Chapter 280: The Suitor from Tsukuba University High School

PS: A bit of writer's block, so just one chapter today. 4,700 characters, guaranteed quality and quantity! The Son of Heaven is just this principled!

Regarding what happened with Sister Mikoto back then, perhaps a naive, pure-hearted high school sophomore might truly be left with some psychological trauma, but for a guy like Uesugi Muneyuki, who actually has thirty years of experience from a past life, well.

A young, ignorant high school boy with a face full of pain. JPG

"Pain? Not at all." Uesugi Muneyuki looked at the Forensic Beauty with a sidelong glance: "If anything, it felt damn good."

"Eh?!" The Forensic Beauty was stunned by Uesugi Muneyuki's statement: "But we were stuck together for an entire week back then; wouldn't you feel uncomfortable?"

"Of course not." Uesugi Muneyuki thought to himself that this was truly a beautiful misunderstanding: "Sister Mikoto, you really are someone who only thinks about yourself."

"Eh???"

"But I did learn one thing from you, Sister Mikoto. You crave being loved, and for that reason, you always show kindness to others while carefully maintaining neutrality. Showing kindness is because you crave love; maintaining neutrality is because you are afraid of getting hurt. At the time, you probably used me as a substitute for your ex-husband for that very reason. You knew I liked you, so you did that, and you felt guilty..." Uesugi Muneyuki sighed: "Sister Mikoto, you are actually a very good person, but you almost always consider problems only from your own perspective."

"Did you ever consider how much pain I suffered because you suddenly left without saying goodbye? Did you never consider how thirsty a young boy, having just tasted the forbidden fruit for the first time, would be after suddenly losing his steady partner?" The man retorted: "Did you never consider my feelings? I've been looking for you for several years!"

"I'm sorry." The Forensic Beauty finally realized that Uesugi Muneyuki had not been hurt by her actions at the time at all; on the contrary, her departure was the greatest hurt.

"We are now a community of shared destiny. Are you prepared to hand your life over to me?" Uesugi Muneyuki still looked at her with a sidelong glance: "Don't you want to see the darkness of the Uesugi Residence? I'll let you see it."

"I'm not afraid of offending Director Ukai. The main reason for coming to the hospital is to negotiate. This hospital is my alma mater, after all. If Director Ukai wasn't a CPU and hadn't tried to threaten and lure me with the dark unspoken rules of the medical world, but instead talked to me properly, I wouldn't have intended to use my background resources to fight with back-end power."

"But... you are different, Sister Mikoto. I really can make it so that you cannot find any job in all of Japan." Uesugi Muneyuki was still smiling, but the temperament of his smile had changed from sunny and handsome to dark and profound: "No, rather than saying I'll make you unable to find a job, it's more like you'll be wanted by the police. Because you once stayed in the Special Mission Unit and came into contact with many classified documents and undisclosed matters, in order not to leak state secrets, the Metropolitan Police Department would have no choice but to issue a nationwide warrant for you!"

"By then, if you try to run and get caught, Sister Mikoto, you will only be able to disappear forever!" Uesugi Muneyuki's eyes were hollow and lusterless, devoid of highlights, with only a ferocious smile on the corners of his mouth indicating his excitement: "So, don't think about leaving anymore, Sister Mikoto. Don't force me to 'completely privatize' you."

"Tsk tsk tsk, is this the darkness of the Uesugi Residence?" The Forensic Beauty felt a bit scared, but also a bit moved. Especially after learning that Uesugi Muneyuki had absolutely no psychological trauma or shadows, the guilt in her heart lessened a lot: "I understand. Big sister won't leave you, and to be honest, big sister is counting on you now."

"Yes, rely on me more. Rest assured and hand your life over to me, Sister Mikoto." Uesugi Muneyuki nodded with a smile.

The darkness of the Uesugi Residence is beyond your imagination!

Under the "threats and inducements" of Uesugi Muneyuki, the Forensic Beauty finally complied obediently.

