Relying on the twenty percent of Jack Hanma's peak physical fitness, Jaden rushed back to Yuki Orphanage at top speed.
When he arrived, the lights were still on.
Seeing that, the faint unease in his chest finally eased.
At least... nothing had happened.
Although he had forgotten to bring anything back, he still felt relieved. After calming himself, he slowly pushed open the familiar door.
"Old Man, I'm back~"
In this life, Jaden was an orphan.
Compared to the empty place where he used to live alone, this was a home where he could open the door and say, I'm back.
The first ones to run out weren't Old man Yugi.
It was the children.
Some weren't even in elementary school yet. The oldest had probably just started junior high.
"Jaden big brother~"
They rushed over all at once.
Jaden squatted down and opened his arms.
Old man Yugi.
These children.
This was his family here.
So-
-I really do have to deal with Toyo Electric.
"All right, it's past nine. You should all go to sleep."
Old man Yugi came downstairs at that moment.
He first told the children this, then gently coaxed them back upstairs. Only after that did he turn to Jaden.
"Jaden, you're back. Have you eaten dinner?"
"Not yet..."
Hearing this, Old man Yugi smiled slowly.
"Then come in first. Eat something, and we can talk while you eat."
"Okay."
Jaden followed him into the kitchen.
He only helped with simple things.
Washing dishes.
Handing over ingredients.
As for cooking-
He really wasn't good at it.
Old man Yugi busied himself for a while and prepared a bowl of seafood rice.
Because they were eating at home, he separated the seafood from the rice. He also set out a small plate of vinegar, a small plate of soy sauce, and a bit of yellow mustard.
"I'll dig in~"
Jaden picked up his chopsticks, took a shrimp, dipped it into vinegar, and put it straight into his mouth.
Hmm...
"As expected, the Old Man's food is delicious."
Old man Yugi smiled faintly.
"Don't eat too fast."
Jaden slowed down a bit.
Only then did Old man Yugi begin to explain why he had called him back.
"Jaden... although you've lived in the orphanage and used my surname all these years, I've always known your real surname."
Jaden didn't react much.
He simply nodded and continued eating.
If the Old Man hadn't stopped drinking in the evenings, Jaden would probably have already brought him some wine and listened quietly.
As for his real surname.
His real family.
Those things-
He didn't care at all.
"None of that matters, Old Man," Jaden said calmly. "People live to cherish what's around them with their limited time. You raised me for over ten years. You, these kids, and even those who already left this place-aren't you all my family?"
"I'm Jaden. I don't need any other identity."
"If you want to talk about this," he continued, "then I'll listen as a story. If you don't want to say it, that's fine too. I don't mind."
Old man Yugi didn't show any particular reaction.
He just looked at Jaden.
"Jaden... do you feel excitement when you fight?"
Hm?
"And earlier, I saw the Kengan match you fought a few hours ago."
"You killed your opponent, but your heart didn't react at all, did it?"
Jaden blinked.
"...That's right. I actually find it strange myself."
He looked at the Old Man.
"Do you know why, Old Man?"
At first, Jaden thought it was because of the Hanma blood.
But now-
It seemed like it might be his own issue.
Old man Yugi shook his head slightly.
"I know. But telling you too much now won't help you."
He paused.
"The main reason I called you back today is this-"
"You fought a Kengan match. Being able to knock out that super rookie with one punch means you have considerable talent."
"Even if I don't tell you about your identity, people with interest will eventually notice you."
"Since that's the case, I think it's better to tell you in advance."
"At least so you can prepare yourself and think about your options."
Old man Yugi sighed.
"Jaden... I think I've told you before."
"The conglomerates of this country have developed from ancient times until now."
"Among them, there are four corporations that originated here and stand at the top."
Jaden nodded.
This world's history was subtly different from his previous life.
Some countries that should no longer exist were still around. The number and timing of the world wars were different. And the methods used in his previous world to restrain conglomerates didn't seem to exist here.
That was why conglomerates held such overwhelming power.
"One of the four has nearly disappeared, so we won't talk about it," Old man Yugi continued.
"The remaining three are Shinomiya, Sanzenin, and Togami."
"Among them, Sanzenin and Togami gradually became global conglomerates."
He looked directly at Jaden.
"And you are related to Sanzenin."
"Your birth name should be Jaden Tennozu."
"You have a marriage contract with the heir of the Sanzenin family."
"However, due to problems within the Tennozu family, you were left outside."
"That incident weakened the binding force of the engagement."
Old man Yugi sighed again.
"Jaden, if you intend to give up everything you have now and be adopted into the Sanzenin family, you don't need to worry about them breaking the engagement."
"As long as you appear, they will recognize you."
"And they will agree."
"But if you feel this marriage contract disrupts your original life..."
"You can ignore it."
"Continuing to live as Jaden is also an option."
Old man Yugi stopped there.
He stood up.
He intended to give Jaden time to think.
For an ordinary person, being adopted into the Sanzenin family would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
He thought Jaden might agree.
Still, he left the choice to him.
At that moment-
Jaden finished the seafood rice.
He collected the dishes and stood up as well.
"Old Man, the story's over."
"Go back and rest."
"I'll handle the dishes and lock the door."
"You kept my room, right? I'll tidy it up myself. Don't worry."
Old man Yugi looked at him.
"This isn't a story-"
Before he could finish, he saw Jaden's expression.
Still the same.
Always smiling.
Completely unconcerned about Tennozu.
About Sanzenin.
"I know," Jaden said calmly. "But like I said at the beginning-people live to cherish what's around them."
"I stand by that."
"If you want to tell a story, I'll listen. Just like when I couldn't sleep as a kid."
"If you're tired, go rest."
"As for me..."
Jaden smiled naturally under Old man Yugi's gaze.
"I'm Jaden."
"The rest has nothing to do with me."
"And things that have nothing to do with a commoner like me-"
"Aren't they just stories?"
"What do you think?"
Old man Yugi stood there for a long time.
Then he nodded slightly.
Seeing that Jaden truly didn't care about his background, tidying the dishes without being affected at all, Old man Yugi sighed inwardly.
-Since this is your choice, Jaden, I'll help you as much as I can.
Outwardly, he behaved no differently than before.
"In that case, I'll leave the rest to you."
"Oh, right-Jaden."
"A young woman named Akemi might come to the orphanage tomorrow morning to help."
"If I'm still asleep then, please take care of her."
"I understand."
Jaden nodded.
He muttered the name a few times under his breath.
"Akemi... Soryuin..."
"Strange. I don't know anyone with that surname..."
"But why does it sound a little familiar?"
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