Chapter 441: Your Father Is Narrow-Minded

"Ah… I see… you got a second girlfriend without breaking up with the first. Hmm… I get it now. Yes, I understand."

"If you really don't get it, don't force yourself."

"No, my brain's just a little scrambled."

Rinji's father rubbed his head to calm down.

"So that means… you currently have…"

"Two girlfriends."

"…Oh."

After a moment of silent contemplation, Rinji's father finally accepted what his son had done. He turned to look at Hayasaka and observed her carefully.

Under his scrutinizing gaze, Hayasaka felt her heart rise to her throat.

She kept worrying about what would happen if he disliked her.

Hayasaka knew that compared to Karura, she had no advantage. She wasn't bold or clingy like Karura, nor was she a noble young lady.

She was just a maid, basically a servant.

Rinji's family was clearly a prestigious one, and based on his hostile stance toward the Shinomiya family, there might even be a family feud. Would his father really want his son to be with a maid from a rival family?

While Hayasaka was deep in worry, Rinji's father turned back to his son and smiled. "You really are my son. Even our taste in women is similar."

"I also think Ai's kind of like Mom in some ways."

"Right."

Rinji's father chuckled, then turned to Hayasaka.

"Miss Hayasaka, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"

"Ah, please go ahead," Hayasaka replied softly.

She was fully alert, mentally preparing answers for every question Rinji's father might throw at her.

"Your family…"

Hayasaka stiffened.

She had expected a question about her background. It wasn't easy to answer.

Lying was out of the question. He'd definitely see through it. But if she told the truth and he wasn't satisfied…

As she wavered, Rinji's father's gaze grew more serious.

"In your family… is there anyone with violent tendencies?"

"…Huh?"

"Like, anyone in your household with a temper who hits people over nothing?"

What kind of question was that?

Although she didn't know why he was asking, Hayasaka still answered honestly, "No, it's just me and my mom. She's very gentle."

"Good."

Hearing her answer, Rinji's father let out a sigh of relief.

He turned to Rinji and said, "Your first girlfriend, Karura Kure, right? Actually, I went to the Kure clan residence in Kyoto on the second day I arrived in Japan."

"Oh? What for?"

"To talk about you two," Rinji's father said. "I met their clan leader, your girlfriend's great-grandfather. I told him, 'Hey, old man, looks like we're in-laws now.' He didn't say a word, just pulled out a sword and swung it at me."

"So it was Kure Erioh… yeah, that old man…"

Rinji, as the "stupid great-grandson," had certainly experienced what Erioh was like.

"Luckily, your old man has quick reflexes and slipped out the back door. But that geezer still chased me down three streets. That's when I started wondering if your taste in women was just too questionable."

"I was looking for a girlfriend, not caring about her family," Rinji said.

"Think a little more comprehensively. But honestly, when I heard you got a girlfriend, I didn't sleep well for two days."

"Why?"

"Because I was excited. Your mother and I had already resigned ourselves to the idea that our dumb son would probably die alone. Finding out that our family pig finally figured out how to root for cabbage… only a father could understand that joy."

"Old man, you really think I won't hit you?"

"Whoa there, calm down. I'm getting old. I can't take a beating anymore."

Even though he didn't look much older than Rinji.

"Uncle, it's not like that."

Hayasaka didn't know where her courage came from, but she spoke up.

"I believe Rinji is far more outstanding than you think. His strengths are just hard to notice at first, but once you see them, many girls would fall for him."

Seeing Rinji's father's surprised expression, Hayasaka realized she'd been too forward. She quickly covered her mouth, blushing. "Um… that's just my personal opinion."

Rinji's father stood up and walked over to Hayasaka.

Seeing this, she instinctively took a step back, but he grabbed her hand with a straight face.

"What a good child…"

His expression was deeply moved, almost in tears.

"It's amazing that you found something good in that brat. That's like digging for gold in a pile of crap!"

Rinji: "I'm seriously about to hit someone."

---

Hayasaka and the Amano siblings chatted in the living room while Rinji and his father stepped out to the balcony.

Outside the balcony, the night sky was full of stars. No clouds, no lightning—everything was peaceful.

Rinji pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, lit one, and handed the pack to his father.

"Mom never lets us smoke at home. Since she's not here, we can relax a bit."

"True."

His father took one with a grin, put it in his mouth, and snapped his fingers.

The cigarettes in both their mouths lit up instantly.

Blowing a smoke ring, his father said, "That Hayasaka girl—your mother showed me a photo of her after she came back from the sports festival. Said she seemed like a good kid. Now that I've met her, I agree."

"Mm."

"And that Karura girl's not bad either… but seriously, she confessed to you? Just how messed up was she?"

"I'm gonna hit you."

"Your luck with women seems to be improving."

"So this is the area where I've surpassed you?" Rinji said, grinning.

"Yeah, your old man didn't have this kind of luck at your age."

"Don't lie. Didn't we have a bunch of aunties visiting back then? They all liked you when you were younger and still want to steal you from Mom."

"You really didn't notice?"

"At my age, it's hard not to notice."

"Then why didn't you respond to them?"

"You want me to have multiple girlfriends like you? Give me a break."

His father chuckled, leaning against the balcony railing, exhaling smoke.

"Your old man's narrow-minded. My heart only has room for your mother."