"You don't have to accept, but our side doesn't have much capital, and there are plenty of creditors waiting in line. I suggest you think carefully," Sakaguchi Ken said coolly.
"Wait, that... " The head of the loan department tried to say something.
Sakaguchi cut him off. "Be at the Imperial Hotel, Royal Suite conference room, at six. We won't wait if you're late."
He hung up without another word.
Beside him, Yamada Ryo stared, completely dumbfounded. Since when could someone in debt act this arrogant?
Usually, her parents were the ones bowing and scraping whenever they dealt with the bank.
"Nicely done." Seiji gave an approving grin. "However much you manage to save me, ten percent of that will be your bonus."
"Yes, sir!" Sakaguchi jumped to his feet, bowing deeply in excitement.
Given the size of Miss Yamada Ryo's debt, if he played his cards right, his commission from this job could easily top ten million yen.
Without wasting a second, Sakaguchi dialed the next number.
The second call was to a major medical equipment company that used to partner with Yamada Hospital.
After introducing himself, Sakaguchi got a derisive snort from the company's legal representative.
"Attorney Sakaguchi? Don't waste your breath. We won't reduce that hundred-million-yen penalty by a single yen. Either pay up, or we'll move for compulsory enforcement and seize all assets under her name!"
"That's unfortunate," Sakaguchi replied calmly. "Miss Yamada's limited funds will have to go toward the Tokyo Central Bank... since they're the only ones willing to negotiate."
"…What?" The sneer froze on the other man's face.
"You can take your time deciding," Sakaguchi said evenly. "But there's only one chance. Six o'clock tonight, Imperial Hotel, Royal Suite conference room. If you agree, bring your lawyer."
The third call went to the victims' representative attorney from the fire incident's civil lawsuit.
This one was the toughest. "Mr. Sakaguchi, I don't care who you represent. A debt must be repaid! That two-hundred-million-yen settlement is the price of innocent lives. Yamada Ryo must pay it back in full!"
"I completely agree," Sakaguchi said with a polite smile, ready to negotiate the amount down.
He was Seiji's lawyer, not the victims'. His job was to protect Seiji's interests, not anyone else's.
"Wait."
Seiji suddenly raised his hand, stopping him.
"Sensei?" Sakaguchi covered the phone's receiver, looking at Seiji in confusion.
"Those debts," Seiji said in a low voice, "pay them in full. And Sakaguchi... your commission stays at the top rate. I'll need you to personally oversee the compensation delivery."
Sakaguchi froze.
He stared at Fujiwara, eyes widening with genuine respect. "Understood, Fujiwara-sensei. Please leave it to me."
Yamada Ryo also looked at Seiji, her eyes shining faintly.
Seiji waved a hand, signaling Sakaguchi to continue.
He didn't mind haggling with capitalists... but bargaining with victims? That crossed a line.
He couldn't do something that heartless.
Sakaguchi released a steady breath and spoke solemnly into the phone. "My client will pay the full compensation to all the victims' families, every yen, this evening at six o'clock, Imperial Hotel, Royal Suite conference room. Please notify all representatives so we can complete the handover and notarization in person."
There was a long silence on the other end of the line.
After the three calls, Sakaguchi turned back to Seiji. "Fujiwara-san, all three creditor groups have been notified."
"Good." Seiji stood up and extended a hand toward the still-stunned Yamada Ryo. "Let's go. We're settling all your debts today."
Ryo looked at his outstretched hand, then smiled brightly and clasped it firmly.
At six o'clock sharp, at the Imperial Hotel...
On the top floor, inside the Royal Suite conference room.
The head of Tokyo Central Bank's loan department entered with two subordinates and a corporate attorney.
The arrogance on his face had noticeably faded.
Black Rock Law Firm. The Royal Suite at the Imperial Hotel...
Every detail screamed that tonight's meeting wasn't going to be as simple as he'd imagined.
At the far end of the long conference table sat three people.
The chief lawyer who had pressured him over the phone... Sakaguchi Ken.
The debtor herself... the blue-haired girl who had fallen from grace, Yamada Ryo.
And at the center, a young man whose face looked oddly familiar.
He'd seen him somewhere before... but couldn't quite recall where.
