Nighttime, Sawamura Residence.
"Here you go, Ayase-chan."
"Thank you, Auntie Sayuri." Sitting next to Eriri, Ayase happily held out her bowl to receive the fried meat patty Sayuri had just served her.
Watching her mother only serve food to her little friend while ignoring her, Eriri couldn't help but pout.
Biased... only serving Ayase... I know Ayase is cute, but mmm...
Sitting next to Sayuri, Satomi understood the look on the young girl's face. Smiling gently, she picked up her chopsticks and served a large fried shrimp to the resentful Eriri. "Here, Eriri, taste Auntie's cooking."
"Eh!" Seeing Satomi serve her, Eriri's eyes lit up. Subconsciously mimicking Ayase, she smiled sweetly and held out her bowl. "Hehe, thank you, Auntie Satomi."
"You're welcome, Eriri."
At the other table, Seiichiro sat with Mr. Spencer, savoring a glass of the host's private reserve. Turning to the British diplomat with a smile, he remarked, "Looks like they're getting along quite well."
"I think so too." Mr. Spencer smiled in response.
The two fathers exchanged a knowing look, then gently clinked their wine glasses.
Clink—!
After taking a small sip and savoring the rich flavor of the wine, Seiichiro smiled at Spencer, whose eyes were full of warmth as he looked at his wife and daughter. "I apologize. My good-for-nothing son is too lazy to come over."
Hearing this, Spencer waved his hand dismissively. "Not at all, Seiichiro, you're too polite. Miyahito-kun and Sayuri have seen him before, so just be casual."
"That's true. Looks like I overthought it."
Seiichiro raised his glass and clinked it against Spencer's again, finishing the rest of his wine.
As Spencer poured more wine for him, he added, "By the way, Sayuri mentioned before that she wanted to ask for your and Satomi-san's opinion. She was wondering if there's any possibility of an engagement between Miyahito-kun and Eriri."
"What are your thoughts on the matter?"
Having finished speaking and poured the wine, Spencer set the decanter down and raised his glass, adding a caveat. "Of course, this is just our humble request. It ultimately depends on you, Satomi, and the children's wishes. There's no need to force anything."
In truth, Spencer added that last part because he noticed a subtle, unnatural shift in Seiichiro's expression the moment he mentioned the engagement. He immediately realized that this proposal probably wasn't going to fly.
What a pity, Sayuri, Spencer thought to himself, his face maintaining a calm, polite smile. Looks like the plan is falling through. Ah, what a shame.
If the engagement had gone through, they would only have to wait until Eriri came of age, and then they could just hand their daughter over to Miyahito-kun and be done with it. But judging by Seiichiro's reaction... their beautiful retirement plan (dumping the burden and enjoying their golden years) was officially ruined.
And the reality was exactly as Spencer had predicted.
"I'm very sorry about that, Spencer-san." Seiichiro apologized, then explained with a helpless expression. "Actually, Satomi and I had the exact same idea before."
"And we also really like Eriri. It's just..."
Hearing Seiichiro's meaningful pause, Spencer couldn't help but ask curiously, "It's just what?"
"It's just that we haven't even had the chance to discuss it with that boy." Thinking about how his son had gone off to study in Tokyo and casually dropped a massive surprise on them, Seiichiro couldn't help but sigh. "Miyahito went ahead and started dating a girl at his school without our permission."
"Is that so."
Spencer was genuinely surprised.
"Surprised, right?" Seiichiro said with a bitter smile. "Satomi used to worry constantly that he had no interest in the opposite sex and only revolved around his sister."
"He found a girlfriend without a single peep. If he hadn't caused a little scene when he confessed..."
"Satomi and I would probably still be worrying about him to this day."
Clink—!
They clinked glasses again.
"So," Spencer asked, picking up the decanter to refill Seiichiro's glass. "Is the future Mrs. Aragaki already decided?"
"Not yet." This time, it was Seiichiro's turn to be surprised.
Judging by Spencer's tone, it seemed the couple wasn't planning to give up on the idea of marrying their daughter into the Aragaki family just yet.
....
To be honest, as a father and the head of the Aragaki family, Seiichiro didn't oppose an engagement with the Sawamura family. In fact, he highly supported it.
After all, both the Sawamura and Aragaki families were pure Kazoku (noble) lineages with centuries of history, tracing their roots all the way back to China.
Having the younger generation of the Aragaki and Sawamura families unite would certainly bring the two families closer.
However, even so, Seiichiro was unwilling to let his son lose his own happiness.
Besides, his eldest son's personality was exactly like their own stubborn sides. Judging by the boy's reaction, Seiichiro didn't believe a mere verbal engagement would make him obediently give up being with that girl named Kasumigaoka Utaha.
So.
"Indeed, the future Mrs. Aragaki hasn't been decided yet." Seiichiro smiled and continued, "But Spencer, you and Sayuri know Miyahito's personality, don't you?"
"So, let the kids decide for themselves. Satomi and I both support Miyahito's own choices."
Hearing this, Mr. Spencer completely understood Seiichiro's meaning.
"You're right. Let the kids decide for themselves." Spencer blinked, giving Seiichiro a knowing look before raising his glass with a smile. "We unromantic adults should just step aside. I certainly don't want to make Eriri hate me."
"Right, right. I don't want Ayase to hate me either."
Hmm?
The two devoted, daughter-simp fathers exchanged a glance.
—So you're a daughter simp too!
Eye contact confirmed. They were the exact same kind of people.
"Cheers?"
"Cheers."