Nao Hayasaka wanted Kaguya to forgive her and her daughter, Ai Hayasaka, for betraying her. Although Nao's actions were driven by a desire for revenge against the Shinomiya family, over nearly twenty years of association, she had come to view Kaguya as a daughter, just like Ai Hayasaka. Similarly, Kaguya, who had lost her mother at a young age, also regarded Nao Hayasaka as a mother figure. Even if Kaguya couldn't forgive Nao, she hoped Kaguya would at least forgive Ai.
It might sound ridiculous to destroy Kaguya's family and still hope for her forgiveness, but it wasn't impossible. Firstly, Kaguya didn't have much emotional attachment to the Shinomiya family. Since childhood, she was educated to understand that she was merely a tool for the family's interests, where only profit mattered, not affection. Even if the family head, Gan'an Shinomiya, loved her deeply, he didn't dare show it, barely speaking to her throughout the year. Kaguya wasn't even included in the original distribution of the inheritance. Furthermore, Kaguya's mother was from a pleasure quarter and might not even have been Gan'an Shinomiya's daughter. However, Gan'an Shinomiya genuinely loved Kaguya's mother, and out of fear of confronting the possibility that Kaguya wasn't his daughter, he dared not have a paternity test done.
The idea of stacking them up and screwing them to make them reconcile was a joke, but all these factors left room for Kaguya to potentially forgive them. And while stacking them up and screwing them was a joke, similar maneuvers weren't out of the question. Nao regarded Kaguya as a daughter, and Ai Hayasaka regarded Kaguya as a sister. Kaguya felt the same way about them, too, so... Heh heh heh. Rin Ito took out his phone and called Karen.
...
The Onjouji Estate.
"Miss Hayasaka, Miss Karen is waiting for you in the study."
"Very well."
Ai Hayasaka put down her work and headed to Karen's study. To her surprise, in addition to Karen and Shion, her mother, Nao Hayasaka, was also in the study. The mother and daughter exchanged glances, then turned their questioning gaze toward Karen.
"Aunt Nao, I heard you asked him last night to help mend your relationship with Kaguya Shinomiya, right?"
"....?" Ai Hayasaka looked at her mother in confusion. Who is this 'him' Karen is talking about? Asked 'him' to help mend her relationship with Kaguya? Ai Hayasaka was stunned for a moment but quickly realized. The "him" Karen referred to must be the person who helped rescue Kaguya. Did Mom know him? Why didn't Mom tell me?
"He wants you to come to his house. He said he has an idea for mending your relationship."
"Really!?" The usually cool-headed Ai Hayasaka suddenly became excited and stepped forward, then turned to her mother. "Mom, let's go quickly!"
".... Okay."
He has my number, so why did he have Karen relay the message? Although Nao Hayasaka was slightly puzzled, if it could genuinely reconcile her and Ai with Kaguya... as she had told him before, anything was possible.
"Shion, you drive them over."
"Yes, Miss Karen." Shion gestured for the two of them to follow. As they walked out of the study, Ai Hayasaka couldn't resist asking.
"Miss Shion, who... who is the person who helped Kaguya?"
"You'll know when you meet him." Shion subtly glanced at the mother and daughter walking beside her... I hope they're safe. I hope they don't turn into pets like Miss Karen.
...
"He lives here?"
When Shion brought them to Rin Ito's front door, Ai Hayasaka's reaction was the same as Nao's. They pressed the doorbell, and Rin Ito quickly appeared before the three of them. Rin Ito's gaze moved from Nao to Ai Hayasaka, who looked very similar to her, and he scrutinized her, matching her appearance to the Ai Hayasaka in his memory.
"This must be Miss Hayasaka's daughter, right? My name is Rin Ito."
Ai Hayasaka nodded, then slightly bowed. "My name is Ai Hayasaka. Thank you very much for helping Miss Kaguya."
After brief introductions, Rin Ito ushered the three of them into the living room. Shion skillfully went to the kitchen to pour tea for them, acting as if she were Rin Ito's maid. Ai Hayasaka, unable to maintain her poker face near her mother, was a little nervous and cautiously observed Rin Ito. The young woman, who wore different masks for different people, was momentarily unsure what mask to wear in front of Rin Ito.
"Last night, Miss Hayasaka... hmm, there are two Miss Hayasakas here."
Hearing Rin Ito's words, Nao smiled and interjected, "Just call me Nao and her Ai."
"Nao, you told me last night that you wanted to mend your relationship with Kaguya Shinomiya."
Hearing Kaguya's name, Ai Hayasaka's body involuntarily trembled, a look of pain flashed in her eyes, and she subconsciously bit her lower lip.
"I have thought of a method, but it might be a bit intrusive."
Hearing Rin Ito's words, the mother and daughter held their breath, looking at Rin Ito with anticipation.
"What method?" Ai Hayasaka couldn't wait for Rin Ito to finish speaking. "Anything is acceptable, as long as Kaguya can forgive me!"
Under their expectant gaze, Rin Ito continued. "Simply put, it's about establishing a common enemy to solidify consensus and mend your relationship, and then finding an opportunity to fully reconcile."
"How do we do that? And who is this common enemy?" Ai Hayasaka asked anxiously. Unlike her somewhat impatient daughter, Nao waited calmly for Rin Ito to speak, but considering the earlier talk of "intrusiveness"... Nao roughly guessed what Rin Ito was planning. But... a common enemy? Who? The Shinomiya family? Nao and Ai Hayasaka were only worried that Kaguya might be used as a tool for a political marriage—though it was inevitable, it hadn't happened yet.
"For example, letting me play the villain."
"No." The mother and daughter refused Rin Ito's suggestion in unison.
"Mr. Ito, you are the one who helped Miss Kaguya. You should be receiving her gratitude, not her hatred," Nao said composedly. "Furthermore... if we proceed with your plan, Mr. Ito, it would be equivalent to deceiving and betraying Miss Kaguya again." Ai Hayasaka agreed with her mother's point. They couldn't let Rin Ito play the villain. Wouldn't putting on an act be equivalent to deceiving Kaguya? Besides, Kaguya was very perceptive, and she would easily see through any acting. There was still a chance for reconciliation now, but if they deceived and betrayed her again... it would be impossible to ever mend their relationship with Kaguya.
"No, no, no." Rin Ito waved his hand, a mysterious smile on his face. "I'm not suggesting you should deceive Kaguya Shinomiya."
"Mr. Ito, you mean to say..."
"Acting and faking it is deception and betrayal, but what if it's real?" If it's real, then it's not deception.
"Nao, Ai, you both told Karen that anything was possible if I helped Kaguya break away from the Shinomiya family, right?"