In the Ichijou family mansion—one of the Ten Master Clans—located in the old city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, the family head, Gouki Ichijou, sat facing his daughter, Akane Ichijou.
Normally, Gouki would be bustling about overseeing the excavation sites of the seabed resource mining company that served as his public front, or supervising the training of magicians under the Ichijou banner, rarely returning before dinner. However, during the first three days of the New Year, he was required to stay home as the head of the Ichijou family to receive greetings. Akane, a first-year middle school student, was dressed in a furisode kimono she wasn't quite used to, assisting her mother, Midori—the wife of the family head—in attending to the stream of guests.
Meanwhile, the eldest son, Masaki, had gone out to pay his New Year's respects wearing the uniform of Third High (as the school uniform served as formal wear for students). It was expected he would return by dinnertime at the latest.
Once Gouki's guests for the day had departed, Akane attempted to leave the parlor, but Gouki stopped her, saying, "I have something to discuss."
To Akane, her father often gave the impression of being reticent, occasionally slipping into rough speech, but she accepted this internally as part of his persona as the head of the Ichijou clan. She straightened her posture and sat down properly. Without waiting for her father—who was sitting cross-legged, leaning his elbow on an armrest—to speak, she asked:
"So, Father, what did you want to talk about? Don't we need to wait for Brother to come home?"
"That won't be a problem. In fact, if he were here, you might not be willing to talk."
Setting aside the implication that she wanted to hear news from her brother that he wouldn't share in her father's presence, Akane sensed that Gouki had business not just with Masaki, but with her specifically. Just as she was wondering if she should force the issue, Gouki threw a question at her.
"This is abrupt, Akane, but regarding Yuto Nagano—no, he goes by Yugen Kagurazaka now. Do you still like him?"
"Huh? Why do I have to answer that to you, Father!?"
She hadn't expected her father to bring up romance. Moreover, to be asked about her feelings for the person she yearned for most caused her voice to rise involuntarily. However, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, making it immediately obvious how she felt about Yugen.
Gouki calmly ignored Akane's protest. With a serious expression, he urged her to answer with words rather than attitude.
"Because it is important. Well, how is it?"
"…My feelings haven't changed. No, actually, they've gotten stronger. If they hadn't, I wouldn't have gone out of my way to prepare and send him honmei chocolates."
Their meeting hadn't started ideally. Her own brother had made a comment implying Yugen was a "lolicon," and Masaki's best friend had laughingly tried to defend him by saying, "No, Masaki, you have to accept that some people have those tastes." In response, Yugen had knocked both of them unconscious with a joint lock technique. Akane had been captivated by his efficiency and his strength as a man.
Yugen had told her, "If your feelings haven't changed by the time you're sixteen, I will accept them." Since then, Akane had been working harder than ever, both as a woman and as a magician.
Furthermore, he was now a member of the Mitsuya family—one of the Ten Master Clans. Akane was inwardly delighted that the issue of family status regarding engagement and marriage had been resolved. Although she was surprised that he was no longer considered part of the Ten Master Clans after the Nine Schools Competition, Akane herself was in a position where inheriting her own house was uncertain. She had even considered the worst-case scenario: letting her brother inherit the Ichijou family while she married into Yugen's.
Then, as if seeing through Akane's thoughts, Gouki dropped a bombshell.
"A short while ago, a letter arrived from the Kagurazaka family via the Association. It states that Yugen Kagurazaka has succeeded as the 108th Head of the Kagurazaka family as of New Year's Day and is recruiting fiancées. Furthermore, prior to this, his engagement to Miyuki Shiba was announced."
"Eh? He's announcing an engagement but also recruiting fiancées? You mean... polygamy?"
In this country, while a head of the Ten Master Clans might take a second wife after the first passed away, the Civil Code did not recognize having multiple wives simultaneously. Hearing wording from Gouki that implied the Kagurazaka family was permitting Yugen to practice polygamy upon his succession, Akane tilted her head in confusion.
She knew from Gouki that the Kagurazaka family was a distinguished house of Ancient Magic. As she wondered if the legal discretion allowed for Ancient Magic differed from Modern Magic, Gouki offered an explanation.
"Regarding that, the government has recognized Yugen Kagurazaka as a power equivalent to a Strategic-Class Magician. To ensure his power is passed down to future generations, he has been permitted to have multiple wives. The letter noted that this arrangement is endorsed by the previous head of the Kagurazaka family, Lady Senhime Kagurazaka, and the previous head of the Kamiizumi family, Lord Gozo Kamiizumi, both of whom acknowledge Yugen Kagurazaka's ability."
"Heroes who will leave their names in history have acknowledged Yugen-san... That's amazing."
"I am aware. There was the matter of the Nine Schools Competition, after all."
Indeed, Yugen had won every event he participated in during the Nine Schools Competition over the last two years. Moreover, he had overwhelmed Masaki, who had competed in the same events, with such momentum that he didn't even seem to consider Masaki a threat—a fact Gouki also acknowledged.
With that established, Gouki maintained a resolute attitude toward Akane as he delivered his next words.