The two finished their meal. It was already three o'clock in the afternoon, and Ishihara Mikoto suddenly became interested: "Uesugi, are you going back to the Metropolitan Police Department today?"

"Not going back. It was official business anyway; I'm going home to sleep." Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head.

"Then, Tsukuba University High School is not far from here. How about we go pick up Asuka together?"

Ishihara Mikoto had previously officially signed an adoption agreement with Saito Asuka. Naturally, a girl from Hokkaido could not lack people willing to adopt her, so the entire process was carried out secretly with the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Department and the District Public Prosecutors Office. After confirming that Asuka was indeed willing to be adopted by Ishihara Mikoto, both parties signed the adoption agreement.

At the same time, Asuka had already turned 16, so Uesugi Muneyuki signed a long-term live-in Housekeeper agreement with her. Uesugi Muneyuki would pay Asuka a salary of 50,000 yen per month, provide food and lodging, and pay for all her school expenses, so the girl could openly live with him. With the guardian's permission, there were no legal loopholes to be found.

"Asuka's club at school is the Homecoming Club? I remember it was the Home Economics Club, wasn't it?" Uesugi Muneyuki also became interested.

"Eh, it seems someone at their school forgot to turn off the oven two days ago, and the Home Economics Club room burned down. The school needs a few days to repair it, so Asuka has transferred to the Homecoming Club for these few days." The Forensic Beauty laughed: "And you live with her, you unqualified Mr. Uesugi."

"Finally looking a bit like a qualified mother, Sister Mikoto." Uesugi Muneyuki still couldn't help but frown: "Speaking of which, ovens are designed with timers, right? What kind of operation would burn an oven down?"

"According to Asuka, it seems to be her classmate, named Yuto..."

……………………

3:30 PM, Tsukuba University High School.

In the classroom where the sunlight had not yet faded, the bell for the end of class for Class 2-B had already rung. Saito Asuka lowered her head to tidy up her mist-gray plaid pleated skirt, and the maple leaves outside the window happened to brush past the shoulder line of her navy blue suit jacket.

The autumn JK uniform of Tsukuba University High School wrapped her slender frame, making her look exceptionally thin. A dark red ribbon knot was pinned to the collar of her white shirt, leaving faint shadows on her body along the light from the window. The calves wrapped in black 60D velvet silk stockings looked like unsharpened sketch pencils, extending a hazy, delicate beauty unique to a young girl between the knee-length skirt and the small uniform leather shoes. Every time the heels tapped the ground, the shadow of the silk stockings swayed along her ankles.

The draft passing through the window and the classroom door lifted the long hair at the back of Saito Asuka's head, revealing earlobes with the texture of mother-of-pearl. The face of the Chosen Girl took on a cold tone in the twilight autumn light. She packed her things and prepared to leave.

However, it was precisely the bell for the end of class that attracted countless hungry wolves.

The doorway was filled with boys in caramel-colored uniforms. The high school boys carrying their school bags were worried about having nowhere to vent their excess energy. Ever since Saito Asuka transferred to Tsukuba University High School, she had deservedly become the school beauty and the goddess of all the boys in the school. Wherever she went, there were always people waiting on her hand and foot. Many boys would even wait not far from the entrance of Sakata Bridge Tower every day, pretending to run into her, and then walk with her for about ten minutes.

This process was the only spiritual pillar for many boys facing the heavy academic load of high school (relative to places other than China and South Korea)!

Even the opportunity to be on cleaning duty with Saito Asuka had to be fought for!

By the same token, there was never a shortage of love letters and various small gifts in the girl's shoe locker. And on every holiday, the number of invitations Asuka received for dates and outings was countless. Tsukuba University High School was considered a prestigious school, and among them were many whose families were prominent figures in society. Some invited her to ride the railway, some invited her to Disneyland, and some invited her to take a sightseeing cruise.

Even more extreme, there were invitations to vacation in Karuizawa or visit the Imperial Palace.

