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Chapter 265: A Daughter’s Living Environment
🕑 Added 2025-04-05 09:17:59 +0000 UTCMatsuzaka Shio had never imagined—
That she would meet her biological father like this.
Under these circumstances.
In this setting.
She couldn't help but steal a glance at the man beside her.
Dressed in elegant attire, his jet-black eyes were clear and piercing.
His features were sharp yet warm, his lips curled into a small smile.
Just standing beside him—
Just speaking with him—
There was an indescribable sense of ease.
Even though his face had matured since the photographs from her childhood—
Matsuzaka Shio would never mistake him.
This was the man her mother had loved for a lifetime.
This was Minami.
For as long as she could remember—
Matsuzaka Shio had dreamed of meeting her father.
Of speaking with him.
Of being like any other girl—
And throwing herself into her father's arms to be spoiled.
But now, standing face to face with him—
She froze.
Because she didn't know what to say.
She didn't know how to face him.
Even though she desperately wanted to ask—
Did he remember her mother?
Even though she wanted him to recognize her—
The words died on her tongue.
Instead, she could only swallow them—
As if by doing so, she could bury the storm of emotions within her.
Maybe…
Maybe she still couldn't forgive him.
The resentment.
The bitterness.
The moment she saw him, all those buried emotions began to surface.
But—
Silence would get her nowhere.
So, Matsuzaka Shio finally lifted her gaze, avoiding his eyes as she spoke.
"Mr. Minami, aren't you one of the main figures of this ceremony? Why are you standing in the corner like this?"
For some reason—
She chose to hide her identity.
She even pointed toward the stage, where Mirai and her sisters stood.
They were the stars of this night.
And as their father, Minami was undoubtedly one of them.
Matsuzaka Shio couldn't understand—
Why was he, the head of the family, standing in the shadows just like her?
Her question made Minami smile.
With a light chuckle, he answered—
"Coming of age? That's just a joke. Those little brats are nowhere near mature. All this really means is that they can legally drink from now on. That's all. Tonight, they'll probably end up drinking until morning."
"As for me standing here…?"
He turned slightly, his smile deepening.
"I just don't want to get dragged into drinking with them."
As he spoke, he even winked at her playfully.
Even though he was over forty—
His charm hadn't faded in the slightest.
And for the first time—
Matsuzaka Shio felt her face heat up.
A faint blush colored her cheeks—
But she quickly shook it off.
What was she even embarrassed about?!
This was the man who had abandoned her and her mother!
Just a single look from him, and she was already flustered?
That was pathetic.
She scolded herself internally.
And yet—
She couldn't help but sigh in her heart.
Of course, he didn't recognize her.
Even though she had expected this—
Some part of her still wished he had.
Because every child who had never known a father's love—
Secretly longed for it.
Matsuzaka Shio thought about this.
Yet, for some reason—
She still couldn't look away from him.
"...Is that so."
She gave a neutral response, shifting her gaze back to the stage.
She envied the her sisters.
Because they could grow up under Minami's watchful eyes.
She, on the other hand—
Had never felt the gaze of anyone upon her.
And now, even her mother—
Who had never once smiled at her—
Had passed away.
The moment that thought crossed her mind—
Her chest felt tight.
A dull ache spread through her body, making her reach up to clutch her chest.
For as long as she could remember—
She had only had her mother.
And since last month—
She had been alone.
Living alone.
Eating alone.
Washing clothes alone.
Sitting alone on the couch, watching TV.
Facing the emptiness of an abandoned home, all by herself…
Eventually, just living in the same room she had once shared with her mother became an unbearable torment.
But sadness could only settle quietly within her heart—
Like the twilight fading into the silent mountains.
Only on certain days—
When she sat in familiar places, surrounded by old, familiar objects—
Did sorrow overwhelm her.
How she wished it had all just been a cruel nightmare—
One that, no matter how painful, would eventually end.
After her mother's passing last month—
Hardly anyone had come to her funeral.
The only person who did was her friend, Shouko Hida , who had offered to take care of her like her own daughter.
At the time, how had she felt?
Matsuzaka Shio couldn't quite put it into words.
Maybe—
Maybe she had secretly hoped that Minami would suddenly appear—
That he would finally acknowledge her,
That he would tell her she no longer had to be alone.
But, of course, that never happened.
"By the way, miss, why are you standing here all alone? Where are your friends? Your family?"
Lost in her thoughts, Matsuzaka Shio was caught off guard when Minami suddenly spoke.
His tone was calm. His gaze, gentle.
For a moment, she hesitated.
Then, she simply shook her head.
"They're all busy with their own things. So I came alone."
Her reply was short and curt.
"I see."
Minami murmured, his eyes following her line of sight.
