Even so, we are living in the present

Chapter 68 – To Sakura’s House

“──… And so, the means of traveling to the U.S. have been established.”

Following several minutes after Kouki concluded his call with his father, Saki received an update from Tsuzuki and relayed the message to Natsume by phone, which was then passed on verbally by Natsume to Kyosuke and Yuu.

“Thank you.”

“I never would have dreamed that Tsuzuki would have ties to that Sakura Zaibatsu.”

When Natsume, who had apparently learned for the first time that Tsuzuki’s friend was Sakura Kouki, displayed an unusual level of amazement, Kyosuke observed his expression and modestly posed a question.

“Is it really that great after all?”

“Well, it may be unfamiliar to the average citizen, but… being able to get a private jet must be quite a feat.”

“Yeah, indeed…”

The reason why Natsume did not have any insight regarding the connection between Tsuzuki and the Sakura Zaibatsu was that Saki’s mother remarried after she moved out of her parents’ home, while Tsuzuki and Kouki had known one another from childhood. Neither Saki contacted him nor Tsuzuki contacted her, consequently to this day, the information has never been shared with Natsume. When Kyosuke nervously gulped at the thought of being associated with such an extraordinary person yet again, Natsume spoke placidly.

“Everybody wants to help you, you know.”

“… Yes.”

When he realized that someone was willing to be a part of it for him, Kyosuke was happy. I nodded, dropping my gaze, both happy and embarrassed by that fact.

“Have confidence. Since we are right behind you.”

“Thank you… sorry, this is all new to me… I don’t know how… to express my feelings.”

For Kyosuke, whose parents have never paid proper regard to him and until now he has been adamant in never divulging anything about himself to anyone apart from Yuu, it was difficult to grasp whether or not he should even be elated.

When Kyosuke smiled bitterly, Natsume let out a chuckle.

“There’s no need to force yourself to express your feelings. At any rate, the next step is to get Yuu’s passport. Let me remind you, I’ve never acquired a passport before, so I don’t know what to do with it.”

“Y-Yeah… I can’t remember either since I was in elementary school…”

Nodding at the words delivered in such a dignified tone, he had no words to say in return.

Now, what can be done?

Before he had time to ponder, Natsume continued with his suggestion.

“Don’t you know someone well enough for that instead of me?”

“What do you mean…?”

─​───────

On the same day, after 2:00 p.m.

Thereafter, at the Saiki’s household, Kyosuke and Yuu had lunch together enjoying Natsume’s specially made okonomiyaki. While Tomoya was left at home this time as well, Kyosuke and Yuu went to Kouki’s house in Natsume’s car. With the car parked in a broad parking lot, the intercom by the gate was pressed, and shortly after, the front door opened and Kouki strode up to the gate.

“Ichinose! Hello!”

While greeting them in an upbeat tone, he opened the gate.

“Hello, Kouki.”

Seeing the hearty smile on the other party’s face as he opened the gate, Kyosuke spontaneously broke into a smile as well.

His first visit to Sakura’s residence was quite austere considering it was an ordinary house, and the presence of a high-quality gate implied that the house was affluent. Nevertheless, they were told that this house was constructed as a separate house for his father, occupied by Kouki and his mother. A gardener was employed to maintain the garden.

Kouki wandered his eyes over the three visitors, before finally settling on a figure he did not recognize.

“Um… who might you be?”

As he looked up at the towering Natsume and uttered an impassive question, the latter answered it.

“I am an acquaintance of your friend’s sister.”

“…?”

At such a roundabout reply, Kouki titled his head briefly and cast a gaze full of question marks at Kyosuke.

Although he had agreed to be visited by Kyosuke and Yuu through Tsuzuki, it seemed that he was not informed concerning Natsume.

“Ah, well, this is Natsume. He is an acquaintance of Tsuzuki’s sister and the older brother of a classmate of mine──”

As Kyosuke noticed the look in his eyes and gave his explanation with a wry smile, Natsume tapped Kyosuke on the shoulder and interrupted him to move on to the main subject.

“Forget about me, why don’t you teach him how to obtain a passport right away, Kouki?”

Kyosuke’s expression faintly stiffened when Natsume called Kouki using a first-name basis for someone he had just met, but the other man nodded with no sign of concern.

“Yes, of course. I am honored to be able to teach Ichinose.”

While Kouki gazed at him with twinkling eyes, Kyosuke shook his head embarrassedly.

“I-I am not such a significant figure, you know.”

“No, you are a respected senior to me.”

When Kouki stubbornly refused to let him deny it, Kyosuke had no choice but to laugh shyly and exchange no further words in return. Finding it pleasing to be adored, he accepted the other’s words.

“Thanks…”

Kouki’s eyes, which had been gazing at Kyosuke as he reservedly expressed his thanks, suddenly peered into his face.

“Ichinose, you came to ask about your passport, right?”

“Ah, yes. Well, not so much me, but Yuu.”

There may have been some discrepancy in the communication, but it was Yuu, not Kyosuke, who was required to do so. Following Kyosuke, who softly disclaimed the subject of the question, Yuu, who had been silent up to that point, spoke up.

“… Yeah, I am the one who needs it.”

“Eh… s-sorry, I made a mistake.”

Yuu’s beautiful hand gently tapped Kouki’s shoulder as he hurriedly apologized.

“… Don’t worry about it. Things are in a rush after all.”

Although quiet and somewhat cold in tone, that was his own way of showing concern. Perhaps understanding the circumstances of his life, Yuu’s attitude towards Kouki appeared to be much warmer. It might be because Yuu was typically a tsundere, so it was a pleasant change for Kyosuke.

“There are some things you need to do to get a passport… I’ve checked the necessary documents and where to apply, so please take a look here…”

In between the file folder that was presented to him were several documents that were likely printed out. Natsume alternately glanced at Kyosuke and Kouki, who accepted the file as it was handed to him and then voiced his curiosity.

“… Um, in short?”

“Yes, there is no specific information I need to relay.”

Natsume’s expression was the most dazed one that Kyosuke had ever seen when he gazed at Kouki, who answered tranquilly with a radiant smile.

“… Then, I don’t need to drive here at such high speed… Someone should have told me earlier…”

He sighed deeply, restraining his forehead.

This kind of thing can inevitably happen in the case of hearsay.

After waving back at Kouki, Kyosuke and the others left Sakura’s house, mindful of Natsume whose shoulders were slumped.