She still hadn't figured out what exactly was going on.
This beautiful lady... is Yukima-kun's parent?
"Is the parent of Shinomiya Kaguya present?"
Right at that moment, a voice called from inside the meeting room.
A parent-student pair walked out from the room.
Hayasaka Nao responded.
She then led Shinomiya Kaguya into the meeting room.
The contents of the meeting were nothing special.
Everything was just for formality's sake.
The Shinomiya family had already arranged for Kaguya to move up through the internal system.
A sort of golden stamp something to add prestige to her name.
After all, a college degree was almost a given these days.
As for her future career, there was practically nothing to worry about.
The chance of Shinomiya Kaguya inheriting any part of the family business was extremely slim.
The more likely scenario or at least, the one the Shinomiya household had defaulted to was that she'd marry into another prestigious family and serve as a decorative flower vase.
Shinomiya Kaguya's academic performance posed no concerns regarding internal progression.
Her aspirations and reality were perfectly aligned.
The teachers at Shuchiin naturally had no objections.
As for Shinomiya Kaguya's true feelings...
With her current status, she had no right to speak up.
From the moment she was born into the Shinomiya family, that had always been the way of things.
...
Meanwhile, outside the meeting room
Yukima Azuma, almost unconsciously, once again glanced up and down at Mrs. Yukinoshita's outfit.
To be honest, for Mrs. Yukinoshita to show up at Shuchiin dressed like this
She clearly put a lot of thought into it.
Most of the parents present today were dressed in a similar way formal but not stiff.
Too formal, and it would come across as rigid in the eyes of other students.
Too casual, and it would seem disrespectful to the teachers.
Take Hayasaka Nao as an example her outfit carried the same vibe obviously the optimal choice.
Just the fact that Mrs. Yukinoshita had put in the effort to carefully prepare for this parent-teacher meeting...
At least for today's gathering, she already surpassed the majority of parents in the world.
And yet...
"Have you ever attended any of Yukino's parent-teacher meetings?"
Yukima Azuma lowered his voice and asked.
The polite smile that had been perfectly in place on Mrs. Yukinoshita's face froze for a moment upon hearing that question.
A damn good question.
Because the answer wasnever.
As Yukinoshita Yukino's mother, Mrs. Yukinoshita had never once attended a single parent-teacher meeting.
Most of the time, the Yukinoshita family's butler would attend on her behalf.
On rare occasions, it would be Haruno, the elder sister, who filled in.
And just for the record, she'd never attended a parent-teacher meeting for Haruno either.
Seeing the flicker of awkwardness cross Mrs. Yukinoshita's face...
Yukima Azuma quietly sighed.
What a strange feeling.
He was, technically, only a adotep child of the family in name.
And yet, he was being "spoiled" more than her two biological daughters.
He even got to experience these maternal moments that neither Yukino nor Haruno ever had.
Mrs. Yukinoshita wasn't a cold or heartless person.
Of course, she loved her two daughters.
But the affection she gave them had to be secondary to the interests of the family.
Yukima Azuma, as a cooperative partner of the Yukinoshita family...
When making a request like this one, he ended up being more valued by Mrs. Yukinoshita.
To receive maternal care from her, it had to be something that aligned with the overall benefit of the Yukinoshita family.
This kind of setup... was seriously twisted.
Yukima Azuma suddenly felt a surge of indignationon Yukino's behalf.
Chapter 267: The Correct Way to Play with Mrs. Yukinoshita!
Chapter 267: The Correct Way to Play with Mrs. Yukinoshita!
Mrs. Yukinoshita felt uneasy under Yukima Azuma's gaze.
( — )
In their previous meetings, when they sat at the negotiation table with contracts laid out on it...
No matter how much Yukima Azuma glared at her
Mrs. Yukinoshita could always maintain a calm demeanor.
She could even glare back with a sarcastic look.
But now, the relationship between them had become quite strange.
As a "parent," Mrs. Yukinoshita felt as if she was being judged by her own "child."
And in a way that left her unable to retort.
As for Yukima Azuma
After staring at Mrs. Yukinoshita for a long while
A few play ideas suddenly popped into his head.
Ahem! Of course, not the kind of play a lustful bastard would think of.
If Mrs. Yukinoshita's love was this twisted,
And it was impossible to change her way of thinking,
Then why not just play along this way?