The boy sat there quietly, yet the calm weight of his presence was unmistakable.
"Please, have a seat," Sakaguchi said, rising politely and motioning to the opposite side.
The department head sat down, clearing his throat to appear composed. "Attorney Sakaguchi, we're here as requested. About the Yamada family's loan, we... "
Before he could finish, the young man in the center spoke.
"Sakaguchi," Seiji said evenly, his tone ice-cold. "Give it to them."
"Yes, Fujiwara-sensei."
Sakaguchi took out a pre-prepared cashier's check issued by Black Rock Bank and slid it across the table.
When the department head and his lawyer saw the number of zeros on it, both gasped aloud.
Sixty million yen.
Exactly thirty percent of the original total... after a 70% write-off.
"T-that's quite a steep discount..." the department head stammered, forcing a strained smile.
Just then, the door opened again.
The second creditor arrived... the president of the medical equipment company, flanked by his legal rep.
"Where's the Yamada girl? Let's see what kind of stunt she's trying to pull... "
He stopped mid-sentence when he saw who was in the room.
His gaze landed on Fujiwara Seiji... and froze.
"F-Fujiwara... President Fujiwara Seiji?!"
As a businessman who followed financial news closely, he recognized at once the rising legend who had shaken Japan's entire creative industry... Fujiwara Seiji, CEO of Genesis!
The shout landed like a bomb in a quiet lake.
Everyone else... bankers, lawyers, creditors... all turned toward Seiji, eyes wide with disbelief.
It clicked for all of them in an instant.
Fujiwara Seiji... the prodigy author, the genius entrepreneur who'd been dominating headlines for weeks!
Their gazes toward Yamada Ryo changed instantly... from disdain and suspicion to sheer envy.
So the fallen heiress had landed herself a connection to him...
A pretty face really did change everything.
They all couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Ryo met their stares with a blank expression, sitting calmly beside Fujiwara, unfazed by the sudden shift in atmosphere.
"Attorney Sakaguchi."
Seiji ignored the murmurs, giving a subtle nod.
Sakaguchi understood immediately, sliding two more checks across the table to the other creditors.
Silence fell over the room once again.
All three creditor parties stared at the checks, their eyes wide, expressions disbelieving.
Even after the discounts, the total amount paid was over two hundred million yen...
All for a single destitute high school girl.
They couldn't make sense of it... but they weren't about to question it either.
"Please note," Sakaguchi said meaningfully, "Fujiwara-san may be generous, but his generosity depends on his mood. Don't waste the opportunity."
The message landed instantly. The bankers and company reps stiffened, abandoning any thoughts of haggling further.
After all, Seiji might be willing to spend a fortune for a woman... but not necessarily twice.
As for the victims' families, they'd already received full compensation. They weren't about to risk saying anything that might jeopardize that.
A brief silence followed. Then... chaos erupted.
"President Fujiwara! It's an honor! Here's my card!"
"Fujiwara-san, you're incredibly generous! Our company has always admired Genesis... perhaps we could discuss collaboration?"
"Miss Yamada! Please, forgive our past rudeness! Here, a small token of goodwill from our firm... "
Moments ago, these people had been puffed-up creditors. Now they scrambled like sycophants, tripping over each other to shove business cards into Fujiwara's hands, smiles plastered on their faces.
Seiji accepted the cards with a detached expression, passing them off to Sakaguchi without even glancing at them.
To him, they were just buzzing flies.
But to the others, his cold indifference only reinforced his aura of power.
Fujiwara Seiji had earned the right to treat them that way.
When the debts were settled and notarized, the creditors still refused to leave.
Their fawning attention simply shifted... from Seiji to Yamada Ryo.
Within hours, her phone nearly exploded from all the "concerned uncles and aunties" calling nonstop.
Luxury handbags, designer cosmetics, limited-edition sweets... all "gifts" from the wives and secretaries of those same business elites who'd once scorned her... now poured into the hotel concierge desk like a tidal wave.
They were desperate to find any route... any excuse... to get close to Fujiwara Seiji through her.
Ryo looked at these same people who had once wished her ruin, now bowing and scraping for favor. A bitter, almost surreal feeling welled up inside her.
She turned to Seiji, lounging casually in his chair, and felt her heart twist with conflicting emotions.
