TJTPBFB 05

 Chapter 5

“Grandmother’s House”

“I wonder why Grandma never tried to contact me… Did Father even know about her?” Ruri murmured quietly to herself.

“I don’t know all the details,” Yonekura replied, “but apparently, your grandmother and father had known each other since childhood. The Aokawa family estate has been passed down through generations ever since.”

“I see…”
Ruri looked thoughtful for a moment, then asked, “By the way, did my grandmother pass away from illness?”

Yonekura took a small sip of tea before answering.
“Both your grandparents have passed away. From what I’ve heard, your father doesn’t like to talk much about them—only that they were close friends. So, there may have been some circumstances behind their distance. I’m afraid I don’t know much more.”

“I understand,” Ruri nodded slowly. “If it’s land that my grandmother cared about so much, I’d like to see it first before deciding anything.”

“Of course. Once you provide the necessary documents, we’ll handle all the inheritance procedures for you,” said Yonekura reassuringly.
“Your grandmother was very kind to us when she was alive.”

“Huh?” Ruri looked up in surprise.

“It may not seem like much,” Yonekura continued, “but the land value in that area has risen recently, so it does hold some worth. It’s not worth millions, but it isn’t worthless either. You don’t need to rush your decision. However, please keep in mind there will be some ongoing expenses, such as property taxes and maintenance costs for the house. Fortunately, your grandmother left behind a small savings fund to cover those.”

Ruri blinked in mild disbelief. She hadn’t expected anything like this.
For her, this inheritance felt like a stroke of unexpected good fortune.

“Thank you… truly,” she said softly.

“As for the will,” Yonekura went on, “I’m currently holding it on behalf of the lawyer. It’s less of a formal testament and more of a personal letter, really. I’ll give it to you now. The title deed and other documents will be handed over once all the procedures are complete.”

He carefully passed her a sealed envelope.

“Yes… well then,” Ruri said quietly, staring at the envelope in her hands. “What kind of life did my grandmother live?”

Listening to Yonekura’s explanation, Ruri was surprised.
“Your grandmother was quite a famous fortune-teller,” he said. “She was well-known in her community, and even dignitaries from all over the country came to consult her. Because of the nature of her work, interviews weren’t permitted, so it’s understandable that few people outside her circle knew of her. But… she was never short on money.”

“I see…”
Ruri exhaled softly, a faint sigh escaping her lips as the image of her mysterious grandmother slowly took shape in her mind.