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Chapter 242: I’m Their Daughter!
🕑 Added 2025-03-31 06:06:01 +0000 UTCKarasawa Yuka listened intently as Shinjo Akane recounted amusing little stories about Shouji Minami.
Even the trivial things, like how many times he yawned today or what new book he was reading, took on a unique charm when told by Akane.
Yuka smiled softly, focusing with great attention, trying to glean a few more clues about this boy she'd never met from Akane's fond retelling.
Time seemed to lose all meaning between them.
By the time Akane looked up again, it was already 2 p.m.
"Ah... I'm sorry, Aunt Yuka. I need to contact the doctors to prepare for your daily check-up."
She offered a small apology. Today was Yuka's full-body scan, so notifying the hospital in advance was necessary.
But there was no helping it.
In fact, every time she talked about Shouji Minami, Akane would lose track of time.
Because aside from him, only Karasawa Yuka and Rikka were people she could truly open up to.
What Akane regretted most—
Was that lately, with all her attention on Yuka's care, she hadn't had a proper chance to greet Minami Shouji.
Even today.
She had skipped the school's exam just to be here for Yuka.
But—
It didn't matter.
Akane collected herself.
She had never once felt resentment for looking after Yuka, nor would she ever complain.
After all, Yuka was the only true family she had in this world.
No matter what, she had to—
"If you like Shouji-kun that much, you should spend more time with him, Akane."
Yuka suddenly spoke.
Her words froze Akane mid-step.
"Eh...?" she gasped, her crimson eyes wide with surprise, as if she couldn't believe Yuka would say such a thing.
"There's no need to look so shocked," Yuka said with a gentle smile. "Spending your time on someone like me, who has no future, is meaningless. Akane, you know this too."
Yes.
Yuka truly had no future left.
Her days were reduced to lying in bed, receiving treatments to prolong her life—waiting quietly for death.
That process could not be reversed.
"I've never cared about that, Aunt Yuka. What you should be doing now is resting properly."
Shinjo Akane sat back down, lifting her head to look at Karasawa Yuka.
But Yuka only smiled and shook her head, not replying to her words.
Even though Akane never voiced any discontent, as the one being cared for, Yuka didn't want to become a burden that shackled Akane.
Akane was a free-spirited young girl.
Yuka, in contrast, was a candle whose flame was about to be extinguished.
"You only get one youth, and spending that precious, singular youth on someone like me... it's meaningless."
Karasawa Yuka spoke with gentle earnestness. "Honestly, even if you stopped visiting, there would be no issue. This hospital has professional nurses and doctors looking after me. Akane, you could save that time."
That was true.
Tokyo General Medical Hospital, one of the top hospitals in Tokyo, had a professional staff.
Even without Akane's visits, Yuka would be well cared for.
Yuka spoke her honest thoughts.
And she waited for Akane's response.
If it were the Akane of the past, she likely would have gotten angry, unable to understand Yuka's words, and rejected them.
That's what Yuka thought.
But even if there was the smallest chance, she didn't want Akane wasting her energy on her.
Under Yuka's gaze, Akane spoke:
"I understand what you're trying to say, Aunt Yuka."
Huh?
This time, it was Yuka's turn to be surprised.
There was no hysteria, no voice of protest.
Akane simply spoke calmly, smiling, as she held Yuka's hand.
"But if it were Minami-kun, he would do everything he could to help. Even if he couldn't change anything, he would stay by his loved ones, accompanying them through their final moments."
She lifted her gaze, looking directly at Yuka:
"I want to be someone like Minami-kun. I don't want to quietly slip away at a time like this and leave you alone, Aunt Yuka."
"..." Karasawa Yuka.
Yuka was shocked.
She hadn't realized just how deeply that young man, Shouji Minami, had influenced Akane.
For Akane—whom Yuka had raised herself—to say she wanted to become like someone... that was incredible.
And seeing Akane's composed, beautiful face...
Yuka fell silent once again.
Akane was no longer the easily influenced girl of the past.
She had her own thoughts now.
She had someone she loved... someone who deeply impacted her...
"Aunt Yuka, I want you to be the one to officiate my wedding with Minami-kun. That's why I want you to get better."
Akane stood up, her crimson eyes locked on Yuka's.
"I won't give up. So please, Aunt Yuka, don't give up either."
Leaving those final words, spoken as much for herself as for Yuka, Akane turned and left the hospital room to find the attending doctor and prepare for the full checkup.
With her departure, the warmth in the room faded, returning to a chilling stillness.
Hearing Akane's heartfelt declaration, Yuka didn't know what to do.
All she could do was turn her head toward the window.
The winter trees were barren.
Elderly patients nearing the end of their lives filled the hospital.
White curtains, white bed sheets, white ceilings, and the blue-and-white patient's gown she wore...
Perhaps because her life was nearing its end, everything seemed devoid of life.
In this colorless world...
Only Shinjo Akane's shadow remained vividly bright in Yuka's eyes.
Yuka once lamented that the pink-haired girl forced upon her by the Shinjo family had taken up most of her youth.
That one and only youth...
She had sacrificed everything to care for Akane.
And yet...
Now she was filled with gratitude.
Grateful she had cared for Akane.
