🎊🎊SCIAW: Chapter 415/420

Chapter 415: Extraordinary Tragedy

After receiving permission, Maki felt slightly relieved.

She had originally thought she'd need to bow her head even lower to gain forgiveness, but she hadn't expected her aunt to relent so easily.

However, Maki also understood that the price the Shijo family would have to pay for their actions this time would be steep.

But there was no other choice.

If her aunt hadn't relented, and the Shijo family's overseas businesses took another hit while domestic matters remained unresolved, then bankruptcy would be inevitable.

Paying a price could at least keep a sliver of hope alive, but stubborn resistance would only end in destruction.

Faced with such circumstances, the Shijo family had no choice but to spend money to avoid disaster.

And, losing money was already the best possible outcome.

If her aunt had refused, then the disintegration of the Shijo family would have only been a matter of time. At that point, whether they had a choice or not wouldn't matter—they'd be done for.

Of course, what Maki was most thankful for was that the Shinomiya family was now under her aunt's control.

If the Shinomiya family were still in the hands of Shinomiya Oko, then the Shijo family would've long been leashed like a dog.

Additionally, Maki noticed a distinct change in her aunt.

The frigid coldness with which she once treated everyone equally had become more restrained, but what replaced it was a far more suffocating presence—each word and action carried the weight of an immense iceberg.

It felt like the icy breeze from before had just been the outer chill of the iceberg. But now, the full majesty of that frozen colossus had formed, no longer needing that cold exterior to intimidate.

Is this what power does to people?

Had such a transformation occurred in just a few months?

Maki realized something painful: now that the Shinomiya family was in her aunt's hands, the Shijo family no longer had the means to fight back.

Overseas assets might be safer than domestic ones. At least they weren't under the direct influence of the Shinomiya family.

However, those assets were still vulnerable, especially with the platform rumors circulating in the island nation. Even subtle movements could shake those holdings.

Moreover, the Shinomiya family's reach overseas wasn't small. Especially after aligning with the Sanzenin family.

The name Sanzenin didn't just represent domestic wealth, it symbolized world-class financial power.

That was a level no other conglomerate in the country could dream of touching.

The scale of the Sanzenin family's wealth brought with it an unmatched level of influence.

That was the biggest reason for the Shijo family's defeat.

Sanzenin. Saginomiya. Besides the Fujiwara family, her aunt had ties to so many powerful houses… it was truly beyond Maki's expectations.

But how did she build these connections?

That was the question plaguing Maki now.

A few months ago, her aunt had seized control of the Shinomiya family, thanks to her relationship with the Sanzenin family.

Sanzenin's pressure on the Shinomiya family had seemed like a favor to Kaguya. It was just a means to facilitate a power transfer.

But no one had known about the contact between Kaguya and Sanzenin.

Otherwise, that transition of power wouldn't have been so sudden.

"Hmm? You're still standing there?"

Kaguya had no interest in what the Shijo family had done, just like she had no interest in the Shinomiya family's property now.

All she needed was for the Shijo family to keep quiet and not cause problems. If they could remain sober, she wouldn't bother with them.

Of course, her earlier attack hadn't been revenge. It had been retaliation.

If you're targeted and don't fight back, the Shijo family would only grow bolder. Giving them a counterreaction and forcing them back was Kaguya's approach.

Only when the Shijo family realized they couldn't just retreat from domestic matters would they act more cautiously.

Of course, this counterattack had been especially severe. Kaguya estimated that even after today's apology, it would take decades for the Shijo family to recover.

But decades from now, Kaguya would probably forget the Shijo family even existed. Whether they recovered or not wouldn't matter to her by then.

Maki composed herself and bowed slightly.

"Then, Auntie, until we meet again."

Though she remained curious about her aunt's transformation, Maki chose to leave.

Only after she left did Kaguya turn around.

"Hayasaka, contact Aunt Nao when we get back. Don't bother dealing with the Shijo family anymore."

"Got it."

Hayasaka gave a brief glance in Maki's direction before looking away.

But just as she turned away, she noticed Ren's gaze lingered on Maki. Curiously, she asked:

"Ren, do you know her?"

Ren slowly withdrew his gaze and gave a small nod.

"Shijo Maki, the eldest daughter of the Shijo family. She's strong-willed and not the type to bow easily. But she's also courteous and never gives off an arrogant vibe. The reason I remember her is because of one particular title she carries."

