Fugane's rambling left Fugaku completely baffled.
"How is this not a date? What else could it be? Don't tell me you don't have even the slightest feelings for Haruga." Fugane pointed at the photos on the table.
"Father, this really isn't a date. It's a battle."
"A battle?"
"Exactly." Fugaku nodded firmly. Remembering their outing, his face flushed red, as if he'd returned to that battlefield.
He recounted everything that had happened between him and Haruga on the street.
"Father, I never imagined there could be such a marvelous battle in this world."
Fugane listened, dumbfounded, recalling everything he'd taught Fugaku when he was young.
He really... hadn't taught him anything about this. In Fugaku's mind, the only thing he could relate it to was a battle.
"My boy, this isn't a battle. This is... love."
"No, Father. It is a battle!"
"Fine, fine. Then remember this from now on: this special kind of battle is called love. Understand?"
"Love...?" Fugaku looked enlightened.
Meanwhile, while Fugaku was trying to understand what love was,
Qingguang had already arrived at Shifang's house.
"Uncle Shifang, I think I'm about to become clan head."
Shifang had been drinking tea. His hand shook, and tea spilled onto the pastries on the coffee table.
"What did you say?"
"You're not joking with me, are you?"
Qingguang recounted what had just happened at Fugane's house, and Shifang's expression was priceless.
"You mean Fugane's worried that Fugaku and Haruga will end up together, so he asked you to become the next clan head?"
Qingguang nodded. "That's what it seems like."
"Then what were all my efforts these past few months for?" Shifang burst out, slamming the table as he sprang to his feet.
Ever since Qingguang returned to the clan, Shifang had been working to make him the