Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“So, Hinako?” Her father began, looking at her with disdain.

God, she hated those words. She knew nothing good could come out of her father's mouth directed at her, nothing like her older sister, Junko. After all, what they expected from a second pregnancy was a son who never arrived. Shimizu Hinako, the daughter unloved by her parents, simply arrived. She had always wished she had been born into a nicer family, one where her father wouldn't ruin life for her mother and her.

And to be honest, she only appreciated Junko a little more for getting that multimillion-dollar contract through her latest partner, whom she was about to marry.

“What do you think of the deal?”

She went blank at that, trying to hide her rage. What do you mean, marriage? Her parents hadn't insisted on that topic until now.

But now she remembered that time at Christmas when her mother asked that question about whether she had a partner, and maybe since then, that idea had been circling her father's head. Because it seemed the greatest achievement her parents valued was tying their daughters to men.

She hoped this matter wouldn't reach the table, at least until she finished her studies, but that would be asking too much. She scratched her right arm nervously.

“No, Father. I refuse to marry, much less with someone who surely doesn't love me,” She replied dryly, cuttingly, but that made him furious.

“Well, too bad, because the one who decides over your life here, is me.”

“But, Father...”

“Shut up, Hinako!” He replied severely. “I don't want you to start with your freedom tantrums. You wouldn't want me to eliminate your university funds, would you?”

She wanted to keep fighting, she opened her mouth, but then she noticed Junko’s insistent expression that she didn't want another fight while she was visiting. She swallowed the anger that surged. Her father would also become tedious if they continued down that path. But in reality, she knew that last threat was what sealed her lips.

They say one of the happiest moments in life is your wedding day. Family and friends gather to celebrate the union of two people in love, creating memories that will last a lifetime and marking the path to a hopeful future.
But that was not the case.

Because it was her obligation, because she was the daughter of the owner of a rising company, because through marriage the company stabilizes in the market, and because my parents forced me to marry the man who would turn out to be the head of another company in the future. There was no protesting or discussing it.

“It is a great honor,” Your parents whispered when they received the ceremonial instructions, their pride was unmistakable.

And yes, that was an honor, at least. To be chosen as the wife of the Tsuneki clan's prodigy was, for the family, a cause for celebration. But I couldn't help but wonder... why?

Yes, it would help the company, but that didn't matter to me. Hinako studied arduously to one day disconnect from her father's company and his business, but that had been for nothing.

Then, when the Tsuneki couple spoke with your parents, you didn't believe your ears when they said, “Our children will marry then.”

Tsuneki Kotoyuki.

Everyone knew his name. The man and pride of the family, a fencing medalist and an eminence. He was the one who always had luck on his side. He had the power. He could have anyone he wanted; after all, this arrangement only benefited one of the parties.

But at the family meeting, he was calm. He didn't protest not wanting to be in an arranged marriage; he looked at her with tenderness and with small, relaxed smiles. Striking honey-colored eyes, black hair, and a good physique—he didn't look so bad.

But Hinako hated him.

The ceremony felt like an eternal punishment. There was no celebration—no flowers, no laughter, no cake. Only you and Kotoyuki, following the steps under the watchful eye of their families. No one smiled. The press only took photos to feed the scandals. It seemed more like a task than a celebration of their “love.”

Junko could only come over to hug her sister and wish her the best on this new path, as if she had chosen it and it wasn't an imposition from her parents.

She shakes her head, putting the memory aside. A few months have passed since the wedding and not much has changed. He woke up early in the morning, long before her—surely to avoid seeing her face, of course—and she didn't know more about his whereabouts until he decided to return, most of the time exhausted from surely so much work.

Hinako doesn't know what to do with this situation. Sometimes Kotoyuki prepares breakfast for her, leaves flowers on her side of the bed. Once she arrived at their new home after a fencing practice and he pointed to a seat on the couch, encouraging her to sit next to him, receiving only a rejection before locking herself in her room.

