As long as Eriri could be happy.
A harem? Well, then a harem it shall be.
Sayuri wasn't the least bit conservative!
In fact, she even thought that Eriri had difficulty finding genuine friends.
If her daughter could get along well with her "new sisters," it might actually be a good thing.
"Alright then, I need to cook lunch now. You can head up to the second floor and find Eriri yourself."
Sayuri stood up and walked toward the kitchen.
But halfway there, she turned back.
"Oh, right. There's a party in Tokyo tonight. Would you like to go, Azuma-kun?"
Hearing this, Yukima Azuma gave an awkward smile and shook his head.
"Not tonight. I just got back from Hokkaido, and I've got a lot to catch up on."
Sayuri didn't seem to mind his response.
As she entered the kitchen, her voice drifted out lightly.
"Suit yourself. Remember to ask someone to bring your things this afternoon."
"Alright," Yukima Azuma replied, not asking what things to send.
Sayuri had made it clear enough.
...
Before lunch.
There was still a little time left.
Yukima Azuma climbed the stairs of the Sawamura house, heading toward Eriri's room on the second floor.
Unlike last time, when he had politely knocked on the door,
this time, Yukima Azuma pushed it open and walked right in.
Eriri was sprawled over her desk, intensely focused as she moved her pen across the tablet.
As Yukima Azuma approached, he realized she was once again working on a doujinshi.
Hearing footsteps draw closer behind her,
Eriri glanced up briefly.
Seeing that it was Yukima Azuma, her gaze wavered slightly,
but instead of yelling out in embarrassment like before,
she simply lowered her head a little, allowing her golden hair to hide her reddened cheeks.
"Azuma... why are you here?"
Yukima Azuma effortlessly pulled Eriri into his embrace, then sat down where she had been before.
"Of course, because I missed you."
"But... we... didn't we just this morning..."
"Yeah, we just said goodbye this morning, didn't we? Hmm? Wait, Eriri, are you thinking about something... ecchi~?"
"I am not! I wasn't thinking that!"
Eriri started squirming, refusing to sit still in Yukima Azuma's arms.
She genuinely thought he had come over because he couldn't resist himself.
Yukima Azuma didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
All he could say was, "Sasuga Kashiwagi Eri-sensei."
His eyes shifted toward the digital tablet Eriri had been working on.
It wasn't the usual dark-themed doujinshi she often drew.
This time, it seemed to be a pure love storyvanilla.
And the content of the doujinshi was...
"Eriri, your storytelling skills have improved quite a lot. Are you planning to sell this one at Comiket?"
"How could I sell this! This is just... just something I'm drawing for fun, to practice!"
Embarrassed and annoyed, Eriri flashed her small, sharp canine tooth and bit down on the arm wrapped around her.
This time, however, there was no bloodshed.
Yukima Azuma didn't feel any pain. In fact, it only tickled slightly.
At this point, Eriri's tiny fang could no longer hurt Azuma at all.
— — — — — — — — — — —
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Chapter 135: Sayuri Decides to Take a Gamble
Chapter 135: Sayuri Decides to Take a Gamble
After Yukima Azuma left the Sawamura residence, Eriri saw her mother, Sayuri, walking into the kitchen with a tray of dishes.
But instead of putting them into the sink, Sayuri placed them into a machine that looked very familiar to Eriri.
Leaning against the kitchen counter, Eriri asked in surprise,
"Mom, where did this machine come from?"
Sayuri, after washing her hands, turned to her daughter.
"Of course, it's a gift from Azuma-kun."
Hearing that, Eriri immediately broke into a sweet smile, as if she had just received a treat.
Seeing her daughter smile so happily, Sayuri could only shake her head in exasperation.
Too easily pleased.
Just a bit of sweetness, and this girl could be cheerful for the entire day.
Sayuri thought to herself that if she were a man, she would also choose an innocent girl like Eriri to build a harem with.
A little more coaxing, and perhaps this girl would even agree to let him hold another girl's hand right beside her.
Sayuri shook her head, pushing those unhealthy thoughts out of her mind.
She turned back to glance at the dishwasher.
A gift from Yukima Azuma was not something easily obtained.
