I, the mastermind behind the scenes at Soubu High, refuse to be caught in a bloodbath.

"Well... at least we're still in a cooperative relationship, Haruto-kun."

"The warships are all tied together, what else can we do but burn them if we don't cooperate?"

"Seriously, don't use the story of the Battle of Red Cliffs to criticize them," Juya continued, feigning a cute voice, "If I say no, will you help the Yukinoshita family?"

"It won't happen in the part you're targeting, but it might happen in other parts."

"Phew—, then please let me think about it for a bit. I'll call Haruto-kun back in ten minutes." With that, Mariya hung up the phone, while Yukinoshita whispered from the back seat, "You want to discuss a business deal because of me?"

“Listen carefully, this is a simple, really small agreement,” Himekoji turned around and said to Yukinoshita, whose eyes were still red and swollen. “Do you remember what we said back then? You owe me a favor, and then during the time you’re busy before you go to university, I’ll take care of your cat, right?”

Author's Note:

PS: Thirteenth update.

Chapter 102 is hilarious! [Yukino Yukinoshita] looks completely bewildered.

That's true...

"Now you want me to raise the cats forever, which is outside the scope of our agreement. So I don't want you to raise the cats forever, and I need to find a way to resolve this issue so that our agreement can get back on track. The problem is, how do we convince your mother to agree to you raising the cats? My answer is that we'll have a three-way joint venture to run your family's building materials company. If your father doesn't agree to this, then he's the biggest fool in all of Japan, the biggest fool of all. His company is currently in dire straits, but suddenly things will be looking up. If he agrees, great, then a condition will be added to the miscellaneous expenses—"

“…Phew—, I shouldn’t have called you,” Yukinoshita said, shaking her head and rubbing her forehead. “How could you, as a human being, go to such lengths? Do you even have any rationality left in you?”

"If you don't want things to turn out this way, get off the bus now and figure out a solution yourself."

Himekoji pointed towards the car door. He was keeping his promise to Yukinoshita, not because Yukinoshita's cat was made of some special material, nor because Yukinoshita was any special person. So this was a promise, and once it was made, it had to be fulfilled to the best of his ability.

Even a casual, offhand idea that becomes a verbal agreement is the same.

"Ahem—, judging from the outcome, if the other party... wait, were you just on the phone with Mariya, Gidou Mariya-kun?"

"That's right, she's the student council vice president, the heir to the Gido family, and her family is also one of the board members of Soubu High School."

"So, Gado-kun is from the Gado family... I never knew that before."

"Well, she's a very low-key person, so it doesn't matter. Do you remember the BAY LaLaPort we went to the other day? That was developed by Gido Trading Co., Ltd."

"They are truly...not to be underestimated."

"So..." Himekoji turned around, casually sitting with her hands behind her head, and said, "Everyone is born unequal, and you must understand that, Yukinoshita."

"...I don't want to answer that question."

"This is not a problem, it's a definite exclamation."

"Anything is fine."

"If Ju Ye says it's okay, then you can call your father now, is that alright?"

"You don't need to worry about that. I just can't imagine what Mom's expression would be if she found out that things at the company had taken a turn for the better, but it was just because she was stopping me from getting a cat... I wonder what her expression would be like."

Yukinoshita couldn't help but turn her head away and laugh.

"Give me your phone."

"Oh... okay."

Although Yukino hesitated for a moment, after learning from her previous experience, she obediently handed the phone to Himekoji. She didn't rummage through it randomly, but opened the contacts. She found that the "Strong Himekoji" she had edited herself had not been changed by Yukino. Seeing this, Himekoji felt a little complicated and handed the phone back to her.

"Your mother should probably learn to compromise by now."

"Himekoji".

Yukinoshita suddenly called out his name.

"ha--?"

"I'm starting to agree with you a little."

"That's ridiculous... and I don't need your approval."

"In your view that you are a strong person."

"Fool, this is just the resource advantage that my family has accumulated over generations and is now being transformed and utilized."

"Anyway..." Yukinoshita said somewhat embarrassedly, "In a situation like this... can I help you..."

Himekoji's phone vibrated; it was Mariya calling. He slightly stopped Yukinoshita from continuing and answered the call.

"They have no problem here, desuwa~"

Ju also briefly and directly informed Himekoji of the result.

"Understood. Then, I need to make a final call to the Yukinoshita family. If all three parties are okay with it, let's start discussing it as early as today."

"Well then, see you later, Haruto-kun~"

Ju hung up the phone, and Himeko gave a thumbs-up to the back seat. Just then, Yukinoshita's phone rang.

She didn't answer for a long time.

Why aren't you answering?

“It’s Mom calling…” Yukinoshita hesitated, biting her lower lip. Himekoji reached out to the back seat and said, “If you’re not going to answer, give me the phone and I’ll answer it.”

