And Erika wasn’t immature enough to

And Erika wasn’t immature enough to assert with a 「Yes!」 like a child with naive thinking. This was because, how much her own actions were self-centered, and how different it was from the ideal form that Tasuku talked about, she understood it so well that it was painful.
Bending over and matching his eyes with Erika, who was gnawing at her lips as though she was mortified, Tasuku admonished her in a kind voice overflowing with affection.

「There’s no need for you to give an answer immediately. It’s fine for you to decide what you want to do by learning from his figure. Well, I do think that you have to apologize that you went too far for raising your hand against him」

He sent Erika, who appeared to be dispirited, back to her room after she uttered a 「Yes……..」 in a tiny voice. He decide that even if he said anything more today, she wouldn’t be able to organize her emotions.
After Erika left the room with Juno following her, Tasuku smiled wryly.

「When the engagement was decided, she was considerably depressed, but this time too it’s the same」

「But the reason is completely opposite though」

Compared to him, Koyomi chuckled in a voice like tinkling bells.
Just 2 months before, although Erika was behaving firmly, towards an engagement with a person she didn’t wish for, inwardly she was feeling dispirited.
But now, she felt regret at hurting the said person, and even had thoughts of wanting to be recognized by him. Although, it seemed as though she herself still wasn’t aware of that feeling.

「Children continue to mature like this………」

「What are you saying so seriously? Shouldn’t this be the first time you have personally experienced our child’s growth」

「It is especially so if it’s the feelings concerning your own daughter. By the way, Kiryuu, what was Itsuki’s reply?」

「It seems that he’ll be back by tomorrow morning」

Towards Kiryuu’s words, who had refrained from speaking and was silent for a long time, Tasuku again smiled wryly.

「Well it’s about him. I knew he would say that」

「Since that child loves Erika. Even if it’s training, wouldn’t it be too much to make Harold-kun fight against him?」

「It’ll probably be fine. From Juno’s report, it seems like Harold-kun is quite skilled. It shouldn’t become one-sided」

Nonetheless, even Tasuku didn’t think that Itsuki would lose. Anyway, those 2 clashing will be quite amusing- that sudden impulse which had a touch of youth flashed across his face