“…” Gensei’s eyebrow twitched at the demand as the atmosphere around him shifted. The polite host who had welcomed his granddaughter’s school friend into his home had vanished, replaced by the iron-willed head of the Suou family. Then, with a voice clearly gaining weight and intimidation, he said, “I have treated you as a schoolmate of my granddaughter’s since you stopped by yesterday. Are you making your demand with a full understanding of what that means?”
“Of course,” Masachika replied, straightforward and unfazed. Gensei, however, took a few steps closer, his gaze boring down on Masachika while radiating an intense aura.
“Then I will start treating you as a boy who has abandoned his family. You realize that you have no right to complain, even if I kick you out right now?”
Masachika endured Gensei’s crushing presence at point-blank range—the kind that would make even a grown man crumble—yet he didn’t flinch as he returned his gaze. In fact, he was actually relieved, because this confirmed that there was no lingering animosity or disgust in his grandfather’s eyes. This intimidation was mere theater. The man towering over him was first and foremost a calculating realist, and that meant there was nothing to fear.
“But even then, you’re not going to kick me out, because you understand that my proposal could benefit the Suou family.”
Gensei studied him in silence, taking in the young man’s unwavering stance and bold declaration. The seconds stretched taut between them before Gensei finally turned on his heel, circled to the far side of his desk, sat down in his creaking chair, and clasped his hands over the desktop. Then, slightly softening his intimidating aura, he said:
“All right, let’s hear it. How could the Suou family possibly benefit by accepting you back into the family?”
Masachika approached the desk, then plainly stated:
“It’s simple. With me, you get a more talented successor than Yuki to take over the family.”
Gensei narrowed his eyes at the young man’s audacity, leaning back in his chair before quietly and matter-of-factly replying:
“Yes, in terms of natural talent, Yuki cannot even compare to you.” He genuinely acknowledged Masachika’s genius, then coldly declared, “But that’s your only redeeming quality. For the past six years, Yuki has consistently exceeded my expectations. But you? What have you accomplished since leaving this house?”
It was like he knew of Masachika’s lazy, self-indulgent lifestyle, and he relentlessly continued as if he could see right through his grandson.
“You, who have learned nothing, refined none of your skills, and improved nothing about yourself? You, who have let the talent you were born with go to waste while you continued to neglect your duty as someone gifted? Does this sound like someone who is going to become a more suitable successor than Yuki? The arrogance,” barked Gensei dismissively, before changing his demeanor and speaking in a more indifferent manner.
“In addition, you already abandoned this family once. Inviting you back into the family would be disrespecting Yuki—the current successor—and my decision as the head of the Suou family, and I would never do anything to tarnish the Suou family name.”
But Masachika’s reply was simple, brief, and to the point.
“Now, that’s a lie. If you really felt that way, then you would have immediately kicked me off the property and never even taken the time to hear me out.”
Once he directly refuted Gensei’s assertion, he proceeded to explain his reasoning.
“Inviting me back into the family isn’t going to tarnish the Suou family name, because this family is known as a meritocracy that believes in rationalism.”
Masachika’s assessment of Gensei as a cold rationalist wasn’t mere personal observation. Not only Gensei, but the entire Suou clan was regarded by the nation’s elite as brilliantly calculating yet ruthlessly detached—a family that didn’t allow personal feelings to cloud their judgement, even within their own ranks.
In fact, after Masachika left home, Gensei had treated him as though he had never even existed. No matter how much he had doted on his grandson long ago, he ruthlessly erased his very existence the instant he became an outsider. This cold-bloodedness was the essence of the Suou family, so even if the successor’s position shifted from Yuki to Masachika, the act itself wouldn’t tarnish the Suou family’s reputation. All that mattered was if the decision was logical.
“I abandoned this family once? What’s important to you—to the Suou family—is who is a more suitable successor.”
Neither affirming nor denying the assertion, Gensei flatly replied:
“Even then, that still doesn’t mean you’re qualified to become my successor. You have accomplished nothing. You are not even worth considering.”
“While I admit I have been wasting my life away ever since leaving this house…it’s not like I haven’t accomplished anything, and I produce results that even you’ll be impressed with.”
Masachika then placed his hands on the desktop, met Gensei’s gaze firmly, and asserted:
“I will use my experience and connections from supporting Yuki as the vice president in middle school to get Alisa Kujou elected as the student council president. Then, I will take Yuki’s place in the First Light Committee. That’s how I’m going to prove to you that I’m worthy.”
He wasn’t going to appeal to emotion, since that would be pointless with Gensei.
“I’m going to win the election a second time with a different partner, which will secure my spot in the committee. Meanwhile, Yuki will fall short in the election without my support and thus lose her spot in the committee. Once that happens, it should be plain as day which of us is more suitable to take over the family.”
He wouldn’t grovel, either, since that wasn’t how Gensei had taught him to negotiate. Instead, he kept his head high, met Gensei’s gaze directly, and repeated:
“So again, I want you to make me your successor once I defeat Yuki in the election and am accepted into the First Light Committee.”
Gensei held his grandson’s gaze as silence stretched between them, then slowly responded:
“…Very well.”
“…!”
“If you claim victory over Yuki in the election and prove you are worthy for the First Light Committee…then I will welcome you back into the Suou family.”
Masachika nearly surrendered to relief…until Gensei uttered a single, devastating word, “However,” instantly forcing his grandson to brace himself once more.
“I will still not make you my successor just yet, though. This will merely put you on equal footing with Yuki.”
In other words, he was only being placed at the starting line of the succession race, but that was fine. Yuki likely had no interest in leading the Suou family, nor any burning desire to become a diplomat. And with no reason to compete, it would simply be a matter of Yuki willingly withdrawing herself from the race.
“That’s fine.”
Masachika truly felt relief this time, but he didn’t let it show as he comfortably sat up straight and nodded. However, the conversation wasn’t over yet.
“In addition, you cannot run for vice president.”
“…What?”
“If you want to defeat Yuki, then you have to fight for the same position as her. That much should be obvious.”
Gensei’s demeanor made it clear to his speechless grandson that this was non-negotiable.
“If you win the election, successfully manage the student council as president for one year, and are able to be accepted into the First Light Committee, then and only then will I acknowledge you as a candidate to become my successor.”