"The concubine is always miserable."

"The concubine is always miserable?"

Kaguya couldn't help but glance back at Maki's figure. She hadn't expected that someone like her would have such a nickname.

"Ren, what did she do to earn that kind of title?"

That piqued Kaguya's interest.

"She didn't do anything. That's precisely why she got that title."

Ren couldn't help but smile as he remembered her pitiful circumstances.

She really was miserable. But every time he saw her in such situations, he couldn't help but laugh.

"Chika, you should know this. In stories, the childhood friend is usually just the supporting role. The male lead rarely ends up choosing them. He always goes for the girl who drops from the sky."

"Of course I know… oh!"

Halfway through, Chika suddenly understood and turned her head toward Maki's retreating figure.

"No wonder she got stuck with that nickname even though she didn't do anything."

Childhood friends losing to girls who fall from the sky… classic.

"But even so, does she really deserve to be called a 'miserable concubine'?"

Chika raised the corner of her mouth, her curiosity and gossip-loving instincts suddenly flaring.

"So… there has to be more behind that nickname, right?"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 416: House's Desired Answer

"A straightforward personality, not good at expressing emotions, and a slightly twisted personality."

"I think that's the main reason for her condition."

Twisted personality?

Chika instinctively glanced at Kaguya.

Not just Chika—Hayasaka, who was extremely familiar with Kaguya, also shifted her gaze immediately.

The two of them noticed that Kaguya seemed to check every box Ren had just mentioned.

Thinking about their relationship, they couldn't help but feel like this was a true family resemblance.

"He would act cold toward the girl he liked, even going as far as to say unpleasant things, as if trying to hide his real feelings."

"She deliberately buried her emotions, refused to speak up, and in the end, the boy she liked confessed to her childhood friend."

"She said congratulations, but inside, she was emotional and always on the verge of tears."

Ren paused briefly, then continued analyzing the girl's situation based on what he knew.

"Her story always made me laugh. Such a simple girl, rendered completely speechless because she didn't say what she should've. I used to think it was just funny, but now… I think she needs the same kind of self-awareness as Kaguya."

Kaguya paused and turned her gaze toward Maki.

That might be the baseline awareness required of anyone born into a major family. But as far as Kaguya knew, Maki had grown up in a much more peaceful environment.

Her overall upbringing was far better. She didn't have an older brother who treated her like a pawn.

There was a time when Kaguya genuinely envied Maki's life.

"Maki's family environment is much better."

"But their family has always been suppressed by Oko. My older brothers see them as little more than retainers, and they've always treated them poorly."

"And unlike the Hayasaka family, the Shijos are close blood relatives to the Shinomiyas. Because of that, my brothers have always shown them the same hostility."

"So I understand why the Shijo family would move against the Shinomiya family. Their intent has always been to bring us down."

"This feud is something that's existed between the two families for a long time."

"But even after I seized control of the Shinomiya family, they still kept trying to infiltrate."

As she spoke, Kaguya let out a cold sneer.

"They're probably trying to figure out where I stand, poking around to gauge my position."

"Well, since they already made the move, I gave them a firm counterattack."

"I had thought they'd understand my restraint—my decision not to retaliate against their infiltration was a message in itself. But apparently, I overestimated their intelligence."

"So I had Aunt Nao crush them immediately, so they'd understand where I stand."

Shijo couldn't understand simple cues, so she needed to be shown directly. Kaguya's message was clear: unless it's absolutely necessary, don't even think of coming to her door, they weren't on friendly terms.

Of course, Kaguya also understood that the Shijos were just acting out of habit. They had always positioned themselves in opposition to the Shinomiya family. No matter who seized control, they were just waiting for the opportunity to pounce.

"Compared to vague diplomacy, clear-cut actions give people more peace of mind, don't you think?"

Kaguya nodded slightly, acknowledging Ren's words.

Ren had nothing more to say. The method was simple, even harsh but it made people feel secure, especially when dealing with relics like the Shijo elders.

It was like people who had lived under restriction for so long. The moment those restraints loosened, they wouldn't know how to respond. They'd always try to test the waters in their own way.

The Shijos were clearly like that.

There were easier, more direct ways to test the waters. Sending their daughter to speak honestly would've been better than playing mind games with business investments.

