Daichi looked at his daughter with a headache, unsure what nonsense she was imagining this time.
He had to admit that the three daughters he raised were all a bit mentally unstable, especially the second daughter, Chika, who was completely insane.
But fortunately, he had gotten used to it over the years. After all, they were his daughters. No matter how insane they were, he had to endure it.
"About your cousin, Chika, you've actually met him before."
Daichi sat on the sofa. The TV in the living room was still playing a drama.
The Fujiwara family had strict discipline. The children were not even allowed to touch electronic games or similar items. Watching TV in the evening was considered rare entertainment.
But today, the drama that usually entertained them failed to catch their attention.
Chika tilted her head, poked her chin with one hand, and tried to recall.
"I've met him? I don't remember."
Chika looked troubled.
Her younger sister, Moeha, exclaimed loudly, "Wow, Sister, you're already so young and already have Alzheimer's!"
Chika actually took her words seriously. She covered her face, squatted down, and cried dramatically.
"It's over. I really have Alzheimer's. If I don't do well on my first-year high school exams, it must be because I'm sick."
Anyone could tell she was setting up excuses in advance for not studying.
Daichi ignored her antics and continued, "Last year's Student Council President of Shuchiin Academy's High School Division was your cousin."
Chika's eyes widened. "Father, you mean President Fujiwara?"
Although the surname Fujiwara was uncommon, there were still several hundred thousand people with that name in Japan. Not everyone with the surname belonged to the ancient Fujiwara lineage.
Therefore, Chika, as well as former Shuchiin Academy students, never associated Fujiwara Toru with the Fujiwara family. They simply assumed he had the same surname.
"Yes, it was him. But last year, your cousin didn't want to acknowledge his identity, so I didn't tell you. And you were still in junior high, so you didn't have much contact with the high school division."
Daichi nodded.
"Oh, so President Fujiwara from the high school division was my cousin. What a pity."
Chika looked disappointed.
Her older sister, Toyomi, smiled and said,
"Chika, why are you disappointed? Is it because your cousin is handsome, you fell in love with him, but he didn't reciprocate? Wow, that's too funny. Lovers turning into siblings!"
Chika didn't care about her sister's nonsense. The three of them were always like this. She sighed and said,
"My cousin already graduated. I remember he got into Tokyo University with the top score on the entrance exam."
"If only he hadn't graduated yet. He could use his position as Student Council President to get me in as Vice President. Then we could protest to the school together, saying the Student Council work is too exhausting and we need bonus points on tests as compensation!"
Chika clenched her fists, already imagining using connections, getting into the Student Council, and using her authority to make exams easier for herself.
Her academic performance wasn't bad, but it definitely wasn't good either. It was average at best, and even that required hard studying to maintain.
Daichi's face darkened, but ironically, this was the first moment Chika resembled someone from the Fujiwara family.
As a political family, using connections, pulling strings, and leveraging power for personal gain was practically instinct.
Looking at it this way, maybe Chika was suited for politics.
But as soon as Daichi thought that, he immediately shook his head.
No way. If Chika entered a government department and actually climbed the ranks, Japan would be doomed.
"Moeha, how about we go visit Tokyo University together sometime?"
"Okay, big sister!"
"Chika, aren't you bringing me too?"
"Then I'll bring big sister along!"
"What do you mean, bring along?!"
...
Daichi glanced at the clock and urged, "Alright, it's getting late. Go back to your rooms and get ready for bed."
"Chika, you start high school tomorrow, and Moeha enters junior high. You'll be in new classes and meeting new friends, so you need to be in good condition."
"Toyomi, you too. You'll be a junior in college."
The Fujiwara family's rules were strict. The three sisters didn't dare talk back about this and obediently went to their rooms.
After they left, the living room quieted. Only then did Daichi sigh.
"What will become of these three girls…?"
Maho said, "The family will arrange everything anyway. You don't need to worry. But aren't you worried about them going to see your brother's child?"
"That child was practically abandoned from a young age. Even though he's back with the Fujiwara family now, he probably doesn't have much affection for us. I'm not sure how he feels about having sisters either."
Maho sounded concerned.
Daichi replied, "My nephew told my brother he intends to enter Japan's political world."
"As you know, the Fujiwara family isn't flourishing in this generation, and everyone is a girl. The Old Master has been worried for years. Otherwise, he wouldn't have scolded my brother after discovering there was a male descendant in the third generation."
"But what my brother did back then was wrong. He wants to make up for it now. Didn't he spend over two billion earlier to buy a Western-style mansion just to please my nephew?"
Maho said, "I doubt the boy even cares."
Daichi sighed. "My nephew really is fortunate. In America, he even has an adoptive father in a high position. Compared to his status over there, Japan might not mean much to him."
"That's why when he said he wanted to enter Japan's political world, the Old Master was ecstatic. He practically wanted to throw all the Fujiwara family's resources behind him."
"I want Chika and the others to build a relationship with him for this reason too."
His words were subtle, but Maho understood instantly.
It seemed that Fujiwara Toru had already been recognized by the Old Master as the Fujiwara family's successor. Otherwise, he wouldn't still be planning to arrange a fiancée for him and use the Shinomiya family's wealth together with the Fujiwara family's power to support him.
Letting their daughters get close was to ensure that Toru would look after the three sisters in the future.
Although Daichi wasn't ambitious himself and worked as a diplomat while the family focused on supporting his brother into a high-ranking cabinet position, being raised in the Fujiwara family meant he understood these power plays.
The main reason was also the girls' personalities. Chika and her sisters really did make people worry about their future.
They were too protected and too naive, which wasn't good for a family like the Fujiwara family.
...
At the same time, Toru, who had returned home, answered a phone call.
"You want to see me tomorrow? Alright. Suit yourself."
The caller knew Toru disliked talking much, so they hung up quickly.
Tomorrow was the opening ceremony of Tokyo University, and Toru's biological father in this life wanted to meet him then.
Toru didn't care. He had no affection for this biological father, not even as much as he had for his adoptive father, Spencer.
Spencer had also raised him for a purpose, but at least Spencer genuinely raised him to adulthood.
"To become the Prime Minister of Japan, the Fujiwara family's support is indispensable. It'll save me at least thirty years of detours."
Toru muttered to himself.
In politics, ability alone was not enough. One needed to trade benefits and leverage power. Going solo would never lead to success.
(To be continued.)