Chapter 40

It's Tadano's turn.

A few days after the summer festival, at a certain place in the city.

At the counter of a certain bar, two figures were seated.

One was a man with blue eyes and black hair, who seemed gentle.

Kasegawa Kazuya.

The father of Yugen and the current head of the Kasegawa family.

The other was a man with amber eyes and black hair, who seemed difficult to please.

Tachibana Takunosuke.

The uncle of Ayaka and the current head of the Tachibana family (though he calls himself a "proxy").

In front of both men were empty glasses.

It seemed they had already had quite a bit to drink.

"By the way, I heard a rumor, Kazuya."

Takunosuke called Kazuya by his first name in a familiar manner.

Like Yugen and Ayaka, the two were also close.

In private, they called each other by their first names.

"Hmm, a rumor. Is it... a good one? A reward for my usual behavior?"

"Indeed, it might be a reward for your usual behavior. However... the rumor I heard was a bad one."

The bartender silently placed a cocktail on the counter.

Takunosuke and Kazuya picked up their glasses and took a sip of the alcohol.

"That the Kasegawa family bought a woman with money."

"...Hmm."

In response to Takunosuke's words, Kazuya neither affirmed nor denied.

However, he slightly narrowed his eyes.

To such a Kazuya, Takunosuke reprimanded with a tone of contempt, but his eyes were smiling.

"If you want help, send your daughter over. You're as dirty as ever, Kasegawa."

"You're speaking ill of me. ...The order is reversed. I provided a loan to support the family of my son's sweetheart. I don't want you to misunderstand that."

Then Kazuya gently rotated the glass containing the cocktail with his hand.

"Besides, whether this marriage goes well or not... I intend to continue business with Naoki Tachibana."

"Hmm..."

"He has something our family doesn't have. ...I don't want to be a family that's outdated."

More than just the Kasegawa family, this could be said of the entire economic world in Japan...

In the IT industry, Japan lags behind compared to overseas.

Naoki Tachibana has the ability to bring that to the Kasegawa family.

At least, that's how Kazuya judged.

That's why he invested a large amount of capital.

"Maybe it just looks that way because I'm a parent, but Yugen is a decent man. He won't have trouble finding a marriage partner. There's no reason to pay. Do you understand?"

The important thing is business and money.

The aid to Naoki Tachibana was provided because it was judged that it would bring significant returns to the Kasegawa family in the future.

It's definitely not the "purchase price" for Ayaka.

The Kasegawa family is not involved in human trafficking.

Kazuya asserted this while drinking.

"Is that why?"

"...What are you trying to say, Takunosuke?"

"Because you don't want to give the money tree to others, you demanded a hostage, right?"

"You speak so unpleasantly."

Kazuya picked up a piece of chocolate that was served as a snack.

"What I sought was a 'proof of trust.' It's also a 'proof of trust' from me. It's based on mutual agreement. Naoki Tachibana was also favorable to forming a blood relationship with us. There are benefits for both sides."

If a large loan is provided, it would be a huge loss if they ran away.

And for Tachibana, it would be undesirable to have his technology and knowledge sucked dry and then discarded by the Kasegawa family.

That's why Tachibana and Kasegawa each put forward their important children.

In other words, the main purpose is not the economic benefit—support and loans to Tachibana—but the political benefit—Tachibana Naoki joining under the Kasegawa family.

Kazuya explained this to Takunosuke...

"It's sophistry. Consider the power dynamics. You're still as good with words as ever."

"Ha... I've exhausted my words, but you still don't understand. A miser like Tachibana can't understand the human touch in the interactions between the two families."

In reality, the engagement between Yugen and Ayaka would be very beneficial for Naoki Tachibana.

It proves how much the Kasegawa family values Tachibana.

Of course... the power dynamics between the two families are clear.

Even if both parties are satisfied, some, like Takunosuke—though he is only mocking and not serious—might see it as the Kasegawa family coercing with money and power.

But let them say what they will.

The Kasegawa family has many enemies to begin with.

