"Please, go ahead." Kaguya's expression became slightly more serious.
Her words seemed to ease Senzaemon's expression a little.
"What I want to ask is... who is currently in charge of the Shinomiya family's food and beverage business...?" he asked, his voice thick with hesitation.
Naturally, there was a reason for that hesitation.
The cooperation the Nakiri family had previously been discussing with the Shinomiya family concerned the food and beverage industry.
This might not amount to much for the Shinomiya family, but for the Nakiri family—and even for Totsuki—it was an excellent chance to soar.
The person previously in charge of the Shinomiya family's food and beverage division had been Shinomiya Unyo.
Senzaemon had already learned part of the details regarding Unyo's current condition.
Whether he was in a vegetative state, dying, or unconscious, all kinds of rumors pointed to one fact: Unyo had suffered a great cursed.
For the Nakiri family, this was not good news, as the cooperation between the two sides had already reached a critical stage.
Now that Unyo had fallen, the cooperation itself was in danger of collapsing.
While the loss wouldn't amount to much for the Shinomiya family, it would be a severe blow to the Nakiris, potentially affecting their standing among the aristocratic households.
Part of the reason Senzaemon had come to the little restaurant today was to vent some of that pent-up depression.
That was why he asked the question, despite the risk of offending Kaguya.
A faintly dangerous arc appeared at the corner of Kaguya's mouth.
This was the first time Yuto had seen the girl look so sharp and authoritative.
"Come to think of it, Nakiri-san, you were planning to cooperate with my third brother before, weren't you?"
A trace of amusement laced Kaguya's tone.
Hayasaka had already risen respectfully to stand behind her mistress.
As a qualified maid, being able to read the situation was extremely important.
"Yes," Senzaemon answered steadily.
Even though the person before him was only a girl around the same age as his granddaughter, he did not dare take her lightly.
He had heard that the Shinomiya family's eldest daughter was a true genius, though young, she excelled in every regard.
"My third brother must have made quite a few excessive demands," Kaguya said calmly, her hand resting lightly on the counter.
Her posture carried a kind of silent sharpness and authority.
Senzaemon gave a bitter smile and nodded.
Back then, the demands Unyo had made had nearly caused him to explode on the spot.
He had long heard that the Shinomiya family's third son had a vile personality and a chaotic personal life, but only after making contact with him did he truly understand what those evaluations meant: Unyo had set his sights on his granddaughter!
Senzaemon had told no one, bearing it all alone.
When you bargain with a tiger, you cannot expect to get away unscathed.
That was why, when Yuto had earlier asked whether he was tired, since he looked so exhausted.
Now that Unyo had met with disaster, Senzaemon did in fact feel a certain degree of satisfaction inside.
"Yes," Senzaemon's nod made Erina look rather surprised.
From beginning to end, she had never known what Unyo's demand had been.
"Hmph. I suppose that makes sense. Nakiri-san, on behalf of my useless elder brother, I apologize for the excessive demands he made of you. I hope you will not form any prejudice against the Shinomiya family because of it," Kaguya said, giving Senzaemon a slight nod tinged with apology.
"Not at all. This old man is not so narrow-minded," Senzaemon hurriedly replied.
Though she was apologizing to him on the surface, that did not mean he could simply accept it at face value.
This was one of the unspoken rules of interaction between great families.
Since she had spoken under the Shinomiya name, he had to express his position politely.
Whether he felt willing or not, at this moment, he had to be willing.
"That's good. As for the question you asked earlier, I can answer it." The moment Kaguya spoke those words with a smile, Senzaemon's eyes lit up.
"Recently, because my third brother has been in poor health, Father has temporarily handed the food and beverage division over to me."
The Shinomiya family was a true giant, its reach extending into every industry.
As the third son, Unyo naturally controlled far more than just food and beverage.
After he was diagnosed as being in a vegetative state, Kaguya father divided up the authority in his hands, and the food and beverage division just happened to be assigned to Kaguya.
Senzaemon's expression changed, the turmoil in his heart extremely intense.
Under normal reasoning, this was the moment he ought to seek Kaguya's cooperation and assistance.
But last night, both the Shinomiya family's eldest and second sons had contacted him, hoping the Nakiri family would follow them.
The Shinomiya family had three sons, each with a chance to become the successor.
Because the Nakiri family had been close to Unyo, they had been seen as supporting him.
Now that he had fallen, the other two sons naturally wanted to seize the power under his control, recognizing the enormous value of the Nakiri family as one of the strongest mid-tier households.
The reason Senzaemon had not immediately agreed last night was because of his family's special nature.
The Nakiri family had essentially reached its current standing through cuisine alone.
If they turned away from that path, the currently flourishing Totsuki Academy would gradually head toward decline, a fate Senzaemon was unwilling to accept.
His original plan had been to wait and see whether the division would go to the eldest son or the second son, allowing him to choose a side and continue the previous cooperation.
He truly had not expected the division to be given to the daughter standing before him.
If he chose to cooperate with Kaguya now, it would amount to provoking both the eldest and second sons at the same time.
For a moment, his heart burned with anxiety.
"Nakiri-san, is there anything else you wish to ask?" Kaguya's calm words carried a certain invisible pressure, her gaze resting on Senzaemon almost as though judging him.
