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The Head of the Tomi
We looked at each other with eager eyes, and after a while we pulled apart.
I felt like hugging Rei-san forever, but this is Tomi’s mansion, and Amane-nee-san is also watching us.
I needed to check the situation.
“Why did the Tomis take Rei-san back?”
“Well,… the people who took me away also said, ‘It’s a necessary thing. Please be patient.’ That’s all they said…”
“So we don’t know why.”
Rei-san and I looked at each other.
Amane-nee-san was about to say something, when the sliding door opened.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting, people of Akihara.”
With these words, an old man in kimono appeared, with a white beard and a dignified appearance.
He was the head of the Tomi family, whom I had seen on TV.
He was Soichiro Tomi.
As expected, I was nervous. Rei-san also looked a little frightened.
Only Amane-nee-san seemed calm.
“It’s been a while, Great-Uncle-sama Tomi.”
“Oh, it’s been a long time. Even so, you look just like Tohko.”
Soichiro Tomi said sincerely.
Tohko is my and Amane-nee-san’s grandmother.
She passed away early and we have never met her.
And her maiden name was Tohko Akihara.
She was Soichiro Tomi’s sister.
“Let’s get down to business. After all, are you regretting letting go of Ms. Mizukoto? If you’re this beautiful, and if you have a long-sighted blood, you won’t have any trouble finding a partner for a political marriage.”
Rei-san shivered at the words of Amane-nee-san.
I see.
For the Tomi family, Rei-san may be of use in this way.
However, Soichiro Tomi simply denied it.
“I’m not talking about that. Rather, I brought Rei back to protect her.”
“For protection?”
“That’s right. You know that the business performance of the Tomi Group has been poor, don’t you?”
It was featured on TV the other day, and the Tomi Group has been losing a lot of money lately.
Still, it remains the largest company in the region, and what does that have to do with bringing Rei back?
“I can’t go into detail, but I enlisted the help of some people whose names I can’t mention publicly in order to get the company back on its feet. In the process, I have acquired some grudges. To put it simply, we are being targeted for our lives.”
I was taken aback.
I think he says the most outrageous things with a nonchalant look on his face.
But I could see the point of the conversation.
“So you mean to say that now that you’ve incurred resentment, Rei-san might be harmed as well?”
“How fitting. Rei and Kotone are my precious grandchildren. If they are taken hostage, I will be troubled.”
“Even though you don’t think of me as an important grandchild…”
Rei-san was murmuring beside me.
But Soichiro Tomi paid no attention to that and continued.
“That’s why I had to bring her back. The mansion is guarded 24 hours a day by servants of the Tomi family, with the help of the local police department.”
“But that doesn’t mean that you forced Rei-san to come here against her will, does it?”
“You say so, but Tohko’s grandson. Can you protect Rei?”
Ugh, I’m at a loss for words.
It was true that if Rei-san was being targeted by a group that even the Tomi family feared, it would be impossible for me to protect her in my apartment.
But Rei-san was determined.
“If it’s Haruto-kun, he’ll protect me.”
“Hmm…  But I don’t agree with letting Rei out of this residence again. I’ve cleaned up and prepared the separate house so that there will be no trouble with the other relatives this time.”
Soichiro Tomi then pointed to a building outside the window.
It was a building located at a distance from the main residence, and although it was magnificent and looked quite spacious, it had a somewhat chilly appearance.
Does he intend to let Rei-san live there by herself?
Rei-san told me that she enjoyed living with me.
But now she has to go back to being alone again.
“… Grandfather. I will return to this mansion. I can live in that house, can’t I?”
Rei-san said clearly.
I looked at her face and saw a smile.
She may have given up on the idea that returning to this mansion was something she had little choice but to do.
However, her next words made me sit up in surprise.
“However, I have one request… please allow Haruto-kun to live in the same detached house as me!”
Rei-san then looked at me and giggled mischievously.
“If that’s all right with you, Haruto-kun…”
I thought for a while.
Certainly, if I can stay with Rei-san, I don’t have to stick to my apartment.
That apartment is rented.
I simply nodded my head.
“Of course.”
Rei-san seemed pleased to hear my answer.
Then we waited for Soichiro Tomi’s reply.
(TLN: I have no idea why this is 3 chapters.)