The Price of Choice

Yukiko Tanaki slowly approached the tall gates of her family estate, feeling waves of memories wash over her with every step. It seemed that the closer she got, the more memories surfaced from the past. She stopped, sighed nervously, and, unable to look away, glanced once more at the estate that had once been her home. 

The estate, vast and covered in ivy, seemed so unchanged, even though everything around it looked altered. The tall columns of the portico, the ancient windows with heavy curtains, and the old stone walls that had witnessed many years of her life here — all of it felt familiar, yet at the same time foreign. 

But there was no strength left to turn back. Gathering all her courage, she stood there, and there was no way back. With these thoughts, Yukiko slowly pressed the doorbell. Her hands clenched together, trying to hide the trembling that could not be stilled.

She recognized the person immediately. It was Kazuko — the woman who had worked at their estate since the time when Yukiko hadn't even existed in this world. She had been like a second mother to her, always by her side, ready to help at any moment. 

"Kazuko..." Yukiko said through her tears. "You're still here..." 

"Yes, Lady Yukiko, I am still here," Kazuko replied with kindness in her voice and a warm smile, despite the formality and professional relationship between them. "Your parents, Mr. Tomohiro and Mrs. Yukako, are already waiting for you. Please, follow me."

Yukiko simply nodded, silently following Kazuko. The path to the living room seemed endless, and the corridors felt foreign, even though she knew every corner of this house well. 

When they reached the door that led into the living room, Yukiko's heart trembled and began to beat faster. 

Kazuko politely opened the door and gestured for her to enter. "Your daughter is here, Mr. Tomohiro, Mrs. Yukako," she said with respect.

Yukiko took a few steps forward, seeing her parents sitting on the luxurious sofa in the spacious room. Their appearance was impeccable: her mother in a strict suit, and her father in an expensive jacket. They looked as authoritative as ever; their gazes were stern and piercing, with a cold undertone that seemed to hang in the air, driving out all warmth. 

"Mr. Tomohiro. Mrs. Yukako..." Yukiko said dryly, holding herself back from flinching under their stares. She bowed low, as etiquette demanded, and waited for her parents to react, feeling the chill of their gaze penetrate her very soul. 

"Mr. and Mrs.?" Her mother leaned forward, and her voice was so cold it pierced the soul. "Have we become strangers to you, Yukiko?"

"Isn't that so?" Yukiko responded slightly provocatively. "I came here because I have a request. And nothing more." 

"A request?" Her father interjected, his voice stern but controlled. "And you truly think you can just show up after all these years, call us strangers, and ask for a favor?" 

Yukiko clenched her teeth, trying to remain calm. "I'm not asking for help for myself," she replied, raising her head. "It's for Takeshi. He's... he's in the hospital, and he needs surgeries... that I can't afford..." 

A deep silence followed. Her mother and father exchanged glances, but their faces remained unreadable.

"We've known about your husband's condition for a long time. But, as you wanted, we haven't interfered in your life and simply waited for you to come," her mother spoke, her voice tinged with harshness. "And we also know that you're parading your life, trying to invoke pity." 

Yukiko clenched her hands into fists. 

"I'm doing everything I can to save him," she replied firmly. "And now I'm here because you have the means to help. I'm not asking for money. I'm asking to save a life." 

"So… you waited all this time, hoping you could find the money on your own, ready to crush your pride, work around the clock. But you weren't ready to come to us? And now, when you've given up... you've come to ask — no, demand — money and salvation for the person who stole our daughter?" her father said. His words struck like hammer blows, each one hitting her heart, shattering what little remained of her stubborn resolve.

Yukiko stood before them, trying to hold back her tears, but she felt their coldness, indifference, and anger consume her completely, as if she were turning into a shadow. She knew they would be like this, but standing before them and begging for help was incredibly hard. She already felt that she had made a mistake coming here. 

"I... I didn't want to..." she whispered weakly, feeling her voice grow quieter and quieter. And then, tears began to fall from her eyes. 

But her father was no longer listening. His eyes, cold and hard, were merciless. 

"You didn't want to? Or simply couldn't? Look at yourself, Yukiko. We always gave you everything — opportunities, a paved path. You could have had what everyone wants: our business, which could have made you one of the richest people in the world, you could have had everything you ever wanted. But... you chose to run away and stabbed the family in the back." He stopped, seeing how his daughter began to cry even harder, barely holding back the tears, but he had no intention of stopping.

"Yes, we were cold, yes, we were strict, but we gave you everything, we never forbade you anything, and we supported you in everything. And only once, just once... we asked you to put aside your desires, your happy life for a while, to take on our business... And then you could have done whatever you wanted, even sold it that very day. But you chose him — the simple detective you loved with all your heart." 

Yukiko could not hold back her tears. Each word from her father struck her directly in the heart, like a knife, and each subsequent blow was stronger and more painful than the last.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she couldn't stop them. They were not just from the pain, but from how difficult it was to hear the truth from the mouths of the people she had loved so deeply and, at the same time, hated. 

Her father clenched his fist, his eyes remained cold and merciless, but seeing the tears on his daughter's face, he knew he had gone too far. Yet, he also knew that he had to say it all, even though it didn't mean it didn't hurt him. 

