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HJ Bunko

Rich Girl Caretaker – Volume 6

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Table of Contents
Prologue .............................................................................. 8
Chapter 1: The Tea Party Alliance ........................................ 15
Chapter 2: Suminoe Chika .................................................. 101
Chapter 3: Challenger ........................................................ 135
Chapter 4: Management Game ............................................ 190
Chapter 5: Negotiation ....................................................... 220
Epilogue............................................................................ 232
Afterword ......................................................................... 246
E-book Exclusive Short Story: The Ojou-sama and the Internet
Environment ..................................................................... 250

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Prologue
Konohana Hinako’s mornings are early.
To be precise, they’ve become just a tad earlier ever since she
realized her feelings for Izuki.
“…Mmm.”
The alarm clock rings, and Hinako wakes up.
She’s hardly ever used an alarm clock before. As a child, she
tried it once, but the sound was so loud that she decided to
have the servants wake her up from then on.
Recently, though, she’s been waking up to this clock.
(Oh no… I don’t have much time!)
Checking the time, Hinako hurries to the bathroom.
She grabs a comb nearby and, while looking in the mirror,
quickly fixes her hair.
(…Alright.)
Thanks to Shizune’s repeated lessons, she manages to tame her
bedhead. There are still a few messy spots, but with no time to
spare, it’ll have to do.
Hinako slips back into bed.
And then, she pretends to sleep.
(One more minute… until Izuki comes.)
After a final glance at the clock, Hinako closes her eyes.
Since realizing her feelings, Hinako is grappling with a major
contradiction.
—I want to keep relying on Izuki.

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—But I don’t want him to see me looking weird…!
So, Hinako has been waking up a little before Izuki comes to
rouse her, secretly fixing her clothes and hair.
Once, he saw her with drool all over her face.
She never wants him to see her like that again.
But… she’s happy that he comes to wake her up in the morning.
That’s why she hasn’t switched the servant who wakes her to
Shizune—she’s kept it as Izuki.
A minute after she starts pretending to sleep, there’s a gentle
knock at the door.
“Hinako, it’s morning.”
(He’s here…!)
Heart pounding, Hinako hides her face in the blankets. …She
has to, or she might end up grinning like an idiot. Izuki comes
to wake her every morning, but ever since she realized her
feelings, it feels like the joy keeps growing day by day.
“Second semester starts today, huh… Gotta get pumped.”
Izuki mutters to himself as he opens the curtains.
Come to think of it, today’s the opening ceremony. Hinako only
now remembers.
“Hinako, time to get up. We’ve got school today.”
“…Mm.”
As if she’s just woken up, Hinako responds.
She sits up, and her eyes meet Izuki’s.
“Morning, Hinako.”
“…Morning, Izuki.”
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Fidgeting nervously, Hinako waits for his reaction.
…She wants him to say she’s cute.
As if sensing her thoughts, Izuki stares at her and opens his
mouth—
“…Isn’t your hair, like, way too neat for just waking up?”
“W-w-w-what are you talking about… I don’t know what you
mean!”
Hinako’s eyes dart around frantically.
Now that she thinks about it, it’s been nearly half a year since
Izuki became her caretaker. During that time, he’s seen her
just-woken-up look almost every day, so he might have noticed
the change but felt more confused than impressed.
But… it’s not over yet.
Hinako moves to her next strategy.
“M-my hair… fix it.”
“Sure. Sit there.”
As Hinako settles into a chair, Izuki grabs a comb and stands
behind her.
(Now, show him my nape…!)
She read it in a shoujo manga she borrowed from Yuri. —Men
get flustered when they see a girl’s nape.
Hinako sweeps her hair up, exposing her nape to Izuki.
She sneaks glances at him, but… there’s no real reaction.
“…Izuki.”
“Hm?”
“Is there… anything?”
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“Anything, you say…”
At Hinako’s question, Izuki lets out a troubled sound,
“Ah.”
“W-what…?”
“You’ve got a huge bedhead right here.”
He says, touching the back of her head.
“Muu…”
“W-what? Did I get it wrong…?”
Hinako puffs out her cheeks, glaring at Izuki in protest.
Since she was little, servants have always taken care of her
appearance. She knew she couldn’t fix it perfectly on her own.
She considered asking Shizune for help, but Shizune would
definitely ask, “Why do you have to wake up secretly without
Izuki-san knowing?” So she held back. …Even if it’s Shizune,
admitting these feelings is still too embarrassing.
How on earth can she get Izuki to like her…?
She feels frustrated that her plan didn’t work.
But as Izuki gently combs her hair, her face softens into a smile
despite herself.
◆
Hinako, now in her uniform, rides with me in a sleek black car.
The second semester at Kiou Academy starts today. It’s just the
opening ceremony and homeroom, so we’ll be done by noon,
but I coordinated with Tennouji-san and the others yesterday
to have tea with the usual group afterward. Of course, Hinako’s
coming along.
(Man, Hinako today… she seemed kinda alluring.)
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As the car starts moving, I steal a glance at Hinako sitting next
to me.
Lately, something’s been off about her.
I’m not sure if “off” is the right word, but… she seems more put-
together than before. Less bedhead, and her manners at meals
have gotten more refined.
Maybe she’s growing up in her own way… I’ve thought that
before, but,
“…Mm.”
“Hinako, what’s up?”
“I’m… sleepy.”
With a slightly awkward reply, Hinako leans toward me.
Her ears are faintly red. …Is she really sleepy?
Just when I think she’s gotten more polished, she does
something like this, clinging to me like she used to.
Well, she seems happy, so I guess it’s fine…
“Izuki-san, we’re almost there.”
“Got it.”
No one can know that Hinako and I ride to school together. So I
get out of the car first, and then Hinako follows. It’s been like
this since the first semester.
Once, I suggested we take separate cars, but Hinako shot that
down. Even if it’s just in the car, she wants to go to school
together as much as possible.
Maybe because it’s the first day back after a month, Hinako
shows a bit of resistance today.
“Shizune, is it really not okay… to go to school with Izuki?”
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Hinako voices her frustration about having to hold back.
Shizune-san makes an unusually stern face.
“Ojou-sama. I… understand how you feel, but you mustn’t be
too reckless.”
“Mm. I was just checking, so it’s fine. …Heroines who try to
force a fait accompli usually don’t get rewarded, anyway…”
She’s reached some odd conclusion, but she seems to have
accepted it for now.
Fait accompli… Does Hinako even know what that means? This
is the girl who didn’t know about the three-second rule, so I
doubt she’s well-versed in that kind of thing.
“…Um, Ojou-sama. Have you heard of the Dunning-Kruger
effect?”
“? The cognitive bias where less competent people
overestimate their abilities?”
“Exactly. To put it simply, it’s when amateurs get overly
confident.”
Shizune-san suddenly starts talking about something
complicated.
I’ve never taken a psychology class, but I’ve heard of the term.
It must be fairly well-known.
“Shizune… I’ll have you know, I’m called the perfect Ojou-
sama.”
“Yes.”
“There’s no way I’d fall for a cognitive bias like that…!”
“…………………………Yes.”
Shizune-san affirms in a strained voice.

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In the end, I couldn’t make sense of their conversation.
As I tilt my head, Shizune-san clears her throat with an
exaggerated “Ahem.”
“By the way,”
She says, gazing out at the passing city scenery.
“The Management Game starts this second semester, doesn’t
it?”

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Chapter 1: The Tea Party Alliance
“The second semester has begun… And with that, the much-
anticipated Management Game is officially kicking off!”
After the opening ceremony, we moved to the classroom,
where our homeroom teacher for Class 2-A, Fukushima
Misono, began explaining with an unusually high level of
enthusiasm.
“Most of you probably already know, but just to be safe, let me
go over it. The Management Game is, as the name suggests, a
flagship program at Kiou Academy where students learn about
business management. For the next month and a half, you’ll
participate in this game alongside your regular classes.”
I’d already gotten a rough overview from Shizune-san
beforehand.
Despite being called a game, the Management Game is
fundamentally treated as a class.
Naturally, it affects your grades.
“If you achieve good results in this game, you’ll earn better
grades. Those who excel in the game demonstrate skill in
management—meaning they’re adept at running
organizations—so they’re often more likely to be selected for
student council positions.”
A few of my classmates light up with motivated expressions.
They’re probably aiming for the student council.
…And I’m one of them.
“Now then, let’s get started by handing out the laptops you’ll
use for the game.”
Each student is given a laptop.

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According to Shizune-san, these laptops are all brand-new.
Checking the specs, I realize they’re pretty high-end machines.
You can even detach the monitor and use it like a tablet. Buying
one of these would probably cost at least 200,000 yen.
“The details of the game will be explained in the tutorial. The
game officially starts tomorrow, so make sure to complete the
tutorial by then.”
With that, the teacher wraps up, and homeroom ends.
(Here we go.)
I recall something from the tail end of summer break.
That day, Takuma-san had said something to me.
—Kiou Academy really starts to get serious in the second
semester of your second year.
Without a doubt, he was referring to the Management Game.
Takuma-san also mentioned that if I want to aim for a position
in the Konohana Group, joining the student council and
building a track record is the way to go. …For an ordinary guy
like me, the idea of joining the student council at a place like
this feels almost blasphemous, but if it’s my only shot, I’ve got
to try.
“Yo, Tomonari. It’s that time, right?”
As I pack the laptop into my bag, Taishou calls out to me.
“Yup. Let’s hit the usual café.”
We’d already exchanged greetings before the opening
ceremony. Apparently, Taishou spent his summer break
tagging along on his family’s company retreats, traveling quite
a bit.
“By the way… you got a bit of a tan, huh?”
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“Yeah, man! I was all over the place—beaches, mountains, you
name it! But compared to her…”
Taishou’s skin is slightly darker than before.
But the person he’s looking at is—
“Hey, you two! It’s been a while, so we’re having a tea party
today, right!?”
Asahi approaches us with a cheerful grin, her skin noticeably
tanner than Taishou’s.
Asahi’s always been bright and bubbly, but with her healthy,
sun-kissed glow, she practically a walking bundle of energy
right now.
“Asahi… you’re really tanned.”
“Right!? I went all out this summer!”
Asahi says it with a hint of pride. She doesn’t seem bothered by
the tan at all—more like she sees it as a badge of honor.
“Well, next summer’s probably gonna be hectic, so I get why
you went hard,” Taishou mutters.
The summer of our third year will likely be consumed by
entrance exams. For students at Kiou Academy, there might be
even bigger events on the horizon.
“Sorry I’m late.”
While we’re chatting, Hinako arrives.
She seems to have been swarmed with greetings from a ton of
classmates. Looking outside the classroom, I see students from
other classes who came to see her, but there’s no way she can
handle them all today. She’s probably exhausted already.
“Konohana… you don’t seem tanned at all.”
“I take precautions. Family reasons.”
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“Oh, wow. Being treated like a proper Ojou-sama sounds kinda
nice. Meanwhile, I got this tanned, and nobody stopped me.
They just kept saying, ‘It suits you, it suits you’…”
Asahi looks a bit dejected. The heart of a maiden is a
complicated thing.
Come to think of it, during summer classes, I remember
Shizune-san slathering sunscreen on Hinako.
Being the heiress of the Konohana family means even tanning
freely isn’t an option… but Asahi seems to envy that kind of
Ojou-sama treatment.
If you ask me, Asahi’s plenty Ojou-sama herself.

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◆
When we arrive at the café, two girls are already there.
The familiar blonde with vertical curls, Tennouji-san, and the
cool beauty with a side of social awkwardness, Narika.
“It’s here!! The Management Game!!”
The moment we sit down, Tennouji-san bursts out with
excitement.
“Before that… Tennouji-san, let’s start with greetings for the
new semester.”
Asahi gives a wry smile, and Tennouji-san looks a tad sheepish.
“Ahem, you’re right. Greetings come first.”
“Here’s to another semester together. I’m truly happy that not a
single one of us is missing from this group.”
Tennouji-san’s sincerity isn’t exaggerated.
The students at Kiou Academy all come from families of
politicians or business tycoons. With the constraints of their
prestigious backgrounds, some might even have to transfer
schools at this point.
That said, we’d already confirmed none of the six of us were in
that situation.
This group, formed from our early tea parties, means a lot to
me. I’m quietly grateful we can all spend this semester
together.
“Miyakojima, here’s to another semester.”
“Y-Yeah! Looking forward to it!”
Narika’s voice is stiff, her face tense with nerves.
“Narika, you’re looking way too intense.”
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“Ugh… I-I haven’t been around people much lately, so I just…”
She’s supposed to have grown a bit since we last saw her… but
has she regressed? I’m a little worried.
“Tennouji-san, you organized this gathering, right? Is there
something specific you wanted to talk about?”
When I ask, Tennouji-san places her laptop on the table.
“Before we get to the main topic, let me ask—does everyone
understand what the Management Game is about?”
Most of us nod with a casual “more or less.”
“Sorry, I know the basics, but not the details…”
“S-Same here…”
I raise my hand, and Narika follows suit.
“Then I’ll explain, just to be safe. The tutorial covers most of it,
but it’s time-consuming, so this should help.”
Shizune-san had mentioned during her earlier explanation that
since it’s a unique class, it’s better to hear the details from
classmates after the semester starts, so I’m grateful for this.
The teacher touched on it during homeroom, but the
Management Game is a hallmark of Kiou Academy. Most
students, except transfer students like me, already know the
gist of it… though Narika seems to be an exception.
“The Management Game is a business simulation game. Players
take on the role of a company executive and manage one or
more businesses over a three-year period within the game.”
I’m familiar with business simulation games. Back at my old
high school, a classmate was obsessed with them. Popular ones
include games where you play as a mayor building a city or
running a farm.

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“You can manage a wide variety of businesses—manufacturing,
retail, schools, airports, theme parks, and more. However, you
don’t get to choose freely. Based on your family background
and grades, you’re given a set of options to pick from. For
example, Miyakojima, you’ll definitely have a sports equipment
manufacturer as one of your choices.”
“Yeah. My parents told me to pick the sports equipment
company.”
“Every student should be able to choose a business in the same
industry as their family. It makes the simulation more
realistic.”
It’s called a game, but this is still a class.
The goal is education, not just fun. Limiting the business
options makes sense.
“What kind of options do you and Konohana get, Tennouji-
san?”
I voice my curiosity.
The Konohana Group, for instance, includes city banks, trading
companies, heavy industry, and real estate. Are all of those
available as choices?
“For us, we’re given the option to manage an entire corporate
group.”
I see.
So they can take on a role like Kagen’s.
“The initial role you choose is called the ‘start position.’ You can
also select the scale of the business, like capital or number of
employees.”
Naturally, the scale of the business depends on your family
background and grades.
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For me, my start position would probably be a mid-tier IT
company or smaller.
“There are exceptions, though. Some start positions, like
restaurants or small retail businesses, are open to everyone.”
Next to me, Narika mutters, “Is there a candy store…?”
Even if the game allowed it, I doubt Narika’s parents would.
“Wait, doesn’t that make it unfair? If we’re competing on
profits, people who can choose big companies have an
advantage, while those limited to smaller ones are at a
disadvantage…”
“Good catch, Tomonari-kun!” Asahi says with a grin.
“Like you said, the starting points aren’t equal, so the
evaluation isn’t just about profits. You need to adopt a strategy
that suits you—whether it’s steady management or innovative
approaches—and that’s what affects your grade.”
Taishou nods in agreement. “Exactly. Even in the real world,
profits aren’t everything. Not for us, and definitely not for
Konohana or Tennouji-san’s companies. It’s not always about
maximizing profit, right?”
“That’s true.”
Hinako nods quietly.
“A company’s purpose isn’t just about sales—it’s about
contributing to society. For example, Tennouji-san’s company
has always focused on creating jobs.”
Tennouji-san turns to her, surprised.
“Y-You know about my company too?”
“Of course, Tennouji-san.”
“~~ !! D-Don’t think you’ve won just yet!!”
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Her awkward attempt to hide her embarrassment warms my
heart.
Tennouji-san can’t suppress her grin, clearly delighted.
“Do you study this kind of stuff all the time, Konohana?”
“Not always, but lately, I’ve been attending dinners with
business leaders, so I hear a lot about the corporate world.”
“Wow, that’s so Konohana. You’re totally gonna dominate the
Management Game!” Asahi says, clearly impressed.
“Now that we’ve deepened our understanding of the game, let’s
move to the main topic.”
Tennouji-san looks at each of us in turn.
“What if the six of us formed an alliance?”
“An alliance…?”
I tilt my head, and Tennouji-san continues.
“The goals are simple: regular information sharing and a
promise not to compete against each other. That’s it.”
“That’s all?”
“Yes. Those two points are crucial in the Management Game.”
Tennouji-san explains further.
“The heart of the Management Game lies in the fact that other
players exist. It’s a thrilling game of strategy, with things like
M&A buyouts or secret business deals happening behind the
scenes.”
She lets out a sly chuckle.
M&A refers to mergers and acquisitions—when a big company
absorbs a smaller one or two companies join to form a new
entity.
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…Tennouji-san seems like she’d love that kind of thing.
Her explanation makes the alliance’s purpose clear. Essentially,
the Management Game is a business simulation with an online
multiplayer element. Competition with other players is
unavoidable.
An alliance would protect us and give us an edge in the
competition. I’m sure other students will form their own
alliances too.
“Fortunately, the six of us have diverse industries, so this
alliance should benefit everyone.”
“True. I’m planning to go with transportation,” Taishou says.
“And I’m picking consumer electronics retail. We’re nicely
spread out!” Asahi adds.
Both seem convinced.
“There’s also a personal reason,” Tennouji-san says. “I’m
aiming for the student council. Honestly, I’d love to have as
many allies as possible.”
Everyone’s eyes widen in surprise.
But if anyone’s going to aim for the student council, Tennouji-
san makes sense. The mood shifts to one of quiet support, and I
cautiously speak up.
Now’s the time to say it.
“Actually, I’m aiming for it too.”
“What!?”
“R-Really, Izuki!?”
Tennouji-san and Narika exclaim in shock.
Taishou and Asahi are equally stunned. I’d mentioned it to
Hinako beforehand, so she’s not surprised… but for some
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reason, she looks a bit sulky. Her eyes dart between Tennouji-
san and me, her cheeks slightly puffed out.
“I know it’s a long shot, but… I’m gonna give it a try.”
For me, declaring my goal of joining the student council takes
guts.
This is a prestigious school filled with the heirs of tycoons. On
paper, I’m the son of a mid-tier company, but in reality, I’m just
a commoner. For someone like me to aim for the student
council, which leads the student body, is beyond overreaching.
It’s the kind of thing that could make people tilt their heads and
ask, “What kind of joke is this?”
But—
“Absolutely! You have to go for it!”
Contrary to my fears, Tennouji-san is all in.
“You’ve got the grit to make the impossible possible, Tomonari.
I don’t think it’s out of your reach at all.”
“That’s a bit much… I’m just trying to keep up with everyone.”
“Do you realize how extraordinary it is to have accomplished
that in just a few months since transferring? If I make it to the
student council, having you by my side would be incredibly
reassuring.”
Tennouji-san speaks dreamily, lost in her imagination.
She’s probably praising my grit because she knows my true
background.
To be fair, surviving Shizune-san and Tennouji-san’s Spartan
lessons has given me a ton of confidence in my perseverance.
“Konohana, you’re not aiming for the student council?” Asahi
asks.

