Looking at Kanao's eyes that were already glistening with tears, Inosuke suddenly changed the subject and said with a smile:
"Of course, everything ends here. From today onward, I am your friend.
If you have any trouble, feel free to come find me for help! I, Inosuke, love doing these kinds of helpful things the most!"
And so, it was from this moment that the boy and girl named Inosuke and Kanao officially became friends.
To be fair, the reason Inosuke was willing to take care of Kanao at first was largely due to his own personal reasons.
Because he loved being high-profile, loved being the center of attention at all times, and loved being looked at with adoring eyes.
And helping a girl who was always being bullied in school life could perfectly fulfill all these needs of his.
But gradually, he suddenly discovered that this girl seemed quite cute?
After officially confirming their friendship, the girl named Kanao would always stand in the distance and quietly watch him during breaks when he was chatting with his other fair-weather friends in the hallway.
If he took the initiative to go over and greet her, she would smile happily for a long time and chat with him using her notebook for quite a while.
After school, she would also stand quietly at the school building entrance waiting for him to come out, then walk home together with him.
Discovering that he basically just casually dealt with lunch by going to the school cafeteria, the next day she quietly made a bento herself.
She even wrote in her notebook something like "I just made an extra portion. Inosuke, you can throw it away if you don't like it"—such unbelievably cute words, inviting him to eat lunch together on the rooftop.
So there were actually such cute girls in this world?
Having grown up in America since he could remember, and never having experienced the words "gentle" and "reserved" from any woman besides his own mother, Inosuke always felt as though he was being conquered by someone…
Hmm, this might sound a bit strange.
But he indeed had a feeling that he was being conquered by this cute girl who couldn't speak.
Although he didn't particularly dislike it either…
"Speaking of which, Kanao, let's go out and play today."
A few days later at noon, after finishing lunch with Kanao as usual on the bench on the rooftop, Inosuke suddenly proposed.
[Go out and play now?]
Beside him, Kanao put away her lunchbox and asked in confusion on her notebook.
"That's right."
Turning to look in the direction of the school gate below, Inosuke nodded.
"I've completely lost interest in this life of squatting in the classroom every day. I want to go out and play right now."
His words were very willful.
[But, it's still school time right now…]
"Kanao."
Suddenly raising his hand to press on Kanao's shoulder, Inosuke asked:
"Tell me, why do people go to school?"
[To gain knowledge?]
"Wrong! Completely wrong!"
Immediately denying Kanao's answer, Inosuke replied seriously:
"As people living in a collective society, the most fundamental purpose of our schooling is to pass through those layers of selection, so that we can find a better job in this collective society in the future—nothing more!
Although this sounds too realistic, this is the fact!
Going to school and studying is only to help us find better jobs in the future. So-called gaining knowledge, broadening horizons, increasing experience—all these messy reasons are merely secondary!
Therefore, we can also deduce in reverse that when a person no longer needs to worry about life and work, he actually no longer has the necessity to continue studying at school. Isn't that right?"
[T-That seems to be the case…]
"So, let's go out and play together!"
Inosuke grinned. Without allowing any objection, he grabbed Kanao's hand and ran out of the school building, heading toward the school gate.
"I've been back in Tokyo for so many days and haven't properly gone out to explore yet!"
[B-But…]
"It's fine!"
Casually pulling out a wad of cash from his pocket, he directly pressed it onto the face of the security guard at the school gate who wanted to stop them.
Seeing Kanao behind him still flustered and wanting to write something in her notebook, Inosuke immediately gave a thumbs-up, pointing at his handsome face.
"It's just skipping afternoon classes! No big deal! I'll handle the school side!
My Eternal Bliss family has vast wealth and influence. Kanao, if you're really worried about your studies, at worst I'll take full responsibility for your future jobs!"
"So, this is the reason you forcibly brought this little girl out to play?"
Time returns to Mitsuba's side. In a corner seat of a café by the roadside, after hearing Inosuke's explanation, Mitsuba helplessly raised her hand to support her forehead.
"Little one, if you want to come out and fool around yourself, that's fine. But how could you bring someone else's daughter out to fool around with you?"
"What's the big deal…"
To this, Inosuke—sitting across from Mitsuba—merely smiled and pushed a cup of brewed coffee he had prepared to Kanao beside him.
"I take full responsibility for my own actions. At worst, I'll take full responsibility for Kanao's entire future life."
At his incredibly direct words, the girl beside him didn't show any anger, only slightly lowering her head, her ears reddening.
Seeing this, Mitsuba and Shinobu exchanged glances.
[Little butterfly, these two children seem to have quite a good relationship. What do you think?]
[If it's a boy you know, I don't really mind.]
[Back then, when my sister and I arranged for Kanao to enroll in school, it wasn't really for her to learn anything. We just hoped she could become more cheerful in a new environment.]
[It's a good thing that Kanao can now meet a friend she likes!]
[But the matter of school…]
[Let them be~ As a dual-doctorate holder at Tokyo University, could I possibly not afford to support one little sister?]
Their eye contact concluded, and the two simultaneously withdrew their gazes, revealing smiles to the boy and girl before them.
"Alright, since you both already have ideas in your hearts, we won't say anything more.
Inosuke, you've been a mature and sensible child since you were young. The Butterfly family are all my friends. You must take good care of her, understand?"
"Kanao, you too. You must come home on time tonight."
Speaking thus, Mitsuba and Shinobu stood up preparing to leave, wanting to leave the remaining time entirely to this pair of young boy and girl.
But just at this moment, footsteps sounded from the stairs ahead.
Immediately after, a young man with short hair, wearing glasses, and dressed in refined scholarly attire walked up.
Behind the man followed a beautiful woman wearing a snowflake hair ornament.
The two were chatting and laughing, making it obvious at a glance that they were good friends.
The moment they saw this man, Mitsuba, Shinobu, and Inosuke simultaneously froze, saying in unison:
"Hakuji (Uncle)?!"
"Hm?"
Suddenly having his name called, Akaza—who had been talking with Koyuki—turned his head to look, and an equally shocked expression immediately appeared on his face.
He subconsciously blurted out:
"Why are you all here?!"
____________________
This story has ended in chapter 315, you can read on patreon.com/dzeref887 for faster access or wait until August to read on WebNovel until the story ends.