She remembered perfectly her mother's discreet smile upon realizing that they both shared the same fondness for the same sport. She surely believed that having similar tastes would at least make them get along better.

But she couldn't care less. That smile irritated her, because she knew he was pretending, but she didn't know why he pretended while they were alone.

For Hinako, as long as they were both discreet enough, they could continue living their independent lives, and they seemed to have the same thought since he didn't say anything to her. He doesn't demand explanations or demand her attention.

In all this time, he has never kissed her, never touched her—which makes her glad. Deep down she thinks this is not the life he wanted, just like her. Hinako can't leave since she wouldn't have a way to pay for her university. But from what she knows, he has nothing to lose.

She was in her room, with her headphones on while she studied until someone entered the door. Evidently, the tall figure was unmistakable.

“How are your studies going?” He asks, with a worried look but always with a smile of comfort. Hinako could already feel the headache creeping up.

“Fine,” She replied dryly. She wasn't interested in maintaining a conversation; the faster it ended, the better.

“What about fencing? I heard you're going to a competition in a few months.”

“It’s fine.”

Kotoyuki made a noise of assent, but he didn't leave. Hinako squeezed the pencil between her fingers; this man definitely wasn't catching a single signal.

“You don't even care, do you?” Her voice came out colder than usual. She turned the chair to see his reaction; he genuinely looked surprised.

“What do you mean?” He asked her with genuine curiosity. Although they have been married for months, she doesn't really know him enough, so his mind is a complete mystery to her.

“You don't like me. This is just a marriage that forces us to be together. So, why are you pretending to be kind to me?”

“Why would I pretend?” He tilted his head, with notes of innocence in his gesture. “I've never told you I don't like you; it’s quite the opposite.”

His answer seemed to take her by surprise for a second. He looks at her as if she were a small child who didn't understand his way of seeing things, as if it were something obvious to the sight but that Hinako hadn't seen.

“What do you mean?” She stood up from the chair, clenching her fists. If he was playing games with her, that wouldn't earn him any more points in his favor.

“Ah, you haven't noticed.” He smiled. Hinako swore that one day she wouldn't tolerate that smile anymore. “I’ve said enough. The rest you have to discover for yourself, Hinako.”

“Wait...!”

“Good night, darling.”

And with that, he left, leaving more doubts in the air than answers. After finishing her homework, all she could do now was sleep.

But when Hinako closes her eyes and tries to sleep, she can't shake off a strange sensation that trembles throughout her body. And she remembers his face, his eyes.

Gold. The eyes that gave that sensation of having the most radiant shine you've ever seen, and that smile...

Hinako took the Keroppi plushie and squeezed it, hiding her face in it. There is something that she still doesn't see. Something deeper that gives her another perspective on this marriage of convenience.

And that night, something changes between Kotoyuki and Hinako. And whether it is for the worse or for the better... She doesn't know that yet.

Chapter Text

Hinako had a headache the next morning; she didn't remember much of the night before. She was never good with alcohol, and her hangover seemed to be worse when combined with her everyday headaches. She was glad she didn't have classes when she checked her watch, as it was already ten in the morning and she had nothing to do.

A sigh of relief left her as she turned over in her makeshift bed, burrowing back under the sheets, blocking out the sun so she could sleep longer.

It didn't last long. After a few minutes, Sakuko and Rinko woke her up by snatching her blankets away and singing silly songs while they cooked. Right now, she just wished for an aspirin, or to be able to drink without worrying about a hangover. For now, she'd settle for the former.

Hinako headed to the bathroom. While washing her face, she tried to recall what happened last night. All she remembered was that her friends had invited her to a quiet gathering—which was anything but quiet—and when they had too much to drink, nothing was completely clear. Tying her hair back in a low ponytail, she went out to find some breakfast, hoping it would improve her mood.