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“It’s complicated with my family, so…”
“Got it. Well, can’t be helped then.”
Asahi nods, a bit disappointed.
Hinako is one of the most prominent Ojou-sama at Kiou
Academy. Naturally, many students probably want her to aim
for the student council.
Tennouji’s no different—she’s got plenty of supporters too.
…In truth, it’s not just her family. It’s Hinako’s personal
circumstances.
She’s already exhausted from maintaining her perfect Ojou-
sama persona every day. If she took on a student council role,
she’d burn out completely.
With her family’s status and grades, Hinako has more than
enough future options without needing student council
credentials. Kagen probably acknowledges that, which is why
he’s okay with her skipping it.
Tennouji’s not aiming for the student council just for the
resume either. I remember our conversation at the beach
during summer break. …She’s pursuing it to carve her own
path, different from Hinako’s.
“That said… you’re still fired up for the game, right, Konohana
Hinako?”
Tennouji glares at Hinako, brimming with competitive spirit.
Hinako sips her tea, sets the cup down, and responds.
“Of course. Let’s both do our best to achieve great results.”
While she’s not aiming for the student council, Hinako plans to
take the game seriously to maintain her flawless Ojou-sama
image.

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Whether it’s intentional or just her natural aura, when the
usually gentle Hinako gets serious, she radiates an
overwhelming presence.
I’ve felt a similar vibe from Takuma-san before. They really are
siblings, even if Hinako might hate the comparison.
But Tennouji isn’t intimidated—she flashes a fearless grin.
“Well then, we all need to complete the tutorial, so I’d like to
wrap up here… but there’s one last very important thing.”
Something important?
As we tilt our heads, Tennouji stands up.
“We need to decide the name of our alliance!”
Is that really the most important thing…?
Still, I get it. A name makes it feel official and gets you pumped.
“How about the Hexagon Alliance? It literally means an alliance
of six.”
“Hmm, I’d prefer something a bit more unique to us.”
“What about Team Luxury? You know, after Konohana’s total
assets.”
“That feels a bit… tacky.”
Asahi and Taishou throw out ideas, but neither gets much
traction. Taishou was probably half-joking anyway.
Maybe I should suggest something… Just as I think that, Hinako
raises her hand.
“How about simply the Tea Party Alliance?”
“Tch… Well played, Konohana Hinako. You know simple is best
in these things…!”
She’s overthinking it.
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That said, I like the Tea Party Alliance. Our bond as a group was
forged through these tea parties, and the name captures that
perfectly.
“Then let’s go with it. As of today, we officially form the Tea
Party Alliance!”
Cheers of “Ooh!” and clapping fill the air.
“That’s all for today. We can’t lose to our rivals, after all.”
With a polite bow, Tennouji leaves.
Now that I think about it… isn’t it weird to have rivals within
the alliance?
◆
After the tea party ends.
Back at the mansion, I dove right into the tutorial for the
Management Game.
“Excuse me.”
There was a knock at the door, and Shizune-san entered with
Hinako.
It seemed they’d prepared some drinks. I took a cup from the
tray Shizune-san was holding.
“Oh, coffee today?”
“I heard from Ojou-sama that you were drinking tea at the
after-school tea party.”
As expected of Shizune-san. Her hospitality was that of a top-
tier maid.
“Thank you. …I’m sorry. It’s one thing for Hinako, but it feels
wrong to have you serve me like you’re my personal maid.”
“Me, as Izuki-san’s maid?”
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Oh no, I might’ve said something unnecessary.
“I got carried away.”
“No… I wouldn’t say it’s entirely impossible.”
Could such a possibility even exist…?
Still, she didn’t seem particularly upset.
Shizune-san glanced at the laptop on the desk.
“So, how’s the Management Game going?”
“I’m struggling with the starting position. The range of choices
is wider than I expected…”
“That’s something worth mulling over seriously.”
Shizune-san seemed to grasp the wall I was hitting almost
instantly.
“Ojou-sama could learn a thing or two from you, Izuki-san. She
hasn’t even finished the tutorial yet, has she?”
“No way… I’m sleepy… I’ll do it later…”
“Good grief… Well, it was the first day back at the academy in a
while, so I’ll let it slide.”
Shizune-san let out a sigh.
“Hinako, if you’re sleepy, you can use the bed.”
“Ngh, ngh… No, it’s not that…”
“You didn’t come here to sleep? Then what for…?”
Was there something she wanted to talk about?
I turned to Hinako. Her face flushed red, and her eyes darted
around nervously.
“Um… I-I came to… see you…”

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“?”
“…Sleep! I’m sleeping!”
“Alright. Just don’t oversleep and end up wide awake at night.”
Hinako flopped onto the bed.
She seemed a bit off from usual… or was I just imagining
things?
“Izuki-san, may I take a look?”
“Sure.”
Shizune-san peered at the laptop screen.
For a brief moment, our faces were close, and I felt a flicker of
nerves, but Shizune-san spoke with a serious expression.
“As expected, you can choose industries related to IT.”
“The industry itself is fine, but I’m struggling with the scale…”
Specifically, I was torn about how many employees to start
with.
A thousand? A hundred? Or… start a company from scratch?
The options were endless.
“Would starting with a larger company be more stable?”
“Not necessarily. For example, a publicly traded company
carries the risk of acquisition. If it gets bought out, your
operational freedom shrinks.”
“I see…”
Managing a listed company would probably be too much for me
right now.
In that case, I’d prefer to go with a smaller-scale company…
(If I’m going to do this, I want it to actually help my future.)
Page | 31
My current goal is to become an executive at the Konohana
Group. To gain experience that would help me reach that goal,
which position would be best?
“…Shizune-san. If I were to seriously aim to become a business
leader in the future, what paths could I take?”
“The most reliable route would be to join a small or medium-
sized company struggling with succession and inherit the role
of president.”
Only Takuma-san knows I’m aiming for a position at the
Konohana Group, so my question might’ve come out of
nowhere, but her answer was surprisingly concrete.
For the people living in this world, aiming to become a business
leader isn’t some far-fetched fantasy—it’s a tangible career
path.
Shizune-san must see me as part of this world, too.
I’m grateful for that.
“Is that more reliable than starting my own company?”
“Starting a company is quicker, but if you’re thinking about a
stable career plan, I’d recommend succession. Roughly 99%
percent of Japanese companies are small or medium-sized, and
many face succession issues. You’d have plenty of options.”
Is that so?
With the declining birthrate, it’s probably an especially serious
issue for regional companies.
“However, in your case, Izuki-san, for the purposes of this
game, starting a company from scratch would be better for
learning the ropes of management.”
“…You’re right.”

Page | 32
I shouldn’t confuse the means with the end.
The Management Game’s purpose is to learn about business
management. Advancing favorably in the game is just a means
to that end.
When I think about what I need to do for my own future…
“…I’ve decided. I’m going to start my own company.”
“I think that’s a good choice.”
I immediately reflected my decision in the game.
My starting position: a freshly founded IT company’s CEO.
The tutorial wrapped up. I’d continue tomorrow.
I felt a bit nervous… How would I stack up against everyone at
the academy?
“…You’ll be fine.”
Hinako’s voice came from behind me.
“Hinako? You’re still awake?”
“Mhm.”
Hinako gave a small nod.
“Izuki, no matter what you choose, you’ll be fine.”
“What do you mean…?”
“If it comes down to it… I’ll protect you.”
I tilted my head at Hinako’s confident declaration.
At the time, I didn’t fully understand what she meant.
◆
The next day, the opening ceremony for the Management Game
was held in the auditorium of Kiou Academy.
Page | 33
The second-year high school students gathered, all listening
intently to the guest speakers’ addresses, their faces brimming
with determination as they returned to their classrooms.
“It’s finally starting, huh?”
“Indeed.”
Back in the classroom, I nodded at Taishou’s comment.
“…I didn’t expect the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry
to show up.”
“There were a bunch of other big shots, too. Though most of
them are probably our classmates’ families.”
I sighed with exhaustion, and Taishou gave a wry smile.
The ceremony had featured CEOs of major corporations and
unicorn startups—titans of the business world—invited as
guests, creating a solemn atmosphere throughout.
For the first time in a while, I felt overwhelmed by the air of
Kiou Academy.
Weren’t my classmates fazed? I glanced around the classroom
and—
“Hey, what’s your starting position?”
“I went with a pharmaceutical company, annual revenue of 200
billion yen.”
“We’re in similar industries… Wanna talk after school? Maybe
we could form a business alliance.”
“That’d help. I’ll prep some materials by then.”
My classmates were already strategizing for the game.
Talks of market capitalization, capital investment, and other
game-related topics filled the air.

Page | 34
“Everyone’s so serious.”
“Well, yeah. They say whoever dominates the Management
Game basically rules Kiou Academy.”
“Really?”
“Most of us will probably become politicians or CEOs, right? So
managerial skill is a huge status symbol for us. The
Management Game makes it clear who’s got it and who doesn’t.
Good results don’t just get you into the student council—they
open doors in all sorts of ways.”
I nodded in understanding.
At Kiou Academy, the students who excel in the Management
Game are seen as the most outstanding and exemplary. They
earn teachers’ trust more easily, and better results can
significantly impact their future academy life.
As for me, I’m taking the game seriously, too.
My body trembled—I’d like to think it’s just nervous excitement.
“We can’t start playing until after school, but it’s the first day,
so everyone’s too pumped to wait.”
Taishou said with a laugh.
The Management Game isn’t playable 24/7.
From Monday to Thursday, it’s only from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m.—
after school. On Fridays and Saturdays, it’s from 9:00 a.m. to
9:00 p.m., playable all day. Fridays are a school holiday during
the game period. Sundays are off-limits.
The Management Game is intense, both in its mechanics and
the students’ approach, but the schedule is designed to leave
room for regular studies.

Page | 35
Shizune-san had also told me I could skip etiquette lessons
during the game period. I’d have to work hard to balance my
usual studies with this.
◆
After school.
We gathered at the café with our laptops open for a meeting.
“Shall we start by sharing our starting positions?”
Tennouji-san said after taking a sip of tea.
“I’m running the Tennouji Group. It spans various industries.”
“I’m with the Konohana Group. Like Tennouji-san, it covers
multiple sectors—major trading companies, heavy industry,
you name it.”
Those two were as expected.
They’d likely take those roles in real life someday.
“The company names are the same as in reality, huh?”
“You can change them, but most people stick with the same
names. It feels more personal that way.”
Even if it’s just a game, bankrupting a company with your
family’s name would sting. It’s only natural to be invested.
Next, Narika spoke up.
“I’m with Shimax, a sports equipment manufacturer.
…Honestly, I wanted to start a candy store from scratch, but my
parents chewed me out.”
Well, yeah…
The Management Game is part of our curriculum. That kind of
thing is better left to commercial games.

Page | 36
“I’m with Taishou Movers. As the name suggests, it’s in
transportation.”
“I’m with J’s Holdings, an electronics retailer.”
Taishou and Asahi-san announced their positions.
Finally, it was my turn.
“…I’ve only decided on running an IT company.”
Everyone tilted their heads in curiosity.
“I’m starting a company from scratch. It’ll be in IT, but I haven’t
settled on a name yet.”
The tutorial only required choosing a starting position, so I’d
have to figure out the rest from here.
Asahi-san’s eyes widened in surprise at my choice.
“T-Tomonari-kun… That’s ambitious!”
“Huh?”
“I mean, you’re defying your family’s expectations and forging
your own path, right? Wow, I’ve thought about it, but actually
doing it? That’s not easy!”
Asahi-san’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.
Oh no… I didn’t think it’d come off that way.
If it’s just a misunderstanding, that’s fine, but if this sparks
curiosity about my family, it could get tricky. I’d rather not
stand out too much…
“Or perhaps it’s about studying the mechanics of a company
from the ground up.”
Hinako, who knew why I’d chosen this path, threw me a lifeline.
I nodded quickly.
“Uh, Konohana-san’s got it right. It’s not about ambition.”
Page | 37
“Got it. …Still, that’s pretty studious of you!”
Asahi-san’s admiration didn’t waver.
Meanwhile, I had a question for her.
“Um, you said you’ve thought about it, too… Does that mean
you’re considering something similar?”
“…Let’s just leave my stuff aside for now!”
Her comment sounded oddly personal, so I asked, but she
dodged the question.
Maybe she’s not keen on taking over her family’s business? …If
she doesn’t want to talk, I shouldn’t pry.
“Next, let’s share our management strategies.”
Tennouji-san said, scanning our faces.
“My minimum goal is to maintain the status quo, while aiming
to boost sales across all sectors as much as possible.”
“Maintaining the status quo is my top priority, too. I plan to
manage steadily.”
Tennouji-san and Hinako spoke. Both were already running
massive conglomerates. Focusing on stability over expansion
made sense.
“I’m aiming for growth.”
“Same as Taishou-kun. …My parents told me to aim for the top
domestically, at least in the game, since it’s tough in reality.”
Asahi-san let out a small sigh.
J’s Holdings, Asahi-san’s family business, is among the top five
electronics retailers in Japan but not number one. The gap
might be hard to close in reality, but in a game, creativity could
make it possible—a unique appeal of the format.

Page | 38
Finally, I shared my strategy.
“My goal is to get the business off the ground.”
Tennouji-san nodded.
Nothing could start until that was achieved.
“Have you decided what kind of service to develop?”
“Well… just a rough idea.”
For an IT company, the first step is deciding what service to
create.
This is arguably the biggest hurdle. While it’s not everything,
the idea shapes future revenue and the market you’ll engage
with.
“This might be meddling, but let me offer one piece of advice.”
Tennouji-san looked at me with a serious expression.
“What do you want to create to contribute to society,
Tomonari-san?”
“I…”
“Think it over carefully. That will be your answer.”
Social contributions come in many forms. Even volunteering
has countless approaches.
If I had to pick one, what would it be? …What best expresses
what I want to do, what I’ve felt?
I thought it over deeply. Then, I realized.
“…Actually, there’s something I’d like to try.”
The answer was already there.
I voiced the idea I’d been mulling over since last night.
“I want to create an online store specializing in gifts.”
Page | 39
Everyone’s eyes widened.
“The trigger was, like Tennouji-san said, thinking about the
social contribution I want to make. …Since coming to this
academy, I’ve been helped by so many people, and I thought I’d
like to pay it back someday.”
That’s why I came up with it.
A service centered around gifts.
“I’ve thought about the specifics, too… When you give a gift,
don’t you often worry about ‘how to give it’? Hand it over in
person? Buy it online? If online, which site? I thought it’d be
great to have a service that eliminates all those worries.”
Gifting involves considerations like wrapping, ceremonial noshi
paper, and various etiquette. I thought it’d be convenient if all
that could be handled automatically or intuitively, with a
feature to manage recipient lists, too.
In short—I want to create the go-to site for gifting.
I gauged everyone’s reactions.
“…That actually sounds like it’d have real demand.”
Tennouji-san murmured in a small voice.
“Year-end gifts are such a hassle. Figuring out what to send to
whom is a pain.”
“I don’t mind if it’s just friends, but when it’s a business
partner, you’ve gotta mind your manners, right?”
Taishou and Asahi-san’s reactions don’t seem bad either.
“Come to think of it, I remember my dad struggling a bit when
he sent year-end gifts to an overseas client.”
Narika says, as if recalling something.
While gauging everyone’s reactions, I glanced at Hinako.
Page | 40
I hadn’t mentioned this to Hinako before. So, this would be the
first time I’d see her reaction…
“It’s very like you, Tomonari-kun, and I think it’s wonderful.”
Hinako gave a soft, gentle smile.
It might just be my imagination, but her words felt like they
came from her heart, not some act.
“Gift-giving is a matter of etiquette. …Tomonari-san has been
diligently studying manners since coming to this academy, so
this might be just the right fit.”
That wasn’t my intention, but now that it’s mentioned, maybe I
was unconsciously connecting the two.
Everyone’s reactions are positive, and I can put what I’ve
learned to good use. There’s no need to hesitate anymore.
“I’ll submit the proposal as is.”
“Yes, I believe it will likely receive high praise.”
Tennouji-san says with a confident expression.
“In the Management Game, the quality of your ideas is properly
evaluated. When starting a new business, the AI and the faculty
assess its content, and if it’s deemed innovative, it gives you an
advantage in the game. By the way, as a rule, ideas proposed in
the game are protected by agreements to prevent them from
being stolen in real life, so no need to worry.”
This game is seriously well thought out.
“Also, if you’re starting a business from scratch, there’s a two-
year skip function. Once your business is somewhat on track,
it’s better to use that function.”
“There’s something like that?”

