章節 25: CHAPTER 24 - Akihiko's friend (3)
"Where have you been?" A voice confronted him abruptly.
Ichiro was taken aback by his cousin's sudden appearance. They attended the same school, but their interactions had been few and far between, making this encounter surprising.
"To my friend's house, why?" Ichiro replied arrogantly, showing little concern for his cousin's inquiry.
"Is that how you should speak to me?" His cousin's anger flared at Ichiro's haughty attitude. He hadn't expected the rumors circulating within their family to be true—that Ichiro had been spending time with Nakamura's son. Such an association was not to be taken lightly. While their families were considered equals, the Nakamura family held more influence and power, making them a force to be reckoned with.
"How should I speak to you? We're the same age, and to be more precise, I'm even older than you," Ichiro retorted defiantly.
"You—" His cousin began to retort, but the tension between them continued to escalate, leaving their relationship strained and unresolved.
"Hey, I'm just stating the facts," Ichiro replied calmly.
"Huh, just because Nakamura-sama is hanging out with you, you think you're on his level?" his cousin retorted, his tone filled with resentment.
"Why shouldn't I? We both see each other as friends," Ichiro defended himself.
The more they argued, the more Ichiro realized that he was being unusually assertive and not backing down as he usually did. He wondered what had brought about this change in himself. Ichiro had never been the type to challenge his cousin.
Before the argument could escalate further, a voice interrupted them. "The two of you, what are you doing there?"
Both Ichiro and his cousin turned to see Yuta's father standing there.
"Father," Yuta acknowledged him.
"Yuta, what are you doing out here?" Yuta's father inquired.
"Father, I came to ask Ichiro where he's been, but he's being arrogant despite my genuine concern for him," Yuta explained, his frustration apparent.
"Yeah, concern my ass," Ichiro muttered softly, ensuring that only Yuta could hear him.
"What did you say?" Frustrated, Yuta raised his hands as if to grab Ichiro by the collar. "Are you being a smart ass?"
Ichiro smiled mockingly, meeting Yuta's gaze. "Hmm, I guess you weren't concerned for me then?"
Yuta's anger overcame him, and he lost control as he unleashed a powerful punch directly at Ichiro's face. The impact was brutal, sending Ichiro flying several feet from where Yuta had been standing.
Kazuki Takahashi, who had been observing the altercation, let out a sigh of frustration. He hadn't anticipated that his son would resort to physically beating up Ichiro. Now, he needed to come up with an excuse to explain this incident to his elder brother. "That's enough!" he exclaimed, trying to put an end to the violence. "Go inside already."
"But?" Yuta was confused as to why his father wasn't fully siding with him and was instead urging him to leave.
"Just go," Kazuki replied, feeling pressured and not having the time to explain everything to his son. "Ichiro, get up. Your elder brother is looking for you."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Ichiro responded as he got to his feet, wiped the bloodstains from his lips, and continued to regard Yuta with a mocking expression.
Yuta's rage began to surge again, and he was about to charge at Ichiro once more when suddenly, he felt the ground beneath him start to give way and sink.
"I told you to stop and head inside already," Kazuki exclaimed, his frustration evident. He couldn't understand why he had such an arrogant son who refused to listen to him.
"You should listen to Uncle," Ichiro continued to taunt Yuta, not letting up on his mockery.
Yuta had no choice but to heed his uncle's advice and leave the scene. He regretted not hitting Ichiro harder; if he had known that Ichiro would react this way, he would have taken a different approach before his father arrived. "Darn it," he cursed under his breath as he made his way into the main house.
Kazuki turned to Ichiro, his expression stern. "You, that's enough as well. Let's go."
"Hmm," Ichiro replied, his mood soured by the confrontation with his cousin. He had hoped to arrive late enough to avoid his family, but it seemed they were all waiting for him regardless of the time he arrived.
The main seating area of the Takahashi family's residence exuded opulence and old Western charm. It was a grand room adorned with ornate chandeliers that cast a warm, golden glow upon the space. Deep mahogany woodwork and rich, velvety drapes framed the tall windows that overlooked meticulously manicured gardens. Plush, antique furniture in deep, regal colors filled the room, their intricate designs a testament to the family's wealth and heritage.
In this luxurious setting, most of the adult members of the Takahashi family had gathered, patiently waiting for Ichiro's arrival. They sat on impeccably upholstered chairs, their expressions a mix of anticipation and curiosity.
