Chapter 179: Shizuka Is Truly Kind-Hearted (Long Chapter)
The original owner of this body became an orphan at the age of five, but before he gained the ability to live independently—specifically, before entering university—he spent most of his time living at the Chishima Residence.
Konishi Street had always paid extra attention to this child who had lost both his parents. After Mrs. Miyako married and moved here, she was also deeply impressed by her stubborn little neighbor.
Back when the original owner was a third-year in high school, a girl would often come to the Chishima Residence to play. Later, after asking around, she found out it was a girlfriend Akishin had met at school.
Even though these memories had passed long ago, they remained vivid when Mrs. Miyako recalled them, because that was the period when that boy smiled the most...
However, after Akishin graduated high school, he broke up with that girlfriend. After that, Akishin moved out of the Chishima Residence. Throughout his four years of university and three years of work, he only returned during major holidays like Obon or New Year's to pay respects to his parents...
One couldn't say the reason the original Akishin truly left the Chishima Residence wasn't because of that girl.
And Mrs. Miyako remembered...
Akishin's high school girlfriend was named Nakamura Kyoko.
But what was her purpose in returning now?
Chishima-sensei already has Hiratsuka-sensei!
Mrs. Miyako's gaze settled on Nakamura Kyoko; within a brief two seconds, she had already scripted a third-rate romance drama in her mind.
Back to the main point, Akishin pondered for two seconds, then shook his head and spoke honestly: "I'm sorry, Nakamura-san, but I don't seem to know you."
He truly didn't recognize this person, but he didn't state it as an absolute fact because he had only been in this world for half a year. Even if she were a relative of the original owner, so what! Where had this person been all this time?
Since there was no contact before, it was best to keep it that way forever! Coming to find him now was nothing more than to borrow money or ask for a favor; it wasn't like she was here to give him a gift.
"...I understand if you don't recognize me, we've been out of contact for a long time, after all." Nakamura Kyoko's gaze grew dimmer. "Aki... Chishima-kun, I'm your ex-girlfriend, your girlfriend from high school. This time... I've come this time because I want to ask for your help..."
"What! Chishima-sensei's ex-girlfriend!"
Before Nakamura Kyoko could finish, Kaiko's startled shriek rang out, making Yuika's ears ache as she stood nearby.
After the outburst, Kaiko realized what she had done and immediately clamped her hand over her mouth. Her large cherry-blossom eyes darted around, seeing everyone staring at her, causing her to shrink her neck back in fear.
Yuika couldn't help but give her a sharp rap on the head.
This idiot, this airhead, she couldn't even read the room!
Akishin frowned, noticing pedestrians on the street turning to look at them. He spoke to the woman in front of him: "Nakamura-san has business with me, right? At any rate, please come inside first."
Nakamura Kyoko stood at most 170 cm tall. Akishin, at 180 cm, looked down at her with an impression of cold detachment; meanwhile, in Nakamura Kyoko's eyes, Akishin appeared tall and frigid. His frowning expression was quite intimidating, completely different from the person in her memories.
This made her extremely uneasy.
Akishin gave a polite nod to Mrs. Miyako and Hotaru to say goodbye, then turned to enter the Chishima Residence. Nakamura Kyoko hesitated for a moment, glanced at Shizuka, and walked in with small, tentative steps.
Following them, Hachiman and the other five also entered.
"Please, enjoy."
Shizuka served the tea, its aroma spreading through the activity room. She sat down gracefully beside Akishin with a smile, looking every bit like a virtuous wife.
Hachiman and the others were hanging out in the outer shop area, while also helping Yuika prepare ingredients for the shop's opening later—after learning to cook under Chishima for nearly two months, Yuika's culinary skills had improved drastically. At the very least, dishes made at a general Izakaya wouldn't receive complaints from customers.
"Ah! Thank you..."
Nakamura Kyoko accepted the earthenware tea cup, holding it carefully in her hands, though she didn't drink. She kept her head lowered, her face full of conflict, an aura of gloom almost turning physical.
Shizuka was the first to break the silence, asking in a soft voice, "Nakamura-san, is it alright if I call you that? I am Shizuka. You said you are Akishin's ex-girlfriend; may I ask what business you have with him?"
She glanced at Akishin from the corner of her eye. To say she didn't care about her partner's ex-girlfriend was impossible; it was a romantic relationship, after all. But this was just an ex, and a high school one at that!
It hadn't reached the point of needing to get angry.
Who doesn't have an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend?
Shizuka had briefly thought Nakamura Kyoko wanted to get back together after seeing Akishin's success, but... it didn't look like that.
What woman tries to reconcile with a face full of misery?
Hearing Shizuka's words, Nakamura Kyoko nodded and said, "Of... of course it's fine." She gripped the tea cup tightly, her gaze complex. "Furthermore, I didn't come to ask Aki... Chishima-kun to get back together, so Hiratsuka-san, you don't need to worry..."
