In a corner of Starbucks, a handsome man sat on a dark green sofa, holding a white porcelain coffee cup with an upright posture.
Through the swirling steam, his smile appeared calm and approachable. He looked young, as if only thirty-five, but his aura exuded the experience and maturity of someone in their forties or fifties.
His jet-black hair had not a single gray strand. His branded suit hugged his well-built frame. The luxury watch on his wrist gleamed with understated elegance. He practically had "high-class" written on his forehead, giving the first impression of a director or executive.
Which, in fact, he was.
Natsukawa Ryouji, head of the Natsukawa family, owned several multinational companies. He had achieved remarkable success in politics and business. On the surface, he was untainted by scandal, a rare model businessman.
"Nice to meet you. Want a coffee? My treat."
"Then I won't hold back." Yuu sat across from him, turning to Mana, who had just arrived. "Please order me a large iced Americano, takeaway cup. Your dad's paying."
"…" Mana's small chest heaved like waves. After a deep breath, she glared at him sharply, then turned to the bald man in sunglasses. "Yasuoka, you heard him!"
The muscular bodyguard nodded obediently and went to the counter to order.
As for Mana, she initially wanted to sit next to Yuu. But after meeting her father's gaze, she pursed her lips and walked to another empty table, pouting.
"Fine, fine, I won't disturb your talk!"
After his daughter left, Ryouji shrugged, saying with slight resignation, "Mana's like this—maybe because I spoiled her too much, she's far wilder than her older sister."
"Indeed. Kids her age, if not disciplined properly, will face big losses later." Yuu agreed. "Besides, parents and bodyguards can't always be by her side. If something happens, there'll be times they can't protect her."
"I agree. Her temperament needs to be reined in." Ryouji nodded seriously, without a hint of condescension or small talk. He then looked at Yuu, smiling. "Is that because you've taught her a lesson before? Mana seems quite obedient to you. It makes me a bit jealous."
Yuu sighed. "What can I do? After being provoked like that, wouldn't I be less of a man if I did nothing? Masuzu was there too. I saw it as curbing her sister's arrogance for her sake."
Since Masuzu had been mentioned, the small talk ended there.
"We haven't introduced ourselves, have we? I'm Masuzu's father." Ryouji said, pulling a gold-framed cardholder from his pocket and handing Yuu a business card.
Yuu glanced at it, then took out his wallet, retrieving a card he'd printed in his spare time.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Tenkuji. Here's my card."
"Oh? A high school student's business card? First time I've received one." Ryouji raised an eyebrow in surprise. He carefully examined the card's details. "Tenkuji Network Co., Ltd… A company related to internet technology?"
Yuu said flatly, "Yes. I'm quite talented in this field. If you have projects related to network security or web development, you can reach out. You'll find my technical certification logos on those sites."
Ryouji understood his intent, pocketing the card seriously. "I'll do that. I look forward to working with your company."
Yuu closely observed his expression.
Regardless of his personality, in terms of interacting with others, Yuu found him impeccable. There was barely a trace of pretense.
Even facing a high school student, Ryouji maintained the same demeanor as when meeting business associates—distant but not cold, no different from how he was with his children. It was almost instinctual.
"You're more impressive than I thought, Tenkuji-kun."
"Likewise, Natsukawa-san." After a moment's thought, Yuu propped his chin on his elbow against his thigh, speaking frankly. "Before meeting, you must've investigated me. Likewise, I know a bit about you… So, let's skip the pleasantries and probing. I have dinner with my friends later. Getting to the point benefits us both."
"Wow, am I really talking to a high schooler? It's surprising Japan has a talented young man like you."
Shaking his head in admiration, Ryouji praised him, then looked him in the eye, asking with a smile:
"Are you serious about your relationship with Masuzu?"
"Of course. Serious enough to marry and have kids after graduation." Yuu answered firmly, without hesitation.
"You're only seventeen. Don't you think…" Ryouji raised an eyebrow, amused, choosing his words, "…it's childish? Your futures are still long. No one can predict what'll happen."
"Childhood promises are all lies. That's what you mean, right?" Facing his noncommittal gaze, Yuu shrugged.
"Think what you want. Maybe it'll change, maybe not. For now, believing in the present is enough… Isn't love something happening right now?"
Ryouji thought briefly, then smiled wryly. "You're right. I thought the same when I was young. But now…"
"Interests outweigh relationships, so there's no choice?"
"…"
The words hit too close. They practically laid bare his thoughts, leaving Ryouji momentarily silent. He could only stare in surprise at Yuu's faint smile. The room fell quiet.
