"Laplace Corporation was established this spring. It has been six months since its founding."
In the hushed, refined atmosphere of the private tea room, Yukima Azuma's voice was calm, composed, and steady.
"In that time, the total revenue generated is as follows…"
He recited the figure in crisp, neutral tones. No arrogance. No sales pitch. Just facts.
"The current stock valuation and cash liquidity held by the company is also approximately this amount…"
As he spoke, he methodically summarized the entire financial landscape of Laplace Corporation—just enough to be transparent, but without revealing the core of the company's most powerful cards.
Because while much of Laplace Corporation's income and assets were public record, the true heart of the company remained in its unrealized assets:
Intellectual property from unreleased tech ventures.
Original works in development.
Patents for algorithms and artificial neural synthesis rights.
Early investments in undervalued digital platforms.
On paper, many of these were modest.
But in reality, they were ticking time bombs—ready to detonate in valuation once released.
And even without including those dormant giants, the company's active balance sheet was already far beyond what most would expect from a company less than a year old.
When Yukima Azuma finished speaking—
There was silence.
And then—
Hinatsuru Takashi's jaw dropped.
Despite being mostly a background figure during this meeting, Ai's father was no lightweight.
An alumnus of the University of Tokyo with both an undergraduate and master's in economics and business administration, he had once been considered a rising star in Japan's business scene.
He had appeared in alumni magazines.
Guest lectured at corporate retreats.
Been sought after by political foundations and corporate conglomerates alike.
That reputation had played a key part in how he had been allowed to marry into the Hinatsuru household—as a son-in-law.
And yet now—
Hearing the numbers that spilled from this teenage boy's mouth—
He felt like a frog staring up from the bottom of a well.
What sort of monster was sitting across from him?
A boy with such calm control over a corporate empire, and with a portfolio that would leave many CEOs blushing?
If this was the caliber of the man Ai had chosen to follow—
Then even the Hinatsuru name wasn't weighty enough to make demands.
Rather—
If things went on like this—
It might be Hinatsuru Ai who would eventually marry into the Yukima family.
Not the other way around.
Even the cold and composed Hinatsuru Akina, seated in regal silence throughout most of the discussion, revealed the faintest flicker of surprise.
It wasn't much.
Just a subtle widening of her eyes.
But to those who knew her, it was like watching Mount Fuji tremble.
Then, a sharp glint flickered in her gaze.
She finally spoke again—voice smooth as ever, but now with a new undercurrent.
"Yukima-sensei," she said slowly, "your sincerity is evident. And your strength as well. Even I must admit—Ai is being given more consideration than she deserves."
Her words might have sounded severe, but behind them was a rare note of respect.
"If that's the case… then we have no objections to Ai studying under you. However…"
She leaned forward slightly, folding her hands on the table.
"There are conditions."
Ai held her breath.
Her fingers curled tightly against the cushion under the table, her heart pounding like a drum.
And then—
"Condition one: If Ai does not obtain the Queen title before she comes of age, she must give up the path of shogi."
A solid line drawn in the sand.
"And condition two: If you truly intend to take Ai as your disciple, and also as your lifelong companion—then you must marry her."
"…!"
"Moreover," Akina added, tone unwavering, "at least one child must carry the Hinatsuru name."
A long silence followed.
Then—
Yukima Azuma nodded.
"I accept."
He did not hesitate.
To him, the conditions were fair.
If Hinatsuru Ai were to walk away from her inheritance, someone had to preserve the lineage.
Since Yukima could not be expected to become a live-in son-in-law, then raising a Hinatsuru child was the logical middle ground.
Taking away a Hinatsuru—meant returning a Hinatsuru.
It was a classic arrangement.
Practical. Calculated. Equitable.
Meanwhile, beside him—
Hinatsuru Ai had gone into full-body blush mode.
Her ahoge stood straight up, trembling with intensity.
She looked like a kettle on the verge of whistling.
And when Yukima patted her head again—
Her entire body practically lit up.
