Chapter 170: Cliché

“You’re the first to treat me this way, Miss Saionji.”

Fujiwara Sai was what one would typically call an alpha male.

Handsome, academically excellent, and athletically gifted.

A perfect superhuman with a trifecta of attributes.

Naturally, since his childhood, women have always been drawn to him.

However, most of these women approached him for his looks and the incredible background of the Fujiwara family, so very few approached him out of a genuine desire to be close.

That’s why Saionji’s approach felt refreshingly different.

Saionji and Fujiwara.

Despite the long-standing animosity between their families now moving towards reconciliation, the girl before him was pushing him away due to her personal feelings.

An unthinkable act according to the norms of prestigious families.

“Miss Saionji, are you the type who doesn’t think about the consequences at all?”

“What do you mean?”

“Honestly, I have no intention of proposing marriage or engagement at our first meeting, but there’s no denying that this meeting carries significant importance for both our families. And you, Miss Saionji, seem intent on sabotaging it.”

After his calm and detailed explanation, Kumiko softened her expression and apologized.

“...I apologize for my rude behavior.”

“It’s fine. I’m not petty enough to be offended by just this.”

Saying this with a gentle smile, Fujiwara Sai picked up the cutlery he had set down on the table and added,

“Since it’s our first meeting, we need time to get to know each other. So, let’s enjoy our meal for today. It would be a waste if the food prepared for this occasion got cold, wouldn’t it?”

“...Understood.”

As Kumiko resumed eating at his suggestion, Fujiwara Sai glanced at her beautiful face while pretending to eat.

‘She’s an interesting girl.’

He had not expected much, coming here at the insistence of the elders, but was pleasantly surprised.

Despite being raised in a wealthy environment, it was rare to find someone with such uprightness.

She was neither vain like his elder brother nor timid like his younger sibling.

Her forthright manner reminded him of a female general from the Warring States period, like Tachibana Ginchiyo.

‘I might become a bit sincere about this.’

With that thought, Fujiwara Sai took a bite of his finely cut steak.

Hattori Hanzo, the guardian of Fujiwara Sai and the 13th head of the Iga ninja clan dating back before the Warring States period, greeted an old acquaintance.

“Long time no see, Izumo. You’ve aged quite a bit since we last met.”

In response, Koga Izumo retorted with a smile,

“Careless talk, Hanzo. Should I sew that useless mouth of yours shut?”

“What nonsense.”

Despite touching on the taboo of a woman’s age, Hanzo smirked and moved on to the main topic.

“There’s a rumor that the successor of Fuma Kotaro has appeared.”

“You’re late with the news. I’ve met him personally.”

“That guy with the nickname ‘Diamond Yaksha’, is he strong?”

To his question, Izumo shrugged and replied.

“I haven’t seen him fight, but he defeated the Destroyer God Ivan. Even past his prime, Ivan was once near the top of the world’s strongest. Honestly, just this fact alone proves his strength, don’t you think?”

But at times like this, I couldn’t help but loathe my cautious nature this much.

If only I had followed and caused a scene, at least my heart would feel at ease.

“Sigh...”

As I sighed deeply and stared blankly at the ceiling, my phone rang.

~♪

Picking up the phone from the floor, I saw it was a call from the Vice President.

I quickly sat up from where I was lying down.

“Vice President? What’s the matter?”

[Kim Yu-seong, are you free for lunch today? I have something I want to discuss in person.]

“Ah, yes, of course. Where shall we meet?”

[Come to the PC cafe in Shinjuku by 2 pm. It’s well soundproofed, perfect for private conversations.]

“Understood.”

I noted down the address of the PC cafe the Vice President mentioned in my notebook.

Before hanging up, I asked, just in case.

“How is the President?”

There was a moment of silence from the other end of the speaker.

Then the Vice President replied.

[She is not so weak that she needs your worry.]

The words of the Vice President, who usually acts foolish but becomes extremely competent regarding matters related to the President, gave me a strange sense of trust.

[Then I’ll hang up now. Don’t be late for our appointment.]

“Yes.”

After ending the call with the Vice President, who only said what he wanted, I, who had been lying on the floor without motivation, quickly checked the time.

12:30 PM.

It was quite tight to arrive by the appointment time of 2 p.m.

Unlike Korean PC bangs, Japanese PC cafes were quite private spaces.

Not only could you use high-performance computers in a cramped space barely big enough to lie down, but it was also a cheap place to stay and eat.

Visiting such a PC cafe for the first time, I hesitated momentarily at the vastness of the menu.

But that was only for a moment. As one of the many doors in the hallway opened, a familiar face popped out.

“Kim Yu-seong!”

“Vice President!”

The Vice President, who seemed to frequent this place and came out in a casual tracksuit and slippers, spoke briefly to the owner at the counter, asking for understanding since he’d only have a short talk, then pulled me into his room.

Inside was surely a room no bigger than 3 pyeong.

In an environment similar to a one-room in a goshiwon, the Vice President handed me a cushion for my seat and started speaking, arms crossed.

“The reason I called you here today is because there’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it that you need to tell me?”

The Vice President, not immediately speaking and pausing for a while, then said with a serious expression.

“The lady is getting engaged next month.”