*CLINK!*
Yasuoka placed the iced Americano on the table, then stepped back quietly, blocking Mana's curious gaze.
"Are you going to use political marriage as an excuse to make me leave Masuzu?"
Yuu picked up his coffee, taking a sip, his tone flat. "Give it up. Unless you send someone to kill me, I'll protect her freedom to choose, no matter what methods you use."
"Protect her freedom to choose… Not take her from me?" Ryouji didn't mock his bold words. Instead, he asked the question.
"You're her father, and I'm her boyfriend—neither emotionally nor legally do I have that right." Yuu met his gaze honestly, smiling. "Unless she asks me to elope with her."
Ryouji paused, as if giving up on something, sighing softly.
"You're a tough son-in-law… I don't know if it's good or bad for Masuzu to have a boyfriend like you."
"It's definitely good for her. But for a father planning to use her for a political marriage, maybe not."
Yuu smiled. "Though my assets don't match yours, and I lack the network you've built over years, I can at least support a girlfriend who doesn't eat properly, just watches JOJO, and curses couples."
Ryouji's expression didn't change much. He pointed out the issue. "But before summer break, you relied on part-time jobs to support yourself and your sister. Only after summer did things change significantly… Masuzu is the Natsukawa family's gem. Do you think your past economic situation held value for her to leave the Natsukawa family?"
"If there's nothing keeping her in the Natsukawa family, even my past economic situation would've been enough for her to stay with me."
Yuu met his gaze. "Besides, you said 'past' yourself… The current me should satisfy you enough, right? As a potential son-in-law."
Otherwise, he wouldn't have called him a tough son-in-law earlier.
"…"
As if facing a demon who could see into hearts, Ryouji hadn't felt this pressured in ages. The conversation's flow was controlled by the other side. Every word he wanted to say was preempted.
He unconsciously clasped his fingers, rubbing his thumb, and said seriously, "Indeed. Your outstanding athletic performance, your surprising academic progress, or the terrifying strength that completely dominated the match earlier—I had a good impression of you before we even met and spoke… If you liked Mana instead of Masuzu, I wouldn't have come to meet you and would've let you two develop."
(Sorry, I'm not into flat-chested, twin-tailed blonde lolis.)
Yuu kept that thought to himself out of politeness.
"But I want you to know one thing… My business will expand further. The countries we enter will increase. So, in my plan, she'll study abroad. After graduating, she'll navigate high society, build connections, and create as much profit as possible for the Natsukawa family. Then, I'll find her a good match and marry her off."
Ryouji casually laid out the life planned for Masuzu.
If Yuu hadn't appeared, everything might've gone according to plan.
"As expected." Yuu pursed his lips, expressionless.
"You're not surprised?" Ryouji asked instinctively, unable to suppress a wry smile. "Right, you saw through my intentions. You came to this meeting prepared."
Yuu sipped his coffee. "Because Masuzu said you're someone who prioritizes profit."
"She said that? That's a misunderstanding. If I didn't care about them, how could I let them move to Japan?"
Ryouji said innocently, "Being born into the Natsukawa family is unavoidable… I'm sure Masuzu knows that. It's only because of you that she's started resisting and refusing to accept it."
"So, you plan to make her not have me?"
The corner of Yuu's lips curved slightly. His tone was calm and controlled, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"Don't put it like that. Think calmly—with your conditions, you could find a better girl and form more relationships." Ryouji remained unshaken, beginning to persuade with logic.
"I won't stop you from dating, because who hasn't been young? But ultimately, you're from different worlds. Masuzu must create profit for the Natsukawa family abroad. Meanwhile, you could become a sports star or even rise high in the police force with your kendo talent. Five, ten years from now, you'll be on very different paths."
"People's hearts can change, feelings can change. That's normal. If you both insist on marrying at eighteen, I'll consider other possibilities… For now, I don't think we're on opposing sides. As long as you can protect her value, I'll entrust her to you until she goes abroad for college."
Ryouji smiled warmly, his tone cheerful. "How's that? This is the compromise I'm making for you. I told you I value you highly. We don't need to fight over something trivial."
There are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests.
Yuu understood. Ryouji was a mature adult and a quintessential businessman—even his daughter could be a bargaining chip, constantly evaluated for her worth. Shaking hands and making peace with a high schooler was nothing to him.
Compared to him, Haruno's mother was a saint, and Asuna's mother was just a short-sighted opportunist. In a sense, Ryouji was far harder to deal with.
The only way to convince someone like him was to show your own value, make him change his mind, and believe that entrusting his daughter to you could yield more profit than a marriage.