Page | 41
“The Management Game is designed to teach business
management through interaction with other students. A newly
founded company has limited leverage for negotiations, so this
is a considerate feature.”
As expected, it’s not like they’ve made everything perfectly
realistic.
To help us learn management efficiently, the game lays down
some tracks to follow.
“Thank you for explaining.”
“No need to thank me. In the real world, when starting a
company, you’d get advice from all sorts of people. The
Management Game is more efficient when you involve others
rather than doing it alone.”
I had a hunch about this, but it feels like the Management Game
is built on the premise of interacting with others, both in and
out of the game. After all, we’ve even formed an alliance like
this.
I nodded at Tennouji-san’s point.
“Besides, we’re all aiming for the student council together…
you could even call us comrades! Especially when it comes to
me! —Especially! You can rely on me!”
Tennouji-san said, placing a hand on her chest.
I’m grateful. There’s probably no one more reliable as an ally
than Tennouji-san.
Just as I was thinking that—
“…Comrades, huh?”
Hinako said in a small voice.
“Hm? Did you say something, Konohana Hinako?”

Page | 42
“No. I just personally didn’t find that term very fitting.”
Closing her eyes as she spoke, Hinako then opened them and
stared straight at me.
“If we’re talking about comrades… at the very least, it should be
the kind of bond where we live under the same roof.”
“Wha—!?”
Hinako dropped an absolute bombshell, and I couldn’t help but
stand up.
Is she talking about our relationship?
What’s she getting so competitive about…!
“H-Hooh…?”
The cup in Tennouji-san’s hand started trembling with a
clatter.
Tennouji-san knows I’ve been staying at the Konohana family’s
mansion with Hinako. So does Narika, who looked back and
forth between Hinako and Tennouji-san, clearly nervous.
Only Taishou and Asahi-san tilted their heads in confusion.
…Their reaction is the most helpful right now.
“H-Hmph… Physical distance doesn’t matter!”
Tennouji-san said in a shaky voice.
“If anything, greater physical distance makes you feel the
emotional connection more strongly! To judge a relationship as
good just because of proximity… I can only call that shallow.”
“…I see. Shallow, is it?”
Hinako took a sip of tea and set her cup down.
“But I have been studying, you know.”
“S-Studying…?”
Page | 43
“Yes. Lately, I’ve taken an interest in the complexities of human
relationships… I’m self-taught, but I’ve been learning about
things like romance.”
“R-Romance, studying…!?”
She’s just reading shoujo manga, isn’t she?
I know that just recently, she borrowed some shoujo manga
from Yuri. Yuri works as a cook at the Konohana household
once a week and apparently borrows manga each time.
But Tennouji-san and the others, unaware of the truth,
widened their eyes in shock.
“Um, Konohana Hinako, if it’s alright, could I perhaps join in on
that stu—”
“—Well! Values differ from person to person, don’t they? Let’s
just leave it at that!”
Before Hinako could embarrass herself further, I desperately
tried to shift the mood.
Something’s off…
Lately, Hinako’s been getting bolder.
“—Tennouji-san.”
As I sat back down, a voice came from behind.
Unnoticed, a female student had approached us.
“Suminoe-san?”
I said her name aloud.
Standing there was Suminoe-san, our classmate.
“Suminoe-san, is something the matter?”
“Some of my classmates wanted to consult Tennouji-san about
the Management Game…”
Page | 44
“I see. I’ll address it right away.”
“No, I saw you were having a tea party, so I sent the details via
email.”
“Understood. Thank you for your consideration.”
Tennouji-san expressed her gratitude.
Asahi-san watched their exchange with a surprised look.
“Suminoe-san, you’re close with Tennouji-san?”
“Yes, we were in the same class last year.”
Suminoe-san said, and Tennouji-san nodded in agreement.
“Suminoe-san always supports me like this.”
“Huh,” Taishou said, looking between them.
“Feels kinda like Tennouji-san’s secretary.”
“That’s quite an honor.”
Suminoe-san smiled.
“As I’ve said before, you don’t need to go out of your way for
me.”
“No, I do this because I want to.”
Their exchange felt very much like one between a capable
secretary and her boss.
…I had no idea.
Suminoe-san’s my classmate, but we’ve never talked much. She
seems really close with Tennouji-san, so they must spend a lot
of time together outside my knowledge.
“Hey, Suminoe-san! Wanna join us and chat?”
“Thank you, I appreciate the offer. But I have some family
matters to attend to soon…”
Page | 45
Suminoe-san politely declined Asahi-san’s invitation.
She turned to leave.
Just before she did—
“…?”
Was it my imagination?
For a split second… did Suminoe-san just glare at me?
“Tennouji-san, are you forming an alliance with Suminoe-san
too?”
“She brought it up once, but I’ve put it on hold.”
On hold? They seemed so close…
As I wondered about it, Tennouji-san continued with a serious
expression.
“Her abilities are impeccable, but my relationship with
Suminoe-san is a bit complicated… No, this is a delicate matter,
so I shouldn’t speak lightly of it.”
Tennouji-san started to say something but held back.
What’s going on between those two…?
◆
Back at the mansion, I was in my room, facing my laptop.
“The office and equipment are set. I’ve secured engineers as
staff. The rough design for the e-commerce site is done…
Alright, time to use the skip function.”
In real life, starting a business from scratch usually means
struggling with funding at first. But if you get stuck on that in
the Management Game, you’ll never get to the core of it—
interacting with other companies.

Page | 46
It’s better to accept that this game is about learning what
comes after launching the business.
(…Realistically, students at Kiou Academy could probably skip
that issue anyway.)
Entrepreneurs usually struggle with funding because they need
to find investors. But at Kiou Academy, connections like that
are everywhere. You’d probably trip over students whose
parents run investment funds.
The screen displayed: “Skip completed.”
Just like that, my company was in its second year. The
Management Game spans three years in-game, so by the end,
my company should be in its fifth year.
I checked the details of the services created by the skip.
“Whoa…!”
Even though it’s just a game, seeing my company grow
smoothly was thrilling.
Checking the data, I saw everything from daily user visits to ad
counts, all laid out in numbers.
I also reviewed the landing page—the first page users see.
Since it was generated by the skip function, I braced for
something sloppy, but to my amateur eyes, it looked pretty
decent.

Page | 47
Page | 48
(Might as well check out other people’s companies.)
I pulled up the map, and the screen filled with a bird’s-eye view
of a city. At its center stood a mid-sized building, part of which
was my office.
Just like in reality, the game assigned addresses to offices. I
searched for Taishou’s company and found its headquarters in
Osaka Prefecture displayed on the screen.
Out of curiosity, I checked what this cityscape looked like in
real life using a map app. …It was almost identical. The
Management Game seems to recreate real-world city layouts as
much as possible.
Impressed, I looked into the data of nearby companies.
(…Well, no way I’d be on the same level as them after just a two-
year skip.)
Every student was running a company far larger than mine.
Capital, revenue, employee count—every metric dwarfed my
company. Seeing the numerical gap laid out so clearly was both
sobering and terrifying.
—Bring it on.
First, I’ll catch up to them somehow. If I can’t do that, forget the
student council.
A day passed in the game, and the companies’ numbers
updated.
In real time, fifteen minutes equaled one game day. If I tried to
strategize in real-time every time, I’d never keep up, so I’d need
to prep in advance.
(…There are NPCs too, huh.)
The game world also had companies run by NPCs, not students.

Page | 49
It seemed possible to do business with them too.
“First thing I need to do… is increase user numbers.”
Checking the user growth trend, I saw it was steadily rising at
first, but it had plateaued over the last six months.
Figuring out how to break this plateau would be my next
challenge.
An e-commerce site lets users buy products or services online.
How do I increase its user base…? A few ideas popped into my
head.
I stretched lightly and glanced at the laptop’s clock.
It was almost 9 p.m. The game can’t be played past nine. …I’m
still fired up, so it feels a bit unsatisfying to stop, but I’ll carry
this energy into tomorrow and call it a day.
Hinako, determined to maintain her perfect Ojou-sama image,
is apparently focusing on the Management Game for a while
starting today. That’s why she didn’t come to my room tonight.
Normally, she’d be lounging on my bed around this time, but
her absence makes me feel a little lonely.
(…Maybe I’ll go see her for once.)
I closed my laptop and left the room.
On my way to Hinako’s room, I ran into a familiar figure.
“…Takuma-san?”
“Hm? Oh, it’s Izuki-kun, isn’t it?”
A tall, lanky man in a fine suit—Takuma-san—turned around.
He was holding a stack of documents. …Knowing his true
nature, I couldn’t help but see those papers as something
suspicious.
“Don’t be so wary. Have I ever done anything to you?”
Page | 50
“No… it’s just a reflex.”
“That makes it even more hurtful.”
He’s not hurt in the slightest.
“By the way, the Management Game started today, right? Did
you manage to start your business?”
“Yes. …Wait, how did you know I chose to start a business?”
“Just a hunch that you’d go that route.”
His insight is as sharp as ever.
EQ… emotional intelligence, was it? Apparently, Takuma-san’s
is freakishly high, letting him read people’s thoughts just by
looking at their faces.
“So, what kind of company did you make, Izuki-kun?”
“…A company running an online gift shop.”
“Nice. E-commerce is a solid choice—it’s a market that’ll keep
growing for a while. The faculty at Kiou Academy tends to value
trends, so your idea should score decently.”
Takuma-san said, resting his chin in his hand as he shared his
thoughts.
Listening to him, I started to think.
…Should I ask this guy for advice?
I’m wary of Takuma-san, but I had a vague feeling.
Being around him might help me grow. During the summer, he
helped me figure out my future goals, and since he knows my
ambitions, he’s easy to consult.
Plus, Takuma-san knows a ton about business.

Page | 51
Just the other day, he mentioned the toxic work culture at
Konoha Drinks Inc., so he’s clearly well-versed in corporate
inner workings.
“Takuma-san, could I get some advice about the Management
Game? I’m struggling with what to do next.”
“What’s the specific issue?”
“I just used the skip function, and I’m thinking about ways to
increase user numbers. But with a limited budget, I can’t try
everything…”
“You want to know effective strategies.”
I nodded, and Takuma-san thought for a moment.
“Alright, how about helping me with my work instead? As you
can see, I’m swamped with paperwork.”
He said, lightly shaking the stack of papers in his hand.
“If I can be of help, I don’t mind…”
“It’s just sorting documents, so you’ll be fine.”
Takuma-san turned and headed somewhere.
I followed him.
He entered a small study on the first floor of the mansion.
…This was my first time in here. According to Shizune-san, this
room is for guests to work in. I thought a workspace for visitors
would rarely get used, but… I see, it’s for family members who
aren’t usually at the mansion, like this.
Takuma-san handed me a stack of about fifty papers.
“These are emails? Why print them out…?”
“For a change of pace. I’ve been staring at screens too much
lately, so I missed paper. But I ended up not having time to read
them, so I’m asking you.”
Page | 52
I’ve been glued to my laptop screen a lot lately too, so I kinda
get it.
His approach to boosting work motivation might be a skill
every professional needs.
“Sort them into ones that need a reply and ones that don’t. For
the latter, if the content’s brief, just tell me verbally. You can
toss those after.”
Takuma-san sat down, flipping through his own documents.
With a slight sense of nerves, I started sorting the papers.
“From Arise Co., Ltd., a thank-you for your help in closing a
deal.”
“Got it.”
“From With Partners Co., Ltd., they’ve made a prototype and
will mail it soon.”
“Alright.”
Takuma-san kept working on his documents, acknowledging
my reports.
“From the Minister of Defense, confirmation of receiving a
contract… Wait, what? The Minister of Defense…!?”
“One of our key clients.”
The appearance of such a huge name caught me off guard.
…Takuma-san really is a capable guy.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have such a wide network. Dealing with
a political heavyweight means he’s earned serious trust.
“…All done.”
“Good work.”
I finished sorting the documents.
Page | 53
When I glanced at Takuma-san, he was still engrossed in
reading some complex-looking documents.
“It’ll take me a bit longer to finish up here. If you’re bored, feel
free to look through those papers over there. Might be
educational.”
“I-Is that okay? Aren’t there, like, confidential company secrets
or something?”
“At this point, does it even matter?”
Well, yeah, I guess that’s true, but…
I’m ashamed for even a fleeting moment of thinking this guy
was a proper adult. Right, Takuma-san is that kind of person.
The fact that I’m seeking guidance from someone like Takuma-
san might mean I’m a little off myself.
I picked up a document that caught my eye.
“This is…”
“A proposal to a manufacturer,” he said.
That explanation alone didn’t make much sense. But asking
Takuma-san for details while he was working felt rude, so I
dove into the document, trying to piece it together on my own.
(So, basically, they’re asking another company for cooperation to
complete a product.)
It seems the Konohana Group’s electronics manufacturer is
developing an air conditioner aimed at wealthy overseas
clients. To prioritize performance, they want to use parts
developed by another company and are requesting permission
to do so.
If the other company agrees to let them use the parts, they’ll
gain access to a ton of experimental data, which will be shared

Page | 54
with them. If the air conditioner is completed using those parts,
it’ll boost the other company’s brand recognition. Of course,
proper compensation is on the table. The proposal laid it all
out—specific data they could expect, reasons for collaboration,
and so on…
“…Is this entire proposal legit?”
“Hm?”
Almost unconsciously, I blurted out the question.
Takuma-san paused his work and looked at me.
“I mean… some of the stuff in this proposal feels kind of fake, or
like… your real goal is just to meet the other party in person,
isn’t it?”
Next to the proposal was a printed email exchange with the
person in charge. From what I could tell, Takuma-san hadn’t
met or spoken with them directly yet.
At my question, Takuma-san’s eyes widened… and he laughed.
“Bingo. That guy’s super stubborn, so getting a proposal
through via email is tough. But if I can meet him face-to-face,
I’m confident I can win him over. So I just sprinkled in some
tempting bait.”
Wow…
I inwardly cringed at the sly grin on Takuma-san’s face.
“How’d you figure it out?”
“…Huh?”
“I’m impressed you picked up on my intentions from a
document like that.”
“No, it was just a hunch. The proposal felt a bit… vague, I
guess.”
Page | 55
I don’t know why, but Takuma-san was staring at me with a
serious expression.
Still, I couldn’t quite put that gut feeling into words.
“I just… somehow felt like that’s something you’d do, Takuma-
san.”
It’s not much of an answer, but that’s how I felt, and I didn’t
have any other way to explain it.
It really was just a gut instinct.
Why was Takuma-san getting so serious over such a trivial
conversation?
“…I’ve changed my mind.”
In a quiet voice, Takuma-san spoke.
“Izuki-kun. How about becoming my apprentice?”
“…Apprentice?”
“Yeah. Just for the duration of the Management Game. Want to
learn a thing or two under me?”
That’s…
“That’s more than I could’ve hoped for, but…”
“Great, it’s settled then.”
Seeing Takuma-san’s delighted smile, I got a slightly bad
feeling.
Is this gonna be okay? Did I just make a deal with the devil or
something?
“Alright, let’s get started. Show me where you’re at. The game’s
offline right now, but you can still access the home screen,
right?”
“…Got it. I’ll grab my laptop.”
Page | 56
I headed back to my room, picked up the laptop I’d left on my
desk, and returned to the office where Takuma-san was
waiting.
Opening the laptop, I showed him the game’s home screen.
“Right now, it’s looking like this, and I’m trying to increase the
user base…”
I explained the current situation while showing him the screen.
After listening to my thoughts, Takuma-san pondered for a
moment.
“Instead of adding more products, you’d be better off
increasing advertising.”
Takuma-san stated his conclusion bluntly.
“Your company isn’t making the products itself, so banking on
word-of-mouth is a fool’s errand. It’s like a restaurant saying,
‘We’ll compete on taste alone.’ That’s just basic.”
“Is that… a bad example?”
“Competing on taste is a given, isn’t it?”
So, don’t just pretend to have high standards and slack off—put
in the effort in other areas too.
“You should establish a brand identity.”
“Brand identity?”
“Giving your company a distinct vibe makes it easier to convey
your image to people. It’s convenient. Like with that restaurant
example—maybe it’s got a rustic, old-house feel or a sleek,
futuristic vibe. Once you nail down the identity, you just lean
hard into it with your advertising.”
“Got it. …Thanks for the advice.”
Deciding what kind of brand identity to go with—that’s my job.
Page | 57
Unlike a restaurant, since it’s an e-commerce site, I’d want to
appeal to as broad an audience as possible.
…Given that it’s an online store, the direct customer base will
likely be adults who can own credit cards. Maybe a concept like
“grown-up connections” would work? Not in a formal, polite, or
superficial way, but something smart, professional, business-
like… that kind of adult vibe.
“That company name’s pretty uninspired, though.”
“Ugh.”
He hit me right where it hurts.
“Well, company names are often just the founder’s name, so it’s
not a big deal. Our company’s like that too, and there’s Toyota,
Ishibashi, and plenty of others. …Still, for an IT company, you
could’ve gone for something a bit more stylish.”
“I, uh… don’t exactly have a knack for naming…”
“These days, plenty of companies crowdsource their names.
Running a business isn’t a solo gig—you’ve got to lean on
others.”
Tennouji-san said something similar, didn’t she? That the
Management Game is better played by collaborating with
others. If someone like Takuma-san, who’s involved in all sorts
of businesses, says it too, it must be true.
“Here’s some homework. By Friday, research the management
styles of the people you usually hang out with and report back
to me. …Hinako, Tennouji-san, and Miyakojima-san should be
enough.”
How does he know who I’m friends with? I wondered, but
decided it wasn’t worth dwelling on and kept quiet.

