"Kazu-chan."
"What on earth happened to make you drag us here?"
In the young lady Nagisa Kazuha's music room, the four girls sat in a circle. Tennyo Ei finally found a chance to ask.
Although she loved being with 'Kazu-chan', she also understood that she shouldn't have stepped into this mansion. Because the master of this mansion did not welcome... no, to be precise, completely ignored her existence.
Facing this question, Nagisa Kazuha, after a slight hesitation, still gave a direct answer.
"Not long ago, a terrorist attack occurred in Arakawa Ward, Machiya Town."
?!
"Terrorist... attack?"
"Arakawa Ward?"
Upon suddenly hearing such explosive news, everyone's first reaction was disbelief.
However... upon thinking about the numerous luxury cars, and even helicopters, picking up students at the entrance of Kouou Academy earlier, they all came to their senses.
"So that's how it is."
"Didn't they say it was just an earthquake?"
The class president Nao was thoughtful, while Tennyo Ei still found it hard to understand.
Never mind that something like a terrorist attack was as distant as a cloud in the sky for the 'Reiwa generation'; the government had already issued a notice that an earthquake had occurred in Arakawa Ward, Machiya Town...
"Of course, it's to prevent panic."
On this issue, Akiyoshi Yuu beside them directly took over the conversation.
"Do you want government officials to come out and bow, saying: A terrorist attack occurred in Arakawa Ward, our supervision was inadequate. Su-mi-ma-sen, ka-ka-ka-ka~~"
Of course, as the mastermind behind the scenes, Akiyoshi Yuu was well aware that it was neither an earthquake nor a terrorist attack.
It was a supernatural event directed by him!
...
"I see."
Tennyo Ei nodded.
No matter for what purpose the government had covered up the truth, it was not for her, a poor orphan, to criticize.
In fact, if Nagisa Kazuha hadn't said it, they would still be in the dark.
"Thanks, Kazu-chan."
Hugging the young lady, the lively Tennyo Ei rubbed her face against the other's.
"But I still have to take care of the shrine my grandfather left behind..."
"No!"
The young lady, whose face was flushed from Tennyo Ei's rubbing, refused on the spot without any hesitation.
"It's very dangerous outside right now. I can't let you be alone."
"Yesterday, my father specifically told the driver to pick me up immediately after school. I was a little resentful, but now it seems..."
Did my father already receive some news in secret back then?
After all, a terrorist attack occurred today.
Thinking of this, Nagisa Kazuha placed her hands on Tennyo Ei's shoulders.
"Stay, Ei."
"Just for my sake. I don't want to see you get hurt."
This manor was not just 'old'. It also had a well-stocked and exceptionally sturdy basement that could withstand the bombing of aerial bombs. Eighty years ago, the American bombers had personally come to test its quality!
"But, I..."
Seeing the two beautiful girls being so close, his sister Akiyoshi Kaoru and the class president Nao both had gossipy expressions. Akiyoshi Yuu walked outside.
"I'm going for a walk outside. You guys talk."
"Hmm, it's still more comfortable outside."
Walking in the courtyard planted with various flowers, Akiyoshi Yuu stretched.
Four beautiful girls were certainly a sight for sore eyes, but when they gathered together, they would definitely talk about girls' topics. Wouldn't Akiyoshi Yuu, a man, be a killjoy standing there?
Besides, with Akiyoshi Yuu's perception, there was another restless person in this manor.
"Mrs. Nagisa."
Hearing the voice from behind, the lady standing in a daze in the garden came back to her senses.
"Sorry, I was a little distracted just now... you are... Akiyoshi Yuu?"
"Yes. Is Madam admiring the flowers?"
Akiyoshi Yuu was not surprised that the other party knew his name.
She was the wife of a major financial conglomerate, after all. If she didn't even have this much intelligence gathering ability, that would be strange.
"No, I was just moved by the scene."
"Life is like this flower. In a blink of an eye, it withers, falls, and disappears."
...
Akiyoshi Yuu expressed his inability to understand the lady's 'sadness and sorrow'.
While secretly spreading his abilities, he was also grinding his skill proficiency, and at the same time, he had to fight a battle of wits with the government... playing multiple roles to create a scene of 'spiritual energy revival'. Where would he have time to shed tears for a falling flower?
"Sorry."
"An old woman is just like this. I've made a fool of myself."
Noticing Akiyoshi Yuu's expression, the dignified Mrs. Nagisa took the initiative to change the subject.
"Yuu-kun, are you in the same school as Ei-chan?"
"Yes, the same grade."
After Akiyoshi Yuu answered, Mrs. Nagisa spoke gently.
"Have you considered your future career intentions?"
Hmm?
Why suddenly ask about work?
The topic jumped too quickly, and even Akiyoshi Yuu was stunned for a moment.
"I haven't considered it for now, but—I don't need to consider it."
There were still two years until graduation. Akiyoshi Yuu was confident that in two years, he would already be considering traversing the universe physically.
Work was absolutely impossible. No one would dare to hire him. It's not like he could open an 'Ichiraku Ramen' and watch the world go by, right?
