"Suzuki Sonoko, Mouri Ran, Shinomiya Kaguya, Hayasaka Ai, and Fujiwara Chika."
After a quick round of introductions, those names were no longer unfamiliar.
As the second daughter of the Suzuki conglomerate, Sonoko was already known by some in this group of mostly second-generation elites. Besides, the Suzuki Zaibatsu was currently celebrating its 60th anniversary. There were few among the wealthy who hadn't at least heard of them.
This was especially true for Kaguya and Hayasaka.
Anyone from the upper-class circles would naturally be aware of the major changes happening within the Shinomiya conglomerate. It had even become a common topic of dinner conversation among business families.
And of course, in the Fujiwara family, where generations had been involved in politics, such matters were discussed with even more nuance. Politics, after all, was inseparable from business.
By contrast, ordinary people like Mouri Ran and Ren stood out at this banquet as outliers.
Ren glanced at the time on his phone.
"It's about time. Nagi, come with me. Miss Saginomiya should be waking up soon."
"Oh!"
Upon hearing that Isumi was about to wake up, Nagi immediately leapt up from her seat.
The two quietly exited through the side hall.
The ones who remained exchanged looks of confusion.
"Miss Sakuya, this Saginomiya that Ren mentioned… is she ill?"
Kasumi Aika couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Ah, Isumi? She caught a cold yesterday. Took some medicine and has been sleeping all day, so I need to go wake her."
Aizawa Sakuya replied casually, but Aika could immediately detect the overly rehearsed tone in her response.
Clearly, there was something unusual about Miss Isumi.
Kasumi Aika recalled some past interactions with Saginomiya Isumi and held back her curiosity. Even then, she'd noticed Isumi had some strange traits—though now it seemed there was another mysterious layer to her.
Click.
Not long after the door closed, it opened again. This time, Maria, Tachibana Wataru, and Kijima Saki entered.
"Oh? Wataru, long time no see. You finally crawled out of that video store of yours?"
Sakuya grinned teasingly, but Wataru wasn't offended. After all, they had known each other for a long time—and today was her birthday.
"The video store is under renovation. Thanks to that art-loving explosives maniac who set off a bomb across the street, half the store was damaged."
Tachibana sighed. The already modest family business had taken a big hit.
This renovation wasn't just cosmetic. It required replacing most of the old equipment, meaning the cost was more than just shattered windows.
After that incident, Wataru had decided to install the thickest, most durable, super-hard, bulletproof glass available.
Most stores wouldn't go that far. But considering what had happened once, who could guarantee it wouldn't happen again?
If something like that occurred a second time, he wouldn't be able to afford to repair everything again—he wasn't rich.
And for a humble video store, his family background was anything but wealthy.
After venting, Wataru glanced around the side hall, spotting some familiar faces—and a few he didn't recognize. But the one he most wanted to see wasn't among them.
"No need to stare. Isumi is still resting in her room. She's not here."
Aizawa Sakuya directly exposed Wataru's intentions without mercy.
"Wha—what?! You think I'm here to see Isumi? No way! I'm here to see Nagi!"
Tachibana's face flushed as he scrambled to deny it.
"Young master, didn't you just watch Miss Nagi walk out with that boy from the store?"
Kijima Saki's deadpan statement only made Wataru's face go even redder.
Sakuya, who had been watching the drama unfold, burst out laughing.
"See? You can't even come up with a convincing excuse. Every time you show up at Nagi's place, isn't it always because you want to see Isumi?"
Too bad for him, Saginomiya Isumi had never seen him as a member of the opposite sex. Sakuya honestly felt a bit sorry for Wataru, who was clearly wasting his time.
Isumi was easy to read. If she liked a boy, she'd show it. Despite being shy, she was emotionally transparent.
Sakuya had known Isumi for a long time. That's why she had long realized that Wataru's affection would never be reciprocated.
And she also had a good idea why Isumi never saw Wataru that way.
Young. Hot-tempered. Impulsive. A typical immature boy.
While Sakuya didn't know exactly what kind of guy Isumi did like, she knew for sure it wasn't someone like Wataru.
"Eh? He likes Isumi?"
The love-obsessed gossip detective, Fujiwara Chika, immediately perked up and pulled out a detective cap from… somewhere.
"Yup."
Sakuya, catching Wataru's beet-red face, smirked and confirmed it.
"He's liked Isumi for a long time. It's not anything new."
"Ehhh~?"
Chika's eyes sparkled with the thrill of a romantic plot.
"What about Isumi?"
"Isumi…"
Sakuya murmured, then shook her head.
"She's never reacted to Wataru in any special way."
That single sentence hit Tachibana like a rock.
It confirmed his one-sided feelings.
"Isumi's a very traditional girl. She doesn't even like wearing skirts—because she thinks they're too flimsy and distracting for physical training."
"She has a great personality, and she's very shy. But because of that, if she likes someone, it's incredibly easy to tell."
Yeah... that's true. Wataru, disheartened, also realized what Sakuya said made sense.
If Isumi liked someone, it'd be obvious.
"Yeah. Isumi really is like that."
Chika nodded, recalling how Isumi acted in battle—shy, gentle, soft-spoken.
Very classical. Very reserved and introverted.
When a girl like that falls for someone, it's easy to notice.
Almost unconsciously, Fujiwara Chika's gaze drifted to Shinomiya Kaguya.
Just like Kaguya.
(To be continued.)
***
For every 200 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on P/treon to read 30+ advanced chapters: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)