Late September.
"... this week, too."
Shota Kobayashi murmured with a pair of binoculars as Alisa came out of the house.
Shota's house is close to Aisha's house, and you can see just a little bit with binoculars from the veranda.
Every Saturday, Alisa went to her boyfriend who was tied to her feet.
How do you know that... because when it's late at night, you can see the man taking her home.
The man's name is Yuki Takase.
He is a boy of his age.
Of course, he didn't explicitly identify himself as Alisa's lover.....
It was obvious that they had a romantic relationship from the way they passed in front of Shota's house every night.
"Hah... you must be happy."
Every Saturday night.
When I heard a voice outside the door at the front door, I could hear only a few pleasant voices of Eiisa and Yu String.
Ai Lisha is always expressionless and emotionless.
I'm laughing fun.
That's... a pleasure.
I'm sure you'll be happy.
But... I wasn't happy.
Something thick was swirling around inside my chest.
You liked me first.
I was supposed to make her happy.
I was jealous.
I was jealous.
I was aware of being an ugly jealous person.
Still... that feeling couldn't be suppressed.
"I'm... a little closer..."
If you're smart.
If it were handsome.
If I had been born rich.
I really think so.
I can't help it.
"... hah"
"Shota, where are you going?
"Walk"
When she answered her mother that way, Shota went out fluffy.
Walking around without guessing.....
Then sit on a bench in a nearby park.
Looking up at the sky... I was shouted at.
"Cheung Tae-jun?
"Are you... Dae-sho?"
A young man with a carry bag approached Shota with a smiling smile.
Tiancheng Daxiang.
I'm Elizabeth's cousin.
Shota was able to learn about the complicated family situation in Aisha because Daishang taught me.
Also... Dae-Sho knew that Shota liked Elisa.
"Long time no see.... you're back."
Oh, I'm sorry I'm late.
The two reported on each other's developments.
Apparently Dae-xiang is going back to Kansai.
Are you okay with trains or something?
"We still have plenty of time."
After checking the clock, Daishang said.
Heh, Shota thought.
... does he know that Elyssa had a lover? and.
"Speaking of which... Mr. Snowcastle, you have a lover."
It's as if you don't care.
casually.
As if it were a good weather, Shota told Daishang.
Then Dae-xiang... clouded his expression.
"That's...."
"No, no, I don't care about anything.... it was originally an unreachable flower. Good people, right? Um, Takasekawa-san, right? The same high school as Snowcastle is smart, right? And his face... he's pretty handsome. I don't think I'm as good as Snowcastle..."
The more I said it, the more I felt different.
I can't say anything at the end.
I scratched my head and sighed.
Against that Shota... Daishang had a slightly lost expression, but he looked as if he had decided something.
"That's what I meant, Cheung-tae-kun. Actually... that's not Elyssa's lover."
"... eh?
"This is you, I say.... my father has told me not to talk to anyone, so please be careful. He's... Yuji Takase is Eisa's fiancée."
"Hey, fiancée!?
Shota raised her voice unexpectedly.
Then he hurried and blocked his mouth with both hands.
"That's right.... it's also a political marriage."
"Political marriage....."
It was as if I had been listening to the settings of SF and fantasy.
It was surprising that such a thing could happen in modern Japan.
"Alisa was forced to get engaged.... the Takase River family is famous in finance and politics. Maybe he liked Elyssa. That's why I got my money and power to say something, and I got engaged to Elizabeth."
"That's not true....."
He certainly looked rich.
It's also true that I thought he was a bad guy.
But Alisa looked happy at first sight.
I'm going to like that Elyssa.
I thought you must be a good person.
The only thing I didn't like was that my jealousy must have hallucinated me like that.
"But Snowcastle seems to be having fun....."
"My father must be threatening me to get along with Takase River.... because the Takase River family is one of the clans who shouldn't turn to enemies in this country."
Dae-xiang said so and told Shota to be careful.
"Okay? This is a secret.... we're going to help Elisa."
"... yes."
Shota, who was confused, had no choice but to nod.