Page | 58
“Also, I’m only at the estate today, so we’ll switch to video calls
from now on.”
“Understood. Thanks for today.”
“No need to thank me. I’m just investing, after all.”
“Investing?”
I tilted my head, and Takuma-san nodded with an offhand, “Oh,
right.”
“In your talent.”
With that, Takuma-san grabbed his stack of documents and left
the office.
I left the office too, heading back to my room while mulling
over his words.
…Talent?
Me? What kind of talent is he talking about?
I puzzled over it for a bit, but I’d just told myself not to
overthink things. For now, I’ll focus on tackling the task
Takuma-san gave me.
As I neared my room, I spotted a figure by the door.
It was Hinako.
Come to think of it, the whole reason I left my room in the first
place was to go see her.
Right now, Hinako was standing in front of my door, intently…
fixing her bangs.
…What’s she doing?
“Hinako?”
“!? I-Izuki…?”

Page | 59
Hinako spun around, clearly startled.
That’s rare. I’ve never seen her this flustered before.
“W-Where were you…?”
“Just talking with Takuma-san for a bit.”
“Ugh…”
As expected, she still can’t stand Takuma-san.
“You were pretty focused on the Management Game today too,
huh?”
“…Yeah. I wanted to wrap up earlier, but… Papa called me.”
“Kagen-san? About the game?”
“Indeed. I was firmly reminded to produce results befitting the
Ojou-sama of the Konohana family…”
Hinako let out a weary sigh, her expression drained.
I thought about tackling the homework Takuma-san assigned
right away, but seeing how exhausted Hinako looked, I decided
to hold off on discussing the management game for today.
As our conversation lulled, Hinako’s eyes darted left and right,
her fidgeting betraying her unease.
“Um… wanna come inside?”
“…Sure, I’ll come in.”
With a faint blush coloring her cheeks, Hinako gave a small nod.
In a strangely awkward atmosphere, I let Hinako into my room.
◇
Stepping into Izuki’s room, Hinako, as was her habit, scanned
the surroundings.
Izuki probably hadn’t noticed this little quirk of hers.
Page | 60
(Oh… there’s a new pen holder.)
Since she visited Izuki’s room almost daily, Hinako immediately
spotted the change. A black pen holder, one that hadn’t been
there before, now sat on his desk.
Hinako loved coming to Izuki’s room.
At first, it had been impeccably tidy, devoid of anything
unnecessary, feeling very much like a temporary stay. But day
by day, she adored watching it take on Izuki’s personality. More
stationery appeared, then slippers, a table clock, a computer…
It felt like Izuki was gradually becoming a true resident of the
mansion, and that made her heart soar with joy.
Normally, she’d bask in that sense of comfort while napping on
Izuki’s bed, but…
(No, no, I can’t…)
A bead of sweat formed on her forehead.
(I just… can’t act like I used to…!!)
Her heart wouldn’t stop pounding.
Truth be told, she hadn’t been able to relax at all yesterday
either. Though she’d sprawled out on Izuki’s bed as usual, she
hadn’t slept a wink, staying awake the whole time listening to
Izuki and Shizune’s conversation.
Even in shoujo manga, a guy’s room was depicted as a special,
almost sacred space.
Now, she understood that feeling.
There was this inexplicable tension, a fear of doing something
improper.
“Mind if I use the computer for a bit? Got something I want to
jot down…”

Page | 61
“Y-Yeah, that’s fine…”
Hinako nodded, and Izuki immediately turned to his computer.
Perched on the edge of the bed, she stole glances at his profile.
…No matter when she saw it, Izuki’s serious, hardworking
demeanor was undeniably cool.
Suddenly, Izuki looked her way.
Had he caught her staring? Panicking, she quickly averted her
gaze before things got awkward.
The sound of his typing filled the room.
When she glanced at him again… Izuki was looking back, and
their eyes met.
“…W-Why do you keep sneaking glances at me?”
“Oh, I was just thinking I’d carry you to bed if you fell asleep.”
“Carry…?”
“Yeah. I’ve done it a few times before, haven’t I?”
Come to think of it, that did sound familiar…
…If she asked, would he carry her today, too?
She stared intently at Izuki as he tapped away at his keyboard.
(This is bad… Lately, I keep wanting to lean on him…)
Even if she indulged in that urge, she didn’t think Izuki would
dislike her for it.
But in the first place, what did Izuki think of someone like her?
“…Izuki, what do you think of me?”
“Huh?”
Izuki’s eyes widened as he turned to her.

Page | 62
(Oh no, that was way too direct…!)
She’d blurted out her thoughts without thinking.
“I mean… what do you think of someone as sloppy as me?”
Rephrasing her question, she watched as Izuki paused to think.
“You worry about that kind of thing sometimes, don’t you,
Hinako?”
“Ugh…”
“Like I said before, I don’t mind at all. Your so-called sloppiness
is just a result of how hard you push yourself normally… and
honestly, I feel honored to be the one who gets to support you.”
Izuki said it with a hint of embarrassment.
Hinako pressed her palms to her cheeks, feeling like her face
might melt into a goofy grin.
He’d said something similar before, hadn’t he? …That was
when they were switching who’d wake her up in the mornings,
from Izuki to Shizune. Looking back, that might’ve been when
she started seeing Izuki as more than just a friend. The thought
of him seeing her groggy, just-woken-up self had suddenly felt
mortifying.
Izuki probably liked taking care of people.
She knew that no matter how many times he saw her true,
unpolished self, he wouldn’t be disappointed. Still, every now
and then, she couldn’t help but want to confirm it.
(…Love is such a weird feeling.)
Her trust in Izuki hadn’t wavered. Yet, somehow, she felt more
anxious now than before.
Being her natural self, staying true to who she was, suddenly
required a tiny bit of courage.
Page | 63
But if someone couldn’t accept her for who she truly was, this
distance between them would never close.
“Can I… borrow your bed? I might fall asleep…”
“Yeah, sure. I’m studying, so just do whatever you want, like
always.”
Hinako flopped onto Izuki’s bed.
If having someone accept her true self was crucial in a normal
romance… what was she supposed to do when she was already
accepted from the start?
Maybe, just maybe, she was navigating a rather complicated
kind of love.
As she drifted into a light doze, lost in those thoughts…
“Hm? Oh, it’s from Tennouji-san.”
Hinako’s ears perked up.
Izuki picked up his smartphone.
A call was coming through, apparently.
“Tomonari-san?”
Tennouji-san’s voice echoed in the quiet room.
“Tennouji-san, what’s up?”
“I figured you might be fretting over the game around now, so I
thought I’d offer to help if you needed to talk.”
Slowly, Hinako sat up.
A phone call… at this hour?
Hinako fixed Izuki with a piercing stare. He didn’t seem to
notice.

Page | 64
“Thanks for the concern, but I’m good. I’ve already figured it
out.”
“Is that so? …Still, that’s a bit worrying in its own way. Given
your personality, Tomonari-san, you might overwork yourself.”
“I’ll be careful…”
She had to admit—he really did need to watch out for that.
“Rest is important, you know. Perhaps, say, next Sunday, you
and I could…”
Tennouji-san’s voice trailed off into a mumble.
In that moment, Hinako took a deep breath,
“—Tomonari-kun. How about we go shopping next Sunday?”
“Huh? That voice… K-Konohana Hinako!?”
Hinako raised her voice, loud enough to ensure her rival on the
other end of the call could hear.
Izuki’s shoulders jolted in shock.
“Oh, and I’m fine with a movie, too, you know?”
“A movie…!? Tomonari-san!? W-What’s going on here!?”
Beads of cold sweat poured down Izuki’s face.
“N-No, wait! The thing is, I was just talking to Konohana-san
about the game!”
“Really!? It sounded like you were casually planning a weekend
outing!”
“Ah!? S-Sorry, the signal’s getting bad, I’ll have to hang up!”
“W-Wait—!”
Izuki hurriedly ended the call.

Page | 65
She could’ve pressed the attack a bit more… but this was
enough for now.
“……………………Hinako?”
Izuki looked at her warily, as if he’d just stepped on a landmine.
“So… you want to go see a movie?”
“…I have a family dinner that day, so I can’t do anything.”
Izuki’s face screamed, Then what was that about? as confusion
washed over him.
She didn’t know. Even she wasn’t entirely sure.
All she knew was that she’d been hit with an incredibly
complicated mix of emotions.
“…I’m going to sleep.”
“Huh?”
Flopping back onto the bed, Hinako left Izuki bewildered.
The only sound was the steady ticking of the clock.
“Uh, Hinako? It’s about time for a bath…”
“Carry me.”
“…”
“Carry me.”
Izuki looked utterly perplexed, but Hinako ignored him.
Eventually, he sighed in resignation and scooped her up in a
princess carry, taking her to her room.
Being held in his surprisingly sturdy arms—hard to tell under
his uniform—Hinako felt a surge of triumph.
Take that, Tennouji Mirei.

Page | 66
This was the power of close physical proximity.

Page | 67
Page | 68
◆
The next day, the Academy was still buzzing with talk of the
management game.
Unlike yesterday, today I could actually join in on some of those
conversations. Having started my own company and stepped
up to the starting line, I could relate to what everyone was
talking about as a participant.
“Still, Tomonari-kun… ‘Tomonari Gifts’ as a company name?
Really?”
Asahi-san said with a wry smile. Taishou, standing nearby, had
a complicated expression.
During the break, I was chatting with and Asahi-san about the
game. They’d given me some advice during the tea party, so I
figured I should update them on my progress, but…
“…I’m starting to regret it a little.”
“Oh, no! I mean, it’s not that bad, okay!? It’s just… the name
kinda sounds like a manufacturing company or something…”
Seeing me slump, Asahi-san hurriedly tried to cheer me up.
Tomonari Gifts Co., Ltd.—that was the name of my company.
Takuma-san had pointed it out, and now I realized it didn’t
exactly scream “IT enterprise.”
“How’s the performance looking?”
“It was flat right after using the skip function. But I’ve found a
way to break through, so I think it’ll work out.”
“Sounds like you’re doing well… Our company’s kinda
plateauing too, so I should probably shake things up.”
Taishou seemed to be wrestling with his own company’s
management issues.
Page | 69
(…I need to work on Takuma-san’s homework, too.)
The assignment was to investigate the management styles of
Hinako, Tennouji-san, and Narika.
The deadline was Friday, so I had two days left. Knowing
Takuma-san, he wasn’t telling me to take it easy but to carefully
study each person’s approach.
I glanced at Hinako first, but she was already surrounded by
classmates, apparently giving advice about the management
game.
I could talk to Hinako outside of school. In fact, it’d probably be
easier to have a calm conversation back at the mansion after
classes.
…Today, I’d try talking to Tennouji-san.
Like Hinako, Tennouji-san always seemed to be surrounded by
people. Instead of waiting for lunch or after school, it might be
better to ask about her schedule now.
As I mulled over Takuma-san’s homework—
“Everyone.”
A gentle, soft voice reached my ears.
“Oh, Suminoe-san! Morning!”
“Good morning.”
Suminoe-san bowed gracefully.
“I’m sorry for declining the tea party invitation yesterday.”
“No worries, don’t sweat it. You must be busy, too, Suminoe-
san.”
“The management game does pile on the responsibilities.”
Asahi-san and Taishou each responded to Suminoe-san.
Page | 70
Meanwhile, I missed the chance to chime in and stayed quiet.
“Tomonari-kun, you haven’t talked much with Suminoe-san,
have you?”
“Not really. It’s not like we’ve never spoken, but…”
As if reading my mind, Suminoe-san gave me a warm smile.
“Hehe, no need to be so stiff. We’re classmates, after all.”
“…Sorry.”
She’d clearly seen through my nervous tension.
—Suminoe Chika.
One of the few people in our class who could hold a
conversation with Hinako as an equal. Her refined manners
rivaled those of Hinako and Tennouji-san, and her delicate,
lovely appearance was often the talk of the boys in our class.
Skin as white as snow. Long, flowing black hair that cascaded
from her shoulder blades to her waist. Her gentle, refined aura
exuded a different kind of Ojou-sama charm compared to
Hinako or Tennouji-san.
It wasn’t my first time talking to Suminoe-san. Back when I
helped with Narika’s plan to break out of her loner status, we’d
spoken a few times. …Since staying close to Hinako meant
getting along with her friends, I’d made an effort to chat with
Suminoe-san, too.
That said, we didn’t have much contact, so our conversations
were rare. Being approached out of the blue like this made me
tense up. I was used to Hinako and Tennouji-san, but Suminoe-
san’s noble aura was so overwhelming it almost made me step
back.
“We don’t often get the chance to talk face-to-face like this, do
we? But I feel like I know quite a bit about you, Tomonari-san.”
Page | 71
“Huh… why’s that?”
“You and Konohana-san seem very close, for one. And…”
Suminoe-san glanced around at the people gathered here.
“There are always so many people around you, Tomonari-san.”
“…Is that so?”
“Oh, your lack of self-awareness is quite charming, too.”
Being told something like that so boldly made me blush.
How do I put it… she’s like an angel.
Pure, untainted, almost ethereal.
I wasn’t ranking anyone, but Suminoe-san was probably the
second most popular person in our class after Hinako. It was
easy to see why. She had both pedigree and personality in
spades.
Just then, the warning bell rang.
“Oh.”
The chime made me let out a small sound.
“What’s wrong, Tomonari-kun?”
“No, it’s just… I wanted to talk to Tennouji-san about
something, but since class is starting, I’ll wait for the next
break.”
I’d hoped to discuss Takuma-san’s homework with Tennouji-
san.
“…Tennouji-san?”
Suminoe-san’s gaze fixed on me.
Was something bothering her?
“Uh, I wanted to talk about the management game.”
Page | 72
“…I see. Tennouji-san is quite reliable, isn’t she?”
Suminoe-san nodded, seeming satisfied.
“You were in the same class as Tennouji-san last year, right?”
“Yes. She was always very kind to me. …Even back then,
Tennouji-san was admired by people from other classes, too.”
“That’s impressive for a first-year.”
“Indeed. I don’t know anyone as kind and noble as she is.”
It felt like Suminoe-san became more animated the moment
Tennouji-san came up. She must really look up to her.
Soon, everyone took their seats, and class began.
◆
After class, I headed to Tennouji-san’s classroom as planned.
Peeking into Class C, I spotted her—glimmering golden hair
styled in vertical rolls, unmistakably Tennouji-san.
Tennouji-san tilts her head and approaches me.
“Tomonari-san, is something the matter?”
“Sorry, I wanted to discuss something…”
I felt guilty for interrupting her conversation with her
classmates… but for some reason, the students who were just
talking with Tennouji-san are now looking at me, buzzing with
excitement.
“That gentleman over there, he’s often at tea parties with
Tennouji-san…”
“Then he must be one of the esteemed participants of the Tea
Party Alliance…”
I overhear the chatter of the girls in the classroom.

Page | 73
“…Tea Party Alliance?”
“It seems our after-school tea gatherings have somehow earned
that name. Well, considering the company, it’s a fitting title,
don’t you think?”
I don’t think it’s fitting at all…
Taishou and Asahi-san would probably shake their heads
vigorously at the idea.
“You don’t have a tea party scheduled today, right?”
“Indeed, we don’t. Holding them too frequently would distract
us from focusing on the game.”
“Then, could we talk privately after school, even just for a bit?”
As I say this, the girls watching us from the classroom grow
even more animated.
“S-so bold…!”
“He doesn’t look it, but what a daring gentleman…!”
Their squeals of excitement reach my ears, and I break out in a
cold sweat.
…Oh no.
I’ve gotten too comfortable lately, letting my guard down
because everyone’s been so friendly. The girls at Kiou Academy
are sheltered Ojou-sama, completely out of touch with romance
and starving for it.
But Tennouji-san, unlike them, remains perfectly composed
and nods calmly.
“It’s about the game, I presume?”
“Y-yes, exactly. …Sorry, I phrased that invitation in a confusing
way.”

Page | 74
“No need to worry. I know you’re not that sort of person,
Tomonari-san.”
Tennouji-san says with a smile.
Why does that smile feel a little… intimidating?
“However, I have a prior engagement after school today, so I
may be a bit late…”
“That’s fine. Please, I’d really appreciate it.”
“Very well. Let’s meet at the usual café after school.”
Alright, this should help me make progress on Takuma-san’s
assignment.
“By the way, what kind of consultation did you have in mind?”
“I’m actually researching how different people handle their
businesses.”
“I see. That’s quite a commendable approach.”
I’m genuinely curious about Tennouji-san’s business, even
outside of the assignment.
“I’m currently managing a company in the textile industry.”
“Textiles, huh?”
“Yes. It’s the second-largest company in the industry, dealing
primarily with synthetic fibers.”
Being the second-largest already suggests it’s not a company
she founded after the game started—it must be one she owned
from the outset.
“So, is your current goal to make that company number one?”
“That’s… I’m not sure.”
…Huh?

Page | 75
I was expecting a confident “Of course!” but her response
catches me off guard.
“That was my initial plan, but the industry leader is on a
different scale. Overtaking them in three years might not be
realistic.”
Tennouji-san’s expression turns serious.
(…For someone as fixated on being the best as Tennouji-san, she’s
awfully calm about this.)
I feel a slight sense of unease.
Does she have some kind of strategy, or is she just more
cautious when it comes to business?
“…It’s a long story, so let’s continue this after school.”
“Got it. I’m looking forward to it.”
This sounds like it’ll be an enlightening conversation.
I’m grateful she’s making time for me despite her busy
schedule.
“By the way—about that phone call last night.”
Tennouji-san’s sharp gaze pierces me.
A cold sweat trickles down my back.
“I’m aware of the situation between you and Konohana-san,
but… surely you weren’t alone together in a room at that hour,
were you…!?”
“N-no, it’s not like…”
“Look me in the eyes and answer properly, please!”
Tennouji-san leans in closer.
I instinctively avert my gaze.

Page | 76
“W-well, Tennouji-san, didn’t something similar happen with
you?”
“With me…?”
“You know, when I stayed over at your place…”
I’m referring to the time I stayed at Tennouji-san’s house
during a downpour, when she brought me tea to my room.
The time we shouted “Defeat Konohana Hinako!!” together.
The time I saw Tennouji-san with her hair down, fresh from a
bath, for the first time.
“You might’ve forgotten, Tennouji-san, but…”
“F-forget? As if I could…”
Tennouji-san looks away.

