A Bet

"Little Kazuha,"

"What on earth happened to make you drag us all the way out here?"

Inside the piano practice room belonging to the young lady Nagisa Kazuha, four girls sat in a circle, and Amame Ei finally found the opportunity to ask.

Although she loved being with 'Little Kazuha,' she also understood that she shouldn't be stepping foot into this mansion: because the master of this house did not welcome her—or to be precise, completely ignored her existence.

Facing this question, Nagisa Kazuha hesitated slightly before giving a direct answer.

"Not long ago, a terrorist attack occurred in Machiya Town, Arakawa Ward."

?!

"A terrorist... attack?"

"Arakawa Ward?"

Hearing such explosive news, everyone's first reaction was disbelief.

However, once they recalled the scene of numerous luxury cars and even helicopters picking up students at the gates of Imperial Sakura School earlier, they all began to catch on.

"So that's how it is,"

"Wasn't it said that it was just an earthquake?"

Class representative Nao was lost in thought, while Amame Ei still found it hard to comprehend.

Setting aside the fact that something like a terrorist attack felt as distant as clouds in the sky to the 'Reiwa generation,' the government had already issued an official notice stating that an earthquake had occurred in Machiya Town, Arakawa Ward.

"Of course, that's to prevent mass panic,"

Regarding this question, Akihi Yu, who was sitting nearby, took over the conversation.

"Do you really expect government officials to come out, bow, and say: 'A terrorist attack occurred in Arakawa Ward, and we failed in our oversight. Sumimasen, ka-ka-ka-ka~~'?"

Of course, as the mastermind behind the scenes, Akihi Yu knew very well that it was neither an earthquake nor a terrorist attack.

It was a supernatural event directed entirely by his own hand!

"I see,"

Amame Ei nodded.

Regardless of the government's motives for covering up the truth, it wasn't something she, an orphan from the lower classes, could criticize.

If not for Nagisa Kazuha speaking up, they would all still be kept in the dark.

"Thanks, Little Kazuha."

Wrapping her arms around the young lady, the lively Amame Ei took the opportunity to nuzzle against her cheek.

"But I still have to go look after the shrine my grandfather left behind..."

"No!"

The young lady, whose face had turned crimson from Amame Ei's nuzzling, refused on the spot without a moment's hesitation.

"It's very dangerous outside right now; I can't let you be alone."

"Yesterday, my father specifically instructed me to have the driver pick me up immediately after school; I was a bit annoyed at the time, but now it seems..."

Did Father already receive word of the situation back then?

After all, the terrorist attack happened today.

Thinking of this, Nagisa Kazuha placed her hands on Amame Ei's shoulders.

"Stay here, Ei."

"Just do it for my sake. I don't want to see you get hurt."

This estate didn't just look 'ancient'; it also possessed a fully stocked, exceptionally sturdy basement capable of withstanding aerial bombardment: eighty years ago, bombers from America had personally verified its quality!

"But, I..."

Watching the two beautiful girls clinging to each other, Akihi Yu's sister Akiyu Sora and class representative Nao both wore gossipy expressions, prompting Akihi Yu to walk toward the exit.

"I'm going to walk around outside. You girls chat."

"Hmm, it's definitely more comfortable outside."

Walking through the garden filled with various flowers, Akihi Yu stretched his back.

While the four beautiful girls were certainly easy on the eyes, their gathering would inevitably turn to topics for girls: as a man, wouldn't Akihi Yu be a mood-killer just standing there?

Besides, with Akihi Yu's sensory perception, he knew there was someone else in this estate who was feeling restless.

"Madam Nagisa,"

Hearing the voice behind her, the lady standing dazed in the garden snapped back to reality.

"My apologies, I was lost in thought for a moment... You are Akihi Yu?"

"Yes. Is Madam enjoying the flowers?"

Akihi Yu was not surprised that she knew his name.

After all, she was the wife of a major tycoon; it would be truly bizarre if she lacked even this level of intelligence-gathering capability.

"No, I was just moved by the scenery."

"Life is like these flowers—in the blink of an eye, they wither, fall, and vanish without a trace."

Akihi Yu found it impossible to relate to Madam Nagisa's "sentimental melancholy."

He was busy secretly spreading his abilities, grinding skill proficiency, and playing a game of wits against the government by juggling multiple personas to fabricate a scene of "spiritual energy resurgence." Where would he find the time to shed tears over falling flowers?

"My apologies."

"Women of my age are just like this; I've let you see something embarrassing."

Noticing Akihi Yu's expression, the dignified Madam Nagisa took the initiative to change the subject.

"Yu-kun, are you and Amame Ei in the same school?"

"Yes, same grade."

After Akihi Yu answered, Madam Nagisa spoke again, her tone gentle.

"Have you considered your future career intentions?"

Hm?

Why the sudden question about work?

The topic jumped so quickly that Akihi Yu was momentarily stunned.

"I haven't considered it yet, but—there's no need to consider it anyway."

With two years left until graduation, Akihi Yu was confident that in two years, he would be considering how to traverse the cosmos with his physical body alone.

