The secretary smiled awkwardly. "Yes..."
Mr. Shijo kissed his wife on the forehead. "I'll try to be back by twelve."
Compared to the old moneyed families whose legacies stretched back generations, the Shijo Family had a much more relaxed and harmonious household. Maki Shijo glanced at her father and muttered under her breath.
"You've said that how many times now?"
Mr. Shijo patted his daughter on the head and laughed. "That's why I said I'd try."
"What about Tei?"
Mrs. Shijo didn't even look up. "He went upstairs to his room a while ago. He's probably watching soccer again."
Mr. Shijo shook his head with a wry smile. "It can't be helped. A bet's a bet."
Rather than taking charge of the family's vast business empire, Shijo Tei's greatest passion in life was soccer. He had fought his family over it for a long time, but to no avail.
Eventually, Tei made a bet with his parents: if he came first in the national mock exams, they'd let him play as much soccer as he wanted throughout high school.
For several months, Tei studied like his life depended on it, pushing himself so hard he nearly threw up. In the end, he managed to edge out the current academic ace at Shuchiin, President Shirogane, and stand at the very top of the pyramid of millions of high school students, claiming first place in the national mock exams.
Maki had always envied her younger brother's ability to get so fired up about the things he loved.
After the meal, Maki went upstairs to the second floor and checked her phone. Miss Katori had sent her the latest news about Yukino.
The Yukinoshita Family's small matchmaking gathering was already being arranged. Apparently, everything was ready, and all that remained was for the