However, when Ichiro finally entered the room, he didn't so much as glance at the assembled family members. His indifference to their presence was palpable, and he chose to ignore the customary greetings that were expected in such a formal setting.
Ichiro's behavior created a palpable tension in the room, and his family watched in silence as he strode past them, his gaze fixed on some distant point. His refusal to engage in the pleasantries of social niceties was a stark contrast to the grandeur of the room, leaving an uncomfortable atmosphere hanging in the air.
"Hmm, it seems like you've been hanging out with the wrong kind of people," Tomoko stated with annoyance in her voice as she looked at Ichiro.
"I guess I have," Ichiro replied, his indifference showing. At this point, he no longer cared about what his family thought or what they might do to him. He had already endured a beating; there was little more they could inflict upon him that would matter.
"Ichiro, how dare you speak to my wife like that. She is the madam of this house," Hiroshi angrily interjected. He couldn't tolerate Ichiro's disrespect towards his wife and wanted to assert his authority. "You aren't allowed to hang out with Nakamura-sama anymore."
"Go tell him that," Ichiro retorted defiantly. In truth, he wished he could avoid Akihiko, but he couldn't voice those feelings, knowing that his life could be threatened if he did.
"You—" Tomoko seethed with rage, unable to comprehend how the boy who had once sought their attention was now rebelling against them.
"Ichiro, you should apologize to Mother and Father," Ayami Takahashi advised sternly.
Ichiro turned to face his talented female cousin, Ayami. She was often compared to his mother due to their similar talents. However, despite all the efforts of his first uncle and aunt, Ayami could only combine two affinities, which paled in comparison to his mother's abilities.
Ichiro couldn't help but think, 'What nonsense.' He looked at his cousin with disdain, despising her act of purity and innocence when she hid a darker side beneath the surface. The fact that she mistreated the servants was well-known within the family. Ayami's irritation at being constantly compared to Ichiro's mother was no secret. During Ichiro's childhood, he had endured countless beatings from her because people would praise him for resembling his mother and predict that he would be as talented as she. The beatings only stopped when she finally managed to conjure two affinities of her own.
"Then will you all apologize in front of Akihiko-san when I tell him that you think he is a bad person?" Ichiro acted innocently as he spoke, fully aware of how his family would react.
"WHAT?" Hiroshi was so shocked that he abruptly stood from his seat. The idea that their family might become entangled with the Nakamura family was deeply unsettling.
"We never said that," Kazuki, who had been standing nearby, grabbed Ichiro and stared him down. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
"That's right, Ichiro. I only asked you to apologize to Mother and Father," Ayami added, her voice filled with frustration.
"You—what nonsense are you spouting? Are you planning to have our whole family killed?" Tomoko was visibly shaken at the thought of their family being targeted by the Nakamura family. She had conducted investigations out of curiosity and despite being distant from the Nakamura family, she understood their importance. Akihiko was cherished by his family; his brothers cared deeply for him, and his father held him in high regard, mainly due to his striking resemblance to Akihiko's mother.
"But weren't you the one who stated I've been hanging out with the wrong kind of people? At the same time, you ask me to stop hanging out with him," Ichiro continued with his innocent act, leaving his family even more enraged and dumbfounded by his response. They hadn't expected him to turn the tables on them and play the fool.
"You—" Tomoko began to respond, her anger flaring.
"That's enough," a commanding voice interrupted.
Ichiro felt a shiver run down his spine. He recognized the voice immediately and knew it belonged to none other than his elder cousin, Ryoma. Despite Ayami being deemed similar to his mother, Ryoma was the one with the strength and authority to potentially become the next head of the family. His power was substantial enough to influence and, if necessary, dismantle the entire family.
"Ryoma, when did you arrive home?" Tomoko eagerly got up to greet her well-praised son.
"Elder brother," Ayami joined in, delighted to see her sibling.
It had been a while since Ichiro felt such an overwhelming sense of fear. He understood that the power dynamic in the room was far beyond his capacity to challenge.
"Ichiro, leave us," Hiroshi said with a sigh but a warm smile, relieved that his son's presence had diffused the family's tension.
Ichiro hurriedly exited the room. As he passed by the door, he found himself walking alongside his cousin, Ryoma. Filled with fear, he respectfully greeted Ryoma before leaving. With just one glance, Ryoma sensed that something had changed within Ichiro.
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