"Honestly, I do not know if he will accept an engagement with you, seeing as you will soon be a second-year middle school student. However, I had previously sounded out the possibility of an engagement with Yugen Kagurazaka through Lord Kamiizumi, and the response was by no means negative. With that in mind, I ask you, Akane: Shall we proceed with the engagement to him? ...That is for you to decide."
"…I want to ask one thing. The reason for this rush... does it have to do with the partner you mentioned—Miyuki Shiba? Is she involved?"
At Akane's question, Gouki crossed his arms and fell into thought.
He had expected Akane to ask about the Miyuki aspect, but that topic involved things he needed to hear from Masaki. However, judging that his daughter would never accept "I can't say" as an answer, Gouki resigned himself and began to speak.
"Actually, it seems Masaki has seriously fallen for that girl. I asked Shinkuro-kun, and he confirmed that my understanding is correct."
"…Hey, Father. Don't tell me you intend to object to Yugen-san and Shiba-san's engagement, and try to wedge in engagement proposals for me and Masaki respectively?"
Faced with Akane's piercing question that struck at the heart of the matter, Gouki fell completely silent. He had intended to judge the situation only after asking Masaki how serious he was about Miyuki. But seeing Gouki hesitate, the suspicion within Akane turned into conviction.
Then, Akane shouted words at Gouki that sounded almost like a declaration of disownment.
"..."
"Father, I'm going to take your silence as a 'yes,' okay? If you're going to do something like that, I have no intention of marrying as a member of the Ichijou family! I'll leave this house right now!"
"Wait, Akane. I haven't decided to do anything yet. I intended to make a judgment only after hearing Masaki's feelings regarding Miyuki Shiba."
"So what!? If Brother is seriously in love with Shiba-san, does that mean the Ichijou family is going to file an objection!? Besides, isn't the problem the fact that Brother hasn't even confessed to her yet!?"
Although Akane spoke as if she were angry, internally she was calm.
To begin with, Akane knew all too well that her brother Masaki was terrible at approaching women. Given her surname, and considering that the other party wasn't a "Number," there might have been issues of status balance since Masaki was the heir to the Ichijou family. Akane analyzed that Gouki had only come up with this scheme because those issues had been cleared away.
Akane had actually met Miyuki at the Nine Schools Competition two years ago and had re-watched the competition footage many times. The answer Akane derived from this—a sort of maiden's intuition—was that there was absolutely no way Masaki stood a chance. Deciding that talking to her father any further would only result in an emotional clash, Akane slowly stood up.
"I've had enough! I'm going to tell Mother everything about this conversation."
"Wait, that is—"
"I'm happy about the engagement with Yugen-san. But do not drag my future into Brother's circumstances. If you do something like that, I will leave this house."
Leaving those words behind, Akane ignored Gouki's attempts to stop her and stormed out of the parlor. Staring at the sliding door, which had been shut somewhat roughly, Gouki remained leaning on his armrest, covering his eyes with his free left hand.
"…Things truly don't go as planned. No, in this case, perhaps I am the problem."
He had told Akane the news while hiding the fact that Miyuki Shiba was a member of the Yotsuba family. Yet, Akane had correctly read that the obstacles to Masaki approaching Miyuki had been resolved, and then thrust the ultimatum at him: "Don't drag me and Yugen into Masaki's mess." Facing the threat of Akane abandoning the backing of the Ichijou family, he was forced to realize—albeit too late—that his actions as the head of the Ichijou family were leading him to do something despicable as a father.
Gouki himself would have preferred not to interfere if Masaki had made a move on his own. But faced with the reality that "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," Gouki was at a loss.
Suddenly, a voice came from the other side of the sliding door. It wasn't Akane, nor was it Masaki... It was the person Gouki knew best—his wife, Midori.
"May I come in?"
"Ah, yes. Come in."
Midori, still in her kimono, entered on her knees and closed the sliding door while kneeling. It was perhaps an excessive display of politeness between husband and wife, but it was based on the etiquette of the Ichijou family. Midori sat down directly in front of Gouki. Her expression was smiling, but her mouth was the only part of her face that was.
It didn't take long for him to realize she was furious.
"Akane came back and collapsed in tears, so I listened to her story after calming her down... Indeed, as the head of the Ichijou family—one of the Ten Master Clans charged with protecting the Hokuriku region—choosing a fiancée for your eldest son, Masaki, is a grave matter. In that sense, if we consider that what you are trying to do is to strengthen the Ichijou family... perhaps, as a family head and as Masaki's father, it might be the 'correct' move."
"..."
"However, you would be choosing the lowest path as Akane's father. Moreover, dragging Akane into this when the opponent is Yugen-kun... neither Akane nor Yugen-kun will look kindly upon it. The current Yugen-kun is your equal as the head of a house, and in terms of family rank, he is undoubtedly superior. In the worst-case scenario, it is not impossible that we could incur the wrath of the Kagurazaka and see the Ichijou family destroyed."
