Chapter 667 - Atop the Tower of Reality
I'm not exactly fond of high places.
I can already hear the torrent of retorts—what's the only person in this virtual world with a complete aerial mobility skill talking about?—but that world is that world, and this world is this world. While I may not have a full-blown phobia, I still feel a normal person's level of instinctual fear at the prospect of the ground being so far below.
It's probably just a matter of what I'm used to. I grew up in the countryside and have never even been on a plane, so I've almost never been in the sky or even up a tall building.
Which is why, right now, as I'm being welcomed into the upper floors of a certain skyscraper, the fact that my mental peace is so obviously disturbed is, nine times out of ten, because of that.
What the hell is dozens of stories off the ground? If by some mistake I were to fall out a window, wouldn't I burn up from aerodynamic heating before I even hit the pavement? The thoughts swirling in my head are a desperate attempt to escape reality, born from the subtle fear of this unfamiliar height.
Yes, that's all it is…
"Let's go with white today. Ah, juice, of course."
"I'll leave it to you…"
I am not, in fact, trembling with more tension than I'd expected before the relative of my partner—the man who dotes on his beloved daughter, the father of the girl who holds affection for me—whom I haven't seen in ages upon ages.
Even though we haven't had a chance to meet, we've had some minor interactions through Kazu-san and Itsuki-san. But how many months has it been since we last met face-to-face?
Our previous appointment was canceled due to his busy schedule, and another two months have passed since then. We've finally managed to arrange another meeting, but I still haven't been told what the 'business' is.
My guess is that it's probably not a "YOU'LL NEVER HAVE MY DAUGHTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" sort of situation. If it were, Mr. Togo would never have given his approval for my invitation to the Yotsuya residence after Sora and I decided to move our relationship forward.
This is all on the premise that there is absolutely no falsehood in a certain maid's statement: "I have already received the master's cheerful consent."
This is also on the premise that there is absolutely no falsehood in a certain maid's statement: "In fact, he seemed to be quite in favor of it, ufufu."
Should those words prove to be false, then today I will meet a fitting end for a fool ensnared in a maid's scheme…
"…Haha, no need to be so tense. It's just you and me."
As I was layering one foolish thought atop another while trying my best to maintain a poker face, a glass—the kind you'd point at and call 'the tall one'—was placed in front of me.
The liquid inside was a clear, brilliant greenish-yellow. Following the red wine-style grape juice I had last time, it seems today's choice is "white."
"The relationship between a client and a contractor… perhaps?"
After preparing a companion for our conversation, he naturally took the seat across from me. Mr. Yotsuya Togo—the president of the world-renowned Yotsuya Development—smiled with that same affable look as always.
"On your end, I would like to add the prefix 'excellent' to client. Your continued success is, in a word, magnificent. You, the [Acrobat], have dedicated yourself to our request of 'pushing forward with the conquest' more than we could have ever hoped."
"I-I'm honored…"
From my perspective, those were excessive words of praise.
Not that the praise itself was excessive, but the flowery language was. If I could strip away the ornamentation myself, I'd say I wish he'd spare me the embarrassment.
Whether he read my inner thoughts or not, Mr. Togo's smile remained unchanged.
"Furthermore, you are the one my dear daughter loves. And what's more, you are also the one my other 'supremely excellent contractor' loves. I have a mountain of reasons to want to be on good terms with you."
"Ngh…!?"
The fatal words he uttered so casually served as a surprise water torture attack on my throat, which I'd just used to down the drink he'd gestured for me to have.
Five seconds, ten seconds… after a pause, I managed to calm my coughing.
"…………………………"
But the difficulty of choosing my words was too high, so I could only remain silent with a conflicted expression. In response, he calmly watched me, a man in a position far too weak on all fronts in this matter.
Mr. Togo let out a soft chuckle and then spoke.
"Haru-kun. Knowing your knack for remembering things, I doubt you have forgotten—"
"Well, uh, my memory in the real world isn't quite at a supernatural level, but…"
When I added a note about my real-world abilities, which everyone seems to misunderstand, Mr. Togo offered an ambiguous smile that could be read as either 'I suppose you're right' or 'such needless humility.'
"In any case, you must remember—that I was allowed to follow your and my daughter's adventure as an observer, from your first meeting and for a long time after."
"………………Has your daughter forgiven you?"
"Factoring in the permission for the trip three months ago and the permission to prepare a 'room' for you in our home… I'd say my remaining debt is just over seventy percent."
"Oh, wow…"
Well, yeah, I guess.
Judging by his expression, Mr. Togo himself doesn't seem to object to the verdict for his crime, but it appears the anger of a young daughter whose privacy was peeped on by her father was immense.
And rightfully so. I won't sympathize, even considering the circumstances that he apparently wasn't peeping by choice, but it is somewhat pitiful.
He cleared his throat once, setting that aside.
"In short, to me, you were never 'some random stranger' from the moment we first met here in reality. Through the sin of my own selfish gaze upon you both, the path you and my daughter walked, supporting each other, is all burned into my memory… which means,"
"…, …………W-which means?"
Every word he strung together was terrifying, but his expression as he spoke them… at least, it wasn't the kind of expression that should inspire terror.
"Where I should have done my utmost to have you convince me with words, I used an unfair advantage unavailable to most fathers and have already come to my own conclusions."
"Ah, I see…"
"You don't understand? I am saying this—please, take care of my daughter."
"………………"
"What it was about you that resonated with her, what it was about you that she was drawn to—I know it a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand times better than anyone out there making a fuss about 'HaruSora.' In that case, what else is there to do but to trust you, the one my beloved daughter trusts, and entrust her to you?"
"I—, ………………"
"Haha, you can take your time to digest it. Furthermore, I have no intention of pressuring you with what could be considered an impossible demand given your current situation: 'Don't make her cry.'"
"………………"
"Things like 'romance' and 'love,' no matter how far they go, are ultimately a matter of responsibility between the two people involved. Whatever the outcome, whatever the answer, as long as you can look back on it all when it's over and remember it fondly… it is neither a waste nor a mistake."
"…………………………I don't intend… to make her regret this—no, I won't."
I squeezed out the words, a small piece of my true feelings.
It was a simple statement of conviction. To the words of a youngster with no guarantee to back them up, Mr. Togo looked satisfied, as if to say 'I knew it.'
"…That's right. I knew it. The man I know so well would say that."
He gave a magnanimous nod and leisurely tilted his glass.
—And then, a few seconds later.
"Now then………… putting all that aside, shall we get to the main topic?"
"Wasn't that the main topic!?"
Just as a sense of relief washed over me at the cost of considerable mental energy, leading me to relax completely.
The father, who seemed to be saying, 'Why are we discussing this now of all times?', simply laughed off my retort of 'Are you really okay with that?' as was to be expected.
In a way, he's like a reader of Arcadia, so of course it's 'why now?' By the way, the talk with my fath... father-in-law will not continue in the next chapter (ahem).
With that, Happy New Year. I will strive to spin a good tale this year as well, and I look forward to your continued support.
Wait until tonight for your New Year's gift.