A brief silence passed between them.
Then, suddenly, he spoke again.
"You know, miss… you remind me of someone I once knew."
His voice was steady—
But there was a faint trace of melancholy in his tone.
And his words…
Matsuzaka Shio froze.
I remind him of someone?
Could it be…?
She suppressed the slight tremor in her heart and feigned curiosity.
"Someone you knew…?"
"Mhm."
Minami nodded.
His gaze drifted toward the stage, where his daughters stood.
And with a sigh, he continued—
"She appeared at the most important time in my life… and then disappeared at the most important time as well."
He murmured softly, almost as if speaking to himself.
"If she had gotten pregnant back then… she would have had a child."
"If she raised that child properly… they'd be about your age now."
His voice trailed off.
It was unclear whether he was speaking to himself—
Or to her.
Matsuzaka Shio said nothing.
She simply listened.
But deep inside—
Something stirred.
Her father hadn't forgotten about her mother.
Her father still thought about her.
For the first time, she felt the sudden, overwhelming urge—
To tell him the truth.
To tell him, "That child… is me."
But instead, she asked,
"If you miss her so much… then why didn't you try to find her?"
Yes.
If he really missed them—
Why hadn't he looked for them?
Why was he just standing here, reminiscing?
Wasn't that hypocritical?
But to her surprise—
Minami answered with unexpected honesty.
"You think I didn't try?"
His voice was steady, yet tinged with exhaustion.
"I did search for them. I spent time, effort, money—everything I had—trying to find them."
"But… they were too good at hiding."
He sighed.
And he wasn't lying.
In this timeline—
Minami had spent years searching for Matsuzaka Satou and their child.
But no matter how hard he tried—
His efforts had led nowhere.
"Japan isn't that big… but it's still more than big enough for two people to disappear."
His voice carried a quiet sense of defeat.
Matsuzaka Shio fell into silence.
She stared at the man before her—
A man now over forty years old.
And for the first time…
She felt like she could understand why her mother had never let go of her feelings for him.
At the very least—
He hadn't forgotten about them.
He hadn't abandoned them.
Just knowing that—
Just knowing he had tried—
Was enough.
She had come here tonight with no expectations.
But now—
Somewhere deep in her heart—
She felt… at peace.
Still—
She had no intention of revealing her identity.
After all—
Wouldn't it just be troublesome for the Shouji family to suddenly have another "lost daughter"?
Wouldn't it be too much to expect them to accept her?
She had survived alone until now.
And if she could still endure—
Then she would keep going alone.
With that thought, she turned her head slightly.
"Your daughters' coming-of-age ceremony is ending soon."
"I should probably leave now."
"…Father."
She almost said it.
But at the last second—
She swallowed the word down.
"…Mr. Minami. You should go back to your family now."
Her voice was calm.
And this time—
Minami nodded.
"You're right."
He exhaled lightly, as if clearing his thoughts.
"The ceremony is ending. As their father, I should be there to celebrate with them."
Yes.
This was how it should be.
Watching Minami nod in agreement—
Matsuzaka Shio slowly turned away.
The Shouji family would remain the Shouji family.
Her sisters would continue to grow up under their father's care.
Nothing would change—
Because of her presence.
With these thoughts in mind, she began to walk away.
But then—
—Clack.
A hand reached out.
And grabbed hers.
She froze.
Her lips parted slightly—
Her black pearl-like eyes widened in shock.
"…Mr. Minami, what are you doing?"
Her voice was unsteady.
Why—
Why had he grabbed her hand?
She had been so close to walking away.
Why stop her now?
As confusion swirled in her mind—
Minami simply smiled.
"I told you, didn't I?"
His voice was calm.
"I have to give my daughter my blessings."
The moment she heard those words—
Matsuzaka Shio's mind went blank.
For a second—
She thought she had misheard.
But then she quickly snapped back to reality.
Her breath hitched as she pointed toward the stage.
"But… your daughters are right there! Why are you holding onto me?"
And yet—
Minami's smile didn't waver.
"…The girls on stage are my daughters."
"But besides them—"
He squeezed her hand ever so slightly.
"There's one more child—"
"One who doesn't want to admit her identity."
"One who doesn't want to face her own feelings."
His words struck her like lightning.
Her mind spiraled.
Did he know?
Had he figured it out?!
How?!
She had been so careful.
She had hidden her emotions. She had spoken cautiously.
So how had he seen through her?
Sure, he had old photos of her mother—
But those were taken decades ago.
Even though she resembled her mother, it wasn't exact.
And how was Minami so certain Matsuzaka Satou had given birth to a daughter?
What if she had given birth to a son instead?!
Matsuzaka Shio's heart pounded.