She turned, looking at Akishin.
But Akishin only narrowed his eyes while sipping his tea, his back as straight as a blade. He paid her no mind at all, as if treating her like she didn't exist.
"I-I want to ask Chishima-kun for help. Ah! That's right, this is a small token of my thanks, please... please accept it."
Following Japanese etiquette, one must bring a gift when visiting. Nakamura Kyoko seemed to just remember as she pulled a box from her bag and pushed it forward.
Judging by the pattern on the packaging, it was some kind of snack.
Shizuka accepted it with a friendly smile, then turned to Akishin, saying with a wide grin, "Akishin, go prepare some tea snacks quickly, and cook some delicious dishes. It'll be dinner time soon, and the shop is about to open..."
She faced Nakamura Kyoko again, her expression turning formal. "Nakamura-san, I have no ill intentions, you don't need to worry. Could you tell me about your problem? At the very least, I can represent most of Akishin's decisions..."
Shizuka could see that Akishin didn't care about this ex-girlfriend at all. That indifference wasn't to cover up or hide anything; rather, it was because she was present.
—Actually, Akishin is quite shy when it comes to dating. (Laughs)
After living together for so long, Shizuka could understand the general outline of Akishin's thoughts.
"Ah! That..."
Nakamura Kyoko's pupils trembled as she looked at Akishin nervously. She had come to him for help, truly not to get back together—she didn't have that qualification anyway. She also knew this action was quite despicable, but her daughter was still waiting for her...
Akishin stood up and said to Nakamura Kyoko, "Nakamura-san, what Shizuka said is true. If you have any matters to discuss, you can talk to her... Forgive me, I'm going to prepare the ingredients for the shop opening first..."
He offered what he thought was a friendly smile, then left the activity room, leaving the two women alone.
Seeing Akishin come out, Hachiman and Kaiko ran over with faces full of gossip, asking who Nakamura Kyoko really was. What happened between Sensei and her in the past? Was it like a TV drama...
Akishin gave them both a hand-chop, then scolded them with a laugh, "Nothing happened, just ordinary business, don't think too much. Alright, let's cook. We have a guest today, so I'll cook something better. My treat: Yuxiang Qiezi (Fish-Fragrant Eggplant)..."
The water in the soup pot was already boiling. Akishin walked toward the kitchen, and Yuika skillfully handed him a soup ladle and an apron.
Not long after, Soichi arrived as well.
Hearing that Sensei's ex-girlfriend had come, he looked toward the activity room with immense curiosity, but he retreated under the 'vicious' glares of the other residents of the Chishima house.
...
Half an hour later, Nakamura Kyoko came out with a very complex expression—envy, longing, hope, regret, and also pain. She gave Akishin one last deep look and then left in a hurry, not even staying to eat the prepared food.
When Shizuka came out, the group sat at the dining table. Akishin picked up a meatball for Shizuka and asked, "Shizuka, what was Nakamura-san's business, really?"
At least he could be sure she didn't come to reconcile after seeing the original owner's success. In that gaze, most of it was an unspeakable pain, pain to the point of numbness.
"She came to borrow money."
Shizuka picked up a piece of clear sashimi, brushed it with a bit of wasabi, and popped it into her mouth. She answered naturally, not avoiding the juniors.
The students were immediately drawn in by the conversation.
"Borrow money?" Akishin was stunned for a moment, then nodded. That made sense; it was very practical. "How much?"
"Eight million yen."
"Eight million yen!!"
The shocked voices came from Hachiman and the others. For students, even tens of thousands of yen was a lot, let alone eight million.
Chishima pressed his hand down to signal for silence, glaring at them once. He also felt eight million yen was quite a sum, but he wasn't shocked, especially since eight million yen could be earned in just a few months.
He asked again, "Why does she need to borrow that much?"
"She wants to save her daughter. Her daughter has a blood disease and needs a bone marrow transplant, but the money isn't enough. She's already borrowed from all her relatives and friends, but she's still short by a lot. She really had no other choice. She happened to see you in the newspaper, so..."
Shizuka explained further. His success in winning the Kendo championship happened in May, and even Hachiman's participation in the Gyokuryu-ki happened in early July.
If Nakamura Kyoko had really seen Akishin in the newspaper back then, it meant she might have been struggling for months and only sought out her ex-boyfriend as a last resort.
Of course, that was assuming this story was true.
"...And where is her husband?"
Letting a woman come alone to an ex-boyfriend to borrow this kind of money...
How should one put it?
It's really not very manly!
Moreover, eight million yen is a massive amount for an ordinary person. Perhaps Nakamura Kyoko had come secretly without her husband knowing.
Shizuka took a sip of juice, glanced at her boyfriend with a meaningful look, and then shook her head slowly. "She isn't married."
Crack!
A crisp sound rang out; the chopsticks in Akishin's hand snapped into four pieces. Hachiman and the others were stunned.