However, no matter who it was or what kind of invitation it was, Saito Asuka would politely decline, stating that she had to work after school.

This made the boys so anxious they were scratching their heads.

Work? What kind of work? Asuka is so kawaii and she still has to work?

Don't work, I'll support you!

However, when faced with similar remarks, the Chosen Girl almost always responded with a sneer throughout.

A bunch of wet-behind-the-ears kids, that's all. The money is their family's, the connections are their family's. One by one, they dare to boast, and one by one, they can't deliver when the time comes.

Not a single one of them has the ability like Mr. Uesugi to directly confront a father who holds the family's power and wealth for my sake... Forget it, there is only one Mr. Uesugi, and there is only one Saito Asuka.

In short, the girl was just that popular at school.

During the last school festival, the Home Economics Club the girl joined held a maid-themed cafe. As a result, the line of boys stretched from the second floor to the first floor and then to the playground, just to catch a glimpse of Saito Asuka in her maid outfit. When the girl was learning cooking and housework in the Home Economics Club every day, there were always large groups of boys watching in the hallway. There were even boys secretly writing light novels, such as "Re: Zero - Starting Life in Another World with Asuka" or "Mushoku Tensei: I'll Get Serious If I Go to Another World with Asuka."

And as Saito Asuka closed her school bag, three or four boys had already surrounded her.

"Saito-chan, do you want me to help you write today's notes?"

"Saito, please be sure to use my excerpts. I've already taken notes on the Pacific War, the Oil Crisis, and all those key knowledge points for you!"

"Saito, are you free the day after tomorrow? Universal Studios Osaka has launched a new project in collaboration with SMAP and Harry Potter. Do you want to go see it with me? Kimura and Nakai are there! Does Saito-san like Johnny's? I have Takuya Tegoshi's autograph here~"

The boys described their needs urgently.

"I heard the snow in Aomori is beautiful this year..." Before a boy could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a girl next to him with a sneer: "Hey, Kimura, have you forgotten? Asuka-chan said she doesn't like snow?"

"Uh, sorry, sorry." This boy's face turned bright red, and he apologized quickly.

"It's fine." Saito Asuka said coldly, then signaled for everyone to make way.

From behind and to the side came the sound of a ballpoint pen rolling onto the ground—someone's movement to squat down and pick it up was too swift, yet they only dared to let their fingertips stop five centimeters from the edge of her black silk stockings, not daring to get any closer.

After all, everyone knew the reason why pens were always being dropped around the girl; they saw through it but didn't say it.

"Saito, our Wind Instrument Club really needs you! Everyone is playing in a band; if you don't like instruments, it's fine to just be our audience!" "Our Kendo Club just changed into new training uniforms, Saito, don't you want to come and try them on?" "The telescope equipment for our Astronomy Club was recommended by an astronomer surnamed Sun from the Youth Palace in Jingzhou City, Handong Province, across the sea. It guarantees you'll see a new world!"

The arguments turned into fine bubbles with Saito Asuka's footsteps. Wherever the hem of her navy blue school suit jacket swept, all voices automatically dropped half a tone, leaving only the rhythm of her small round-toed leather shoes tapping the ground, like a conductor's baton cutting through the honey-colored air.

Another day with nothing gained.

However, being able to see this girl chosen by the gods before school ended, and being able to hear her say a word or two, was enough for the boys to feel it was worth it.

Ah, I wish Asuka-chan would scold me~

Ah, I wish Asuka-chan would step on me with her little leather shoes~

It would be even better if she scolded us by saying, "Anyway, no one is going to spend Christmas with you, right?", then we would really faint!

Feeling the eager, expectant gazes on both sides, Saito Asuka sighed.

So annoying, I want to go home quickly, I want to see Uesugi-sensei quickly!

But, if I go back so early today, I won't be able to see Uesugi-sensei, right? He is so busy, he usually can't come back until seven or eight in the evening.

