"Is that all?"
"Um."
"You won't bring them all?"
"...I don't think that we can bring my PC and other electronic tools with me."
"You are right."
Their situation was like that of eloping, so Hayasaka only brought her clothes, which she put inside the suitcase, with her before they left the mansion.
"I can move the other things later, and..."
It wasn't like her relationship with Kaguya had ended, Hayasaka thought, but then, she couldn't help but glance at Ishigami, who held her suitcase naturally while holding her small hand as they left.
"Wait."
"Hmm?"
Before they left Kaguya's mansion completely, Hayasaka bowed her head in the direction of Kaguya's room and then looked at Ishigami. "Sorry to make you wait." Saying those words, she held his hand again.
"It's fine."
Still, as they left, everyone inside the mansion, except for Kaguya, was startled and dumbfounded inwardly, but watching Hayasaka leave with Ishigami, they wondered whether this was an elopement.
In the beginning, when they saw Ishigami, they thought he was Kaguya's secret boyfriend, but... it seemed that wasn't the case.
Yet, as everyone kept looking at Ishigami and Hayasaka, who had left and reported this matter to the main house, Kaguya watched the two leave her room quietly before she took her mobile phone to call someone.
However, for Ishigami and Hayasaka, it was, no doubt, an experience that they had never felt before, and Hayasaka couldn't help but ask, "How long...?"
"What?"
"I mean... how long have you noticed everything?"
"...what do you mean?"
"I mean... you are clear about my situation, right?"
Inwardly, Hayasaka realized that Ishigami wasn't as naive as she thought to be, and probably, his power was greater than she had imagined.
"Don't think about strange things. You are working for the Shinomiya family, so how can I, a commoner, know what is really happening to a noble-like existence like them?"
"....."
While Hayasaka was speechless since Ishigami wasn't a commoner, as he was relatively well-off compared to the others, she also understood that there was a long gap between him and the Shinomiya group.
So... how did he know that she was hiding something?
"I don't know anything, but I can tell that you have a certain burden on your mind and heart, so I want to save you from that."
"...that's all?"
"That's all."
"...you might be targeted, you know?"
"It's fine. You are fine anyway."
"Yuu..."
Hayasaka's eyes were reddened once again and wet from her tears, then reached his cheek, which was still red. "...are you okay?"
"Yeah." Ishigami nodded, then asked, "How about you?"
"I am fine." Hayasaka shook her head and said, "Do you want to know?"
"...it's better for me not to know."
"Wise choice." Hayasaka nodded, thinking that Ishigami was wise. "It's better that you don't know anything. We can handle the rest."
"We? Shinomiya-senpai, too?"
"We're not having a complete breakup."
Even though from the moment of their meeting, Hayasaka had betrayed her mistress, Kaguya, by using her position to monitor Kaguya and telling what Kaguya did to the own who employed her, as everything was exposed, she had no need to be burdened with everything and let herself be riddled with guilt of her crimes.
Still, even after all of that, Kaguya decided to forgive Hayasaka, but it was better for Hayasaka not to tell everything, and it was better for Ishigami to remain ignorant of everything so that way, he wouldn't be targeted.
Instead, it was better to let everyone misunderstand him, letting them know that he wished to elope with Hayasaka.
"That's good to know."
"......"
While Hayasaka had to admit that Ishigami's calm expression was so handsome, she felt a bit unhappy by how idiotic his action was, especially when he didn't think of the consequences of his action.
"I thought you would scream at the mansion, you know?"
Regardless, Hayasaka knew that Ishigami couldn't accept the fact that Kaguya decided to reject Shirogane, so she thought that he would go berserk, screaming, like a kid, but unexpectedly, he was quite mature enough to control his emotions, and instead of a straight ball, he sent a curve ball by solving her situation instead of pressing further about the problem of Shirogane and Kaguya.
"I am not so childish."
"Who was the one who tried to forcefully enter Kaguya-sama's mansion?"
Rolling her eyes, Hayasaka asked, "Aren't you scared?"
"The Shinomiya group might be powerful, but it doesn't mean that they can control everything."
While the process might take a while, as his father had seen his talent in finance, they had decided to open a private investment firm.
Ishigami would be lying if he wasn't excited about this firm since this was the beginning of him building his power.
His food processing company and family's toy company might be good, but as expected, if one wanted to make money as soon as possible, then entering finance was the fastest way.
While his father might appear reckless to give Ishigami such permission, after seeing his talent, he knew well that he couldn't waste his son's talent, and for a businessman, if one wanted to succeed, they had to be bold, take the risk, so they could gain an immense fortune!
Naturally, one had to be prepared for loss and failure, but as everything was clear up, why should they hesitate?
So, soon, a new private firm was born in Nakameguro, the area where Ishigami lived.
"Handsome..."
"What?"
"Nothing!"
Ishigami looked at Hayasaka strangely, then asked, "So, what's your plan after this?" It was already night, and it was time for a rest, so he thought that she might call her parents about her situation, then sleep in their apartment or something, but—
"...you are not going to bring me to your home?"
After all of that, it was impossible for Hayasaka to leave Ishigami.
No, she didn't want to leave him at all!
She wanted to stay with him. If possible, forever, she thought.
Still, after what had happened, she also didn't want to be alone and wanted him to accompany her.
"You want to go back with me?"
Nevertheless, Ishigami was surprised by Hayasaka's request.
"I..."
Hayasaka hesitated for a moment because her feelings had become genuine, and she loved Ishigami even more after what Ishigami did to her, saving her from the endless guilt that haunted her from childhood. She didn't want to make him unhappy or trouble him, so she felt that it was better for her to stay in the hotel.
"Okay, then."
"Eh?" Hayasaka was startled by how easy it was for Ishigami to agree to her request. "Are you sure? Won't I cause trouble to your family?"
"You are mine anyway. It doesn't matter."
Anyway, even if his parents knew that Ishigami had done many naughty things with so many women, instead of stabbing him and pushing him from a high place, they might just scold him slightly and then let him go, which was something that he wasn't afraid of.
Ishigami faced many things, and the only thing that he never lacked was guts!
"You are really..."
This guy might be a scumbag, but even so, Hayasaka couldn't lie to her feelings, and she would be lying if she didn't wish to meet his parents, and if possible, she wished to tie the knot directly with Ishigami and become an official daughter-in-law, she thought.
Then, as expected, Ishigami, who dared to go to Kaguya's house in the middle of the night without prior notice, which might make him be targeted by the Shinomiya family, really brought Hayasaka to his house and introduced her to his parents.
"She is my woman."
"....."
Ishigami's Papa and Mama were in silence, watching Hayasaka, who introduced herself shyly. "M-My name is Hayasaka Ai. N-Nice to meet you, Uncle, Aunty."
Taking a deep breath, Ishigami's Papa took out his belt, and Ishigami's Mama took out the knife from the kitchen.
"..."
At this moment, Ishigami realized it seemed his father was more gentle than his mother.