In recent years, the fortunes of the Yukinoshita family had begun to wane.
Once a pillar of prestige in Chiba's construction sector, they now stood on increasingly fragile ground. At the center of this turbulent Chapter was Mrs. Yukinoshita—the woman regarded as the linchpin of the family's potential resurgence. She bore the burden of legacy and survival with quiet determination, ever since the economic bubble burst in Japan.
When the bubble collapsed, it took with it giants of finance and industry. Entire empires, larger and wealthier than the Yukinoshita family, crumbled overnight under the weight of their reckless investnts—particularly in the real estate market, which had soared far beyond sustainable value.
But Mrs. Yukinoshita had always been sharp—calculating.
She had sensed the storm brewing and pulled her family out of real estate just in ti, avoiding catastrophe. Yet avoiding ruin was not the sa as thriving. Their core in Chiba remained vulnerable. Even without plunging into the collapse directly, the economic aftershocks rippled through their construction base. Decline wasn't sudden—it was quiet, creeping, and persistent.
Once she managed to stabilize the family's remaining assets, she began scouring the landscape for future opportunities. Tokyo, despite being their neighbor, was fiercely competitive—impenetrable to outsiders. The capital's elite didn't see the Yukinoshita na as relevant beyond Chiba. Mrs. Yukinoshita understood this reality, so she looked elsewhere: to Gifu.
Recently, an unexpected opportunity erged—born out of a freak accident that no one could have predicted.
A cot.
It had fallen in the mountainous region of Gifu, striking near an inland lake and triggering ergency relocation efforts. The natural disaster disrupted everything, but for a seasoned strategist like Mrs. Yukinoshita, chaos often preceded opportunity.
She made her move.
That evening, at a prestigious banquet in Tokyo, she approached an influential figure—mber of Parliant Kobayashi.
"Legislator Kobayashi, good day. You look particularly well today," she said, voice smooth as silk.
Kobayashi turned to her, blinking briefly in recognition. "Ah, Mrs. Yukinoshita. A good day to you too."
Their exchange was brief—formal, distant. Kobayashi had no intention of deepening relations with her. To him, the Yukinoshita na carried little weight outside of local influence in Chiba. In Tokyo politics, she was a footnote.
But Mrs. Yukinoshita was undeterred.
"I've co from Chiba with a few small local specialties. I've placed them by the garage. Just a small token—I hope you'll accept them."
Kobayashi raised an eyebrow, already cautious. "Nothing too valuable, I hope?"
"Oh, heavens no. Just so humble gifts from my hotown," she replied gently, before shifting the conversation. "By the way, have you heard about the recent cot incident in Gifu?"
Now she had his attention.
She wasn't here just for pleasantries.
He gave a thoughtful nod. "Yes. The National Assembly has been discussing it. Thankfully, the damage wasn't catastrophic. The teor landed in the mountains—disrupted a nearby lake, but rescue efforts are underway."
He sipped his drink before continuing.
"So rural communities need to be relocated, and the area's infrastructure will need rebuilding. But..." He paused, glancing at her aningfully. "Given the state of the national budget after the bubble burst, funding is scarce."
"But a businessman nad Suou—perhaps you've heard of him—donated land for temporary relocation. It's helped ease the governnt's burden considerably."
That was all he was willing to share.
The ssage was clear: Gifu was vulnerable. There would be national attention, relief policies, and future opportunities—if one could shoulder the initial burden. The Suou family had already taken the lead.
If the Yukinoshita family wanted in, they'd have to align with the Suou.
But building that bridge was her problem, not Kobayashi's.
Still, he took the gift.
Back in the banquet hall, Mrs. Yukinoshita returned to her table, thoughtful.
The Suou family...
Unlike the Yukinoshita, they were true nobility—entrenched in Gifu with a lineage of wealth, influence, and power. They rarely cooperated with outside families, especially those with lesser prestige.
How was she to earn their favor now?
Just as she mulled over this puzzle, a sudden clink echoed across the hall. Kobayashi stood on a platform, tapping his wine glass. Conversations died down as all eyes turned to him.
"Thank you all for attending tonight's banquet," he began. "There's a guest here who would like to share a few words. If you could lend us two minutes of your ti... I'd be grateful."
He raised his glass, finished his champagne, and stepped back.
All around the room, murmurs spread.
Who could be important enough for Kobayashi to offer the floor?
From one corner, a graceful woman stood up.
Sayuri Sawamura.
Even the most composed guests turned to look. The head of the Sawamura family—who had kept a low public profile for years—was stepping into the spotlight.
"Thank you, Senior Kobayashi," she said with a light bow.
Kobayashi chuckled. "You don't need to thank for sothing so small. We go way back."
Their connection was genuine. Sayuri and her late husband had been Kobayashi's juniors in their professional circle before his rise to the assembly. To him, this was rely repaying a personal debt with a minor favor.
Sayuri stood at the podium, serene and elegant.
"Good evening, everyone. I am Sayuri Sawamura. Please, allow two minutes of your ti. I promise it will be brief."
The entire hall fell into a hush.
Many guests exchanged surprised looks.
Why now?
Why would the Sawamura family's matriarch make such a public announcent?
Sayuri continued.
"Recently, a junior in my family has been working on a few small creations. I found them quite delightful, so I thought I'd bring them to share with you tonight."
Her words were calm, but her aning was thunderous.
She gestured toward a large screen behind her. "Please enjoy this brief demonstration."
A sleek promotional video played.
It showed smart ho furniture: elegant designs, voice-activated lighting, adaptive shelving, automated cleaning—everything the modern hoowner could want. It ended with a simple, stylish logo in the corner:
Laplace Corporation.
So guests blinked, unfamiliar.
Others imdiately took note.
But none of them would forget it after tonight.
To many, the product itself was secondary. Sayuri could have advertised firewood and people would've lined up to invest. The value ca not from the company—but from who endorsed it.
This was more than a product reveal.
This was a political signal.
Support Sayuri's protégé, and she might support you in return.
At her table, Mrs. Yukinoshita narrowed her eyes. "Have you heard of this company before?" she asked her daughter, Yukinoshita Haruno.
Haruno nodded slowly, swallowing. "Yes. It's a new startup... but growing fast. Market valuation just surpassed 100 billion yen."
That piqued her mother's interest. One hundred billion was nothing to scoff at. Not enough to act rashly—but worth watching.
What Mrs. Yukinoshita didn't notice, however, was the flicker of unease in Haruno's eyes.
Because the truth was more astonishing than she could admit.
Laplace Corporation hadn't reached that valuation thanks to Sayuri's backing.
It had reached it before Sayuri's endorsent—built almost entirely on the back of a single young man's vision.
Yukima Azuma.
The product hadn't even fully launched.
And yet, the market had already reacted.
Now, with the Sawamura family behind him, Azuma's star would rise even higher—perhaps to the stratosphere.
And that frightened Haruno.
Because Sayuri hadn't just invested money in him—she had bet the Sawamura family's entire future.
She was coming out of retirent.
And she was betting it all... on him.
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