She walked down the hallway she knew very well. She had lived in this house for a long time at the beginning of her university course. The house itself belonged to Rinko’s family; Rinko had simply been kind enough to share it with her friends because she “felt too lonely.” And Hinako, looking to start detaching herself from her parents’ home, had really enjoyed her years in this place. Until she had to move in with her “husband.”

Shuu was sitting on the sofa when she finally walked into the living room, with the sheets she had used already folded. “Awake already, roomie? There's food and coffee for you in the kitchen, I've also got medicine, but first, we need to talk about what happened last night!” He laughed.

“Shuu, don't be like that, she just woke up!” Rinko pointed a spatula she was using to flip what looked like pancakes at him. The girl gave her a smile. “Good morning, Hinako.”

“Good morning, Rinko!”

She paused when he laughed; confusion washed over her. “What do you mean by what I did last night?”

He dismissed her question, and his attention returned to his own phone as he began texting someone.

“You know, your married woman problems!” Sakuko made her presence known, answering as she took a seat at the dining table next to her. “Here, take this.” She lightly shook a cup. Hinako reached out to take it, but it was quickly pulled away. “If you want the coffee, you’ll have to remember.”

“Would it kill you guys to be a little clearer?”

“Kotoyuki.” The coffee was pushed towards her, snatched from Sakuko's hand by Rinko. “You said you were confused about something he told you a few days ago.”

She scoffed before taking a sip of the drink, grateful for the warmth and sweetness. “Let me eat breakfast before we talk about that topic.”

Rinko came over with a plate full of pancakes and syrup, squeezing her shoulders as she passed to sit beside her. “Sorry about that, Hinako, I see I’m not the only one who has to deal with a gossipy boyfriend and best friend.”

She stared at them for a moment before quickly eating. Their talk could wait a while longer while she still woke up. It wouldn't be anything important, anyway. But then the voice inside her head started wondering why they were joking so much.

Was she too honest when she talked about that situation? Surely she would remember it. Right?

Shuu and Sakuko began to joke. At least they were having fun, even if it made her headache worse. But the food and the slight amount of coffee made it hurt less, and her mind felt less slow and groggy. She took a breath before speaking.

“How much did I say last night?”

“You said your lovely husband makes you angry with his strange behavior, that you couldn't stand him, that you want to wipe that smile off his face for being an idiot, a bunch of other things, and all of that before falling asleep on the table.” Rinko was trying to hide her laugh as she recalled the whole scene, and Shuu was undoubtedly the one enjoying the recap the most.

“I’m never drinking again.” She muttered, her voice still loud enough.

“Oh, come on, Hinako, it's not that bad. It was just a little vent, and if it makes you feel better, the table situation is what makes me laugh the most.”

God, she really wanted to punch Shuu right now.

“You’re saying that because you’re not the one being made fun of.”

“As for me,” Rinko began as she tapped her cup against the table again. “I think it’s fine. Hinako, you should give him a chance, he treats you well, he always texts you asking how you are, sometimes he comes to look for you. He’s a good partner.”

“Except for the part where we are NOT a couple.” She stood up from the table, and the others looked thoughtful.

“Girl, she has a point.” Sakuko pointed out. Hinako finished her plate and with that, she concluded a conversation she considered unproductive for her theories.

“Shuu, do you know anything that might help Hinako?” Rinko asked, but Shuu just shook his head.

“We are friends, but that doesn't mean I know everything about her private life.”

Hinako listened as her friends continued to debate the topic while she looked for her cell phone. Her eyes widened when she saw that her father was at the top of her notifications.

»Dinner tonight, you know about it.«
»Bring Kotoyuki.«

She stared at her phone screen in genuine confusion. Her parents hadn't looked for her in months—or rather, since she became a married woman.

She read the message again and again. What did all this mean? Hinako didn't have a good feeling about it. She took a deep breath and, using all her willpower, looked up her “husband's” number.

