"This can never be changed!"
"Tsk tsk!" Haruno clicked her tongue twice but didn't argue further.
"..." Fumino looked sowhat helpless.
If she'd put in more effort to build a better relationship with Yukino in the past, maybe things wouldn't be this strained now. But things had reached this point, so what more could she say?
"I will find a way to bring Yukino back into the Yukinoshita family!"
"I think it's better to let Yukino live her life freely," Haruno responded casually. "Let her do what she wants; dragging her back into the Yukinoshita family would only make things worse."
"How could you say that? She's..." Fumino started to protest, but Haruno cut her off before she could finish.
"Don't you get it, Mom? Tis have changed. Yukino's only still around because of her last bit of dignity. Don't forget—she's now an accomplished sorcerer."
Haruno could understand her mother's ambitions to elevate the Yukinoshita family's standing. Now that there was an opportunity, of course, Fumino wouldn't want to let it slip. But in this era, what's the point of being at the top? Even the Shinomiya family, despite their wealth and influence, were now bending over backward to curry favor with Ryuji.
"..."
After a mont of silence, Fumino sighed. "Maybe I really am out of touch with this era."
Haruno didn't reply, but she thought that if her mother could adjust her mindset a little and not be so rigid, it would actually be a good thing.
"Why isn't he here yet? I should've just stayed at school and kept studying," Erina Nakiri grumbled nearby.
As the possessor of the God's Tongue, Erina had an intense dedication to culinary excellence. Even though she understood the significance of sorcerers and the changing world, her only real passion was to beco a great chef.
On the other hand, her cousin Alice Nakiri couldn't help but laugh. "You're really sothing, Erina. Only you would still be thinking about cooking at a ti like this."
"Hmph! That's why your cooking skills can't compare to mine," Erina shot back, not holding back in the slightest. Sharp-tongued and prideful as ever, she treated everyone equally with her bluntness.
"Tsk." Alice pouted, clearly annoyed by the jab.
"Alright, alright," their grandfather, Senzaemon Nakiri, stepped in to diate.
"Enough arguing, both of you. It's already this late—just wait a little longer."
Going back now would not only offend the Shinomiya family but also likely Ryuji himself. As the head of the Nakiri family and Totsuki Academy, Senzaemon had no shortage of connections and resources. However, he was also aware of the tis. With the rise of sorcerers, it was crucial to keep up or risk becoming obsolete. That was the only reason he'd brought his granddaughters here tonight.
"I understand," Erina finally conceded. Although arrogant, she wasn't foolish.
Alice wanted to say sothing else, but just then, the atmosphere in the banquet hall shifted, growing noticeably quieter.
"...Huh?" She glanced around, quickly realizing that everyone's attention had turned toward the main entrance of the hall.
"Is he here?" She pieced it together imdiately and looked over as well.
Around the hall, other prominent figures, like mbers of the Suzuki family, had also turned their gaze in the sa direction.
Ryuji stepped into the banquet hall with a calm smile, unfazed by the countless eyes on him. For the guests who had co specifically to see him, his presence alone was enough to command silence.
The air was thick with respect, admiration, and a hint of fear. No one had forgotten the massacre of the Black Dog family that had taken place not long ago.
"Long ti no see, Ryuji-kun!" i i approached him with a smirk, clearly pleased to see him.
"You're here too?" Ryuji replied, slightly surprised.
"Yeah." i i nodded, giving him a pointed look. "Well, since you never co find , I figured I'd have to co to you."
"..." Ryuji had to admit he hadn't reached out to i i since they last parted. It wasn't out of any ill will—he just hadn't had a reason to.
"Haha, better be quick then," he joked. "Who knows, I might get swept away by soone else's charms."
"Think you can handle it?" she retorted, eyebrow raised.
"No way."
They both laughed, sharing a mutual understanding. i i knew what kind of person Ryuji was. She also understood that no woman could truly capture and control him. Having a fleeting romance was one thing, but expecting more was unrealistic.
Before they could continue their conversation, Suzuki Tomoko approached with her daughter, Sonoko, in tow. Holding a glass of champagne, Tomoko greeted him warmly. "You must be Mr. Ryuji. Truly a talent beyond his years."
"H-Hello," Sonoko stamred, raising her glass in a nervous toast. Despite her initial nonchalance, Sonoko felt a bit overwheld in the presence of soone as powerful as Ryuji. Even her father had stressed that she must show him respect, emphasizing that if Ryuji wanted, he could easily bring the Suzuki family to ruin.
Ryuji chuckled lightly at her nervousness. "Relax, I don't bite."
"...Who are they?" He turned to i i, genuinely curious about the two won.
"Oh, them?" i i shrugged. "The Suzuki family—big money. They're why I'm here, actually."
It didn't take much to understand that the Suzuki family had probably hired i i for security. They certainly seed wealthy enough to afford her services.
"There aren't many sorcerers who love money as much as you do," Ryuji comnted with a grin.
"Well, the world's a cold place. Money is sothing I can rely on," i i replied without sha.
It was true. Sorcerers often had their own personal goals and pursuits. But few were as openly motivated by money as i i.
"But, you know," she added, her eyes gleaming with interest as she looked at Ryuji, "if you're ever up for it, we could make a good team."
Ryuji laughed, amused by her bluntness.
At that mont, Shinomiya Gan'an, head of the Shinomiya family, made his way over. He wore a benevolent smile as he approached Ryuji. "It's been too long, Mr. Ryuji."
"Good to see you, Mr. Shinomiya," Ryuji replied politely, keeping his tone respectful but reserved. He was curious to see what Gan'an was planning.
"Please, just call Gan'an," he said, his smile widening. Despite being significantly older, Gan'an knew better than to act superior here.
"For what happened before, I owe you my gratitude," he continued. "Thanks to you, our family avoided a major disaster. Since then, my daughter has looked up to you. I'm sure she'll be thrilled to see you here tonight."
The daughter Gan'an referred to was, of course, Kaguya Shinomiya. The aning behind his words was clear to anyone paying attention: he hoped to connect his daughter to Ryuji, perhaps even romantically, in order to secure an alliance.
"You're too kind," Ryuji replied with a polite smile, playing along. It wasn't hard to see through the pretense, but there was no harm in indulging him for now.
At that mont, Kaguya entered the hall, having received the signal from her father. Following close behind her was Chika Fujiwara, her face alight with curiosity and excitent.
"Has Hayasaka not co back yet?" Kaguya wondered, noticing her maid's absence. But she wasn't particularly concerned.
"Kaguya, Kaguya!" Chika tugged at her sleeve impatiently, practically bouncing with excitent. She was eager to see Ryuji up close, and Kaguya had no choice but to go along.
As Kaguya made her way through the hall, dressed in an elegant gown, the guests around them quieted down, all eyes turning to the Shinomiya heiress. Every movent, every gesture, reflected her strict training in etiquette, giving her the appearance of a modern-day princess.
Even Ryuji had to admit, she looked stunning. Despite his usual indifference, he found himself appreciating her beauty for a brief mont.
Gan'an, who had been watching closely, noted the faint change in Ryuji's expression and relaxed slightly. He'd been worried that Ryuji might show no interest in Kaguya, but now he felt more confident about his plan.
But Ryuji was not the type to be swayed by appearances alone. After that brief mont, he resud his usual deanor, looking away as if he'd seen enough.
"Father," Kaguya greeted, her tone respectful as she approached.
Gan'an smiled, visibly proud of his daughter. Despite her status as an illegitimate child, he had always valued her and had given her every opportunity to succeed within the family.
"Let introduce you," he said, turning to Ryuji. "This is Mr. Ryuji, our esteed guest."
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