Ryota's Family

Ryota's world shattered when he lost his parents at the tender age of six, leaving him with a one-year-old brother. Their bond was neither love nor hate; it was simply a shared existence. Fortunately, his grandmother, a sweet and nurturing soul, stepped in to provide the care he desperately needed. On the other hand, his maternal grandmother, a wealthy matriarch who owned Kyoushitoru—one of the leading companies—harbored a deep disdain for Ryota and his sibling. She had never approved of their parents' union and, true to form, skipped their funeral entirely. Reluctantly, she transferred Ryota's rightful share of the company, which should have gone to his mother. In contrast, his paternal grandmother, who had endured her own trials with an abusive husband, had supported the marriage, understanding the perils of arranged unions. After her husband succumbed to cancer, she found solace, only to face tragedy again when her son and daughter-in-law perished in a car accident two years later. She took in both children, and thus, Ryota found himself living with his grandmother and brother. When Suga, Akiru, and Kite visited, Ryota cleverly sent his family out for dinner, ensuring they wouldn't interrupt their study session.

The following day, after school, Ryota returned home to a barrage of his grandmother's reprimands. "Where on earth did you wander off to, young man, without a word? I'm thankful for that charming young man who took you in; otherwise, who knows where you'd be? You have no concept of time, and just look at the state of your room!" Thus began her lengthy lecture. "You must--coughs-- inform me before you go anywhere--coughs--understand?" Ryota glanced at her, concern etched on his face. "Are you okay? Do you have a cold?" She replied, "Oh! I just need some fresh air; I think I've caught a chill. How about your brother and I take a trip back to our hometown, and you come along?" With a stoic expression but a mind full of questions, Ryota asked, "What? Why the sudden urge to go?" She pleaded, "Please? I want to visit my birthplace and see my sister and brother. Your aunt has been calling me too." Chihara, his eleven-year-old brother, chimed in, "Yeah, she scolded me for not bringing Grandma over and mentioned it's been ages since we visited." Ryota replied, "You both can go. I'll stay here." Grandma countered, "I've sold this place." Ryota's eyes widened in shock. "What?! I thought you were just visiting!" She explained, "I'm getting older, and who knows how much time I have left? I want to spend it with my daughter."

Reluctantly, Ryota agreed when she mentioned potential new living arrangements. "It's fine. I'll find my own place. You two go." She said, "We're leaving tomorrow, so where will you stay?" Ryota replied, "I'll crash at Kite's tonight and tomorrow, then keep searching for somewhere to live." She nodded, "Fine." With that, she ushered Chihara toward his room, insisting he needed rest for the busy day ahead. Ryota gathered all his belongings and neatly stashed them in a corner, preparing for tomorrow's departure. As he packed, a flurry of thoughts raced through his mind: "Why did she sell it so abruptly? And why is she acting so shady? To top it all off, where will I even stay? Looks like I'll have to crash at Kite's for now."