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Chapter 241: The Boy Who Bewitched Her Completely
🕑 Added 2025-03-31 06:05:00 +0000 UTCIn the end, it was Yamada Ryo who took Mirai away.
In Ryo's words—"Mirai's expression didn't look quite right. That wasn't a daughter's gaze toward her father. I can't let you live with him," she declared, and promptly took Mirai by the hand and led her away.
Though Mirai tried to resist in every way, even pulling the "If you take me there so suddenly, Grandpa and Grandma Yamada will be upset" card to stall—
It didn't work. Ryo forcefully dragged her along.
In truth, Ryo didn't need to worry about her parents being upset.
To the Yamada parents, who doted on their daughter endlessly—
Even if Ryo just sat at home doing nothing, those two would gladly shut down their hospital for a day just to take care of her (original storyline).
They'd even come up with reasons to spoil her, like "Even though nothing special happened today, let's go to Jojoen (a famous upscale BBQ restaurant in Japan) to celebrate Ryo-chan being so adorable!"
As for bringing home a university-aged girl to live with them?
That kind of thing wouldn't even register as an issue for them.
You could say Mirai didn't really understand the Yamadas yet.
"So, in the end… my daughter's lodging is sorted. Though I did rely on Ryo again..."
Minami Shouji sighed.
Ideally, he should've gone to Shinjo-san, Mirai's biological mother.
But right now, Shinjo was likely still in a mess over Karasawa Yuka's situation…
So Minami hadn't held out much hope.
He looked up at the clock.
After all the chaos just now, time had slipped from 11:00 to 11:30.
Even someone like Minami Shouji, after everything that had happened today, felt a bit drained.
He cleaned up quickly, did his nightly routine, then slipped into bed.
Turning off the lights, he glanced at Tokyo's night skyline through the window.
He muttered softly—
"Don't forget the task I gave you, Mirai."
Letting Mirai stay at Yamada's was one thing.
But he hadn't forgotten to ask her to get a visitor's pass for the Tokyo General Medical Hospital's inpatient wing from Ryo.
After all, resolving Karasawa Yuka's case was a top priority.
If there was a regret he could fix…
He wouldn't allow inaction to let that regret become real.
But for now—
"Time to rest."
He needed to conserve energy for tomorrow. That meant a full night's sleep.
With that in mind, Minami slowly closed his eyes.
The next morning.
As usual, he woke up following his daily routine.
Pulling on his tracksuit, he stepped out of the Starry Live House and began his morning workout.
You had to admit—Shimokitazawa lived up to its name as a trend-setting street for youth, on par with Akihabara.
Even early in the morning, you could still see plenty of young people walking the streets.
Some were university students from around Shimokitazawa. Judging by their state, they had just finished a night of partying, leaning against utility poles and vomiting after drinking all night.
Others were shop owners from the streets of Shimokitazawa, out early to restock. After exchanging morning greetings, they quickly headed off while talking on their phones.
It was just morning, yet Shimokitazawa was already pulsing with life—vibrant, like a beating heart.
Minami Shouji wasn't particularly concerned about these scenes.
He simply regulated his breathing and began his morning run at his own pace.
Ever since his fitness stat hit 8, his daily running distance had nearly doubled.
Running a full loop around Shimokitazawa wasn't enough—Minami deliberately took longer routes.
As the simulator chimed with the prompt [Your fitness stat has slightly increased. Current fitness stat: 8], Minami returned to the ground floor of the Starry live house.
During this time, some curious female university students from the area tried to strike up a conversation with the early-morning runner, but Minami politely turned them down.
After a quick shower and preparing breakfast, the sleep-deprived Hiroi Kikuri arrived—having just finished a late-night performance.
Minami had thoughtfully prepared a revitalizing breakfast for her.
Once she was done and asked to use his bathroom again, he unceremoniously kicked the purple-haired older woman out the door.
Adjusting himself to peak condition, Minami set off for the train station and headed to Shuka High School.
Facing all the envious stares without batting an eye, he breezed through the monthly mini-test at Shuka High.
Then, pulling out his phone, Minami sent a LINE message to Mirai.
[Tokyo's No.1 Pretty Boy: How's it going?]
Message sent—now to wait.
Though Mirai's phone was a product from the future, it worked fine in the present world.
It made little scientific sense, but Minami didn't dwell on it.
After all, phones evolved rapidly even now—let alone one from the simulated future.
After about 3 to 4 minutes, with a "ding-dong," he got a reply from Mirai.
[Dreaming of being Japan's top actress! (Mirai): No problem! I've told Ryo Mama everything, and she's willing to help!]
[Dreaming of being Japan's top actress! (Mirai): She just spoke to Grandpa Yamada. He knows someone in charge at Tokyo General Medical Hospital. Getting an inpatient visitor's pass won't be a problem.]
"Phew…"
Seeing Mirai's response, Minami let out a small sigh of relief.
So Yamada Ryo's father really had connections beyond imagination.
Even knew someone at Tokyo General Medical Hospital.
As expected of someone who runs a private hospital in Tokyo.
Aside from being a doting father, Mr. Yamada was truly a successful man.