Page | 77
Page | 78
“As if I could forget… that day…”
Tennouji-san’s cheeks flush red.
What does she mean by that…? I wonder, but I can’t bring
myself to ask.
Asking feels like it would cross some kind of line—.
“W-wait… aren’t those two giving off some serious vibes…?”
“Y-yeah… I’m getting a little fluttery just watching…”
The girls’ voices drift over from the classroom.
Their gazes, as if witnessing something forbidden, snap
Tennouji-san and me back to reality in an instant.
“W-well, it’s about time for class!”
“Y-yes! See you after school!”
I hurry back to my classroom.
Thank goodness the conversation’s continuing later.
For now, I don’t think I could talk to Tennouji-san properly.
◆
After school, as planned, I head to the usual café.
I’d already told Hinako that I had plans and couldn’t walk home
with her today. …Lately, Hinako’s been reacting pretty
intensely whenever Tennouji-san comes up, so I didn’t mention
who I was meeting. I only confided in Shizune-san, who agreed,
“It’s probably best to keep this from Ojou-sama for now.” It
feels a bit guilty, but it was likely the right call.
I arrive at the café and wait for a while until Tennouji-san
shows up.
“Tomonari-san, sorry to keep you waiting.”

Page | 79
“No, it’s fine.”
Tennouji-san pulls out a chair and sits across from me.
Then… she asks in a hushed voice.
“…What’s going on here?”
“…I’d like to know that myself.”
We glance around with just our eyes.
The café is packed, far more crowded than usual.
The students at the other tables—are staring right at us.
“…It seems someone overheard our conversation during break.
Still, I didn’t expect to draw this much attention.”
Tennouji-san looks troubled.
Apparently, girls are more into this kind of gossip than guys, as
the tables are filled with female students. They’re fidgeting,
clearly eavesdropping on our conversation.
…Do Ojou-samas just have a lot of free time?
No way that’s true, but…
“Um, for now, can we just focus on the original plan?”
“Yes, you’re right. If they see we’re serious about our
discussion, they’ll probably settle down.”
With that, Tennouji-san places her laptop on the table.
I move to sit next to her to see the screen, and a “Kyaa!” squeal
erupts from somewhere as a girl gets excited. Tennouji-san and
I freeze for a moment but pretend we didn’t hear it.
The monitor displays information about Tennouji-san’s
company. Managing multiple businesses, her screen is packed
with far more data than mine.

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“…You said you’re running a textile company, right?”
“Yes, this one here.”
The company’s details appear on the screen.
As the industry’s second-largest, its capital and employee count
are on a completely different level from my company.
“Now—here’s a question for you.”
Tennouji-san turns to me.
“Earlier today, I made a decision regarding this textile
company. Can you guess what it was?”
The sudden quiz format catches me off guard, but I calm down
and think it over.
Her company is second in the industry. In that case, isn’t the
priority to avoid being overtaken by the top company?
But since she said she made a decision, it’s probably not just
about steady growth.
“…Did you form a partnership with another company to take on
the industry leader?”
“Not a bad guess, but incorrect.”
Tennouji-san shakes her head.
“The answer is—I sold it.”
The unexpected response leaves me stunned for a moment.
“Sold it?”
“To be precise, I finalized an agreement to sell it. The buyer is
the industry leader. That’s what my prior engagement after
school was about.”
So, instead of trying to surpass the top company, she handed
her entire business over to them.
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Why would she do that…?
Sensing my confusion, Tennouji-san explains.
“Naturally, selling a company generates profit. My company
was second in the industry, so the proceeds are substantial. …I
plan to invest that into a new venture.”
Tennouji-san takes a sip of her tea before continuing.
“In my estimation, this approach will increase the group’s
valuation in the long term.”
Utterly shocked, I stare silently at the laptop screen.
Tennouji-san chuckles at my dumbfounded expression.
“Even competitors aren’t necessarily enemies—that’s what
makes business so fascinating. You shouldn’t make enemies too
easily, you know.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
As my company grows and I expand beyond the gift business, I
might face similar dilemmas. If a competitor is overwhelmingly
strong, rather than stubbornly fighting them, it might be wiser
to yield and aim for long-term gains.
“Oh, a message…”
A notification pops up on the screen.
It’s a message from a student, likely the one involved in the
deal.
‘Thank you for the M&A discussion earlier! I can confidently
acquire Tennouji-san’s company!’
Seeing the message, Tennouji-san smiles with satisfaction.
“It seems we’ve reached a win-win deal. That’s reassuring.”

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This student’s company will likely grow even stronger by
acquiring Tennouji-san’s, becoming a dominant force in the
textile industry. They must be envisioning a bright future.
The message practically radiates their excitement.
“…If you became the head of a real corporate group, would you
manage it with M&As like this?”
“In reality, making such bold moves isn’t so simple. …But there
may come a day when I face such decisions. I’m using this game
to prepare for that moment.”
We mustn’t forget—this is a simulation game. If it’s for the sake
of learning, it makes sense to take actions you wouldn’t in real
life.
“Thank you. This was incredibly educational.”
“My pleasure. As your comrade and ally, I’ll take on as many of
your requests as you like.”
Tennouji-san beams with a proud hmph.
As always, she loves being relied on.
“—Now, it’s about time everyone returned to their own
business.”
Tennouji-san addresses the onlookers gathered in the café.
The girls who’d been watching us let out awkward “Ugh”
sounds. …They probably flocked here because they admire
Tennouji-san. When she speaks so firmly, they have no choice
but to comply. The girls bow lightly and disperse.
As they leave, I catch their voices.
“…So, what’s the deal with those two?”
“…We’ll need to keep a close eye on them going forward.”

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They haven’t given up at all. Looks like I’ll be under scrutiny for
a while.
No… I don’t have time to worry about their stares.
“…I need to step up my game.”
The idea of selling a company to fund a new venture never even
crossed my mind.
It’s frustrating. I need to study harder to stand on the same
stage as Tennouji-san and the others.
As I’m lost in thought…
“Tomonari-san.”
Tennouji-san speaks with a solemn expression.
“It’s good to work hard, but don’t overdo it, alright?”
“…?”
Is she telling me not to push myself too hard?
If so, I’m not planning to. I nod and say, “Got it.”
◆
After parting with Tennouji-san, I return to the Konohana
estate and head to Hinako’s room.
Next, I want to learn about Hinako’s business.
Standing in front of her door, I knock.
“Hinako, got a minute?”
“Izuki-san? Please wait a moment.”
Shizune-san’s voice comes from the other side.
The door opens, and I step inside.
“Shizune-san, you’re here too?”
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“Yes, I’m assisting Ojou-sama.”
“Assisting?”
Shizune-san waves the tablet in her hand.
“During the Management Game, I serve as Ojou-sama’s
secretary.”
The tablet’s screen is packed with text and graphs. Are those all
company documents? The sheer volume of information is
staggering.
“Izuki… what’s up?”
Hinako, who’d been focused on her laptop, looks up at me.
She seems to be in the middle of the game.
“I’m studying the Management Game by researching how
different people run their businesses. Mind if I observe?”
I decide not to mention Takuma-san’s assignment. Hinako
grimaces at the mere mention of his name.
“It’s fine. But I’m about to wrap up soon…”
“According to the schedule, you’ll be focusing on the game for
another hour.”
“Ugh…”
Hinako turns back to her laptop with a mournful expression.
I wonder if I should’ve brought her a drink, but then I notice a
tea set on a cart across the desk. Shizune-san must’ve prepared
it.
A ping sounds from Hinako’s laptop.
A message from another student pops up on the screen.
‘Um, Konohana-san, could I consult you about something?’

Page | 85
Hinako replies immediately.
‘Of course. What’s the matter?’
“I’m considering selling a business, but the shareholders’
meeting opposed it because of AI. What should I do?”
It’s quite a tricky issue.
Reading the message, Hinako swiftly reached out toward
Shizune-san.
“Shizune.”
“Yes, Ojou-sama. This company, correct?”
Shizune-san handed a tablet to Hinako.
“Let’s share this with Izuki-san as well, just in case.”
“Thank you.”
Shizune-san passed me a smartphone. Its screen displayed the
same company information from the student who sent the
message, identical to what Hinako was looking at.
“How about taking the company private? That way, it’d be
easier to steer operations, and for a company like yours, the
downsides should be minimal.”
“Thank you so much! You even took the time to research my
company!”
The other student was visibly touched by Hinako’s response.
“By the way, if it’s alright, would you mind if I bought that
business?”
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
Not just the other student, but I was shocked too.

Page | 86
I skimmed the data Shizune-san gave me. Checking the
financials, the business in question didn’t seem all that
appealing, to be honest.
“Is that okay, Hinako? This business has been in the red for a
while…”
“It’s fine… I can turn it around.”
Hinako stated calmly, her voice steady.
The other student, clearly surprised, sent another message.
“Um, are you sure?”
“Yes. Just to be safe, could you send me the data on that
business? As detailed as possible, please.”
Almost immediately, the student sent over the business data.
Compared to the documents we had, it was far more detailed,
packed with an overwhelming amount of figures.
Hinako stared blankly at the data displayed on the monitor.
…Is she really going to be okay?
Unable to guess what Hinako was thinking, I felt a twinge of
unease.
Noticing my concern, Shizune-san let out a soft sigh.
“…I see. Perhaps because Izuki-san is so close to Ojou-sama,
you’re not fully aware of her talents.”
“Talents…?”
I tilted my head, and Shizune-san nodded.
“There’s no need to worry. Ojou-sama is someone even Kagen-
sama has called ‘a genius in practical ability.’”
“!”
That’s right.
Page | 87
Exactly.
Unlike everyone else at the academy, my image of Hinako is
more rooted in her unguarded, natural self.
But Hinako is undeniably the heiress of the Konohana Group, a
prodigy deemed the perfect Ojou-sama at Kiou Academy, with
unmatched brilliance.
“Products… understood.”
Hinako murmured in a small voice.
“Facilities… understood.”
Hinako fixed her gaze on the monitor.
She devoured the data at an astonishing speed.
“Employees… understood.”
Click, click—she tapped the mouse rhythmically.
“Clients… understood.”
Quietly, as if diving deep, Hinako focused intently.
Finally, she let out a small breath and—
“…Alright, I’ve got it all.”
Hinako said, straightening her back lightly.
“The estimates are sloppy… there’s a lot of overpaid funds too.
But if we review the contract terms and fix those issues, it’ll be
profitable in two years.”
I couldn’t grasp what Hinako was saying.
I couldn’t see what she was seeing.
But I understood one thing clearly.

Page | 88
In just a few minutes, Hinako had mastered the business data.
Otherwise, she couldn’t have reached such a precise
conclusion.
—Goosebumps prickled my skin.
Nobody could just take a pile of data and comprehend it
instantly like that. Having started studying business myself, I
realized how otherworldly her skill was.
Oblivious to my shock, Hinako sent a message.
“I’d like to buy it, please.”
“Thank you so much!”
I could only stare, dumbfounded, at their exchange.
“Ojou-sama can perfectly grasp and utilize all the resources at
her disposal.”
Shizune-san explained.
“Of course, that’s no simple feat. The larger a company grows,
the harder it is to control, and even CEOs often can’t fully grasp
its entirety. But Ojou-sama is different. With her intellect, she
can encompass every figure and guide it in the right direction.”
Shizune-san looked at Hinako, her eyes glowing with genuine
respect.
“Cutting unnecessary expenses, maximizing facilities and
talent… it’s the most solid, textbook approach to management.”
Textbook… it felt like the perfect way to describe it.
I understood why Kagen-san couldn’t help but see Hinako as a
business leader rather than just his daughter.
Hinako was, without a doubt, born to lead.
And with her stellar reputation on top of that, “perfect” was the
only word that fit.
Page | 89
“Phew… I’m exhausted.”
Seemingly done with the student, Hinako relaxed.
“Good work, Hinako.”
“Mm… did you learn anything?”
“Yeah, it was really insightful.”
“Hehe…”
Hinako smiled, clearly pleased.
…I need to stay close to this Hinako too.
The perfect Ojou-sama and the real, unguarded Hinako—both
are surely precious to her.
The scene I’d just witnessed was staggering, sparking a mix of
awe and a faint trace of fear. Hinako’s demeanor was so
flawlessly Ojou-sama-like that it almost overshadowed the
image of the Hinako I knew, threatening to blow it away.
Come to think of it, this must be what everyone at the academy
has always felt.
At the academy, Hinako’s polished behavior might be an act,
but her abilities are undeniably real. Even if she slips up a bit,
her talent forcefully overshadows any flaws.
That’s why I, of all people, can’t let myself be swayed.
I want to be someone who can stand by both sides of Hinako—
her public and private selves.
That’s why I’m aiming to become an executive in the Konohana
Group, someone who can stand as close to her equal as
possible.
“…I won’t lose to my self-proclaimed rival.”

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Hinako muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with
mysterious resolve.
Hinako, in her own way, was harboring some enigmatic
determination.
“Izuki-san.”
Shizune-san called me softly.
She beckoned, signaling a private matter she didn’t want
Hinako to hear. Careful not to draw the attention of Hinako,
who was engrossed in a game, I approached Shizune-san.
“What’s up?”
“Is Miyakojima-sama next on your list to approach?”
“…That’s the plan, but how did you know?”
“Given your connections, if you’ve already spoken to Tennouji-
sama and Ojou-sama, I could guess the logical next step.”
Fair point. Among students with family backgrounds on par
with Tennouji-san and Hinako, and who I know personally,
Narika’s about the only one who fits.
“I have a small request. If you learn anything about
Miyakojima-sama’s management style, could you share it with
me?”
“That should be fine, I think. But why?”
“Miyakojima-sama’s company, Shimax, has been steadily
increasing its sales. If there’s some secret to their success, I’d
love to pass it on to Ojou-sama.”
Narika’s company is apparently thriving without me even
noticing.

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The game’s only just begun, I thought, but in-game, over a
month has already passed. It’s not surprising that results are
starting to diverge.
“I’m not asking you to spy. If she doesn’t give permission, that’s
perfectly fine.”
“Got it. Knowing Narika, she’ll probably be okay with it.”
Narika’s not the type to play mind games or scheme.
Still… to think Narika’s making steady progress.
Her usual behavior doesn’t exactly scream “business genius,”
so what kind of management is she pulling off?
◆
The next day.
“Tomonari, the ball’s headed your way!”
“Got it!”
The second semester’s PE class kicked off with basketball.
I grabbed a ball that had bounced off a rebound and dribbled it
straight to the opponent’s court.
“Go, Tomonari!”
I went for a layup, and with a soft swish, the ball sailed through
the hoop.
“Nice!”
“Thanks!”
I high-fived Taishou.
By pure chance, the opponent’s court was wide open when I
got the ball. A lucky counter, but it put our team in the lead.
The whistle blew, signaling the end of the match.
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Our team was due for a break.
I moved to the edge of the gym, wiping sweat from my cheeks
with the collar of my gym clothes.
As I caught my breath, I overheard a conversation between
some nearby students.
“That idea you mentioned yesterday got some serious praise.”
“Oh, yeah? Wasn’t it about a system for developing new
supermarket products?”
“Yup. If you run consumer tests during development, it boosts
the success rate. I wish they’d try it in real life.”
“If you do well in the Management Game, maybe you could
convince your parents.”
I mentally chewed over the two boys’ conversation, piecing it
together.
Traditionally, new product development relied on employees
judging what would sell. But by involving a broader group of
consumers—regular supermarket shoppers—in a casual, part-
time role, they could evaluate pre-launch products from a
customer’s perspective.
(…That’s clever.)
My lips curved into a smile without me realizing.
Kiou Academy was increasingly consumed by the Management
Game’s atmosphere, but it seemed I was the only one thrown
off balance. The other students were unfazed—no, they were
thriving.
Thinking about it, the academy’s students were always mulling
over their family businesses in their heads. The Management
Game merely gave them an outlet to express those thoughts.

Page | 93
They hadn’t changed before or after the game; it just brought
their ideas to light.
Proof of that? Lately, everyone seemed to be having fun.
Even the quieter students were suddenly gushing, like a dam
had burst, spilling out ideas they’d only ever thought about.
Maybe their energy was rubbing off on me, because I was
starting to enjoy it too.
(…When should I talk to Narika?)
I thought about the assignment Takuma-san had given me.
Honestly, I couldn’t predict Narika’s management style at all.
Tennouji-san and Hinako had distinct approaches, both
grounded in exceptional knowledge and experience. But
Narika? I wouldn’t say she’s as sharp as those two. Not that
she’s incapable, but Tennouji-san and Hinako are outliers, even
at Kiou Academy.
Even after hearing from Shizune-san, I couldn’t guess what
Narika was up to.
My gaze drifted to the neighboring court, where Narika had just
started her break.
Narika in motion was captivating, the kind of presence that
turned heads. Her “cool beauty” reputation was well-earned.
Still caught in the intensity of the game, she wiped her sweat
with a serious expression, drawing admiring glances from
many students.
“Miyakojima-san! That shot earlier was awesome!”
“Uh, oh. Thanks.”
Unlike before, Narika wasn’t always alone anymore.
She was still a bit stiff, but she was communicating properly.
Page | 94
…She’s grown.
Knowing her past struggles made it all the more poignant.
“Narika.”
Since we were both on break nearby, I figured it was a good
chance to talk.
Narika turned, her face lighting up with a beaming smile as she
approached.
“Izuki! What’s up!?”
If she could show that puppy-like friendliness to others besides
me, she’d probably be even more well-liked.
“Can I ask you about the Management Game for a bit?”
“Hm… W-Well, I’m not sure how much help I’ll be, but sure.”
Narika’s face twitched for a split second.
She didn’t seem too confident.
“How are you running your company?”
“Run it? I mean… I’m not doing anything fancy. I don’t have any
special knowledge or skills.”
“But your performance is improving, right?”
“Yeah, seems like it. Doesn’t feel real, though…”
“Like, what have you done recently?”
I asked, and Narika thought for a moment before answering.
“I developed custom-made running shoes.”
She went on to explain.
“Everyone’s feet are slightly different, even between left and
right. The arch height, toe length, stuff like that. I wanted to
make shoes tailored to each person’s foot shape, so I pitched
Page | 95
the idea, and it got better feedback than I expected. Scanning
the foot with a machine and using a 3D printer to make the
parts apparently clicked with people.”
“Wow… how’d you come up with that?”
“Custom-made shoes have been a thing in the sneaker and boot
industry for ages, so I just built on that.”
I’ve never owned custom shoes, but high-end sneakers do have
that image of artisans crafting them for one customer. Narika’s
idea stood out because digitizing that craftsmanship was a
groundbreaking approach.
“Anything else?”
“Before the shoes… I worked on women’s compression wear.”
“Compression wear?”
“It’s sportswear, like tight-fitting tights that lightly compress
the body. Helps with fatigue recovery and performance. But
since it shows off your body’s outline, some people find it hard
to wear. So I thought about covering that flaw with design. Like,
adding white lines here to make the stomach look slimmer…”
Narika gestured at her own stomach, explaining in detail.
…What’s this about “no special knowledge or skills”?
She’s got it.
Specialized knowledge—and the kind that leaves others in the
dust.
When it comes to sports, Narika’s always been unbeatable,
even against Tennouji-san or Hinako. She’s churning out ideas
with this much energy, all of them practical and ready to
implement, so it’s no wonder Shizune-san’s taking notice of her
results.