She had thought of everything before coming here.
But never—
Never had she expected to be exposed this quickly.
Was this…
Was this what they called blood ties?
A bond so strong that no disguise could hide it?
Matsuzaka Shio didn't understand.
But regardless—
She had already made her choice.
And she would see it through.
She wore a completely unreadable expression.
"Mr. Minami, what are you talking about? I don't understand a single word."
Her disguise was flawless.
The surprise, panic, and confusion on her face when he grabbed her hand—
It all looked perfectly natural.
Not a single crack in her act.
If it had been anyone else, they might have started doubting their own judgment by now.
But—
Minami still didn't let go.
On the contrary, he gazed at her with a teasing, gentle expression.
And that only made Matsuzaka Shio more anxious.
She couldn't help but blurt out,
"Mr. Minami, if you don't let go, I'll call the police! You don't mind being arrested as a pervert harassing women?"
Her voice was sharp, her warning severe.
Her expression had shifted from initial panic to genuine sternness, as if she were truly about to pull out her phone and call the authorities.
This was an undeniable attempt at intimidation.
But—
"Go ahead."
Minami smiled.
"In fact, if the police come, that might make things even easier to explain."
"…!"
Matsuzaka Shio's lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
Because she couldn't call the police.
Just as Minami had implied—
The moment the officers arrived, and they heard her last name—"Matsuzaka"—
They'd immediately start connecting the dots.
That was the last thing she wanted.
But she had no other way out…
Anxious, her mind churned with thoughts.
At last, she lowered her voice.
"…You… Mr. Minami, what exactly are you trying to do?"
No matter what tactic she used, Minami wasn't budging.
She had no choice but to confront him head-on.
She had planned to keep playing dumb until the very end.
But then—
Minami spoke again.
And just a few simple words made her entire act collapse.
His voice was gentle.
His tone undeniably soft.
"How is your mother doing?"
As he asked, his hand reached out—
And gently patted her head.
It was such a simple gesture.
Such an ordinary question.
Yet—
All the walls Matsuzaka Shio had built up crumbled instantly.
Her lips quivered.
She lowered her head—
And suddenly, her shoulders began to shake.
Soft, muffled sobs escaped from her throat.
No matter how strong her heart was.
Matsuzaka Shio was still just a girl.
And every girl had a fragile place within them.
Minami understood that well.
Watching her cry, he didn't say a word.
To avoid drawing attention, he held her hand and led her outside.
Fresh air would help her breathe.
And maybe—
It would also ease her emotions.
It worked.
Under the open sky—
Surrounded by greenery, a koi pond, and tall bamboo trees—
Her sobs gradually quieted.
She turned slightly to look at Minami.
Even now, she still couldn't understand how he had figured out who she was.
But—
There was no point in hiding anymore.
Matsuzaka Shio let out a helpless chuckle.
She had come here fully prepared to say a proper goodbye to the Minami family.
And yet, Minami's sudden appearance had thoroughly ruined her plan.
She sighed.
As expected…
He really was the kind of man who could hold a woman's heart hostage for a lifetime.
His ability to see through women's emotions was… honestly terrifying.
Seeing that she had calmed down, Minami handed her a cup of warm tea.
The rich aroma of high-quality tea leaves filled the air, making Matsuzaka Shio feel a little more awake.
She slowly took a sip—
And exhaled softly.
Her expression relaxed.
"What's your name?"
Minami asked quietly.
Even though he already knew from the letter—
It was only natural to ask here.
"…Matsuzaka Shio."
For the first time, she stopped pretending.
She answered truthfully, her voice small.
"…Matsuzaka Shio."
Minami murmured her name under his breath.
Now, he understood why Matsuzaka Satou had given her that name.
Shio.
It meant salt.
Bitterness.
From the moment she was born, Matsuzaka Shio was destined to carry her mother's pain.
Gently, he squeezed her hand.
She flinched slightly—
Her toes curling involuntarily.
Clearly—
She wasn't used to being treated with such kindness.
But Minami didn't mind.
He softly brushed aside a strand of her hair and asked,
"How is your mother doing now?"
This time—
Matsuzaka Shio didn't answer right away.
She fell into a long, heavy silence.
And then, finally—
"…My mother passed away last month."
As expected.
Minami sighed.
Deep down—
He had still held onto a tiny bit of hope.
Maybe Matsuzaka Shio had lied in her letter.
Maybe she had pretended her mother was dead to stop him from searching for them.
The odds were slim.
But at least—
There had still been a chance.
But now—
Even that hope had been crushed.
"I see."
Minami closed his eyes briefly.
His gaze drifted toward the bamboo trees swaying in the wind.
As a gentle breeze passed through—
Leaves fluttered to the ground.
