“Marriage proposal?!”

Akina Izumi was so shocked by her husband’s words that she nearly fell off the sofa.

Ever since Kotomi Izumi entered high school, there had indeed been quite a few people coming forward with proposals. For powerful families, who wouldn’t want to strengthen ties with the Izumi family through marriage?

But Yakken Izumi clearly wasn’t buying it. He cursed and scolded them: “My granddaughter just entered high school and you’re already scheming about her? Have you no shame? You want to marry into the Izumi family? Take a look in the mirror and see if you’re even worthy!”

Grandfather really had Kotomi’s back. He drove off all those families that came wanting to propose and marry Kotomi with extremely harsh words. And if they still didn’t know better, he cut off cooperation ties without hesitation. That immediately made many family heads retreat. After all, marriage was only meant to draw closer ties with the Izumi family. If instead they ended up losing business cooperation, wouldn’t that be a terrible loss?

Yakken Izumi saved Kotomi a lot of trouble right from the start.

But now, the Sakayanagi family’s head, Shoujin Sakayanagi, had personally gone to Yamanashi to see Yakken Izumi. During their drinking session, they didn’t say anything directly, yet at the same time, it was as if everything had been said. A top-level clash between two old foxes, all hidden behind the exchange of cups.

When Yakken realized Shoujin’s true purpose in visiting, he almost flipped the table and started cursing. What, your Sakayanagi family too? You shameless old fox, you dare to come to me? Do you believe I won’t call Ryu Hishinaga right now and give you a ‘fair’ 2-vs-1 battle?

But just before he lashed out, Yakken realized something. If the Sakayanagi family wanted to propose marriage for Kotomi, then the age and generation would have to match, as well as family position.

Kaneyoshi Izumi was the Izumi family’s eldest son and future heir. That meant Kotomi, as Kaneyoshi’s daughter, could only be married to the Sakayanagi family’s eldest son’s child.

But Yakken remembered very clearly: Sakayanagi Aoshi, the eldest son of the Sakayanagi family… had no son! After marrying his wife, they had only one daughter—Arisu Sakayanagi.

As their dinner came to an end, Shoujin Sakayanagi saw that Yakken had understood his intentions. These two long-time rivals had built up a kind of unspoken understanding.

Shoujin neither pressed the matter further nor hinted again. Instead, he changed the subject, talking about small business matters. The confrontation without sparks between the two heads turned to calm waters, and the meal ended in cheerful conversation.

After dinner, they shared some tea. Then Shoujin Sakayanagi didn’t linger any longer. He left his gifts behind and drove away from Yamanashi alone.

Yakken Izumi pondered all afternoon before finally calling Kaneyoshi, telling him: Your eldest daughter has caught the Sakayanagi family’s eye.

When Kaneyoshi heard this, he was at first prepared to go and have a friendly talk with Aoshi Sakayanagi. But then, just like his father, he realized—wait a minute. Aoshi Sakayanagi didn’t have a son, only a daughter!

“The Sakayanagi family… are they really planning to propose on Arisu’s behalf, to marry Kotomi?”

Akina Izumi asked. If it were any other family seeking marriage ties with the Izumi family, she would be the first to oppose it. She believed her two daughters’ love lives should be their own decision.

But the problem was, Kotomi and Arisu Sakayanagi had always been close. The two could practically be said to have grown up together. Only after the fire did Kotomi lose all her childhood memories related to Arisu.

Aoshi Sakayanagi’s wife was named Mai Sakayanagi. Mai hadn’t been born into a wealthy family. She had worked as Aoshi’s maid since he was 15.

At the time, Mai was only 18. Her family was poor and couldn’t afford to keep her in school, so she dropped out and became a maid for the Sakayanagi family.

Spending every day together, with only a small age difference between them, when Aoshi went abroad to study at 18, Mai followed him as his maid. By the time they returned, Aoshi had been tempered through his father’s training and had become a capable successor, recognized as the chairman of the Sakayanagi conglomerate.

But alongside him, his maid Mai had also grown pregnant. Only then did it become clear that during those years abroad, their relationship had quietly developed into romance. Everything had progressed naturally—and Mai was now expecting a child.

The Sakayanagi family did not care much about social status. Moreover, after all these years, they had all witnessed how devoted Mai had been to Aoshi Sakayanagi. Thus, they agreed to the marriage, and Mai changed her name to Mai Sakayanagi.

From a maid, she suddenly transformed into Aoshi’s wife. Yet Mai did not let her sudden rise to fortune get to her head—she remained the same gentle and considerate person.

