Ryunosuke stroked the hair of the girl in his arms, gesturing for her to stop her sobbing.
Ai began to play the part of the spoiled sweetheart, burrowing deeper into his chest as she sought comfort and warmth. Ryunosuke had little choice but to hold her tight, steadying her frazzled heart.
It was exactly at that moment that an unfamiliar voice rang out.
"My, my~ are you two a couple?"
Hearing the intrusion, Ryunosuke and Ai reflexively turned their heads. They saw a beautiful girl with short black hair and a lively aura. Her face bore a 70% resemblance to Yukino, and she was watching them without so much as a blink.
Ai and Ryunosuke spontaneously broke their embrace, their brows furrowing. Realizing she had become a third wheel, Haruno waved her hand with an awkward chuckle.
"Haha, sorry for interrupting your little moment."
However, Haruno's reaction felt entirely half-hearted, leaving them both with a distinct lack of sincerity. Ai narrowed her eyes, eyeing this beautiful older sister with sharp suspicion. "Who are you?"
Haruno proceeded to introduce herself.
"Hello! My name is Yukinoshita Haruno, Yukino's big sister~"
Haruno gave a mischievous wink and moved straight toward her primary objective. She stepped right up to Ryunosuke, studying him from a dangerously close distance with intense curiosity.
Ryunosuke felt a bit stifled by the sudden pressure.
"May I ask, Yukinoshita Haruno-san, what business do you have with me?"
Ryunosuke naturally knew who she was, but he had to maintain his cover of ignorance. Haruno then produced a business card from her pocket.
"Hello. My family is in the construction business. After you graduate, would you be interested in working for me?"
"I can provide the highest level of facilities—I'd even make you the CEO of one of our public companies immediately."
The position of CEO—the top leader responsible for heading the board of directors, representing the company's interests, and serving as the core architect of business strategy. In short, it was the seat of ultimate decision-making power.
Haruno's cunning intent was crystal clear; she had come here for the sole purpose of headhunting talent.
Just as Ryunosuke was about to speak, a wary Ai stepped in to shield him, making the executive decision on his behalf.
"I'm sorry, but my man will be working at my company after graduation. So, Yukinoshita-san, you've come all this way for nothing."
Ai stood with her hands on her hips, her aura shifting drastically into that of a sovereign ruler—a far cry from her usual kuudere persona. Perhaps this was the true radiance of a daughter to a Fortune 500 tycoon. The only reason she acted ordinary before was because she felt no need to show off, not because she didn't know how to negotiate.
Ryunosuke could only offer a bitter smile. Ai was certainly bold, making unilateral decisions for him. But no matter; since she was the "first wife," he would simply indulge her. He truly did cherish her, after all.
Besides, Ai was the one tasked with managing the "three palaces and six pavilions" of his harem. Without her management, Ryunosuke's personal life would have descended into chaos long ago.
On the other side, Megumi watched with a deep, piercing gaze, the dagger behind her back already unsheathed. If it weren't for the fact that her eldest sister, Ai, was present, she would have already pressed the blade to Haruno's throat. She sensed this woman was dangerous—a potential predator after her man.
Seeing her goal thwarted, Haruno pivoted to Plan B. She suddenly blurred forward, bypassing Ai's defensive line to bring her face inches from Ryunosuke's.
"Nee... if you agree to Big Sis's offer, I might even consider going on a date with you, you know~"
Haruno gave a faint, knowing smile. Her shoulder-length black hair, tinged with purple at the tips, radiated a subtle scent of blue roses. Combined with her mysterious smirk, she looked captivating—a mature woman who had mastered the art of seduction.
To her, as long as she could hijack this man to her side, a little self-sacrifice was no issue. At most, she'd let him hold her hand or some other triviality; anything else was off the table. Haruno was no fool; this was all just negotiation capital.
Faced with Haruno's temptation, Ryunosuke remained unmoved.
"I'm sorry. Your terms are enticing, but I suggest you take them back... otherwise, you might die."
Haruno frowned. "What do you mean—?"
Suddenly, she felt a biting chill at her neck. Megumi had pressed a dagger against her skin, her eyes devoid of warmth.
(Just as I thought... this woman is here to steal my man...)
Beads of cold sweat formed on Haruno's forehead. She hadn't even noticed how the girl had appeared or drawn the weapon. Ryunosuke merely shrugged helplessly. Tempting him right in front of his two wives? That was a death wish.
Megumi pressed the blade a fraction closer. Haruno immediately raised both hands above her head in surrender.
(Good grief! Is this school really this dangerous?!) Haruno screamed internally. She immediately apologized, admitting her mistake for teasing Ryunosuke.
Only then did Megumi retract the knife, standing back beside Ai with a blank, expressionless face. Haruno clutched her chest, breathing a sigh of relief. It was the first time she had felt that close to the reaper. Still, she looked up and remarked half-jokingly to Ai:
"Is she your bodyguard? Incredible... I didn't even realize she'd moved."
Ai shook her head. "She isn't my bodyguard, nor my subordinate. She is my sister. We both serve the same husband."
Haruno looked between them. "I see..." Surprisingly, she didn't find it that strange. A great man being surrounded by great women was a common enough tale.
What made the least sense to her was that Ai's family background far outstripped Ryunosuke's. Ryunosuke should have been nothing more than a son-in-law living off his wife's wealth; how could such a unique power dynamic exist? Haruno couldn't wrap her head around it.
If Ai knew what Haruno was thinking, she would have answered resignedly: You think I want to share? Who doesn't want exclusive love? But the girls Ryunosuke attracts aren't exactly ordinary!
Many had backgrounds even loftier than hers. There was Arisu, the daughter of the chairman who held total power over the school. Then there was Hiyori, the third daughter of the Shiina family, who sat at the lower tier of the Big Four Zaibatsu.
One should never underestimate the weight of the Big Four. Even the current Prime Minister of Japan only held his seat thanks to the support of the Koenji Zaibatsu (one of the top three). And that wasn't even mentioning the two most terrifying entities at the top: the Shijo family and the Shinomiya Zaibatsu.
Particularly the heart of Japan itself, the Shinomiya Zaibatsu—their wealth was beyond comprehension. Their total assets exceeded 200 trillion yen (roughly 20 times the wealth of Bill Gates), overseeing thousands of subsidiaries. Their scale was comparable to the treasury of a major nation.