That icy face of Mrs. Yukinoshitait's not like she doesn't know how to smile.
She just needs the right conditions.
Thinking about the cooperation between the Yukinoshita family and Laplace Corporation
And the necessary conditions for the current direction of the Yukinoshita family's development
Yukima Azuma realized he still held many cards in his hand.
That meant there was a lot of room to maneuver.
Adorable Yukino at his home had been lacking maternal love for so many years.
It was time to make up for that.
A deeper licensing partnership between Laplace Corporation and the Yukinoshita family
For example, White Album 2, or the Youth series.
The exchange condition: Mrs. Yukinoshita must let Yukino feel a heartfelt and soul-stirring warmth of familial love.
( )( )
The Yukinoshita family wanted to expand their real estate company to other prefectures.
The most viable direction was toward Gifu Prefecture.
And to develop in Gifu, they had to connect with the Suou family.
Due to the Charlotte comet incident, the Suou family had recently received policy subsidies from the Japanese National Diet.
In fact, they were already busy to the point of spinning in circles.
But through benefit exchange, it was still possible to share some space in the real estate sector.
Therein lay the value of the trade.
And if the Yukinoshita family wanted to get in touch with the Suou family
The exchange condition was: Mrs. Yukinoshita had to make Yukino give her a genuine smile from the bottom of her heart.
.(*`*)
Thinking about different play methods,
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but feel excitedno, warm inside!
As long as it involved the interests of the family, Mrs. Yukinoshita was bound to care.
And there was no need to worry about Mrs. Yukinoshita pulling any tricks.
After all, Yukino was currently siding with Yukima Azuma.
So this was the correct way to play with Mrs. Yukinoshita!
As if feeling something in her heart,
Mrs. Yukinoshita suddenly shivered and instinctively hugged her arms, rubbing them.
Seeing Mrs. Yukinoshita trembling as if she were cold
Yukima Azuma considerately took off his Shuchiin winter uniform jacket.
He reached out and draped it over Mrs. Yukinoshita.
He even lightly patted her on the shoulder.
Umu, the responsibilities ahead are long and heavy!
Just thinking about how Mrs. Yukinoshita, always so dignified since young, made both Yukino and Haruno tremble in fear
And that now, she had to use love to move Yukino in exchange for family benefit
Yukima Azuma couldn't help but want to laugh.
Mrs. Yukinoshita, surely you don't want the Yukinoshita family to falter in development because of you, do you?
As for Mrs. Yukinoshita
Even though a coat had been draped over her,
And it still carried the boy's body warmth
She felt even more uncomfortable.
Just at that moment
Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Nao stepped out of the meeting room.
"Is Yukima Azuma's guardian here?"
Upon hearing that, Mrs. Yukinoshita seemed as though she couldn't wait another second, quickly striding toward the meeting room.
( )
Even Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Nao, standing outside, were momentarily stunned.
After all, just earlier, Mrs. Yukinoshita didn't have that kind of impatient aura at all.
Yukima Azuma also headed toward the meeting room.
Meanwhile, Hayasaka Ai clung onto Hayasaka Nao.
"Mom, how long are you staying this time? Will you be having dinner with me?"
Hayasaka Nao gently patted Ai's blonde hair, thought for a moment, and said:
"I'll probably only be staying one or two days, but I can have dinner with you."
"There's no time to cook now, so I've already made a reservation at a restaurant. We'll go there after the meeting."
Hearing that, Hayasaka Ai was a bit disappointed, but still happily nodded.
Just then, Yukima Azumawho had already stepped into the meeting roomleaned back, stuck his head out, and said:
"Nope, this time Nao-nee is probably staying in Japan for quite a while."
"And since Nao-nee already has plans tonight, I'll talk to you about it tomorrow."
With that, Yukima Azuma stepped fully into the meeting room
Leaving the mother and daughter pair looking dumbfounded and confused.
(" v ") ?
Hayasaka Nao, who was just enjoying her popcorn while spectating the drama, suddenly felt something was off.
It felt like that popcorn was about to get smashed right back onto her head!
Yukima Azuma keeping her in Japan definitely meant there was something he needed her to do.
But whatever it was
It meant she would have to completely tear off the mask in front of the Shinomiya family.