When I got home, I looked into the Takase River family.
Then various information came out.
Takase River House.
A clan that unites the Takase River Treasury or a company called the Takase River Group.
It seems that only the Orange family exists in Japan.
But the real power of the Takase River family is not just about financial resources.
Apparently, the clan has been actively engaged in repeated political marriages for a long time.
That's why politicians and bureaucrats are so nice....
And it seems to have a wide network in the EU and the United States that jumped over Japan.
Especially since before the war, it seems to have a close relationship with the United States, and is also involved in the post-war end of the war.
While many treasury factions lost power after the war, the Takase River family (and the Orange family) did not weaken their power, but rather increased and strengthened it.
In the aftermath of the war, he provided enormous support to outlaw groups and sidelined weapons, using them as pawns in various plots to eliminate the United States, the ruling party and, above all, the people who threatened their vested interests.
The organization, which should have been the subject of riot laws as an organized crime group, has been excluded due to political pressure from the Takase River family, and still acts as a subcontractor for the Takase River family.
In addition, a small number of politicians, bureaucrats, presidents of large companies and mass media, and entertainers have become customers of illegal brothels operated by the organization. Using their customer information, the Takase River family can mobilize prosecutors at any time to socially kill leading Japanese figures.
Along with oranges, the emperor of the backward society that dominates Japan.
………………
…………
……
It was suspicious whether the information was true because it was all overflowing with online discussion sites.
Especially the emperors of the backward society laughed at Shota.
Normally, you wouldn't believe it.
But... when I believed Dae-xiang's words, I felt that I wasn't mistaken.
And if you think calmly, it's too strange for that lofty and noble image of Eiisa to behave like a dog.
In other words, Elyssa is under threat.
But... what exactly can you do when you know that?
Such a terrible family cannot be beaten by a mere commoner, Shota.
Nothing can be done, the days pass.
I regretted that I was helpless, but I could only watch Elyssa hang on a man's poison teeth.
And... one Saturday in November.
It was really just a coincidence.
On his way back to the city centre to distract himself, he entered the shopping mall to buy clothes.
So I met her.
It's Alisa from Snowcastle.
I was with a girl about middle-school who I had never seen before.
That man, Yu Takase Kawa... wasn't there.
When I noticed, I was calling.
"Ah, um... Mr. Snowcastle, right? What a strange encounter."
"... Kobayashi-san? What a strange encounter."
She looked a little surprised.
For some reason, Shota, who had a hesitant feeling, asked for an excuse.
"Hey, there's something I need to do around here. And I thought I'd look at the clothes, and when I entered the right store, I saw them. Uh, shopping?
You'll see.
Shota stumbled into herself without thinking.
But Alisa didn't seem particularly concerned and replied indifferently.
Yes, that's right.
She had the usual calm, cool look.
But... I felt strangely cuter than before.
I want it.
I want it.
I don't want to give it to such a rich and handsome man.
I felt strongly about it.
"Um, Mr. Snowcastle."
"What is it?"
"I heard you were engaged...."
Then the atmosphere that surrounded Elyssa changed.
For a moment, it cooled down to below freezing point... that's what I felt.
Your eyes are slightly lifted and your eyes are as cold as the lake surface.
"Who told you that?
"Huh?... from Dae-sho?"
"..... ch"
It was a tongue slap.
The more I knew about that Elyssa, the more upset she was.
"Can you please say that without saying anything else? Because it would cause trouble for Yushito-san."
"... I knew you were being threatened."
"... yes?
I don't know what the circumstances are, but Shota wondered if she was ordered not to say much about the engagement.
Alisa can't ask for help because she's threatened.
"You forced me to get engaged, didn't you? Dae-sho said that. Takase River... Yushi is threatening you, right? Money and power will force you! If only I could help you...."
"You say it yourself for a long time."
I heard a cold voice.
It was the voice of a girl about middle-school who was shopping with Alisa.
... I was desperate to talk to Elizabeth, and I completely forgot.
"You...."
"Takase River Aya Bow, Yustring's sister. I'll just say, it's unpleasant."
