"Grandfather Izumi, Grandmother Izumi, it's been a while."
Arisu Sakayanagi bowed deeply in proper etiquette.
"Alright, no need to be so formal," Yakken Izumi said with a calm wave of his hand. "Those manners are only necessary in front of outsiders. Among family, you don't need to restrain yourself so much. Relax, have a seat.
"Last time your grandfather came to drink with me, I asked about your recovery. He said you've made some progress.
"That's good. But don't rush it—take things one step at a time. If you push yourself too hard and end up injured again, little Kotomi will surely be upset."
"Speaking of that, I should thank you, Grandfather Izumi, for allowing us to drive through your private grounds," Arisu said, rising to express her gratitude.
She walked to sit opposite Yakken Izumi and Harumari Izumi, set down her cane, and took a seat politely. A tea table separated them.
"There's no need for thanks," Yakken said mildly. "You and your grandfather have known each other for half your lives. Though you're business rivals, you've always respected each other as friends. Besides, if I had made you walk all the way here— even if your maid had pushed you in a wheelchair—Kotomi would have scolded me for it. That little devil isn't easy to appease when she gets upset."
Yakken's tone softened only when speaking of his granddaughters.
Indeed, in this world, the only people who could throw tantrums at the head of the Izumi family were his granddaughters—Kotomi Izumi and Aimi Izumi.
They were the very treasures of the Izumi family, its beloved jewels.
As the saying goes, affection skips a generation. Yakken was known for being strict with his sons. Even his most favored—his eldest, Kaneyoshi Izumi—seldom saw his father smile. As for Kazuma Izumi, arguments between father and son were practically guaranteed every time they met.
But with his two granddaughters, Yakken's demeanor was completely different. He spoiled them endlessly, his face always soft with a smile. He had never once raised his voice or shown sternness before them.
Harumari Izumi, a traditional woman by nature, never interrupted when her husband spoke. She sat quietly, brewing tea with graceful movements. In her later years, she had grown fond of tea culture.
This tea table itself was her idea. The room originally hadn't contained one, but when Harumari mentioned wanting a proper tea table, Yakken had a custom piece made exactly to her specifications.
Once the table arrived, tea leaves and utensils were all that was missing. But before they could even purchase them, various families and companies—upon learning of Harumari's new interest—began sending expensive tea sets and rare teas as gifts.
Despite the flood of lavish offerings, Harumari had politely declined them all, maintaining her refined smile.
When Yakken learned of this, he told her, "You could keep a few you like, you know."
Harumari simply smiled and replied, "As the wife of the Izumi family head, if I start accepting gifts just because of some tea leaves and teacups, that would make me quite unfit for my position. I'm no tea master, after all. I just enjoy it as a pastime. Those rare teas would only go to waste if I tried to brew them. I'll buy the ones I like myself."
After preparing two cups of green tea, Harumari first set one by her husband's hand, then gently placed the other in front of Arisu.
"Be careful, Arisu dear, it's a little hot," Harumari said softly.
"Thank you, Grandmother Izumi."
Arisu nodded, expressing her gratitude. She took a small sip—the green tea was mild and refreshing, its warmth melting away the fatigue of her journey.
Not that the trip had been all that tiring. Most of it had been spent in first class, and upon landing, she'd gone straight to the car. Still, the hot tea brought a sense of calm and ease.
After a few moments of polite conversation, Yakken Izumi finally spoke, getting straight to the point.
"Arisu," Yakken Izumi began, his voice calm yet knowing, "I can already guess the reason you came today. Your grandfather hinted at it last time we shared a drink. We both chose not to say it outright back then, but now that you've come here yourself, your feelings for Kotomi are clear. So, let's not dance around the topic—just say what you came to say."
Arisu Sakayanagi nodded firmly. Compared to moments earlier, she sat even straighter, her posture dignified yet tense. The thought that she was about to formally propose filled her with a mix of nerves and excitement. Soon—very soon—she might be engaged to Kotomi Izumi.
"Arisu, do you truly want to be in a relationship with Kotomi?"
Yakken didn't immediately bring up the topic of marriage. As the Izumi family head, he was rather open-minded when it came to his granddaughter's future. Had he been conservative, the moment he heard that another girl wished to marry Kotomi, he would have refused outright.