When they first met Yugen, he hadn't been using the Mitsuya surname due to family circumstances, and because Gozo was nearby, they had resolved things as peacefully as possible. But if they were to fight without magic restrictions, like in the Ice Pillars Break at the Nine Schools Competition, the only future was one where Masaki would be defeated. Having achieved such victories two years in a row, there was no room to doubt his ability.
Because the Saegusa family had not paid a significant penalty even after overlooking the raid (attempted kidnapping) by the National Defense Force's Intelligence Department, Gouki had somewhere in his heart been spoiling himself on Yugen's kindness.
But Midori rejected that naivety. If the Saegusa were paying some penalty invisible to the Ichijou family, then there was a non-zero chance that the Ichijou family could face "abolition" by the Kagurazaka family if they attempted something similar.
"…You are, right. I will apologize to Akane later myself. To fulfill Akane's first love, let us send her to the Kagurazaka family."
"What will you do about Masaki?"
"I will not raise any objections. I will send New Year's greetings and congratulatory telegrams to both the Yotsuba and Kagurazaka families. While declining any hostile intent toward the Yotsuba, I will inquire whether an engagement between Masaki and Miyuki Shiba is possible... The rest, I will leave to Masaki's skill."
Gouki, possessing the temperament of a doting parent, wanted to facilitate things for Masaki a little more. However, it was true that there were doubts about whether Masaki could properly mature as a member of the Ichijou family if things continued this way. Therefore, forcing himself to accept that this was the most he could do, Gouki decided that sending an "inquiry akin to a consultation" regarding Masaki and Miyuki's engagement would serve as a way to temper his son.
Then, Midori questioned the mention of the Yotsuba family, a detail that hadn't been in Akane's story.
"The Yotsuba family? Is Yugen-kun's fiancée a member of the Yotsuba?"
"Yes. The message stated that Miyuki Shiba, a second-year at First High, is the daughter of the late Miya Yotsuba, and Tatsuya Shiba, also a second-year, is the biological son of Maya Yotsuba. In addition to naming Tatsuya Shiba as the next head of the Yotsuba family, it stated that the Yotsuba are also recruiting a fiancée for the next head."
Midori had met Yugen at the Nine Schools Competition two years ago, just like Akane, and knew that Miyuki had been close to him. Hearing that she was Yugen's fiancée, Midori felt, for some reason, that it made perfect sense.
Just then, Masaki's voice was heard from the other side of the sliding door, so Gouki invited him in. It seemed he had just returned from his greetings. When Masaki opened the door and saw his parents talking in such close proximity, his imagination ran wild, and he became visibly flustered.
"Ah, um, well... Father, should I come back later?"
"I don't know what you're thinking, but we were just talking. Come in."
"R-Right, excuse me then..."
Afterward, with Midori present as a witness, Masaki was thoroughly grilled by Gouki about the strength of his feelings for Miyuki and how they met. When told about the message from the Yotsuba and Kagurazaka families and asked if he was willing to consider an engagement with Miyuki positively, Masaki, having no reason to feel guilty about his feelings, nodded forcefully.
Masaki showed reluctance at having his parents convey his feelings through an engagement inquiry (strictly speaking, more of a question) before he could express them to Miyuki himself. However, perhaps provoked by Gouki's challenge—"Then, will you quietly give up?"—Masaki once again vocalized his feelings for Miyuki. By doing so, Masaki effectively cut off his own retreat.
After dinner, Gouki touched upon the severe scolding he had received from Midori, bowed deeply to Akane to apologize, and informed her that he would recommend her as Yugen's fiancée as a daughter of the Ten Master Clans, the Ichijou family. When he also explained that he would send a letter of inquiry to Miyuki's family regarding Masaki and leave the rest to Masaki's own ability, Akane looked satisfied and bowed her head quietly.
The following day—January 3rd, 2097.
The Ichijou family of the Ten Master Clans sent congratulatory telegrams for Tatsuya Shiba's designation as the next Yotsuba head and Yugen Kagurazaka's succession as the Kagurazaka head, along with apologies for the delay in their reply.
Additionally, framing it within the context of their eldest son's feelings, the Ichijou family sent a letter of inquiry to the Yotsuba family regarding the possibility of an engagement between Masaki Ichijou and Miyuki Shiba.
Furthermore, they sent a formal proposal to the Kagurazaka family offering Akane Ichijou, the eldest daughter of the Ichijou family, as a fiancée for Yugen Kagurazaka.
Author's Note:
Initially, I didn't plan to change much regarding the Masaki plotline.
However, in the original work, the "interference" only made sense because, at the time of the New Year, Tatsuya (Miyuki's fiancé and Maya's son) and Masaki (the Ichijou heir) were in roughly the same social standing. But now that the protagonist has become the Guardian and Head of the Kagurazaka family, he is undeniably superior in rank from Masaki's perspective. Thus, considering the risk of interfering was too high, I steered the development in this direction.
Since I couldn't find a reference for what Akane calls her parents, I had her follow Masaki's way of addressing them.
I understand the pride of the Ichijou family, but will the love life of a guy who couldn't even properly confess—especially with Tatsuya's existence in the mix—ever come to fruition? (It feels like an impossible game no matter how you struggle).
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