Chapter 42: What a silly child!

In reality, there was one final, massive hurdle to inviting Matsuyama Shoko and the others: obtaining the consent and permission of her family.

Since they were coming to the house as guests, the family’s approval was naturally required.

Unlike the ordinary children of her past life, primary schoolers here could not simply make a casual promise and show up at someone’s door on the same day.

The host needed to prepare, so a formal appointment had to be made in advance.

The visitors also had to consider the host’s convenience and contact them beforehand to agree on a specific time.

Anyone lacking even this basic common sense would find it impossible to survive in this high society and would eventually be ostracized.

Therefore, for the sake of Shoko and the others, Yuka had to think ahead and secure her family’s permission first.

If she failed to inform her family properly, it might lead to Shoko and the others being unfairly labeled as “uninvited intruders.”

“Um… may I have a moment of your time?”

“Hmm? What is it?”

And so, Yuka made up her mind and spoke up during a family dinner.

Father would likely be away when Shoko and her group visited, and Brother probably wouldn’t object.

However… what would Mother think?

How would her mother, who hadn’t spoken a word to her for a month, react to the news of her daughter inviting the very person from the Matsuyama family who had triggered this whole mess?

To be honest, she was terrified.

She was worried it would only provoke her mother further.

This fear wasn’t a simple ‘I’m afraid Mom will scold me’ or ‘I’ll be sad if Mom says something mean,’ but rather the fear that… her relationship with her mother would become completely irreparable.

Though she was being ignored right now, a connection still existed.

She believed they hadn’t reached the point of no return yet.

But… if she said she wanted to invite Shoko and the others to the house now… she truly didn’t know what would happen.

What did her mother actually think about the rumors and the events at the Noyama family party?

They hadn’t spoken since then, so she didn’t know for certain… but… Yuka guessed that her mother probably didn’t believe she had done it intentionally.

If her mother truly believed she had spilled food on Shoko’s dress on purpose, things wouldn’t be as they were now.

Yuka suspected that her mother wasn’t angry because she had done such a thing, but because she had handed the Matsuyama family leverage to attack them.

She wasn’t sure if her mother thought Shoko was intentionally spreading rumors, but at the very least, she viewed the fact that the Matsuyama family caught them in a weak spot as a result of Yuka’s negligence.

That was why she refused to speak to her.

In truth… Yuka hadn’t apologized to her mother for that day either.

She didn’t think she had done anything wrong, but… perhaps that thought itself was the mistake…

It wasn’t that she felt she was at fault or had done something inherently bad, but the fact remained that she had caused trouble for her family.

She kept talking about preventing the Ishikawa family’s destruction, yet her own reckless behavior had brought significant damage to the clan.

Saying ‘I didn’t expect it to blow up like this’ was just an excuse; it could only be described as her own naivety.

It was only natural for her mother to be angry.

Regardless of whether she was morally right or wrong… she should acknowledge her fault in causing the Ishikawa family’s reputation to suffer and placing them in a predicament through her thoughtless actions.

Perhaps this invitation also served as a way to resolve this issue.

Shoko’s involvement as one of the parties concerned provided an excellent opportunity.

She couldn’t remain stubborn forever.

She had to find a way to reconcile with her mother…

“Actually, I would like to invite some friends to our home the Thursday after next.”

“I was hoping to obtain the permission of both Father and Mother.”

“Oh! A friend of Yuka’s.”

“From which family?”

“……”

Even though Yuka spoke, her mother remained silent.

Despite Yuka explicitly stating she needed permission from both parents, she was being completely ignored.

“They are friends I’ve become close with recently… Miss Matsuyama Shoko, Miss Kiyohisa Tachiki, Miss Fujiwara Keiko, and…”

Bang!

The sound of a hand striking the table rang out.

Everyone’s gaze shifted in that direction.

“You… just how much more do you intend to ruin the Ishikawa name before you’re satisfied!”

“I’ve had enough!”

Her mother’s expression was fierce as she stood up, supporting herself with her hands on the table.

Her gaze was fixed unmistakably on Yuka.

She wasn’t yelling about anything else; it was specifically because Yuka said she wanted to invite friends… because Shoko was coming… that she became so hysterical.

“Mother… regardless of what others say, Miss Matsuyama Shoko and I are truly on good terms.”

“Moreover, Miss Shoko has no malice or hidden agenda.”

“Their visit is truly just because we want to become closer.”

“Please… please allow me to invite Miss Matsuyama Shoko to our home.”

Saying this, Yuka climbed down from her chair and prostrated herself on the floor.

“Lift your head, Yuka.”

“And you too… isn’t it about time you forgave her?”

“You…”

Father tried to mediate between Yuka and Mother.

Perhaps because Father had spoken, Mother’s tone dropped slightly.

Her previous expression and hysterical voice were truly terrifying.

Mother being angry to this extent had exceeded Yuka’s expectations.

Perhaps she should have apologized first?

Mentioning the Matsuyama name before apologizing might have been a mistake.

“Yuka truly gets along well with Shoko of the Matsuyama family in the Salon.”

“Even when the rumors were at their worst, Shoko stayed by Yuka’s side and worked hard to help her clear her name.”

“I can guarantee she isn’t coming here with an ulterior motive.”

“……”

Brother also joined the persuasion.

He might have had a vague idea that Yuka wanted to invite Shoko.

Though this was the first time she had stated it clearly, such news naturally circulated in the Salon.

