Chapter 232 Aono and Ugaki

Aono and Ugaki

I sat in the back seat of a luxury car. Uncle Ugaki glanced at me from the side.

Where should I start? There’s so much I want to say, so much I want to ask—yet I can’t find the first words.

“It’s been a while. Ai-san has been taking good care of me.”

These were the only words I managed to squeeze out. It felt strange to greet him not as my father’s old friend, whom I knew well, but as my lover’s father.

“My daughter has been in your care. Kuroi tells me a lot about you. How’s your mother and brother?”

“They’re doing well. Uncle, you should come visit sometime too—like in the old days.”

Back when my father was alive, Uncle Ugaki used to visit our house several times a month for discussions.

“I don’t have the face to see you all. As a friend, I failed to notice your father’s condition… and as a comrade, I pushed him too hard.”

“That’s not…”

“To be honest, I even feel guilty about you and Ai being together. Is it really okay for my family to rely on you even more? The thought terrifies me.”

At first, I didn’t understand what he was saying. Then it hit me—he was still carrying the weight of my father’s death.

“Ai-san had nothing to do with my father’s sudden passing! If anything, she saved me. When I was being bullied over false accusations, the first person to reach out and help me was your daughter.”

I deliberately avoided mentioning what Ai-san had intended to do on that rooftop that day. She wouldn’t want me to, and I didn’t want my father’s death to be tied to this.

“I see… But I believe Ai was also saved by you. You’re the first person outside our family she’s ever spoken to about her mother—Hitomi’s—death.”

“Even so, Ai-san truly wants to talk to you, Uncle.”

“…Perhaps I was running away. I thought that if I stayed close to my daughter, it would only deepen her wounds. After the accident, every time she saw me, she would apologize. Even though it wasn’t her fault…”

That was just like her. She probably blamed herself for something that wasn’t even a mistake.

“Uncle…”

This was the first time I’d seen him so vulnerable. He was always so confident. My father used to say that even the toughest problems could be solved if left in his hands.

“Well then, let’s get to the main topic. The special Diet session starting tomorrow is expected to pass the bill that your father and I worked on together. That’s why I came to see you one last time. The new policy is built on three key pillars: creating a society where people can rise again even after failure, supporting generations who missed opportunities due to economic circumstances, and providing aid to young caregivers and abused children. Finally, I can give a proper report.”

He exhaled deeply, as if he had finally fulfilled his duty.

His expression held both resignation and resolve, as if he had already accepted something inevitable. He was hiding something—something unpleasant. But it wasn’t my place to pry. Not before Ai-san, his own daughter.

“It’s too soon to be saying ‘one last time.’”

At my words, he chuckled. But he wasn’t looking at me—he was seeing something else. Probably the lingering shadow of my father.

“You’re right. Please take care of Ai… She’s my beloved daughter. I know I sound like a doting parent, but she’s a kind girl. And strong. Which is why she rarely allows herself to show weakness. But with you, I believe she’ll be okay. I’ve watched you since you were little, Eiji-kun. There’s no one more suited to entrust my daughter to than you.”

I was genuinely happy to be recognized by my lover’s parent to this extent. But this felt like…

Sensing my thoughts, he spoke.

“It sounds like a will, doesn’t it? I must have said something strange.”

But the words that should have followed—Forget I said that—never came. That silence made his true feelings painfully clear.

No. If I let him leave like this, Ai-san would regret it for the rest of her life. I couldn’t let that happen.

“You can’t just show up out of nowhere and say something like that—it’s not fair.”

At my words, he smiled. “That’s true.”

Without hesitation, I made a promise.

“Once the bill passes, let’s visit my father’s grave together. Otherwise, this won’t truly be over, will it? When that time comes, I’ll give you my proper answer as well.”

Perhaps because he had intended to end things here, he hesitated for a rare moment before nodding slightly. “Alright.”

“You have to promise.”

I pressed the point, almost like a demand. He nodded gently.

And then, the car arrived at my house.

“Thank you for driving me home.”

As the car door opened automatically, I stepped out, turned to face him properly, and bowed.

“Oh, I almost forgot. Congratulations on your novel. Your father would be so proud of you.”

For the first time in a long while, his voice carried the warmth it once had. I could only nod. Slowly, the car pulled away.

“This isn’t fair…”

Cursing the gods, I returned home—to where everyone was waiting for me.