Page | 96
“S-So? Was that helpful?”
“Yeah… Honestly, I’m shocked. You’re really taking this
seriously, Narika.”
“You—! What do you take me for!? Well, okay, maybe it’s hard
to imagine from how I usually act…”
She huffed, then slumped, her mood swinging like a pendulum.
“…I really wanted to run a candy store, you know.”
“You’re still on about that?”
“Yeah… I got seriously chewed out for it.”

Page | 97
Page | 98
Narika’s parents must’ve been just as serious as she was.
How does Narika see her future…?
“…By the way, have you ever thought about becoming a
professional athlete?”
“Hmm… I get that question a lot, but honestly, no. I love sports,
and I know I’m good at them, but I’d rather help others get into
it.”
Maybe Narika’s parents have picked up on that trait of hers.
If she were dead-set against taking over the family business
and insisted on starting a candy store, her parents might’ve
softened. But in the end, Narika will likely inherit the family
legacy.
“Have you played any tennis since then, Izuki?”
“Nah… been too busy.”
“With your position, that’s fair. …If you ever want to play again,
just say the word. It’s the one thing I can teach you!”
Narika declared, puffing out her chest.
…That’s not true.
Her relentless effort has inspired me more times than I can
count. And despite her negativity, Narika doesn’t see her own
strengths—there’s so much about her worth admiring.
“Miyakojima-san, are you talking about the Management
Game?”
At that moment, a female student on a break called out to
Narika.
Narika instantly tensed up, her face stiffening. I gently lifted
both my cheeks with my fingers, gesturing to Narika to relax
her expression.
Page | 99
Narika softened her expression just a tiny bit and turned
around.
“O-oh, right.”
“Um, we’re planning to have a discussion about games with the
whole class after school today. If it’s okay, would you like to
join us, Miyakojima-san?”
“Wha—m-me!?”
“Yes!”
Faced with the girl’s pure, heartfelt kindness, Narika panicked
intensely.
“W-w-w-what should I do, Izuki!? What do you think I should
do!?”
I thought she’d grown a bit…
For Narika’s sake, I’ll have to steel my heart here.
I answered on Narika’s behalf.
“Looks like she’ll join.”
“Izuki!?”
“You’ll hear some really insightful stuff, so you can look
forward to it.”
“Izuki!?”
Cheering on a teary-eyed Narika in my heart, I headed toward
the boys’ court.

Page | 100
Chapter 2: Suminoe Chika
The first Friday after the Management Game began had arrived.
During the game period, Fridays were designated as school
holidays, allowing players to log in and play from morning to
night, just like Saturdays. In other words, Fridays during this
time were days dedicated entirely to the game.
“…Yeah, you’ve got a solid grasp on all three points.”
That day, I was on a video call with Takuma-san.
Takuma-san reviewed the homework answers I’d sent him and
began speaking with a satisfied tone.
“Tennouji-san is focused on expanding company size and
revenue through M&A. Hinako maintains an unshakable
position with steady, efficient management. And Miyakojima-
san keeps churning out groundbreaking products one after
another. Truly, each has their own distinct approach.”
Takuma-san neatly summarized the management styles of the
three people I’d researched over the past few days.
“What’s particularly noteworthy is Miyakojima-san’s approach.
It’s the work of a genius. You could even call it cheating, in a
good way. Most managers can’t do that, which is why they have
to go through trial and error.”
Takuma-san said this with genuine admiration.
To think that Narika, of all people, would be called a genius in
this field, surpassing Hinako and Tennouji-san… It was
surprising, but it made sense. Narika’s ideas were all rooted in
a user-focused perspective. She wasn’t just throwing out ideas
recklessly.

Page | 101
If Hinako’s approach is the royal road, Tennouji-san’s is the
path of conquest, and Narika’s… well, since it’s almost like
cheating, maybe it’s the unorthodox path?
“Now, out of these three approaches, which one do you think
you should emulate, Izuki-kun?”
After a moment’s thought, I felt like none of them were
something I could easily imitate.
Right now, I don’t have the funds to acquire companies, nor do
I have exceptional knowledge.
But if I had to choose…
“…Tennouji-san’s strategy of building up new ventures.”
“Correct. Expanding new businesses or services is an urgent
priority.”
Takuma-san nodded.
“Any specific ideas come to mind?”
“Well… how about increasing the target markets? That way,
we’d create more fundamental revenue streams, and I think it’d
pay off in the long term.”
“Not bad. …Hey, that’s pretty good. You’re really starting to
think like a manager.”
Well, I’ve been studying hard to keep up with Takuma-san’s
teachings, so I’d hope so.
“But before you fall into any traps, let me give you one piece of
advice. Don’t judge a business solely by its profit margins.”
On the other side of the screen, Takuma-san spoke with a
serious expression.
“A company’s purpose can take many forms. Take a local
supermarket, for example. Retail is a tough field if you only
Page | 102
look at profit margins, but it contributes significantly to the
local economy. Beyond providing good products, it also creates
jobs.”
That’s something Hinako mentioned during our Tea Party
Alliance meetings.
Every company has its own purpose, and those purposes don’t
compete with one another.
“Your service isn’t just any e-commerce platform—it’s
deliberately focused on gifts. If you only chase profit margins,
you’ll eventually clash with your core concept.”
“…So, staying true to that concept is what matters.”
“Exactly. It’s fine to target new markets, but don’t let the lure of
profits make you lose sight of your concept.”
Clear and trustworthy. That’s probably the kind of
management customers are drawn to.
In the end, the heart of management might come down to a
single question: “How much can you make people love you?”
Numbers like revenue are important, but ultimately, it’s about
emotions, isn’t it?
“To keep yourself from wavering unnecessarily, I suggested
creating a brand identity. Looks like you’ve come up with a
solid answer for that, too.”
“Yeah. I went for a stylish vibe that exudes mature coolness. I’m
planning to roll out some ads with that aesthetic.”
For Tomonari Gifts’ e-commerce site, I aimed for a design that
makes gifting feel cool and sophisticated, fostering human
connections in a casual yet grown-up way. All I really did was
tell the AI engineer employee, “Make it look like this,” but I feel
like that’s how it works in the real world, too.

Page | 103
“So, we’ve settled on a direction. Let’s wrap up this
consultation here.”
“…Feels like it was mostly just a review, though.”
“That’s because things are going smoothly.”
Takuma-san continued.
“Normally, when someone with no management experience
starts a business from scratch, their ego gets in the way. They
cram the product with things they want to express or sell. …But
you, Izuki-kun, had a customer-first mindset from the start.
You’ve got a knack for management.”
“…Thank you.”
I hadn’t expected praise, so I was a little surprised.
—I’m happy.
I’d been fumbling my way through this, so getting praised felt
incredibly rewarding.
And the fact that it came from Takuma-san, who’s always so
strict, made it sink in that I’m really on the right track.
“You seem pretty motivated. Has something changed in your
mindset?”
“It’s not exactly a change, but… ever since the Management
Game started, everyone at the academy seems so energized…”
I recalled the conversations I overheard in the gym with my
classmates yesterday.
“It made me want to enjoy the game, too. Even though it’s a
fictional company, watching the numbers grow is honestly kind
of fun.”
At first, I was driven by a sense of urgency or duty, but now I’m
genuinely enjoying the game.
Page | 104
“That’s right. Management is fun and exciting.”
Takuma-san smiled.
“More than half of Kiou Academy’s students will become
managers someday, but not just because they want to inherit
their parents’ businesses. They know how fun management is.
From a young age, they’ve seen its allure through their parents’
work. …There’s no other world as intellectually stimulating as
this.”
Hearing Takuma-san say that with such cheer, a thought
crossed my mind.
…Takuma-san loves management.
Up until now, Takuma-san had seemed like an enigma, but for
the first time, I felt like I’d glimpsed a piece of who he really is.
That doesn’t mean his values have changed. Even now,
Takuma-san believes it’s fine to dismantle the Konohana Group
for Hinako’s or Kagen-san’s sake.
He didn’t take me on as a disciple for my benefit, either. I don’t
know his reasons, but teaching me management must
somehow align with his own interests.
Even so…
(…This guy isn’t a bad person, after all.)
He’s just relentlessly true to what he wants to do, for better or
worse.
There’s no goodwill or malice in him.
In a way, that might make him… trustworthy.
“Any other questions?”
Takuma-san’s question reminded me of something from two
days ago.
Page | 105
“While researching Hinako’s management style, I happened to
learn that the Management Game includes shareholder
meetings. Will I have to do one of those eventually?”
“Unless you’re constantly at odds with your shareholders, I
doubt you’ll need to. Your case will probably be skipped
automatically. In the real world, startups that just got off the
ground are already in close contact with their shareholders, so
there’s nothing new to discuss at a meeting.”
I’d wondered if I needed to learn about shareholder meetings,
but it seems like a low priority.
Honestly, that’s a relief. I’ve got my hands full with other things
right now.
“Alright, let’s move on to your next assignment. I want you to
learn how to read a company’s financial health. Specifically, get
comfortable with reading BS and PL statements.”
“Got it.”
BS, or the balance sheet, shows a company’s financial position,
while PL, or the profit and loss statement, shows its
performance.
“Also, Izuki-kun, are you thinking about taking your company
public?”
Going public. It’s a term I hadn’t given much thought to.
“…Not really, not at this stage.”
“…Well, since you only get to run the company for three years,
maybe a rough exit strategy is fine.”
Takuma-san muttered something under his breath.
“In that case, how about deepening your understanding of
stocks?”

Page | 106
“Stocks?”
“Since we’ve touched on M&A, it’s a good opportunity. If
possible, look into how your company’s stock valuation is
calculated. It’ll help clarify what you need to do.”
“Got it… I’ll do that.”
“It’ll also prepare you for cases where your valuation suddenly
spikes and you can’t pay the taxes… though that probably
doesn’t apply in the game.”
I jotted down the assignment in a text file.
The content was a bit complex, so I should probably review it
later when sharing the meeting notes.
“This is kind of out of the blue, but you weren’t a student at
Kiou Academy, right, Takuma-san? How do you know so much
about the Management Game?”
“Did Shizune tell you that?”
I nodded.
She’s the one who told me, but… how did he guess that
instantly? Hinako or Kagen-san could’ve been possibilities, too.
This guy’s intuition is downright eerie.
“It’s simple. I helped create the Management Game.”
“…Helped?”
“Yeah. My name’s in the credits.”
I opened the game’s options and checked the staff list.
Sure enough, Takuma-san’s name was there.
…This feels complicated.
I know it’s arrogant, but deep down, I’d been thinking of
Takuma-san as a wall to overcome—a rival of sorts. That’s
Page | 107
what fueled my drive for the game. But hearing this, it feels like
I’m still dancing in the palm of his hand.
“Don’t feel too down about it. I only contributed a small part.”
Stop reading my mind already.
“By the way, if you’re starting something new, you’ll need to
think about fundraising. Got any reliable connections?”
“Not yet… I’m still looking.”
In the Management Game, when you start a company, you can
opt to have shareholders automatically assigned, and you gain
funding by meeting their milestones. You can also bring in your
own shareholders, and if you want more funding, you have to
find them yourself. That’s how I’d been getting funds so far.
My business is starting to gain traction. I should be able to find
some investors now.
“Since you’re at it, why not ask an IT-savvy friend to introduce
you to some connections? Could be valuable for your network
down the line.”
I mulled over Takuma-san’s suggestion.
An IT-savvy friend I could reach out to would be…
◆
Monday.
Arriving at the academy, I scanned the classroom and spotted
the person I was looking for.
“Kita-kun.”
Kita, who was working on his laptop at his desk, turned to face
me.
During the game period, students were free to use their laptops
outside of class time. …Or so I thought, but apparently, Kiou
Page | 108
Academy always allowed this. Most students usually handled
things on their smartphones, but during the game, more people
were using laptops.
“Tomonari-kun, what’s up?”
“I wanted to return this textbook.”
I pulled out a study guide for the Fundamental Information
Technology Engineer Exam, a national qualification for IT
professionals. I’d borrowed it from Kita before the
Management Game started.
Kita took the book, flipped to a random page, and looked at me.
“Explain what BPO is!”
“It’s outsourcing a company’s operations, from planning to
design, to an external party!”
“What’s the method of restarting a system by powering it off,
resetting it to its initial state, and rebooting?”
“Cold start!”
Pointing at each other, we traded questions and answers
before Kita burst out laughing.
“Both correct. Still as studious as ever, huh?”
“Gotta be, or the demons will come for me…”
“?”
Kita tilted his head.
If I slack off on studying, the head maid transforms into a
demon.
“Kita-kun, can I ask you something about the Management
Game?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
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Kita was a classmate I got close to just before the sports
festival. We’ve stayed in touch since, and he’s become as easy
to talk to as Taishou or Asahi-san.
Since we’re both studying IT, we often lend each other
textbooks. Though, since Kita’s way ahead of me, it’s mostly me
borrowing from him.
“I’m actually looking for fundraising connections to expand my
business…”
“…Right, your starting position was a startup, wasn’t it?”
He must’ve looked up my company in the game. I don’t recall
telling him my starting position, but Kita already knew about
my situation.
“Sorry, I don’t have any connections I can introduce you to. For
a startup, the standard move would be to go to a VC, but I
started as a mid-sized company, so…”
“Yeah, I figured…”
VC stands for venture capital, firms that specialize in investing
in startups. I’d been hoping to get funding from one, but it
seems Kita doesn’t have any leads.
…Honestly, I’d expected that response.
Since our starting positions differ, Kita and I face different
challenges.
“Oh, but…”
Kita suddenly paused, as if something had occurred to him.
“…Tomonari-kun, how about we hold a study group for IT-
focused entrepreneurs?”
“That’d be great for me, but…”

Page | 110
“I’m dealing with some issues myself, and I’ve been wanting a
chance to discuss them.”
I didn’t realize.
“Also… I’m kinda jealous of that study group you hold after
school.”
Kita said, a bit sheepishly.
He’s talking about the Tea Party. …It’s been coming up a lot
lately.
“The Tea Party Alliance, right?”
“No, that’s just a name someone slapped on it…”
“Haha, fair enough. But I get why people would want to call it
that. You’ve really polished up, Tomonari-kun. You look like
you fit right in with Konohana-san and the others…”
That’s genuinely flattering.
My goal right now is to become someone who can stand
shoulder-to-shoulder with Hinako, Tennouji-san, and Narika
without looking out of place.
“Who should we invite to the study group? I don’t have any
leads…”
“About that, I have someone in mind.”
Kita continued.
“There’s Suminoe-san in our class, right? Her family runs a
major IT company.”
◆
After school, Kita and I were at the academy’s café.
“Wonder if Suminoe-san’s here yet.”

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The study group would consist of me, Kita, and Suminoe-san—
three people. Too many members would limit the time each
person gets to discuss their issues.
We’d invited Suminoe-san to the study group during a break,
and she’d happily agreed to join. However, she had a prior
commitment, so she’d be about thirty minutes late. She also
mentioned she might have to leave early due to family matters.
Kita and I, who’d arrived at the café first, opened our laptops
and chatted casually while working on the game.
“Sorry about earlier. When you were studying for that
certification, I said we were the only ones in the class with
similar backgrounds, which was kind of misleading. …Suminoe-
san’s on a whole different level, so I didn’t count her.”
“No, now that you mention it, I knew Suminoe-san’s family ran
an IT company.”
I’d just forgotten since we didn’t interact much.
“By the way, Tomonari-kun, what are you working on?”
Kita asked, peeking at my laptop screen.
“I’m studying how to read BS and PL statements.”
“Wow… That’s impressive. You’re really diving into that stuff.”
“You’re not studying it, Kita-kun?”
“Nah. The game auto-generates the numbers, so I’m good for
now.”
I’d noticed that while studying. If you’re just focused on playing
the game, you don’t need to understand BS or PL statements.
“I get why you’re growing so fast, Tomonari-kun. Even with a
busy schedule, you’re tackling studies that’ll help you in the
long run.”

