"Don't bully Shouko," Hiratsuka Shizuka said from the driver's seat, having noticed the two in the mirror.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, I'm not bullying her. I was just asking whether she felt her dress was comfortable," Akira said innocently.
"So you plan to help her… fix her dress?" Hiratsuka Shizuka raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. Please understand, Hiratsuka-sensei," Akira replied calmly, holding Nishimiya Shouko a little closer.
"Just wait a little, when I see my father, I'll tell him that Akira-kun has been taking good care of Shouko~"
"Hiratsuka-sensei, I can speak for myself."
The moment Akira Fujimiya heard Shizuka Hiratsuka's teasing voice, he immediately straightened his posture in the back seat.
If Hiratsuka Nohara heard that he had been rude to Nishimiya Shouko—even by misunderstanding—it would definitely turn into a troublesome situation.
Nishimiya Shouko, while didn't know what was going on, but when she saw Akira's tense expression, she instinctively thought that Hiratsuka-sensei must have said something again, to scare Akira. As she nervously glanced at the driving seat at front.
Shizuka Hiratsuka snorted softly and pressed down on the accelerator, the car speeding up.
…
Half an hour later.
The car arrived at the Yukinoshita family villa.
Almost at the same time as Akira, Miura Haruto's car wad also pulled in.
Akira slowly stepped out first, before helping Souko.
Miura Haruto walked toward him with a polite smile, after getting out of his car.
Akira nodded at him as he walked to properly greet him —but his eyes immediately drifted towards Miura Yumiko, who stepped out of the car in an elegant evening dress with soft makeup.
His gaze lingered, unable to move away.
Feeling Akira's eyes on her, Yumiko's cheeks reddened slightly.
Haruto noticed everything, but tactfully chose not to comment, as he distance himself from them, a little.
"Yumiko, you look very beautiful tonight," Akira said sincerely, as he walked towards her.
"T-Thank you… It's thanks to the dress Akira-kun chose for me." Yumiko lowered her head, unable to look directly at him.
"Even without this dress, you'd still be just as beautiful,"
Akira replied with a faint smile.
Yumiko's heart warmed at his praised — sweetness swelled up, mixing with a hint of shyness.
"Ahem. Fujimiya-kun, I'll leave Yumiko in your care for now. I'll go greet the other guests." Miura Haruto cleared his throat, as he said.
"I apologize, uncle. I was too captivated by Yumiko's beauty that I was unable to greet you properly. My staff should be here soon. I'll have them introduce you to some of the guests—it'll be more convenient."
"No need to trouble yourself, but thank you," Haruto said kindly.
Akira took out his phone and called Sada Kana.
A few minutes later…
Sada Kana and Hanada Yui walked over together.
"This is Sada Kana, head of Flash animation, and this is Hanada Yui, who manages Future Comics Publishing."
"This is Yumiko's father, Miura Haruto, who operates a transportation company. Sada-san, please help guide uncle to meet a few people."
"Of course, Young Master Akira. Miura-san, please follow me," Sada said without hesitation.
She already understood the relationship between Akira and Yumiko very well.
Miura Haruto smiled at Akira, before followed Kanae.
Akira's eyes swept over Hanada Yui's evening gown for a moment.
He couldn't deny it—Hanada Yui looked stunning tonight, carrying the mature charm of an older sister.
Feeling his gaze, Hanada Yui's cheeks warmed a little, though she remained silent—as her lips curl up a little forming a small smile.
"You know how to dance, right?" Akira asked.
"I do…" Hanada Yui answered quietly.
Upon hearing her reply, Akira's thoughts drifted to Mrs. Yukinoshita. (Hatuno and Yukino Mother)
Did Mrs. Yukinoshita teach her how to dance?
Just like Yukinoshita Haruno once taught him?
...
Inside the Villa—
Walking into the Yukinoshita family villa, Akira immediately spotted Hiratsuka Nohara.
As a high-ranking official in the Metropolitan Police Department, his presence here showed just how deep his relationship with the Yukinoshita family was.
Nohara glanced at the door, noticed that Shizuka, Shouko and Akira entering.
He politely excused himself from the people around him and walked over.
Akira stopped and bowed.
"Mr. Hiratsuka."
"Fujimiya-kun, that formality doesn't suit you."
Nohara blinked once, then smiled.
"Then… Master Hiratsuka?" Akira tried, slightly unsure.
"It should be Uncle Hiratsuka," Nohara corrected calmly.
{T/N: 🤷♂️}
Shizuka's face instantly flushed red, as she understood the reason it, though she said nothing as they were not at their home.
Hanada Yui's eyes widened a little, surpised.
Miura Yumiko also looked shocked—Hiratsuka-sensei's father clearly saw Akira in a very favorable light to allow Akira to address him like that.
"Alright, Uncle Hiratsuka," Akira nodded slowly, correcting himself properly.
"Good. That sounds much better. If you're free, come by the house more often, I would like to have another Shogi match with you. Hmm, Since my colleagues are here tonight, do you want me to introduce them? I can arrange something, if you like."
