One of the cups was handed to Hanada Yui.
Hanada Yui thanked him politely, took a sip of the black tea, and unconsciously glanced toward Mrs. Yukinoshita from time to time.
To be honest, she did not have much confidence in this plan.
Ten minutes passed quietly.
Mrs. Yukinoshita finally put down the document in her hand and raised her eyes to look at Hanada Yui.
"Although you've made some progress, you're still a little behind. Compared to what Akira Fujimiya proposed, this plan lacks appeal."
"I'll continue to work hard," Hanada Yui said quickly, standing up and bowing almost reflexively.
"That's fine. You can go take a look around with my secretary first. I still have some matters to discuss with Akira Fujimiya, so you don't need to stay." Mrs. Yukinoshita's gaze shifted naturally to the young man seated opposite her.
"Choose a room with a private hot spring pool," Akira said calmly as he set down his teacup.
Hanada Yui nodded and left the room together with Mrs. Yukinoshita's secretary.
After the door closed, silence settled in the room.
Mrs. Yukinoshita looked at Akira.
Akira picked up his cup of black tea, took a slow sip, and showed no intention of speaking first.
"Nakiri Senzaemon contacted me," Mrs. Yukinoshita said at last. "He said that if you're willing to help the Nakiri family, they're prepared to offer you additional shares in the Totsuki Resort and appoint you as vice chairman of Totsuki Academy."
"I can even decide who becomes the principal," Akira replied casually, reaching for a piece of dessert and taking a bite.
Mrs. Yukinoshita's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You could separate the Nakiri family from Totsuki Academy. If you want, I can help you take full control of the academy."
"I've considered it," Akira said slowly. "But I don't need to control all of Totsuki Academy, nor do I intend to push the Nakiri family aside."
"Because of Erina Nakiri?" Mrs. Yukinoshita frowned faintly.
"Because there's no need," Akira replied evenly. "I can reduce the side effects of the Divine Tongue. That alone is enough to control Erina Nakiri's choices. If I want access to Totsuki Academy's chef resources, she'll give them willingly. There's no reason for me to take unnecessary risks."
As he spoke, Akira lifted his gaze and met Mrs. Yukinoshita's eyes directly.
Mrs. Yukinoshita froze for several seconds.
Then, a hint of expectation surfaced in her eyes.
"You....do you also know about medicine?" she asked carefully.
"I don't," Akira shook his head lightly. "But as long as the person isn't dead, I can help—at least a little."
Mrs. Yukinoshita's gaze flickered.
Akira understood very well what she was thinking.
Time passed quietly.
After a long pause, Mrs. Yukinoshita seemed to have made a decision.
However, Akira spoke first.
"When she finishes her work, I might return to Tokyo and visit her."
"…Alright," Mrs. Yukinoshita agreed after a moment.
"And about the food competition?" Akira shifted the topic smoothly back to business.
"I've already made arrangements," Mrs. Yukinoshita replied. "There will be many disciples of master chefs participating. Special-grade chefs will not be allowed to compete. As for the remaining rules, you can decide them yourself. Program production will be handled by you, while the rest will be taken care of by the Yukinoshita family."
{T/N: Novice chef < Junior Chef < Special-grade chef < Master < Grandmaster Chef
All the other you might have already guessed it but —
Special-grade chef are chef with having special talent and potential to become Grandmaster but lacking in experience, they are mostly weaker than Master chef, some unique individual are exception}
"That works," Akira nodded. "I wasn't planning to take responsibility personally anyway. We can let Haruno handle it. After all, I've already taken over quite a few assets connected to the Yukinoshita family."
He looked directly at Mrs. Yukinoshita as he spoke.
"If I were you," Mrs. Yukinoshita said calmly, "I would have seized all of the Yukinoshita family's assets instead of leaving them to Haruno and Yukino. I told Haruno about you—She thinks you're an unambitious person who longs for a leisurely life."
"That young lady likes freedom," Akira replied. "And I like a world without unnecessary constraints. In that sense, we're quite similar."
"I think," Mrs. Yukinoshita said slowly, "if it were you, she would most likely fall in love with you from the bottom of her heart. But…"
"But she doesn't have much time left?" Akira asked quietly.
"…Yes. She'll...die at twenty-five."
"What if a miracle happens?" Akira asked.
Mrs. Yukinoshita was stunned.
...
Mrs. Yukinoshita left shortly afterward.
Her secretary stayed behind to discuss the food competition with Yukinoshita Haruno when she return.
Akira, meanwhile, was responsible for program production, which required a professional filming crew.
Hanada Yui had already made preparations in advance.