»My parents want to see us. They'll have dinner with us.«

She looked in the direction of her friends who were clearing the table. Rinko gave her a reassuring smile. It wasn't long before she felt her cell phone vibrate, too quickly for her liking.

»Understood. Do you want me to come pick you up?«

»That would be nice, yes.«

----------------------------------------------------

“So... do you like Italian food?” Kotoyuki said, trying to distract her. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. His usual warm, soft gaze that he always gave her whenever he spoke to her was brighter today than usual.

“It’s fine.” She replied, hoping that would stop him from talking for a while. She turned her face to look at him. Now there was an amused smile on his face. Who understands this man?

He looked so handsome that she detested it; she was filled with a hatred she couldn't explain.

“That’s good,” he said, stopping when they reached a traffic light.

She took a moment to look at the car. It still smelled new, everything very clean, and there was hardly any dust anywhere. Even the exterior of his car was impeccable, and there wasn't a speck of dirt anywhere. The dashboard lit up when Kotoyuki started the car.

He drove in silence, his large hands also on the steering wheel. It was hard not to watch him drive; his hands moved effortlessly, and the car simply glided down the road. He made driving through the city look so easy. He pulled into their home parking lot before she realized it, turning toward her and smiling before she could note where they were.

“Are you feeling alright?” He asked.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Hinako opened the door, smiling at him with annoyance before leaving him in the car. She suspected his awareness of her discomfort about this dinner, and she didn't know what to do about him reading her so easily when he was a puzzle to her.

Maybe that was one of the things she hated about him.

She took off her shoes in the entryway, listening as the door closed behind her. “I'm going to sleep for a while before dinner.” She spoke without looking at his face. “I’ll wake up at 4:30. Have a good afternoon.”

And with that, she locked herself in her room.

----------------------------------------------------

Hinako woke up. The ceiling full of lights, her bed felt too good, much better than any other time, soft and warm with all the blankets piled on top of her. The last thing she heard before closing her eyes was Kotoyuki offering to wake her up, which she neither accepted nor rejected.

But she didn't doubt he would have. Still, it was no longer necessary; she got up an hour early. Everything was silent when she opened the door to the empty hallway. Had he left her here and gone somewhere else?

“Kotoyuki?” She called into the air, hoping for a response and finding none.

“Are you awake already?…” His hair was messy, and his face had pillow marks. Hinako had to hold back a laugh, as she always did whenever she saw him like this. “I had a nap too. I was hoping you were still asleep, honey.”

“I just woke up, and don't call me honey.”

“Okay, honey.” He smiled playfully, obviously ignoring her request; she thought it was weird that he acted like that.

“I'll shower quickly since it's four thirty now, and then you can get ready, alright?”

She nodded, still looking at him with her eyes, trying to decipher him. Until he disappeared into the bathroom, with what almost seemed like a small breeze brushing past her face.

It still didn't make sense, anyway, why would he call her sweet nicknames? She understood that perhaps for his reputation he would say those things in public, but he didn't have to pretend here when no one was around.

The shower started barely a minute later, and it took her a moment to snap out of her frozen state. Hinako returned to her room to look for clothes to wear. Unfortunately, she couldn't go in pants and a T-shirt, so she opted to wear the yellow midi dress Sakuko gave her one day when they went shopping.

Hinako wouldn't deny that she liked her friend's choice.

She went out to the kitchen again to rummage for something to eat in the fridge; an apple was what she craved most at that moment. She sat down at the dining table while she thought about how in just three days everything had suddenly changed.

“Alright,” Kotoyuki’s voice came from behind her, making her jump. She hadn't realized the shower was off or that his steps were coming toward her. “The bathroom is free now, we'll leave at six thirty. It's going to be very cold tonight, make sure you take a coat.”

Hinako just nodded before entering the bathroom, closing the door quietly and turning on the shower. It was nice to have a warm shower to relax her. When she finished, she wrapped herself in a towel to go to her room and change quickly.

