A Very Popular Idol Classmate Has Taken a Liking to Me, A Person Who Doesn't Want to Work for My Whole Life
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.Daininki Idol na Classmate ni Natsukareta, Isshou Hatarakitakunai Ore
Src: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2496gr/124/
Act 4 - The Past of The Shidou Family
33-4
"Do you want to know about your father?"
"...Yes." (Rintaro)
After dinner, I sit across the dining table from Otosaki-san and ask him a question.
It's about my father, Shidou Yuutaro――――
No matter how I look at it, I really don’t know enough about my father.
If I’m going to hate him, I want a proper and justified reason to do so.
By the way, Rei and Lilia-san are cleaning the dishes in the kitchen.
"I heard the gist of your relationship with Shidou-san earlier. So, are you trying to reach out to your father?"
"To be honest, I’m not even sure myself… I do resent him, but lately I’m starting to wonder if that resentment is really justified… or if I’m just uncertain about how I feel." (Rintaro)
"Hmm......"
Otosaki-san pauses, seeming to be deep in thought.
He's probably choosing his words carefully for my sake.
And I genuinely appreciate that consideration.
"…I think I first met Shidou-san around ten years ago. It was at a networking event between companies. We exchanged greetings there, and after that, we became familiar faces."
"......" (Rintaro)
"That was when I saw you with him."
"So that’s how you knew about me." (Rintaro)
"Yeah. Though I have to admit, this might sound rude—but you looked so different from the boy I saw at that party that I didn’t recognize you at first."
I'm aware I have changed a lot since I was a kid.
Back then, I was probably a lot brighter, my eyes full of sparkle.
Now, well… I guess I’ve developed more of a scowl――――.
"In any case, I don’t know all that much about Shidou-san. You probably already know that he’s a workaholic and always keeps a calm, rational mindset."
"That, sounds about right." (Rintaro)
Well, makes sense.
They aren’t particularly close, and honestly, Otosaki-san probably wonders why I came to him with this.
"――――However."
"...?" (Rintaro)
"At that party, Shidou-san talked about you."
"Huh?" (Rintaro)
Those words freeze me in place.
He talked about me?
That just… doesn’t sound believable at all.
"At the time, as a company owner myself, I found myself envying Shidou-san for having a son. Now, of course, I’m grateful to have Rei in my life, but back then, the perspective of a father and a business owner felt quite different. So I asked him a few things related to that."
Otosaki-san narrows his eyes with a nostalgic look.
"I asked him if he was planning to make you his successor. But Shidou-san clearly replied, 'I don’t intend to force my son to take over the company just because of my own selfish desires'."
"He didn’t intend for me to take over the company…?" (Rintaro)
"'My son, he has inherited more of his mother’s sociable nature than mine. I’m sure he’ll be able to live a better life than I could.'――――That’s what he told me."
What the hell, is that?
I almost let the words slip out loud, but I hold them back with my hand.
"Precisely because you’re sociable, I thought all the more that he should have passed the company down to you. But apparently, he saw things differently."
"......Then what did my father want me to do?" (Rintaro)
"You seem pretty locked into your own way of thinking."
"Locked in?" (Rintaro)
"I wouldn’t have understood this before, but now that I have some experience as a father, I think I do. Shidou-san probably just wanted you to live your life freely."
To live my life freely.
Those words click sharply with the doubt I’ve been holding onto.
Did my father ever really want me to take over the company?
No matter how many times I look back, I can’t remember him ever saying anything like that.
Could it really be… he just wants me to live my life the way I chose......?
"Well, I do think Shidou-san is a bit lacking in warmth and tends to be misunderstood. But from what I’ve seen, he’s not the kind of person who would treat others carelessly. After so many years of observing people as a business owner, I’ve come to sense things like that."
What a powerful thing to say.
I can tell that Otosaki-san isn’t saying this to make me feel better.
From the look on his face, it is clear that he's genuinely speaking from the heart.
"However, you're not hating your father just because he tried to make you take over the company, right?"
"...Yes. That's not the only reason." (Rintaro)
In the end, what I resent my father most for is how he abandoned my mother and me.
No matter how much he might have cared about me, that fact doesn't change.
"Hmm... I can't really judge others on that front myself, and I won’t try to defend it either. You have every right to blame him."
