Although She's a Beautiful Student Council President Who Maintains Her Coolness Towards Everyone, She Wants to Act Spoiled and Lovesick Around Him, Who is Misunderstood by Everyone as a Delinquent - Chapter 51: Now That There's No Way Out.

“You’re stubborn, Shizuku. How much do you want to disappoint me before you’re satisfied?”

“…”

Harsh words flowed into Shizuku’s room, where she was alone. Her father, Genjuro, called out to her in a hateful tone from outside the door.

“If you’re determined to be like this, I won’t show any mercy. I didn’t want to punish you as much as possible, but…”

“…Please don’t say things you don’t even think and mean. Weren’t you always intending to punish me?”

“Hahaha, that’s true.”

“I’ll say it again, I’m willing to take any punishment until you accept my relationship with him.”

Genjuro spoke sarcastically through the door, but Shizuku brushed it off lightly. Since she had already resolved to accept the punishment, she could answer like this. There was no need to provoke him.

“How ridiculous. Holding on to such a hope… In that case, let’s have you take the punishment as you wish.”

“…Whatever it may be.”

Shizuku said “whatever it may be,” but her voice was tinged with definite tension. Yes, this was the first time she would hear her punishment.

“On Saturday, attend an arranged marriage meeting. The plans are already in place.”

“…Understood.”

There was only one reason why Shizuku agreed so easily. She could refuse the match after the meeting, saying “our types didn’t match”… In the first place, Shizuku, who was in a relationship with Riku, had no other choice.

“Oh, right, I almost forgot. The person you’ll be meeting is from the Shinonome family.”

“…!?”

The Shinonome family. The moment she heard those words, Shizuku’s face turned pale. Because Genjuro had read all of Shizuku’s thoughts, he was able to shake her firm determination.

“You can refuse the arranged marriage. I don’t mind. However, if you want to make your mother Reika, your sister Rinka, and the servants unhappy, go ahead.”

“…Coward.”

“Hahaha, that’s you, isn’t it? You were planning to call your boyfriend while you were studying abroad, right? And if you refuse the arranged marriage, the pressure from our family will turn on your boyfriend’s family.”

The Shinonome family was the core supporting the companies owned by the Kujou family. They were business partners and an indispensable power. Refusing the arranged marriage would be synonymous with severing the ties.

If the Kujo family lost the Shinonome family, the losses would be incalculable. Decline would be inevitable. As a result, a recession would be born, making both the family and the servants working in the house unhappy. Genjuro understood. Shizuku couldn’t refuse this arranged marriage.

Making her mother Reika, her sister Rinka, and the servants who work in this house unhappy was the last thing Shizuku wanted. But there was an easy way to avoid it. Shizuku just had to break up with Riku and start dating someone from the Shinonome family. That was all.

“I have no expectations or anything for you, who broke our traditions and showed no sign of remorse. You should be grateful that I didn’t disown you, a person beyond salvation.”

“…I won’t be grateful. To a father who tries to treat me, his own daughter, like a tool of the house…”

“Hahaha, I have no intention of doing that.”

As Genjuro let out a loud, mocking laugh, Shizuku’s anger slowly rose. Before she knew it, she had unconsciously clenched her fists.

Her hands turned pale, as if the blood flow had stopped.

“Anyway, your boyfriend is nothing but a fool. There’s no way someone like him, a commoner, could marry someone of our social status.”

“…Please don’t insult him.”

“Huh? That boyfriend of yours is probably just after your money. He must think of you as nothing more than a foolish tool.”

“…DON’T BE RIDICULOUS!”

For the first time, Shizuku raised her voice against her father. She had never been this emotional before. If any of the students at her school were to see this, they would be frozen with shock.

“I don’t mind if you belittle or complain about me. But… I can never forgive you for saying that about him without even trying to know him.”

“Unforgivable…? Hahaha, I have no interest in the man you fell for. You just need to obey me obediently. The partner I choose for you will have wealth, power, and status. You’ll definitely be happy. On the other hand, what about your commoner boyfriend? Isn’t he like dirt?”

Because Genjuro stands on wealth and power, he seeks status and position for his child’s partner. But Shizuku can’t understand that way of thinking. She just wants to spend happy times with the person she fell in love with.

“That’s why, that’s why… You will never understand my feelings.”

“Hmph. If you want to defy me, go ahead and refuse the arranged marriage or whatever. And make everyone unhappy. I don’t even want to see your failure of a face.”

Those were Genjuro’s parting words. And then, he silently left.

“…What should I do…? Someone… please tell me…”

And so, Shizuku’s room was enveloped in silence. Her sobbing, sorrowful voice continued for hours.

****

“Grandfather…”

“I understand the situation completely. I must act quickly as well.”

In another room, such a phone conversation was taking place.