She had expected Seiji to use the debts as leverage... to control her, to keep her dependent like some gilded canary.
That was how financial bondage worked in these arrangements.
But instead, he'd shattered every chain around her.
No tricks. No manipulation. Just raw, overwhelming power declaring ownership.
And that struck straight through her defenses.
She had to admit it... he'd gotten to her.
That night, after everyone had finally left, Seiji and Ryo returned to the mansion.
Ryo was in her room, picking out clothes, quietly planning how to "thank" Seiji for his grand gesture...
When the doorbell suddenly rang.
She frowned slightly and went to the living room. Through the intercom, she saw a familiar face.
Ijichi Nijika.
She was holding a cake box, smiling brightly, clearly here to share some dessert.
On any other day, Ryo would've been thrilled to see her. But tonight... her timing couldn't have been worse.
Should she open the door?
While she hesitated, the master bedroom door opened. Seiji stepped out, glancing curiously at the screen.
Nijika?
He recognized her immediately.
"Your friend?" he asked casually, feigning ignorance.
"Yeah..." Ryo nodded, a little annoyed that her plans were falling apart.
Seiji's eyes lingered on the cheerful, sunny face on the monitor... his expression flickering almost imperceptibly.
Ijichi Nijika.
The heart and soul of Kessoku Band... bright as the sun, brave, kind, and determined in her pursuit of music.
In his previous life, Seiji had admired her deeply while watching Bocchi the Rock.
In other words, she'd been one of his "waifus."
He'd already claimed Yamada Ryo. So... would Nijika be next?
A thoughtful look crossed his face.
Ryo noticed that subtle change in expression instantly.
Was Seiji... interested in Nijika?
Her eyes narrowed slightly, mind racing... then she pressed the intercom button.
"Ryo! Finally!" Nijika's voice burst through, full of relief. "You're okay! I brought you something... STARRY's new shop just released this signature strawberry cake!"
"I'm fine, Nijika. Thanks." Ryo's tone was calm. "But it's late. You should head home. I have a friend over... I'll be back at school tomorrow."
"No way!" Nijika's tone turned unusually firm. "I need to see you with my own eyes, or I won't relax! You've been acting weird lately! And did you just say you have a friend over? Since when do you have friends? Open the door, let me in!"
Ryo sighed helplessly.
She knew Nijika... once the girl set her mind on something, there was no stopping her.
She paused the intercom and looked at Seiji questioningly.
"Let her in," he said easily, as if it were nothing. "I'd like to meet your friend."
Ryo's eyes narrowed again, a flicker of meaning crossing her gaze.
She said nothing... just turned back to the intercom and pressed the button.
"…Come on in, Nijika."
"Sorry for intruding."
Ijichi Nijika stepped inside, carrying the cake box.
"Ryo! You... "
Her words died in her throat the moment she saw the man sitting on the couch.
A handsome young man in a tailored casual suit, his calm presence filling the room.
And his face... unmistakable.
Fujiwara Seiji.
The prodigy author. The mysterious CEO of Genesis. The "once-in-a-century" literary king dominating every news outlet.
"E-Eh?!"
Nijika's brain froze.
She stared at Fujiwara, then at Ryo, her worldview imploding.
What the hell was going on?
Why was Fujiwara Seiji sitting in Ryo's living room?!
Just a few days ago at STARRY, she'd been gossiping with her sister, Ryo, and PA-san about this exact man... wondering if someone that talented, rich, and handsome could even exist outside of fiction.
And now... he was right here.
And from the way they looked at each other...
They seemed close.
"T-then... this is...?" Nijika stammered, utterly flustered.
Ryo stepped between them, her tone as calm as ever. "Nijika, this is Seiji. Seiji, this is my friend, Ijichi Nijika."
"Nice to meet you, Miss Ijichi," Seiji said with an easy smile, rising politely.
"H-hello! Fujiwara-san!" Nijika bowed frantically, completely overwhelmed.
But inside, her thoughts were spinning out of control... because Ryo had just introduced him by first name.
Ryo had called him Seiji!
In Japanese culture, that kind of familiarity between a young man and woman could only mean one thing...
Something very intimate.
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You can read up to chapter 120 on patreon.com/NiaXD.