Playing Family Chapter 3 11

After the five musical performances, we had a time for conversation with tea, sweets, and light refreshments.
Tatsuya, Miyasaka, and I went around greeting each of the guests.
Mr. Yoshihara was preparing to leave, saying he had business to attend to afterward. He was deeply moved by Tatsuya's performance and kept saying how wonderful it would be if he could perform at school. "Oh, Tatsuya should play the piano at next year's half-adult ceremony. If I'm still the homeroom teacher when he's in the fourth grade, I'll make sure to arrange it."
He left those words behind and went home.
Mirei-sensei said that from now on, it would be an adult relationship, took Tatsuya aside, and began chatting happily with him again.
Yoshihiko was stuffing his cheeks with sandwiches from a plate. When I told him thank you for coming, he just raised his hand to answer while chewing.
"Are you all ready?"
His study abroad in Canada is only half a month away. I wonder if he has properly bought everything he needs to take with him.
"Yeah."
Finally swallowing what was in his mouth, Yoshihiko spoke up.
"Take care, and have a safe trip."
I'll stop saying anything more. Just the fact that he came is enough. While recommending the study abroad was my own achievement, I had already received a proper thank-you from Yoshihiko. As far as Yoshihiko is concerned, his mind must be full of what's to come.

An old man named Jugo Hirajo, who had been close to the Yuzuki company since the days of the late Shinichiro Yuzuki, two generations ago, and was also a business partner, had heard about the concert and visited.
"Ryoji-kun, do you know? Owner Shinichiro had a deep knowledge of music and played the harpsichord when he was young. He lost it in the war and hadn't spoken of music since, but you had something about you that was reminiscent of Owner Shinichiro."
"Eh? Not Tatsuya-kun, but me?"
When Miyasaka asked back,
"Tatsuya-kun goes without saying. For him, the image of Sakurako-san comes to mind first. ...That young lady was beautiful. She was a kind-hearted young lady who would say gentle words even to an old man like me."
"..."
"I'm sure Owner Tadashi must have had regrets, and it has been weighing on my heart for a long, long time. But if you are supporting Tatsuya-kun and helping the Yuzuki company thrive like this, then I am at ease."
"Thank you very much."
"Miyasaka's older brother Yasushi must be happy in the afterlife as well."
Once Hirajo finished saying what he wanted to say, he walked away from us.
"Miya-san... did you know that he was aware you are Shinichiro-san's illegitimate child?"
Recalling Hirajo's words, I asked Miyasaka in a small voice.
"I've had dealings with him several times for work, but he never let on about anything like that until now. Of course, we never talked about private matters, though."
Miyasaka replied in a low voice while tilting his head.
"...I wonder if Shinichiro-san told him."
When I brought it up without really thinking, Miyasaka let out a small, giggling laugh. I wondered about it and peered at Miyasaka, who sighed softly and then began to speak with deep emotion.
"I was a little happy. To be told that I remind someone of Mr. Shinichiro. I felt like I had become one of the Yuzuki family, too."
"Is that so?"
"No. I had thought it didn't matter anymore. Whether I was Mr. Shinichiro's child or not. I am who I am, and I am doing my job properly as the legal advisor for the Yuzuki company... I've started to be able to value my self-esteem. But, I was happy after all. I don't know if Hirajo-san said it knowing, if he really thought so, or if he just happened to remember Mr. Shinichiro. I was happy to feel like I had been accepted into the family."
Just as Tatsuya often does, I nodded repeatedly, tilting my head.

An old woman named Sakiko Mizoguchi had also come. She was a classmate of Miyasaka's mother, Satoko, and they had been close for a long time. It seems the company staff had tracked down Yasushi Miyasaka and Satoko to get in touch.
"After the earthquake, for some reason, I had a bad feeling and called Satoko... but I couldn't get through. Eventually, I heard through the grapevine that she had passed away during the earthquake. That was the last I heard, and it had been weighing on my mind. I am truly grateful that you reached out to me, saying this concert would also serve as a memorial service for Satoko. A little while ago, I was able to say my goodbyes to my heart's content."
She said, looking toward Satoko's portrait.
"I remember you, Ryoji-kun, when you were little. Your uncle Miyasaka was kind to me, too. Today was a truly wonderful opportunity."
She touched my hand and Miyasaka's, expressing her gratitude by saying, "Thank you so much."
I was happy and grateful.
It was a truly wonderful concert for Tatsuya, for Miyasaka, for me, and of course, for everyone who attended.

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[Novel] Playing Family Chapter 1 1
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