Did they ever stop to consider what would've happened if Kaguya really had a ruthless personality?

Ren had a lot of questions about that.

So, he instinctively reached for a maple leaf gold coin to divine the truth.

The Shijos had already considered the worst-case outcome.

The coin fell, face up.

The answer is: Yes.

Ren raised an eyebrow.

They were prepared for failure.

He flipped it again. The coin still landed face up.

Again, the answer: Yes.

Two consistent results made Ren realize that the Shijo family had backup plans. They weren't walking into this without insurance. At the very least, they were prepared not to lose everything.

But what exactly were they trying to confirm that made them willing to pay such a heavy price?

Suddenly, a thought struck Ren.

The Shinomiya family.

That answer froze him momentarily—then he understood.

The Shijo family's goal was to verify whether the old traditions of the Shinomiya family were truly extinct.

They had chosen the most inappropriate method imaginable, forcing Kaguya to give the clearest response.

To confirm this, Ren let the coin fall once more. Still face up.

Yes.

Good grief… so it really didn't matter if they lived or died, as long as they could confirm the extinction of the Shinomiya legacy?

After receiving that answer, Ren was speechless. As he looked up, he noticed everyone staring at him. He let out a sigh and relayed what he had just divined.

"The Shijo family wanted to use this self-destructive approach to confirm whether the traditional Shinomiya family is truly gone."

When Kaguya heard this, she froze, then covered her face with one hand in exasperation.

"Do they really hate the Shinomiya family that much?"

"They're really not afraid I'll treat them like my dear older brother would?"

Then, realizing she'd asked a foolish question, Kaguya slapped herself lightly on the forehead.

"Of course they're not afraid. They're already doing it anyway."

She used to think her older brother was just insane. But now it seemed like the Shijos weren't any better. If someone rounded them all up and sent them to a psychiatric hospital, they'd probably all end up in the same ward.

(To be continued.)

Special thanks to BurglarOfTurds for sponsoring this extra chapter 🎉🎉🎉

Chapter 417: Where Does the Ridicule of Hell Come From?

Maki who had left the banquet hall and entered the lounge, had already switched on the satellite phone inside.

"Mikado, Aunt was more lenient than I expected."

…It's more or less as I predicted from the beginning. Even if Kaguya accepted the authority of the Shinomiya family, at her core, she's fundamentally different from the family itself.

"Well, didn't I say that a long time ago? But Dad and Mom insisted it still needed to be tested."

This same conclusion had already occurred to Maki herself, but her words had failed to convince their parents.

Of course, it wasn't just her opinion that failed to convince them, even the Mikado's words hadn't changed their minds.

No matter what, they needed to confirm with absolute certainty whether the traditional Shinomiya family was truly dead.

Right now, the Shinomiya family had completely knelt under the Sanzenin name. Completely overthrowing them had become unrealistic.

The Shijo family didn't have the strength to contend with Sanzenin.

Still, what they could accept—barely—was the fact that Kaguya had taken control of the family, and with Sanzenin's support, had completed a total internal purge.

Everyone knew that Kaguya and Oko were different.

One was a daughter treated as a disposable pawn. The other, the eldest son, ruled the family with an iron grip.

But once outside power intervened, that structure collapsed.

The pawn-like daughter inherited the family. The so-called rightful heir was banished into obscurity, stripped of all authority.

Two months of fallout had let most outsiders, especially the Shijo family, catch wind of what had really gone down inside the Shinomiya house—especially since they had planted spies long ago.

Was this not a good thing? For the Shijo family, it was complicated.

They all knew Kaguya's succession was different from Oko's. But that distinction needed firmer confirmation.

"But the test Dad and Mom chose is too risky. It's practically a curse meant to provoke Aunt. No wonder she's so pissed."

Maki could also understand why Kaguya would be bitter toward the Shijo family.

After all, her aunt had only jailed the people bribed by the Shijo family. She hadn't even moved directly against the family. That restraint had already shown where she stood.

But even with that, the Shijo family had kept trying to infiltrate the Shinomiya clan. Such blatant provocation… Even to Maki, it seemed absurd. In her view, her aunt had already shown remarkable composure.

Because speculation alone wasn't enough, both Dad and Mom insisted they needed to see Kaguya's choice with their own eyes.