Working was absolutely out of the question, and no one would dare hire him; surely he couldn't just open an "Ichiraku Ramen" and watch the winds and clouds rise from the sidelines, could he?

"It seems you already have a detailed plan for your future, Yu-kun."

Madam Nagisa's gaze swept across Akihi Yu's face, catching a sense of composure that stemmed from a feeling of total control: it was something she had only ever seen on the faces of certain high-ranking figures.

Was it confidence, or arrogance?

Originally, she had intended to suggest that Akihi Yu come work for one of her family's companies.

Since he was so confident, it might be good to let him experience the storms of society first, but before that:

"Yu-kun, what do you think of Amame Ei?"

?

The sudden shift from work to "romance" left Akihi Yu struggling to keep up with her train of thought.

"Amame-san seems happy-go-lucky and thick-skinned on the surface, but she actually cares a lot about other people's feelings. She's a kind girl with a delicate heart."

After a moment of thought, Akihi Yu gave a vague answer.

"Then,"

"Do you have any intention of dating Amame-san, Yu-kun?"

"...Madam Nagisa, please forgive me."

"I thought you were going to say something like 'stay away from Nagisa-san'."

Akihi Yu had expected a plotline involving "Here is X amount of money, stay away from my daughter"; who would have thought this lady wouldn't play by the rules, acting as a matchmaker within just a few sentences? No, perhaps "deity of marriage" would be more accurate.

"Do I look like that kind of person to you?"

Rolling her eyes at Akihi Yu, Madam Nagisa sighed helplessly.

"Actually, Amame Ei and Nagisa Kazuha are sisters."

"Don't misunderstand; Amame Ei is not my daughter, but the daughter of my husband's mistress."

??

Hearing this news so abruptly, and from the mouth of Nagisa Kazuha's own mother, Akihi Yu couldn't help but raise a hand to rub his temples.

"Madam Nagisa, your circle is truly..."

"Ahem, and what does this have to do with me?"

"It has nothing to do with you, but as a mother, I wish to see my daughter happy."

"Kazuha is very fond of Amame Ei; she truly views her as a blood sister, so—"

The conversation came full circle, and Madam Nagisa asked Akihi Yu again, her expression serious.

"Do you have any intention of dating Amame-san, Yu-kun?"

"With marriage as the prerequisite."

What is all this?

Although Akihi Yu and Amame Ei were friends, both in the past and the present, being suddenly pressured into marriage by the other party's "parent" left him feeling both amused and exasperated.

"Madam, isn't it a bit too early to be talking about this?"

"Furthermore, if I may be blunt, what Amame Ei truly desires is familial affection."

The relationship between Amame Ei and Nagisa Kazuha was undoubtedly that of true sisters; moreover, Akihi Yu was not blind—he could clearly see the mix of fear and longing in the way Amame Ei looked at Madam Nagisa.

"I apologize, Yu-kun."

"I know what little Ei wants, but I am not the one who calls the shots in this household."

Madam Nagisa spoke apologetically. As a traditional zaibatsu family, the master of this estate was the man who had yet to make an appearance: Nagisa Kazuha's father.

"Understood."

So that was it; it wasn't a wicked stepmother script, but rather one featuring a cold-hearted scumbag.

"Madam Nagisa, shall we make a wager?"

Having seized the initiative in the conversation, Madam Nagisa first frowned, but then her curiosity was piqued.

"Please, go on."

"It won't be long before the man of your house comes begging for Amame Ei to come here."

"If I win, I ask that you take care of Amame Ei in the capacity of a 'mother'; if I lose, I will agree to any condition you set."

?!

Impossible.

Madam Nagisa's first reaction was that it was absurd.

She was a descendant of a prestigious family herself, backed by a zaibatsu; even if she agreed, the others in the two families would never allow an 'illegitimate daughter' to enter their home.

Moreover, Madam Nagisa knew her husband's character better than anyone.

He hadn't even gone to see the woman who gave birth to little Ei for the last time.

To describe him as heartless and ungrateful would not be an exaggeration.

If not for the fact that he doted on Kazuha, their marriage would have been dead in all but name long ago.

"Of course, this is a secret between us."

Akihi Yu added, "I ask that you keep this confidential, Madam."

Akihi Yu dared to say this not because he trusted the lady upon their first meeting, but because of:

Cursed Seal: Tongue-Slayer Root.

This technique was not difficult to perform; the challenge lay in how to imprint it onto someone else.

How could a normal ninja just sit by and let someone else cast a cursed seal on them?

But Madam Nagisa was just an ordinary person, and the function of this seal was simple: should she attempt to speak or write down any information regarding Akihi Yu, she would be instantly controlled by the seal!

"While I don't know where you get your confidence from, but—"

After carefully looking the spirited young man up and down, Madam Nagisa nodded.

"If my husband can accept little Ei, I will naturally treat her as my own daughter, even if only for Kazuha's sake."

"It's a deal."

Facing the right hand Akihi Yu extended, Madam Nagisa smiled faintly and reached out her own.

"Naturally."

The pitch-black cursed seal slithered silently from Akihi Yu's fingers, traveling up the Madam's arm.

Tongue-Slayer Root Technique, imprint!