A knock came at the door when she finished zipping up her dress. “Hinako, do you need help?”

She thought about it for a moment, she should say no, that she was fine, but the prospect of having to fix her hair and start her makeup with the time she had left didn't favor her. Suddenly Rinko's advice popped into her mind. She bit her lip as she considered what she was about to do.

She hated it when people advised her or told her what to do, but for once, she would agree with her friend without being so stubborn.

“It's fine,” she began, opening the door. “Can you…?”

Looking up was a mistake and finding what seemed to be a soft smile on his face, with his hair on his shoulders almost dry. He was leaning against the door frame, dressed in a white shirt and dark trousers. The top buttons of his shirt were unbuttoned, leaving his collarbone exposed. The sight made her nervous, but not enough.

“Please help me with my hair, I need to finish my makeup.” The smile on his face dropped a little at the unintended effect on her, yet he nodded and stood behind her.

“This dress is pretty,” he said, one hand taking the comb and starting to slide the short strands back. “Yellow suits you well.”

She nodded before starting her makeup. He seemed so soft and pleasant as he gently brushed her hair, careful with it. The maids and nannies her father had hired when she was a child were never so kind and always seemed to be the worst people to help; her mother never helped her or taught her how to style her hair, which is why she opted to keep her hair short.

He seemed so focused and patient as he gently combed her hair, without pulling, as she remembered the last time she trusted her hair to a person. It was noticeable that he had experience with his own hair, by how smoothly he was able to do it.

“Thank you,” she said, taking the comb from his hand to finish brushing, but she didn't find any tangles. She paused for a moment before working on the clip to hold it back.

“Creí que lo dejarías suelto, cariño.”

“It gets in the way.” Just as she finished, she turned around, facing him again.

“I thought you'd leave it down, honey."

“It gets in the way.” Just as she finished, she turned around, facing him again.

“You look beautiful.” She nodded, she could say the same but didn't want to.

Kotoyuki didn't leave her alone, one hand smoothed a lock that had come loose on her face before he grabbed her hand. “Come on, it's almost time to go. Besides, I have something for you.”

“What?” She asked as he pulled her out of the bathroom and led her to the living room. Her hand was released as Kotoyuki walked toward his small table. He picked up a box from there.

“This is for you,” he said, opening it so she could see a hairpin inside. “I was going to wait a little longer, but you should accept it now. Your father might kill me if he thinks I've never given his daughter anything.”

She disguised her expression, knowing that comment was a lie, since he had given her one thing or another on several occasions, like brushes and sketchpads, things she could buy herself when they ran out but that for some reason he bought just before that happened.

This wasn't the first thing he'd offered her, of course, but it was the first thing she could use with her outfits that he had bought for her.

“It wasn't necessary,” she said, looking at the hairpin. It was shaped like a cherry blossom branch, made of silver, with what looked like small pink diamonds in the middle of the flowers. It seemed very beautiful to her, small and simplistic, but also very much her style. How did he know she specifically liked cherry blossoms? He had probably seen her drawings decorated with these flowers, but when had he done that?

“Nonsense,” he said, carefully taking the accessory out of the box and putting it in her hairstyle, combining it with the clip. “It's much less than you deserve.”

“Thank you,” she said. There was a moment when she seemed to freeze, just staring at each other. No matter how many times this situation happened, Hinako would always be amazed by the color of his eyes and how they looked at her with what seemed to be sweetness and warmth.

“It’s alright, honey.” She missed the rest of the sentence he murmured into the air. What was wrong with her? Why did she feel her heart suddenly accelerating? In these months, she had never felt that. Why was everything suddenly changing in her relationship with this man?

She scratched her arm out of frustration at not having answers; she shouldn't think any more because it would surely stress her out, and that meant another guaranteed headache. Because the simple fact of seeing her father was already the first guaranteed headache.

