Chapter: 67, 68, 69: The Head of the Tohmi
We looked at each other with eager eyes, then pulled apart a moment later.
I want to hold on to Rei forever… but this is the Tohmi residence… and Ame is watching us too.
We need to find out what’s going on.
“Why did the Tohmis bring Rei back or something?”
“Now… The people who took me, all they said was, ‘It’s what you need to do. They only said, ‘Please be patient’…”
“So you don’t know why.”
Me and Rei looked at each other.
Ame-no-sama was about to say something when the sliding door opened.
Sorry to keep you waiting, men of Akihabara.
With these words, an old man in kimono appeared, with a white beard and a dignified appearance.
The head of the Tohmi family, whom you’ve seen on TV.
Soichiro Tomi.
I was nervous. Rei seemed a little scared.
But Ame-no-sama seemed unconcerned.
“It’s been a long time, Great-Uncle Tomi.”
“Ah, it’s been a long time. But you look just like Enko.
Soichiro Tohmi said sincerely.
Tohko is me and Ame’s grandmother.
He died early, so we never met.
And Akihara Tohko’s maiden name is Tomi.
She was Soichiro Tomi’s sister.
Let’s cut to the chase. Are you still reluctant to part with Miss Suqin? With such beauty and Tohmi’s blood in her veins, she’ll have no trouble finding a man for a political marriage.
Rei-san shudders at Ame-no-sama’s words.
Okay.
I think Rei might be of some use to the Tomi family.
However, Soichiro Tomi denied it easily.
“That’s not what I’m talking about. Rather I brought Ling Yi back to protect her.”
To protect you?
“Yes. You know how poorly the Tohmi Group’s been doing?
It was featured on TV the other day that the Tomi group has been losing a lot of money recently.
It’s still the largest corporation in the region, and I don’t see what that has to do with bringing Rei back.
“I can’t tell you the details but in order to rebuild the Tohmi group I enlisted the help of some people whose names I can’t mention publicly. Along the way I picked up a bit of a grudge. To put it simply, they’re trying to kill me.”
I was scared.
I think he’s saying outrageous things with a nonchalant expression on his face.
But I saw the story.
“In other words, you’re saying that because of your grudge, Rei-san will also be harmed?”
“Indeed… Rei and Kotone are my precious grandchildren. If they’re taken hostage, we’ll be in trouble.
“You don’t think of me as your precious grandchild…”
Rei was mumbling beside me.
But Soichiro Tomi paid no attention to that and continued.
“That’s why it was necessary to return it to you. The house is guarded twenty-four hours a day by servants of the Tohmis, with the help of the local police station.”
“So that’s not why you forced Rei-san to go along with it, against her will?”
“You say so, Yuan Zi’s grandson. Are you capable of protecting Ling-Yi?”
Ugh, I’m at a loss for words.
It’s true that if Rei is being targeted by a group that even the Tohmis are afraid of, it’s impossible for me to protect her in my apartment.
But Rei-san said decisively.
“Haruhi-kun will protect me.”
“Well. But I don’t agree with letting Rei leave this house again. No, this time I’ve cleaned up the house and prepared it so that she won’t get into trouble with the other relatives.”
Soichiro Tohmi pointed to a building outside the window.
It was a building at a distance from the main house, and although it was magnificent and looked quite spacious, it looked somehow cold.
Are you going to let Rei live there by herself?
Rei said she’d enjoy living with me.
And now I have to go back to being alone.
“… Grandfather. I’m going back to the house. We can live in the house.
Rei said clearly.
I looked at Rei’s face and there was a smile on it.
Rei may have given up on the idea of returning to this house.
But Rei’s next words made me sit up in surprise.
“But I have one favor to ask… Please allow Haruto-kun to live in the same house as me!”
Then Rei-san looked at me and giggled mischievously.
“If that’s okay with you, Haruhi-kun…”
I thought about it for a while.
I don’t have to stay in my apartment as long as I can be with Rei.
That apartment’s rented.
I nodded readily.
“Sure.”
Rei-san looked happy when she heard my answer.
And we waited for Soichiro’s reply.
