Chapter 11 — The News That Changed Everything
Suzune and Manabu stood in front of the elevator, waiting for it to come down.
Manabu leaned back against the wall, finally relaxing after a long, tense day.
"It was hard," he said with a tired sigh. "But anyway, let's go home and tell our parents the good news."
Suzune nodded softly. "True… it really was hard. He was just looking at me with that same emotionless face the whole time."
Manabu raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yes," Suzune said, glancing down with a small smile. "I thought I had failed. He didn't ask a single question, didn't even react to my presentation. But then, out of nowhere… he signed the deal. Just like that."
Manabu chuckled. "That's Ayanokoji for you. You never know what he's thinking."
The elevator doors opened, and the two stepped in. Soon, they were in their car, heading home.
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After thirty minutes, the car stopped in front of their house. The moment they stepped inside, their parents were already waiting in the living room, anxious and tense.
Suzune smiled and said softly, "It's done. Mr. Ayanokoji signed the deal."
For a second, silence filled the room — and then her mother rushed forward, hugging her tightly.
"I'm so proud of you, Suzune!" she said with tears in her eyes.
Her father smiled warmly, his voice trembling. "I'm sorry for doubting you, daughter. You saved us… you saved the company."
Manabu placed his hand on Suzune's shoulder, grinning. "We should celebrate tonight. This is a big win for us."
Suzune nodded, finally allowing herself to relax. "Yes. Let's celebrate."
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That night, the Horikita family gathered around the dining table — for once, not to discuss problems or debts, but to laugh, eat, and talk freely.
Suzune's mother kept smiling at her daughter with pride, while her father raised a toast. "To Suzune — the one who didn't give up."
Suzune blushed, lowering her gaze. "It was nothing… I just wanted to help our family."
Manabu smiled. "You did more than that, little sister."
As laughter filled the house, the weight of months of stress finally faded away.
But outside, under the quiet night sky, in a tall tower overlooking the city — Ayanokoji Kiyotaka sat by his office window, a faint smirk on his face.
He whispered to himself, "Horikita Suzune… just like her."
And with that, he closed his eyes — the first move of something far greater had already begun.
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