"You're gonna walk from here?" Yuto's question held a touch of concern as he glanced at the gate of the mansion. The distance seemed rather long for someone to walk.
Hara nodded, her smile reassuring. "Yep, I'll just walk. It's a nice day out."
Yuto looked at her for a moment, as if debating something. Then, he finally relented, giving a nod. "Alright, if you're sure."
"Go now, you're gonna be late," Hara gestured towards the door with a playful smile.
Yuto chuckled, his gaze lingering on her for a moment. "Alright, I'll head off. Take care, Hara."
"I will," she replied, her smile warm and genuine.
With a final nod, Yuto turned and walked towards the gate, his steps purposeful. Hara watched him go, her heart filled with a sense of contentment. As the gate closed behind Yuto, Hara turned back towards the mansion.
With a determined step, Hara made her way through the mansion's corridors. The decision to meet her father after a while had been building within her, and now she felt ready to face the reunion.
As she stepped into the mansion, Hara's presence seemed to light up the space. She greeted the workers with warmth and familiarity, acknowledging each person with a smile that spoke of genuine connection.
"Mr. Dan! Long time no see," Hara exclaimed, her voice carrying a cheerful note as she approached the old butler. His face bore the marks of age, but his eyes held a kindness that had remained unchanged.
"Welcome, Hara," Mr. Dan's response was gentle, his smile warm as he looked at her. Hara's connection with him ran deep, a bond that went beyond the formalities of employer and employee. Despite not being his biological daughter, Hara had found a place in his heart over the years.
Hara's eyes sparkled with affection as she met his gaze. "How have you been, Mr. Dan? I hope you're taking care of yourself."
He chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm doing well, dear. And I see you're as lively as ever."
Hara's lips curved into a playful grin. "Of course, I wouldn't be me if I wasn't."
"Where's Dad?" Hara inquired, her curiosity evident.
"He's in the office room," Mr. Dan replied, his tone indicating that her father was indeed available.
Hara's expression shifted into a mock pout. "Oh no, is he busy?"
Mr. Dan's smile remained gentle. "Not too busy to see you, I'm sure. But do remember to knock on the door before you enter, alright?"
Hara nodded, her playful demeanour returning. "Thank you, Mr. Dan. I'll keep that in mind. Off to the office room, then."
With a final wave, Hara headed towards her father's office, her heart lighter than before. The mansion held memories of her childhood, of moments shared with her father and the people who had become her second family. As she walked through the familiar corridors, she was reminded that despite the revelations and uncertainties she faced, there were constants in her life that provided comfort and stability.
Taking a deep breath, Hara approached her father's office door. She paused for a moment, a mixture of excitement and nervousness bubbling within her. With a soft knock on the door, she called out, "Dad, it's me. Can I come in?"
He looked up from his work, surprise and delight lighting up his features as he saw her standing there. "Hara," he said, his voice tinged with both joy and wonder.
"Dad," she replied, her voice soft yet filled with emotion.
Without another word, they closed the distance between them, and her father enveloped her in a warm embrace. Hara felt a rush of feelings, a mixture of longing, love, and the sense of coming home.
"It's been too long," her father said, his voice slightly choked.
Hara pulled back slightly to look into his eyes. "I missed you, Dad."
He smiled, his fingers gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. "And I missed you, my dear."
As they stood there, the weight of the years apart seemed to melt away. Their connection was as strong as ever, and the time that had passed only served to reinforce the bond between them.
"Tell me everything that's been happening," her father said, leading her to a comfortable pair of chairs by the window.
Hara settled into one of the chairs, her heart lighter than it had been in a while. And as she began to recount the events of her life since they had last seen each other, she felt a sense of gratitude for the chance to share her experiences with him.
"Yesterday I went to dinner at Mr. Tanaka's house," Hara chirped, her tone light and cheerful.
Mr. Chen's expression immediately changed upon hearing the news, his features tightening with a mix of concern and curiosity.
"So, did you meet her? How was she?" he asked, his interest palpable.
"Met who?" Hara raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Yuto's stepmother? Yeah, I've met her. She... doesn't seem that nice, but the dinner went smoothly."
Mr. Chen's expression grew even more serious. "Did you... also meet his younger brother?"
Hara laughed softly, finding the idea amusing. "Since when does he have a brother?"
Mr. Chen's tone turned grave. "No, that can't be. If she's there, he's sure to be there too."
Hara looked at him, confusion evident in her expression.
"You... don't remember?"
"What?" Hara's confusion deepened.
"Yuto's stepmother is your biological mother," Mr. Chen's words hung in the air, his voice heavy with a revelation.
Hara's jaw dropped, her eyes widening as the weight of his words settled in. "You—what? Huh?"
Mr. Chen's gaze was steady, his expression a mix of empathy and understanding. "Wait, wait, wait," Hara's voice was almost a whisper as she struggled to process the shocking information.
