Pride and Prejudice

"How is it that my fiancée is in a shared room?" Lieutenant Yanagi shouted at Tsushima-sensei, who listened fearfully to the military man. "Also, I have learned that she has not been eating properly."

It was close to six in the afternoon when Izumi was finally able to go to the General Hospital to visit his fiancée. Himawari complained that she was hungry and that her broken leg hurt. Since the opening party, her relationship with the Lieutenant had advanced beyond the planned engagement.

She had become more expressive, talked more, and it was noticeable that she missed her sister. She still did not know that her mother had died, had not been told about Sachie's visit, and only wanted to return home. She did not imagine the magnitude of what had happened and did not understand why her parents were not visiting her.

Urara was trying to protect her by avoiding the subject, forbidding anyone from talking to her about the earthquake and its consequences. But Himawari had noticed that Urara was hiding something, and not only that, but her attitude toward her was now different. 

She could see it in her manner: her mother-in-law was judging her, looking at her with pity because of her injury. What would happen if she couldn't walk again? If her engagement survived, there was still her sister's prediction. 

The visualized her future: crippled and with a baby, she wouldn't be able to overcome it easily. Izumi might accept her, but Urara…

"Unbelievable…" Izumi whispered as he approached Himawari, who looked at him confused. He tried to calm down a bit. "Soon you will be taken to a better room. Are you hungry?"

"When can I go home?" Himawari said, ignoring her fiancé's question.

"It's not possible for now," Izumi replied. She had to remain calm, as recommended by Tsushima-sensei.

Thanks to his influence as a military man, Izumi had managed not only to give his fiancée better attention but also, that same day, or tomorrow at the latest, food and medicines would arrive especially for those close to his family. He kept it to himself, but he knew that resources were being diverted and important areas were being prioritized.

"I have to go," Izumi told her after a few minutes. "My mother will be looking after you, and your father will surely arrive soon. I promise you will get out of here soon."

That same night, Himawari was transferred to a better area of the hospital. Near the rooms where the members of the Kurogane family were. She was able to get some hot soup before sleeping and, thanks to the painkillers, she finally rest.

Keiichi was angry; his suspicions about those rumors circulating were being confirmed after the daughter, that woman, was the one who helped the Shibasakis.

"Tell me I'm wrong, Takumi," Keiichi told his son. "Is Haruto's daughter the woman in the rumors?"

Takumi said nothing, he didn't know what to say, so his father confirmed his suspicions.

"Have you been seeing her secretly?" Keiichi asked.

"What's the problem?" Takumi retorted, fed up with them always judging Sachie just for being different. "She saved Shibasaki-san, and he didn't care about her background."

"She has been rejected by her family," Keiichi commented, annoyed. "If you continue with this foolish game, you will not only be with a pariah, you will be ruining your future, and consequently, you will be staining the Takahara name. The reputation not only of the family but also of our business will be affected. You cannot make such hasty decisions."

Haruna was also worried about the matter. She had stayed out of the Apricot scandal, just like her family. Hearing how they repudiated the woman who saved her father made her feel strange. Was it so bad to be single and be a healer?

She had enjoyed the time she had spent with Takumi; she had treasured it. And now it turns out that he was choosing that strange woman. She couldn't help the pain in her heart. Yuuta, for his part, although he was grateful to Sachie, knew that he couldn't simply let it go, not since the scandal of Sachie with the Takahara son came to light.

"Father," Haruna said while they waited for their food ration. "Is what Sachie did so bad? I mean… following her own path and being a healer?"

"Haruna, dear," Yuuta said calmly. "You must remember that as women, Sachie and you have a duty. And that is to be able to create a family. Sachie was repudiated for a reason."

"Father, if she had followed that path, she wouldn't have been able to help you," Haruna interrupted. Yuuta, tired and hungry, was not angry at his daughter's response. He couldn't even contradict her. She was right about something.

"It seems to me that, when I recover, we should find you a better candidate," Yuuta told his daughter, who lowered her gaze as a sign of sadness. "Also, we will move from here. We will start businesses in a different city. The situation in Shimizu is complicated."

That night, Haruna cried silently. She was truly looking forward to that engagement with Takumi; she had truly enjoyed spending the afternoons with him. But she alone could not fight for that engagement that never materialized. Not knowing that her father was against it and that Takumi had already decided his path.

At the same time, Haruto finally learned of Akiko's death. Sachie had left the hospital, fulfilling her promise not to intervene further. Finally, Urara had commented that it was thanks to her son that Himawari was in better condition to rest.

"You have been a total failure with your family, Apricot-san," Urara said, reprimanding Haruto, who only listened. He couldn't even meet that woman's gaze. "First, you can't control Sachie. Your wife died like an abandoned animal, and you can't even ensure decent conditions for your only daughter."

He had tried. Of course, he tried to find a way to transfer Himawari to a better hospital with the excuse of his injured wife. The roads were destroyed, and the train tracks could not be used.

"What will you do if Himawari cannot walk again?" Urara asked furiously, expecting an answer. "If she can't recover from this, believe me, I will cancel the engagement.”