Chapter 42 – Eligible Bachelor
Novel Title: 跨越千万星辰 (Across Thousands of Stars)
Author：御小凡 (Yu Xiaofan)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 泽田纲吉 (Sawada Tsunayoshi -MC), 六道骸 (Rokudo Mukuro -ML)
*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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‘Versailles Rose Collection’. Although the name isn’t particularly creative, there couldn’t be a more fitting name than this.
With its magnificent and elegant golden trimmings, gemstones in soft and rich colours, a voluminous skirt adorned with intricate pleats, and the world-famous rose garden, all captured within the backdrop of the Palace of Versailles. It aired during spring. The advertisement combining these elements is believed to be irresistible to any lady.
The response to the advertisement was indeed quite good. Tsuna looked at Dokuro, who appeared as beautiful as a doll in the advertisement, with mixed feelings. The complexity of these feelings stemmed from Estraneo.
Perhaps due to his ambition to become the next CEO, there had been recent activities among the board members. And Estraneo seemed to have given them a breakthrough.
In such a short period of time, Estraneo had swallowed up shares from another minor shareholder. What exactly was it trying to achieve? Tsuna wondered.
It was so bothersome. Tsuna forced himself to temporarily forget about this matter. But the restless feeling persisted. He set the financial report aside and picked up the phone, dialling an internal extension.
“Hitomi, have the finance department created another report for me? The focus of the one they submitted is too vague. I hope they can make it more concise.”
A crisp female voice responded with an affirmative. Tsuna hung up the phone and heaved a sigh of relief. He slightly loosened his tie while ensuring his attire remained immaculate.
Whether it was inheriting Vongola or becoming the Deputy Director, neither was something Tsunayoshi ardently desired. Perhaps owing to his humble upbringing, he didn’t have extravagant material aspirations. The greatest driving force behind Tsuna’s upward trajectory was, in fact, his sense of responsibility.
As many people depended on Iemitsu Sawada, just as many were Iemitsu’s responsibilities. And Tsuna was acutely aware that when he took over the shares and positions from Iemitsu, these responsibilities would simultaneously be transferred to him.
It’s not that he didn’t want to vent his frustrations to someone. It’s just that as time passed and experiences accumulated, he found himself less inclined to vocalise his stress.
The path ahead was long and painful. Iemitsu was a pioneer while Reborn was a guide. But neither of them were individuals who would walk alongside Tsuna.
Tsuna was lost in thought for a moment before making a call to Ryo-nii. “Hey, Ryo-nii, are you free tonight?” They arranged to meet at their usual izakaya. Enma first introduced Tsuna to this place, but their contact had dwindled over time. They remained connected on MSN, but that was about it. It wasn’t that Tsuna didn’t feel regret. But he understood that Enma had his own considerations.
“Speaking of which, that little devil from Kyoko’s family is such a handful,” Ryo-nii said, downing a glass of alcohol in his typical boisterous manner. He talked about Kyoko’s recent situation. “Is it common for 3-year-olds to be like that?”
Unable to suppress a smile, Tsuna shrugged. “How would I know? I’ve never taken care of a small child.”
“Well, yeah… I guess you’re right. Back when Dokuro and the others came to my place, they were already 12 years old. They were so well-behaved. It’s so much easier when they actually listen to us,” Ryo-nii remarked.
“Yeah… we would just have to worry about them only eating once a week and skipping baths,” Tsuna added with a hint of jest.
Upon hearing Tsuna’s teasing, Ryo-nii paused for a couple of seconds and then burst into laughter, slapping the table. “I almost forgot about that. Thank goodness for Kyoko. Otherwise, it would have been a mess.”
Tsuna joined in the laughter with his shoulders shaking slightly. He had known Ryo-nii for almost 20 years now. Whether during his weak middle school days or as the current heir of Vongola, Ryo-nii had always interacted with him so openly and jovially. He was truly a genuine friend. With friends like these, chatting over drinks could temporarily alleviate the burdens of work.
No need for formalities between them, Ryo-nii filled his own glass and gulped down the drink. “By the way, how’s your kid doing with studies overseas?”
“Mukuro…,” Tsuna began to respond reflexively, but he didn’t know how to continue. For some reason, Tsuna hadn’t shared Mukuro’s situation with Ryo-nii.
Perhaps he just didn’t want someone to keep reminding him about Mukuro’s uncertain whereabouts.
“More or less alright, I guess. Maybe considering staying abroad for a while after graduation,” Tsuna replied with a smile, squinting his eyes. Ryo-nii didn’t press further.
“But once they’re 18, these kids can have independence for their household registry. Once he comes back, he can take care of the paperwork,” Ryo-nii continued.
Tsuna didn’t respond immediately.
He hadn’t forgotten about this matter. When Mukuro turned 18, Ryo-nii reminded Tsuna to go through the procedures to receive the government subsidies Mukuro had been entitled to for so many years. Though Tsuna himself wasn’t particularly concerned about the money, he had been proactive in claiming it and then handed the bank card to Mukuro.
At the time, Mukuro had said he would let Tsuna keep it since he didn’t need it. Thinking that the child could use it whenever he wanted, Tsuna hadn’t dwelled on who should have the card. So, the card still remained in a drawer in Tsuna’s bedroom.
“I haven’t discussed that with Mukuro yet. I’ll see what he thinks,” Tsuna said, tugging at the corner of his mouth. “He’s always quite opinionated about his own matters.”