"Shishou… you're amazing!" she whispered with teary admiration.
The light in her blue eyes now gleamed faintly purple—a sign she was holding back overwhelming emotion.
Her small frame trembled with energy, legs fidgeting under the table like she was trying not to launch herself at him.
Yukima, mildly exasperated, gently scolded her.
"You'd better be talking about working hard at shogi."
"Hehe! Of course!"
Ai smiled sheepishly.
But everyone in the room knew—
Had she not been in the presence of her mother, she'd have probably tackled Yukima in a tackle-hug of pure, unfiltered joy.
And yet—
Yukima knew.
He knew Ai was still under immense pressure.
Her outward joy didn't erase the burden of her path.
But her eyes were resolute.
He could see it in the way she clutched her shogi piece-shaped hairpin.
She had made up her mind.
She would become the Queen.
She would succeed.
For her own future—and for the man who had stood up and made a vow for her sake.
With the heavy talk behind them, the atmosphere began to ease.
The conversation drifted to lighter topics. Tea was poured. Wagashi served.
And Yukima Azuma continued to hold his own—not just with confidence, but with wit and worldliness far beyond his age.
He discussed traditional industries, regional tourism trends, the economic importance of the ryokan business—and even dropped an observation about stock movements tied to local luxury hospitality during peak sakura seasons.
Akina's smile grew ever so slightly.
What had begun as a mission to disapprove—
Had turned into admiration.
Eventually, as the sun began to lower—
Akina finally asked:
"Yukima-sensei, when would you consider holding Ai's official disciple ceremony?"
She asked gently now, no longer as the matriarch of a powerful household—
But as a mother.
Yukima answered calmly.
"Let's do it in September. After the Ryuou Tournament concludes. I'll win the title—and it will give Ai a stronger foundation."
Akina didn't show her delight, but her nod was slow and approving.
She had considered the same thing.
To be apprenticed under a regular shogi player and under the Ryuou?
The difference was night and day.
And Yukima had brought it up himself.
That was enough.
By now, the teacups were empty.
The room was filled with a soft calm.
Akina knew Yukima wouldn't linger longer than necessary.
She didn't invite him to stay for dinner, nor did she ask him to visit the Hinatsuru estate.
She had gotten her answer.
But—
As she stood, her gaze drifted toward Ai.
And seeing how her daughter clung to Yukima's sleeve like a particularly determined koala—
She exhaled, then said:
"Now that I think about it, Ai is on summer break."
"She's asked us before about staying at your home to study shogi intensively—but of course, we declined. At the time, we didn't know you."
"But now that we've met… the only question is—would you be willing to host her?"
Yukima blinked.
That had come faster than expected.
He glanced at Ai—
Who was already sparkling like she'd won the lottery.
She tugged lightly at his sleeve, giving him the biggest puppy eyes imaginable.
There might as well have been an onscreen subtitle above her head saying:
"Please, please, please let me stay with you, Shishou!!"
Yukima sighed inwardly.
So much for composure.
Even Hinatsuru Akina's unreadable gaze now held a flicker of maternal amusement.
"…Very well," Yukima said. "She can stay. I have a spare room."
"Then I'll send her belongings today," Akina said smoothly.
From her sleeve, she produced a sleek black bank card and placed it on the table.
"This is her disciple fee. And her daily living expenses. Please accept it."
Yukima nodded and took it without hesitation.
He did not ask the amount.
But he noticed something.
Her words.
The phrasing.
"This is the disciple fee…"
But this card hadn't been prepared as a disciple fee.
No—this card had another purpose.
He glanced at Akina.
She gave him a smile. A small, amused one.
"There's five million yen in that card," she said lightly. "To be used in case you were someone I wanted to stay away from my daughter."
Yukima chuckled softly.
So he had been right.
It was the legendary "please go away" bribe card.
But instead of chasing him off—
Now, she was entrusting her daughter to him completely.
Of course—
The amount inside wasn't five million.
It was a full one hundred million yen.
But somehow…
Even that no longer felt like enough.