Chapter 219

"Young Master, what's next?" asked Yashiro Ichiyo, who was acting as the driver.

"It's Miss," Ogura Asahi corrected, her eyes darting around slightly. "Go and meet that man. You've already informed him of the time and place, right?"

"Yes, I already told him yesterday, and he replied that there was no problem."

"Let's go then, before we go back to Tokyo."

"I see."

The car started smoothly and drove towards a Cafe.

Ogura Asahi leaned back in the large, soft seat, dozing off slightly. He hadn't slept well last night thanks to Shiina Mahiru's sudden attack.

Of course, she felt the same way.

After doing the wrong thing, she writhed silently in bed for two or three hours before finally falling asleep, exhausted, holding him in her arms.

Haha, how does he know all this so clearly? It's so hard to guess.

Eh...

He opened his eyes and looked out the window. His primary task upon arriving at the Fuchu was, of course, to play with Shiina Mahiru, but he also had a hidden mission.

It wasn't really a mission; I just happened to be here and took care of it on the way.

A week ago, the Sakurakoji Family received a formal letter requesting a private meeting. After recognizing the sender's name, he understood the reason.

However, he wasn't some idle person who could be summoned and dismissed at will. Could he really just see someone whenever they wanted? He was very busy.

So he asked Yashiro Ichiyo to reply to the letter, saying that he was very busy and that if he wanted to see her, he should leave his contact information and wait for a notification.

A week had passed since that incident, and he had almost forgotten about it. But yesterday, while shopping with Shiina Mahiru, he suddenly remembered it.

They happened to be taking a break at a 24-hour Cafe at the time, so he sent the time and location to Yashiro Ichiyo and asked her to help notify the other party.

Thinking about all the recent troubles, his flawless face clouded with emotion, and he sighed, resting his chin on his hand, "Suddenly I feel like having a drink."

"Hey, Miss, you're not even 20 yet," Ichiyo reminded her from ahead.

"Then let 'Ichiyo go buy it for me."

"That won't do either. As the head maid of the Sakurakoji Family, I can't just stand by and watch my master do something that harms his health, let alone help him."

"Hmph! Then I'll have Nanami handle it!"

"Miss Aoyama is not an adult yet, so she can't buy alcohol."

"Then I'll pay someone to grab a grown drunk from the street and have him buy it for me!"

"Ha, that's fine... But Miss, why do you suddenly want to drink? You've never drunk alcohol before, have you? Cooking wine is an exception, though."

"... It's nothing, just a lot has happened lately, it's making me a little upset."

"Really? I know it might sound presumptuous of me to say that, but please take care of yourself."

"Thank you, Ichiyo. I was just venting a little. I feel much better after talking to you." He stretched and groaned.

"Besides, given my mother's health, it's unlikely I have much resistance to alcohol."

"Perhaps he inherited it from the old man?"

"He's not supposed to be a heavy drinker... Don't worry, I wasn't really planning to buy any alcohol."

"That's good, Young Master! I've always believed in you!"

"Oh, it's the young lady."

A dozen minutes later, the car stopped in front of a Cafe.

The streets were deserted in the early morning; apart from commuters and students, there were hardly any customers.

The warm, lush lighting inside the store, combined with the cool, quiet street before the sun breaks through the clouds, creates a unique ambiance.

If used as a scene depicting lovers reuniting, it would make for a great cinematic composition.

Unfortunately, the person he's meeting today isn't even a normal person, let alone a lover.

He opened the car door, wearing a brand new set of casual clothes that he had bought yesterday while shopping with Shiina Mahiru.

Slim-fit, simple trousers, a light-colored base layer, a dark trench coat with a cool and mysterious feel, and low-heeled leather shoes.

With the sunglasses and scarf I just put on, standing on the street in the morning, it gives one the feeling of returning to the Fog City.

Tap, tap, tap, tap...

The crisp, rhythmic sound of heels hitting the ground could be clearly heard within a few meters in the quiet. Depending on one's mindset, it could be interpreted as a carefree stroll or a slow, oppressive sprint.

