Starting With The Sefirah Castle In The Anime World-Chapter 157 - : Isn’t This What You Want?

Sayuri was slightly surprised, but she quickly masked her reaction.

She had some impression of this boy.

He was polite, but his voice was somewhat weak, lacking presence or confidence.

He also didn't speak much.

His presence wasn't particularly strong.

Just now, after speaking, she hadn't even noticed when he quietly moved to the side.

Yet, this seemingly unremarkable boy, with such a low sense of presence, was surrounded by a group of girls.

And not just any girls—these were young ladies from prestigious families, girls with status and influence.

Obviously, Sayuri wasn't a fool. She could tell at a glance that this boy was anything but ordinary.

Moreover, earlier, when Ran and Sonoko were speaking, he had stopped them with just a single sentence.

If this boy was the center of this group, it would be a far more accurate assessment of what Matsumoto Sayuri was witnessing.

Knock, knock!

Click!

The door was knocked on, then immediately opened.

A towering man, standing 1.9 meters tall, stepped inside. He had a well-groomed mustache and a five-centimeter scar over his left eye.

His build was as solid as a fortress, and his fierce appearance made it clear, he wasn't someone to be messed with.

Just standing there, his presence alone was enough to create immense pressure.

"Dad."

Matsumoto Kiyonaga, a man like an iron tower, looked at his daughter dressed in a pure white wedding gown. He couldn't help but feel how quickly time had passed.

Not long ago, she had been just a little girl. But now, she had reached the age where she was about to get married.

This realization filled Matsumoto Kiyonaga with deep emotion.

The only thing that troubled him was the man his daughter was about to marry.

Thinking back to what had happened 20 years ago, Matsumoto Kiyonaga felt more and more certain—Toshihiko hadn't come for Sayuri. He had come for him.

"Sayuri, it's not too late to change your mind."

Matsumoto Kiyonaga was secretly hoping that his daughter would refuse, just like she always did in the past. But this time, something was different.

"Well... Dad, let's talk about this later."

"!?"

Matsumoto Kiyonaga was stunned.

In the past, Sayuri had always rejected the idea outright, her attitude firm and unwavering.

But today... why was she responding differently?

"Dad, are the other police officers here as well?"

"Some of my subordinates came as extra security."

"Good."

"???"

Matsumoto Kiyonaga was even more confused by his daughter's response.

Something about Sayuri today felt... off.

"The wedding—"

"We'll discuss that later."

This time, Matsumoto Kiyonaga saw it clearly, the look in his daughter's eyes.

It was the exact same look her mother had when she was angry.

...Anger?

Matsumoto Kiyonaga suddenly felt like he had grasped the key to something.

"Dad, for now, please step outside."

"There's something important coming up."

"Uh... Ah, alright. I'll head out."

Suddenly, he felt an overwhelming pressure from his daughter, one that reminded him of her mother.

Even though Sayuri was much smaller than him, at this moment, she exuded an aura far beyond his imagination, completely suppressing his own.

After Matsumoto Kiyonaga left, Ren's calm voice rang out.

"Miss Bridesmaid, I'll have to trouble you to stand watch outside."

"When the groom enters, ensure that no one else follows."

Kazumi glanced at Amamiya Ren before nodding slightly.

"I understand. Once Toshihiko enters, I won't let anyone else in."

With that, she turned around and embraced Sayuri.

"Don't be angry. Don't be sad. If that man actually dares to do something like that... he's not worthy of you."

"Don't worry. I won't be shaken, no matter what happens."

Sayuri gently patted her friend's back.

"Don't concern yourself with what happens in this room. I won't be so foolish this time."

Kazumi nodded slightly before letting Sayuri go.

"I'll be outside."

After Kazumi left, Sayuri let out a small breath.

"Ms. Matsumoto, please treat what happens next as a game."

Hearing that voice, Sayuri was momentarily distracted.

When she turned back around, the group of students that had been standing there just a moment ago was gone.

Looking down, her pupils shrank in shock.

She saw herself—lying in a pool of blood, dressed in a pure white wedding gown.

Lemon juice and empty cans were scattered across the floor.

"What... What is this?"

Click!

Just as she was processing the sight, the door burst open violently.

The groom, Takasugi Toshihiko, dressed in his white wedding suit, stormed in, sweat dripping down his forehead.

His eyes locked onto the scene on the floor, and he immediately let out a horrified scream.

"Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!"

"Ambulance! Call an ambulance!"

He screamed frantically, his voice raw with panic.

But to Sayuri's shock—on his face, beneath all that supposed distress, there was... a smile.

The look of someone crying and smiling at the same time was eerie, unnatural.

What's more, Toshihiko didn't seem to see her at all.

He could only see the "Sayuri Matsumoto" lying lifeless on the ground.

The door burst open again.

Toshihiko whipped his head around.

"Ambulance! Someone, call an ambulance!"

But the person who had entered paid no attention to his frantic cries.

Instead, they approached Toshihiko without a word.

"Drop the act."

"Isn't this exactly what you wanted?"

Like a conman whose lies had just been exposed, a flicker of panic flashed across Toshihiko's face.

"Who... Who are you!?"

He shook his head violently.

"I don't know who you are, but what you're saying is slander! I could sue you for this!"

Sayuri sighed softly.

Then, she turned to look at the person who had just entered.

Now that she was seeing his face up close, she realized.

It was that same boy from earlier.

She hadn't even asked his name yet.

But she could feel it—this boy was out of place, in every possible way.

"Takasugi Toshihiko, wasn't this all your doing?"

"Isn't this your revenge against Matsumoto Kiyonaga?"

"Using his daughter as a tool to get back at him. Forcing her to ingest the sodium hydroxide you prepared. Making him watch as his daughter's life slowly fades away."

"Isn't this exactly what you wanted to see?"

Each word sent cold sweat dripping down Toshihiko's back.

"I... I didn't do this!"

"You have no proof at all..."

His eyes flickered toward Sayuri, who was still breathing.

For a brief moment, a dark glint flashed in his eyes.

Instead of continuing to shout, he stood up and glared at the high school student in front of him.

"Sayuri is my bride! Why would I ever want to harm her?"

That self-righteous declaration made Sayuri lose all hope in him.

She had caught the vicious glint in Toshihiko's eyes.

Even now, as he spoke, he looked more like a cornered beast than a man.

He had stopped screaming for an ambulance.

Instead, he was standing there, deliberately stalling for time.

(To be continued.)

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