When Chihaya Tetsuya and Togawa Sakiko saw Wakaba Mutsumi suddenly appear before them, they both wore expressions of utter surprise. And when they heard that Mutsumi's mother wanted to invite the two of them for a private talk, Sakiko's expression immediately became resistant.
"...Minami-san is here too."
Sakiko lowered her head slightly, her voice falling.
"Besides the people from my main family, she's probably the last person I want to see..."
"I'm sorry, Sakiko... I didn't think you guys would be here today too."
Mutsumi apologized to them pitifully, like a child who had done something wrong.
"I tried to explain to Mother, but she wouldn't listen to me at all..."
"Mhm, it's not your fault. That's just the kind of person she is."
Sakiko was quite helpless about this.
The famous actress, Mori Minami, was a successful person in the truest sense. Having struggled in the entertainment industry for many years and finally achieved fame and fortune, she had an incredibly clear and fixed set of values: a firm belief that only results matter. In her view, things like effort and dreams were all inferior to "opportunity" and "choice." It was precisely for this reason that she was so opposed to Sakiko's actions.
Because her mother had seen far too many failures who had fallen on the road to chasing their dreams, and had defeated far too many naive and romantic rivals.
In fact, a large part of the reason Mutsumi had grown up to be so quiet and taciturn was because of this successful and assertive mother.
She would not deny everything unreasonably, but if one wanted to refute her, they had to produce results that were enough to shake her "results-only" philosophy.
And Mutsumi, who had been forced to accept this set of values since childhood, had always harbored doubts in her heart, but she could never find the arguments to refute her mother—
"In any case, let's go meet with this Minami-san first."
After getting a general idea of the situation, Tetsuya said to the two hesitant girls:
"Otherwise, if she ends up leaking information about Togawa... things could get very troublesome, right?"
"...Mhm."
Mutsumi answered in place of the silent Sakiko.
"They might try to force Sakiko to return to the main family..."
"Don't be ridiculous! Who would go back!"
Sakiko clenched her fists and retorted angrily.
"A place that ignores people's will and belittles their dignity... I won't go back!"
"Sakiko..."
Mutsumi certainly understood her resistance and anger, but before that, there was something else she had to remind her of:
"Before, they could only pressure you by cutting off your living expenses, but now... you have a new weakness."
"..."
Sakiko silently turned her head away from Tetsuya.
Realizing that this "weakness" referred to him, Tetsuya didn't seem particularly bothered. He spoke in the same calm tone as before:
"Since she wants to talk to us, that means everything is negotiable, doesn't it?"
He said, gently patting Sakiko's shoulder.
"It's a good opportunity for me to practice the knowledge you taught me. Togawa, Wakaba-san, let's go."
"..."
"Mhm."
Then, led by Mutsumi, Tetsuya and Sakiko left their table and headed to Mori Minami's private room...
...
When they arrived at the private room, they immediately saw the adult who had invited them-
"Excuse me for interrupting your meal."
Mori Minami, with her exquisite features, noble aura, and designer clothes, first glanced at the two who entered the room, then fixed her gaze directly on Sakiko in her white dress.
"I'm glad you haven't forgotten your upbringing, Sakiko."
"It has been a while... Minami-san."
Sakiko, just as she had in the past, gave the adult before her an elegant curtsy.
"I apologize for not being able to attend the Wakaba family's New Year's party last year."
"It's nothing. Just missing it once in a while. Mutsumi and I don't mind."
Minami replied with a flawless, standard smile.
"As long as you can come in the future, that's all that matters. I'll prepare a special gift for you."
"..."
Sakiko was silent for a good while before speaking.
"Thank you for still being willing to invite me... it's just that this time—"
"Don't be in such a hurry to refuse. I never said you had to come this year."
Minami said.
"I was your age once, after all. So it's not like I can't understand your rebellion and willfulness..."
At this, she paused for a moment, staring at Sakiko with her sharp eyes for a good while, before continuing meaningfully:
"Just don't go so crazy that you forget the way home."
"Rebellion? Willfulness...?"
Hearing the other party use such dismissive words to define her choices, an indescribable anger and indignation welled up in Sakiko's heart.
Seeing the change in her expression, Minami also dropped her false smile, switching to the same lecturing tone she had used with Mutsumi earlier.
"Sakiko, it's true that people pursue different things at different stages of their lives. But for your future's sake, sometimes endurance is necessary."
"...Endurance? You, who have never lived in the Togawa household... on what grounds are you telling me to endure?!"
Sakiko couldn't help but retort.
"And on what grounds do you believe that I definitely cannot achieve future happiness by continuing on my current path?"
"On the grounds that you still have to spend your time working under this man."
Minami defined the relationship between the two with a rather casual and one-sided statement.
"Think about it, Sakiko. With your original circumstances, forget about working under him, you could have directly bought his brand and become his sponsor. Of course, I know you might not be doing it just for the money, but because you admire this 'genius' who started his own brand at such a young age. But if that's the case, you should be even less willing to abandon what you originally had. After all, a sponsor can provide much more help than an apprentice."
"And even if you really plan to continue being willful, how long can you stay away from the 'Togawa family'? Even without this designer, you'll eventually go to another company, do another job. You will always be bound by the Togawa family, until you can no longer hold on."
Minami shook her head at Sakiko with a look of pity, speaking as if to herself.
"That's just how it is, being born into a prestigious family, Sakiko. As a young lady who was born with a price tag attached, you are destined to be unable to pursue freedom and happiness. Since that's the case, why not be unhappy in the happiest of places? Or do you think that with your strength alone, a mere little girl, you can really fight against the massive Togawa family? Be realistic, Sakiko."
A high-and-mighty critique, an unquestionable lecture.
Every negotiation with Mori Minami was just as unpleasant and suffocating.
Sakiko really wanted to refute this seemingly open-minded but actually opinionated adult. She really wanted to throw down a harsh line like "Then let's just wait and see" and walk away.
But she was no longer a child. She understood that doing so would not solve any problems, and would only allow this arrogant adult to further belittle her choices and dignity.
An adult who doesn't listen to others, and a child who lacks evidence—the outcome of this conversation was determined from the very beginning.
That was why, at this moment, a third party who dared to intervene was needed—
"Ah, I'm very sorry to interrupt your conversation... but Minami-san. You don't seem to have answered... Sakiko's question just now."
In the midst of this suffocating confrontation, Tetsuya suddenly spoke up.
"As you said, if Sakiko were to return to the Togawa family, you've described what she would gain and what unhappiness she would suffer. But beyond that, you haven't actually answered her question directly—"
"On what grounds do you believe that the path Sakiko is on now... will definitely not lead to happiness?"