Next, He Ma and his party, as "witnesses", must also go to the police station to make a statement. After everything is done, it is already late, and it is definitely not possible to go to the second-hand bookstore.
So the group disbanded on the spot and went back to each house to find their own mothers—then because Kazuma had promised the chairman that he would take her home when it was getting late, the Kiryu brothers and sisters had to accompany the chairman back home first.
Honami Nanjo didn't have any opinion on this, and said goodbye to Kazuma and the others calmly.
For this reason, He Ma gave her a surprised look, as if she couldn't believe that she would simply let the chairman do whatever he wanted.
Honami Nanjo smiled at Kazuma and said, "There is another day of simulation tomorrow, so let's all work together."
"Oh, good." He Ma scratched his head, "Then, see you tomorrow."
Nanjo nodded, stood in place and watched the Kiryu brothers and sisters and the chairman go away.
After seeing the two of them no longer, Nanjo turned around and got into the car door that Mr. Suzuki opened for her.
After Mr. Suzuki got into the car, he looked at Nanjo worriedly through the rearview mirror.
"Miss, are you... all right?" Mr. Suzuki asked.
"Suzuki-ye," Nanjo called "Suzuki-ye" in private. In Japanese, the omission of one sound for grandpa is a kind of affectionate name, and it is usually a name for family members. "I have decided."
Mr. Suzuki's expression suddenly became serious: "Miss! You..."
"Originally," Nanjo interrupted Mr. Suzuki very rarely, "I planned to spend the last summer of high school to the fullest and start bridal training in autumn."
Grandpa Suzuki hesitated to speak, and finally looked at Nanjo through the rearview mirror with a kind expression as if looking at his granddaughter, waiting for her to continue.
"The daughter of the Nanjo family is a tool for marriage. This is something I have known since I was sensible. I have been preparing for it.
"I played the piano, listened to Bach, learned flower arrangement and tea ceremony, practiced ballet to keep my body in shape, learned kendo to exercise my 'samurai temperament', and I did everything my father arranged for me.
"My father wouldn't let me read manga, so I burned the "The Sky Is the Bank of the Red River" and "The Rose of Versailles" that the maid Kagawa gave me, and when my father fired Miss Kagawa, I didn't even send her.
"Dad said the Wu family's daughter shouldn't have a cat, so I gave away my beloved kitten.
"I've given up too many things that I love. I always say to myself, there's no way, I'm just alone, I can't fight my dad, I can't fight the world.
"But today, I know that I was wrong. The key is not whether I can fight, but whether I want to fight. Even if I am alone, even if there are mountains of swords, fire, seas, dragons, pools and tigers' dens ahead, I will never admit defeat. I will pursue what I want. My life, my life, should be decided by myself."
Mr. Suzuki finally couldn't help but said: "Miss, Kiryu-kun is talking about men..."
"What's the difference?" Nanjo raised his voice.
In her memory, she had never yelled at Grandpa Suzuki like this.
"Dad taught me all day long to be a heroine like Niijima Yae. Isn't I following his teachings by doing this?"
Niijima Yae is a milestone of Japanese women, a hero of the female middle school, and Joan of Arc at the end of the Bakumatsu.
At the same time, it is also the swan song of women's equal rights in Japan.
Mr. Suzuki looked at Nanjo's resolute face, and after thinking for a while, he said: "Miss, I don't want to say that you are wrong, no, you are right, Kiryu-kun is even more right, and I admire this kind of attitude from the bottom of my heart. Courage, knowing that there are tigers on the mountain, and walking on the mountain, this is undoubtedly a heroic act.
"However, miss, this kind of courage will not make people happy. In fact, most people who choose the path of thorns will end up miserable.
"The reality is not a Tokusho hero drama, nor is it a period drama of Mito Komon. In reality, heroes generally don't win, and the one who laughs last is often the villain who has run out of tricks and power.
"The end of a hero doesn't even have the so-called tragic beauty, and all that's left is a sigh.
"No, miss, I can't allow you to walk on this road. You will be bruised and even self-destructed on this road."
Honami Nanjo looked at Grandpa Suzuki—looking at the familiar face that seemed to be her own grandfather, and then said decisively: "I refuse. This is the power I just got. He makes my future look full of things I have never seen before. The splendor of it eclipses all my memories like black and white photographs.
"I have given in too much, this time, I will never give in."
"But Miss, you can't be sure that Kiryu-kun will choose you in the end! Can you really get Kiryu-kun's love? Can you really compete with other ladies?"
"I don't care!" Honami Nanjo declared proudly, "It doesn't matter at all. Even if I don't have a good relationship with Ma Jun, I will definitely find everything that belongs to me in other places. In the past, I was a bird in a cage. Can tightly hold the only little thing in the small cage.
"And the me now, and the me in the future, will have the power to fly freely. The world is so big, there will always be branches that belong to me, so I don't care.
"If I let go here, then I will lose this power forever, and lose my wings. So, I'm sorry, Lord Suzuki, this time I can't listen to you."
Grandpa Suzuki sighed, and gently closed his eyes.
**
Suzuki closed his eyes, and Honami Nanjo's childhood appeared in front of his eyes.
From kindergarten to elementary school and middle school, Honami Nanjo has always been as delicate and lovely as a doll.
That was the apple of Suzuki’s eye.
But sometimes, Mr. Suzuki would also feel that Missy really lacked her own opinions, and sometimes he would even have nightmares, dreaming that Missy had really turned into a delicate Japanese doll.
It is the kind that is placed in the living room during Girl's Day.
Whenever such a nightmare visits, Mr. Suzuki will make up his mind to protect the eldest lady.
As long as Suzuki's old bones can still move, the eldest lady must live a happy and healthy life.
Mr. Suzuki has never seen such a vibrant young lady.
Kiryu and Ma, what a terrible man, he just reversed the trajectory of two people's lives with just one word.
This is the hero, as long as you stand there and do nothing, you can become the light that illuminates everything.
Mr. Suzuki took a deep breath, opened his eyes and looked through the rearview mirror, looking at the determined lady, and said, "I understand. But, Miss, promise me, don't show your determination for the time being. Just follow the master's will first."
Honami Nanjo frowned slightly: "Master Suzuki, what do you mean..."
"At a time like this, how about trusting Kiryu-kun more? Believe that in time, he will become someone whom the master will not hesitate to tear up the marriage contract and ask you to get close to him."
"But in that case..."
"Miss! Sometimes strategy is also very important. Bravery is a big taboo! Or, do you think Kiryu-kun would prefer a girl who is only brave? Think about that Jinguji classmate!"
Nanjo wanted to refute, but after hearing this, he shut his mouth.
Mr. Suzuki breathed a sigh of relief, and then said firmly: "Miss, I assure you that as long as my old bones are still there, I will support the determination you showed today. If everything becomes irreparable, I will send you off personally Go elope."
Nanjo was silent for a few seconds, then nodded: "Well, I believe you."
Grandpa Suzuki started the car, and it took him a lot of effort to keep his heart from being agitated like a young kid.
At this moment, countless possibilities and futures emerged in the old man's mind.
Each looked more radiant than the previous one he had expected.
—Hmph, so I was also affected, Kiryu Kazuma, so terrifying!