It's impossible to be on good terms with everyone in this world.

So, it's best to accept that.

"But I have a concern."

"Hmm, what's your question?"

"Why did you choose the daughter who is not related by blood? Tachibana has another daughter and a son, right?"

Naoki Tachibana has a daughter and a son in addition to Ayaka.

As a hostage or a "proof of trust"...

A blood-related child would be more effective than one who is not.

"This is just between us, okay?"

"Hmm."

"Originally, it was supposed to be Tachibana's... blood-related daughter."

For the Kasegawa family, if asked which one they wanted, the blood-related or the non-blood-related, they would naturally want the blood-related one.

For Tachibana, offering a non-blood-related child would be... too disrespectful to the Kasegawa family.

Therefore, it was natural for the blood-related daughter to be chosen.

"However, she was still in the sixth grade. ...Yugen absolutely refused."

"Indeed, I see."

"Right? So I thought we should wait a bit. ...I hinted to Yugen about a marriage proposal and planned to gradually bring them together at the right time."

Specifically, about four years later.

When Tachibana's daughter was fifteen and Yugen was nineteen, they planned to have a formal meeting.

"Hmm, then... what made you rush? Was it the trade with the continent and Tachibana?"

"Well, that's also a factor, but there's a bigger reason."

"...What is it?"

Kazuya didn't immediately answer the question...

He slowly savored the cocktail.

Then, with a slightly flushed face from the alcohol, he said:

"It's my son's love."

"...Huh?"

What is this guy saying?

Takunosuke tilted his head in confusion.

To such a Takunosuke, Kazuya explained:

"Originally, Yugen and Ayaka... Tachibana's non-blood-related daughter, were in the same class, you know."

"Hmm... So?"

"When I hinted about a marriage proposal to Yugen... he said, 'I won't get engaged unless it's a blonde, blue-eyed beauty!'"

"..."

Ayaka is not a blonde, blue-eyed beauty.

However, her hair is close to blonde, and her eyes are close to blue.

And most importantly, she is a beautiful girl.

Yugen, who was in the same class as her, said he wanted a blonde, blue-eyed girl.

This means...

"I can understand why he's against the marriage proposal. He already had someone he liked."

In fact, it was almost as if he was referring to Ayaka herself.

Yugen declared that he would not marry unless it was Ayaka.

"I see, so it was a fortuitous match, then."

"Exactly. I want to support my son's love as well."

The marriage proposal between the Kasegawa and Tachibana families is to strengthen their connection... and nothing more, nothing less.

Therefore, there's no need to insist on a direct blood relationship.

Of course, a formal adoption must be done before the wedding to make Ayaka a Tachibana.

But that can be done after the formal engagement.

For now, it's still a tentative stage.

There's no need to rush.

"By the way, what does Naoki Tachibana think? Wouldn't his real daughter be more convenient for him?"

If the goal is to strengthen the connection, it would be normal for him to want to marry off his real daughter.

The Kasegawa family is one of the most prestigious families in the country.

A blood-related daughter versus a non-blood-related one...

Normally, one would favor the blood-related daughter and want to arrange a good marriage for her.

"He was happy. He said the Kasegawa family is reliable."

"Hmm... Is it that he doesn't want to marry off his real daughter because he loves her more?"

"Well... that's not the only reason."

Kazuya shrugged.

He couldn't delve into Tachibana's family environment.

No, he wasn't interested.

To Kazuya, Ayaka's position in her family was not that important.

The only thing he was interested in was Tachibana's next head...

But even that wouldn't affect the overall situation.

If Tachibana's successor is capable, the relationship can continue.

If not, the blood relationship can be used to take over.

The children of Yugen and Ayaka would have the right to inherit Tachibana's assets.

Calm, cold, and ruthless.

That's how the Kasegawa family is perceived by the world.

"What about the individuals involved? If Tachibana's daughter... Ayaka, dislikes your son, it won't work."

"Of course. I want to welcome a woman who loves my son into the family."

Kazuya doesn't deny political marriages.

