Inside the luxury ward.
Ayanokouji's wife sat bored on the side, painting her eyelashes in a hand mirror.
The mother sat on the sofa.
Her gaze watched Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and his father with complexity.
Decades of living together.
Even a fool could see through a person's character.
Having once chosen the other party for money, she now inevitably felt some regret, unfortunately...
And at this time.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka sat by the hospital bed, expressionlessly watching the numbers on the monitor, watching the life of Ayanokouji Atsuomi ebb away.
Although it was said he was in critical condition.
It seemed he had been saved.
But if he wanted to continue working, it was likely an impossible task.
Although extending his life would probably require a vast amount of money, this was not a problem for them.
At this time.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi leaned against the bed looking at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, wanting to say something, but not knowing what to say.
The political machine before him was precisely what he had raised with his own hands.
Because of this.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi also knew very well that saying more would be meaningless; Ayanokouji Kiyotaka would have his own judgment.
The room was filled with silence.
Ayanokouji's mother didn't speak either, just looking at the scene before her with a complex expression.
Having been together for nearly half a century, language had lost its meaning.
There was nothing left to say.
Everything before them felt like a cycle of reincarnation.
About twenty minutes passed.
"I say... it's been almost half an hour."
Ayanokouji's wife said somewhat impatiently: "This performance for others is already enough, isn't it? I have an appointment for a spa, can I leave first?"
Ayanokouji checked the time.
It was originally a performance for those around them; half an hour was indeed enough.
After all, in this position.
Being busy with work, the people around should be able to understand.
"True, that's about enough."
"Great."
"However, you must leave with us first."
"Hmph..."
The three simply packed their things and turned to leave the luxury ward.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi opened his mouth wanting to say something, but in the end, he couldn't say it.
This scene naturally did not escape Ayanokouji's eyes.
It seemed that it wasn't just physical weakness; even his heart had become weak. The man before him was no longer a threat.
Outside the ward.
After a brief farewell with Ayanokouji and the others, Hikigaya and his group continued to wait.
Too many people wanted to visit Ayanokouji Atsuomi.
Even if ill, it could not hide the success he achieved in his career, nor his still extremely high influence.
However.
Basically, every one or two minutes, a new group of people would swap in.
Perhaps they couldn't bear to disturb such an old man on his deathbed.
Thinking this way was more optimistic.
During this time, Hikigaya also dealt with some acquaintances.
After finishing lunch.
The crowd finally thinned out in the afternoon.
"Let's go."
Hikigaya picked up the fruit basket and walked into the room with Horikita Suzune.
treatment.
The ward was fully equipped with furniture such as sofas, TVs, and refrigerators, no different from a residence.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi was leaning on the bed; on the surface, he looked no different from a normal person, having likely received excellent treatment.
"Long time no see, Teacher Ayanokouji."
Hikigaya led Horikita Suzune to sit by the bed, placing the fruit basket on the bedside table.
However, Ayanokouji Atsuomi did not respond, his gaze calmly fixed out the window.
"Teacher Ayanokouji seems to be recovering well; my father-in-law also asked me to send his regards."
Hikigaya looked for a topic: "In a while, you should be able to go home to recuperate, right?"
A private doctor would be easy for him; perhaps he could go home even now.
However.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi did not choose that; he probably had his own thoughts.
Since the other party didn't speak.
Hikigaya had no choice but to peel fruit while looking for conversation.
No matter what.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi was still his mentor.
And strictly speaking.
At this age, it was hard to describe him as simply good or bad.
As an educator.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi was extremely excellent and responsible, with no intention of holding back knowledge; he was clearly very successful.
He just had a tough personality and an ambition far exceeding that of ordinary people.
Anyone who could potentially hinder him, or anyone who was beneficial to his advancement, would be ruthlessly eliminated or utilized.
Including his own relatives; the same applied to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
From this point.
The father and son were the same.
"Or."
Hikigaya handed the sliced apple to Ayanokouji Atsuomi; seeing the other party didn't move, he placed it on the bedside table.
"How about I find a caregiver for you? Someone very enthusiastic, cheerful, and full of energy."
If he wanted one.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi could obviously find one himself; what was lacking now was not money, but companionship.
What Hikigaya could do.
Was merely help him pick a caregiver who was excellent and trustworthy.
"Speaking of which..."
Ayanokouji Atsuomi didn't respond directly.
He just leaned on the bed, his gaze always fixed out the window, revealing a hint of reminiscence.
"There was once a low period, which once made me feel there was no longer any possibility for further advancement."
"..."
Hikigaya was not aware of this past.
From the time he met Teacher Ayanokouji, he had always been a high-ranking figure with great power.
But for elderly people.
Most of them like to reminisce about the past; it was best to just follow along.
Hikigaya said with an interested tone:
"And then..."
"At that time, I was pulled up by one of my former subordinates, which gave me the chance to return to politics."
"I see..."
Hikigaya responded casually: "Was it Tsukishiro, or my father-in-law?"
"Neither."
Ayanokouji Atsuomi's tone was calm:
"He didn't have any outstanding abilities; to be blunt, he was just a lucky guy."
"By the time I climbed back to a high position, his abilities could no longer keep up with my pace. After that, I never saw him again, and I don't even remember his name."
"..."
Hikigaya suddenly fell into silence.
At the brink of death.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi might have felt a shred of regret.
Having chased power for a lifetime.
Clearly possessing family.
In the end, he ended up as a solitary man.
Perhaps there were once a few sincere feelings laid before him, but they were all personally buried by Ayanokouji Atsuomi.
People are like that, never satisfied.
An ambition far exceeding ordinary people is nothing special; if capable, everyone will persistently chase a certain thing.
Be it power, money, or fame, and so on.
Thereby forgetting the surrounding scenery at some point; perhaps like Ayanokouji Atsuomi, he chose to give up.
As those above act, those below follow.
Prioritizing ability, appointing based on talent, and driven by profit—it naturally attracted a group of people who prioritized interest.
People who are kind-hearted and capable would naturally stay away.
There is no right or wrong.
It's just that every type of personality.
Has its own fate that it must bear.
But looking at Ayanokouji Atsuomi's expression, with Hikigaya's understanding of him, the other party clearly wasn't regretting.
After all.
Ayanokouji Atsuomi knew very well.
Wanting to regret now is already...
Too late...
But Horikita Suzune was not clear about this.