It wasn't just her parents. The entire Shijo family needed that assurance.

Too many of them still feared that the Shinomiya family's power transition had been a façade. It wasn't that their thinking was too complex—rather, they had simply been tormented too long by Oko.

"I know."

Maki understood the pain everyone carried. That's why she had agreed to test her aunt.

At least between her and her aunt, there wasn't any deep resentment. Maybe because they were close in age, her aunt would go easier on her.

"But we should have our answer now, right?"

"And I don't think this shift in power is just for show. All the upper-level positions have been replaced by Hayasaka family members. That's not a reshuffle. That's practically the Shinomiya family being wiped out."

"Do you think the Shinomiyas gave up their positions willingly?"

"Absolutely not," replied Mikado without hesitation.

The arrogance and pride of the Shinomiya name made each of them cling desperately to their status. There was no way they'd just roll over for the sake of appearances.

Besides, once they were ousted, no Shinomiya would remain in power. It would be entirely replaced by the Hayasaka family.

That was something Oko would never tolerate. Only Kaguya could make that happen.

She trusted Hayasaka, and she also trusted Hayasaka's parents. That's why she willingly transferred so much authority into their hands.

Oko had always been wary of the Hayasaka family, which is why he had planted Hayasaka Ai as a wedge between himself and Kaguya.

That act had nearly shattered their relationship entirely. In fact, it was exactly the result Oko hoped for.

But fate is unpredictable.

Kaguya, who despised betrayal more than anyone, ultimately accepted Hayasaka Ai. After taking power, she allowed the entire Hayasaka family to benefit enormously—going so far as to demolish a faction that had once lorded over them.

Even if this had all been theater, only Kaguya could have pulled it off.

This much, at least, had become undeniably clear.

Maki figured that her parents should be able to accept the truth now. At the very least, the old traditions of the Shinomiya family had been dismantled—by Kaguya.

"Yeah. I think Auntie won't let the people who once looked down on her keep acting like she's beneath them."

At this moment, Maki understood her aunt's feelings perfectly. She had witnessed too many instances of the Shinomiyas belittling the Shijos.

"But the cost of this test was steep. I feel like Auntie really wanted to teach our family a hard lesson."

Well, maybe she thought we weren't getting the message, so she decided to break our bones until we understood. Still, it might not be such a bad thing. If Kaguya did that, Dad and Mom would finally believe it.

Especially considering Kaguya could've been more ruthless. The fact she wasn't… might just be the most convincing argument.

Listening to her brother's analysis, Maki let herself collapse onto the bed.

"So where did Dad and Mom's masochistic personalities come from? Are they really so emotionally scarred from dealing with the Shinomiya family?"

Hahaha… maybe. They're hypersensitive when it comes to this topic. You could also say the resentment of the previous generation runs too deep. It's imprinted in them.

Honestly, if the Shijo family hadn't run out of ways to oppose Sanzenin, they might've even gone after them next.

What a joke.

Even Maki couldn't bring herself to laugh.

(To be continued.)

Special thanks to MadZ3non for sponsoring this extra chapter 🎉🎉🎉

Chapter 418: We Are Really Similar

"But Mikado, our Shijo family simply doesn't get along with the Shinomiya family, but we're not idiots."

Maki corrected her brother's assumption with a helpless tone.

"If our family were to go against Sanzenin, don't you think the blockade we'd face would be far more intense than what the Shinomiya family experienced?"

"How long do you think we'd last?"

Hmm… three days… No, two days.

Shijo Mikado made a simple estimate and quickly concluded that the Shijo family could probably only hold out for two days.

Although a blockade might not cause immediate collapse of their assets, the moment Sanzenin made a move against them, all of Shijo's stocks would hit limit-down, and the direct damage could be worse than total ruin.

And if things escalated, the entire family might even be arrested on charges of manipulating the market or overseas money laundering.

Foreign regulations tend to favor high-level capital.

Especially when there's a chance to scoop up high-quality assets at a discount, they won't hesitate to make the situation worse.

"What about in Japan?"

In Japan, Sanzenin wouldn't be as aggressive. After all, our family is involved in some heavy industries. Sanzenin wouldn't go so far against us.

"...So, would you say this push to move our industry overseas was a good or bad thing?"

Half good, half bad. Compared to the chaotic and hostile business environment abroad, Japan is clearly more stable. But back then, we had to move things out because of Shinomiya Oko.

