Shizuka Hiratsuka did not really understand Sogo Doma's way of thinking. After all, to uninformed outsiders, there was little to criticize about Taihei aside from the fact that he did not rely on his family—a point worth mocking in itself. He could not exactly be called perfect, but even "excellent" was not enough to describe him. Unfortunately...
Taihei had not truly become the Doma Family's heir—Keiryu Doma had never publicly declared that Taihei was his successor, nor had he taken him around to build connections. He had merely allowed him to attend a few social banquets, and not only Taihei—Sogo Doma and Umaru could attend such events too.
That gave outsiders a signal: the Doma Family had no heir in the true sense of the word...
Still, that was only normal. Unlike the Yukinoshita Family, where Yukinoshita Haruno had already taken over many connections while still in college—one reason she was called a social butterfly—the Yukinoshita Family was sending a message to the outside world: Look carefully. This is our heir. Please look after her...
The Doma Family was different. Even now, the brothers Taihei Doma and Sogo Doma were still fighting alone. Keiryu Doma had never clearly stated which of the two would inherit the Doma Family—
Even after Sogo Doma ran away from home, Keiryu Doma had never formally announced that Taihei Doma would become the next leader of the Doma Conglomerate, nor had he taken him around to build connections...
That was quite thought-provoking.
Some conspiracy theorists even suspected that Keiryu Doma had an illegitimate son outside the family. The reason he had not taken Taihei or Sogo to build connections was simply so that his illegitimate son could take the position.
Keiryu Doma, alleged holder of an illegitimate son: "..."
He was still young, damn it—young!