A loud sound was heard outside the house, making her jump, and Kotoyuki sighed, checking his phone.

“Come on, it's time to go.”

Chapter Text

The cold wind brushed against her cheeks and her nose was already starting to turn pink, even though they hadn't been outside for long. Kotoyuki turned to look at her for a moment, before taking her hand and leading her inside the restaurant.

He scanned her face for a moment as they walked in. "Reservation under the name Shimizu," he told the attendant, who then led them to a private table, a round table away from the hustle and bustle, as always. "Looks like we're early," he said, looking between the table and her for a moment.

It was warm inside. Hinako took off her coat, placed it on the chair behind her, and Kotoyuki pushed her chair in, making sure she was comfortable before sitting down next to her.

"So then—"

"Hinako." A female voice called out, interrupting Kotoyuki who frowned at the interruption, and making her turn around. She saw Junko almost immediately, her long, silky black hair always stood out among others anywhere, the blue dress she wore immediately drew attention. "I didn't expect you to arrive so early, how have you been?"

She still happily remembered her life before her sister disappeared from it, if only her sister's married life hadn't abruptly separated them...

"Sister, I'm doing well," she replied, noticing she had come alone, as they sat down across from her and Kotoyuki.

"That's good," Junko said as she looked at the young man for a moment. "Kotoyuki, long time no see, how is work going?"

"Fine, if working all day can be called that," he replied, turning toward Hinako as a waitress approached.

"Are you ready to order now?" she asked.

"No, not yet," Junko replied, flashing one of her perfect smiles. She gave Hinako a look to confirm what they already knew.

"May I bring you something to drink then?"

"Wine for now, thank you."

"Wine as well," Kotoyuki said.

Hinako bit her lip as her foot trembled under the table. "I'm fine, thank you." She didn't want to drink, not after the night before.

The waitress nodded and smiled before leaving.

Kotoyuki turned to her, a look of insistence on his face for a moment. Hinako just picked up the water carafe and poured herself a glass. His face softened as he watched her do it, and she just responded with a shrug.

But then she noticed him out of the corner of her eye. Her entire body immediately felt uncomfortable, becoming taut like a bow, her shoulders moving back, adopting the perfect posture, while her eyes looked down, trying to avoid picking at her nails.

"Father, Mother," Junko said when she noticed them, a soft, polite smile, after all, she was the one who bore the least of their father's anger. Always polite and affectionate towards her parents, and who wouldn't be, considering that everything went downhill after she left the house.

"Junko... Hinako." There was what could almost be interpreted as affection in his voice toward her sister, and Hinako was barely visible at the last moment, although she was probably the reason this dinner was called.

But Hinako was not foolish, she knew more than met the eye, she always did. If it hadn't been for Junko, her father would have lost everything due to his poor money management. He married Junko off to a millionaire, the owner of a company that promised to be successful.

Junko didn't seem that bothered by the decision; Hinako never knew why her sister gave up her freedom so quickly. And that bothered her.

But what bothered Hinako even more was knowing that her father had trusted and lost a large sum of money again. But this time he didn't want the promise of a rising business. He wanted something more stable. Her marriage to Kotoyuki was meant to give her father much more money with millionaire agreements and contracts.

After all, what person in Japan doesn't want to be part of the Tsuneki empire?

For her part, Hinako still wondered how the Tsuneki family accepted a deal that didn't benefit them at all. It would only make her father richer, and not even she, her sister, or her mother would enjoy that money.

A total disgrace.

It barely took a moment for her father to call a waitress, order a drink, and tell her what he would be ordering.

"Hinako. You haven't even greeted your father," her mother said in a soft, almost, almost difficult-to-hear voice. Hinako remembered how much she hated hearing that voice every day.

"I'm sorry, Father."

Her father just grumbled in response. Sometimes she wondered what the point of greeting him was if she was going to receive hateful looks when she did. She swallowed and nodded.

