"……Eh?"
In the ward, Kokarasuma, who didn't realize that Xiao Qing had arrived at the door of the ward, was stunned when he heard those few words from Hatoyama Keiko.
"This, that's it...is that really the case..."
After a long time, she seemed to finally react and nodded several times in succession.
【Eternal life...】
Although she had already guessed this answer from Hatoyama Keiko's hint before, but now after it was directly pointed out by Hatoyama Keiko, she couldn't help but feel shocked... and Amul.
It is true that since ancient times, eternal life has always been a topic that has been talked about by people. The higher the position, the more intense the pursuit of it.
If we say that in ancient times when science was not yet developed, it would be understandable to want to pursue such false things.
Today, when modern science and medicine are very advanced, it is really stupid to talk about this kind of topic or even regard it as a goal that can be truly achieved...
Karasumaru thought so.
With her rich medical knowledge, she naturally understands how illusory such a thing as "immortality" is. It is something that can only exist in human ideals.
Although it sounds ridiculous, there is no way Keiko-sister would joke with her on such a topic.
And this can also perfectly explain why the head of the family regards Sister Keiko as a reason to win over the Hatoyama family.
After all, you can even achieve immortality, not to mention saving sister Keiko's weakening body.
"It's not just that."
Looking at Karasuma who looked surprised with a smile, Hatoyama Keiko continued:
"The Karasuma family master is also tired of his old body. He even wants to create the myth of 'rejuvenation' to return his body to the peak of his youth."
Unsatisfied with eternal life, he even wants to reverse the flow of time.
"Sister Keiko, do you think the head of the family will succeed?" Xiao Karasuma asked curiously.
"I can't predict that."
Hatoyama Keiko shook her head slightly. She glanced at the doorknob from the corner of her eye again, and saw the doorknob that remained motionless after being twisted halfway, and then said:
"But what I can feel is that the head of the Karasuma family is not joking, he is obviously serious, and he believes from the bottom of his heart that he can succeed.
This determination, coupled with the Karasuma family leader's methods, there is no doubt that regardless of whether he succeeds in the end, he will definitely cause deep harm to the world.
That's why...I wanted to stop him. "
"This, this is great! Sister Keiko!"
Until now, she was still not sure what Keiko Hatoyama really wanted to say to her, and the uneasiness in Xiao Karasuma's heart became more and more intense.
As if to dispel this uneasiness, she subconsciously raised her voice and said in a cheerful tone as much as possible:
"Look! One is a villain who may destroy the world because of his own desires! The other is a righteous protagonist who is physically weak but has been determined to fight against the villain! This can be used as material to write a good script! That's right. Bar?!
When the time comes, I...think about it, I will be the daughter of the villain, a character who has reformed her evil ways and is a filial father and a filial daughter! This template is so Hollywood, isn't it?
By the way, in the end I have to add a supporting character who is dull and has no useful emotions to be my deputy, hehe..."
It could be seen that Karasuma was trying his best to enliven the gradually declining atmosphere between them.
However, this will not make sense, because everything today is a script carefully planned by Hatoyama Keiko.
Now that she has started, she will not stop.
Looking at Karasuma who was holding a fruit knife and talking excitedly, Keiko Hatoyama smiled softly. She looked away, looked out the window again, and then slowly spoke.
"I regret."
"……Eh?"
Her voice was not loud, but it was just enough for the two of them to hear it. At this moment, not only the excited smile on Karasuma's face froze, but also Bai Heqing who was standing outside the door was stunned. His pupils shrank and his hands tightened. Clutching the door handle.
"Sister Keiko, you said..."
"I regret it now."
Facing the confused Karasuma with the back of her head, Keiko Hatoyama looked at the courtyard below the window and said in a steady tone:
"I used to think that I was not afraid of death and could face this last moment calmly. But when that day really approached, I suddenly discovered that I was also afraid of death..."
"Wait! Sister Keiko..."
"There's nothing to be ashamed of, right? I just want to live. My life is still so short, and I obviously still have a lot of things I want to do that I haven't done yet...
Karasuma, do you know? In fact, I have always wanted to go to the United States and Hong Kong to see what these two most powerful but completely opposite countries in the world look like.
I also want to see Big Rabbit’s Great Wall. I want to walk around it myself and count whether it is ten thousand miles long.
I want to see the pyramids and know how the Egyptians thousands of years ago stacked the big rocks so high using only human power.
I want to go to South America. I heard that there used to be many indigenous people there, as well as many cultural customs and national myths that are unknown to the world...
And you.
I haven't married Xiao Qing yet, and I haven't seen the day when you, Karasumaru, become an international star...
Thinking about it carefully, I actually have so many regrets hidden in my heart, so... I would feel regretful... This should be... excusable, right?
I am not that great, and sometimes I wonder, if I had agreed to the Karasuma family leader, if we had fully pushed forward his seemingly impossible ambition, would my ending be the same today? What's the difference? Will I have the chance to continue living and realize these things one by one?
However, it's too late now. Even if I compromise with the Karasuma family now, I won't be able to wait until that day...
It's really pitiful. I actually really want to see what eternal life is like..."
The door handle was turned back again, the corridor was empty, and the figure outside the door had disappeared.
Listening to Hatoyama Keiko's words as if she had collapsed, Kokarasuma just stared at her blankly.
"Sister Keiko, are you...crying?"
Yes, she was crying.
It was only at this moment that Keiko Hatoyama finally dared to turn around and face Karasuma's eyes. Her face was full of tears.
Of course, she wasn't crying for herself.
Hatoyama Keiko is not that weak. Those regrets are not enough to make her shed tears. She is just...crying that she finally took this step.
"Xiao Karasuma, from now on...Xiao Qing will be taken care of by you. Even if I am gone, you must take good care of him. Do you understand?"
Staring at Karasuma, Hatoyama Keiko showed a smile that even made her feel disgusted.
She finally let go of the shackles.
(˙ー˙)
(End of chapter)