This information was incredibly heavy!
"Ahem, that... Shizuka..." Akishin put down the broken chopsticks, took a deep breath, and turned to look at Shizuka seriously, speaking solemnly: "I, Chishima Akishin, can guarantee that absolutely nothing ever happened between Nakamura Kyoko and me. Actually, even now, I'm still a virgin..."
Akishin could be certain he was a virgin; he couldn't be sure about the original Akishin. Ten minutes ago, he had checked the diary; the original owner only mentioned Nakamura Kyoko once in it, with no further details.
Please, don't let this turn into a cheap drama!
Bang!
Before he could finish, Shizuka punched Akishin in the stomach, cutting him off. The force was considerable; the food in Akishin's mouth almost sprayed out.
However, the meaning of his words was understood by everyone.
Yuika and the others turned red, not daring to listen anymore. They immediately lowered their heads, concentrating on eating while counting grains of rice, fearing they might hear something they shouldn't and be silenced for it.
Even Soichi, the youngest, didn't dare act up; he became very obedient.
But still...
Wow! Who would've thought someone as amazing as Chishima-sensei was still a virgin? Truly unexpected!
They were surprised, but they didn't mock him; instead, a sense of respect grew in their hearts—a man as incredible as Chishima-sensei could have 'graduated' long ago if he wanted to. There was no telling how many women wanted to climb into his bed. If he still hadn't 'graduated,' it only proved Akishin's loyalty to love!
The difference between "not wanting to" and "not being able to."
It's like a game of Russian Roulette; if you put one or two bullets in the gun, the audience wants to see you get shot. If you put five bullets in, the audience actually hopes you don't get shot.
Shizuka's fist was still clenched tight, her face flushed beet red. She gritted her teeth and said, "Baka, I only said she wasn't married, listen to me until I finish!"
Stupid, moron, a literal blade, a block of wood who can't read the room, a one-track mind for love... the students are right here, what nonsense are you spouting!
But she still felt very happy; after all, Akishin had panicked like that just for her sake.
"Ahem, ahem." Shizuka smoothed her hair. Once her emotions stabilized a bit, she sighed, picked up her rice bowl again, and said, "Nakamura-san said she broke up with you because you went to different universities. Then, during her second year of university, she got into a relationship with a guy from the general public and soon had a child—the one she has now.
Because of this child, she dropped out of university halfway through. That scumbag of a man disappeared without a trace after finding out, and she stubbornly gave birth to the child..."
What followed was the life of a single mother, working while raising a child. Then, just after managing to raise her to school age, she was suddenly diagnosed with a blood disease (Leukemia)...
As a single mother who hadn't finished college, she naturally didn't have a good job or much money. The child's condition was urgent; she had borrowed from all her relatives and friends and used health insurance, but she was still short.
She truly had no other way out before coming to find Akishin.
This was the life story Nakamura Kyoko had told.
A very cliché yet very real story; one wouldn't be surprised hearing it because this sort of thing happens quite often. Nakamura Kyoko was just more unfortunate than most.
Perhaps Nakamura Kyoko had considered it carefully before giving birth. One couldn't say she was wrong; from the moment of pregnancy, she was a mother. If not for the sudden illness, she should have been able to raise the child safely.
Hachiman and the others were moved—moved for the poor child, and moved for this great single mother.
"Hmm, I see." Akishin replaced his chopsticks with a new pair, ate a piece of eggplant with rice, and then asked, "So Shizuka, did you lend it to her?" He felt no pity, his expression remaining calm, as he had seen and experienced far more tragic events.
"I told her to come back in three days."
"You want to check her background, make sure what she said is true?"
"Yes, I've already sent a message to my father. At the latest, it'll be clear by the day after tomorrow."
"And after it's clear? If it's true, will you lend it to her?"
"...Akishin, do you want me to lend it to her?"
"No, honestly, I really don't remember her. In my eyes, she isn't even worth more than a regular customer, so the decision is yours, Shizuka."
Everyone has their own fate; everything is determined by the heavens.
There are too many tragic events in this world, countless ones. If you don't believe it, go to a hospital and walk past the ICU. Even a nation can't solve it all, let alone an individual.
Akishin was very selfish; he would only protect the people he cared about.
"Alright, I understand." Shizuka smiled. She took the initiative to pick up a meatball for Akishin and said, "I'll lend it. After all, it can save one small life. If it didn't fall right in front of me, I wouldn't care, but since it appeared in my life, I can't allow myself to just let it go."
Shizuka was truly very kind-hearted—a kindness that came from the depths of her soul. She wouldn't go out of her way to donate, because she understood that everyone has their own life; she realized she didn't have the qualification to pity others for the sake of others.
The money was also earned through her own hard work.
But she would still give a large sum of money for a child in critical condition who appeared before her, even if she didn't know them, even if it was the child of her lover's ex-girlfriend.
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