"It's good to see you again, sir," Kotoyuki told her father.

He nodded in response, interrupted by the drinks the waitress was preparing. Hinako caught Kotoyuki's moment of confusion when he realized neither of them received a plate, apparently not happy. "How's business, Tsuneki?"

"Good."

"Ah, that's good, after all, one can't rely on other people to maintain a home."

She clenched her hands in her lap, so tightly that she'd swear they were already pale from the force. Her father could never go five minutes before trying to lash out at her or her sister.

Kotoyuki noticed it too, and what looked like a dark glare crossed his face as he looked at her father, then at her, where his face softened, his hand taking hers and squeezing it for a moment.

Kotoyuki only nodded, but she could perceive the anger in his gaze.

Her father steered the conversation toward her sister for a while, which was a relief for Hinako; being ignored once again in favor of Junko was fine, even excellent. There were no huge looks of disappointment directed at her for at least a while. Because despite being the more favored, Junko wasn't entirely spared.

The first course came out, bringing silence to the table as her father began to eat, but he still spoke and asked questions at times. Hinako caught Kotoyuki's confused look upon seeing that food was only brought for two people.

"So," her sister began again. "How is university going, Hinako?"

"Well," she replied, in that soft voice that was only directed at her dear sister. After all, they hadn't seen each other in a long time. "I'm trying hard, I barely have time for other things."

"Let's hope that mindset changes with her first child..." Her father said, not even looking at her, continuing to talk with Junko, and Hinako clicked her tongue at his words.

Tension settled in the air. She felt Kotoyuki's gaze on her, but when she decided to look at him, she found him staring at his empty plate before looking at her, a look of distaste on his face.

"Where did you get that hairpin? It looks new," Junko asked, and Hinako remembered she was wearing it, looking away from Kotoyuki and back at her sister.

"Oh, Kotoyuki gave it to me."

"Pretty, it suits you well. Is it some kind of flower? I think I can see petals."

"It's a cherry blossom," Kotoyuki interrupted, somehow understanding that the black-haired girl didn't want to talk too much.

"They're beautiful, they remind me of the cherry trees in the park we used to go to—"

She remembered it, of course she did. She used to play a lot with her sister in that spot. Life would have been easier if Hinako had stayed in that moment, far from becoming a forced wife.

Kotoyuki realized Hinako was retreating into herself again, and he took her hand. "Hinako, are you okay?" he whispered.

She looked at him and felt uncomfortable, hoping he would understand that they couldn't even talk about this topic here. Although Hinako didn't want to talk about this topic with him.

He seemed like he wanted to say something more. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, that unhappy expression on his face as he watched her. He seemed to be feeling the same way as her at that moment—at least, she thought Kotoyuki was learning more about her.

But evidently, this was the part she didn't want him to know about her life. In general, she didn't want him to know much about her.

Her father started another conversation with her sister and mother once they finished eating, discreetly talking about accounts and who knows what else, leaving her and Kotoyuki out of the conversation for a while.

"Are you tired yet?" she asked him.

"Of course not, I like this opportunity to be close to you." He leaned in for a moment and took her hand, kissing the back of it. Hinako was surprised, wanting to pull it away, but she knew the scene it would cause, so she decided just to gently withdraw it and smile.

It was always like this in public; every time they were together in public spaces, Kotoyuki would kiss her forehead and squeeze her hand while she simply smiled to avoid any unwanted trouble or opinion. She could perfectly perceive the sigh of his secretary or a bunch of girls, whispering how lucky Hinako was.

If only they knew.

She noticed her father looking at them, a look of disgust on his face.

"Kotoyuki, how are things going with Hinako?"

"Excellent, I learn a lot from her day after day, she is charming."

"Really? Hinako was completely useless while living with us, always stubborn with her silly liberal ideas."