Page | 112
Takuma-san assigned this homework, but I’d also been
thinking that the Management Game was a chance to study
things that’d benefit my future. Looks like I was on the right
track.
I probably developed this mindset thanks to Shizune-san and
Takuma-san. Their strict, rational guidance has taught me to
look at things from a long-term perspective.
As I silently thanked them in my head, I heard footsteps
approaching from behind.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Turning around, I saw Suminoe-san, her soft hair swaying as
she gave a polite bow.
“No, thank you for making time despite your busy schedule.”
“Hehe, no need to be so formal.”
Kita and I stood to greet her, and Suminoe-san smiled gently.
As Suminoe-san took her seat, a café server promptly
approached to take her order. She ordered tea with a practiced
ease.
“So, Suminoe-san’s family runs a major IT company, huh?”
“Yes. They mainly develop systems for the financial sector.”
When I transferred to Kiou Academy, Shizune-san had me
memorize my classmates’ profiles. So I knew a bit about
Suminoe-san’s company. Since we hadn’t interacted much, the
info had been pushed to the back of my mind, but now it came
rushing back.
Suminoe-san’s family company, SIS Corporation, is a publicly
listed IT firm on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market. They
specialize in systems and services for the financial industry,
particularly dominating roughly 50% of the domestic market
Page | 113
share for credit card core system development. SIS stands for
Suminoe Information System, by the way.
No wonder she can talk to Hinako in class without batting an
eye. In the IT industry, Suminoe-san’s family is probably among
the top three at the academy.
Suminoe-san’s quite the Ojou-sama herself.
“After graduation, will you… take over the company?”
“No, I won’t.”
Suminoe-san shook her head at my question.
“The successor to the company has already been decided—it’ll
be my older brother.”
She stated it matter-of-factly.
…I see.
I hadn’t realized it since everyone around me was set to inherit,
but people like Suminoe-san must be common, too.
“Thanks to my parents’ kindness, I’m attending this academy,
but I don’t plan to be involved in the company’s management
after graduation. I intend to work at another company.”
“Another company?”
“Yes. …After graduation, I plan to work under Tennouji-san.”
Tennouji-san’s?
Suminoe-san began explaining politely.
“When I was a first-year, I was drifting through empty days
without any goals. That’s when Tennouji-san reached out to
me. She recognized my grades and suggested I work at an IT
company under the Tennouji Group after graduation. …I can
never thank Tennouji-san enough.”

Page | 114
From her words and demeanor, it was clear that Suminoe-san
deeply respected Tennouji-san.
I recalled how, during a previous tea party, Suminoe-san had
spoken to Tennouji-san. So, that’s the kind of relationship they
had…
“By Tennouji Group’s IT company, you mean that user-oriented
subsidiary, right? It’s listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime
Market, a pretty big deal.”
“Yes. I feel honored that they value my skills so highly.”
Kita seemed familiar with the company Suminoe-san had
secured a job at. From the way he spoke, it must be a well-
known firm, easily found with a quick search.
“Speaking of which, Tomonari-kun, you’re pretty close with
Tennouji-san too, aren’t you?”
Kita suddenly glanced at me as he said this.
“I saw you two dancing in the gym during the first term. You
looked really good together. By the end, there were even
rumors that you and Tennouji-san were a perfect match.”
“Huh, really?”
There was a time when Tennouji-san taught me things like
exam strategies and table manners. That’s probably what he
was referring to.
So, when Tennouji-san and I talked about the Management
Game the other day, it might’ve drawn more attention than I
expected. It seems rumors about me and Tennouji-san had
been circulating since the first term.
——Grit.
At that moment, I heard a strange sound.

Page | 115
Instinctively, I looked toward the source… toward Suminoe-
san.
“What?”
Suminoe-san was wearing a serene smile.
…Was it my imagination?
I thought I heard something like teeth grinding… but in the end,
I couldn’t figure out what it was.
“Shall we get to the main topic? …I believe both of you had
something troubling you.”
Suminoe-san opened her laptop as she spoke.
Kita nodded and began operating his own laptop.
“Can you hear my issue first? The task itself is straightforward,
so it shouldn’t take long.”
When I nodded, Kita turned his laptop screen toward us and
started explaining.
“My company is currently developing a service using IoT. But
we’re struggling to find companies willing to cooperate with
our compatibility tests…”
“IoT means you’ll need devices, right? So, compatibility tests
involve preparing those devices and checking if they’re
compatible with the system you’re developing?”
“Exactly. We need things like humidity sensors or acceleration
sensors, but I don’t have any connections, so I’ve been stuck.”
IoT refers to devices connected to the internet, a cutting-edge
technology actively improving the world. Think of appliances
like refrigerators that notify your smartphone if the door’s left
open—those are typical examples of devices constantly linked
to the net.

Page | 116
Kita’s issue reminded me of a case I’d seen while organizing
Takuma-san’s documents before. Essentially, they needed
various devices to develop a new service, but they couldn’t find
a company to supply them.
Suminoe-san placed a finger on her chin, thought for a moment,
then spoke.
“I can introduce you to a few manufacturers.”
“Seriously?!”
“Yes. IoT is a major field now. Even my family’s company
recently started an IoT service for the manufacturing industry.”
Kita looked overjoyed, saying, “That’s a huge help…” It seemed
he’d been struggling quite a bit.
“What about you, Tomonari-san?”
“For me, I’m looking for connections for funding…”
I gave Suminoe-san a rough overview of my situation.
“…So, you need funds to start a new service. I can introduce you
to some venture capitalists, but could I hear more details about
your business?”
“Sure. I’ll send you the documents too.”
I sent the materials for my company to Suminoe-san.
“…I see. A gift-focused e-commerce site.”
By the time she’d finished one cup of coffee, Suminoe-san had
read through my documents.
“Can I ask about the new service you want to start?”
“Sure. I’m planning to create a catalog.”
“A catalog…?”
Suminoe-san’s eyes widened, and I nodded.
Page | 117
The gift industry’s mainstay has always been catalog gifts.
Currently, Tomonari Gifts’ services are entirely online, but to
attract older customers unfamiliar with the internet or those
satisfied with catalog gifts, I decided we should meet them
halfway.
“I want to make our customers include people who use catalog
gifts. It’ll cost a bit, but I think it’s worth creating a physical
catalog—”
“And that’s where the funding comes in. Since it’s a new
venture, you might also need to hire capable employees
depending on the situation.”
As expected, she caught on quickly.
I could see why Kita described Suminoe-san as “on another
level.” Not only was her family’s company large-scale, but
Suminoe-san herself seemed as sharp as Hinako or Tennouji-
san, with a keen understanding of business.
“Understood. I’ll introduce you to a VC strong in IT. Given
Tomonari Gifts’ current financial state, they should be willing
to invest.”
“That’s a huge help.”
She’d even assessed our financial situation before making her
judgment.
With this, I could move on to the next step.
“By the way, Suminoe-san, do you have any issues you’d like to
discuss…?”
“My issue has already been resolved. I wanted to learn what
others in the same industry are working on.”
Suminoe-san sipped her tea as she answered. …Well, then, I
suppose this meeting was productive for her too.

Page | 118
A sudden question popped into my mind, and I voiced it.
“Is the company you’re running in the game the same as your
family’s SIS?”
“Yes. …Why do you ask?”
“Well, you mentioned you’re not the heir, so I wondered if
you’d made a different choice.”
“I see.”
Suminoe-san nodded in understanding.
“To be honest, that was my initial plan. …Before the game
started, I asked if I could take charge of a Tennouji Group
subsidiary. I thought it would be valuable for my future. But
Tennouji-san stopped me. She said it’d be a waste to give up
the chance to run a large company.”
“…So Tennouji-san wanted you to have freedom.”
“I think so. At the very least, I hoped to form an alliance with
Tennouji-san… but that’s been put on hold too.”
Come to think of it, Tennouji-san mentioned during the earlier
tea party that her alliance with Suminoe-san was on hold. …So
that was because she didn’t want to tie Suminoe-san down.
At that moment, Suminoe-san’s smartphone, placed on the
table, vibrated.
“Excuse me. It seems my ride has arrived…”
“Then shall we call it a day? It ended up being mostly us
consulting you, Suminoe-san.”
“No, I enjoyed myself too.”
Suminoe-san packed her laptop into her bag.
“Thank you for today, Suminoe-san.”

Page | 119
“Thank you as well.”
Suminoe-san stepped out of the café.
Kita also packed his laptop and prepared to leave.
“Aren’t you heading back, Tomonari-kun?”
“I’m gonna hang out here a bit longer.”
I’d told Shizune-san in advance what time to pick me up, but
since the study session ended earlier than expected, I had
about thirty minutes to kill.
I could contact her to come now, but it’s just thirty minutes. I
figured I’d pass the time playing the game here at the café, and
it’d be over in no time.
After parting with Kita, I faced my laptop.
I’d secured a lead on funding. Now, I’d use those funds to add
new features and boost profits. I might even need to hire more
staff depending on the situation.
(Suminoe-san… she really respects Tennouji-san, doesn’t she?)
As I tapped away at the keyboard, I recalled Suminoe-san’s
words.
She’d said Tennouji-san gave her a turning point when she was
feeling aimless… That sounds like something Tennouji-san
would do. Anyone would respect her after an experience like
that.
…It kinda makes me happy.
I think Tennouji-san is amazing too. Knowing someone else
feels the same way, someone other than me, made me feel glad.
Maybe Suminoe-san and I could get along.
To loosen my stiff body, I stood up and stretched.

Page | 120
“…Hm?”
There was something under the chair where Suminoe-san had
been sitting.
I walked around and picked it up.
It was an elegant leather notebook.
(…Suminoe-san’s?)
The back of the notebook had Suminoe-san’s name written in
cursive. She must’ve dropped it when taking her laptop out of
her bag.
Good thing I noticed it. If I hurry, I might still catch her.
I rushed toward the school gate, searching for Suminoe-san.
She’d mentioned her ride was coming, so she’d probably be
getting into a car. I scanned the roadside and spotted her.
“Suminoe-san!”
“…Oh, Tomonari-san?”
It seemed her ride hadn’t arrived yet.
As Suminoe-san turned to me curiously, I showed her the
notebook I’d picked up.
“You forgot this—”
“—!?!”
In that instant, Suminoe-san’s face turned bright red.
“Give that back!!”
“Huh!?”
Suminoe-san lunged at me with a demonic expression, trying to
snatch the notebook.
“Whoa, that’s dangerous—!?”
Page | 121
She came at me with such force it felt like she might punch me,
so I dodged reflexively.
Suminoe-san knocked the notebook out of my hand.
At the same time, she tripped on a step—
“Eek!?”
Suminoe-san fell spectacularly.
“A-Are you okay…?”
A loud thud echoed, but…
I checked on Suminoe-san, who was trembling in pain.
At her feet was the notebook she’d tried to take back.
The notebook had fallen open, revealing its contents.
Inside… were countless photos of Tennouji-san plastered
across the pages.
—What the heck is this?
Unable to process it, I unconsciously flipped through the
notebook.
The next page, and the one after that, were filled with Tennouji-
san’s photos. Tennouji-san chatting with classmates, Tennouji-
san drinking water, Tennouji-san reading, Tennouji-san gazing
wistfully out a window…
As I stood there dumbfounded, Suminoe-san grabbed the
notebook.
“—You saw it, didn’t you?”
Suminoe-san asked in a voice as cold as a blizzard.
“…I’m sorry.”

Page | 122
Since I’d looked inside without permission, I apologized for
now.
It was half-unavoidable, but…
“Um… Suminoe-san, about Tennouji-san…?”
“I love her. So what?”
Suminoe-san said defiantly.
“I adore her. So what?”
Her words escalated.
“Of course I love her. How could anyone not fall for such a
noble person? If not, they’re not human!”
That’s a bit much.
At this point, she had nothing left to hide. With a brazen
attitude, Suminoe-san began pouring out her love for Tennouji-
san.
“Tennouji-sama is like a goddess who saved my life. She’s
upright, dazzling, more dedicated and pure than anyone, with
both strength and kindness… Those gem-like eyes, that radiant
hair—they must be gifts from heaven. …Oh, my beloved
Tennouji-sama. You gave me a reason to live. How could
someone as insignificant as me ever repay this debt…?”
Tennouji-san’s hair is just dyed, though…
Like a devout believer, Suminoe-san clasped her hands and
prayed to the heavens.
During the study session… no, in front of us, she’d been acting
the whole time. She was even calling Tennouji-san “Tennouji-
sama” now.
…This was way beyond respect.

Page | 123
I thought Suminoe-san merely respected Tennouji-san. But
opening the lid revealed an overwhelming, almost terrifying
emotion lurking beneath.
I might’ve stumbled onto something dangerous.

Page | 124
Page | 125
To think that the refined Ojou-sama, reigning at the top of the
academy’s social hierarchy, was secretly this… flawed and
scheming. The gap between her poised public demeanor and
this was so stark it’s almost scary.
…For a moment, I thought, “Well, compared to Hinako, this is
tame,” and almost convinced myself.
I’ve been corrupted too.
Then again, I’m hiding my own status, so maybe I can’t judge…
No, I can definitely say something here.
“…Those photos, were they taken secretly?”
“It’s fine as long as no one finds out.”
That’s not how it works!
Suddenly, Suminoe-san bowed her head to the photos of
Tennouji-san in the notebook.
“Tennouji-sama, I’m so sorry for carelessly dropping this… It
must’ve been awful for you to be touched by such a filthy
boy…”
I’m the one who picked it up, though…
If anything, shouldn’t I be the hero here?
“Does Tennouji-san know how you feel?”
“Of course not. I’d die if she found out.”
Whether Suminoe-san would actually die is beside the point,
but I expected that answer. …No matter how big Tennouji-san’s
heart is, this level of intense love would probably overwhelm
her. They seemed to talk normally during the tea party, so
Tennouji-san likely doesn’t know Suminoe-san’s true nature.
“…But I get it. Tennouji-san has this magnetic charm, doesn’t
she?”
Page | 126
Feeling like pushing her buttons might be risky, I tried to play it
safe by signaling I was on her side.
But for some reason, Suminoe-san raised an eyebrow.
“Should I take that as you picking a fight?”
“Huh, why!?”
“My apologies. I thought you were saying, ‘I know Tennouji-
sama better than you.’”
“I wouldn’t say that…”
Saying that to Suminoe-san feels like a death sentence.
I genuinely respect Tennouji-san, so my words were sincere,
but… Just minutes ago, I thought Suminoe-san and I might get
along. How did it come to this?
“…Either way, I don’t accept you.”
Suminoe-san glared straight at me and declared.
“While we’re at it, let’s be clear. I don’t like you.”
“…Is that because I’m close to Tennouji-san?”
“Don’t lump that in with petty jealousy. Though, well, that’s
part of it.”
So I was right…
“Tennouji-sama has changed. She used to be more…”
Oblivious to my exasperation, Suminoe-san muttered.
I couldn’t catch the second half of what she said. She probably
wasn’t even talking to me, just thinking out loud.
As I tilted my head, a car pulled up nearby.
A servant stepped out and bowed to Suminoe-san. It seemed
her ride had arrived.
Page | 127
“Anyway, don’t breathe a word of what you saw today. Got it?”
“Yes.”
As if anyone would believe me if I told them.
Suminoe-san got into the car and left.
A deep sigh, bigger than I expected, escaped my lips.
◆
Nine o’clock at night.
Back in my room at the mansion, I was facing my laptop. The
game had just ended, and I took a moment to catch my breath.
“Phew…”
After dinner, I’d returned to my room right away and dove back
into the game. Maybe because I was so focused, the time flew
by until nine.
(I was so caught up thinking about Suminoe-san that my
progress was slow today.)
Even after getting back to the mansion, my head was still in a
fog. Suminoe-san’s true nature was that shocking to me.
I lightly slapped both cheeks to psych myself up.
…Honestly, I’m running out of time.
I can’t keep up with the game’s pace while learning everything I
need. Studying business is obviously crucial, and alongside
that, I have to think about ways to grow the company.
I’d planned to review and prep for classes after nine, but… the
Management Game is a limited-time event. This time, I’ll
prioritize studying for the game.

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(I’m spending too much time on the game. …Am I getting too
obsessed? But things are going so well, I don’t want to break this
momentum…)
I told Takuma-san. I want to become an executive of the
Konohana Group.
I told Tennouji-san. I’m aiming for the student council too.
I can’t afford to whine over something this small.
I braced myself for a late night. Right after that thought, there
was a knock at my door.
“Izuki… are you free right now?”
“Hm? Yeah.”
The door opened, and Hinako stepped into the room.
“Hinako, what’s up?”
For a fleeting moment, I caught a glimpse of a maid outfit’s hem
beyond the door. Shizune-san must have escorted Hinako to
my room. As usual, it seems she’d get lost in the mansion if left
on her own.
“I brewed some tea.”
Hinako was pushing a small cart with her hands.
On the cart sat a British-made teapot and cups for two.
“You brewed it… you mean you made it yourself?”
“Mhm.”
It was a first, so I was genuinely surprised.
Hinako glanced back and forth between me and the tea, looking
eager for me to try it.

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When I lifted the cup, the familiar scent of herbs wafted up—
tea leaves the Konohana family favors. I brought it slowly to my
lips, and a faint sweetness filled my mouth.
“H-How is it…?”
Hinako asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
“…Thank you. It’s really delicious.”
“Phew… I’m glad. Shizune taught me, and I worked hard on it.”
Honestly, compared to the tea Shizune-san brews, it was a bit
watery. But the overwhelming joy I felt surpassed that. To
think that Hinako—the same Hinako who usually lazes around
the moment she gets back to the mansion—went out of her
way to brew tea for me.
I was so happy I could cry, but at the same time, a question
bubbled up.
“…Did something change? Like, a shift in how you’re feeling?”
“Wha!? W-Why would you…!?”
“I mean, you don’t usually do stuff like this, right?”
At that, Hinako’s cheeks flushed, and she looked down, clearly
embarrassed.
“From now on… I want to do things like this.”
Hinako fidgeted, her response adorably shy.
I was touched, but…
“Won’t it tire you out, though? You’re usually out like a light.”
“…Strangely, it doesn’t feel that tiring.”
Hinako spoke in a calm tone.
“…I think I’ve changed.”