"I still prefer staying a businessman." Akira shook his head.
"Your business seems to be doing well?" Nohara asked with interest.
"It's is fine. But most are still in development," Akira answered calmly.
"Even Haruno Yukinoshita praises your work," Nohara added lightly. "She says your mind for business and your instinct for opportunities are unparalleled."
"...Haruno-san is exaggerating," Akira replied. "I'm just doing what I enjoy, and it happened to succeed."
"Your success is never just luck."
"Well, I've been fortunate."
'In more ways than one'
"I want to invest in your company," Nohara said directly. "How about it?"
"... "
Akira paused for a second, as he calmly glance at Nohara Hiratsuka, before glancing at Shizuka Hiratsuka in his side.
Her subtle reaction told him everything—this was intentional.
"Of course, that's welcome," Akira replied.
"I'll ask Tamura to contact you tomorrow about the matter."
Nohara patted Akira's shoulder, then returned to the gathering with the previous people's.
Akira watched his back, understanding the weight of what had just happened.
With Hiratsuka Nohara's investment, Akira's company would now enjoy a much larger umbrella of protection—At top of Yukinoshita family.
And—
Nohara's earlier words were also a warning.
Akira's rapid success had begun attracting unwanted attention—people who might try to buy shares from him.
And where even refusing their demand could cause trouble.
Even with the Yukinoshita family's cooperation, his company was still too young, their will be people who will try to cause trouble.
But with Nohara's backing…
Anyone planning to push him would first need to consider the consequences of offending a high-ranking Metropolitan Police official with powerful family ties.
Akira exhaled slowly, before glancing at Hiratsuka—
"Sensei… will you always stay single?" Akira suddenly asked, calmly.
"Huh?" Shizuka froze.
"Nothing. Just wondering if I'll have a chance someday," Akira replied casually.
"That's not something you should be asking!" Shizuka snapped, face red, before quickly pulled Nishimiya Shouko away with her, as she started walking away.
Akira glance at their retreating figure, before glancing at Yumiko.
Their eyes meet—Yukino was staring at him as he was talking with Shizuka, before averting her eyes.
Akira smile as he gesture her to follow.
After sometime—
Akira and Yumiko found a quiet spot and sat down.
No sooner had they settled than they noticed Hayama Hayato approaching.
Hayato, seeing them—empty hand, picked up three glasses of juice from the waiter and walked over.
Yumiko visibly stiffened when she saw him—a complicated expression flickering across her face.
Hayato quickly reached them, as he placed the drinks in front of them and took the seat beside Akira to settle down.
"I feel a bit uncomfortable at events like this," Hayato admitted, glancing at the crowd.
"I assumed you'd be an expert at these kinds of gatherings," Akira said while sipping his juice.
"Every time I accompany my father, trouble follows. But since Fujimiya-kun is here this time, maybe things will go smoother."
Hayato gave a tired smile.
"Hayato-kun looks like a prince—girls can't help being drawn to him," Akira said teasingly.
"...I'm only playing the prince role," Hayato murmured bitterly.
"Hayato-kun is genuinely a good person. That part, I'm sure of," Akira replied, without hesitation.
Just when they finished talking, a group of elegantly dressed young ladies approached them—faces flushed with excitement.
"Hayama-kun, you don't have a dance partner for later, right?" One brave girl asked shyly.
"Sorry. I'm spending time with my… boss. So, I won't be dancing," Hayato declined politely.
"Boss?" The girls voiced out their surpised as they turned toward Akira.
"Good evening. I'm Yukinoshita Yukino's fiance—Akira Fujimiya," he said politely.
"Good evening, Fujimiya-kun!" The girls bowed quickly, startled.
"The only reason Hayato-kun declined you is because he's very shy. If you talk to him more, you can arrange to meet in advance for future gatherings," Akira added.
"I-I see!"
Their eyes sparkled as they turned toward Hayato.
Hayato Hayama…is shy?
That contrast made him somehow even more charming in their eyes, as they stare at him—their blush visible.
"…" Hayato's smile froze.
"Alright, please stop staring at Hayato-kun. If he gets too overwhelmed, he'll run away," Akira warned.
"S-Sorry! We were too rude!"
The girls apologized, then happily exchanged contact information with Hayato—who was not able to refuse—before leaving, happily.
Hayato slumped back, exhaling deeply.
"Akira-kun… please stop causing me unnecessary trouble."
"Any trouble your boss gives you is a task. Just fulfill this task," Akira said with a grin.
"....My father also wants me to interact with them more… find someone suitable and form an engagement." Hayato sounded resigned.
"Your father is right," Akira said, glancing at Hayama father in the distance, who was talking with some people.
Hayato followed Akira's gaze.
He knew his father was right.
But still…
"Instead of holding onto unrealistic expectations, you should think carefully about your future," Yumiko said gently, from the side.
Hayato froze, staring at her for several seconds—caught off guard by how sudden and piercingly honest those words were.
...
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Bonus Chapter:-
4 Bonus chapter at 100 powerstone
6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
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Word Count — 1,685