Hinako was starting to get angry; she was never very tolerant of her father's hurtful words. But she knew that if she said something or if Kotoyuki said he was displeased with her or pointed out something bad, she was almost certain that it would result in a punishment for her. Her father was always like that.

Once in preschool, she was playing with dolls with her classmates and one of the girls took her doll away. Hinako cried and threw many tantrums until they gave it back. But the teacher called both her parents and the other girl's parents in for a talk.

She remembered that day perfectly; when she got home, her father broke her doll in front of her. Alleging that she had behaved like a spoiled brat over just a toy and that she didn't deserve it. What hurt her the most that day was seeing how her mother watched the whole scene without doing anything. Without defending her.

It was always like this, directly trying to belittle or treat her as less, always under threat and without free choice. Why, if she had already accepted this unfair deal, was he still trying to mess up her life whenever he could?

Her hand was pale, gripping the skirt of her dress, realizing the pressure in her head was starting to become noticeable. She was about to speak, to insult her father, because he had crossed the line with her.

But then, Kotoyuki's hand grabbed hers, making her look at his face. He looked so angry for a moment, his jaw clenched and his eyes full of fire as he glared at her father.

"What are you trying to achieve with this? How do you assume she's useless? Do you know anything about your daughter's life after she left your home, or do you just like to assume things? This is the third time I've seen you, and definitely—"

"Stop," she whispered to him, not wanting him to start an argument because of her, not wanting him to defend her; she could defend herself. Even so, the consequences of a fight with either of them would only be for her; her father would never attack the Tsuneki family, especially not their heir.

She stared at him. He was still furious as if he had nothing to lose by confronting her father, but looking at her, he understood. At least, Hinako thought so. Maybe he thought that if he spoke, Hinako wouldn't be as harmed. But he was wrong, and he noticed it in time.

He sighed deeply as he looked at her. "I apologize for my outburst, sir."

Her father looked at Kotoyuki for a moment, leaving the table in an uncomfortable silence.

"So," Junko said—Hinako was already tired of her sister being the only one seeking peace in this battlefield, while her mother just kept her head down—"how is fencing going, Kotoyuki?"

"Fine," he replied curtly. Hinako could see his smile, but at the same time, she perceived that he was annoyed, tense, and sharp. Had what her father said bothered him so much?

"I imagine that now that the competitions are approaching, you'll be participating, as will Hinako, I suppose again." Junko was displaying that calm smile, the one Hinako knew perfectly, the one that made you feel comfortable and talk about everything with her, but Kotoyuki didn't fall for the trap.

"I'll take some time off work to do it."

"And you, Hinako?"

"I'll do what's possible at the time."

Her father sighed when he finished eating, and Hinako's entire body relaxed. This torture was about to end; at least, it couldn't end any worse.

"Thank you for dinner. There should be another one next month. I'll see you all then."

Hinako nodded and remained still as her father got up and left, followed by her mother. As she waited to finally leave this damned place, Kotoyuki opened his mouth again.

"Are you just going to leave like that? Your daughters haven't even had dinner."

Her father didn't stop at the question. "I thought you had already eaten."

The three of them fell silent. Junko tried to say something but only managed to grab her purse and stand up from her chair.

"Sorry, Hinako. I would invite you to eat something, but I had planned a dinner with Nao's family right after this, you know how it always is," her sister told her, her hand gently resting on her shoulder. "See you later."

Which meant she wouldn't see her again until the next family dinner. Hinako and Kotoyuki sat for a while.

"That was something, no doubt. Is it always like this?" Kotoyuki said.

"Welcome to the family."

Hinako stood up first, followed by Kotoyuki. She didn't put on her coat; she needed to feel the cold of the night on her skin to see if she could feel anything other than the anger boiling in her blood. She took a couple of deep breaths until she reached the car, slamming the door shut and hitting her head against the dashboard.

At this point, she didn't know if the blow hurt or if her head was about to burst. She just wanted to go home, close her eyes, and end this shitty day.