"All right… the visitor's pass is sorted for now."
Minami quickly replied to his daughter, then stood up.
With the visitor's pass handled, Shinjo Akane's situation still nagged at him.
Better go check on things.
Thinking this, Minami headed to Shinjo Akane's classroom.
However—
"Shinjo-san didn't come to school today?"
Hearing this from her classmate, Minami raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.
He knew Akane well.
She, like him, was not one to skip school.
Especially not on a day with Shuka High's mini-test, which affected the academic rankings.
There's no way she'd miss school.
That left only one possibility…
"Things with Karasawa Yuka must be worse than expected..."
Minami looked up and murmured to himself.
...
Just as Minami Shouji had suspected, Karasawa Yuka, lying in her hospital bed, was indeed in poor condition.
After two months of hospitalization, both her mental and physical health were deteriorating irreversibly.
Her complexion had changed from pale to a waxy yellow.
Looking at her sitting by the bedside, Minami Shouji understood.
This was the result of chronic illness caused by overwork in the Shinjo household, where she had taken care of young Shinjo Akane.
But she never regretted it.
On the contrary—
Even without a daughter of her own, simply watching Akane grow up...
Seeing her mature, bloom, and become the graceful, intelligent young woman she was now...
Karasawa Yuka truly felt content.
That's why she never blamed or resented Akane.
"What about your test... is it okay, Akane?" she asked gently, leaning against the bed with a warm smile.
"It's fine."
Shinjo Akane shook her head, then waved her hand dismissively, smiling brightly. "Honestly, being first or second in our grade doesn't matter to me at all. I know what I'm capable of, so there's no need to worry, Aunt Yuka."
It was a lie.
Karasawa Yuka knew it well.
Akane had always had this habit when lying.
First, she'd shake her head, then wave her hand, and finally smile as if she didn't care.
That sequence of denial—only Yuka could read it.
She held Akane's hand tightly. "Don't push yourself, Akane... it's my fault..."
"Let's not talk about this, Aunt Yuka."
Akane clasped her hand in return.
She did want to take that test.
Because each time she took an exam, she wanted to see her name next to Minami Shouji's in the grade rankings.
But now, Karasawa Yuka's health was declining...
"You always looked after me... now it's my turn to support you."
Holding the hand of the woman who had raised her, Akane offered gentle comfort.
"...Okay."
Yuka smiled and turned her gaze toward the small garden outside the inpatient ward window.
Winter had silently arrived.
The once lush trees were now bare and unsightly.
Just like her own life, flickering at its final moments.
A wave of sadness and reluctance washed over her heart.
Not because her life was ending—
But because she would no longer be able to see the girl she raised smile again.
To never see her face again...
Just the thought of it filled her with deep sorrow.
But... her body was already at its limit.
There was no point in letting this fading life hold back Akane's future.
With that thought, she turned her head to the girl beside her, carefully peeling an apple.
She smiled gently and said, "It's been a while since you mentioned that boy."
"Want to hear about Minami-kun?" Akane set down the apple.
A blush graced her porcelain face, a radiant, girlish smile blooming.
"Mm."
"Minami-kun came to see me again yesterday. Said he found a new place to live and wanted to return the 100,000 yen I gave him. I told him he didn't need to return it and to just use it, but he's strangely stubborn about these things—honestly, just accept my help already! It's only 100,000 yen!"
She chattered endlessly, seemingly complaining, but her tone was filled with warmth as she spoke about Minami Shouji.
Yuka listened intently.
Minami Shouji—the name Akane had often mentioned since Yuka's hospitalization.
At first with annoyance, then admiration.
Now, even the mention of his name brought a shy smile to Akane's face.
Yuka became deeply interested in this boy she had never met.
She had worried about Akane's high school life—
No real friends.
Always smiling as a mask, never truly connecting with anyone.
Such a hollow life... like this sterile, white hospital room.
Yet Minami Shouji was like a ray of light piercing her isolation.
He had brought life to the heart of the girl once numbed by her parents' neglect.
Now, Akane would animatedly talk about his every move at school—
His consistent first-place rank in exams.
Even the way he walked or looked at people would make her heart flutter.
Yuka had never seen Akane speak about someone this way.
She had expected Akane's interest to fade over time.
Instead, her feelings for Minami Shouji only deepened—her eyes now locked onto him.
This must be love.
The girl she had raised, once closed off, had opened her heart because of someone else.
Yuka felt both relief and admiration.
And her curiosity about this boy only grew.
A handsome young man, from a humble background, yet top of the prestigious Shuka High School.
Book-loving, always seen with a paperback, giving off a refined, literary air.
Willing to help Akane without complaint, with a slight mischievous streak...
Piecing together these details, she imagined all sorts of versions of this boy.
But Akane had never said a single bad word about him.
Each time she spoke of him, she wore a dreamy, almost childlike look.
Yuka knew—
Akane was completely under the spell of Minami Shouji.
Love had ensnared the girl who once showed no interest in anyone.
And this made Yuka all the more curious.
Just what kind of boy could captivate her daughter so completely...?