Ryo-nii looked at Tsuna for a while. He then shook his head and raised his glass, clinking it against Tsuna’s. “I mean you…— You should have your own child someday, right? In terms of legal relations, Mukuro would have a claim to your inheritance.”
This unexpected topic caught Tsuna off guard. He blinked a few times, having to face this awkward question that often pertains to single individuals. “Um, it’s still too early to think about this matter. No need to rush.”
“I’m not saying this to nag. But at 32, you should start considering these things,” Ryo-nii adopted a senior’s demeanour, nodding as he spoke. “Yep, it’s about time.”
Tsuna chuckled wryly. “Ryo-nii, aren’t you even older than me?”
Giving him a bemused look, Ryo-niii took a sip of his drink. He replied in a casual tone that matched his usual steadfast and cheerful personality. His voice, however, was unexpectedly calm. “In my line of work, we never know when things might go wrong. So, I think it’s better not to involve others.”
Tsuna was surprised by this pessimistic perspective. He slightly parted his lips as he was about to say something, “By your logic, other police officers shouldn’t get married either.”
Ryo-nii couldn’t help but let out a laugh that seemed to come all the way from his core. His handsome eyebrows relaxed into an expression that perfectly matched his resolute and cheerful nature. However, his voice held a newfound steadiness. “Honestly, I sometimes let my impulsivity get the better of me and put myself in danger without thinking about it. Maybe for my family, I’m just too much of a worry. I don’t even think I’d be a good candidate for marriage.”
Concerning Ryo-nii’s impulsiveness, whether it was Kyoko or Tsuna, they would always end up reminding him after he got hurt. He would agree to be careful, but then Ryo-nii would almost enact a Hollywood movie scene by himself again and narrowly escaped death multiple times. Even the easygoing Kyoko found it hard to endure after witnessing such close calls.
Tsuna thought Ryo-nii had never really taken those cautions to heart. After all, since Tsuna had known him, Ryo-nii’s impulsive nature had practically become his trademark.
Tsuna suddenly felt a sense of detachment.
Yes, they were both well into their thirties now. There were many things they understood without explicitly stating them. The elders would often repeat their advice and experiences that younger individuals would dismiss. But even the most innocent person who had spent a long time in society would gain personal experience all by themselves.
However, even with that understanding, there were those who weren’t willing to change anything.
“Don’t say it like that. There will always be someone who’s right for you,” Tsuna wanted to pat Ryo-nii’s shoulder. Even if they were separated by the table. It wasn’t really meant as comfort. Ryo-nii seemed like he didn’t need comforting. He had consciously chosen his way of life and therefore accepted its consequences with equanimity.
Such choices were beyond reproach.
The izakaya gradually grew livelier. Due to its good taste, fair prices, and cosy ambiance, many working clas people loved gathering at this small establishment. Ryo-nii called a server over with a loud voice and ordered another bottle of Sake.
After finishing the last drops in his glass, Tsuna covered the cup with his hand as Ryo-nii was about to refill it. “I can’t drink anymore. Another glass and I’ll definitely be dead drunk.”
Not pushing him, Ryo-nii nonchalantly refilled his own glass. He knew they were here to drink tonight so he had parked his car at home earlier. There was no need to worry about driving.
“Speaking of which…I’m not pointing fingers. But with not-so-high salaries and high risks, it’s normal that no one’s rushing to pursue us policemen. But in your case, how come you’ve never had a girlfriend?” Ryo-nii touched his chin, half-squinting his eyea as he looked at Tsuna. “Just your job alone should be appealing enough to women, right?”
If Reborn or Iemitsu had said this to Tsuna, he’d probably feel a slight pang of anxiety. But coming from Ryo-nii, he could calmly reflect on it.
“Maybe it’s because I seem too unreliable?” Tsuna smiled lightly, being unconcerned. “Yeah, my family has arranged for me to spend time with a few ladies. But I always felt that being with them was quite forced. I also don’t want them to reluctantly be with me.”
If Reborn heard him saying this, there’s no doubt he’d use Tsuna’s head as a dartboard for target practice.
In reality, it was Tsuna’s own passivity. While he was polite and gentle, he was overtly courteous. No girl would feel pleased when they didn’t sense genuine interest from the other side. And he genuinely felt there was no need to rush. There was no need to conform before time permitted.
“Haa… I’ve told you. You’ll regret missing out on Kyoko,” Ryo-nii hmphed a couple of times, wearing an expression that said, ‘Look how unfortunate you are.’ Tsuna also played along with this recurring joke, adopting an expression of deep regret. “Yeah. I’ve been regretting it all this time.”
They exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.
Being single wasn’t a bad thing. While being busy at the company, there were merits to being on one’s own as well. To enter a relationship just for the sake of having a partner, Tsuna found that notion absurd. In his view, relationships needed time to nurture. Love at first sight was no longer suitable for his age.
However, who could he find to spend years of his life getting to know them, nurturing them and cherishing them?
Like Ryo-nii’s joke; once you miss the chance, it is gone forever.
Tsuna thought that perhaps he had missed time itself.
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*Translator’s Note: Again, I’d like to remind you guys that I haven’t proofread these chapters since I’m speeding up my translation. So, pardon me for any mistakes. I’ll go back and proofread them someday. -K
Next update: Tomorrow
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