Now? That's pure loss.

Mikado also understood the situation clearly.

With Shinomiya Oko in power, Japan had been a toxic environment for the Shijo family.

But with Kaguya now in charge, it was the best scenario they could hope for.

After the transfer of power in the Shinomiya family, the entire organization now moved according to Kaguya's will. As long as her attitude toward the Shijo family was confirmed, they no longer had to live as the Shinomiya family's dogs.

That alone was huge.

Of course, the price of testing her was steep.

But Mikado was confident that their parents and everyone in the Shijo family wouldn't care about those losses. Because what they gained—confirmation of the truth—was more valuable.

Wealth can be rebuilt. Dignity and status are harder to restore.

And with Kaguya's clear attitude now out in the open, their parents could finally be at ease.

From now on, there likely wouldn't be much contact between the two families.

Hearing the slight emotion in her brother's voice, Maki finally caught on.

"D… don't tell me… you actually like Auntie?"

"…Yeah."

Maki was genuinely shocked. She wasn't great at picking up on emotional cues, but her brother's reaction was too obvious. Slowly, the implication began to settle in.

"I seriously advise you to give up. Auntie is stronger than you think. She survived years under Oko's surveillance. You think she needs your help?"

"If she needed you, would she have stayed silent through all that abuse?"

"She's strong. Even a little weird."

"And more importantly, she probably doesn't want anything to do with the Shijo family anymore. You know this. Clinging to her won't work."

There was still silence on the other end.

"We're really alike."

"The guy you like never likes you back and ends up confessing to your best friend."

"And I… ended up liking someone I shouldn't."

Maki's expression was starting to crumble.

"I, I don't like him that way. I just… don't want to lose..."

Still with that twisted personality.

Trying to seem composed, Maki quickly pulled herself together.

"Besides, as a daughter of the Shijo family, I know there are lines I can't cross. We're not a frivolous family."

Haha~ That's true. Our family isn't shameless.

When it comes to emotions, children of the Shijo family must think of the family first. Not themselves.

We can't bring shame to the family. That's the baseline.

I'm not thinking about marriage anytime soon either.

With how things are for the Shijo family right now, I need to focus on stabilizing our position.

There's too much to do. I have to learn to run the family business properly.

The overseas industries need to be brought back home.

And the domestic side… needs compensation to the Shinomiya family. That won't be small.

"How much are we talking?"

Almost all of our heavy industries were shifted out. Only the bare minimum remains.

"That's… a lot."

Yeah, not much I can do. If we've chosen to show our sincerity, we have to go all in. Otherwise, how can Auntie believe us?

"Auntie probably won't care that much…"

Maki had the same thought but still shook her head.

"True, but this makes it easier for her to recognize our sincerity. If you mess up, you need to take responsibility. That's the rule."

After saying this, Maki stood up from the bed.

"Alright, we've wrapped up everything here. I'll leave the rest to you. I'm going back to the banquet."

Got it. I'll take care of it.

After hanging up, Maki put away the satellite phone, neatened herself up a bit, and headed out of the room.

But just as she opened the door—

"!"

Maki instinctively stepped back in surprise.

Then she got a good look at the person standing in front of her.

"You're the boy who was with Auntie earlier."

"Nice to meet you, Miss Shijo."

After fixing his appearance, Ren offered a polite bow.

"Nice to meet you too… strange sir."

(To be continued.)

Special thanks to BurglarOfTurds for sponsoring this extra chapter 🎉🎉🎉

Chapter 419: Gradually Opening the Box

The sudden appearance of the boy in front of her still made Maki feel uneasy, as she wasn't very comfortable around strangers.

"Excuse me, Mister Stranger, what do you want from me?"

"Pardon me. I just happened to overhear the conversation between you and Kaguya, and it sparked my interest in you, Miss Shijo."

Kaguya…?

Maki looked at the boy in front of her with surprise. He could refer to her aunt so casually—so he must be someone special.

Recalling the image from earlier, she remembered that this boy was the only male present beside her aunt.

That alone made Shijo Maki more curious about his identity.

"In order to confirm a simple answer, your parents chose such a cruel test. This kind of suicidal move was just to probe the Shinomiya family. Did your parents really not have any better options?"

