[Because a pyramid houses a dead man, what else? And I am on thin ice here.]
Breathing out heavily, C thought to himself.
"Anyway, let me thank you all once again for listening to my selfish request." After clearing his throat, my husband lightly bowed. "I'm sorry for why I can't say we needed everyone since that would violate Kuro's secrecy."
[I expected the class rep and blondie to follow. The real one, also most important, was Han. I do not want my mind wiped out by not having him near. And if something happens, well, I can throw him into Kuro's Mother's face. No idea what will happen, though. Kurokawa always finished her event before he arrived. At least with Rachel around, the guy will not die.]
Rachel hugged C's arm tight between her chest: "It's fun going on a trip with someone you love!"
As a direct rival, Laura retaliated by doing the same thing: "Of course, it would be much better if there were just the two of us. Like how a normal relationship should be."This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com
I thought they looked adorable clinging to C like that. But since our position was vastly different, there was no need for me to bicker with those two girls.
"Don't worry, master. I won't be a bother to you! As long as I can learn your ways, I'm all good!" Han glanced at C. "Anyhow, this is a great field lesson! How you manage to find the balance between Laura, Rachel, and Kurokawa is something I must know! That's not good anymore. That's GOATED!"
"Honestly, Han, tell me when you do find it. Trust me when I say I'm also clueless."
"That's why you're the boss. It comes so naturally to you! It's like...an instinct at this point." Han raised his thumb. "An ultra instinct!"
"..."
[Just shut the hell up! You will get your fill eventually! Remember that A's little sister is lurking around the corner for you. When that happens, good freaking luck, pal!]
"Oh! I have one more question."
"Please don't."
"Not for you, master, but for your girls."
"..."
[Kill me.]
"If Rachel said you were a family, who is the wife? The first one, I mean."
[YOU DAMN IDIOT!]
"Me." Rachel raised her hand happily.
The look on Han's face became worse: "Did your Mother do this to you? Why would she do such a thing?"
"Because I was not good enough." The words came out of my mouth like nothing.
"Kuro!" C was about to launch himself up before me. But before he could do so, my hands were already on his shoulders, pressing him down on the bench. "Kuro, that's not true." His voice was tender. He was afraid I would fall into the abyss of self-deprecation again.
I looked at my husband and shook lightly. Even though my appreciation for him was grand, I knew more than anyone that this was me in total control. At this point, I was not trying to deceive myself. Merely truth was being spoken.
"I was never good enough in her eyes." Then, my voice cut short for me to look at everyone deep in the eyes, except for one person, of course. "By the end of this evening, there is no guarantee what Mother will do to me as I am about to break out from her control. There is a chance, albeit small, that she will blame my mistakes on you guys. She may even attack you all. Because of that, I must be honest with you and warn you beforehand."
I left my place in front of C and walked further ahead, trying to find a location where I could see everyone at once. "I apologize for not saying this sooner. You are all free to do whatever you want. But please, lend me your strength."
"Wait. Wait. Wait. I'm confused." Han waved his hand. "If you knew all this beforehand, why didn't you report it? That looked like it happened so long ago, then why didn't you..."
"Han! I thought I told you to shut up! You know NOTHING about her!" Once again, C's anger manifested. This time, he did not hold back. "Stop making assumptions in your head!"
"W-what are you talking about?" Staggered, Han stumbled with his words.
My husband pointed a finger at the other guy: "You're definitely thinking if she called someone for help, she wouldn't have gotten into such a bad place. Am I right? That if she asked someone to do it for her, then she wouldn't suffer as much, right?"
"I...I..."
"She wouldn't have had to suffer for that reason. But did you think about the consequences if Kuro did?" C's hands clenched. "What would happen to her life? What would happen to her Mother? Yeah, after reporting, Kuro's day will become nice and dandy? Fuck NO! She would have suffered because of something else!"
It always came to such a question. Why did you not do this? Why did you not do that? It was as if the person asking never considered the circumstances that led to that action. For someone who did not have to endure such a fate, it would be exponentially simpler for them to ask that question. Standing from the moral high ground, they could start bombing the victims with questions without giving a second thought.
"I am not asking for an argument, Han Som." My protagonist walked toward me, followed by the other two girls. "You have no clue how hard Kuro worked and is working. The last thing I want is for her to become a target of victim blaming because that is easy for you to say."
But I did not bother with Han.
"C, it is fine." I then looked over Han's place. "My Mother is the only relative I have, Han. She is my Mother. Flesh and blood. She gave birth to me. And even when every day of my life living with her is hellish, I can still not sever that soul connection between us two. She is the only worst thing I've got that is real in my life!"
"I'm sorry, Kurokawa. I'm so sorry..."
I inhaled: "It's alright. That said, it would be easier if you understood the whole picture. Would you guys hear my story out?"
No one said no, so continued, I did.
"Let's start from the beginning."