Image: "Forgot to post the spicy pic, adding it now." Location: "Images/1755678703-100446961-113639047.jpg"
Author: Harem desu, please read with confidence. There may be quite a few female leads, but I won't just mindlessly add them all. Please see what happens next for the specifics.
Daily life will make up a larger portion of the story. The early parts will lean more toward slice-of-life, while non-slice-of-life content will come later, if there is any, and likely won't affect the main plot much. Again, please see what happens next for the specifics.
The Daily Life of Attracting Bees and Butterflies: What Does 55 Billion Yen Mean?
As everyone knew, white hair and red eyes had an extra-special appeal to Chinese people. In his previous life, he had once sworn that if he could have a head of white hair, he would even accept pinkeye.
The good news was that he really had it in this life, along with an additional boost to his looks.
The bad news was that his mother was like this due to a special physical condition.
Although people in this world had hair and eye colors as varied as picture-book characters, his mother was not like that, and it seemed he should not have been either.
However, perhaps because of the Strange Illness within him, he did not have his mother's limitations. For example, he could stay under strong ultraviolet light for long periods, and his eyes could suddenly face intense light without issue.
Then again, compared to the Strange Illness plaguing him, those problems were downright endearing.
After fixing his hair and getting dressed, he left the bathroom and returned to his room.
The sunlight outside was gradually slanting, pouring into the room through the bright glass windows.
Sakurakoji Talent left his room, went downstairs to the hall, and found Ashiri making snacks.
"Ashiri, are you ready? It's about time to leave."
"Brother? Is it time already?"
"Yeah, I think we should get going. It takes quite a while to get to the airport."
"Understood. Kuyachiyo has already packed my luggage, so we can leave at any time."
Ashiri looked toward the Personal Maid waiting attentively beside her and received an affirmative reply.
"Yes, Young Master. Miss Ashiri's luggage has been fully prepared since this morning."
Sakurakoji Talent nodded and looked toward the villa entrance. "Then let's go. Back to Japan."
Because of their parents' work, their family had moved to New York long ago. Now, it was about time to return.
He had a vague premonition that he might find the cause of his Strange Illness there. He did not know when he would finally break down and collapse. It would be nice if he could find even the slightest clue before that happened.
Ashiri had graduated as well and insisted on returning with him. There was really nothing he could do about her.
Tokyo, Haneda Airport, ten o'clock at night.
As he disembarked with the crowd and headed toward the exit, Sakurakoji Talent could not help stretching lazily.
"Ah, I'm exhausted. Long-haul flights really aren't meant for people."
Even in first class, a long journey through the air still left plenty of fatigue behind.
Come to think of it, that flight attendant had actually dared to hit on him. She had said something incomprehensible about fair prices, then handed him her business card and told him to contact her later.
Heh. Wishful thinking. He had to file a harsh complaint later!
Even if she had improper thoughts about him, shouldn't she have been the one paying him? How had she dared?
"After sitting for fourteen hours, even my glutes are a little sore. Would Brother like a massage too?"
Ashiri and Kuyachiyo, standing beside him, nodded in agreement.
"No, thank you."
He respectfully declined and glanced at his phone.
They had departed New York at six in the afternoon. It was now ten at night the following day in Tokyo, around eight in the morning in New York. It had indeed taken fourteen hours.
"Tokyo in January is still quite cold at night. Are Ashiri and Kuyachiyo cold?"
"It's fine. We put on coats before getting off the plane. What about you, Brother?"
"I'm fine too."
As they spoke, the group passed immigration, retrieved their luggage, and followed the signs toward the pickup area. From afar, they spotted a tall figure holding a pickup sign with the words "Sakurakoji" written on it.
"That's Miss Yashiro, right?"
"Yeah, that's her."
As they drew closer, they could see that the figure was a strong woman in a Maid Outfit. She stood at least 190 centimeters tall, and her immensely striking appearance drew frequent glances from the people around her.
The woman holding the sign seemed unaware of it all. When she saw them, her eyes lit up, and she waved the sign even more vigorously.
"Young Master! Young Miss! Over here!"
Their faces were full of smiles. They exchanged looks and headed toward her.
"Long time no see, Ichiyo."
"Long time no see, Miss Yashiro."
"Long time no see, Young Master, Young Miss! Seeing that you've both grown up so healthily moves me deeply, Yashiro Ichiyo!"
The newcomer was Yashiro Ichiyo, the head maid of the Sakurakoji Family's Tokyo residence. Having received notice in advance, she had come specifically to pick them up.
"We can catch up later. Let's head out first."
Talent gave the order, and naturally no one objected. Ichiyo took their luggage and strode ahead with her head held high, clearing the way for them.
They got into the extended Phantom waiting in the pickup area. Ichiyo, who also served as the driver, took the wheel and steadily drove the three of them toward the Sakurakoji Family residence.
The residence was located in Aoyama, Minato Ward. After the car exited through the central entrance, it quickly entered the expressway and sped along until they reached their destination not long afterward.
"Young Master, Young Miss, we've arrived."
"It's been a long time since we came back. It feels a little nostalgic. What about you, Brother?"
"Me too, I guess."
Looking at the quiet three-story Western-style residence before him, Sakura Mansion, Talent felt a touch of sentiment as well.
Because it was the Sakurakoji Family's residence, it was called Sakura Mansion. It had originally belonged to the main family, but when the main family was on the verge of bankruptcy due to poor management, his mother had bought it from them at above market price.
This was also where Ashiri and he had been born. They had spent almost all their childhood here.