At the engagement ceremony, the Sakayanagi family naturally invited the Izumi family. Despite their rivalry, when they weren’t competing, the two families still maintained decent relations.

At that time, Akina Izumi had just married Kaneyoshi. When she met Mai, whose belly was already swollen with child, their easygoing personalities clicked well. The two chatted happily, and in the end even said: If we each have children, and they’re of the opposite sex, let them become husband and wife. If they’re of the same sex, then let them become sworn siblings.

Later, Mai gave birth to a daughter, whom they named Arisu Sakayanagi.

Not long after, the Izumi couple adopted Kotomi. Since both families had daughters, they thought that when the girls grew older, they could be introduced properly and become good sisters who could support one another.

But before the families even introduced them, little Kotomi and little Arisu had already become close friends on their own.

And now… could that sisterly bond be transforming into something else?

“I remember Mr. Sakayanagi and Mai only have one daughter, right? Didn’t Arisu come to our house not long ago?” Akina confirmed again with her husband, wondering if she had misremembered.

“When Dad called me earlier, I thought for sure Aoshi Sakayanagi must have secretly fathered an illegitimate son. But Dad said it seems the Sakayanagi head intends to propose on behalf of his granddaughter Arisu, for her to marry into our family.”

After saying this, Kaneyoshi Izumi even chuckled:

“The sincerity of the Sakayanagi family is remarkable. As a mere opening gesture for a marriage proposal, they handed over a 100 billion US dollar deal.”

The Izumi family wasn’t lacking in money, but an extra 100 billion falling into their laps for nothing was certainly not something to be ignored.

“So Arisu… wants to marry Kotomi?!”

“Most likely, even the Sakayanagi family themselves are still puzzling over it. This isn’t a small matter. Dad called me today just to let me know. For now, both families are still in the negotiation stage. There are countless details to settle regarding the proposal and the marriage alliance. Ultimately, it will depend on Kotomi’s own wishes. If Kotomi is unwilling, then no matter how much sincerity the Sakayanagi family shows, it will all be meaningless.

But if Kotomi does agree to marry Arisu—to become… spouses—then the Izumi and Sakayanagi families will gradually begin releasing the news publicly. Of course, some forces will definitely try to interfere. Whether targeting the Izumi family or the Sakayanagi family, there will be plenty of people unwilling to see this marriage alliance succeed.

After all, if the marriage succeeds, it would mean the bonds between the Izumi, Sakayanagi, and Hishinaga families would become stronger than ever.

Therefore, before any public announcement, Dad plans to assign a team of bodyguards to secretly protect Kotomi.”

Akina Izumi listened in stunned silence for a long time before finally speaking again: “Kotomi just started high school, and already we’re talking about marriage… I never expected such quick action. And the one who wants to marry Kotomi… is Arisu Sakayanagi.”

Akina could already see that Kotomi seemed to have a unique charm for girls. Several of the girls around her clearly felt more for her than simple friendship—it was closer to wanting to be her lover.

While the Izumi couple was still discussing the possibility of Kotomi’s future marriage alliance with the Sakayanagi family, Kotomi herself was sleeping soundly on Mrs. Yuigahama’s bed. She wore a sweet smile as she slept, one so lovely it stirred tenderness in anyone who saw it.

Tomoka Yuigahama felt the same. Sitting by the bedside, she watched Kotomi’s sleeping smile and felt her entire heart melt from the girl’s cuteness. She even wanted to reach out and touch Kotomi’s cheek.

So often, it was in unguarded moments like this that Kotomi’s cuteness shone through, leaving Tomoka wondering—why does such an impossibly adorable girl exist in this world?

Of course, if Tomoka knew what kind of dream Kotomi was having right now, she might not have thought her so cute…

Just as her hand was about to brush Kotomi’s cheek, Tomoka caught herself and pulled it back, regaining her rationality in time.

“I-I should take a bath first. After that, I’ll just go to sleep.”

She quickly stood up after saying so, afraid that if she gazed at Kotomi’s sleeping face any longer, she would completely lose herself in it.

Tomoka realized she had been wrong earlier—because even when Kotomi wasn’t speaking or doing anything, even when she was simply lying quietly in bed asleep, she still carried an allure that drew her in.

If she kept watching, Tomoka felt her rationality would inevitably collapse under Kotomi’s beauty. So while she still had some control, she rushed to bathe and calm herself down.

Before leaving the bedroom, Tomoka carefully shut the door. Yui likely wouldn’t come downstairs again at this hour—she should be upstairs coaxing Yuka to sleep.