"It seems Yuu-kun already has a detailed plan for the future."
Mrs. Nagisa's gaze swept over Akiyoshi Yuu's face. It was a kind of composure that came from being in control of the overall situation, something she had only seen on the faces of certain big shots.
Is it confidence, or arrogance?
Originally, she was prepared to suggest that Akiyoshi Yuu work at a company under her family's name.
Since the other party was so confident, it would be good to let him experience the storms of society first, but before that:
"Yuu-kun, what do you think of Ei-chan?"
?
The topic suddenly shifted from work to 'feelings', which made even Akiyoshi Yuu feel like he couldn't keep up with her line of thought.
"Tennyo-san seems cheerful and straightforward, but she actually cares a lot about others' feelings. She's a good girl with delicate emotions."
After thinking for a moment, Akiyoshi Yuu gave a vague answer.
"Then,"
"Does Yuu-kun have any intention of dating Ei-chan?"
"...Mrs. Nagisa, please forgive me."
"I thought you would say something like 'stay away from Nagisa-san'."
Originally, Akiyoshi Yuu thought a scene like 'this is XXX million, stay away from my daughter' would happen. Who knew this lady wouldn't play by the rules and would start matchmaking after just a few words... no, she should be called a 'god of marriage'.
"Do I look like that kind of person?"
Rolling her eyes at Akiyoshi Yuu, Mrs. Nagisa sighed helplessly.
"Actually, Ei-chan and Kazuha are sisters."
"Don't get me wrong. Ei-chan is not my daughter, but the daughter of my husband's mistress."
??
Suddenly hearing this news, and from Nagisa Kazuha's mother's mouth at that, Akiyoshi Yuu couldn't help but raise a hand and rub his temples.
"Mrs. Nagisa, your circle is really..."
"Ahem, what does this have to do with me?"
"It has nothing to do with you, but as a mother, I want to see my daughter happy."
"Kazuha likes Ei-chan very much. She really sees Ei-chan as a real sister, so—"
The topic went in a circle, and Mrs. Nagisa asked Akiyoshi Yuu seriously again.
"Does Yuu-kun have any intention of dating Ei-chan?"
"On the premise of marriage."
...
What is all this?
Although Akiyoshi Yuu and Tennyo Ei were friends, both before and now.
But to be suddenly rushed into marriage by her 'parent' was both funny and annoying.
"Madam, isn't it too early to talk about this?"
"And with all due respect, what Tennyo-san wants is more likely... family affection."
The relationship between Tennyo Ei and Nagisa Kazuha was undoubtedly that of real good sisters. And the way Tennyo Ei looked at Mrs. Nagisa, with a bit of fear and desire, Akiyoshi Yuu was not blind. How could he not see the meaning in it?
"Sorry, Yuu-kun."
"I know what Ei-chan wants, but in this family, I'm not the one who calls the shots."
Mrs. Nagisa spoke apologetically. As a traditional financial conglomerate family, the master of this manor was the man who had not yet appeared, Nagisa Kazuha's father.
"Understood."
After all this, it wasn't a vicious stepmother, but a cold, scumbag script.
"Mrs. Nagisa, how about we make a bet?"
With Akiyoshi Yuu taking control of the conversation, Mrs. Nagisa first frowned, then her curiosity was piqued.
"Please speak."
"It won't be long before your husband will be begging for Tennyo-san to come here."
"If I win, please take good care of Tennyo-san as a 'mother'. If I lose, you can name any condition."
?!
Impossible—
Mrs. Nagisa's first reaction was absurdity.
She was also from a famous family, with a financial conglomerate family behind her. Even if she agreed, the others in the two families would never let an 'illegitimate daughter' in.
What's more, she knew her husband's character better than anyone.
He didn't even go to see the woman who gave birth to Ei-chan on her deathbed.
To describe him as heartless and ungrateful was no exaggeration.
If it weren't for the fact that he also doted on Kazuha very much, their marriage would have long existed in name only.
"Of course, this is a secret between us."
Akiyoshi Yuu added.
"Please keep it a secret, madam."
The reason Akiyoshi Yuu dared to say this was not because he believed this lady upon first meeting, but because of:
Cursed Seal: Tongue-Tied Curse
This jutsu was not difficult. The difficulty lay in how to imprint it on others.
How could a normal ninja just stand by and let others cast a cursed seal on them?
But Mrs. Nagisa was just an ordinary person, and the effect of this cursed seal was also very simple. As long as she tried to say or write any information about Akiyoshi Yuu, she would be instantly controlled by the cursed seal!
...
"Although I don't know where you get your confidence, but—"
Looking up and down at the spirited young man before her, Mrs. Nagisa nodded.
"If my husband can accept Ei-chan, I will naturally treat her as a daughter, even if it's just for Kazuha's sake."
"It's a deal."
Facing Akiyoshi Yuu's outstretched right hand,
Mrs. Nagisa smiled charmingly and also extended her right hand.
"Naturally."
A black cursed seal silently swam out from Akiyoshi Yuu's fingers and up the lady's arm.
Tongue-Tied Curse, imprinted!