“...So, these are the friends Neika said she wanted to introduce? Thank you for always being good friends with her.”
Neika’s father bowed with elegant movements.
His voice was gentle, but his expression was stern, lacking any sense of harmony. So this was the head of the Jumonji family, a man who dealt with the whole world.
“...Nice to meet you. I... I am Kurashiki Ryuya. Thank you for always taking care of Neika-san.”
Ryuya introduced himself, followed by me and then Riran.
“My, my. What handsome boys and lovely girls. Neika is so lucky to have such classmates. Isn’t she, dear?”
Neika’s mother spoke in a relaxed tone. She seemed quite soft—or rather, she gave off a good impression. At least she didn't feel as stern as the father.
However, despite the mother speaking to him, the father ignored her and looked straight at Neika.
“So, what is it you wanted to discuss?”
Neika took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Having resolved herself, she looked her father straight in the eyes.
“I want to talk about the marriage.”
“That again? I have told you many times. As soon as you graduate from high school, you will marry the scion of a partner company. Everything is for—”
“I won’t marry that person.”
Neika stated clearly. Her own thoughts, her own feelings. Hearing this, the father’s eyebrow twitched in response.
The pressure in the room quietly rose, and the tension intensified.
“...What are you saying? This isn't what we discussed.”
“I said I won't do a political marriage.”
“If you marry, the bond between our company and the partner company will become even stronger. That will benefit society as a whole. You are smart enough to understand that, aren't you?”
“But I also have someone I am connected to by a red thread. I have my own life.”
Neika didn't back down an inch against her stern father. This wasn't going to be easy.
After a long silence of several seconds, the father spoke again.
“Neika. Do you believe that marrying your fated person is the only way to achieve absolute happiness?”
“...What do you mean?”
“Answer me.”
“...I do. That’s why the ‘Red Thread of Fate’ exists.”
“Then, do your mother and I not look happy to you?”
“...Eh...?”
Tch... I see, these two as well. The father put his arm around the mother’s shoulder. The mother seemed surprised, but she smiled happily and rested her head on his shoulder.
“We haven't told Neika until now, but your mother and I are not connected by a red thread. We were married through a political marriage—two people who were originally never meant to be together.”
“No way...!”
“But we are happy.”
Neika fell silent under the overwhelming pressure of his words.
“People who become happy are those who put in the effort to be happy. They are not bound by something like a red thread; they never neglect the effort to discern the essence of happiness. If you do that, you can be happy even without a red thread.”
Well... that might be true. There are people who can be happy even if they aren't connected by a red thread, just like them. Perhaps we are blindly believing in the ‘Red Thread of Fate’...
The mother stood up from the sofa and placed her hand on Neika’s shoulder.
“Neika-san. We want you to be happy. We don’t want you to experience poverty or suffering. That’s why—”
“Then, I will make her happy.”
Ryuya interrupted the mother, stood up unsteadily, and then sat in seiza on the floor.
“I apologize for the late introduction. I am Kurashiki Ryuya. ...I am the one connected to Neika-san by the red thread.”
“What...?”
“Oh my!”
Even those two were surprised, as their eyes widened. Naturally so. No one would expect that middle school friends were connected by the ‘Red Thread of Fate’.
...Ah, no, since even natural enemies like Riran and I were connected, maybe the possibility is actually high...?
“...Is that true? That you are connected to our Neika by a red thread?”
“Yes, it’s true.”
“...Hmm.”
The father directed a sharp gaze at Ryuya. Was that the gaze of a father or a businessman? I couldn't tell. Even so, I felt an unfathomable fear.
“I want Neika-san to be happy. I feel the same way. In that case, please let me take on that role.”
“Father, Mother. I’m asking as well. ...I want to be with this person.”
Neika sat in seiza next to Ryuya and bowed her head along with him. I see, the strategy of these two is super simple. Visit with the fated person and give a marriage greeting. That’s it. What an incredibly direct approach.
“...I understand your request well. With that in mind, let me ask. We, the Jumonji family, conduct our business for social contribution and the happiness of society as a whole. Is there any merit in you and Neika getting married?”
“That is...”
Ryuya hesitated. That’s expected. We’re still high schoolers. Just brats who don't know the first thing about society. We don't care about things like social contribution or social happiness. In that case, I guess it’s our turn.
I looked at Riran. Riran also looked at me and nodded.
Sorry, Riran—.
“Excuse me, can we say something as well?”