"…The Shijo and Shinomiya families have always been at odds. In the past, the Shinomiya family constantly suppressed us. As soon as our family showed signs of rising, Shinomiya Huangguang would crush it—treating us like obedient dogs. Talking to the Shinomiya family never worked. That's something we've learned since childhood."

After a moment of silence, Maki finally voiced the long-held frustration in her heart.

"It's not that we didn't know there were simpler solutions. But my parents… they're still scared. They're afraid my aunt is just like Shinomiya Oko."

"That's a ridiculous notion. Kaguya was always treated like an illegitimate child in the Shinomiya household. Calling her a 'princess' would be far too generous. In truth, even her father questioned her legitimacy."

"Yes, my parents are aware of that too."

Maki didn't deny it. All of this information was publicly available now. It was clear the Shinomiya family didn't even bother hiding it.

"To be honest, my parents' attitude toward Auntie's identity is rather… complicated."

"Whether or not her status is real, it doesn't matter to the Shijo family. We're supposed to keep our distance from the Shinomiyas, no matter what."

That's how her parents approached it.

"It doesn't matter if Kaguya is an illegitimate child. As long as she carries the Shinomiya name, we must maintain a certain distance from her. That's my father and mother's mindset."

"A very cold and arbitrary mindset."

"Exactly."

Maki agreed. She felt the same—that their views were rigid and far too absolute.

"I've always thought Auntie wasn't like the rest of the Shinomiya family."

"Even though her way of dealing with people is similar to theirs, like using others as pawns…"

"But at the same time, I always felt something unique about her."

That feeling was hard to put into words. Maki could only describe it as strangely familiar, as though she had seen the same thing in someone else.

"I think that someone… might be you, Miss Shijo."

"Me?"

Shijo Maki was stunned.

Images suddenly began flashing through her mind. Her indifferent aunt's face gradually overlapped with her own.

"!?"

That coldness her aunt carried—maybe it wasn't just an attitude, but a shield.

If it were her, Maki realized, she probably would've used the same method to protect herself.

It was this realization that made Maki understand her aunt's vibe when they first met. It was like encountering a stranger who felt oddly familiar.

Now, she could finally see the emotion hiding behind Kaguya's detached attitude toward the Shinomiya family.

Maybe… Dad and Mom were just overreacting. Auntie wasn't actually that hard to approach. Not in the way they feared.

She had simply been maintaining her protective mask.

"You're right. In some ways, Auntie and I might really be alike."

"When you're in a place where you can't feel safe, the best thing to do is to armor yourself. People pretend. You can't let others see what you're truly thinking."

"If I were in her position, I'd probably have made the same choices."

Ren nodded slightly.

"Then Miss Shijo understands Kaguya's attitude toward the Shinomiya family?"

"It's hatred. Obviously."

Maki spoke with certainty.

After everything she had just processed, she knew.

If she were in her aunt's shoes, she'd hate the Shinomiya family too—for trying to dictate her entire life.

Being made into a caged canary might be inevitable. But until she had the strength to open that cage, she'd disguise herself as a harmless bird.

And once she had the key, she wouldn't hesitate to burn the entire cage down.

"The status of an illegitimate child is already the lowest in any powerful household. Being one in the Shinomiya family? That's a nightmare."

Maki knew the Shinomiya household all too well.

Given the suspicions surrounding her birth, her aunt's situation must have been unbearable.

With no support, her aunt was nothing but a pawn in the hands of those above her.

"I'm really curious. How did she even survive that environment?"

"There were… some special factors that allowed Kaguya to escape that fate."

Ren agreed without hesitation.

If the diary hadn't existed, then Kaguya's life would've unfolded exactly as expected.

In a powerful family, an illegitimate child's status is as low as it gets. Their path is usually locked in from birth.

Without a miracle, there's no rewriting that fate.

(To be continued.)

Special thanks to BurglarOfTurds for sponsoring this extra chapter 🎉🎉🎉

Chapter 420: Boyfriend!?

"Special factors?"

Maki caught onto those words immediately. She had a feeling that this "factors" might be what triggered the dramatic change in her aunt.

Ren only smiled at her question and didn't elaborate further.

"Is this how you live your life, Miss Shijo?"

"Me? My family doesn't deal with anything as extreme as what Auntie went through."

The topic shifted toward herself. Maki thought for a moment about her aunt's past and quickly shook her head.