Even the surface identity of being a Shinomiya official might no longer be sustainable.
Realizing this, Hayasaka Nao's expression grew slightly melancholic.
After all, when she boarded the pirate ship called Yukima Azuma
She already knew this day would come sooner or later.
She just didn't expect it to arrive so soon.
Hayasaka Ai looked at her mother with deep concern.
Sensing her daughter's unease
Hayasaka Nao shook her head.
This was something that had to be done eventually.
Moreover, continuing to bury herself in the Shinomiya family might not be any better than making a clean break.
Within the Shinomiya family now, there were turbulent undercurrents
On the surface, it seemed peaceful, but in reality, it was full of schemes and internal strife.
Even so, Hayasaka Nao began to feel curious.
Why did Yukima Azuma suddenly insist on keeping her in Japan?
Her staying behind meant that the executive and supervisory division at headquarters on Wall Street would effectively be paralyzed.
And right now, the financial books of Laplace's headquarters
Were a treasure trove that could make almost the entire world green with envy.
...
At this moment, inside the meeting room
Career guidance counselor and homeroom teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka was sitting on one side of the conference table.
On the opposite side were two chairs.
Mrs. Yukinoshita and Yukima Azuma sat down one after the other.
Hiratsuka Shizuka's eyes landed on Mrs. Yukinoshita, and she was visibly surprised.
She had already roughly grasped Yukima Azuma's situation from Kirisu Mafuyu.
And she was also somewhat acquainted with Mrs. Yukinoshita.
After all, Hiratsuka Shizuka herself was a bona fide young lady from a distinguished family.
What surprised her was that the head of the Yukinoshita familythe one known as the "Witch of Chiba"
Was now here, attending a parent-teacher meeting as Yukima Azuma's guardian.
Meanwhile, the career counselor sitting beside her looked rather relaxed.
In fact, she even seemed... bored.
Because Yukima Azuma's achievements were already too well-established.
Whether in terms of his scores in national exams or his accomplishments in the professional shogi world
Whether he chose to continue studying or pursue a career, it wasn't something a career counselor like her needed to weigh in on.
Moreover, Yukima Azuma wasn't even a regular student of Shuchiin
He was an exchange student under the Big Three's exchange program.
By next semester, he'd be transferring schools.
As a career guidance counselor, what was she even doing meddling in the dazzling life of someone like him?
Just follow protocol and wrap things up!
"Yukima-kun is an outstanding student. Whether it's his top scores in the national exams or his achievements in professional competitions, he's extremely impressive."
"I'm sure his guardian here must have put in a lot of effort in raising him!"
The career counselor opened with the usual polite small talk.
After all, who doesn't like a bit of praise?
In any case, the default script was to compliment the student and their guardian first, then get to the actual discussion.
However, Mrs. Yukinoshita felt a strange sensation rise in her chest upon hearing that.
She raised him?
( -)?
Back then, she had indeed seriously intended to bring Yukima Azuma into the Yukinoshita household and raise him properly.
But the boy refused.
Moreover, Mrs. Yukinoshita had a feeling that if she truly had been the one to raise him
That boy might've been ruined.
No matter what, Yukima Azuma would have turned out excellent.
But there was no way he could've reached the heights he stood at now.
It felt like someone had just jabbed a finger right into an old wound.
Ever keenly perceptive, Mrs. Yukinoshita immediately realized the shift in her own emotions.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma was barely holding back a laugh.
"May I ask if the guardian has any plans for the student's future?"
The career counselor remained blissfully unaware that anything was off.
Mrs. Yukinoshita glanced toward Yukima Azuma.
In fact, while waiting earlier in the lobby
She had intended to ask him about his plans.
So that when this question came up in the meeting, she could answer in alignment with him.
But that thought had been completely derailed by Yukima Azuma's presence.
Since their encounter, things had been awkward the entire time.
Seeing Mrs. Yukinoshita turn to look at him,
Yukima Azuma raised a hand and made an "arrow pointing upward" gesture.
( _)
Mrs. Yukinoshita instantly understood what he meant.
"I hope he continues on to university. He's very capable academically, and he himself is interested in further studies."
The career counselor nodded.
"So he's considering um"
Ordinarily, at this point, she would ask whether the student was planning to continue within the school's internal system or apply externally.
