My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As Expected

Yukino pondered for a moment, "I understand, it must be that bricks got into your eyes, which is also very reasonable."

Maki Shijo: "..."

Is this Jeanne a scammer???

Compared to the Yukino from that night when they met in the corner of the terrace, with slightly red eyes and a low mood, looking somewhat pitiful, today's Yukino had probably returned to her usual impenetrable scum persona.

Every sarcastic word felt like a stab to her heart.

Why did it feel like Yukino's arrogance had lessened compared to before, but she seemed even more detestable now!

Yet, this detestable Yukino held up an umbrella, shielding her from all the scrutinizing and even judging gazes that came from all directions like swords.

Fate was truly a wondrous thing, bringing together these two who, in the past, should have been tearing each other's hair out upon meeting.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment, transforming the area into a small, quiet haven.

Maki Shijo sniffled.

Unlike the terrible and cold family relationship with the Eldest Miss from the Shinomiya Family, the Shijo Family's home environment was warm and loving.

Her father was dignified yet gentle, her mother was busy but always made time to pay attention to her children's growth, and she had a slightly silly but quite cute twin brother.

The Shijo Family had provided her with excellent living conditions and a nurturing environment, and more importantly, they had given her abundant, unconditional love. But precisely because of this, Maki Shijo was even stricter with herself, absolutely refusing to do anything that would bring shame to her family's name.

She and her good friend Nagisa Kashiwagi had been friends for many years. They had always looked out for each other, grown together, and learned from each other. They were the most important and best friends in the world, so she absolutely refused to do anything that would hurt Nagisa even a little.

Even so-called fair competition was a forbidden matter for Maki Shijo.

Bound by this self-imposed prison, Maki Shijo would likely, if nothing unexpected happened, forever be like this, occasionally peeking at the outside world through the cracks of her confinement.

Maki Shijo lowered her head, "I truly wish for Nagisa's happiness and well-being more than anyone else. I hope she can always happily be in love with Tanuma-kun."

Similarly, this person would also be more pained than anyone.

Yukino glanced at her, uncharacteristically not retorting with venom.

"Yukino, you've dated so many people, have you ever truly liked anyone?"

"No."

"But I've heard that the quicker the answer, the more likely it is to be a lie?"

"Then Maki, have you ever fallen into a cesspool?"

"Of course not!!!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Maki Shijo realized in embarrassment and anger, her no longer red eyes glaring at Yukino.

Perhaps slightly amused by Maki's joke, the cold and solemn expression on her face melted away like an ice lake in early spring.

The girl with black hair cascading down her shoulders now looked as beautiful as the goddess in myths who chased the moon.

She gently closed the umbrella in her hand.

"I'm leaving."

And so, time seemed to flow again in this small, sheltered harbor where the wind and clouds had stopped.

They seemed to transform from girls who met in a safe haven back into strangers passing each other by.

"Yukino!"

Yukino, who had put her umbrella away and was packing it, turned around and saw the petite girl looking defiant, yet she couldn't help but smile.

"Next time we meet, I absolutely won't be so embarrassed again!"

"I think you should get to know some other friends."

Before leaving, Yukino said to Maki with her back turned.

Maki Shijo rarely went out alone, and she had never cried embarrassingly in front of another girl her age, not once, let alone twice.

However, this feeling wasn't bad.

As a young lady of the Shijo Family, even though her parents didn't have very strict requirements for her, she would still strictly demand a lot from herself, so she never had this kind of leisure time.

Friends were relationships that required a lot of time and energy to maintain, and Maki didn't have that kind of time.

Besides Kashiwagi, she had no other friends.

Besides Takanuma, she had never liked anyone else.

So what did Yukino's words mean?

Did she actually want to be friends with her?

Maki almost choked on her own guess.

Get out, get out, get out! You're my biggest enemy!!!

Soon, a black sedan stopped next to the Music Fountain Plaza. The driver, wearing a dark gray suit vest, quickly got out of the car and opened the door for the Eldest Miss Shijo.

He solicitously placed his palm on the edge of the car door's roof, afraid that the young lady might bump into it even slightly. He wished he could bend down to the ground.

Maki Shijo frowned subtly, but she didn't say anything.

She planned to subtly mention it to the driver on their way back.

Of course, this couldn't be said to the Shijo family's butler, or this newly assigned driver would likely be fired immediately.

Japan is already a society with a very clear hierarchy. From seniors and juniors in companies and schools, to the strong and the weak, to the daughter of a zaibatsu and an ordinary driver, a huge chasm separates everyone in this country, dividing different people.

Many people working for the Shijo family all had a look of wanting to do everything perfectly.

Therefore, no matter how humble their posture, Maki Shijo was not surprised.

But she also knew very well that the reason she received such treatment was entirely because of the Shijo Family above her.

She didn't dislike people who flocked to her for profit, nor did she look down on these ordinary people who could bend their backs infinitely for survival.

It was just that she had lived abroad for a long time and was still not used to this kind of hierarchical suppression in Japan, that's all.

"I don't want to go home just yet, I want to wander around nearby."

The driver smiled broadly, "Of course, Eldest Miss, if you want to go back anytime, just call me. I'll be near you."

Maki Shijo did not refuse.