In the hotel room, Akira walked into the private hot spring pool.
The pool wasn't very large, but it was more than enough for two people.
The weather outside was still cool.
Soaking in a hot spring at a time like this was genuinely relaxing.
Akira leaned against the edge of the pool and closed his eyes.
"Akira-sama… c-can I come in?" Hanada Yui's voice sounded hesitantly from outside.
"Go ahead," Akira replied, opening his eyes and glancing toward the entrance.
Hanada Yui walked in wearing a swimsuit.
Akira watched her step into the hot spring and couldn't help but sigh.
"Miss Hanada, I thought you'd show up like the heroines in anime—wrapped in a bath towel."
"I—I'll go change…" Hanada Yui said quickly, her face flushing red.
"No need. The swimsuit is fine," Akira waved his hand dismissively.
Hanada Yui blushed and lowered her head slightly.
Akira glanced at her swimsuit. It was a rather conservative and ordinary style.
Hanada Yui's figure was comparable to Kawasaki Saki, the kind that Yukino would undoubtedly envy.
"By the way," Akira said casually, "I don't think I've ever asked—have you had any romantic experience before, Miss Hanada?"
"I've always focused on work," Hanada Yui answered softly. "I used to worked part-time all through high school, and I didn't have time for relationships."
"No suitors at all?"
"There were some, but I turned them down. I thought high school was for working hard, and college was for facing reality. That made dating even more unrealistic."
"What about now?" Akira smiled faintly. "You have a stable job. Your parents must be expecting you to bring a boyfriend home someday."
"I…" Hanada Yui raised her head and looked at Akira.
Their eyes met.
Akira turned his gaze toward the steam rising from the pool.
After hesitating for a moment, Hanada Yui moved closer and leaned gently into Akira's arms.
"Miss Hanada," Akira said quietly, "I have a fiancée and several girlfriends. I'm not a good man."
He did not hold her immediately.
"Akira-sama," Hanada Yui whispered, "I just want to stay by your side and help manage the company."
"I should reject you," Akira said, even as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Akira-sama…" Hanada Yui's face lit up with happiness.
"If you become mine," Akira said softly, "you won't be able to leave."
"I don't want to leave," Hanada Yui replied without hesitation.
After speaking, she leaned forward and kissed him.
The kiss lingered for a long time.
.....
At lunchtime, Akira and Hanada Yui sat together at a low table.
The hotel's cuisine was excellent.
Hanada Yui's face remained faintly flushed. She kept her head lowered, not daring to meet Akira's gaze.
Akira ate quietly, savoring each dish.
After lunch, he suggested going to Tokyo Tower.
Hanada Yui naturally agreed.
They changed clothes, and Hanada Yui drove them there.
Standing beneath Tokyo Tower, its overwhelming height was impossible to ignore.
From the observation deck, the scenery was entirely different.
Hanada Yui had never been there before.
"I never had the time," she said softly. "And now, I still don't."
Akira took photos for her and asked the staff to take a picture of the two of them together.
They didn't stay long.
Because Akira had another destination in mind.
.....
Akihabara.
Before arriving, Akira specifically asked Hanada Yui to change into casual clothes.
Business attire didn't suit Akihabara.
He led her through countless shops.
Some of the game covers alone made Hanada Yui blush.
Akira bought them without hesitation.
They visited several figure specialty stores.
Hanada Yui recognized many of the characters immediately.
Future Comics Publishing House had cooperated with many of these stores.
After walking around for quite some time, Akira had acquired a considerable haul.
"Akira-sama," Hanada Yui whispered, "many of these figures can be customized directly through Future Comics Publishing House. I have several display cabinets in my office filled with our characters."
"I'm not really a collector," Akira said. "I bought them because I liked them. Akihabara feels like a treasure hunt—every corner has something interesting."
Among the games he purchased were several nostalgic titles—true treasures.
"I don't really understand," Hanada Yui said softly, "but you seem very happy."
"In the future," Akira said with a smile, "I want to create an original anime—where anime characters enter reality and battle in a place like Akihabara. All the characters would come from my own works. It would be a surprise for the audience."
"Anime characters entering reality?" Hanada Yui was slightly stunned.
"Someone must have thought of it before," Akira said, "but copyright is always the problem. I own Future Comics Publishing House and Flash Animation. Copyright won't be an issue."
"Copyright really is important," Hanada Yui nodded in understanding.
"You might get bored if I keep talking about animation," Akira said, extending his hand. "How about we go on a date instead?"
Hanada Yui gently placed her hand in his.
...
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Word Count — 1,655