I still have to go back early! A serious look appeared on the girl's small face: the last madeleine cake didn't turn out well, the edges were a bit burnt, this time I must make a perfect cake for Uesugi-sensei to taste!

Unlike the boys who were as eager and expectant as lecherous pigs, the girls had a very cold attitude toward Saito Asuka.

It can't be helped, girls are naturally inclined to disparage their own kind, not to mention in Japan, where female competition and school bullying are relatively severe; in fact, if it weren't for the large group of boys following Saito Asuka everywhere, small groups would have already wanted to teach her a harsh lesson.

Naturally, many boys wanted to walk this 10-minute walk home with Saito Asuka. Ever since the girl enrolled at Tsukuba University High School, it hadn't been a few weeks before boys tried to tail her. Although they might not have harbored any malicious intentions, everyone simply couldn't resist their curiosity about such a mysterious, god-chosen beautiful girl who had suddenly transferred here, wanting to know where she lived and who was in her family.

But today the situation was different.

"Hey! Did you guys see it?" A girl rushed in from outside and shouted loudly: "Someone is at the school gate, it seems to be Uesugi-san?"

"Uesugi-san? Could it be that Uesugi?" A girl reacted immediately.

"Wow, it really is Uesugi Muneyuki! That legendary Forensic Pathologist!"

"Uesugi-san is so handsome! So stylish, so elegant! As expected of the Peerage, a descendant of the Dragon of Echigo, Lord Kenshin!"

"I can't take it anymore, girls, I can't control myself!"

"Sanitary napkins, who has a sanitary napkin to lend me a pack, now!"

"Why would Uesugi-san appear at our middle school? Who is that woman beside him?"

The chaos in front of the teaching building entrance caught Saito Asuka's attention. The girl originally wouldn't have cared about these things at all, but when she heard the name Uesugi Muneyuki, the fledgling-like eyes on the girl's cute little face widened abruptly.

She held her school bag with both hands and ran with small steps, rushing out of the school building.

Sure enough, a man and a woman were standing at the school gate. The man was tall, cold, and stern with a smile on his face. Although the distance was far, he saw Asuka at a glance, and a look of doting immediately appeared on his face.

The woman was petite and foxy, her face brimming with a bright and happy expression, and her eyes were full of drama. Today, as usual, she was wearing fashion paired with work attire. On her upper body, she wore a pure white long-sleeved V-neck shirt, her round and full breasts gleaming under the reflection of a diamond pearl necklace. She had a small white bag hanging on her shoulder, paired with a black mid-length tulle skirt. Under the hem of the skirt, her exposed calves were clad in flesh-colored stockings and standard 5cm commuting High-heeled Shoes. Her entire temperament looked like a foxy woman with an added touch of a professional career woman.

"Asuka, Mom is here to pick you up!" Seeing the girl, the Forensic Beauty immediately waved.

Who is your daughter?! The girl instinctively darkened her face, thinking, that's enough!

I agreed to let you adopt me so I could continue to stay by Uesugi-sensei's side, not to become your daughter!

But, Uesugi-sensei came to pick me up from school!

Uesugi-sensei came to pick me up from school, yay!

Thinking of this, the smile on Saito Asuka's face was as brilliant as a blooming flower.

So cute. It was the first time the people around had seen the girl smile sincerely. Not to mention the boys, even the girls were moved by the girl's smile.

Really so cute!

Damn it, is she cute to the point of being criminal just by showing a sincere smile? Hagi-bird, you guy!

However, the brilliance at the school gate was soon broken by a guy wearing a tracksuit.

"That... may I ask if you are Forensic Examiner Uesugi Muneyuki?"

"Yes, what is the matter?"

"I am from the Academic Affairs Office of Tsukuba University High School, of the Tsukitei family... may I ask... has there been some kind of case nearby? Does the school need to cooperate with the investigation?" the male teacher in the tracksuit asked cautiously.

Uesugi Muneyuki: "............"

(End of this chapter)