The atmosphere in the room was tense. Despite the apparent calm, I could feel the furtive glances and impatience in the air. As expected, my uncles and cousins were present, all dressed in dark suits and feigning a sadness that did not belong to them.
I took a seat in one of the chairs at the long table, keeping silent. I had no interest in what was about to happen, but I knew I had to be present.
My grandfather's lawyer, a middle-aged man with thin glasses and a serene expression, stood up and cleared his throat to get our attention.
—Before we begin, I want to emphasize that this document represents the last will of Mr. Hiroshi Kiryuu," he said in a firm voice. I ask that, regardless of the contents of the will, you all keep your composure and respect the decision of your late father and grandfather.
There was a faint murmur in the room, but no one said anything aloud.
The lawyer took a sealed envelope, carefully opened it and began to read aloud:
"To my dear daughter, who has been my greatest pride and joy, I leave half of all my assets and property. I hope this bequest will provide her with stability and that she will continue to live with dignity and determination."
I watched out of the corner of my eye as my aunt held back tears. She had been the person closest to my grandfather and, without a doubt, the one who had cared for him the most in his last moments.
"To my two sons, who have gone their own way in life, I leave the other half of my fortune, in the hope that they will be responsible with what I hand over to them and use it wisely."
My uncles looked at each other with a discreet smile, satisfied with what they had just heard. To them, this was the logical outcome of the inheritance.
"To my grandchildren, who bear the Kiryuu surname, I leave a fair share of the inheritance intended for their growth and future. May this legacy help them forge their own destiny."
My cousins seemed to relax upon hearing this. To them, the will was nothing more than a formality confirming what they already took for granted.
However, the lawyer paused before continuing with the last part.
—Finally," he continued in a more solemn voice, "regarding my grandson Haruki Kiryuu....
I felt several gazes settle on me, some with mockery, others with indifference.
"To Haruki, who has been my greatest concern and my greatest hope, I do not leave wealth or luxurious property. Instead, I give him the papers of an old family farm located on the outskirts of Kyoto. This farm has a value that goes beyond money, for it holds memories, teachings and something that I am sure he will appreciate when the time is right. Along with the farm, I leave him this letter, written with all my love and confidence in his future."
The lawyer took out a smaller envelope and placed it in front of me on the table.
The room fell silent.
My cousins couldn't hold back a smirk, while my aunt and uncle exchanged looks of disbelief. For them, this was almost like a humiliation.
I, on the other hand, didn't know how to feel.
My grandfather... did he really think this was the best thing for me?
I looked at the envelope with the letter and, without saying anything, took it in my hands.
In that moment, regardless of the reactions around me, I knew that this will was not the end of something.
It was the beginning of something new.
As soon as the lawyer finished reading the last line of the will, the silence in the room was broken by a snort of disbelief.
—A farm? -the voice of my eldest uncle, Kenji Kiryuu, sounded laden with mockery. Is that for real?
—It sounds like a joke," added his younger brother, Takeshi Kiryuu, crossing his arms. While we get what's rightfully ours, he just gets a useless piece of land.
—I guess Grandpa realized you weren't worth it and decided it was better to leave you with a burden instead of an inheritance," said one of my cousins with a sly smile.
I ignored his comments and just stared at the envelope with my grandfather's letter. I didn't care about his opinions, but I did want to understand why he had made this decision.
My aunt, who until that moment had remained silent, banged the table loudly, drawing everyone's attention.
—Enough! —She exclaimed, her voice breaking, "Don't you people have any respect?
The others were silent for a moment, although the looks of disdain towards me did not disappear.
The lawyer, keeping his composure, closed the will and spoke in a firm tone:
—The will of Mr. Hiroshi Kiryuu has been read in its entirety. If any of you wish to dispute the terms, you may do so through the appropriate legal means. However, I must remind you that this is your father's last will and cannot be changed.
—There is nothing to discuss," Kenji replied with a confident smile. After all, we were the winners.
I remained in my seat, not saying a word.
My grandfather left me a farm. No money, no stocks, no valuable property... just a farm.
What was I supposed to do with it?
I didn't understand, but something inside me told me that this decision had a deeper meaning than it seemed.
I took a deep breath, took the letter and put it in my pocket.
Whatever my grandfather wanted to tell me with this, I would find out sooner or later.
For now, all I knew was that my life was about to change in a way I had never imagined.