Chapter 239 - What Matters

"Suzuki Aki, I like you. I've liked you for years…"  

W-what?

Suzuki Aki stared dumbfounded at Chiaki. He stayed like that for several seconds as he absorbed her words. Until now, he couldn't really believe what he just heard. He even had an inclination to question his sanity at the moment to ask if he really heard her say that she liked him or it was just a product of his imagination as it's what he had dreamt to hear for the longest time.

"But too bad," Chiaki added as regret filled her eyes as a sad smile spread her lips. "I was too late right?"

Huh?

Aki had no idea what this woman was talking about? What did she mean late? But before he could even speak properly she continued.

"I ignored you and pretended that everything's normal and even chalked up your feelings as a passing fancy. God, I'm just realizing now how awful that had been."

Chiaki's voice and laughter sounded self-derisive, and Aki's temple started to hurt. This woman was giving him a headache.

"Chichi," Aki called, but the other ignored him as she continued on with her self-scolding.

"But you have to understand. Even if my reasons may sound selfish and stupid to you – but for me, they were important. I… I wanted to be your equal."

Huh?

Aki now decided to shut up and listen.

What kind of equal was she talking about?

"You are a prince, so our classmates said. You have everything there is – and can even have everything he wants. I'm just a simple girl from a middle-class family. I didn't want them to mock your choice. So I worked hard to be the best at studies. I wanted to prove to everyone that I can… I can be enough to stand next to you."

Whaaaat?

Aki's headache was now amplifying. She was correct. Her reasons sounded one-sided and stupid.

"Is this why you kept rejecting me?"

He couldn't believe it. Ara said something about Chiaki being insecure before, and now it seemed that it was true. But why?

"Weren't you the one who told all those bullies that it didn't matter what the person's background is as long as he's living honestly and not hurting anyone – and that as long as he can do the job properly?"

The first year Aki took over Suzuki Raiden Group, many old executives who had been on their uncle's side had ridiculed him, saying he's too green for the job. He didn't have much experience and he was young when their parents died and he fought to keep the company. But Chiaki had fiercely defended him in front of those people, saying that his background and inexperience didn't matter. What mattered were the results. Let Aki's work speak for itself, she said.

So, why?

"I'm such a hypocrite, that's why," Chiaki suddenly said, answering his inner question. "I'm the biggest hypocrite there is! I've seen how those people had ridiculed you and how you worked hard to prove to them that you're worthy. You've built your image from dust, and I didn't want to put you in a position where people can insult you again because of your choice."

"Chichi, I was never bothered by what they think of me," Aki told her a matter-of-factly, making her stop and stare at him.

"But you worked hard to prove to them you can do it," Chiaki murmured in disbelief.

She had been with him all those years he had slaved in the company to learn the ropes and to beat his obstacles one by one. She had been with him during the dark times when he had fought tooth and nail against Daizo to keep his sister and the company. How could he say he was never bothered by what others said?

All these questions and memories reflected on her face, and Aki finally sighed as he looked at her.

"Chichi, I did not work hard to prove something to them. I worked hard to prove something to you – to Ara. I wanted you to see that I can protect my family – I can protect you and what's ours."

Although he had lost sight of that purpose a bit as he immersed himself in his work, resulting in him neglecting Ara, his initial goal had always been to keep his sister and to prove to Chiaki that he was a good man – a responsible man.

"What are you talking about?"

Chiaki sounded so confused, and Aki laughed.

"Chichi, for someone who'd been with me all these years, how can you say something like that?"Aki reached out and flicked her forehead. It was a punishment for thinking about stupid, insignificant things.

To think she tried to stay away from him for so long because she was worried about his image? How could a man take that?

"Nobody else's opinions but yours and Ara's matter to me. What the others say hold no weight for me in making my decisions."

Well, he might listen to Gin's and Ryuu's advice now as they were part of his family now, but people other than them and his grandpa didn't matter.  Also…

He'd like to correct her on other points as well. She had spouted so many things he couldn't agree upon.

"Also, what prince are you talking about? We're nouveau riche. I was not born with the proverbial golden spoon. We just got lucky. I'm not blue-blooded like the Kazehayas or the Homuras."

It irked him that she thought he'd been lying to her from the start. It was not true. When they met, he was just an ordinary boy from an upper-middle-class family.

"Our fortune just changed when Ara was born – and you know what? I found out recently that it was also because of the Homuras and not because of our pure good old hard work. If it weren't for them backing us up, Suzuki Raiden Group wouldn't have been formed from the start."

"What? Homura?"

Aki grinned and nodded. He still hadn't told Chiaki about the contract between his parents and the Homura House.     

"Can you imagine? If it weren't for Ara whom Ryuu's family wanted from the beginning, I don't think our company would have thrived as it does now. Also…"

His voice trailed off, remembering that time when he had first met Ryuu and Gin.

"If my sister refused the engagement, I'd have moved heaven and earth to break the engagement and had to return the dowry to them. It means I had to surrender Suzuki Raiden Group to the Homura House. If that happened, do you think I'd still be a prince?"

"You mean…"

"I mean I'd have been a poor bloke who needed to look for a job. But who'd hire someone like me who didn't really have proper training and experience? Even if I did something good for the company, if the people saw how the Homura House took over, they would certainly think that it was because I was such a failure and refuse to have me in their company."

"Well…"

Chiaki was totally speechless.

"I was prepared to go that far for Ara. I wouldn't care what others think or say behind my back. Chichi, they don't matter. What matters to me have always been Ara and you…"