Seizing the chance, Tomoka hurried into the bathroom. She turned on the hot water and washed as quickly as she could.

When she came out, she was wearing a nightgown, her damp hair draping over her shoulders, her cheeks tinged with a faint rosy glow. With her mature charm, she looked like a vivid peony blooming against the wind and snow, enough to make anyone’s heart race.

After confirming that the bedroom door remained closed, Tomoka finally exhaled in relief.

“Next time I absolutely must come up with a proper excuse together with Kotomi. We can’t keep making her sneak around every time we discuss illustrations here, hiding from Yui and Yuka like this.”

After locking the bedroom door, Tomoka lay down on the right side of the bed, sighing helplessly.

That said, even she hadn’t yet figured out how to explain things to Yui. After all, her daughter only knew that her mother was an illustrator, and Kotomi was a light novel author—later, Kotomi would even be her mother’s boss.

On weekends, Yui usually slept until eight or nine in the morning. If she didn’t sleep in on her rare two-day weekend, wouldn’t that be a waste?

“Kotomi, it looks like you won’t get to sleep in tomorrow…” Tomoka said with a small laugh, adjusting her phone alarm to six in the morning.

She double-checked that her phone wasn’t on silent, then set it aside, turned off the bedside lamp, and resolved to start building the habit of sleeping before midnight.

“Tonight, I’ll go to bed early…” Tomoka murmured as she slowly closed her eyes.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before she drifted into a half-dream state, teetering on the edge of sleep.

Just as she was about to slip into slumber, Tomoka suddenly heard sounds of someone stirring beside her.

Had Kotomi woken up?

But Tomoka was far too drowsy. She had no energy to speak, not even enough to open her eyes. All she wanted was to sleep soundly until morning.

Meanwhile, Kotomi sat up beside her. When she woke, she realized—this wasn’t her bedroom at all!

At first she was confused, unable to tell where she was. The room was dark, curtains drawn, no nightlight—everything was pitch-black.

As her eyes adjusted, Kotomi realized she was in Tomoka Yuigahama’s bedroom!

Swallowing nervously, she remembered she had only meant to take a short nap before continuing her discussion with Tomoka about the Mushoku Tensei illustrations. But that nap had turned into her spending the night at the Yuigahama house.

And she was sleeping on Mrs. Yuigahama’s very bed.

Since she was sleeping in Aunt Tomoka’s bed, that meant…

Kotomi carefully stood up and pulled the curtain slightly open, letting a sliver of moonlight spill into the bedroom. There she saw Mrs. Yuigahama lying on the bed, seemingly already asleep.

“I’ve been sleeping in the same bed as Aunt Tomoka this whole time? That’s just too—” Kotomi couldn’t even find the right word, but judging from her expression, she was inwardly cheering.

Looking at Tomoka Yuigahama lying there, graceful and beautiful like a fairy, how could Kotomi not feel something in her heart?

“Aunt Tomoka, Aunt Tomoka?” Kotomi whispered softly a few times. But Tomoka remained unresponsive, as though fast asleep.

Only then did Kotomi grow bolder. She walked to the bedside and sat down. Under the faint moonlight filtering through the curtain, she lowered her head—and gently kissed Tomoka’s cheek.

Just a light touch. Her cherry blossom lips lingered for only a few seconds before she slowly stood back up, closed the curtain again, and returned to the left side of the bed. She pulled up the blanket and lay down once more.

Kotomi still knew her limits. Even though this was such a rare opportunity, she didn’t let herself go too far.

Since they were sharing the same blanket, Kotomi reached her small hand under it and gently held Tomoka Yuigahama’s hand. Even if Tomoka was asleep and couldn’t hear her, Kotomi still wanted to say the words aloud:

“Aunt Tomoka, when exactly did I start liking you? Hehe… goodnight.”

It sounded half like she was asking herself, half like she was asking Tomoka.

Kotomi believed that her stolen kiss just now, as well as the words she whispered, would never be heard by Tomoka, who was already asleep. She then set an alarm on her phone for the next morning. She would need to leave the Yuigahama house before Yui woke up.

Six o’clock should be fine.

After setting the alarm, Kotomi set her phone aside and closed her eyes to sleep again.

But what Kotomi didn’t realize was that Tomoka hadn’t been fully asleep earlier. She had been in a half-sleep state.

Which meant—whether it was the stolen kiss, or the words Kotomi spoke after lying back down—Tomoka had felt and heard it all.

Kotomi… she already…

Likes me?!

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep