Leaving the karaoke store, Yukino Yukinoshita waved to the girls.
Once they had walked out of sight, she turned to Takumi Yuuya.
"Shall we go too?"
"Your sister should be here soon."
Yuuya took Yukino's small hand, and together they walked to the school gates.
Sure enough, Yōno Yukinoshita had arrived. Seeing the two of them, she waved.
"Yuuya-kun, you're too slow."
"You can't blame me. Yukino wanted to sing with her friends."
"Yukino's friends?"
"Yeah."
Yuuya nodded slightly. Yōno glanced at Yukino.
"Yukino has really changed… it feels almost unfamiliar."
"It's because of him," Yukino replied, looking at Yuuya.
Yuuya opened the rear car door.
"After you."
Yukino stepped inside. Yuuya was about to sit next to her when Yōno moved first.
He paused, then slid into the seat beside her. As the car began to move, Yuuya leaned slightly toward Yōno.
"Yōno Yukinoshita disgust +10"
"Yuuya-kun, sitting next to me on purpose… are you trying to take advantage?"
"Yes," Yuuya answered without hesitation.
Yōno blinked, surprised. Yukino peeked at him but quickly looked out the window.
"In front of Yukino, you admitted wanting to take advantage, and she didn't even get mad… what exactly did you say to her?" Yōno asked, curious.
"It's all Yukino's fault for being too weak," Yuuya replied.
Yukino's cheeks flushed red. Yōno's expression twisted in puzzlement.
The car stopped in the villa's parking lot. Yuuya stepped out, watching as a maid approached.
The maid bowed.
"Master Yuuya, Second Miss, after you arrived, Madam asked you to go to the study."
"Understood."
Yuuya squeezed Yukino's hand and followed her inside. Together, they climbed the stairs to the study.
Yukino knocked lightly.
"Come in," came the voice of Mrs. Yukinoshita.
Yuuya opened the door, and they stepped inside.
Mrs. Yukinoshita's gaze fell on Yukino.
"I thought Yōno would be the first to have a boyfriend… but it seems you got one first."
Yukino stayed silent, her expression complicated. Mrs. Yukinoshita noticed and let the comment drop.
"Sit down."
Both sat. Mrs. Yukinoshita poured tea for them. Yuuya sipped lightly; Yukino held her cup, unsure what to say.
Her mother's eyes studied Yuuya.
"Yuuya-kun, your relationship with Yukino…"
"I will take responsibility," Yuuya interrupted confidently.
Mrs. Yukinoshita paused, then spoke slowly.
"If you want to marry Yukino, you need at least 300 billion yen in assets."
"I don't have that yet. So, I decided to first give Yukino a hotel," Yuuya said.
Yukino handed over the documents and card to her mother. After reviewing them, Mrs. Yukinoshita returned them.
"This is enough to show your sincerity. You may become engaged. I will invite—"
"I prefer not to be flashy. The engagement dinner can just be a meal here, if that's okay," Yuuya interjected again.
Mrs. Yukinoshita turned to Yukino.
"What do you think, Yukino?"
"I also don't want to be flashy," Yukino said softly.
"Very well. I respect your wishes. You can tell your father later."
"I'll video call him so he can meet Yuuya-kun," Yukino replied quietly.
Mrs. Yukinoshita nodded.
Stepping out of the study, Yukino visibly relaxed. Yuuya held her small hand.
"She's your mother, not a stranger."
"If she were a stranger, I wouldn't be nervous," Yukino whispered.
It was clear—the relationship between Yukino and her mother didn't feel familial at all.
"Go to your room and video call your father. I've never met Mr. Yukinoshita," Yuuya suggested to shift the topic.
"He's a good man," Yukino said with a small smile.
In her room, Yukino initiated the video call. Half a minute later, it connected.
Yuuya saw Mr. Yukinoshita on the screen, dressed in a suit. He looked like an ordinary office worker.
Yukino's father looked at Yuuya with curiosity.
"Yukino, who is this?"
"Hello. I'm Yukino's fiancé. My name is Takumi Yuuya."
"You… what did you say?"
"Since we prefer not to be flashy, the engagement dinner will just be a meal here," Yuuya explained simply.
Yukino's father gaped.
"Yukino… is this… real?"
"Yes. We just met with your mother. Yuuya-kun gave me a hotel worth 4 billion yen. The hotel is managed by Yukinoshita Construction Company," Yukino explained.
Her father's expression showed astonishment.
"Yuuya-kun is really that rich?"
"All thanks to my master's guidance. Without him, I don't even know where I'd be now."
"You don't have a family?"
"No."
"No family, yet Yukino chose you and gave her consent… Yuuya-kun, you must be quite impressive."
"I'm just an ordinary person. It's my master who's extraordinary," Yuuya said. "If not for him, I'd probably still be working as a chef."
"You're already amazing as a prefectural assemblyman," her father said.
Yuuya realized anyone in that position had to be extraordinary.
They spoke briefly about Soubu High. Yukino's father was delighted that she had made friends at school. Yuuya learned that her father worked in Tokyo.
"Yuuya-kun, next time you come to Tokyo with Yukino, I'll cook for you myself."
"Alright, I'll find a time to visit."
"Next time, Yukino, tell me how you two met."
"Yes. You must be busy—I won't keep you."
Yukino ended the call.
Downstairs, Yōno Yukinoshita was eating watermelon.
Yuuya sat beside her, grabbed her wrist, and popped a piece of watermelon into his mouth.
"Yuuya-kun, you…"
"Tonight's dinner is our engagement dinner. From now on, I am Yukino's fiancé. I look forward to your support."
"What did you say?"
Yōno froze, shocked.
"Yukino already has a fiancé. You, as her sister, will need to step up too," Yuuya said, smiling at her.
"Yukino, really?"
"Mother already agreed. Father saw you over video call as well."
..
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