They were human too, parents who had suffered pain when they lost their daughter. It was incredibly hard for them not to see her grow, to see how she changed, and to never once meet their granddaughter, whom they could only see in photographs. 

"We will help you, Yukiko," he said sternly. "But of course, not for nothing. You had everything, but by your choice... you lost it all. Now you must pay the price for our help. And while we decide what we want from you, go to your room. Look at what you've lost, and think about whether it was worth throwing all of it away."

Kazuko silently took Yukiko's hand with tenderness, still crying, and slowly led her out of the room. Her gaze was filled with compassion. She didn't say a word, knowing that Yukiko needed time to think it all over. 

They walked down the corridor, and despite her calm demeanor, Kazuko felt a pang of sorrow in her heart for Yukiko. She was the one who had seen her when she was still a little girl, the one who had lived through all the moments of her life, and the one who had replaced her mother and father, who were always at work. 

Step by step, they reached Yukiko's room — the one she had once used. Here, among familiar things and old memories, Yukiko had the chance to look at what she had lost.

Yukiko, feeling a little calmer, began to carefully examine the room. Her gaze lingered on the old family photographs, where she was still a little girl who loved her parents with all her heart. Many of these moments were filled with joy, when her mother and father were always by her side, supporting her on important days — at her school graduation, at the university ceremony. They couldn't always be with her due to their busy schedules, but in those moments, they were there. 

The photographs reminded her of what her family had been like before everything changed. She carefully looked around the walls, where her childhood drawings once hung, and at the old laptop sitting in the same spot it had been when she left this house.

Everything had been preserved — even the small things she had never paid attention to while living here. And although the room was tidy, she could tell it wasn't just for the sake of cleanliness. She could feel how often her parents must have been here, as if trying to hold onto everything they had of her. 

Meanwhile, in the spacious living room, Tomohiro and Yukako sat facing each other, relentlessly discussing something. Both were agitated, but they tried to maintain calm and firmness in their demeanor.

"We could ask her to come back and take over the business," Tomohiro said, flipping through the documents in front of him. "But so many years have passed. She's forgotten everything we taught her, and I highly doubt she'll be willing to learn it all again with the same persistence. Moreover, once she gets the money, I doubt she'll want to continue running the business. She ran away from us once, and she'll likely run away again once she gets what she wants." 

Yukako nodded silently in agreement. Both of them knew well that after her running away, this would be incredibly difficult. Another option that came to mind was immediately dismissed. 

"I also don't think it would be a good idea to force her to move in with us, along with her husband and daughter," Yukako said, frowning. "After all, we are two different families now, and I doubt we could live together."

Tomohiro silently agreed, but a shadow of displeasure crossed his eyes. Both of them could not come to terms with the fact that their daughter had so radically distanced herself from them. 

"I think we could ask her to allow us to see Kimika," Tomohiro spoke again after a pause. "Time is passing, she's already 15, and we haven't seen her, except for the photos she sends every few years. Kimika probably doesn't even know we exist. And one day, when we're gone, she'll never even learn about us." 

Yukako paused, gently biting her lip. They both had not seen their granddaughter, and the pain from this was palpable.

"Yes, that should be the first step. And we can also ask her to agree to work at our company. We can offer her a good position as a manager, with a decent salary," Yukako added, noticing that this proposal could be a real solution for Yukiko. "Of course, we'll give her the money for those surgeries, but she'll work as a manager and contribute part of her earnings to us for repaying the debt. Even with that, she'll still earn more than she does now at her current jobs." 

Tomohiro paused for a moment, considering the suggestions. He could offer more, but it all had to be within reason. 

"It will be a fair compromise. She needs to understand that everything now depends on her choices," he said, standing up. "Let's wait and see what she says."

He turned to the servant who was standing nearby. "Bring her here," he ordered coldly, but with a certain resolve. 

A few minutes later, the living room doors opened, and Yukiko, having managed to calm herself and gather all her resolve, entered. Her gaze was filled with anxiety but also with hope, though she tried not to show it. 

Tomohiro and Yukako sat, looking at her without emotion, their faces as stone-like as before. Yukako spoke first.

"Yukiko, we have considered your request. And, let's be clear, we will offer you only one option — this is not a great favor from us, it's simply a compromise we are willing to accept," she said, her voice remaining stern. "So, you will work at our company as a manager, with a good salary, and, of course, you will give part of your earnings to pay off the debt. And you will give us the right to see Kimi, our granddaughter, after all, or you can, of course, refuse. If you refuse... it's your choice, but remember, we could have turned you down right away, but we gave you a chance."

"This isn't even the hardest thing we could ask. Of course, you can weigh whether you need this or not. We are not keeping you here, but you must understand — your choice will affect both your life and the life of your family," Tomohiro emphasized.

Yukiko remained silent, her eyes wide open in surprise. She understood that the choice she was given wasn't that difficult — the conditions were truly easy compared to what she had been through. Looking at her parents, she took a deep breath and, gathering the last of her strength, replied. 

"Alright... I agree. These are acceptable conditions," she said softly, but firmly. 