The Cafe staff interpreted it as the former; the only customer in the shop at the moment interpreted it as the latter.

Ogura Asahi gestured to the shop assistant that he didn't need any service and walked towards the man depicted in the information he had reviewed beforehand.

"Nice to meet you. I am Ogura Asahi, and I am also the person who invited you here today, Mr. Shiina Asahi."

After taking off his sunglasses and greeting the man, he casually sat down opposite him.

Just from their surnames, it's clear that there's some connection between the other person and Shiina Mahiru.

Furthermore, given that he shared the same flaxen hair and caramel-colored eyes as her, it was almost certain that they were related by blood.

Indeed, the man was Shiina Mahiru's biological father, Shiina Asahi.

Surprisingly, I share the same name as him—it's really not a happy thing at all, it feels like a prank.

From the sound of footsteps that followed the door opening and headed straight here, Shiina Asahi knew that the guest had arrived, and a sense of nervousness rose in his heart.

But when he saw that the visitor was a girl with an extraordinary aura and stunning beauty, his expression became extremely surprised.

After hearing her introduce herself and say her name, he couldn't help but frown, and the look of amazement in his eyes gradually disappeared.

"Um, if I remember correctly, we're supposed to meet with people from the Sakurakoji Family and the Okura Family today."

Ogura Asahi openly sized him up and down. His fair skin and gentle eyebrows made him look very mild-mannered, but what he did was anything but mild-mannered.

His face was fairly handsome and he didn't look weak. Judging from his appearance alone, he didn't seem like the kind of man who would abandon his daughter.

"Don't worry, there's no mistake. The person you're looking for is me." Ogura Asahi affirmed, "Let me introduce myself again. I am now Shiina Mahiru sister, and also the person behind the custody battle with the Shiina."

After hearing the explanation, Shiina Asahi was somewhat incredulous, finding it hard to believe that such a young and beautiful girl could be the "culprit" who used such great power.

Judging by appearance alone, she should not be much older than her daughter, but her calm and wise aura makes one doubt the information one's eyes can perceive and unable to determine her true age.

But reason told him that the other person was probably not lying.

"Is that so... it's you..." Shiina Asahi murmured, then quickly realized what she meant and beckoned a waiter. "I'm sorry, but first of all, thank you for granting my request and for taking the time out of your busy schedule to allow me this meeting."

"I'm so grateful! Even though I was the one who made the request, I never expected you to actually agree!"

"Although I can't provide the best service, please feel free to order whatever you like."

"A cappuccino, my brain needs a sugar boost this morning." Ogura Asahi nodded to the waiter standing nearby, then turned back to the waiter. "No snacks, I don't plan to stay long, and I just had breakfast with my family."

The young waitress curiously observed the two guests, wondering what their relationship was. Were they father and daughter? They didn't seem like it.

"Family, you mean?" Shiina Asahi repeated softly.

Clearly, he also realized who the other person was referring to.

"I'd like today's daily coffee set... Sorry, I haven't had breakfast yet." He explained to Ogura Asahi towards the end.

Ogura Asahi shrugged, indicating that he should go ahead.

After the shop assistant left, there was a brief silence between the two. After a while, Shiina Asahi spoke up again, "How is that child now?"

"I just took her to school, she should be having a class meeting now." Ogura Asahi checked her nails to see if they were trimmed neatly.

"I see..."

Shiina Asahi remained silent. Although that wasn't what he wanted to ask, and the other person probably understood that, he still chose to answer this way, meaning he was subtly telling him that her current situation was no longer his concern.

Furthermore, it also conveniently revealed the fact that Shiina Mahiru is now under his care; indeed, this girl is as extraordinary as she appears.

Chapter 274 The Holy Land of Cat Lovers

"Instead of asking me, if you really want to know, why don't you ask her yourself?" During the tedious wait for her drink, Ogura Asahi could only try to keep the conversation going.

"You're right, but... that child probably doesn't want to see me," the man said, a wry smile on his face, his expression suggesting a hint of regret.