"Speaking of which, Mom, why did you suddenly start calling him Azuma-kun too?"
Eriri asked awkwardly, her curiosity tinged with suspicion, as if she was worried her mother had discovered something.
Sayuri shot her a glance but didn't bother answering.
Instead, she changed the subject.
"There's a banquet tonight. Come with me, Eriri."
Hearing that, Eriri could only nod blankly.
Usually, for such events, Sayuri would casually ask her if she wanted to go.
Eriri, on the other hand, would only occasionally attend if she had free time.
The atmosphere at these banquets wasn't exactly to her liking.
She had to maintain the demeanor of a proper oujou-sama, unable to freely play around or act childlike as she did at home.
She even had to conceal her true self more skillfully than when she was at school.
However, the peers at these banquets generally only exchanged a few polite words, and nothing too troublesome ever happened.
So, Eriri didn't exactly dislike these events.
What Eriri didn't realize was that the courteous and graceful behavior of the people at these banquets wasn't because they were particularly cultured or noble.
It was simply because she bore the name Sawamura Spencer.
...
That evening.
Eriri donned an elegant evening gown that covered her entire body, not even exposing her collarbone.
Such attire would undoubtedly be stifling in the summer.
But in the air-conditioned banquet hall, with even the car ride there being climate-controlled, there was no major issue.
"Mom, what's going on today?"
When Eriri descended the stairs and saw her mother, she couldn't help but stop in her tracks.
Usually, Sayuri attended banquets in a simple long dress.
Although Sayuri was naturally beautiful, her charm untouched by time, and could look stunning in anything, tonight she had truly dressed to impress.
A black, form-fitting dress, a luxurious short jacket, her hair styled in an elegant updo, and an ornate hairpin as a refined finishing touch.
Even Eriri, her own daughter, was left speechless.
"Let's go. There's much to do tonight."
Sayuri, holding a folding fan, lightly waved it through the air.
With her other arm, she gestured for Eriri to follow.
Eriri understood nowtonight's banquet was unlike the usual ones.
She obediently linked arms with her mother.
The two stepped into the car and headed toward the banquet.
...
Tokyo, Shinjuku District.
The heart of Japan's capital.
In this bustling area, there was a grand hall used for hosting banquets, but it only opened a few hours each day.
Half the year, the venue remained closed, leaving many puzzled.
How did this place manage to stay operational?
How could they cover electricity and water, let alone the expenses for maintenance costs?
Yet as night fell, luxury cars began to slowly pull into the venue, even though it had officially ceased operations.
Tonight's banquet was hosted by a veteran Japanese politician.
Recently, the elections for regional representatives had concluded.
The candidate backed by this politician had risen in the ranks, securing strong support in central Tokyo.
This banquet is essentially a networking event,
An opportunity for young politicians in the Tokyo area to showcase themselves.
The guest list was extensive, including figures from both politics and business.
Moreover, the invitees were not limited to Tokyo alone.
Major neighboring areas like Chiba and Kanagawa Prefectures also had attendees at the event.
When Sayuri appeared in the banquet hall with Eriri on her arm, they immediately attracted considerable attention.
The younger men held their breath, while those over 37 years old showed visible surprise.
"Lady Sawamura, welcome!"
A member of parliament, brushing aside the sycophants around him, approached Sayuri and greeted her.
Sayuri extended her hand for a light handshake with him.
"Senior Kobayashi, you truly are a teacher of extraordinary students."
Sayuri's compliment brought a smile to MP Kobayashi's face.
"Aiya, I wouldn't say I'm such an extraordinary teacher. It's just that the young ones put in a little effort themselves."
After exchanging a few modest pleasantries, MP Kobayashi looked back at Sayuri with curiosity and continued the conversation.
"Lady Sawamura, it seems you've made quite the preparation for tonight's banquet. Would you like to have a word with my students?"
Sayuri opened her folding fan, gently covering her mouth, and replied,
"I brought my daughter with me tonight, so it's not convenient to chat with these young talents."
"However, I do wish to borrow the space provided by Senior Kobayashi for a brief discussion."
Hearing this, MP Kobayashi looked slightly disappointed.
However, Sayuri's response was reasonable.
