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Chapter 10 — A Resemblance of the Past
Suzune took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. The heavy double doors before her loomed like a gateway to fate itself. She knocked twice.
"Come in," a calm voice replied.
She opened the door and stepped into the vast, elegant office. The first thing she noticed was the silence — peaceful, yet filled with authority. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka sat in a sleek black chair, gazing out the massive window at the endless skyline.
"Hello," he said without turning around at first, his tone even and controlled. Then he looked at her, eyes calm yet piercing. "You must be Suzune Horikita."
Suzune bowed politely. "It's very nice to meet you, Mr. Ayanokoji. I'm Suzune Horikita."
Ayanokoji gestured toward the chair across from his desk. "Have a seat."
"Thank you," she said softly, sitting down with composed elegance.
For a moment, Ayanokoji's gaze lingered on her. Why… why does she look just like her? The faint smile, the determined eyes, even the tone of her voice — they all reminded him of the woman he once loved and lost.
He cleared his throat, pushing the thought aside. "Shall we begin?"
Suzune nodded firmly, stood up, and began presenting her proposal. She spoke clearly, explaining each point in detail — strategies, risks, long-term benefits.
Ayanokoji didn't interrupt once. He simply watched her — her confidence, her poise, her quiet fire.
Why do you look so much like her? he thought again, lost in memory.
Suzune, noticing his silence, began to worry. He's just staring at me. Did I already fail? No… stay calm, Suzune. You can't lose focus now.
Thirty minutes passed. Finally, Suzune placed her file down and bowed slightly. "That concludes the proposal, Mr. Ayanokoji. What do you think?"
The room went silent.
Then, Ayanokoji leaned forward and said in a low, composed tone, "It's fine. We'll sign the deal."
Suzune blinked, unsure if she heard right. "R-Really? Thank you, Mr. Ayanokoji!"
Ayanokoji gave a faint smile. "However," he added, "from this day onward, I want you to be the one who represents your family in every meeting with me. No one else."
Suzune was surprised but nodded quickly. "Yes, Mr. Ayanokoji. I'll do my best."
"Good," he said simply. He signed the document with his usual precision, then passed it across the desk. Suzune's hands trembled slightly as she signed beside his name.
As the deal became official, Suzune's chest tightened — not with fear, but overwhelming joy. I did it… I really did it. Her eyes shimmered, nearly bringing her to tears.
Ayanokoji stood up and extended his hand. "Let's meet again another time."
Suzune rose and shook his hand, her grip firm but gentle. "Thank you again, Mr. Ayanokoji."
She turned and walked out of the office.
Outside, Manabu was waiting anxiously. The moment he saw her smile, he knew. "It was a success?"
Suzune nodded, tears glistening in her eyes. "Yes."
Manabu smiled proudly and patted her head. "You did well, Suzune."
Suzune smiled brightly — a genuine, radiant smile.
Inside the office, Ayanokoji watched the live CCTV feed on his monitor. Her smile filled the screen.
He leaned back in his chair, silent for a long moment.
That smile… it's just like hers, he thought, eyes softening for the first time in years.
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