"Tsk."

Ogura Asahi clicked her tongue, sending a shiver down his spine.

Whether it was guilt or just his imagination, he always felt like he was facing a very important person when he was with this girl, like he was meeting his father alone, or some other prominent and wealthy official...

How could this be? Even if she comes from a prestigious family, she's still just a young person. How could she...?

"Don't make excuses for things you haven't done yet, especially using that child as a shield. Don't you have any shame?"

"You haven't even tried to create or mend the relationship, yet you talk like it's impossible to undo it now. Are all your family members as smooth-talking as you?"

"This really upset me. If it happens again, I can't guarantee what I might do, understand?"

Shiina Asahi's mouth was dry, his Hands unconsciously gripping his trouser legs, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead from the chilling sound of his voice.

"I... I understand."

Silence descended once more, the only sound in the café being the soft strains of golden oldies from the last century. Ogura Asahi, legs crossed, tapped his fingers rhythmically to the melody.

He came here simply because things were going smoothly. If the other party didn't mind wasting his time, he didn't mind either; he would leave when his time was up anyway.

If you ask what time it was—it was the time he finished his cappuccino.

Shiina Asahi hesitated several times, wanting to speak but not knowing where to begin. At this point, he had no right to even speak, let alone ask for criticism.

Finally, after the drinks and snacks were served, Ogura Asahi broke the silence.

"Another drink, please, to go," he said to the waiter.

"..."

Ignoring the other person's deep, awkward gaze, he picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and said calmly, "You asked a question earlier, so let me ask one too—what's the reason you requested the meeting? Is it just to ask about her recent situation?"

Shiina Asahi gripped her coffee cup with Hands, looked up, and said dryly, "Please rest assured, I'm not here to take her away, and I won't and don't intend to do anything that would threaten that child's current life."

"I'm not worried about that."

Shiina Asahi smirked, and you could hear the confidence in his voice that said, "Even if you wanted to, you couldn't do anything about it."

"You might not believe it, but I just wanted to see her now, and to see you who's been taking care of her lately."

"Now that things have come to this, I really have no right to act like a parent to that child. That child probably doesn't see me as her father either. To her, I'm just a stranger with whom she shares a blood relation."

"I can't keep running away from what I've done... Sayo and I didn't fulfill any of our responsibilities as parents to that child."

"Our behavior is considered childcare neglect in society, and it's right that we deserve criticism from the public and from you all."

"I consider myself a selfish person, and I don't intend to change, nor do I believe I can. However, I don't want that child to become more unhappy. Therefore, perhaps it's better for her to continue to dislike me."

"..."

Ogura Asahi sipped her Drinks and listened quietly as he poured out his heart.

Only after Shiina Asahi quieted down and stopped talking did he put down his teacup and continue, "First of all, I hope you don't misunderstand."

"Huh?" Shiina Asahi looked up in surprise.

He didn't look at him, but continued to explain, "Even though you score zero or even negative points in parenting, I don't intend to verbally abuse or retaliate against you."

"Ultimately, there are so many immoral parents in the world, and each family situation is different. I can't possibly criticize them all. The only reason I got involved this time is because Mahiru is Mahiru."

"I have no desire to repeat the hurtful things that child said to you, in order to condemn your own conscience—because that only works on normal people."

"Of course, your request to meet with me is commendable to some extent; at least you're a little better off than someone else who's still completely out of touch. But that's all."

"So if that's what you think, I'm very happy to welcome it. If you don't plan to see her again in the future, it wouldn't hurt to meet her now, whether you admire her from afar or see her up close, it's up to you."

"However, I hope this is the last time, you know what I mean?"

In his opinion, it would be better for them to never see Shiina Mahiru again, which would also prevent Shiina Mahiru from being hurt again.

But this is ultimately just his perspective as an outsider. It's hard to say what she really thinks, since they are her biological parents.

Let her be the judge. At worst, I can comfort her with my arms around her for the rest of the night.