In fact, he actively supports them.

However, he doesn't want to force a marriage.

Family disputes can cause significant damage.

He doesn't want to create a source of conflict.

If Ayaka deeply dislikes Yugen...

He would have to give up.

But...

"To me, they seem to care for each other. I really want them to get married... and see their cute grandchildren."

"Do you like her?"

"Of course. She has a good personality and appearance. She's not unintelligent. She's a good cook. She can support Yugen. She's the best person to welcome into the Kasegawa family."

Kazuya said this in high spirits.

Then, perhaps because he was a bit drunk... his words started to slip.

"She seems like the type who can give birth to and raise a healthy child."

"Don't say that directly. You don't want to be disliked by your future daughter-in-law."

"I understand. But grandchildren are always cute, right? Grandchildren, grandchildren... we'll be grandfathers soon..."

"Grandchildren. I have no interest in that, as I don't have children."

Takunosuke snorted.

He was not married and had no children.

However... he had Ayaka, his deceased brother's daughter, so there was no worry about the Tachibana bloodline dying out.

"You have a cute niece. ...By the way, how is it going? Ayaka and the daughter of Uenishi, and Soichiro..."

"Ha... You're asking."

"From the look of it, the issues on that side haven't been resolved yet, have they?"

Takunosuke looked exhausted, while Kazuya was in high spirits.

With Yugen and Ayaka's relationship going well, he felt a weight lifted off his shoulders.

"This matter is not unrelated to the Kasegawa family. If your son had quietly gotten engaged to Uenishi, things would have been simpler."

"I already said I can't force it. I'm counting on Yugen's children to mend the relationship with Uenishi."

"Hmph, that's convenient."

"You're the one being convenient. If you had children, you could marry Ayaka off to the Satake, the Kasegawa, or any other family. But that's a moot point now."

"The successor of the Tachibana family is Ayaka."

"You're stubborn... like you."

"Say what you will."

That night, the two continued drinking until late.

If Tachibana sold and Kasegawa bought, it might seem like the Kasegawa family is evil and manipulative.

I was bracing for that kind of criticism, but it was a bit of a letdown.

Of course, it was the Kasegawa family who first proposed the marriage and loan package.

Whether you see it as taking advantage of a weakness or as a win-win situation is up to interpretation.

As stated in the story, there's no benefit for the Kasegawa family to pay a large sum to Ayaka, so the idea that she was "sold in exchange for support" is a misunderstanding from her perspective.

If we use a culinary analogy, the "business (Kasegawa's support and loans to Tachibana)" and "Yugen and Ayaka's engagement" are like a katsu curry.

The katsu is the engagement, and the curry is the business.

If the katsu is removed, it's just curry, but you can still eat the curry. Not many people would refuse to eat curry just because it's not katsu curry.

However, it's better with the katsu.

But that doesn't mean the katsu is unnecessary.

If you order katsu curry at CoCo Ichibanya and they say, "Sorry, we don't have katsu. Just eat the curry. But you still have to pay for katsu curry," you'd be a bit upset.

The engagement between Yugen and Ayaka hasn't been officially announced, so it's like saying, "Maybe we'll throw in the katsu as a bonus (wink wink)."

If you announce, "It's katsu curry!" and then the katsu is missing, people will be angry. So, it's better to hint, "It might be katsu curry."

Of course, everyone secretly hopes for katsu curry, so if the katsu is missing, they'll be quite disappointed.

There's a kind of unspoken pressure.

So, if you feel like eating katsu curry after reading this...

I would be grateful if you could bookmark, rate (change the stars at the bottom of the table of contents from ☆☆☆☆☆ to ★★★★★).

The next update will be tomorrow or the day after.

Starting after the summer break.

The dere level will be delayed. Please wait in the nude.

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Note: The last part of the text is a bit informal and includes a request for reader engagement and a playful comment about waiting in the nude. The "dere level" refers to the level of "dere" (a term used in Japanese to describe a character's cute or endearing behavior) in the story.