For someone like Sayuri, who rarely attended such gatherings, it made little sense for her to suddenly take an interest in a provincial MP's protgs.
Although his student, a graduate of the University of Tokyo, had achieved an impressive feat by becoming a provincial MP in Tokyo at such a young age, it still wasn't enough to leave a profound impression compared to others.
That said, Sayuri's desire to speak about something intrigued MP Kobayashi and sparked other thoughts.
"Of course, Lady Sawamura, feel free to say whatever you wish. I'll have someone prepare an extra microphone."
MP Kobayashi smiled as he spoke.
To him, no matter what Sayuri Sawamura intended to say, it was undoubtedly a good thing.
The Sawamura family was a prominent household with significant influence among the upper class.
As the sole heir to the Sawamura family, Sayuri's status had only risen after marrying a British diplomat.
But a few years ago, the Spencer family's son had met with an accident.
And Lady Sawamura, who had married a diplomat without changing her surname,
Gradually withdrew from the public eye afterward.
(Note: Okay, okay, I feel like I can already see the future with just this passage.)
Figures like Kobayashi had spent years attempting various methods to draw Sayuri back into the political arena.
But Sayuri skillfully evaded all their efforts.
For a prestigious family to suddenly retreat from politics was something people like Kobayashi found difficult to adapt to.
However, as the years passed, there was little they could do.
But tonight, Sawamura Sayuri suddenly expressed an interest in sitting at the table.
Naturally, Kobayashi welcomed this wholeheartedly.
For people like Kobayashi,
They weren't afraid of powerful, influential families making waves in the political arena.
What they worried about were individuals like Sayuri, who never stepped onto the board.
Because by staying off the board, they had no way to influence or touch the cards in her possession.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Kobayashi moved elsewhere.
He was looking forward to what would unfold next.
....
Sayuri, meanwhile, took her daughter to enjoy the buffet.
In a corner of the banquet...
Two women with strikingly similar appearances were engaged in conversation with others.
Upon closer inspection, one would notice that the skin of these two women was exceptionally fair, akin to snow.
Yukinoshita Haruno and her mother, Mrs. Yukinoshita.
Mrs. Yukinoshita was currently the sole MP in the Yukinoshita family.
As an MP from a major district adjacent to Tokyo, she had been invited to tonight's banquet.
Since she already had plans to visit Tokyo, Mrs. Yukinoshita naturally accepted the invitation to the banquet.
Yukinoshita Haruno, however, seemed somewhat distracted.
Her gaze frequently wandered toward the golden figure in the center of the hall.
Nevertheless, her social skills were impeccable.
Even while distracted, Yukinoshita Haruno's conversation and demeanor revealed no flaws.
About Yukima Azuma.
Yukinoshita Haruno had conducted thorough investigations.
She was, of course, aware that Yukima Azuma once had an ex-girlfriend named Eriri.
Currently, the two were even living together.
However, what Yukinoshita Haruno had not known before was that
The "Eriri" in question was actually Eriri from the Sawamura family.
Information about Eriri had been deliberately restricted by Sawamura Sayuri, making it impossible to uncover details through conventional means.
It wasn't until today, when Eriri appeared at the evening banquet, arm-in-arm with Sayuri,
That Haruno finally understood this crucial detail.
Her gaze flickered slightly.
Beside Yukima Azuma, there was someone like her.
With just a bit of assistance from that person, he could easily ascend without limits.
The Sawamura family was a prestigious clan even more powerful than the Yukinoshita family.
Moreover, Sawamura Sayuri was the one in powera truly influential figure.
Eriri was Sayuri's only daughter.
This further elevated Eriri's status, and the resources Sayuri could provide were nearly limitless.
If Eriri had been a son, perhaps she wouldn't even need to lift a fingercountless wealthy young women would line up to have their hearts broken by her.
Even as a daughter, given Sayuri's attitude,
Eriri was entitled to do whatever she pleased.
So then, what role was Eriri playing by Yukima Azuma's side?
Furthermore, if Sayuri intended to bet everything on Yukima Azuma,
Then where would that leave Yukinoshita Yukino, who was currently by Yukima Azuma's side?
Haruno pondered these questions.
Unconsciously, she began to think of everything from a dark perspective.
