The moment they entered, everyone bowed and offered their thanks...
Katsuta Takenori stood nearby, thanking Tetsuhiro.
"Sir, thank you... If it hadn't been for you... Please allow me to thank you once again on behalf of the more than two hundred members of the Katsuta Family."
"Enough with the pointless formalities. Get up, all of you. I'm only here to celebrate Naoko's birthday today, so there's no need to be so nervous."
"Not at all. It's our honor that you could join us. We'll follow your lead, sir."
"You must be tired of waiting. Let's talk inside."
"Yes, yes. How thoughtful of you."
Tetsuhiro brushed it off and called behind him, "Naoko, come here. Our little birthday girl should be in the middle."
"Huh? Thank you, big brother." Naoko paused, then happily ran over from the back.
As soon as she arrived, Tetsuhiro reached out with his large hand and took hers. Naoko immediately blushed.
Soon, she was holding her head high and puffing out her chest like a proud little peacock.
Behind Tetsuhiro, Kyoko and the others watched enviously, thinking, I want this for my birthday too.
Beside them, Katsuta Takenori and his wife smiled so broadly that their wrinkled faces resembled chrysanthemums.
Along the way, Naoko enthusiastically introduced the decorations, paintings, and sculptures around them.
When everyone reached the reception hall, all sorts of delicacies had already been arranged on either side. More than a dozen attendants stood with white towels draped over their left arms and empty plates in their right hands.
They stood in perfect formation, ready to serve at any moment.
Katsuta Takenori stepped into the center.
"Honored guests..."
After another round of thanks and praise, Naoko followed the program and stepped onto the center of the stage. An attendant wheeled over a cart bearing