"Oh, right, Young Master. Lord Iyo is here today as well."
After moving their luggage into the residence and after Ashiri returned to her room first, Ichiyo suddenly remembered something and added an explanation to Talent.
"Uncle Iyo is here? Now?" Talent was startled.
"Yes. He said he came to retrieve something he forgot. He should still be in the underground studio."
"Ah, ah, what a nephew-con."
Sakurakoji Talent's crimson eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a knowing smile.
He did not believe that nonsense about forgetting something. Even if it really were some important document, Uncle Iyo should have taken it and left. Why would he stay until this late, so close to midnight?
He had probably come specifically to see Ashiri and him, yet was too embarrassed to say so. What a tsundere!
He headed straight for the studio. As he neared the door, he could faintly hear a deep, magnetic male voice on the phone.
After waiting for a moment until the room fell silent, Talent suddenly pushed open the door.
"Long time no see, Uncle Iyo!"
The person in the room was startled. Once he saw who had entered, he returned to normal and replied in a calm voice.
"So it's Talent. Come to think of it, you were indeed returning today."
"Not yet, not yet~ You clearly came specifically to welcome us, yet you're still so dishonest, Uncle."
"Hmph. I, Okura Iyo, handle countless affairs every day. How could I have come here specifically over something so trivial? Didn't I tell Yashiro that I came because I forgot something?"
Talent extended one hand downward and waved it up and down, trying to expose the other man's lie. Okura Iyo remained composed and explained himself.
"Fine, fine. Let's just say that's how it was."
"What do you mean, let's just say—"
"Come to think of it, Uncle doesn't seem to be planning to attend the fashion show this year."
Talent brushed aside a loose lock of hair hanging before him, glanced toward the mannequins and fabric nearby, and casually interrupted his spellcasting.
"...I'm at that age now, after all. Trying to balance fashion trends with my duties as secretary of the Okura Family is becoming somewhat difficult."
"I see. I thought you had learned that Ashiri and I were returning to Japan, and had slowed down progress over there because you were busy preparing. Ah~ How self-important of me."
Looking at Okura Iyo, who wore silver-rimmed glasses and was still as handsome as ever without showing the slightest sign of age, Talent teased him.
"Heh heh heh, that really is your self-importance. Do I look like someone who would spoil his younger relatives so much?"
He looks exactly like that! Seeing his uncle turn his gaze away rather than look him in the eye, Talent complained inwardly.
"Still, the designs you drew this time are as outstanding as ever. Your father must be jealous to death."
"You've already seen them? I only finished drawing them a few hours before boarding."
"Of course. Your parents sent the photos to my phone the moment you left. As expected of my nephew. You're practically a concentration of talent itself. Naming you Talent was not in vain."
Okura Iyo looked at the outstanding younger member of his family with an expression of delight. His life creed was "talents above all else." If someone possessed talent that moved him, he would choose to forgive them even if they spoke rudely to him.
As for a younger relative whose talent surpassed even his own, and whose very name had been given by him, that stirred his heart more than even having his wealth doubled. It gave him a greater sense of achievement.
Sakurakoji Talent's expression turned subtle. To be honest, Talent was not exactly an astonishingly brilliant name.
But whenever he thought about how his mother had originally wanted to name him Bishamonten, he felt deeply grateful to the uncle before him. Even his younger sister Ashiri had nearly been named Athena by their mother, only to be stopped by him and their father.
"Still, you have a point. My talented nephew has finally returned to his homeland, so I can't offer nothing at all."
"The high-end apartment building Ten no Yashiro in Aoyama, which will be completed next month, will be my reunion gift to you."
After savoring his delight, Okura Iyo pondered for a moment before dropping a bombshell.
"Huh? An apartment building?"
"Yes. Although it is still somewhat insufficient to measure your talent by, you may treat it as your private studio in Tokyo."
"You're giving it to me alone?"
"As for Ashiri, I'll give her something else later."
"And its value is?"
"Not much. Its construction cost was 55 billion yen. It would sell for even more, so use it however you like."
"!!!"
55 billion yen! What kind of concept was that?
A sum enough to repay someone's debt three times over had just been handed to him by Okura Iyo as if it were an ordinary gift. As expected of a world-class wealthy family spanning politics, economics, and business—his generosity was truly extravagant!
A faint blush rose over Sakurakoji Talent's snowy-white face. In the end, he rushed forward and threw himself at his uncle, his emotions becoming a shout. "Uncle, I love you!"
"Hmph. Getting so excited over something so trivial only proves that you are still not mature enough."
Yeah, yeah. He could say whatever he wanted today.
Image: "Okura Iyo." Location: "Images/1755592654-100446961-113639052.jpg"
The Daily Life of Attracting Bees and Butterflies: Blue Hair and Golden Eyes on a Rainy Night, You Are...
A few days later,
Talent stood before the mirror. Looking at himself in a high-end black trench coat, a beige-brown scarf, and perfectly combed hair, he nodded. He should be fine going out like this.
He left his room and entered the mansion hall. Just as he was about to head outside, a voice called out to him.
"Ah, Young Master, are you going out now?"
Talent turned toward Ichiyo and gave an affirmative answer. "Yeah, I wanted to take a walk today."
"Then I'll go get the car at once. Please wait a moment!"
"No need. I want to look around by myself."
"But..."
Ichiyo's expression was hesitant. Her Young Master was perfect in every way, except that his health was somewhat poor. This was no secret to the old staff members like them.
Before you continue