The Izumi family didn't place much emphasis on matching social status. Yakken believed that as long as two people were sincerely in love, and their values and perspectives aligned, differences in family background didn't matter much.
Of course, it was rare to find lovers from different worlds whose outlooks matched so perfectly.
After all, differing upbringings led to entirely different ways of thinking.
But in this case, Kotomi Izumi and Arisu Sakayanagi came from nearly identical backgrounds—wealthy, well-educated, and raised in families that valued refinement and intellect.
A perfect match.
Thus, what mattered most now was determining whether their affection for each other was genuine.
Was it fleeting infatuation—or a bond so deep that they truly saw each other as their only one?
"Not just a relationship," Arisu replied firmly, her tone resolute. "A relationship isn't my goal. I want to marry Kotomi!"
Her answer came so quickly and decisively that both Yakken and Harumari Izumi were caught off guard. Couldn't she at least hesitate for a moment? But no—Arisu spoke as if reciting an answer she had already confirmed countless times in her heart.
"Marriage is not something to take lightly," Yakken said gently, his tone shifting to that of a patient elder. "After marriage, passion naturally fades over time. What remains are trust and care—love transforming into companionship. And since you're both girls, having children may be difficult, though there are ways around that, such as adoption."
He wasn't discouraging her—just making sure she had truly thought things through.
His granddaughter had been claimed, so to speak, by another girl who had now come all the way here to propose.
His precious, innocent, and pure-hearted Kotomi! He had to be cautious about this.
To put it bluntly, it was a good thing Arisu was a girl. If she had been a boy, Yakken wouldn't be sitting there having a calm conversation—he'd be standing in front of his weapons rack, picking out something suitable.
Maybe a fully loaded automatic rifle. Maybe a Barrett sniper rifle. There were plenty to choose from—and if firearms didn't feel satisfying enough, there were melee weapons and even rocket launchers to consider.
"Damn it! My granddaughter Kotomi just entered high school and you're already after her? Let's see if you can survive my aim first!"
Arisu then reached into her pocket and took out a notebook, placing it gently on the table with both hands.
"Grandfather Izumi, please take a look at what's written inside this notebook."
Yakken nodded and opened it. His brows furrowed slightly as he turned the first page—then his expression froze.
Inside were countless names, divided neatly into two columns—one for 'Izumi' and one for 'Sakayanagi.'
He flipped through several more pages. His mouth opened slightly, though no sound came out, only a faint look of speechless surprise.
Every page was filled with names Arisu had carefully written by hand.
"All of these names… you came up with them yourself?"
Yakken Izumi set the notebook down, his tone carrying a hint of surprise. "You came up with all these names yourself?" he asked.
Not a single one of the names Arisu had written was repeated, and each was clearly chosen with care. As he'd flipped through them earlier, Yakken had even thought to himself: When my great-grandchildren are born, maybe one of these names would suit them.
Arisu's expression grew serious as she spoke.
"I want Kotomi and me to have children together. With that dream in mind, I came up with many names. About what you said regarding children—I've given it a lot of thought. There are techniques now that can allow two women to have their own biological child. But after looking into it, I learned that the process still carries significant risks. I don't want Kotomi to face any danger.
"The moment she ran into the fire to save me, I made a promise—to protect her for the rest of my life, to never let her face pain or hardship again.
"That's why, after we're married, when she's ready, I plan for us to adopt a few children. These are the names I've come up with for them—not that we'll have this many, of course, but I wanted to prepare plenty so Kotomi can choose the ones she likes.
"As for whether the children will bear the Izumi name or the Sakayanagi name… that will be entirely up to her."
As she said this, Arisu stood up abruptly. In her haste, she forgot her cane, and her steps faltered slightly as she made her way toward Yakken and Harumari Izumi.
Harumari instinctively reached out, worried the girl might fall.
"Grandfather Izumi, Grandmother Izumi…"
Before she could lose her balance, Arisu knelt down before them, lowering her head.
"I will spend my entire life proving that I can protect Kotomi—that I am someone worthy of her trust and love. Please, allow me… to marry Kotomi Izumi!"
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