…But Yuu didn't need to do that.
As long as it didn't interfere with his romance, he didn't need to argue with Ryouji.
Marriage? Political marriage? What did that have to do with Yuu?
Once his task was done, Masuzu would be a stranger to him. She was never part of his past, and he didn't need to stay with her until the end of her future—as Ryouji said, talking about the future now was too childish, because promises made now would change sooner or later.
Because Yuu couldn't stay with his girlfriend until the end.
He, who would eventually vanish from others' memories, had no right to guarantee a future or talk about life plans beyond romance.
—So, in the end, he could only bluff.
"Natsukawa-san, do you know why I started a company and began earning money, even before graduating high school?"
Yuu stood, finishing his iced Americano and slamming the cup on the table.
"What?" Ryouji looked up at him.
"Just to tell you parents that there's a promising son-in-law candidate here. So, don't give up on her so easily!"
After a moment's thought, feeling his words lacked gravitas, Yuu added, "You may give up on her, but she might not give up on your daughter—don't underestimate a poor young man. Later, it'll be hard to say who's unworthy of whom."
Ryouji looked confused. "You parents?"
"Ahem, ahem." Yuu slipped up. "Anyway, I'll say this. Father-in-law, your daughter's under my care for now. Don't drag her back to Sweden on a whim. Otherwise, I'll have to chase after her, and that's such a hassle."
"Sorry. If she's disobedient in Japan, I'll still take her back—"
"Then I'll provide everything she needs to run away from home. Let's see what matters more to her: a profit-driven family or a gentle, handsome lover?"
Ignoring Ryouji's slight frown, Yuu turned, leaving one last sentence.
"Now or later, I'll support whatever she wants to do until the end. And I'll oppose whatever she rejects until the end—because I'm Masuzu's boyfriend."
Who cares about rights?
If he couldn't even say something like that in front of his future father-in-law, what was the point of being a boyfriend? He might as well go back to his village and grow sweet potatoes with his little sister!
Most importantly, once the timeline shifted, whatever he said would be forgotten. So, what was wrong with being a bit arrogant now?
(If you dare, chase me to the future, and we'll talk about how much dowry you'll give!)
With that relaxed and calm thought, Yuu walked out of Starbucks, ready to tell Masuzu the good news about the successful negotiation.
Meanwhile, Ryouji sat silently, watching his back disappear.
"…Dad?"
Seeing their talk had ended, and it didn't seem to go well, Mana glanced at the door. She looked back at her father's expression, asking cautiously.
"So… how'd it go?"
With slightly pursed lips, Ryouji lowered his head, rubbing his forehead and sighing. "It wasn't as smooth as I thought… If Masuzu's attitude is like his, we really need to change our plans."
Seizing the chance, Mana quickly said, "Masuzu definitely likes him more than you think!"
"Really?"
Ryouji lowered his fingers from his forehead, lightly tapping the table.
After thinking for a long time, he pulled out the business card from his pocket, looking at it again. He muttered meaningfully, "It seems bringing him into the company and training him as an assistant could create more profit… Not marriage, but joining the family? I can't keep clinging to old ways. I need to adapt to this era."
He turned to Mana. "Mana, for now, I won't make you return to Sweden. Stay in Japan, keep an eye on them. If possible, live with your sister. If anything happens, let me know. You know what kind of information I want to hear."
"Yeah, yeah~ But Masuzu won't let me stay in her apartment."
Mana pursed her lips. Though her face looked impatient, she secretly clenched her fists.
(Nice job, brother-in-law!)
(Not only did he handle this money-grubbing guy, but he also made him compromise on Masuzu. He's truly a super-strong sister-complex guy who dares to mess with me!)
Thinking she'd have someone stronger above her to protect her, Mana couldn't help but chuckle softly. She looked forward to showing off to her classmates.
"Mana, I need to get back to work now."
Ryouji finished his coffee and stood. Hearing this, Mana waved without looking up.
"Oh, safe travels~"
"…Why so dismissive?"
"Ahem, ahem. Nothing. Let me walk you to the car, Yasuoka!"
"Understood, I'll get the car."
"One question, Mana. You don't have a boyfriend or anyone you like right now, do you?"
"N-N-No way! What're you talking about, Dad?! If I were to like someone, they'd need to be as strong as my brother-in-law!"
"That's a high bar… Wait, something's off…"
"Don't sweat the small stuff, just go!"
Soon after, the Natsukawa father and daughter left Starbucks.
Without causing any ripples, Kyoto University's campus returned to its usual calm.