He was in no hurry.
What he wanted was never a fruit obtained through force.
What he hoped to see was her, in the extreme tug-of-war between logic and emotion, eventually choosing to unfasten her own restraints actively and willingly, rather than him tearing them away himself.
That was the truly unique "conquest" of Haruno Yukinoshita that he desired.
As the night deepened, Kanjuro's figure merged into the darkness, while Haruno, remaining in the car, slumped over the steering wheel, her shoulders trembling slightly as she cried silently. A night that began with toying and ended with complex emotions thus drew to a close, but the ripples left behind were far from settling.
The next day, the campus of Sobu High School seemed as normal as ever, as if the waves of the previous night had left no trace. Sunlight poured into the classroom through the windows. Kanjuro still sat in the window seat, his expression languid, as if everything in the world had nothing to do with him, yet also as if everything was within his grasp. Miura Yumiko and Ebina Hina sat on either side of him, forming a subtle yet stable triangular dynamic, their gazes toward Kanjuro filled with wordless possession and obedience.
The class was discussing the upcoming School Trip, and the atmosphere was lively, except for Yui Yuigahama, who looked preoccupied. From time to time, she glanced toward Kanjuro with a complicated gaze. Seeing the natural and intimate atmosphere between him, Yumiko, and Ebina, her heart felt like a tumultuous mix of emotions—sourness, anger, and a trace of grievance she didn't want to admit were all intertwined.
(Clearly... clearly I'm the one...)
This thought made her even more irritable. Finally, during the lunch break, taking advantage of the gap when Yumiko and Ebina had temporarily left, she plucked up her courage and walked up to Kanjuro. Her tone was stiff, carrying an obvious hint of pique:
"Hey! Mom... Mom said she wants to see you!"
Kanjuro looked up from his book and gazed at the "daughter" before him, whose cheeks were puffed out with anger while her eyes flickered uncertainly. A playful smile curled at the corners of his mouth. He didn't directly answer regarding Yoko wanting to see him; instead, he leaned forward slightly and whispered in a teasing and provocative tone:
"You want me to go see Mom? Sure." He paused, his gaze roaming over her face as if admiring her nervous expression. "But... you have to agree to go on a date with me first."
"A-A date?!" Yui Yuigahama's eyes widened suddenly, as if she had heard something incredible, and her cheeks flushed instantly. She subconsciously looked at Yumiko and Ebina, who had just walked back; they were looking over with knowing, almost entertained expressions.
An inexplicable, strong surge of jealousy and possessiveness rushed to her head! Why?! Why did her father have to be so entangled with these women! And now she actually had to make an "appointment" just to get him to come home?! A desire to disrupt, to provoke, and to reclaim exclusive attention dominated her.
Almost without thinking, driven by a reckless impulse, Yui Yuigahama responded loudly, her voice even drawing the attention of the surrounding classmates:
"Fine! I'll go on a date with you! But—" she emphasized forcefully, pointing her finger at Yumiko and Ebina, "you're not allowed to bring other women! Just the two of us!"
She thought this would infuriate Yumiko, or at least cause an argument; she even secretly hoped to see Kanjuro look troubled.
However, Miura Yumiko's reaction was completely beyond her expectations.
Instead of getting angry, Yumiko actually burst out laughing. She walked over to Kanjuro's side, intimately took his arm, and then looked at Yui Yuigahama with a tone that carried an almost doting "instruction":
"Hubby~" she called out sweetly, then said to Yuigahama, "You should be a bit more gentle with Yuigahama, she looks quite nervous."
Kanjuro nodded compliantly and responded warmly, "Alright."
Yui Yuigahama was completely stunned, her mind going blank. This... what was going on? Why wasn't Yumiko angry? Wasn't she Kanjuro's "girlfriend"? Why could she so calmly allow, even... encourage Kanjuro to date her?!
Seeing her incredible, dazed expression, the smile on Yumiko's face deepened, carrying a sense of superiority from holding some secret. She leaned close to Yui Yuigahama and whispered slyly in a volume only the two of them could hear:
"Little dummy, Hubby Kanjuro is my... hee-hee, I won't tell you exactly what he is" She blinked, her tone becoming exceptionally "sincere" and "generous." "But don't worry, I won't get angry over such a small thing. Because... I wouldn't want to lose my dear hubby forever just because of some mindless jealousy"
These words were like a fog, leaving Yui Yuigahama even more confused and uneasy. The hidden meaning in Yumiko's words—that almost blind tolerance and eerie way of possession—made her skin crawl. She had originally just wanted to sow discord and vent her dissatisfaction, but she found herself stepping into a deeper, more twisted vortex, and at the center of that vortex was the always-smiling Kanjuro, whom she couldn't see through at all.
