THE living room fell silent. But at most, the silence only lasted half a minute or so. Manabu and Miharu sat side by side on one sofa. On the sofa across from them sat Tsukasa next to Tsubaki. Sandwiched between such impressive couples sat Satsuki on an armchair. Standing on hand behind her was Shindo.
Satsuki’s eyes fell on the handful of documents spread across the living room table before her. “In other words...” she broke the silence and picked up the documents, “...you’re telling me to pick my future husband from these four gentlemen?”
The documents were background checks of the four young men. All four came from good families and were considered to have promising futures. If Satsuki chose any of them, there was no doubt that together they would be able to bring Tsujikawa Corporation to new heights.
“There are actually five...” Tsukasa corrected.
His initial fear that she would scream, “Not in your life!” seemed unwarranted. The furrow in Satsuki’s brow was concerning, but he felt mostly relief as he turned to face Manabu. “Manabu is recommending the fifth...but the documents aren’t ready yet.”
“I should have them in order soon. The person in question isn’t in a position to present himself here yet, so please give me some time,” Manabu explained.
Satsuki wondered if that “suitor” was abroad. When Manabu finished delivering his explanation, he stole a quick glance at Miharu, who was fuming at his side the whole time.
Miharu was in a foul mood, which was hardly surprising. She knew how Satsuki and Shindo felt for one another. She was the one person who hoped everything worked out for them.
When Manabu first confided, “Satsuki must pick her future husband on her birthday,” she was thunderstruck. Learning that Manabu was an accomplice in this scheme threw her into the abyss of despair. Yet that was not the end of what troubled Miharu. There was one other thing she found simply outrageous.
“Isn’t this...” Satsuki gasped. As she shuffled through the documents, one stilled her hand. She stared so intensely at one of the background checks, she could burn a hole in it. Noticing Satsuki’s peculiar reaction, Shindo snuck a peek at the document from his position behind her. Much like Satsuki, his eyes also rounded in surprise.
“Takemi...Kaido?” That biker—Takemi Kaido—was among Satsuki’s potential suitors. But he was already betrothed to Alice. “Why is he a candidate?”
For Satsuki to ask that, Tsukasa assumed she must already know the boy. Mistaking her inquisition for interest, he merrily replied, “He was studying in America until just a few days ago. He’s the president of Kaido Financial Group’s fourth son. Although he’s your age, he’s already earned a college degree. I’ve heard that he’s far brighter than all three of his older brothers. Despite being the youngest, he could potentially wind up next in line to take over the Kaido Financial Group.”
“His background is quite similar to your father’s. That’s what drew his attention to the boy,” Tsubaki interjected. Tsukasa nodded enthusiastically in agreement.
“The other three—four if you include Manabu’s recommendation—have at least a good decade on you. I thought it might give you a better perspective if I included someone your own age,” Tsukasa added.
But Satsuki killed Tsukasa’s good mood with her harsh quip, “I’ve heard he is betrothed to one of my friends at school. So why is he even considered an option...?”
“Bluntly put, he stood out as the single most promising young man during the elimination process. The Kaidos are aware of the situation and give their full support. If you choose him, they will call off his current engagement,” Tsukasa clarified, unbothered by what that meant.
Satsuki was struck speechless. In order to choose the finest caliber of candidates possible, her father went so far as to include a promised man. Alice claimed she didn’t know why Takemi Kaido suddenly returned from America, but if there was a chance he could marry the future president of Tsujikawa Corporation, his parents would do whatever it took to make him return to Japan.
“Oh, and one more thing,” Tsukasa began somewhat awkwardly. His eyes darted toward Manabu.
Feeling Tsukasa’s eyes on him, Manabu focused his attention on the older man and gave a sharp nod. Then he turned to Shindo, who was looking down at Satsuki in a daze from his position behind her.
“Mr. Shindo, I’d like you to hear this as well,” Manabu began somewhat gravely, causing Shindo to look up.
In truth, the news that Satsuki must choose one of these candidates to be her future spouse filled Shindo with inner turmoil. Nevertheless, he maintained a mask of calm composure, as did Satsuki...
Once he had their full attention, Tsukasa delivered a fateful announcement to Satsuki and Shindo. “After Satsuki picks her fiancé, I will have you step down from your position as retainer, Shindo.”
“I won’t stand for this!” The shout was not issued from Satsuki with ears burning from the declaration, let alone from Shindo.
“It isn’t right! It’s outright preposterous!” It came from Miharu, who had been scowling at Manabu’s side the whole evening.
“You can’t make Mr. Shindo step down! That’s crazy! It’s ludicrous!” Springing from the sofa, Miharu gave the older man on the sofa across from her a piece of her mind. Then she glanced over at Satsuki.
Satsuki’s eyes were bulging. Although her mouth was slightly ajar, no sound came out. But it didn’t slip past Miharu how her lips slightly trembled. Without realizing it, Satsuki began to clench the documents so tightly that large wrinkles were forming in the papers. Although she was able to somehow feign calm when she heard about the fiancé situation, this proved too much for her. Shindo was in a similar situation. With eyes wide open, he looked as though he were aghast.
It was the most improbable of announcements. To think Shindo would be released from his position as retainer! Who could have predicted such a thing? Both were convinced it was impossible for him to lose his position.
“Hasn’t Mr. Shindo served at Satsuki’s side since she was an infant? He knows what she’s thinking and doing better than anyone. So why are you pulling her best confidant away from her?!” Miharu desperately pleaded their case to Tsukasa.
When Manabu told Miharu, “To be honest, we have to distance Mr. Shindo from Satsuki” at the same time he confided about the suitors, the icy chill that seized her heart nearly froze it solid. There was no way they could do that. Those two must not be torn apart! Her heart writhed wildly, torn in agony for the young lady she viewed like a sister.