"Sorry for making you see such an unsightly scene, Nifuji-kun."
Tsukiko quickly calmed down, as she looked at Nifuji with a happy smile, then looked at her first daughter, Hina, with a satisfied smile, since she had never expected Hina's boyfriend to be this handsome!
"No, I am sorry for being late too, as I am not even coming to help with the move, and also, it might not be much, but please accept this. I bought something for all of you."
"Oh, no, you don't have to trouble yourselves, you know?"
"No, it's fine. I don't know whether it is your taste, but it is quite famous, so those are famous things from various regions."
"....."
Tsukiko had already forgotten about Rui's problem, and she quickly put her attention to the souvenirs that were brought by Nifuji, which were a collection of Hokkaido Melons, Shine Muscat Grapes, Suntory Hibiki, Matcha Sets from Ippudo, and Toraya Yokan.
While Tsukiko, Akihito, and Natsuo were dumbfounded, as they knew that each of those things that were bought by Nifuji was expensive, Hina and Rui, who had seen how generous and wealthy he was, smiled proudly, as they knew well that with him, everything would be okay.
It might be quite materialistic, but what could Nifuji say?
To make the parents believe that he had the ability to take care of Hina and Rui, naturally, he should flex, or else, they wouldn't be able to believe him, right?
Yes, there were many ways for one to get the permission of the parents, but without a doubt, the fastest way was money. Since he had money, he could take care of Hina.
Still, the most important way, without a doubt, is the attitude.
The fact that Nifuji was polite, gentle, and soft-spoken was the reason why Tsukiko quickly accepted him. Despite having such a wealthy status, he didn't disrespect her and treated her like an elder (yes, she is), and that is what made him easily accepted.
Or rather, even Akihito, the stepfather, nodded, thinking that Hina chose the right man.
Only, Natsuo was bitter, as he understood why Hina chose Nifuji instead, and this feeling made him feel inferior.
Yet, what could he do?
Natsuo was just a child, and he was still dreaming about being a writer, but Nifuji was already a complete product, someone who had been in society for so long, for a long time different from him, who had just come out from soceity... no, he hadn't even come out. He was still a child in the eyes of many.
Still, what annoyed him the most was how Nifuji never thought much about him.
'So, you have never seen me as your competitor, huh?'
If it were other men, they would feel jealous or want Natsuo to leave as soon as possible, but Nifuji didn't seem to care about Natsuo at all as if... in his eyes, it was impossible for Natsuo to get Hina to begin with.
'You bastard...!'
Natsuo clenched his fists, but the conversation suddenly turned to his job, and also Rui's future.
"I am working on the infrastructure."
"Infrastructure?"
"Yes, my company owns several real estate properties and several infrastructure, such as ports, water utility, electric farms..."
Nifuji didn't like it as he owned many properties, and also infrastructure, even though it was about to begin.
Still, what was his goal?
His goal was probably to create an infinite loop of profit where he got the money from mineral water, the bottle, the truck that moved the goods, the supermarkets, and many others.
Yup, he hadn't changed his goal, and that was to create his own Shogo Sosa, and the first step he had to do was to control the logistics, since without the logistics, everything was meaningless.
Nifuji knew that he could create the best product, but if the product couldn't arrive in front of the customers, it was meaningless, right?
Yes, while it was boring, no, it was because it was boring that he chose to do it, since without those boring things, every exciting thing wouldn't be able to appear in front of everyone's eyes.
"I see. It's a great company."
What could Tsukiko say?
She wasn't that smart, since if she were smart, her two daughters definitely wouldn't make a lot of mess in their romantic lives, but fortunately, her two daughters met the better one now.
Still, unfortunately, the result was the same, as it was impossible for Nifuji to marry Hina or Rui.
Regardless, due to his competence, Tsukiko told her to worry about Rui. "What do you think of it, Nifuji-san?"
"Chef? Isn't that a good profession? If she wants to, I can help her go to the best culinary school."
"Eh? Culinary school?!"
This time, it was Rui who was dumbfounded. "Isn't it expensive? And, I can work under my father's restaurant..." She had encountered her real father before, and she had been thinking of working under her father, as her father made the restaurant this time.
"If that's what you want, then it is fine, but if you decide to study, you study under many teachers. Working under your father might help you learn all his skills, but school can teach you many cuisines, from Western and Chinese to Japanese and beyond. Or, do you just want to learn one type of genre instead of trying other things?"
"That's..."
"There is also a new genre of cooking by combining technology with gastronomy."
"T-Technology...?!"
Rui was in a daze, never thought of that possibility before.
"More importantly, by entering the culinary school, you can get the licenses."
"Licences?"
"The National Cook License, Certification of Cooking Skills for Japanese Cuisine, Food Sanitation Manager, Confectionery Hygiene Master, Fugu (Pufferfish) Preparation License, Sake Sommelier, or Tea Specialist, and those licenses can also work internationally, and if you want to, you might be able to get various other licenses in Western countries.
"If you just own a restaurant, you can go bankrupt, but if you own many licenses, you can live easily without being afraid of the unstable career that comes from owning a restaurant, and your customers will be reassured by your restaurant if they know that you own so many of those licenses."
"..." Rui.
"Lastly..."
"Lastly?"
"It will make your mother relieved that you can live on your own, as you can have a stable life by graduating from the school, and believe that you don't choose this profession just because you want to spit on her."
Rui blinked her eyes as she looked at her mother.
Tsukiko took a deep breath, then said, "If you join the culinary school, then I don't mind..."
"R-Really?"
"Yes." Tsukiko sighed helplessly. "Working in society is hard. Don't underestimate it. Spirit and passion that the characters in the manga used are all a lie since you need to follow the rules; if not, you can't live, and as your mother, I just hope that you live well."
"Thank you, Mom..."
Rui hugged her mother as she cried, and decided to do her best for her dream, and the first step that she had to take was to enter the culinary school.
Yet, without a doubt, this problem was far from over, as someone kept staring at this warm scene, wishing to destroy it to pieces.