Chapter 31: Runaway!
Chapter 31: Runaway!
"So handsome..."
Yuriko blinked her eyes when she saw Isao had changed his clothes into a navy double-breasted suit uniform along with a white shirt inside, which was borrowed from her husband.
At that moment, Isao was like a young military officer who had been entrusted by the country with an important mission.
His firm and unyielding expression.
If Yuriko's relationship with her husband wasn't good, then she might go and leap on Isao at this moment.
It was Isao's first time wearing such clothing, and he had to say that it was kind of nice.
"By the way, do you want to slick back your hair? I have a pomade here."
"...okay, then."
Anyway, he had dressed like this, so he might as well go out.
"Let me help. I'm good at this," Yuriko said happily as she applied pomade to his smooth, healthy hair before combing it into a combed-over side part.
Isao looked at his appearance in the mirror and nodded, and he somehow understood why some women had a uniform fetish. His hairstyle was also nice, like Leonardo DiCaprio's in "The Aviator." Still, glancing at Yuriko, whose breathing became slightly rapid, he fell into silence and pretended that he didn't say anything.
"Your husband... I mean... Saya-senpai's father, what kind of man is he?"
"Fufu... you don't need to be so nervous. I am sure that he will be happy to meet you."
"Oh."
Only he felt weird, recalling that Saya's father was like Yukio Mishima, the famous author in this country, who committed seppuku on the military base. Still, due to this resemblance with Yukio Mishima, he felt a little worried about Saya's father. It definitely had nothing to do with how strict or disciplined this man was.
Instead—
"Dear, I have brought Iinuma-kun."
"Oh, good work, Yuriko—"
Souichiro stopped all the words that came out of his mouth when he saw Isao for the first time.
Being stared at by Souichiro, Isao felt weird and subconsciously tightened his buttocks, wishing to run away as soon as possible. Fortunately, Yuriko was there, and Souchiro was a decent man, so their conversation was comfortable.
Nevertheless, as the two talked with him, Isao wondered why it felt like he had met his parents-in-law and why they showed such a satisfied expression.
"I see. If that's the case, then I won't stop you, but remember that you can return anytime if you wish to."
"...thank you."
Watching Souchiro's expression, Isao could see that he was being liked by this man. While he was speechless, he didn't mind becoming Souichiro's son-in-law since Saya was pretty cute. However, it was something in the distant future, and there was no need for him to think about something as heavy as a marriage in his youth.
Well, even if he had married, he could see that he was still playing around somehow.
However, he had made up his mind to go to another world. He knew that this decision might be a bit sudden, especially when he had previously thought of going after he had absorbed the DNA of powerful animals, yet he felt that it was too long. Moreover, it wasn't like he couldn't go back. If he wished to, he could go back anytime, and time stopped when he left, so why should he hesitate?
Isao thought that he should visit another world for a minute or two, then return, and that's it.
"You are young. You should gain a lot of experience instead of being tied in this place."
To be honest, Souichiro had to admit that he was quite jealous of Isao's freedom, but he had a duty to protect this country and its citizens. To do that, he knew that he had to sacrifice something.
Moreover—
"If possible, can you bring Saya with you?"
"Saya-senpai?"
"Yeah." Souichiro nodded. "I am sure that this will be a great experience for her." Instead of being with him, he felt like it was better for Saya to go with Isao to gain experience and see the world. Moreover, when they went together, their relationship could warm up.
While Yuriko didn't say anything, she agreed with her husband's decision.
"Can you make a decision for her?" Isao asked with a doubt.
Souchiro laughed, then nodded. "You are right. I will ask her later to see whether she wants to follow you or not."
"Okay."
"As for those who have followed you, what will you do with them?"
"I am not their babysitter. I won't take care of them all the time, and their lives are their own responsibilities. My responsibility is over after I have taken them to a safe place, and I don't think that I have the ability to take care of them."
A trip with many people was troublesome, especially when they would subconsciously ask him to help them.
Isao wasn't a nanny, and he just wanted to enjoy his time.
Still, he couldn't say such a selfish thing, so he had to beautify his words.
"You are wrong. You have the ability to become a leader and protect everyone. I can assure you of that."
Souichiro didn't doubt that Isao could take his place in case he was gone or died due to those "things," leading everyone and the country to how it used to be. Still, he didn't plan to die, and at the same time, he also knew that Isao was still young, so it was natural for him to lack experience. Yet, he could see that Isao didn't lack the talent to become a leader, especially when he learned how Isao walked around the estate to get to know everyone, making a good impression on everyone.
If Isao wasn't a natural-born leader, then what was he?
If Isao wished to stay, Souichiro wouldn't mind grooming him to become his heir, especially since he knew that Isao was an orphan. Similar to Yuriko, he wished to make Isao into their son-in-law.
Takagi Isao.
It sounded nice, right?
Moreover, with the relationship between his daughter and Isao, the chance wasn't null.
Nevertheless, Souichiro didn't plan to stop Isao since the trip around Japan probably would only take a few months, and by then, Isao would return with everyone. It wouldn't be too late to teach Isao when that time came.
Frankly, Isao was speechless since the treatment he received from Takagi's parents was much better than the protagonist's.
However, they ended their conversation, and Isao excused himself, planning to go back to rest and start preparing to go to another world. Still, when he left, Souichiro asked, "How is his relationship with Saya?"
"Their relationship is good." Yuriko nodded with a gentle smile. "It's my first time to see Saya being so close to a young man."
"Haha..." Souichiro laughed, then nodded. "It's great to know. I hope that their relationship can be closer."
"Well, I hope so, but he is so popular." When Yuriko thought about the eyes of many women when they saw Isao, she was so helpless. At the same time, when she thought about her daughter's tsundere nature, she also felt helpless.
"Isn't it natural for him to be popular?" When Souchiro thought about Isao's strong muscles, heroic figure, and handsome appearance, he closed his eyes and felt strange, forbidden feelings.
Fortunately, Isao had run away so fast that he didn't want to get close to that room anymore. At that moment, he knew that he needed the comfort of Kyoko or Rei. As for the others? Their relationship wasn't that close, so he couldn't do that. However, when he arrived at his room, his room twitched since... weren't there so many people?