In fact, at a time when the atmosphere between the Shijo Family and the Shinomiya Family was gradually becoming tense, every time Maki Shijo went out, there were many pairs of eyes from Shijo Family bodyguards in places she couldn't see.

Maki Shijo would certainly not throw a tantrum like an Eldest Miss at this time. If something happened to her, that would be truly terrible.

Just then, a brightly colored sports car slowly drove over. The car window on the passenger side slowly rolled down, revealing a fashionable woman with pink hair in the driver's seat.

The woman rested one hand on the steering wheel and said smilingly, "Miss Shijo, why don't you just come sit here?"

The Shijo Family's basic strongholds in the country were the Shirakawa, Eguchi, and Takeda families, but at the same time, there were also many large and small families from all over flocking to the Shijo Family.

The Katori Family was one of them.

Maki Shijo did not get into the car.

She looked at the woman in the car, "Mirai Katori?"

Mirai Katori smiled slightly, "That's me!"

Maki Shijo was silent for a moment, "I told you last time, I'm just an insignificant member of the Shijo Family. The Shijo Family's capital flow and cooperation direction have nothing to do with me."

The Shijo Family had been cultivating in Europe and America for many years, not only having a huge influence in overseas markets but also being extremely wealthy.

None of the Japanese companies that had long been interested in the vast overseas market but lacked channels, nor the emerging industrial enterprises that needed financial support, did not yearn for the favor of the Shijo Family.

This Miss Katori had also attended the Shirakawa Family banquet last time. Shushi Shirakawa had also roughly introduced the Katori Family's situation to Maki Shijo.

The youngest daughter of the Katori Family, a woman who was ambitious and determined. If she were in another family, she might have been designated as the heir.

But she had an elder brother, and this elder brother was not weak, not a useless fop or mediocre person.

Therefore, Miss Katori's fate was sealed: besides adding a little boost to a family alliance and becoming a qualified wife of a wealthy family, there was nothing else.

But Miss Katori didn't want to accept her fate.

She smiled, "I don't have such great ambitions to cooperate with the renowned Shijo Family. I just want to get acquainted with you."

"Would you be willing to spend a few minutes listening to my entrepreneurial ideas? Don't worry, I'll leave immediately after I'm done and won't disturb you!"

Shijo glanced at her phone's time, "Go ahead."

She actually didn't want to listen.

Maki Shijo had seen plenty of these so-called entrepreneurs traveling the world to solicit investments.

The heir of the Katori Family had already been decided, and the Shijo Family would only cooperate with Ryosuke Katori.

Although the wealthy Shijo Family claimed to distance themselves from the decadent Shinomiya Family, they were ultimately capitalists without much conscience. For the Katori Family, one of their countless downstream partners, they didn't have many thoughts to spare.

However, given that her mood was quite good today, Maki Shijo was willing to waste a few minutes.

Miss Katori smiled slightly, "Miss Shijo, as a lady of the esteemed Shijo Family, you probably can't understand the helplessness of women in small families like ours..."

Maki Shijo's expression was cold.

On this street, ninety-nine percent of the people, excluding herself, combined didn't have as much money as Mirai Katori. If she felt helpless, how were ordinary people supposed to live?

Should they just jump off buildings?

"And my target customers are precisely these young ladies who have no freedom but too much money to spend."

Good heavens, others are cooking themselves in a pot, but you're cooking your companions in a pot.

"For example, Miss Oda, Second Miss of the Yukinoshita Family, and that lady from the Hirano Family. No matter how beautiful or outstanding they are, they will only be forced into arranged marriages in the future. No matter how rebellious they are, they can only dye their hair for a year or two. Therefore, such people need it more..."

"What did you say?"

Mirai Katori looked up and saw the Shijo Family lady, who had maintained a calm demeanor, walk over and place her hands on the car window.

This petite Miss Shijo, whose face still held the childish innocence of a girl, pressed her lips downward, forming a distinctly displeased curve.

"Who did you say was forced into an arranged marriage?"

[Next time we meet, I will definitely not be this embarrassed!]

While Maki Shijo's emphasis was on the first half of the sentence, the little genius Yukinoshita focused on the latter half.

She would definitely not be this embarrassed again?

What did that mean?

Does that mean she, Maki Shijo, will definitely make her, Yukinoshita, even more embarrassed next time?

She thought of the deep hatred between the two, and then thought of the inexplicable little actions she encountered back when Haruno Yukinoshita supervised the Yukinoshita Family Branch Company.

Emmmm...

And Maki Shijo just happened to be near the musical fountain the System pointed out.

So, could it be that the boss is Maki Shijo?

[System, is my deduction flawless?]

The System didn't give Yukinoshita any response at all.

Her phone rang.

"Yukinoshita, where are you? I'm at the long bench on the far right of the fountain square!"

Yukinoshita turned around and found her after a few glances. "Turn your head."

Kasumigaoka, carrying a cat backpack, turned around. She scanned the crowd for a moment, then focused on Yukinoshita and jogged over.

"Yukinoshita."

Yukinoshita quickly said, "Slow down, slow down."

What if she bumps into the cat!

Kasumigaoka chuckled lightly, took off the backpack behind her, and handed it to Yukinoshita. "The inside of the backpack is very, very soft, it won't hurt it."

Facing the stars so Close at Hand, Yukinoshita subconsciously took a step back.