While her parents were sensitive when it came to the Shinomiya family, they weren't always so paranoid at home. At least when it came to her and Mikado, their attitude was rather normal. If anything, they were good parents who cared deeply for their children.

"Even though my father and mother get anxious whenever the Shinomiya family is mentioned, they're still the best parents when it comes to Mikado and me. They care about us and guide us. Sure, they're strict, but they always explain why."

"All our energy is channeled toward areas where we excel. There's no pressure to outperform some arbitrary number or chase perfection."

"I understand that Mikado and I have a much better environment than Auntie did."

Maki was fully aware of the gap between her and her aunt's upbringing.

She knew her aunt had been living under constant surveillance ever since entering the Shinomiya household. Everyone in the house answered to Shinomiya Huangguang. The moment she made a mistake, Huangguang was always the first to find out.

In that high-pressure environment, even Hayasaka, who had been arranged to be by Kaguya's side—was just a spy. Everything had been carefully orchestrated to keep Kaguya tightly controlled, nothing more than a pawn.

"That's why I really admire Auntie. She knew she was being watched, but she still lived with composure, quietly gathered strength, and even turned some of her watchers into allies."

"I don't think she could've done that without help. The traces must've existed, but someone must've helped her cover them up."

"It couldn't have been the maids and butlers. Those people were under Oko's thumb. The only one who could have helped was Hayasaka."

"Even though she was originally placed there by Oko, I think Auntie must have realized that and still chose to be close to her. It was like she was gambling on human nature."

Ren nearly choked when he heard that.

Especially the part about Kaguya betting on human nature—that really didn't fit her.

Kaguya didn't know Hayasaka was a plant. She had lived under suffocating surveillance for so long that she had no space for suspicion.

When Hayasaka approached her, she accepted her without question. Not out of strategy, but because she had no one else.

As for any gamble… That was definitely not how it had gone.

If she and Hayasaka hadn't known each other since childhood and shared the same mother figure, Kaguya wouldn't have trusted her at all.

But Ren wasn't about to ruin the moment. If Maki thought that was the case, he would let her believe it.

"…That's right. Without someone else's help, Kaguya wouldn't have made it this far."

"See? I thought so too!"

Maki admired her aunt even more now.

"Only Auntie could pull something like that off. I couldn't."

She now fully understood how deep her aunt's resentment toward the Shinomiya family went. No wonder Auntie had dismantled the power structure of the entire Shinomiya household the moment she came into power.

She'd even aligned herself with the Sanzenin, which all but killed any future hopes for the Shinomiya family.

This was completely different from the Shijo family's situation.

Sanzenin could truly destroy the Shinomiya family. In fact, they didn't even care to look at them, as if the Shinomiya family were less than dogs.

The moment the Shinomiya family bowed to Sanzenin, their fate was sealed.

Kaguya had shattered their traditions entirely.

Now, the so-called "Shinomiya family" might as well be the Hayasaka family in disguise.

But the current head was Kaguya.

And that was what mattered—not the family name, but the person.

"When different people face the same situation, the outcome changes too."

Maki believed that.

Each person was a different variable. The same circumstances wouldn't yield the same result.

"So… was Auntie's 'specialness' something that came from her transferring schools?"

"Well… it's not that transferring made her special. It's because she became special that she transferred."

Now, she started to understand.

Her aunt didn't leave Shuchiin Academy on a whim. She left because she had changed.

Others might not know who funded Shuchiin, but the Shijo family did.

If Kaguya hadn't undergone a transformation and received the opportunity to change, she never would've been able to transfer.

Which only made Shijo Maki more curious about the source of her aunt's transformation.

But just as she was pondering this, she suddenly snapped back to the current conversation.

Her eyes shifted toward the boy standing in front of her.

"Excuse me, Mister Stranger… are you close with Auntie?"

"We're pretty close."

"So… did Auntie introduce you to me?"

"No. I just had a hunch about your thoughts, Miss Shijo, and that's what made me want to meet you."

Ren took a step back and bowed slightly.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Amamiya Ren. Currently… I'm Kaguya's boyfriend."

"Auntie's… boyfriend…"

Shijo Maki nodded absentmindedly, and then her expression froze as her brain processed what he'd said.

"AUNT'S BOYFRIEND!?!"

(To be continued.)