"The woman I met yesterday is my biological mother?" Hara's voice trembled with disbelief.
Mr. Chen nodded solemnly, his words punctuating the air with tension. "Yes, and she left to be with Mr. Tanaka along with your younger brother."
Hara felt like the ground had shifted beneath her feet. Her mind was racing, trying to make sense of the information she had just received. The woman she had met was her biological mother? And Yuto's stepmother?
"You—what?" Hara's voice cracked, her shock turning into a mix of confusion and realisation. The pieces of the puzzle were coming together, and she was beginning to understand the significance of the connections.
She looked at Mr. Chen, her eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and questions. "Why didn't anyone tell me this before? How could I not have known?"
Mr. Chen's expression softened, his voice gentle. "Hara, I think there are things that have been hidden from you. But now that you know, you can make sense of your own story."
Hara's mind was a whirlwind of emotions, her heart racing as she tried to grasp the implications of what she had learned. The woman she had met was her mother, the person who had left her behind. And Yuto's stepmother was her own blood.
"So does that mean Yuto is my step brother?!" Hara's voice rose, her words laced with a mixture of shock and disbelief.
Mr. Chen nodded slowly, his gaze unwavering as he met her incredulous expression. "Yes, Hara. Yuto is your stepbrother."
The tension in the room was palpable, the weight of the revelation hanging heavily between them. Hara's mind was a whirlwind of emotions, trying to process the information she had just learned. Yuto, the person she had grown closer to over the past days, the person who had become an important part of her life, was now connected to her in a way she could never have imagined.
Hara's voice trembled as she tried to find words to express the thoughts racing through her mind. "I... I can't believe this. How... how is this even possible?"
Mr. Chen's expression remained compassionate, his voice calm amidst the storm of emotions. "Sometimes, life holds surprises we never anticipate. But remember, Hara, the past doesn't define who you are now. You have the power to shape your own story."
Hara's eyes glistened with a mix of tears and confusion. Yuto's face flashed before her eyes, and she felt a sense of turmoil within her. The person she had come to care for, the person who had shared his own struggles and dreams, was now connected to her in a way she had never fathomed.
As she sat there, the weight of the revelation settling in, Hara realised that her journey had taken yet another unexpected turn. The novel's pages were far behind her, and the reality of her own story was unfolding in ways she could never have scripted.
With a deep breath, Hara wiped away a tear that had escaped her eye. She looked at Mr. Chen, her voice steady despite the tumultuous emotions within her. "Thank you for telling me, even though it's hard to comprehend right now."
Mr. Chen gave her a small, understanding smile. "You're strong, Hara. You've faced challenges before, and you'll navigate through this as well."
Hara nodded, determination flickering in her eyes. "I will. And I'll face it head-on."
"But we don't have any blood relation, right?" Hara's voice trembled with a touch of panic, her eyes searching Mr. Chen's face for reassurance.
Mr. Chen's gaze softened, his expression compassionate as he met her worried eyes. "No, Hara. There's no blood relation between you and Yuto. Your mother's connection to Yuto's family is through marriage, not by blood."
Hara let out a shaky breath, relief washing over her. The weight that had settled on her shoulders began to lift, replaced by a sense of clarity. While the revelation had been shocking, the reassurance that her connection to Yuto was not rooted in blood brought a measure of comfort.
"So... we're not biologically related?" Hara's voice was a mixture of relief and disbelief.
Mr. Chen shook his head gently. "No, you're not."
Hara's mind was still reeling from the rollercoaster of emotions she had experienced, but the knowledge that her bond with Yuto remained unchanged by the revelation provided a sense of stability amidst the chaos.
She let out a shaky laugh, her hand covering her mouth as she absorbed the information. "Wow, this is just... so much to take in."
Mr. Chen nodded, understanding evident in his eyes. "I know it's overwhelming, Hara. But remember, the ties that matter are the ones you choose to build."
Hara met his gaze, her gratitude evident in her eyes. "Thank you for being here, for helping me understand."
Mr. Chen's smile was warm and reassuring. "You're not alone in this journey, Hara. And you have the strength to face whatever comes your way."
Hara was shaken to the core, her mind struggling to process the unexpected information she had just received. The revelation had blindsided her, a twist she hadn't seen coming and one that wasn't even hinted at in the novel she had transmigrated from. Her thoughts raced, trying to reconcile the image she had of her life with the newfound knowledge that had shattered her perceptions.
As the shock began to ebb, a profound relief washed over her. The confirmation that she and Yuto were not blood-related was like a lifeline, offering a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos of the revelation. She let out a shaky breath, her heart still racing from the emotional rollercoaster she had just experienced.
"Thank goodness," she murmured to herself, her voice a mix of gratitude and disbelief. The idea of being biologically connected to someone she had grown so close to was unsettling, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that such a scenario was not her reality.
