiration, Tsubaki-san must have been regaining forgotten emotions. She was remembering the joy she once had.

She had sacrificed everything for the family, but Kikyo-chan was already a middle school student. She was no longer a child who required constant care.

When I suggested to Tsubaki-san that she try working outside, old man showed some reluctance, but Tsubaki-san's response was very positive, and old man had no choice but to grudgingly agree. Old man is so weak.

He had become somewhat overprotective in his efforts to shield Tsubaki-san. A life spent only indoors inevitably leads to a loss of social skills.

By freeing her from that confinement, Tsubaki-san will likely gradually reduce her obsession and dependence on Kikyo-chan.

I can only hope that their relationship will be repaired into a mutually respectful and appropriate one.

The Touren family house is quite large. It's easy to remodel into a two-family house, so this should resolve things neatly.

“Now, I'd like to consult with you, Rishyu-san.”

“Ah, I sense an interesting development here.”

I decided to get to the main topic. With my grandparents moving out of the Sougetsu house, they offered to transfer their current house to us. It's a classic case of luck striking, like finding a pot of gold or a piece on the back of a coin.

Since the house is old, it can't be left as it is. I'm considering either remodeling it or demolishing it and building a new house. However, a problem has arisen.

“In fact, there's also an old apartment building in front of the house, which is about fifty years old. They've said we can have it if we want, and I'm not sure what to do. Since they were planning to move to a facility, new tenants aren't being accepted, but can we take it over?”

The Sougetsu family had been concerned about us as well, not just Kikyo-chan. Given the circumstances of the separation from my mother, it's understandable that my grandparents couldn't contact us directly. When I visited, they welcomed me with tears. That's why they're offering us the apartment as a source of passive income, but I'm unsure how to proceed.

“Hmmm. Are there any current tenants?”

“Just one, but that person is also moving to a nursing home in a month. They were planning to demolish it and sell the land afterward, so can we resume recruitment?”

I don't have any expertise in this area, so I plan to leave it to a real estate agent. Given the age of the building, I have no idea how much demand there might be. The good location means the risk of the property becoming a burden is low.

“With this location, it would be a waste to just resume recruitment as it is.”

“Then, shall we sell it?”

“Wait, wait, wait. How about demolishing it and building a new apartment building? Low-rise would be good. Even if it's not a high-rise, high floors are inconvenient.”

Many people aspire to live in high-rise buildings, but they come with unexpected drawbacks. The reception for signals is poor, laundry can't be dried on balconies, and the daily hassle of going up and down is bothersome.

I ponder Rishyu-san's suggestion.

“But even if you say that, I don't have the funds for it.”

With fixed asset taxes, inheritance taxes, and although strictly speaking, grandchildren don't inherit, the fact is that a free transfer isn't really free. For a piece of land this valuable, the amount would be enormous. Adding to that the cost of building an apartment? With my existing debt of two billion yen? Impossible!

“Don't worry. I'll cover it. With this location, recouping the investment will be easy.”

“Isn't that completely devoid of reassurance?!”

Even if someone went that far for me, the aftermath would be frightening. I can actually see a future where I marry Misaki Himiyama seriously. While that would be a happy life, it's not without its problems.

“That’s right! I’ll rent out one of the rooms for Misaki. Is that okay?”

“Can you stop asking questions that seem like I have a choice but don’t?”

“It's getting quite interesting. For residential apartments, the demand for the ground floor is low. It might be best to have a tenant there—perhaps a convenience store or supermarket. An office could also work.”

Indeed, the idea makes sense. On the ground floor, people are concerned about visibility, windows are hard to open, and security is an issue. However, a tenant would benefit from the ground floor's accessibility. Of course, depending on the tenant, there could be some drawbacks, but the convenience would significantly improve.

“Maybe I should move too. I could relocate the Tojo election office here.”

“In that case, wouldn't it be better for you to manage it?”

If it were the Himiyama family, they would likely manage it well.

“That wouldn't be as interesting. The value is in having you involved.”

