Inside the Tokyo University Auditorium, Fujiwara Yoshitaka, the current Chairman of the Japan National Security Committee, sat in attendance as the father of Fujiwara Toru.
He was quite satisfied with Toru's impromptu speech.
Beyond Toru demonstrating the poise expected of a public speaker, the content itself also met his expectations.
As a member of the Fujiwara family, he ought to have this level of awareness. That passionate delivery would also be a huge asset if Toru entered politics and needed to campaign for votes.
Under the so-called "democratic" system, if you can't act, if you can't speak in public, then don't even dream of entering the political arena.
"I wonder if he really has any intention of getting into politics."
Yoshitaka was hopeful. The Fujiwara needed someone from the third generation to uphold the family's name.
As for his younger brother and those three nieces... not to mention that they were all girls, their personalities and upbringing alone made them completely unsuited for politics.
With that in mind, Yoshitaka turned his gaze to the woman seated beside him.
She was in her thirties, dressed in a formal kimono. Her figure was mature, her posture graceful, her hair styled neatly and elegantly. She gave off a refined and mature air. This was his wife.
Yoshitaka spoke coldly, "Let's go. We'll go see Toru together. I know you don't like him, but he's my son. My only son. Don't get any strange ideas."
His tone wasn't one of a husband speaking to his wife, it was more like a cold command.
Madam Fujiwara lowered her head slightly, her voice trembling, "I wouldn't dare, Yoshitaka."
Yoshitaka gave a cold snort. "You'd better not."
After a short pause, his tone softened slightly. "...Your niece is also studying at Tokyo University, right? Is she in the same department as Toru?"
"You mean Haruno? Yes, she's a sophomore this year."
"Hmm. Then have her get in touch with Toru."
Seeing her husband's mood improve, Madam Fujiwara quickly nodded and thanked him.
The entrance ceremony at Tokyo University concluded amid the excitement of the freshmen.
What followed, however, was the start of chaotic and lively campus life.
With all the new students gathered, it was the perfect time for club recruitment.
To avoid ending up short on members, all the senpai from the upper years would swarm the freshmen, trying everything to get them to join.
What? You want to check out other clubs first? No way. Ours is the best. Sign here, now. Come join our club first!
Meanwhile, Yoshitaka and Madam Fujiwara arrived backstage at the Auditorium as the freshman representative's family.
As the speaker for the ceremony, Toru still had wrap-up duties and didn't have to immediately face the swarm of club recruiters.
But someone had already beaten them to it.
Standing not far away, Yoshitaka spotted a girl already talking with Toru. He paused, narrowed his eyes slightly, then silently stepped back to let them finish.
"Fujiwara-kun, do you have a moment?"
A girl with a gentle and elegant voice approached him.
"I'm Yukinoshita Haruno, from the Faculty of Politics and International Studies. I'm a sophomore, so I'm your senpai."
Toru, who was just about to take off his academic gown, found his path blocked.
He looked at the girl in front of him—short, dark hair with a soft sheen, a perfect smile on her face, and a composed, refined aura.
Toru froze for a moment.
After meeting Hiratsuka Shizuka, he had already recalled some of the main characters from My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected.
So when this senpai introduced herself as Yukinoshita Haruno and he saw that familiar beauty, he immediately understood who she was.
Yukinoshita Haruno? In the anime, didn't she attend some local university in Chiba? Why is she at Tokyo University here?
But then again, this wasn't the original world. Differences were expected.
If Haruno was as outstanding as her anime counterpart, then her getting into Tokyo University actually made more sense.
For children of prestigious families, university choice wasn't just about education, it was about prestige and networking.
University alumni associations were often the most accessible form of connections for people. Countless political and financial elites had come out of top universities.
So in reality, attending a local university would have been a waste. Tokyo University was the far better and more logical choice.
"Yukinoshita-senpai, were you looking for me?"
Toru kept a calm and polite tone.
He subtly scanned her up and down.
Haruno was dressed casually. Jeans, canvas sneakers, a long, snug-fitting top, and a light jacket over it.
Her outfit wasn't overly trendy, but it highlighted her youthful figure. Especially the form-fitting innerwear, which accentuated her curves and showed a hint of soft, pale cleavage, just enough to set blood racing.
She was a woman who understood how to use her physical beauty to her advantage, and she clearly knew which features of hers stood out the most.
"I just wanted to ask something, Fujiwara-kun. Would you be interested in joining the club I'm in?"
"What kind of club? Let me be clear, if it's anything weird, I'm not joining."
Haruno smiled gracefully. Her expression was relaxed, her tone that of a cheerful older sister, fitting the image of a proper senpai perfectly.
"It's not weird at all. It's actually one of the most popular martial arts in Japan right now—Karate."
"Even at Tokyo University, our Karate Club is one of the biggest and most well-known. If someone like you, the freshman representative, were to join, it'd really elevate the club's image."
Haruno knew full well that someone like Toru, who had entered Tokyo University as the top student and was the representative speaker, would definitely have pride and confidence.
So she slightly lowered her posture, letting him feel acknowledged. By presenting the Karate Club as something prestigious and worthy of him, it would appeal to his sense of value.
Karate? Wasn't Haruno more into Aikido in the anime?
Toru mused internally.
Well, in this world where a certain detective elementary schooler exists, Karate is definitely the better choice.
(To be continued.)