"Haha, even you say stuff like that, Otosaki-san?" (Rintaro)
"A parent has a responsibility—an obligation placed on those who bring new life into this world. Even if it wasn’t intentional, if someone neglects that responsibility, I believe it’s only natural they be criticized."
Otosaki-san's words sound almost like a self-reflection.
He must still carry a strong sense of guilt for having made Rei feel lonely.
"Was our talk helpful?"
"...Yes. Thank you very much." (Rintaro)
"So, what do you want to do now?"
"To be honest, I’m still not sure what I want to do… but I think I’ll try meeting with my father again soon." (Rintaro)
"...I see."
I don’t have any particular reason or goal in mind.
It’s not like the resentment I feel toward him has disappeared.
I can’t even say I want to reconcile yet.
But still, I know for sure that I can’t just leave things the way they are.
I’m Shidou Yuutaro’s son, and he’s Shidou Rintaro's father.
◇◆◇
"Once again, thank you very much for the meal today." (Rintaro)
As I leave the Otosaki residence, I bow to Otosaki-san and Lilia-san, who have come to see me off at the entrance.
It's just about to hit 21.00—pretty appropriate timing to take my leave.
"No need to thank us. It was just a way of returning the favor for how much you’ve helped Rei. Come by again sometime, okay? I’d love to talk more about cooking." (Lilia)
"Yes, I’d love that." (Rintaro)
After my talk with Otosaki-san, I spent a good while chatting with Lilia-san about cooking.
The knowledge that adults have is on a completely different level compared to a kid like me, everything she said was incredibly helpful.
If I get another chance, I’d definitely like to learn more.
"We're often busy and can’t make time, and I apologize for that. But we do want you to feel welcome here. If you ever need help, don't hesitate to reach out."
"Thank you very much, I really appreciate it." (Rintaro)
"…And please, continue to look after Rei."
I bow deeply once more to both of them.
I can’t let myself cause pain to Rei—or to either of them.
And to make sure that doesn’t happen, I need to start by sorting out my own issues first.
"Shall we head back, Rintaro?" (Rei)
"Yeah." (Rintaro)
Rei and I leave the Otosaki residence and get into the taxi they’ve called for us.
Honestly, I thought Rei might as well stay the night—but she absolutely insisted on going home with me, so we ended up returning to the apartment together.
Otosaki-san and Lilia-san apparently have to be up early tomorrow anyway, so maybe this works out for the best.
Besides, taking a taxi means we won’t really be seen walking together, so we don’t have to worry about other people watching us.
(Plus… there’s something I need to ask Rei too.)
Rei and I sit in silence for a while as the car rocks gently along.
To break the quiet, I speak up first.
"Thanks, Rei. I’m really glad I came today." (Rintaro)
"Mm. Dad and Mom were happy too, and hearing you say that makes me happy as well." (Rei)
No matter what, having my relationship with Rei acknowledged like this really meant a lot to me.
Normally, letting a teenage girl live with a guy around her age would be terrifying for any parents.
The fact that they allowed it shows they trust me—at least to some degree.
"Earlier, what were you talking about with Dad?" (Rei)
"Hmm? Oh, we were talking about my father." (Rintaro)
"Your father?" (Rei)
"Otosaki-san mentioned before that he’d met my father, so I asked him for more details… it turned out, I didn’t really know anything about him." (Rintaro)
When I say that, Rei's expression darkens a little.
"Rintaro, are you not...... lonely?" (Rei)
"Huh? Oh, well… I guess I felt pretty lonely back then, but not anymore. I’ve got you girls now, and I’ve been living a life far from lonely." (Rintaro)
"I’m glad to hear that, but still…" (Rei)
Rei is probably worried because she has experienced what it feels like to be lonely herself.
This girl, she always tries to put me before herself.
I appreciate that, but I also wish she’d prioritize more about her herself, too.――――Though, that’s a conversation for another time.
"Hey, Rei." (Rintaro)
"What is it?" (Rei)
I hesitate for a moment, then finally speak to confirm something.
"About ten years ago… at a company party......." (Rintaro)
――――You met me there, didn’t you?
I look straight at Rei as I ask that very question.
~"(This is a Translation Content of pemudatunawisata[dot]my[dot]id. so, read only on there, kay~)"~
[End of Chapter]
Cya~!
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