“The evaluation from this family is unreasonably high…”

After Rishyu-san made a few phone calls, representatives from construction companies gathered almost immediately.

What started as a simple consultation had progressed to an irreversible stage. It's a testament to Rishyu-san's decisive actions. What do I do now? Are we really building an apartment?

“Please propose different plans. I, along with Yukito to here, will make the final decision.”

Rishyu-san's unnecessary comment made the construction company representatives look at me with eager eyes.

The representatives began giving detailed instructions one after another. Rishyu-san's experience in this field was evident.

“Well, let's make Misaki's room suitable for families. There might be more family members in the future. Hahaha, I won't be able to rest in peace until I see my great-grandchildren.”

Grandpa was in high spirits. The brochures the representatives brought showed the latest, high-performance apartments, a far cry from the fifty-year-old building. With these features, there shouldn't be any issues with attracting tenants.

The era is about energy creation and zero-energy houses. Of course, I was planning to make my own home like that, but I can't even imagine how much it would cost to build a similar apartment.

“Oh, that's right. We need to decide on the name for the apartment building. It's the owner’s privilege to choose the name freely. Though there are some exceptions, I won't settle for a boring name.”

I checked on my smartphone and found that names that could be mistaken for local landmarks or facilities were not allowed. However, naming it after the nearest station was possible. Clarity is important.

But, being asked suddenly, I couldn't come up with something immediately.

Names like Grande, Maison, Brillia are commonly heard. They sound stylish. Though I'm tempted to come up with a ridiculously lame name, it might drastically affect the occupancy rate, so I hesitated.

“How about Yukito Himiyama Palace?”

“You really like that name, don't you?!”

It would just be a love nest for Himiyama-san and me.

While glancing at my smartphone, I realized I had forgotten one name.

When it comes to apartment names, the most iconic is the Lion of Beasts. Everyone has heard of apartments named after lions at least once.

Wait a minute. Didn't Mom discuss how to handle her office when she became independent?

If we use the ground floor or perhaps the second floor as a tenant space, she could go straight from home to work. Himiyama-san moving in and Mom's office being a tenant?

And the Lion of Beasts. An organic connection. An epiphany struck me.

“I've decided, Rishyu-san!”

“Impressive, your decision-making is swift. Just as I expected from the successor I've been looking for.”

“Well, not exactly…”

Look at that. The gathered construction company representatives were buzzing with excitement.

Kukuku. I couldn't hide my satisfaction with this brilliant idea.

Let me reveal the name of the apartment I, Yukito Kokonoe, have come up with.

“The apartment will be named ‘Heroine's Mansion'!”

Yukito Kokonoe (16 years old), approximately ten billion yen in debt (excluding land costs)

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[Mother Side]

Meanwhile, at that time.

“Um, thank you very much!”

She can't help but smile wryly at her nervous demeanor. She once had a similar time in her life. Feeling touched by the innocence of it all is probably because she've spent so much time in the professional world.

“Try not to be so nervous. This isn't an interview; it's just a private matter.”

“Y-yes.”

She speaks in a reassuring tone to help ease her nerves. This isn't an interview in a café.

From Ouka perspective, this is more of a personal consultation and a request.

She takes a sip of my iced coffee. The woman sitting across from her, who is visibly tense, is the one who recently helped her son. Yukito is very grateful. There's nothing lacking in her character.

“You’re Ninomiya-san, right? Thank you for helping my son. Without you, he might have been expelled from school for an unjust accusation. …He's had a lot of difficulties since he was young.”

The word “difficulties” hardly captures the bitter experiences he's faced.

“N-no! I just did what was natural! I couldn't stand those kinds of things. Besides, Yukito-kun was the first to notice my poor health and help me. So, please let me thank you for introducing me like this!”

Mio Ninomiya, a university student, bows her head politely. Her manners are impeccable. Even from Ouka perspective, she leaves a good impression.

(Really, where did he pick up such a good kid…?)

She knows it's on the train. Haa. …she inwardly lament the breadth of her son’s social circle.

This happens as soon as she looks away. Even if she doesn't, he attracts women. The troublesome nature of her son.

Shifting her focus, she gets to the main topic.

“About the internship, actually, there's something I need to confirm with you.”

“Is it really difficult? If so, that's okay! I'm already in a position of making a difficult request, and it feels a bit unfair—”

Mio continues, reacting to her slightly hesitating words. It seems she've led her to misunderstand.

“It's not that. From the company's perspective, it's very desirable to have excellent students join us. We're severely understaffed, and we're always welcoming new talent. That's not the issue…”

Mio's face shows a troubled expression due to the vague words.

Since they're meeting in person, she has no choice but to be direct.

“I'll be straightforward. —Ninomiya-san, would you like to work with me?”

“What does that mean…?”

Mio tilts her head in confusion, clearly bewildered.

“Actually, I was planning to delegate your role to a subordinate at first. I hoped you could eventually work alongside Hiiragi and take on some of my tasks. That was my initial thought, but…”

She explained the situation to Mio. The plan to become independent has advanced significantly from the original schedule.

This is largely thanks to Yukito's request and his connections, but she doesn't understand why her son, as a student, is better at networking than she is, a professional. His networking skills are almost like a cheat code.

“Hiiragi is also saying she'll follow me, so… well, that's that. But we still need a few more people, so I reached out to you.”

“But why me?”

Mio's question is quite reasonable, but from Ouka's perspective, it's almost a natural proposal.

“Well, it's because I can't work with someone I can't trust.”

Unlike large corporations with many employees, starting a company from scratch requires like-minded colleagues.

Ultimately, society boils down to human relationships. Even freelancers and individual business owners cannot work without interacting with others. That's why she reached out to Mio.

If Mio wants to seek stability and stay in her current job, that's perfectly fine. It's her choice and her life, and it's not for her to interfere with.

However, if she's interested in the job itself rather than just the company, joining Ouka's new venture could be a viable option. It would come with more responsibility, but also greater fulfillment.

“Of course, if you later decide to switch to your current company, I'll be glad to provide a recommendation, so don't worry.”

If Mio were to join Ouka's venture and then switch to her current company, it would be seen as a blatant poaching. That's both impolite and against the principles of fairness.

However, if she builds a career at Ouka's new company and later moves to her current company, there would be no problem. She would likely be hired as an immediate asset.

“I'm sorry for bringing this up suddenly. It must be a shock. I just wanted to see if you might be interested, so don't take it too seriously. We're still in the preparation stages of the independent venture.”

Stability or challenge. Nowadays, few people can choose the latter. At the very least, landing a position at a well-established company can be a status symbol. There's no need to tread an uncertain path.

“I'll do it! Please let me do it!”

Mio responds eagerly. Ouka is taken aback by her decisive answer.

“I know I'm the one who invited you, but shouldn't you think about it a bit more carefully?”

Changing jobs is a common thing, but even so, if it’s a new graduate, especially a job for their daughter, Mio’s parents will be concerned, and it may even affect her relationship with her boyfriend or marriage.

I plan to offer comprehensive benefits, but maternity leave and other aspects can be challenging for women.

“It's okay! I've always admired someone like you, Ouka-san. I've also aspired to your work. And if there are any problems, I'm sure Yukito-kun will handle them.”

Indeed, if it's her son, he would manage somehow. He always finds a way. Ouka and Yuri both rely on him day and night. She can't criticize others for that.

But she must say this: it's her parental responsibility.

“I will never let my son go!”

“I remember when we went to the pool before, he was so affectionate. It was so cute.”

“—Sorry. I have an urgent matter to attend to.”

Ouka stands up, but Mio hurriedly stops her.

“Sorry, I was joking! It was just the two of us, me and Tristy–“

“Two? I need to get Sekka here immediately. No, that's it! Hiiragi can compete with her youth!”

“Please calm down! What's going on!? Where did your composure go—”

Mio desperately tries to calm down the flustered Ouka.