Grateful that the girl had grown strong enough to live on her own.
And if that's the case...
Then that's enough.
Yuka thought this to herself.
It was time to accept everything peacefully.
Even if death arrived tomorrow, there was nothing left to fear.
All her regrets had vanished when Akane expressed her true heart.
She no longer had to worry about Akane.
In other words... even if death came tomorrow, there was nothing to fear.
Karasawa Yuka leaned quietly against her pillow.
A smile of relief for Shinjo Akane's growth spread across Karasawa Yuka's face.
Yes.
There was nothing left to worry about, and so—nothing left to fear.
It was just death, plain and simple.
A day that comes for everyone.
Karasawa Yuka seemed ready to accept it calmly.
However—
"…Eh…?"
Though her face bore a smile of contentment…
Suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes.
"…What's going on…?"
Yuka blinked in confusion at what was happening.
Why was she crying?
Hadn't she let everything go?
Akane no longer needed her care and could live and think independently.
There was truly nothing left to fear.
So why… why did this deep sense of unwillingness remain?
What was this emotion?
Yuka touched her tear-streaked cheek, lips parting slightly.
And then, she smiled bitterly.
"…I guess… I really don't want to die, after all…"
The fear of death is a fundamental instinct.
It's something no human can resist or deny.
But beyond the fear of death—
The reason for her unwillingness, her intense reluctance, was surprisingly simple.
She turned her head to the side.
On the small cabinet next to her hospital bed—
Besides a dried-up bouquet of flowers, there was a modestly framed photo.
In it—
A six-year-old Shinjo Akane clung to her neck, smiling brightly, radiating pure affection.
And only then did Karasawa Yuka realize… just how greedy she truly was.
She didn't just want to witness Akane's emotional growth.
She wanted to see her grow up, go to college, marry someone she loved, walk down the aisle…
Even more, she wanted to be there when Akane had children—her god-grandchildren—and take care of them like she once did Akane.
And now… because of her failing body…
She might never see any of that.
How could she possibly be satisfied with that?
"…I really am a greedy woman…"
Tears flowed freely as Yuka murmured to herself.
She didn't just want to send Akane off into the future—
She wanted to walk beside her, sharing in that journey.
For someone suffering from a terminal illness…
That desire was undeniably greedy.
She sighed deeply.
And lifted her gaze—
Praying with all her heart that the boy Akane now loved was not someone approaching her with ill intentions.
She did not want to see that girl hurt.
If only…
Yuka wished, desperately—
For more time.
Just a little more time to watch over Akane's journey.
To have someone appear, like in a TV drama, a heroic figure who would save her life.
But Yuka knew all too well—
That such things only happened in fiction.
Life isn't like the dramas on TV. There is no male lead waiting to appear at the last moment and save her.
She gently shook her head.
And it was precisely at that moment—
"No wonder Mom named me 'Mirai' (Future)... So that's the hidden meaning behind my name…"
A voice spoke out with a wistful tone.
Karasawa Yuka turned her head in surprise.
"Hello, Karasawa Y— no, by seniority I should call you Karasawa Grandma. Thank you for always taking care of my mom. Without you, I doubt she could've managed alone for this long."
The voice came from a girl with shoulder-length black hair, who now stood by the hospital bed, smiling warmly.
But what truly startled Karasawa Yuka wasn't just the girl's sudden appearance.
It was the uncanny resemblance between this girl and Shinjo Akane.
The same upward curve at the corners of her mouth, those crimson-red eyes, even the bubbly, cheerful tone—everything about her screamed Akane—as if this was a black-haired version of Shinjo Akane herself!
If not for the fact that Akane was only seventeen, and this girl appeared to be in her early twenties…
Yuka would've sworn this was Akane's daughter… or that Akane was somehow her daughter.
"You are...? And... how did you get in here?"
Yuka, dazed for a moment, quickly regained composure and questioned the mysterious girl.
"I'm Shouji Mirai. Let's see... to put it in a way you can understand, I'm from the future—Shinjo Akane and Minami Shouji's daughter."
"Huh?"
Yuka stared at the girl in disbelief.
What was she saying?
From the future?
Akane and Minami Shouji's daughter?
It was too far-fetched. Too surreal.
Even though her appearance indeed mirrored Akane's, Yuka couldn't easily accept it. Her eyes scanned Mirai, waiting for further explanation.
"Hmm, Karasawa Grandma, you still don't believe me, huh? Well, let me say something that'll convince you—ow!"
Just as she smugly raised her finger to continue, she suddenly clutched her head and yelped in pain.
"What was that for, Dad?!" she pouted.
Only now did Yuka notice a black-haired young man standing behind Mirai.
His features were refined and handsome, his short, slightly wavy hair framed deep and well-defined features. A strikingly attractive man, like a main character from a morning drama.
But more than his looks, what truly captivated Yuka were his eyes.
Jet-black, yet pure.
As clear and serene as a spring sky.
So clean, they seemed almost unreal.
"How many times have I told you not to say weird things to... Karasawa-san?"
The young man—Minami Shouji—gently scolded Mirai.
Then, noticing Yuka watching, he turned with a calm smile and said—
"Hello, Karasawa-san. I'm Minami Shouji. This should be our first time meeting, yes?"