After a long silence, Senzaemon finally spoke. "I wish to continue the previous food and beverage cooperation with tyou."
That was, in effect, choosing a side.
Having politely declined both the eldest and second sons earlier, seeking cooperation with the eldest daughter now made his intentions clear, even if he claimed he had no choice, no one would believe him.
Senzaemon was like a man halfway up a perilous peak, unable to advance or retreat.
If he gave up the previous cooperation, the Nakiri family would suffer an enormous blow, and it was highly possible other families would move against them.
If he chose cooperation, he would be stepping into the proving ground of a great family's internal struggle.
Without realizing it, the Nakiri family and Senzaemon himself had already been drawn into the treacherous conflict within the Shinomiya family, so he might as well gamble on it.
He had heard that Kaguya's position within her family was not very good.
Though she was the eldest daughter, she had three elder brothers, making her fourth in line for succession—practically the same as having no chance at all.
Now that the third son had met with disaster, her place in the succession would rise, inevitably winning her a greater share of power.
Senzaemon didn't believe she lacked ambition.
He knew the Shinomiya family's creed well: Control without desiring, seize without taking, and never love anyone.
He did not believe a family with such an overbearing creed would raise a girl with the temperament of a meek lamb.
Kaguya's words and bearing had quietly conveyed a message: she, too, had her own designs!
"Good." Kaguya smiled faintly and lightly clapped her hands together, inwardly pleased.
If this had been before, she would only have wanted to live her life quietly.
But ever since Unyo became a vegetable last night, her situation within the family had become severe.
The attitudes of her eldest and second brothers had grown overbearing, even going so far as to threaten her life directly.
The tension had left her agitated.
Was she supposed to just endure? If she kept enduring, she might lose her life altogether.
Since things had reached this point, there was no need to endure anymore.
'Come then, brothers—let us fight it out,' she thought.
As long as Unyo did not wake up, she remained third in line, meaning she now possessed the right to contend.
The gem transaction she had arranged with Yuto today fueled her fighting spirit, and the cooperation with the Nakiri family left her feeling even more satisfied.
Her mind was clear, understanding perfectly what her greatest advantage currently was: the little restaurant.
She was endlessly grateful she had met Yuto that day in the thunderstorm.
Her fate had changed from the moment they met, more than half of her current situation had developed because of his indirect influence.
Thinking of that, her eyes drifted toward Yuto, ripples forming in her gaze like autumn water stirred by a breeze.
...
However, Yuto was in the kitchen at the moment and did not witness the scene, busy preparing Lucoa's grilled meat.
While Senzaemon and Kaguya conversed, Yuto remained oblivious to the maneuvering hidden behind their exchange.
In matters of family politics, only the two parties involved truly understood the stakes.
Compared to that, the grilled meat that had just finished cooking was much more important.
Taking it out of the oven, Yuto admired the plump, thick meat that seeped sizzling juices with a light press.
The crispy outer layer carried a faint golden color, hiding extremely tender, smooth meat beneath it.
Using a napkin, he lightly wiped away the juices that had splattered around the plate during roasting.
Inside the closed oven, the high heat caused the surface of the meat to split, sending juices spattering out.
While they were delicious, wiping them away made for a better presentation.
While he was busy in the kitchen, Shouko arrived at the restaurant, hoping to see Kanna.
Since Kanna wasn't coming today, the little girl was left very disappointed.
Carrying the grilled meat, Yuto walked over to Lucoa.
The dragon maid had long since been drooling over the dish, immediately asking for a great deal of alcohol.
"Why isn't Suika here yet?"
With a light flick of her finger, Lucoa popped open a bottle without needing an opener.
She seemed unusually dejected, disappointed by the lack of a drinking partner.
Having missed Suika last night, she had arrived early tonight, yet Suika still hadn't appeared.
The frustration of drinking alone left her downcast.
"Maybe she'll arrive in a little while," Yuto said lightly.
Though he smiled, he found it a little strange as well.
Over the past few days, the people of Gensokyo had always been among the first to arrive.
Having grown used to their noisy, lively atmosphere, their absence left him feeling a faint sense of something missing.
Hearing Yuto's words, Lucoa downed an entire bottle of alcohol, a faint drunken shimmer appearing on her face.
She looked like a lazy, languid woman with a touch of intoxication.
Yuto shook his head with mild helplessness, turning to the other side.
"How did school feel today, Shouko-chan?" he asked, looking at the little girl with concern.
Shouko's face brightened with joy and cheer.
Even without her saying anything, Yuto could already guess she had been very happy.
"I was really happy! Today I made lots of new friends, and I had lunch with everyone, and in gym class this afternoon I jumped rope with everyone too..."
The little girl happily recounted her day, counting on her fingers as she told Yuto one thing after another.
What had happened today was perfectly ordinary for a child, but for Shouko, it was an extraordinarily fresh experience.
Because of her disability, there had been many things she couldn't do before.
Chatting normally with everyone over lunch or playing jump rope beneath a bright sunny sky had once felt like unreachable dreams.
Back then, Shouko could only stare blankly out the window, watching the other children laugh and play.
It had been a beautiful kind of suffocation.
But now, she could finally be a part of it!
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