35. Oniichan, You're Not a Siscon?!

"If you insist on the unrealistic idea of making me return to the Suou family..."

"Then forget it."

"Although I will acknowledge you as my mother by blood..."

"I think it's best if we don't have too much contact in our daily lives."

Sakamura Akira's words were clear, and his actions left no room for criticism.

A true paragon of loyalty and righteousness.

To sum it up, he would acknowledge the blood ties no matter what, but he would never change his name back, nor would he return to the Suou family.

Hearing this, Suou Yumi's face turned pale. However, when she saw the unwavering and resolute look in Sakamura Akira's eyes, she could only bite her lip and reluctantly nod in agreement.

"Masachika, A-Aki... Akira... I-I understand."

Suou Yumi instinctively called out his old name but quickly corrected herself in a flustered manner.

"Then... can you at least promise me that you'll come home and stay for a night every now and then?"

Gripping Akira's hand tightly, she pleaded desperately.

"No problem. I'll come back every week."

"You're my mother; it's only natural for me to take care of you."

"Even if you didn't ask, I would do so anyway."

"Akira, you're just as gentle, kind, and considerate as you were when you were little."

"When I decided to divorce your father..."

"You couldn't bear to see him leave all alone, so you gave up the comfortable life of the Suou family without hesitation and chose to go with him."

"Waaah! I should have done everything I could to keep you back then!"

Suou Yumi once again embraced Sakamura Akira, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Mother, I understand your feelings of longing for me over the years."

"That's the main reason I'm calling you 'Mother' despite the lack of an emotional foundation."

"But I hope you can understand me too. Mom and Eriri are also my family."

"Mom was the one who found me in the snowy streets of London and took me in, saving my life."

"I can't just abandon them and return with you."

"Besides, you wouldn't want a heartless person like that as your son, would you?"

"Akira... I'm sorry. I understand now."

"But... have you ever considered recovering the memories from your childhood?"

"Mother, I've gone to the hospital for checkups many times over the years."

"My brain is completely normal, with no signs of damage."

"Doctors concluded that I might have experienced such severe mental trauma from witnessing Father's tragic death that my brain actively erased those memories to protect my mind."

"My white hair might have turned this way due to that incident."

Sakamura Akira gently ran his fingers through his white hair as he explained.

"I'm sorry. It's all my fault."

"You've suffered so much since childhood because of me."

Hearing this, Suou Yumi broke into even louder sobs.

"Mother, as the saying goes, 'a heart's ailment requires a heart's cure.'"

"Since I've already returned safely, why do you still feel so guilty?"

"As long as I'm alive, everything else is trivial."

"Logically, shouldn't you be crying tears of joy instead?"

"You've already fulfilled your duties as a mother."

"You've done well."

"You haven't wronged me."

"Everything was my own choice, and I have never blamed you for it."

"Only the weak regret their choices and curse their fate."

"'That which abandons me, yesterday's day cannot be kept.'"

"Mother, promise me you won't wallow in past sorrows anymore, okay?"

With gentle movements, Sakamura Akira tucked Suou Yumi's disheveled hair behind her ear and spoke tenderly.

At that moment, everyone present was once again rendered speechless in astonishment.

As expected of a literary prodigy, his words flowed like poetry!

"Akira... I-I understand."

"I've been such a useless mother."

"All I do is cry whenever something happens."

Suou Yumi forced herself to hold back her tears, raised her head, and solemnly promised her son:

"I will take good care of my health so I can personally witness the day you get married and have children."

"Ah! Wait, I'm still young! Marriage is not urgent—not urgent at all!"

Sakamura Akira's mouth twitched as he hurriedly tried to deflect the topic.

He had too many childhood friends and older sisters in his life.

No matter whom he chose to marry, it would be a dead end.

"Brother, this is wonderful!"

"This is truly a perfect, happy ending!"

"No, wait, I should call you 'Oniichan' now!"

Seeing Suou Yumi stand up from Sakamura Akira's embrace, Suou Yuki seized the opportunity and immediately lunged at him.

"Oniichan, banzai!"

Catching Akira off guard, she tackled him to the ground.

"Hey! Don't just jump on me out of nowhere!"

"If I didn't time it right, you would've easily dodged with your skills, Oniichan."

"Come on, with such a cute little sister throwing herself at you..."

"At least give me some kind of reaction!"

Suou Yuki puffed up her adorable cheeks, clearly dissatisfied.

"Yuki is cute. Yuki is the cutest in the world."

Sakamura Akira monotonously recited the words, rolling his eyes.

"Oniichan... I can't believe it! You're not a siscon?!"

Suou Yuki gasped in shock.

"Why do you look so surprised that I'm not a siscon?!"

"I don't get it."

Sakamura Akira sighed, exasperated.

"You've lived with a stepsister just as cute as me for years."

"And you're telling me you're NOT a siscon?!"

"Aaaah! Yuki's world is crumbling!"

Sitting on top of Sakamura Akira, Suou Yuki clutched her head in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Eriri, who had been dragged into the conversation, suddenly felt a figurative arrow pierce her chest.

Deep inside, she had to admit that Suou Yuki had a point.

Sakamura Akira, you're such a playboy, yet somehow, you're not a siscon?!

Eriri almost wanted to join Suou Yuki in leading a crusade against him.

"Stop making me sound like some kind of pervert!"

"Also, weren't you just trying to praise yourself?!"

"Eriri, don't you think Yuki is way cuter than you?"

Seeing this scene unfold, Sakuramura Sayuri couldn't resist teasing her tsundere daughter once again.

READ 30 CHAPTERS AHEAD AT p @ treon. com/KyokaSuigetsu

(replace @ with a)