Watching the scene unfold, Matsuzaka Shio suddenly tightened her grip around his hand.
Then, in a quiet voice, she murmured,
"My mother never regretted anything."
She continued,
"She never regretted meeting you."
"She never regretted loving you."
"…She never regretted it, huh?"
Minami shook his head slightly.
Just like in the simulation routes—
The Matsuzaka Satou in this future had been the same.
No matter how much pain she endured—
She had never once blamed him.
"Let's go, Shio."
Minami stood up, holding her hand firmly.
"Take me to where you two lived."
Matsuzaka Shio instinctively wanted to refuse.
But—
When she saw his expression—
The words stopped in her throat.
In the end—
She couldn't bring herself to reject him.
Leaving the Minami residence, they got into Minami's car.
For the first time—
Father and daughter spoke softly to each other.
Though, in reality—
It was mostly Minami asking questions.
And Matsuzaka Shio quietly answering.
"You got into university—"
"But you dropped out because you couldn't afford the tuition?"
Minami gently ruffled her hair.
"What about Sayuri?"
"She wouldn't have just let you drop out, right?"
Matsuzaka Shio blinked at the familiar name.
"Oh… you mean Aunt Sayuri?"
She hesitated before explaining,
"Aunt Sayuri has been working, too. My mom told me that back when she was younger, you…"
She hesitated again.
"…It's fine."
Minami chuckled.
"Call me however you like."
Everything takes time.
He couldn't expect her to call him "Dad" right away.
Not after twenty years of abandonment.
Even moving at rocket speed wouldn't be that fast.
"…Alright."
Matsuzaka Shio nodded.
And then she continued,
"Apparently, when you scolded Aunt Sayuri all those years ago… it really worked."
"She never messed around with men after that."
"She started working properly—"
"And she looked after my mother until the very end."
"…So that's how it is."
Minami thought back to the time he had scolded Matsuzaka Sayuri.
It seemed that incident had truly changed her.
No wonder Matsuzaka Satou had ended up with the idea of running away while pregnant in this timeline.
Sayuri's transformation must have indirectly influenced Satou as well.
"But Aunt Sayuri is already in her fifties now… Some jobs require more energy than she can handle."
Matsuzaka Shio's voice grew quieter as she spoke.
Unlike the well-off Minami family, the Matsuzaka family had always struggled to make ends meet.
And after Shio was born, the financial burden only increased.
Tuition fees.
Living expenses.
Each one was a heavy cost.
And many of those costs—
Had actually been covered by Matsuzaka Sayuri.
Even this time—
It was Sayuri who had told Shio about the Minami sisters' coming-of-age ceremony.
She had hoped that by attending, Shio would finally reunite with Minami.
At the very least, so that she wouldn't have to continue living without support.
"I see."
Minami listened quietly.
Hearing about Matsuzaka Sayuri's transformation surprised him.
He thought for a moment—
Then made a decision.
"From now on, you and Aunt Sayuri will live at the Shouji household."
"Your tuition and living expenses—I'll handle everything."
"All you have to do is focus on your studies."
"…Eh?"
Matsuzaka Shio blinked, lips parting slightly.
She hadn't expected this.
"But—"
"There is no 'but.'"
"Failing to take care of you and Aunt Sayuri was my responsibility."
"This is just a small way to make up for it. It's really nothing."
Minami stated it as a matter of fact.
His voice left no room for argument.
Matsuzaka Shio opened her mouth slightly.
Not because she was unhappy—
But because…
For the first time in her life, she was experiencing fatherly love.
Unlike her mother—who had always been distant and silent—
Her father wasn't strict.
But in moments like this, he had his own convictions.
She didn't argue.
She simply lowered her head slightly.
And under his gentle touch, she nodded obediently.
"…Okay."
Minami smiled in satisfaction.
Compared to the rebellious Mirai—
A well-behaved, obedient daughter like Matsuzaka Shio made him much happier.
Under Shio's guidance—
Minami soon arrived at her home.
Unlike the modest apartments where Matsuzaka Satou had lived in her youth—
This place was even worse.
It reminded Minami of the cheap rental rooms he had once stayed in during his student days in Tokyo.
Walls full of cracks, letting in the wind.
A rusty metal staircase that creaked with every step.
A tiny, cramped living space.
Even for one person, this would be uncomfortable.
Minami couldn't imagine—
How had Matsuzaka Satou lived here, raising a child alone?
A deep silence fell over him.
Then—
Without warning, he pulled Shio into a tight embrace.
"F-Father…?"
Her voice wavered in shock.
But after a moment—
She relaxed.
She lightly patted his back.
And in a soft voice—
She whispered, "It's okay."