With a determined exhale, Hara straightened her posture. As Hara gazed out the window, her mind racing with thoughts and emotions, she took a step forward into the unknown, ready to rewrite her story once again and carve her own path amidst the unexpected twists of fate.
"Then, what about the brother? Is he my biological brother?" Hara's voice quivered with a mix of curiosity and uncertainty.
Mr. Chen nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Yes, Hara, he is your biological brother."
Hara's mind was spinning with questions. Her 'brother'—the person she hadn't known existed until now—was suddenly a part of her reality. She felt a mix of emotions, the weight of the revelation settling in as she tried to grasp the implications.
'Wait,' she thought, her mind suddenly racing as a fragment of memory surged to the forefront of her thoughts. She had a flashback—an image from the past that had previously been dismissed as insignificant. It was a memory from the early days of her arrival in this unfamiliar world.
In that moment of realisation, Hara's heart raced, and she felt a shiver of excitement mixed with trepidation. She remembered the photograph she had stumbled upon during her initial search for information. A photograph of a younger version of herself, standing beside a little boy. The memory was hazy, like a puzzle piece that had been waiting for its proper place.
Could it be...?
Her mind raced back to that moment—the photograph, the curiosity she had felt, the fleeting thought that it might hold significance. The little boy in the picture—was he her 'brother'? The 'brother' she hadn't known about until now?
Hara's curiosity remained. Yet, before she could delve into her questions, her mind was still preoccupied with the revelations she had learned. Her father's presence was a reassuring constant, a reminder that amidst the twists of fate, there were relationships that remained unwavering.
"Dad," she began, her voice carrying a hint of vulnerability, "there's something I need to ask. Does Yuto know about this—about his stepmother being my..."
Mr. Chen's eyes met hers, his gaze steady and understanding. "No, Hara. This is something that happened when you were both very young. I doubt he's aware of the situation."
Hara nodded slowly, her mind absorbing the information. The thought that Yuto might not know about his stepmother's connection to her own family brought a sense of relief. The burden of such a revelation could be overwhelming, especially for someone who had no control over the past.
"But," Mr. Chen continued, his voice softening, "he does know about your brother."
Hara's brows furrowed in surprise, her eyes meeting her father's with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. "He does? How?"
Hara's surprise deepened at her father's revelation. She hadn't expected that Yuto would have had any knowledge about her brother, let alone initiate a conversation about it. Her mind raced to recall the circumstances that might have led to such a discussion.
"He asked if you had a younger brother by any chance?" Mr. Chen's words brought a flash of memory. Hara vaguely remembered a conversation with Yuto, a seemingly innocent inquiry that now held new significance.
"At that time, I was surprised that he knew," Mr. Chen continued, his tone thoughtful as he retraced the past. "It was as if he had some connection to the information, though I couldn't understand how."
Hara's brows furrowed as she considered the implications. Yuto's curiosity about her brother wasn't a mere coincidence. There was a connection he had intuited, one that had led him to seek answers.
"So I told him everything that had happened," Mr. Chen's words were tinged with a mix of resignation and understanding.
Hara's gaze met her father's, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. The truth had a way of finding its way to the surface, and Yuto's inquisitiveness had led him to uncover a piece of her past that had remained hidden.
As Hara processed the information, she realised that Yuto's actions had been driven by a desire to understand her and the complexities of her life. She felt a swell of gratitude for the genuine concern he had shown, even before she herself had been aware of the truth.
"Dad," Hara's voice was soft but filled with sincerity, "I'm glad you told him. It seems that Yuto cares about me more deeply than I even knew."
Mr. Chen smiled, his eyes reflecting his love and understanding. "Yuto has proven time and again that he's someone you can rely on. Just like your old man."
And so, with the weight of the truth and the strength of their bond, Hara and her father embarked on a new chapter of their lives—one that would be defined by courage, resilience, and the unwavering support of the people who had become her family.
The weight of the truth settled heavily upon Hara's shoulders. The intricacies of the relationships between the people in her life were far more complex than she had ever imagined. She felt a mixture of emotions—bewilderment, empathy, and a growing understanding of the challenges that had shaped the lives of those around her.
As Mr. Chen's eyes glistened with unshed tears, Hara's heart ached for him. She could see the depth of his emotions, the regret he felt for not sharing the truth earlier.
"I know, Dad," Hara's voice was soft, her own eyes misting with emotion. "I understand that these things can be complicated. You didn't mean to hide it from me."
Mr. Chen's lips quivered into a sad smile, his voice choked with emotion. "I've always wanted to protect you, Hara. But sometimes, the truth is a burden that we all must carry."
Hara reached across the desk, her hand gently covering her father's. "Dad, I'm grateful that you've always been there for me. We'll face this together, just like we always have."