Totsuki Resort.
This was the collective name for a large tourist area in the Fuji region controlled by the Totsuki Group.
Typically, the resort referred specifically to Totsuki Group's largest hotel within the resort.
Currently, Erina Nakiri sat on a sofa in the palace's lobby, facing her cousin, Alice Nakiri, the two of them locking eyes in a staring contest.
"Why are you here, Erina?"
Alice Nakiri, a white-haired girl with a diagonal fringe and vivid crimson eyes that perfectly matched Chinese aesthetic preferences, glared at her cousin as if she were some kind of stalker.
"That's my line."
Erina Nakiri looked at Alice with a mix of irritation and amusement:
"With so many seats in the lobby, why did you have to sit right opposite me? Alice."
"Me?" Alice pointed at her own face, then said blankly, "Obviously to question why you're following me, of course."
This flawless logic left Erina momentarily speechless:
"Think carefully. Who told you to come to the resort in the first place?"
"I think Grandfather asked me to come," Alice replied, still with that vacant expression. "So... the despicable Erina was summoned by him, too?"
"I can't be bothered to explain." Erina had already given up on her cousin.
She usually seemed so sharp; so, why did she become so dense in front of her?
Yet Alice showed no signs of letting her go:
"Hey, Erina, do you know why Grandfather called us here?"
She added, "And why he insisted we wear formal dresses?"
Erina glanced at her. "Well, are you wearing one?"
Alice looked down at her Totsuki Culinary Academy junior high uniform, then up at Erina's identical outfit, and couldn't help retorting:
"Neither are you!"
"I came straight from Chiyoda and didn't have time. Hisako's fetching my dress."
"And you?"
"Hisako? Oh, that red-haired girl who follows you everywhere. No wonder she's not here now."
Alice recalled the ever-present attendant, then suddenly brightened. But when pressed about her own dress, she declared triumphantly:
"As for mine, I just didn't feel like wearing it!"
"You think I can't guess what Grandfather's planning?"
"You know why he summoned us?" Erina couldn't hide her surprise.
She'd been busy all week with Totsuki Group's new gourmet magazine, rushing between Tokyo's affiliated restaurants as a food critic. She genuinely had no idea why Senzaemon suddenly demanded her presence at the resort in formal attire.
Seeing the normally arrogant, queenly Erina actually seeking answers from her, Alice grew even more smug:
"Isn't it obvious?"
"It's a matchmaking meeting!"
"Private gathering, urgent summons, dressing up - what else could it possibly be?"
"Uh..." Erina found herself momentarily speechless.
'Matchmaking? That's your brilliant deduction? There should be limits to wild guesses.'
Noticing Erina's sceptical expression, Alice pouted:
"Don't tell me you didn't figure that out?"
"I'm tired. Wake me when the banquet starts." Having no energy left for this nonsense, Erina stood and headed for the hotel elevators.
At that moment, watching Erina Nakiri's retreating figure, Alice Nakiri puffed up her cheeks like a steamed bun:
"What's with her, always running off mid-sentence? So boring."
After saying this, Alice muttered under her breath:
"That stuck-up girl, I hope Grandfather really does find her some smelly man to marry."
As Alice grumbled, evening arrived.
...
Totsuki Resort, first floor, before the lobby sofa.
Senzaemon Nakiri, dressed in a formal brown kimono with a physique as sturdy as an ox, showing no signs of age, glared at his granddaughter in frustration:
"Alice, didn't I remind you to wear formal attire? What do you think you look like dressed like this?"
Alice, standing nearby in her school uniform, lowered her head and kicked at the floor tiles with her foot.
Finally, Alice shot a glare at Erina, who was wearing a cherry blossom-coloured kimono beside her.
This Erina had lied to her, saying the servants were fetching a dress, when it turned out to be a kimono all along. How scheming.
"Why are you looking at Erina? The issue here is your attire."
Senzaemon sighed. He didn't even need to guess - his eldest granddaughter was clearly having another spat with the younger one.
"Erina, do you have any other clothes Alice could borrow?"
Left with no choice, Senzaemon could only suggest this solution.
After all, today's guests included the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and his eldest daughter, plus an important figure from a special department.
According to the Minister, this distinguished guest was still quite young - reportedly still in high school.
This was undoubtedly hinting at the guest's promising future to Senzaemon.
As host, Senzaemon knew someone his age wasn't suitable to accompany such guests.
Not only would his energy be insufficient, but their worldviews would differ, too.
If the reception went poorly, it wouldn't build connections but instead create resentment.
'If only Sōe weren't in Europe and Mana weren't all the way in America - would I need to bring this silly girl otherwise?'
Senzaemon looked helplessly at Alice, who still showed no remorse. With her current mood, she'd probably be pulling his beard again later.
Meanwhile, Erina sighed upon receiving Senzaemon's order, then turned to Hisako Arato beside her.
"For kimonos, we still have a few spares," Hisako responded immediately upon noticing the gaze.
Having anticipated Senzaemon's preference for kimonos, Hisako had prepared four brand-new kimonos for Erina, now proving useful.
Seeing this, Senzaemon said, "Alice, go change."
Alice stuck out her tongue:
"No way, Erina's clothes are too big in the chest."
Erina flushed instantly, glaring at Alice in embarrassed fury.
Hisako, nearby, struggled to suppress her laughter, finding it painfully difficult to hold back.
Hearing this, Senzaemon sighed: "You brat, don't make me lose my temper. Hurry up! The guests will be here soon!"
Seeing Senzaemon truly getting angry, Alice pouted and approached Hisako:
"You there, you must have prepared a kimono for yourself, right? Lend me one of yours? I refuse to wear Erina's clothes."
"Um..." Hisako Arato froze for a moment, then glanced at Alice Nakiri's figure, which was actually quite similar to Erina Nakiri's. "Miss Alice, my clothes might be a bit tight on you."
"Enough chatter, hurry up! Grandfather will get angry."
Alice pushed Hisako towards the elevator.
Seeing this, Hisako could only look at Erina with an expression of innocence.
But even as they entered the elevator, Erina couldn't bring herself to intervene.
'Sorry, Hisako. If Alice really throws a tantrum, things will get even more troublesome. So I can only apologise.'
Fifteen minutes later, a visibly frustrated Alice stepped out of the elevator looking uncomfortable:
"I say, little follower, why are your clothes so constricting?"
Hearing this, Hisako wore the haggard expression of someone who'd suffered a heavy blow and muttered an apology under her breath:
"I'm so sorry for having small breasts."
"Have you considered that with your proportions, no one our age could keep up?!"
"What's with this resentful attitude?" Alice was startled by Hisako's reaction and grumbled as she walked towards Senzaemon Nakiri.
"Grandfather, I've changed clothes."
"Hmph!" Senzaemon snorted coldly before saying, "Come with me. The guests are about to arrive."
"Yes!"
Alice gave a playful salute.
Seeing her carefree demeanour, Erina couldn't help feeling a twinge of envy.
But this envious look lasted only a moment before Erina composed herself.
The next second, she had transformed back into the proud young mistress of the Nakiri family, following behind Senzaemon as they exited the hall.
They didn't have to wait long at the entrance before two black Honda cars gradually drove through the resort's gates.