Chapter 7: Ch-7 I am Ayaka Kisaragi
Looking at the young man in front of me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of happiness.
A college student? I had so much fun during my college years, too...
But in the end, I wasn't really happy. Being born into the Kisaragi family may have been a stroke of luck for some, but not for me.
The Kisaragi family has been a major landowner since the Edo period, and remains a prestigious family at the helm of a massive corporate group. This group has expanded its reach into real estate, finance, securities, railroads, and distribution, all centered in Saitama.
Although my family belonged to a branch, we were deeply integrated into the group, and the orders of the main family were absolute. Even private matters were dictated by their wishes.
It was a long-standing custom that every member of the Kisaragi family, regardless of gender, married according to the decisions of the main family.
This system, designed to strengthen ties with related companies, ensured the prosperity of the Kisaragi family. Of course, I wasn't exempt from these traditions.
But I couldn't accept the idea of an arranged marriage dictated by politics. I had no interest in such an alliance. From a young age, I wanted nothing more than to escape the clutches of the Kisaragi family.
When I graduated from high school and was admitted to a university in Tokyo, it was the happiest moment of my life. Although I had to commute from my parents' home, Tokyo was a place outside the direct influence of the Kisaragi family.
Until high school, no matter where I went or what I did, I was always seen as "Miss Kisaragi," the well-bred young lady. But in Tokyo, no one knew anything about the Kisaragi family of Saitama.
At university, while I was enjoying this newfound sense of freedom, a male classmate who occasionally attended the same lectures began to catch my attention.
This man was Kazuya.
He was from Kyushu and had worked tirelessly to get into the university. Kazuya's family was a poor farming household, and he often spoke of their struggles.
Despite his circumstances, Kazuya had an unyielding determination. He lived in a shabby apartment in the suburbs and worked part-time at night to cover his tuition and living expenses.
I admired Kazuya's strength and independence. Slowly, feelings of love began to bloom in me. His determination to create his own destiny inspired me. I, too, wanted to break free from the metaphorical chains of the Kisaragi family that bound me.
Fortunately, Kazuya felt the same way. With his support, I made the boldest decision of my life: I moved in with Kazuya without my parents' consent.
In his tiny, shabby apartment, Kazuya became my first lover. I was a virgin at the time, and he was the first and, I believed, the only - man in my life.
Every night, Kazuya and I shared intimate moments. Looking back, our passionate cries must have echoed throughout the dilapidated apartment building. It was embarrassing to think about now, but at the time, I didn't care.
The experience itself, however, wasn't particularly satisfying. The routine of foreplay, spreading my legs, penetration, and his ejaculation became repetitive.
I often thought, Is this what sex is supposed to be like? It felt more like a ritual to reaffirm our love than something truly pleasurable.
Later, I would understand how wrong I was.
I would learn what true pleasure was...
But it wouldn't be with Kazuya.
It would be with another man.