"ha...?"

"Give me."

"Okay." Yukinoshita steeled her heart and handed the phone to Himekoji, who then answered it.

"Yukino, did you finish what I asked you to do? If you did, come back quickly, there's more tonight..."

"Hello? Is that Yukinoshita Taeko? Your daughter is in my hands now. I suggest you don't make any rash moves. Okay, I'm hanging up."

Ji Xiaolu slammed down the phone, then quickly found Yukinoshita's father's number, dialed it, and handed the phone to her, who was staring in disbelief.

"Moshi moshi, Yukino, what's wrong?"

Because the communication time with Yukino's mother was too short, the news of "Yukino's kidnapping" had not yet reached Yukino's father, and he was unaware of what had happened in just one hour.

"Um... Dad, actually I have something very important to tell you, about that building materials company that's been giving you and my sister a headache lately."

"Oh, Yukino, do you have any good ideas?"

"Would Dad be willing to form a joint venture with the Himekoji family and Gido Trading?"

"If we could form a joint venture, we'd be incredibly lucky, but there's no reason for them to do that. Besides, isn't the Himekoji family allied with the Gidō family? Why would they do something like this? Yukino, you're too naive."

"Ha... Actually, I just discussed this matter with Himekoji Haruto, the heir of the Himekoji family. He also discussed it with the heir of the Gidou family. Both families are okay with it now, all that's left is my father's approval."

After Yukino finished speaking, there was a long silence on the other end.

Just as Yukinoshita's father was about to say something, it suddenly sounded like someone burst in. A very urgent male voice reported, "Master, Madam says that the Second Miss has been kidnapped! Why is your phone constantly busy?"

"Nonsense! Yukino is talking to me on the phone right now!"

"It's true. Madam just got through to the Second Miss's phone, but a man on the other end said, 'Your daughter is in my hands now.' The situation is critical, sir."

"Is this Mr. Hieda? Mush, is this Mr. Hieda? I'm Yukino... I'm not kidnapped right now, I'm actually quite free."

The two people on the other end of the phone looked at each other, wondering what strange thing had happened.

"Yukino, are you with the heir of the Himekoji family right now? Was he the one who just answered the phone?"

Author's Note:

PS: Fourteenth update.

Chapter 103: Stunned! [Himekoji Haruto] actually offered such conditions!

"Yeah, what he said really startled me..."

"Can I give him the phone?"

"Okay," Yukinoshita handed the phone to the person in the front seat. Himekoji answered, and immediately heard a deep breath followed by a loud shout: "What the hell are you doing, you little brat from the Himekoji family?!!!!"

"..."

Himeko was completely stunned by the shouting.

"Ahem, I'm so sorry about what happened earlier. Please forgive me for everything I've carried as a father. I'm truly sorry. So, about what Yukino mentioned earlier...?"

"It's true, all that's missing is your approval, Mr. Yukinoshita."

"Then what's your reasoning? I believe there's no such thing as a free lunch."

"There is no such thing as a free lunch, nor is there any such thing as a free breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner, dessert, late-night snack, or takeout."

"..."

"The reason is that I have a small agreement with Yukinoshita, ah, your youngest daughter, so this action is to fulfill that agreement."

"May I ask about the details of the agreement?"

"I'm sorry, there's no reason for me to tell you about this private agreement, Mr. Yukinoshita."

"Understood. So what are the costs we will have to pay and the additional conditions you have attached?"

"As for the cost, we can discuss it at the negotiating table, following the normal procedures. There's only one additional condition and one small suggestion."

"Excuse me, is this...?"

Yukinoshita's father became increasingly anxious. The more seemingly easy the additional condition is, the more carefully it needs to be handled.

Then Himekoji said something that Yukinoshita would remember for a lifetime.

"Additional conditions: Yukino Yukinoshita is allowed to keep any number of cats she wants, at any time and place, including but not limited to her apartment, the Yukinoshita family home, and any of the Yukinoshita family's companies or properties. No one may interfere or obstruct this. If there is any violation, we will immediately withdraw our investment and... you know what I mean. As for the suggestion, I hope that your side will be represented by Yukino Yukinoshita at this tripartite meeting, and that Haruno Yukinoshita will recuse herself."

Then there was another two minutes of silence on the other end.

"Raise a cat...???"

Yukinoshita's father's voice trembled slightly, as if he were questioning the meaning of life.

"You heard me right. We'll even have to sign a written contract, clearly stating in black and white, about raising a cat."

Himekoji was about to burst out laughing.

"Ha... I understand. As for asking Yukino to be the representative, that's no problem at all. It seems I have no other choice in this matter."

"Then I hope you will begin discussions and drafting of the contract as soon as possible, with preliminary discussions starting tonight at the earliest."

"I hope we can have a pleasant collaboration."