Chapter 667: I Disagree with This Marriage
Hongmaru’s question echoed in the room for a long time, the air seeming to solidify. The scalding hot tea on the coffee table suddenly stopped, even the steam lingering in mid-air.
Shin’ichi lowered his head, his golden bangs obscuring his eyes. The young boy’s clenched fists trembled slightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. He slowly raised his head, his lips parting slightly.
“I think… I think I know, Grandpa Hongmaru.”
“Oh?” Kusakabe Hongmaru narrowed his eyes, his crimson eyebrows raising high. To the old man’s surprise, Satō Shin’ichi’s answer was such. He had originally thought that the little girl had hidden something from the young boy. Regarding his relationship with that damn guy, he was quite willing to offer some advice on matters concerning the juniors. But surprisingly, Satō Shin’ichi was aware of it?
“Then… is it convenient to tell me?”
Kusakabe Hongmaru’s inquiry prompted Satō Shin’ichi to slowly look up.
“I think this might be related to Kazumi’s background.”
Shin’ichi’s voice was low and slow, each word as if squeezed from the depths of his chest. His azure eyes welled up with complex emotions.
“She… has heartache, hesitation, and a trace of unexplainable guilt.”
“Her parents were researchers for the [Dark] Organization, but they passed away when she was very young. The uncle who raised her is an executive within the [Dark] Organization. This is the result that Master Tenzan investigated using [Heavenly Fire] before.”
“Kazumi has always lived alone. Due to her identity, her uncle couldn’t provide overt care, only simply giving her a living allowance on time.”
“When you interacted with Kazumi, Grandpa Hongmaru, you might have felt she was a bit cold, but she has changed a lot since being with me. In the past, Kazumi was so cold that she barely spoke to anyone in class, even her communication with teachers was just a few brief words.”
Hongmaru’s fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop, producing a series of rapid, thin tapping sounds. The old man’s crimson pupils constricted slightly, as if processing this unexpected information.
“Then, have you investigated her connection to the [Dark] Organization?”
“No, we investigated thoroughly at the time. That executive’s care for Kazumi was only due to her parents’ relationship. Kazumi herself has never, and has no reason to, be involved in these matters. Moreover, during our long time together, and observing her soul on the spiritual plane, there have been no issues.”
Satō Shin’ichi shook his head, his expression somewhat struggling and awkward. It seemed that even though everything he said was what he was currently doing and objective facts, it was also his past self’s distrust of the girl he liked the most.
Satō Shin’ichi disliked this feeling.
“Alas, forget it. If there were truly a problem, Hamano Tsukasa wouldn’t have let you be together.”
Hongmaru sighed, his crimson beard trembling slightly with his breath. The old man stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the green plants in the courtyard. He said to Shin’ichi:
“But Shin’ichi, do you know what you represent and carry? You are the successor chosen by that guy, a leader who is meant to bear a generation’s burden. Regardless of whether she is clean or not, as your companion, that person should not have such a past and background. It will influence your judgment at critical moments. And when that time truly comes, a single wrong decision can endanger the lives of thousands of civilians.”
The old man turned around, his crimson pupils flickering with a dark flame. His broad, thick palm rested on Shin’ichi’s shoulder, the scorching heat penetrating the cloth.
“Just like the disaster thirty years ago… Hongmaru’s voice was as deep as thunder. A single, humble hesitation led to three cities turning to ashes.”
Shin’ichi’s body stiffened noticeably. He knew that disaster was an event that Hamano Tsukasa and Hongmaru had joined forces to quell, and it was also the beginning of the rift between two once incredibly close legendary heroes.
But even after this happened, Satō Shin’ichi still held his head high, his azure eyes filled with stubbornness.
“That… that’s not Kazumi’s fault! These things weren’t something she could decide on her own. She never intended to hurt anyone!”
Hongmaru was silent for a moment, then shook his head again. The old man sighed, his originally stern gaze softening. “Silly boy, the problem isn’t whether she wants to.”
“The problem lies in your own heart. Some darkness will slowly corrode it here.”
“To be honest, Shin’ichi, with your girlfriend’s situation, bringing her to accept my power might not be a good thing.”
“Just as a person’s personality and inner self can influence the awakening of their abilities, the abilities they possess can also have a certain impact on their inner self.”
“Perhaps, as a civilian, the influence of such experiences and past can be hidden in her heart. But after awakening abilities, it is very likely to cause some negative changes in her.”
“How could you choose now? Her soul hasn’t been completely absorbed yet. At this time, the impact of power on her is the lowest. Do you need to reconsider?”
Shin’ichi was silent for a moment. He looked down at his palm, where the warmth of Kazumi’s fingertips from earlier still lingered. Then, his gaze gradually shifted from confusion to determination.
“I believe in Kazumi.”
After a long time, the young boy said softly, his voice so light it was almost inaudible, yet filled with unquestionable resolve. “Just like Master believed in you.”
This sentence caused Hongmaru’s body to stiffen noticeably. The old man’s crimson beard moved without wind, and the flame in his eyes flickered. Finally, he sat back heavily in front of the table. The water in the teacup suddenly boiled the moment the old man sat down, then quickly returned to calm.
“Alas.” Hongmaru rubbed his temples. “Since that bastard Hamano Tsukasa has tacitly agreed…” His sharp gaze suddenly fixed on Shin’ichi. “But you must remember, if that girl ever loses control…”
“She won’t,” Shin’ichi interrupted without hesitation, his azure eyes flashing with determined light.
“I will always be by her side.”
“If… if that day ever comes…”
The young boy took a deep breath and clenched his right fist heavily. “I will stop her myself! Until then, please believe in us one time, Grandpa Hongmaru!”
Sunlight from outside the window streamed in through the sheer curtains, casting a golden outline on Satō Shin’ichi. The young boy held his head up stubbornly, his azure eyes twinkling with starlight. His golden short hair flowed like molten gold in the light, with a few unruly strands sticking up stubbornly, much like the boy’s intense emotions that could not be contained from within.
Kusakabe Hongmaru stared blankly at the young boy before him. In a daze, the boy in the sunlight perfectly overlapped with a figure from his memory who also had golden hair.
“Heh…”
The old man chuckled suddenly, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out. He finally understood why Hamano Tsukasa, knowing the potential impact the girl could have on Shin’ichi, still allowed these two children to be together. It was probably simply because he didn’t want this child to have the same regret as himself.
“You stubborn kid, just like your master.”
Hongmaru’s voice suddenly softened, his crimson beard trembling slightly. The old man stood up and patted Shin’ichi’s shoulder with his large hand.
“Go, go see your little girlfriend.”
“And remember what you said today.”