"Well then, if you want, you can stay and feel at home here," he said, his tone slightly softer than before. "Lunch with your favorite dishes from our chef will be ready soon. I think he will be happy to cook for you again."

Yukako gave a slight smile: "Perhaps this will be a good opportunity to rest a little and remember how things were here before." 

Yukiko rose from her seat, maintaining politeness in her manner, though her heart tightened with mixed emotions. She gave a slight bow and calmly said: "Thank you for the invitation, but I must go. I still have many things to do." 

Her voice was even, though inside she felt a heaviness. Without saying another word, she turned and headed for the door, not looking back.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Tomohiro and Yukako exchanged glances and quietly smiled at each other. 

"Where did she get that stubbornness from?" Tomohiro asked with an ironic smile, slightly tilting his head. 

"Of course, from both of us," Yukako replied, her gaze softening and warming, and a hint of the tenderness she usually hid shone in her eyes. "But it seems we'll finally meet our granddaughter. I wonder what she's like? She must be sweet and kind, judging by the photo. Maybe she even dreams of becoming a heroine, like all the other children. Perhaps she wants to join that academy; we could help her."

"I'm familiar with Nezu, the director of the academy," Tomohiro said, nodding thoughtfully. "It will be quite easy to arrange if she wants to become a heroine, of course... Although at her age, my father threw me out on the street and made me earn my living and survive on my own." 

Yukako gave a barely noticeable smile, crossing her arms over her chest. "But that's how we met. Aren't you glad about that?" she asked, her voice soft, but with a subtle trace of irony. 

Tomohiro raised his eyebrows in surprise, then quickly waved his hands, as if trying to defend himself. "No, I... Of course, I'm glad! It's just..." He coughed, trying to find the right words. "It just seemed cruel at the time. But the outcome, without a doubt, was the best possible," he added, avoiding a direct answer, but his voice still carried warmth. 

Yukako quietly laughed, her smile widening. "Well, you see. Sometimes, harshness has its rewards."

"Yes, but it seems this only worked on me," Tomohiro added, sighing thoughtfully. "With Yukiko, even less harsh upbringing didn't have any result — she ran away. Maybe we should change our approach and become good grandparents? Give Kimika everything she wants, spoil her, make her feel happy and loved? We have more than enough money, we can afford it."

He shrugged slightly, his voice soft, but with a hint of regret. "Kimika is not to blame for anything. Just like Yukiko, really. But..."

Yukako looked at her husband thoughtfully, tilting her head. "But you're afraid we might make the same mistakes we made with Yukiko?" 

Tomohiro silently nodded, his expression growing more serious. "Yes. We thought that harshness and discipline were the best way. But now I realize we lost more than we gained. So maybe this time, we should try something different." 

Yukako gently touched his hand, her gaze warm. "We'll manage. The most important thing is to see Kimika. After that, I'm sure we'll find the right way."

Tomohiro paused again for a moment, turning the conversation back to business. 

"What about the business?" he finally said. "How do we find a successor if neither Yukiko nor Kimika want it?" His voice sounded a bit lost, as the question remained unresolved. 

Yukako sighed deeply, lifting her gaze to him. "Oh, don't start again with the business," she said, as though it was one of her greatest disappointments. "We lost our daughter because of it. We could hand over the business... I don't know, maybe to Kazuko. She's always been close to Yukiko, almost like a replacement for us."

There was bitterness in her voice, but also a certain determination. "She really deserves it. And if there's still a chance to preserve even part of what we've built, let it be for someone who truly appreciates it." 

Yukako continued, her voice softening further, but a subtle note of interest returned. "And you know, Kazuko even got herself a husband, or so I've heard. His name is Ren. And here's the miracle — she keeps him under control. That Ren even quit drinking thanks to her." She smiled, though it was more a smile of contemplation than of joy.

"She's always been so sweet with our daughter, but with him — with Ren, she's completely different. Like a strict mentor, as if she wants to turn him into a decent man. I never thought Kazuko could have such an impact on a man. She's not at all what she seems at first glance. She knows what she wants and how to achieve it." 

Yukako sighed again, remembering how Kazuko had always been there, and how, despite her gentleness with Yukiko, she could be tough with others when the situation demanded it.

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Yukiko and Yukako... I'm not ... I'm not good at coming up with character names...

Interesting fact: the name Yukiko wasn't chosen by Yukako, but by Tomohiro, who loves both of them very much. But it seems they're just like Takeshi... they can't show emotions to anyone other than each other, or they purposely hide them.

Write what you think about this chapter. I think it's interesting because the storyline with the mother searching for money is developing, and now everything will be fine! But... what about Kimika? If she knew about her grandparents... maybe she wouldn't have become a criminal.

Kazuko + Ren... Ren seems like a lucky guy — he's found the woman of his life, and it also looks like Kazuko will become wealthy soon. But don't worry, Kazuko will keep him in her grasp.

Want to see the continuation even faster than the next day? Or perhaps you want even more chapters? Head over to my Patreon — it's all there! But don't worry, sooner or later, it will be here too! patreon.com/Zoi4erom

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