Chapter 159
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Proposal (3)
After concluding the deal and seeing Takuya off, the room fell quiet.
Yuzuke let out a deep sigh.
It had been ages since he'd engaged in such an intense negotiation, and it had drained him completely.
Or more precisely, dealing with a kid radiating that much murderous intent had done it.
'I knew from the start he was a bad seed, but I didn't expect it to be this bad.'
To be even more accurate, it might have been because it had been so long since he'd encountered someone so bloodthirsty and greedily ambitious.
At first, he'd just been some guy Souta had brought along because he was good in bed. But once Yuzuke got a whiff of his special abilities, he'd pulled out the desperate card of adoption to recruit him into the family.
Why call it desperate when he knew it was a stretch?
Exactly as he'd explained to Takuya earlier.
Yuzuke believed the family's role would all but vanish by the next generation. Even if not then, by his grandchildren's time, the decline would be undeniable.
The local powers might barely cling on, while mid- and small-sized families would shatter into pieces.
'No, it's probably already underway.'
Yuzuke lacked the vision to grasp every shift in this vast nation, but at least in Miyagi Prefecture, things were different.
He could already feel the prefecture changing around him.
That's why he'd planned to pass on massive wealth to his children before he died—or at least ensure they could scrape by even if the family collapsed after he was gone.
But Takuya's arrival had changed everything.
His extraordinary abilities, paired with the raw desire burning in his eyes.
Yuzuke knew that hunger all too well.
It was the greedy thirst for power, aimed straight upward.
Even if Takuya pretended to despise it on the surface.
'He's not going to be easy to handle.'
Yuzuke might not have mingled with crowds like politicians, but as the man who'd built this family from the ground up, he had a keen eye for people.
That's why he'd instantly grasped what kind of person had just sat before him.
'Useful for occasional help, but way too risky to keep close.'
He was a beast.
One wrong moment of carelessness, and it'd rip out your throat—no, tear your body to shreds.
Yet that same beast held an allure all its own.
Forcing it into submission would be the act of an amateur.
The more you tried to tame him, the fiercer he'd rebel.
'Even if it cost him his life.'
But play it loose—give him space, food, shelter—and you might earn his favor.
If things went well, the Tohomu family could even climb another rung.
Failure? No big deal. Yuzuke already figured the family wouldn't last long anyway.
It'd just sting emotionally.
Of course, his daughters-in-law who'd joined via arranged marriages—and Yui—were the pitiful ones here. But it couldn't be helped.
This was for the family.
He had no intention of letting it slide without compensation, though.
He'd make it right.
'Give the eldest daughter-in-law control of the family's industries to restore her status. Let the second handle external affairs. Gotta reprimand that incompetent second one too. For Yui... pocket money oughta do.'
Yuzuke mulled it over again, double-checking compensations for his daughters-in-law and daughter, then revisited the negotiation terms with Takuya.
For the first time in ages, he'd be working energetically into the night.
(Not that he'd admit how wrecked he felt the next day.)
A few days after Old Man Yuzuke's adoption offer.
I'd officially become a son of the Tohomu family.
Well, one of my other identities had, anyway.
What does that mean?
I've got three moms, so naturally, three identities.
Obviously. Legally, adoption requires parental consent.
But my two moms—who adore me to pieces—would never let me go.
(I didn't even broach the subject.)
Honestly, no clue how they'd react.
But I could guess dropping the adoption bomb would flip the house upside down and spell major disaster.
Long story short, that's why I'd created a third identity.
You might wonder if piling on IDs like this is even allowed, but Japan doesn't have resident registration cards like Korea.
They verify with driver's licenses and such.
Plus, plenty of folks vanish quietly here. Wasn't hard to arrange.
So, extra identity? No issue.
'Of course, once I'm all grown up, I'll have to transfer the fake adult Mori Takuya identity somewhere.'
Takuya mused inwardly as he assumed the identity of Tohomu Takuya—one of his personas.
Man, even this name gets passed down.
Gazing at the "Mother" field on the contract:
[Tohomu Nozomi.]
'The woman I knocked up to make her my mom? Talk about comedy gold.'
(For the record, my official mom here is Nozomi.)
The cover story for adopting me: childless, so bringing me in as a surrogate.
Won't I get tossed once a kid's born?
Least till Old Man Yuzuke kicks the bucket, I won't be sidelined.
'If he knows what's good for him.'
Worst case, if he tries treating me like yesterday's rice, he'll pay dearly.
Anyway, after admiring his shiny new identity, Takuya leaned back and sighed.
For now, the big stuff was sorted. Time to enjoy some everyday bliss?
With that thought, he dialed somewhere.
Obviously:
"Oh, Haruka? Planning to swing by your place tomorrow—cool? Ah, Mrs. Miharu. Yeah, yeah. Oh, you don't need to go all out like—"
Haruka and Mrs. Miharu's house.
Holiday at the Haruka household, usually bright and cheery—but today, it was extra radiant.
The reason? Obvious.
"When's Takuya-kun coming again?"
"...Mom, that's the third time you've asked."
"Oh dear, look at me. Is the soup boiling?"
Takuya was on his way.
He'd upended both mother and daughter's lives in the best ways.
Not only had he hooked the half-hikikomori, half-employment dropout Haruka up with a real job, he'd even taken responsibility.
To Miharu, who'd fretted over her daughter, he was a lifesaver.
The only catch? His generous heart had swept her up too.
'But it's all good♥'
Reliving those blissful memories of melting into Takuya's arms, Miharu set the finished soup on the table, then laid out sides and utensils.
A far cry from her usual "Dinner's ready—grab your chopsticks, dear."
Haruka sighed at her mom's enthusiasm.
Seemed Mom was even more thrilled about Takuya's visit than she was.
Still, seeing Miharu's beaming face chased away the shadows. Haruka smiled faintly.
She preferred this happy mom over the gloomy one.
Just then—
—Ding-dong.
The doorbell chimed.
Miharu and Haruka bolted for the entrance in unison.
Opening the door revealed:
"Whoa, both Haruka and Mrs. Miharu came out?"
A petite but sturdy guy—Takuya.
More precisely:
"Takuya-kun, those flowers?"
"...Irises?"
Takuya, holding a deep purple iris for one and a deep blue for the other.
Stunned by his sudden floral entrance, they soon realized the blooms were for them as he handed them over.
Haruka grinned bashfully; Miharu teared up.
Haruka knew iris meanings from her plant-gazing hobby. Miharu? First flowers ever.
Why so rare? Her ex was a rigid patriarch—no gifts, let alone flowers.
Hence, this small gesture hit hard.
Miharu fought tears but felt them spilling anyway.
"Wha—huh?"
Overwhelmed by joy, she panicked at the flow; Takuya panicked more.
'Wait, girls are supposed to love flower gifts, right?!'
Visiting after ages, he'd hated showing up empty-handed. So, on advice from his army romantic-senior (and store staff), he'd grabbed flowers.
'Guess army wisdom's unreliable after all.'
Rediscovering that timeless truth, Takuya patted the weeping Miharu and stepped inside.