Semua Bab Do You Love Me, Uncle?: Bab 211 - Bab 220

Akiko was confused. She couldn’t decide whether to feel sad, panicked, scared, or happy. The situation she was facing was so unfamiliar.She looked back and saw a procession of at least ten cars—one of them a hearse in the middle.They weren't just ordinary cars; Akiko had previously seen a police car at the front, clearing the way so they could arrive faster, and there was also another police car passing alongside them, taking turns.Akiko felt small, like she didn’t belong in that place. A world that wasn’t hers.“What’s wrong?” Kenji asked, noticing Akiko glancing out the window and then back at the cars behind them.Akiko shook her head and smiled. “Nothing. I just wanted to see what’s happening.”Akiko wasn’t going to complain to Kenji right now. She didn’t want to add even a little burden to him. Kenji hadn’t said anything since they got into the car, and tha

"Sandaime... I'm sorry, but who...?"Kenji glanced around, casting his gaze on the person who dared to ask the question, and they immediately fell silent. "Sorry."Kenji didn’t need to say anything more, and he felt he had made a mistake. Everyone else, more or less, acted the same way. They either looked down or at least pretended not to be looking.Of course, Kenji abandoned his plan to enter and instead pulled Akiko into another room. This was enough for now. Mourning and a stern attitude would protect Akiko, but clearly, he would have to answer questions like that later—at least not right now.“You don’t need to answer anything if someone asks. I’ll handle all of that later,” Kenji said as he opened the door to another room. Fortunately, no one was inside. The reading room was empty.Akiko nodded without speaking. She sat down, lowering her gaze. Kenji turned his phone off. He had been meaning to turn it off

Kenji sat back down, his legs no longer able to support his body. He was too weak from the shock. This was beyond anything he had expected.He never thought he would hear Ishida's name again after all this time of burying his grudge, just as Masaki had asked him to."I honestly didn’t want to talk to you about this. I only wanted you to accept Sandaime's position peacefully as planned, and then I would leave. But blood is thicker than water after all. He chose Akiko over you." Shibata bowed his head, rubbing his arm—the gesture of a man who had failed."But that’s an impossible request! Akiko can’t become the Sandaime. She doesn’t even know anything about Kuryugumi!" Ryu protested the absurd decision.But Kenji raised his hand, stopping Ryu, because he didn’t want to think that far ahead yet. He wanted to hear Shibata’s explanation first.“You’re my father’s friend, but why did you make th

"Of course not! I'm angry at Masaki, not Hayato! I wanted to make you the Sandaime because Hayato died, not before that. Before that happened, I had to be satisfied knowing you could survive without being threatened again."Kenji looked at Shibata's face as he tapped the table with his finger, emphasizing his answer and showing his sincerity."You're wrong. I wasn't living safely without threats. The people who killed Hayato-aniki were after me too, weren't they?" Kenji asked."That's because Masaki was foolish!" Shibata hissed."What do you mean?""When the report on your parents' case was filed, I was no longer allowed to be involved in handling it. I was too close to Jiro and Haruka. All I could do was attend your parents' funeral. As a result, I couldn't fake your death. In the end, you were declared missing, not dead. I told Masaki to manipulate the report so you would also be considered a victim, but maybe he wasn’t quick enough. In the

Akiko slid the door open very slowly, careful not to make any noise.According to the servant who had spoken to her earlier—while delivering the breakfast tray she now held—Kenji was in the room, sleeping.Akiko had been surprised when she couldn't find Kenji in his room. The room she had stayed in was Kenji's.Last night, Ryu showed it to her, mentioning that Kenji would join her once he was finished with his affairs. But he never came, even by morning.Akiko wasn't angry, but she couldn’t help feeling worried. Now, seeing Kenji resting, albeit uncomfortably, she felt relieved. He was still wearing the same suit from yesterday.She quietly set the breakfast tray down, still trying not to make any noise. Then, Akiko tiptoed over to Kenji, who was lying on his side, slightly curled up, using his folded arm as a pillow.If she had known, she would have brought a pillow to make him more comfortable. Akiko hoped Kenji had reste