Tenryu continued, “Thinking back to when we were both young, we had always loved each other… It is so obvious to us now. But after a series of misunderstandings between us, we went our separate ways. I went on to marry my arranged fiancée, and your grandmother and I were very happy. The rest you already know. It’s been ten years since she passed away. I feel as if I have completed my duty, and I hope she will allow me to move forward in life.”
“That’s why you got the convertible and are now with Chiyo-san,” Saito muttered. “Glad you’re openly enjoying this late-life crisis of yours…”
Chiyo cupped her wrinkled blushed cheeks with her hands and replied shyly, “My husband also passed away long ago. Tenryu-san makes me happy and satisfies me every night.”
“I don’t want to hear about that, Grandma!” Akane screeched. Her face was bright red. For the first time, Saito actually agreed with her. They hoped they weren’t going to be forced to hear the frank details on their grandparents’ sex life over dinner.
Tenryu cleared his throat and explained, “So…here’s the thing. Even though we went on to have a family with different partners and were relatively happy with them, we always find ourselves wondering what would have happened if we had ended up with each other way back then. If it had happened, we’re sure it would have been quite splendid. In our stead, we hope that you two will make that happen. You would be fulfilling our ultimate fantasy.”
“Marry Saito-kun for me, won’t you, Akane dear?” Chiyo gently suggested.
“No! That’s so selfish of you, Grandma! Marriage should be a fruit borne of love, of the long process by which a person falls in love with someone special, they court, and when the time is right, a romantic proposal is made. Most importantly, marriage is something that should be done by choice, not something to be forced into by others!” Akane retorted.
Saito was rather surprised. He couldn’t help himself.
“Wow, I never knew you were such a romantic ingénue, Akane.”
“No, no! It’s not that, this is just common sense!” Akane declared.
“I refuse this arrangement too. I’ll be super unhappy guaranteed if I get married to her,” added Saito.
“What?! You should be so lucky! If somehow you ever married me, you would be the most fortunate, happiest guy on the planet,” Akane fumed.
“Well, wait…do you want to get married or not?” asked Saito.
“No way! Especially not to you, not over my dead body!” Akane crossed her arms and turned her face away from Saito. She was so mad, even her ears were red. Saito shrugged and turned his attention to Tenryu.
“I guess that’s all there is to be said. Sorry. We have no intention or desire to marry each other. You can’t force someone to marry in this day and age in Japan—so please, let it go,” Saito told Tenryu.
“Hoo hoo…hoo hoo…”
“Hee hee…hee hee…”
Tenryu and Chiyo burst out into laughter, their bodies swaying. They were completely unfazed. It was as if a royal couple had just watched some form of supreme entertainment.
“Wh-what’s so funny…?” Akane winced.
“We knew you would refuse. It’s just like looking at Chiyo and me in our youth… Exactly like us,” muttered Tenryu, his voice slightly melancholic.
The next moment, however, his eyes blinked into an evil glare. Tenryu clapped his hands, and the door swung opened.
Tenryu’s secretary entered the room with a scruffy-looking dog. The poor dog, despite wearing a collar, was obviously a stray. His dull coat was smeared with mud and dirt, and his nose was covered in snot.
“Saito, if you don’t do as I say, I will hand down my legacy as the head of the Houjou Group to this dog,” Tenryu declared.
“Is that dog even yours?!”
“No, I randomly picked him off the street. I admit, his administrative ability and leadership skill may be a bit questionable,” Tenryu coolly stated.
“That is a dog, Grandpa! He can’t even stamp something for approval!”
Saito was stunned.
The sad-looking dog was obviously untrained—he was taking a dump on the tatami mat in the middle of the gorgeous room of this exclusive restaurant. Afterward, he jumped on top of the table and started voraciously devouring sashimi and meat as he pleased. The world was his spiny lobster.
“We can work around the dog’s limitations. In fact, my managing director could have his paws dipped in ink and make his paw stamp an official thumbprint. No problem,” Tenryu said.
“Thumbprint or not…a nonhuman being can’t enter into a binding contract!” Saito pointed out.
“You might be right. I guess that means after I die, it’ll be the end of the Houjou Group,” quipped Tenryu.
“Have you gone out of your mind, Grandpa?” Saito glared at him in disbelief. “You don’t really believe this dog can run your business, do you?”
Tenryu smiled from ear to ear, but his eyes remained dead serious. No way he’s for real… Would Grandpa really let go of his business for such an incredibly ridiculous reason…?
Saito held his head in his hands and moaned. Tenryu was known as an unconventional tycoon—after all, he’d deemed his own oldest son and expected heir, Saito’s father, incapable, kicking him out of the enterprise without even giving him an executive post. The rumor was Tenryu had ice-cold blood running through his every vein and a heart of stone.
Chiyo beckoned Akane over.
“Come here, Akane.”
Chiyo whispered something into Akane’s ear.
“…!”
Akane’s face froze. She started trembling.
Tenryu nodded and solemnly began speaking once more.
“Think hard and well you two. What is truly in your best interest? Don’t get carried away by passing emotions. See the reality of the situation for yourselves, and let us know what you want. The deadline is the day after tomorrow.”
Later that evening, Tenryu and Chiyo hopped into the convertible and left to go sightseeing. Meanwhile, Saito found himself next to Akane in a taxi back home. The two of them sat side by side on plasticky-smelling white pleather car seats. Only the back of the driver’s head was visible, but his hair tonic permeated the entire car. The taxi glided through the boulevard, the bright blue illumination of the night visible through the windows. Saito was deep in thought. Akane opened her mouth to speak.
“M-marriage…” Akane tightened her fists on her lap. “What the heck are you going to do…? Are you going to marry me or what…?” Tearing up, Akane looked up at Saito. She was not her usual aggressive self. In fact, right now she seemed amiable and sweet. Even Saito had to admit she was quite pretty.
“What about you?” Saito asked.
“I don’t know! I never thought anything like this could happen!”
“Yeah, same here.” Saito nodded.
This whole marriage thing was totally out of the blue. In the modern age, how many Japanese teens would even think of an arranged marriage? Marriage was a pact entered into out of love. That was common sense, the only and right way to go about things.
“What did your grandmother tell you?” Saito asked Akane. Akane tensed up.
“It’s…it’s none of your business.”
“Honestly, it kind of is now. We need to know what their tactics are. Otherwise, they will force us into doing something neither of us want,” Saito replied to Akane calmly.
“No. Don’t pry into my business,” said Akane.
Akane was on guard, crossing her arms as if she was hugging herself with all her might. If she didn’t open up, it would be impossible to get her to pour her heart out.
“Have it your way then,” Saito replied.
“Will do! It’s my life and future, after all!” Akane turned away.
The way they were sitting now, facing away from each other in the taxi, nobody could’ve ever dreamed of these two getting married.
Back at home, Akane collapsed on her bed, face buried in her pillow. She had taken her ordinary everyday life for granted until she’d received that phone call from her grandmother. In the matter of a mere few hours, her world had turned upside down. Not only was she to be married but her spouse-to-be would be Houjou Saito.