Yuka hadn’t said it and he hadn’t asked, but he likely knew something.

“Yuka, I saw it at the party; I know what happened.”

“But Father and Mother don’t.”

“The commotion had already started by the time they arrived.”

“That’s why I want you to say the whole truth with your own mouth, Yuka.”

“Even though I saw it, I still want to hear it from you.”

“…I understand.”

Hearing her brother’s words, Yuka made up her mind.

It wasn’t something that had to be hidden.

She just felt like she was making excuses, so she hadn’t wanted to say it.

But she couldn’t stay silent any longer.

She really should explain everything to the parents who were implicated.

And so, she laid everything bare without reservation.

“…And that is how it was. Miss Shoko accidentally knocked over the food and didn’t know what to do, so I said I was the one who did it to take her away.”

“But…”

“And as a result, you were taken advantage of…”

Father finished the sentence Yuka was hesitating to phrase.

To say that was equivalent to accusing Shoko’s mother of maliciously exploiting the incident.

Yuka had hesitated over that, but Father said it clearly.

This meant he believed Yuka’s words; otherwise, he wouldn’t have said it.

“Therefore, there is no grudge between Miss Shoko and me; we are close friends.”

“The current situation is definitely not what Miss Shoko wished for.”

“I know that much!”

“I know better than anyone that you aren’t a child who would intentionally splash food on someone!”

Mother raised her voice again, seemingly getting agitated once more.

But the next development was beyond Yuka’s expectations.

“I have enough judgment to tell if someone spilled it accidentally or had a reason to cover for the other person!”

“It’s just… I cannot forgive such reckless actions that put the Ishikawa family in a difficult position!”

“And those people who exploit a child’s pure feelings for their own ends—I simply cannot tolerate it!”

“……”

‘I see… Mother… also believed in me all along…’

And Mother was right.

If this had just been between her and her brother—if her brother took the blame and said he spilled the food—it wouldn’t have been a major issue.

At most, people would think the brother was a bit clumsy, and the matter would pass.

But this time, they were exploited by the people around them.

Even if Yuka and Shoko wanted to handle it the way she and her brother would, others would use the situation to distort the facts and spread biased, false information to slander her.

And she had failed to think it through.

Once the matter blew up, it was no longer just Ishikawa Yuka’s personal problem.

For those who wanted to attack the Ishikawa family, this was a perfect piece of leverage.

And she had failed to realize that at the time, thinking far too simply.

As a result, she had brought great trouble to the Ishikawa family.

“I am furious!”

“Yuka is a bit of a natural airhead, but she would never do that to someone… yet she was slandered by those rumors… and forced to suffer criticism in silence… it’s too much.”

“And Yuka, who chose to remain silent, is also at fault!”

“Yes… I am sorry…”

Mother’s anger was justified.

Despite that… knowing that her mother believed in her made Yuka feel a surge of happiness.

‘A bit of a natural airhead’ basically meant a stupid child, right?

She thought that… but decided to pretend she didn’t hear it.

“Truly a foolish child… You understand now, don’t you!”

“Yes…”

Next was her mother’s non-stop lecturing time.

It had been a long time since this happened.

Finally… Mother was back to normal.

Although she was being scolded, the corners of Yuka’s mouth couldn’t help but curl up slightly.

“Do you hear me!”

“Yes! I hear you!”

For a while after that, Father and Brother also listened to Mother’s lecture together.

The lecture finally ended, and the scene calmed down.

Although she felt the meal was ruined, they were almost finished anyway, so it didn’t matter.

“Well then… you’re inviting the Matsuyama and Kiyohisa families, right.”

“Fine… invite them as much as you want.”

“Give them perfect hospitality so they have nothing to say; show them some spirit!”

“No… um… as I said, Shoko-chan and the others haven’t done anything that requires me to show spirit…”

She no longer understood what her mother was talking about.

What was there to ‘show spirit’ about toward Shoko and the others?

“Oh… so that’s how you usually address them.”

“Eh?… Ah!”

She had accidentally used ‘chan.’

Personally, she felt there was nothing wrong with using ‘chan,’ but in this kind of family, people rarely used such intimate honorifics.

Unless the relationship was exceptionally close, people would be more formal toward those they weren’t well-acquainted with or in formal settings.

“It seems you really are close.”

“It’s the Thursday after next, right? Then I’ll come home early that day too.”

“Eh!? Father, you too!?”

‘Is this old man trying to see Shoko and the others?’

‘Rather than that, do your job properly!’

‘Are you interested in first-grade girls? You lolicon!’

‘I may be a gentleman, but this old man might be dangerous!’

“Yes… then we shall welcome them together as a couple.”

“Then that… and this… hohoho.”

“Things are about to get busy!”

Mother had also ignited her competitive spirit.

But please, wait a moment.

She didn’t need that kind of strange hospitality.

Didn’t she invite them home exactly because she wanted them to see her normal, true self?

If they made an extraordinary effort for hospitality, what was the point of inviting them home?

“Please wait a moment.”

“I want to treat Shoko-chan and the others with sincerity and show them the real me.”

“There’s no point in making special arrangements just for that moment.”

“……”

“” “”

As soon as Yuka finished, all three showed terrifying expressions.

What did this mean?

“The real Yuka…?”

“How absurd! If you do that…”

“The fact that Yuka is a natural airhead will get out!”

‘Hey… what does that mean…’

The family enjoyed a lively dinner together for the first time in a while.