The girl with blue eyes, the satin bow, stepped forward with a calm voice.
Even though she was a girl younger than herself... she had a strange temper.
Retreat unintentionally.
"Is your brother threatening Alisa? What makes you say that?
"No, no... I mean, it's strange to get married politically! Wrong!"
Marriage is about being in love with each other.
It is strange to get married or engaged on the grounds of money, profit, or connections between houses.
Generally speaking, it should be wrong.
I'm right.
Shota can tell herself that.
On the other hand, the colored bow....
"My parents got married because of that political wedding. Are you saying that I and your brother were born wrong?
"Ah, no, that's it....."
"There are many reasons for marriage, couples and lovers."
Unexpectedly, Shota said nothing.
If you calm down, you may think of one or two objections, but your head turned pure white and you couldn't think of anything.
So I said aggressively.
Mr. Snowcastle is being abused.
The moment I said that, Elyssa's eyes were shaking with agitation.
It could hurt Elyssa... yes, it was on my head, but I couldn't stop opening my mouth.
"I was forced to get engaged. In exchange for a lot of money! This is crazy!! I can't believe you're getting married for money!!
……
The rainbow looked a little surprised and opened his eyes.
But the expression quickly calmed down.
"What's so funny?
"No, no... I mean, that's not true..."
"Provide financial support to close relatives, friends, lovers, and married people's homes. I don't think it's a common story. As a familiar example... you need a scholarship or a joint guarantor. It's the same."
"But...."
Somehow, I felt that was a trick.
I didn't realize what a trick it was... but I have to say it back.
Shota desperately searches for words.
But before that, the sai bow opens its mouth.
"Whatever it is... whoever the Takase River is offering financial assistance to, it's up to us."
"Chi, no..."
"What's different?
"This is it... that's right! Trafficking in human beings!
There can be no way that people can be allowed to buy and sell Alisa as if it were a commodity.
Shota insisted that this was a crime.
"Where?
"I, no... I mean, I'm going to pay with my engagement..."
"The engagement of my brother and Irisa and my father's decision to lend money to a company run by Naoki Tenjo is quite another story."
It's like mechanical voice.
That's what the rainbow said.
This expression has no emotional colour, it's just mechanical... it was so scary.
"Well, it's selfish of you to think of human trafficking... but this is a matter of the Takase River and Tenjo. None of your business."
"Ke, call the police....."
"The police are civil disobedient. I do not have the authority to enter into a deal between Takase River and Tenjo by dividing my brother's engagement with Erisa.... obviously, right?
Caiyu said to make a fool of him.
I'm not afraid of the police or anything.
That's what I was going to say.
Shota remembers.
The Takase River family has a strong influence in finance and politics.
Shota retreated unexpectedly.
Ask Shota to fold her bow even further.
"In the first place, what are you to Elisha?
"Eh? No, I..."
What is it that I am to Elisha?
A lover? No way.
Friends?... I'm not that close.
"Oh, I'm... a junior high school classmate from Snowcastle's neighborhood..."
I mean, someone else.
Someone else.
Yes... Shota is someone else.
For Alisa, it's just someone else.
"Chi, chi, oh, me... about Snowcastle..."
"Don't talk about people's engagement because you're just someone else."
After that, the bow raised its mouth angle for a brief moment.
"Or are you getting married? You're right, if you're just really threatened, you have a chance.
My sight was gluffing.
Perspective goes mad.
There was a stinging sensation in front of my eyes.
"I, no...."
Unexpectedly, I saw Elyssa.
Then she.....
I couldn't help but lose sight of it.
I knew it.
What I'm saying is that it's disintegration.
Sometimes I don't think anything about myself.
And... it also means that Aisha has a preference for Yustring Takase River.
It became dark in front of me.
I tried to escape aggressively.
Turning my heel back.....
"Ah...."
There is a man with deep blue eyes.
Yustring Takase River stood.
He said with a strange expression, but with a little anger, in a quiet voice.
"Rainbow. What's all this noise?"