Kanjuro looked at Yui Yuigahama's ignorant and flustered appearance, as well as Yumiko's "sensible" and proper performance, and a flash of satisfaction crossed his eyes. He liked this control; he liked watching these women around him show various interesting reactions under his invisible influence.
A "date" he had proposed on a whim seemed set to stir up new waves. And Yui Yuigahama, amidst her ignorance and jealousy, was stepping bit by bit into a complex game she could not yet understand. The afternoon sun plated the Shopping Street in a layer of warm gold; the flow of people was like a tide, noisy and full of the breath of life. Kanjuro and Yui Yuigahama walked side by side, forming a striking sight. Kanjuro's handsomeness went without saying, and Yui Yuigahama's cute appearance, tinged with a bit of unease and stubbornness, also attracted many glances.
At first, Yui Yuigahama was tense all over, deliberately keeping her distance from Kanjuro, her face written with "unwillingness" and "I'm just completing a task." She was determined that this date was for confronting this irresponsible "father" to his face and then firmly drawing a line.
However, Kanjuro seemed completely unaware of her resistance. His attitude was as natural as if this really were just an ordinary father-daughter outing.
"Yui, try this. You seem to like this kind of Candied Apple." He would stop in front of snack stalls, buy a Candied Apple coated in translucent sugar, and hand it to her with a gentle gaze.
"Watch out for cars." When crossing the street, he would very naturally reach out his hand to lightly support her back, his movements gentle yet carrying an undeniable sense of protection.
"This hair accessory suits you." He would even stop at a jewelry stall, pick up a cute Strawberry Hairpin to try against her hair, a smile of appreciation on his lips.
His care was meticulous and just right, neither appearing overly fawning nor being easy to ignore. That low, gentle voice, that focused gaze, and the familiarity and apology that occasionally leaked out, as if eighteen years of fatherly love had truly settled within him... all of this, like a frog in warming water, bit by bit eroded the defenses Yui Yuigahama had built.
She went from her initial stiff rejection to later reluctant acceptance, and finally, she unknowingly became accustomed to walking by his side, accustomed to him blocking the crowded flow of people for her, and accustomed to the various snacks he handed over... even, when he once again brushed away a stray strand of hair from her forehead that had been ruffled by the wind, her heart skipped a beat.
This realization made her feel panic and self-loathing.
Finally, when Kanjuro handed her a cute Rabbit Cotton Candy, her pent-up emotions exploded like a volcano. Yui Yuigahama suddenly looked up, her eyes slightly red, her voice carrying uncontrollable excitement and grievance as she almost roared:
"You! You are clearly my father! Why?! Why did you never care about me growing up? You left me alone with Mom! And now why do you suddenly appear and treat me so well?! Do you know how much Mom missed you! How long she waited for you!" Her voice drew the gazes of the surrounding pedestrians, but she didn't care.
She panted, as if using all her strength to ask the question that had been circling in her heart, making her feel both fear and disgust:
"Also! You... you aren't... you aren't deliberately approaching me because you have some special, filthy thoughts about me, are you?!" She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms, waiting for the final judgment.
Kanjuro was stunned for a moment by her sudden outburst and sharp questioning. The gentle smile on his face receded slightly, replaced by a well-timed look of suspicion and confusion, as if truly shocked by this absurd question.
He frowned slightly, looking at Yui Yuigahama, his voice still steady but carrying a hint of helplessness at being misunderstood: "You... seem to already know about my identity as your biological father." He first confirmed this, then changed his tone, which became somewhat meaningful, even carrying a bit of innocent teasing:
"But, Yui, I don't think I ever said I had any improper intentions toward you, did I?" He spread his hands, looking perfectly upright. "Besides, for a father and daughter to go on a date, stroll through the streets, buy some snacks, and care about each other—isn't that a very normal and pure thing?"
He deliberately spoke the words "father and daughter date" clearly and naturally. Then, as if suddenly having an epiphany, a wicked yet charming arc curled at the corners of his mouth. He looked intently at Yui Yuigahama's flushed face and lowered his voice, speaking in a seductive tone:
"Or is it... my Little Yui who is secretly looking forward to this... 'taboo' feeling herself?"
"Aaaaah—! Shut up!!!"
Yui Yuigahama was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her fur instantly standing on end. Her entire face, even her neck, turned so red it looked like it was about to drip blood!
Overcome with shame and anger, she stomped her feet in exasperation and reached out to cover Kanjuro's hateful mouth, but he laughed and dodged.
The curious glances from the surrounding pedestrians made her even more mortified. Kanjuro's ability to turn black into white and shift the blame was simply peak! Clearly his behavior was ambiguous and his motives impure, yet with just a few words, he had painted her as a "problem daughter" who inwardly craved a taboo love!
Looking at Yui Yuigahama's ashamed and angry look, as if she wanted to find a hole to crawl into, the smile in Kanjuro's eyes deepened.
He liked seeing her so vivid and lively; he liked seeing her lose her composure under the teasing of his words. This game of playing with innocence and the sense of immorality in the palm of his hand always brought him endless pleasure.
And he was clearly enjoying it. This "father-daughter date" was far more interesting than he had expected. The setting sun dyed the horizon a warm orange-red, and the bustle of the Shopping Street gradually subsided. That intense outburst just now, filled with shame and accusations, was like a stone thrown into a lake; though it stirred up violent splashes, the ripples would eventually spread and disappear.
Yui Yuigahama kept her head down, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes as she walked silently beside Kanjuro. Her previous anger and grievance were like a punctured balloon; after the air went out, only a sense of powerlessness and deep regret remained. She stole a glance at Kanjuro's side profile, which was still calm and even carried a faint, almost imperceptible smile, and her mind was in a mess.
(Did I... did I say things too harshly just now?)
(Maybe... maybe he really just wants to make amends?)
(Mom is still waiting at home...)
Complex emotions churned in her heart. Ultimately, her heartache for her mother and that hidden desire for the identity of a "father" deep within her heart overcame her other stray thoughts.
At the intersection where they were about to part, Yui Yuigahama stopped. She took a deep breath as if making a great decision, looked up at Kanjuro, and spoke softly, with obvious apology and a hint of plea:
"Um... I'm sorry... Ye... Kanjuro... Dad." She said the title a bit awkwardly, but it was exceptionally clear. "Just now... I shouldn't have gotten angry with you like that and said those harsh things."
...She paused, her eyes filled with sincere hope: "I believe... you shouldn't have those... bad thoughts about me. I believe you're not that kind of person." She said this with some difficulty, but strove to make herself sound firm.
"So..." She plucked up her courage and spoke her most important request, "Tonight... can you come back to see Mom? She really misses you. I promise I won't lose my temper again."
Kanjuro listened quietly to her apology and request. The playful smile on his face gradually receded, replaced by an inscrutable calm. He didn't immediately answer whether he would go back to see Yoko; instead, he suddenly threw out a key name:
"Then... do you still believe those 'bad things' Ms. Kitami said about me?"
This question hit the core. Reika Kitami's warning had been the biggest thorn in Yui Yuigahama's heart and a major reason for her previous resistance to Kanjuro.
Yui Yuigahama was stunned for a moment, then shook her head vigorously, her eyes becoming clear and firm: "Teacher Kitami... she also cares about me and wants what's best for me, I know that. But..." She looked into Kanjuro's eyes, as if trying to see into his heart through those deep pupils, "But, if you really are as you say, and don't... hold those special, malicious thoughts towards me..."
She paused for a moment, as if making a final confirmation, and then, word by word, clearly promised:
"I am willing... to acknowledge you as my father."
This was a major concession, a compromise based on trust. She chose to temporarily suppress Teacher Kitami's warning and believe this man's words, for her mother's sake and for the faint longing for a complete family in her own heart.
Kanjuro looked at the light in her eyes, which carried apprehension but also a determined effort, and the corners of his mouth slowly curled into a very faint, unreadable arc. He reached out and gently rubbed her hair, his movements carrying an unprecedented, almost real gentleness.
"Good," he replied simply, without any extra explanation or promise.
This "good" was an acceptance of her apology, a response to her request, and seemingly a tacit agreement to her "trust."
However, deep within his dark eyes, that murky light did not diminish in the slightest. He knew clearly that Kitami's warning was not unfounded, and his purpose in approaching Yui Yuigahama, and even Yuigahama Yui, was by no means as simple as "paternal love" or "atonement."
Yui Yuigahama's trust, based on the premise of "no malice," was like a castle built on quicksand—seemingly solid, but actually fragile. And he was more than happy to push it over at the right time, watching her desperate and beautiful expression as her beliefs collapsed.
But before that, he didn't mind playing the role of a good "father" and a good "former lover." After all, a game is more fun when played slowly.
"Let's go," he withdrew his hand, his tone returning to its usual composure, "I'll walk you to the intersection."
Yui Yuigahama looked at his gentle profile, her heart settling slightly. She nodded and followed his lead. The setting sun stretched their shadows long; they looked harmonious, yet hidden undercurrents flowed. What would happen when she saw her mother tonight? She felt both anticipation and a faint, lingering unease.
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