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“Changed?”
“Mhm… Lately, I feel this energy welling up.”
Hinako placed a hand on her chest as she spoke.
“Doing things for you, Izuki… I love it.”
She said it with a soft smile.
For a moment, it felt like vibrant flowers bloomed behind her
in full splendor.
My heart skipped a beat—maybe even stopped. That gentle
smile, her faintly flushed cheeks, her glistening eyes… they
carried a special emotion beyond words, and my mind went
completely blank.
Calm down, calm down, calm down—
I desperately tried to steady my racing heartbeat.
“…I love doing things for you too, Hinako.”
“…I know.”
Hinako nodded, her smile brimming with joy.
…Phew.
Somehow, I managed to keep my cool.
Lately, Hinako’s been intense, unpredictable… and sometimes
she catches me off guard like this.
I don’t know what’s gotten into her, but it’s not exactly great for
my heart.
Of course, I don’t mind one bit.
“Fwaa…”
Hinako let out a yawn.
“Wanna nap for a bit? I’ll wake you when it’s time for a bath…”
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“Nuh-uh… I’m fine, I’ll stay up…”
Maybe to shake off her sleepiness, Hinako started pacing
around the room.
She stopped right beside me and glanced at my desk.
“…You’re studying a ton, huh.”
“Yeah. Ever since the game started, I keep noticing all the
things I’m lacking.”
My desk was buried under an unprecedented pile of materials.
All of them were things I felt I needed to move forward in the
game—stuff about business management. Lately, I’ve even
been studying stocks to keep up with Takuma-san’s
assignments.
“Is it tough?”
Hinako peered into my face as she asked.
“Well, yeah. But it’s rewarding and fun.”
“…That’s good then.”
Hinako gave a soft, relieved smile.
“How was the after-school study session?”
“One of my worries got resolved. …Sorry, I made you head
home alone again today.”
“Can’t be helped… I’m not in the IT industry.”
The study session was specifically for business owners in the IT
sector, so Hinako tactfully opted out.
“Who was at the study session again…?”
“Kita and Suminoe-san from our class.”
Hinako let out a thoughtful hum.

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Honestly, my exchange with Suminoe-san was so shocking that
I barely remember the study session itself. I took notes, so it’s
fine, but…
“…Hinako. What kind of person is Suminoe-san?”
I wondered what everyone else thought of her.
When I asked, Hinako suddenly fixed me with a sharp, almost
sulky stare.
“Why are you asking about her?”
“Uh, well, it’s not like there’s a specific reason…”
How am I supposed to answer this…?
I can’t exactly ask, Is she good at hiding her true self?…
“…You’re such a flirt, Izuki.”
“No, it’s not like that…”
Please don’t make it sound like I’m some player hitting on
every girl I meet.
Especially since Suminoe-san just flat-out told me she hates me.
“…Suminoe-san’s a serious person.”
At least she was willing to answer my question.
Hinako thought for a moment before continuing.
“But she’s kind of scary.”
“Scary?”
“Mhm… Like she’s got this intense, driven vibe.”
She seemed to struggle to put it into words.
Hinako’s expression turned serious as she spoke.

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“She talks to me in class sometimes, but… I don’t think she
actually likes me.”
It didn’t seem that way to me, but Hinako’s not one to say
things lightly.
Maybe Suminoe-san’s still hiding her true nature from me.
Though I’m not sure what else she could be hiding at this
point…

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Chapter 3: Challenger
A week had passed since the study session with Suminoe-san
and the others.
The Management Game had started, and it was nearing two
weeks.
In reality, two weeks might pass, but in the game, it’s a whole
year. A year is enough time to get a sense of how a company is
doing.
Struggling companies—those with stagnant performance—
need to start considering some serious changes. Watching the
in-game movements, I could see a few players (CEOs)
desperately trying to turn things around.
It’s not someone else’s problem.
Because I, too, am one of those CEOs who needs to think about
making changes.
“Today’s the tea party, right?”
“Yeah.”
Morning. In the car heading to the Academy, I nodded.
This afternoon, after school, we’re gathering with the Tea Party
Alliance for the first time in a while. The plan is to quickly
check everyone’s progress.
(I might be a little sleep-deprived…)
I let out a small yawn.
The past few days, I hadn’t been sleeping much.
My company’s performance wasn’t growing as I’d hoped. The
user base for my e-commerce site had plateaued, and
advertising efforts didn’t seem to be making much of an impact.

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I wanted to shake things up, but I was at a loss for how to do it,
agonizing over it endlessly.
“Izuki, are you sleep-deprived?”
“…No, not at all.”
Not wanting to worry her, I ended up lying.
“Ojou-sama must be sleep-deprived. Last night, she was
brewing tea well past bedtime, after all.”
“Sh-Shizune…!”
“My apologies, my tongue slipped.”
Hinako let out a flustered squeak.
Ever since that day, Hinako had started occasionally serving me
tea. The day after she first offered me tea, I brought some to
her room as a thank-you, but the next day, she brewed tea for
me again. Since then, this back-and-forth had continued.
…Lately, it seemed like Hinako and Shizune-san had grown
even closer.
Closer, or rather… it felt like Shizune-san had started doting on
Hinako.
Did Shizune-san even realize it herself? …If I pointed it out, she
might hold back, so I decided to keep quiet. Hinako didn’t seem
to mind it deep down, so I figured it was fine as is.
“Hinako, if you’re sleep-deprived, it’s okay to nap, you know?”
“Ngh… I’m not… sleeping…”
Hinako’s eyes were bleary, but she was stubbornly fighting off
her sleepiness.
“You were like this before, but why’d you suddenly start
pushing yourself?”

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Last night, when she brewed tea for me, Hinako had looked
sleepy but stayed up anyway.
Fidgeting, Hinako answered.
“Because… I want to talk… with Izuki…”
I couldn’t help but stare at the ceiling.
What is this adorable creature?
It was driving me crazy, so I rubbed my brow, desperately
trying to keep it together.
“…We can talk anytime, can’t we? Unlike with other people, you
and I live in the same house.”
“…Maybe so.”
Hinako seemed quietly pleased, nodding in agreement.
The car swayed gently. Letting herself go with the motion,
Hinako leaned against my shoulder,
“…Sleep.”
With a soft murmur, she closed her eyes.
A faint, sweet scent filled the air, and a comforting warmth
spread from her touch. She must’ve been forcing herself to stay
awake, because Hinako fell asleep almost instantly.
…Now I’m getting sleepy too.
As her caretaker, I felt I had to stay vigilant and watch over her,
but today, an overwhelming wave of drowsiness hit me, and
my eyelids started drooping on their own.
“…Shizune-san, sorry, I’m going to sleep for a bit too.”
“Understood. …It’s rare to see you this sleepy, Izuki-san.”
Come to think of it, this might be the first time I’ve fallen asleep
during the commute to or from school.
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…All those all-nighters are catching up to me.
Regretting how much I’d cut into my sleep, I drifted off.
◆
After school.
At our usual café, the Tea Party Alliance members gathered
around a single table.
“Shall we start by sharing our respective situations?”
Tennouji-san said, showing her laptop screen to everyone.
“First, I, Tennouji, will present the Tennouji Group’s financial
results. Explaining every business would take too long, so I’ll
share only the main companies.”
Tennouji-san displayed her financial slides.
A non-ferrous metal manufacturer’s sales were up about 13%
year-over-year, while an electronics manufacturer’s sales were
down about 2%. Each company’s performance varied—some
up, some down—but overall, the group was in the black.
What a flashy presentation, though…
The slides were decked out with bold effects, making them
honestly a bit hard to read. It was very Tennouji-san, with her
love for flair, but it felt almost tacky, like a supermarket’s “Big
Sale!” vibe.
Glancing at Tennouji-san, I saw her place a hand on her chest,
looking smug with a “Hmph!”
It’d be a shame to rain on her parade, so I kept my thoughts to
myself.
“For the Konohana Group, starting with our main company,
Konohana Trading—”

Page | 138
Next, Hinako turned her laptop screen toward everyone to
explain.
Like Tennouji-san, she broke down sales by segment. Unlike
Tennouji-san’s mixed results, Hinako had steadily improved
sales across various companies, albeit gradually.
“M-My company’s consolidated sales, compared to last year,
um—”
Narika was nervous, but her performance was solid.
She had no reason to feel ashamed of her results; she was just
shy about presenting in front of others.
“My company’s doing—”
“J’s Holdings is—”
Taishou and Asahi-san were also doing generally well.
Finally, it was my turn.
“Tomonari Gifts is looking like this.”
I displayed the financial report generated in-game for everyone
to see.
“It’s going smoothly, isn’t it?”
“Well, if you only look at the numbers for the year, maybe…”
I pulled up a line graph of user numbers and explained.
“Since the second half, the numbers have flatlined. …Honestly,
it feels like we’ve hit a ceiling. If this keeps up, next year’s
performance is looking shaky.”
To be clear, it’s the current approach that’s plateauing. I still
believe the gift-focused e-commerce service has untapped
potential.
“Making the catalog boosted revenue, right?”
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“Yes. I thought it’d take longer to see results, but it worked
faster than expected. The downside is, it matured too quickly…
and fizzled out just as fast.”
I shared my thoughts in response to Taishou’s question.
Creating the catalog had, as planned, drawn customers from
the catalog gift market. The miscalculation was that the catalog
gift market itself was smaller than I’d thought. With a smaller
pool of potential customers, the number we could attract was
naturally limited.
“Tomonari, why not set up a marketing department? You don’t
have one yet, right?”
“Marketing… You’re right, I don’t have one.”
That’s a good point. I’d been handling market analysis on my
own so far, but it might be time to delegate. If I’d relied on
experts, I could’ve avoided this mistake.
“You don’t have to make a whole department. Why not hire a
marketing firm? I can recommend one I’ve used.”
Asahi-san chimed in with her suggestion.
Building an in-house department could work, but I’d rather test
the waters first. I decided to go with Asahi-san’s idea.
“Please, I’d appreciate that.”
“Cool! I’ll get in touch with them right away~”
Asahi-san started typing away at her keyboard.
She was contacting a student who ran a marketing firm.
“Tomonari-kun, you’re working hard, huh? You were logged
into the game all night yesterday, weren’t you?”
“Yeah, but how’d you know?”

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“There’s a page where you can check other companies’ info,
right? In the top left, it shows the player’s login status. You
didn’t know?”
“I had no idea…”
I’d been so consumed with my own company lately that I
hadn’t had time to check on others.
I’d always wondered why messages from other students came
at such perfect times. They were checking if I was logged in
before sending them.
“Speaking of, Tomonari, you were yawning a lot today. Up late
gaming?”
“No, it’s not like that…”
“But during class, when you got called on, you couldn’t answer,
right~?”
“Ugh…”
Taishou and Asahi-san’s tag-team left me speechless.
Tennouji-san, overhearing our conversation, widened her eyes.
“Is that true?”
“I-It’s fine. I’m planning to review everything properly today.”
“…”
Tennouji-san shot me a half-lidded glare.
I need to be careful… If my grades slip because of the game, I’ll
be missing the forest for the trees.
◆
Eight thirty in the evening.
Back at the Konohana estate, I was in my room, facing my
laptop.
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Alright, so we’ll go with Plan B for the contract.
A message came in from a business partner.
With this plan, Tomonari Gifts can address its targeting issues,
and after executing strategies, we can collect purchase logs to
run the PDCA cycle effectively. We’ll also handle the market
volume research you felt you misjudged, so don’t worry.
Thank you, that’s a huge help.
Since it’s Asahi-san’s referral, I’ll throw in a small discount.
The sender was the president of the marketing firm Asahi-san
had introduced this afternoon.
After an hour of hearing out my situation, she promptly
recommended the best service, and we finalized the contract.
Using marketing services in the game apparently boosts
employee efficiency significantly. But it’s not about using just
any service—you need one tailored to your company’s specific
challenges to see results.
“Until the marketing kicks in, it’s a waiting game…”
The foundation of marketing is data analysis, and analysis
takes time. As the PDCA cycle suggests, you repeat the process
over and over, tweaking as you go, before you see real results.
“…It’s scary.”
I know I shouldn’t expect instant results, but the wait is nerve-
wracking. What if I’m doing it wrong? What if I’m throwing
time and money down the drain? That kind of anxiety gnaws at
me.
…Maybe I’ll study the game a bit more.
It was just past nine. I couldn’t log into the game, but there was
a mountain of things I wanted to research. I’d planned to

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switch to regular class prep and review after nine, but my
anxiety about the game was so overwhelming that I couldn’t
focus on other studies.
Fix one thing, and another falls apart… It feels like I’m trapped
in quicksand.
Sleep deprivation was making me pessimistic. I lightly slapped
my cheeks to snap out of it when there was a knock at the door.
“Izuki-san, are you free right now?”
Hearing Shizune-san’s voice, I replied, “Yes.”
“Pardon me.”
“…Where’s Hinako?”
“Ojou-sama is in a meeting with Kagen-sama about the game. I
came to relay a message.”
A message? I tilted my head, and Shizune-san continued.
“This Sunday, Ojou-sama and I will be out until evening for a
dinner engagement.”
“Got it. …Can I come along?”
“This time, it’s a special occasion where the top executives of
the Konohana Group will gather, so… it might be a bit early for
you, Izuki-san.”
There’s an event like that?
Hinako doesn’t enjoy the atmosphere of those dinners. I
wanted to support her and go with her if possible, but it
seemed out of the question this time.
“I’ll take your sentiment to heart. Perhaps one day you’ll join,
Izuki-san.”
“That’s both flattering and terrifying…”

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A special dinner with only the group’s top executives… If I were
thrown into that, I’d feel less like a borrowed cat and more like
a sheep among wolves.
“On that day, you’re free to do as you please, Izuki-san, but… if
possible, I recommend taking it easy and resting.”
“…Do I look that tired?”
“You’re trying to hide it, but it’s obvious. …We don’t see each
other every day for nothing, you know.”
With that, Shizune-san left the room.
(Take it easy, huh…)
I appreciated her concern.
But right now, I had no time to rest.
If I’d be alone anyway—I’d study my heart out.
I couldn’t log into the game on Sunday, but that just meant I
could focus on absorbing knowledge. More than anything, I
needed time to study business management.
“…Hm?”
My smartphone, sitting next to the laptop, buzzed.
Checking the screen, I saw an incoming call from a certain
someone.
“Tennouji-san?”
Tomonari-san, are you free right now?
“Yes, I’m good.”
I wondered what she needed.
This is sudden, but are you free next Sunday?
“I’m free, but…”
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Then you’re coming out with me.
It was an abrupt invitation.
I was flattered, but I’d just decided to focus on studying that
day.
“Sorry, I’ve been pretty busy lately, so I’ll have to pass this
time—”
—We’ll have a strategy meeting for the game.
Cutting me off, Tennouji-san continued.
As comrades aiming for the student council, I believe we can have
a productive discussion.
“…If that’s the case, count me in.”
Excellent. I’ll share the details later.
I could tell Tennouji-san was in high spirits, chuckling on the
other end.
Tennouji-san and I had studied together many times. Thanks to
her support back then, I’d managed to score well on Kiou
Academy’s exams.
If she was saying this would be a productive talk, I was certain
it’d be another valuable learning opportunity.
By the way, don’t bring your laptop that day.
“Huh? But won’t that make it hard to work?”
You can’t log into the game on Sunday anyway, and lugging a
laptop around is a bit tiring.
“…Fair enough.”
She had a point, so I agreed.
And watch out for sleep deprivation.

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“Got it.”
This was a rare opportunity, and I wanted to be in top shape to
make the most of it.
I’d better get to bed early on Saturday…
◆
After waiting a few minutes at the meeting spot by the station,
a sleek black car pulled up in front of me.
The car was so imposing, like it was carrying a big-shot
politician, that passersby couldn’t help but stare. The girl who
stepped out, in a way, lived up to their expectations with her
striking appearance and commanding presence.
Her beautiful blonde hair, styled in elegant vertical rolls,
swayed as Tennouji-san approached.
“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”
“No, I just got here myself…”
I really had just arrived. There were still ten minutes until our
meeting time, and I’d planned to wait a bit, but maybe
Tennouji-san had the same idea.
But more than that, my attention was on Tennouji-san herself.
“What’s wrong?”
“Uh… your casual clothes are really nice.”
“My, you’ve gotten even smoother with words.”
Tennouji-san let out a soft chuckle.
I remembered the time she’d called me a “swindler” for
complimenting her.
But inwardly… I was a bit stunned.

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I’d thought today’s meetup would be like a study session, but
Tennouji-san’s outfit was far too glamorous for that. She looked
ready to head straight to an amusement park.
“Shall we get going, Izuki-san?”
Tennouji-san switched to calling me by my first name.
I knew the meaning of that signal—.
“Yeah. Looking forward to today.”
“Hehe… This moment truly is blissful, isn’t it?”
Just by changing her tone, Tennouji-san smiled with evident
delight.
…Being told something like that makes even me feel a bit
embarrassed.
Tomonari Izuki, the heir to a mid-sized company, is currently
on a break. Today, when I’m with Tennouji-san, I’m the original
Tomonari Izuki—a former struggling student now working as a
caretaker for the Konohana family.
“Where are we headed?”
“Here.”
Tennouji-san showed me the screen of her smartphone.
“…An art museum?”
Is the plan to study here or something?
“I’ll apologize in advance.”
Tennouji-san said with a serious expression.
“The strategy meeting was a lie.”
“Huh?”
“I invited you out today to help you unwind, Izuki-san.”
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I instinctively put a hand to my forehead, processing Tennouji-
san’s words in my mind.
She probably noticed how exhausted I’ve been lately and went
out of her way to invite me out for some fun.
Of course, it’s undoubtedly out of concern for my well-being.
But this time, I couldn’t just accept it without hesitation.
“…Sorry. I really appreciate the thought, but I’m just swamped
right now.”
There’s too much on my plate. My mind is constantly on the
verge of breaking down, and I need to tackle everything as
quickly as possible or I might lose it.
In this state, even if I hung out with Tennouji-san, she probably
wouldn’t enjoy it either.
So, as much as it pains me, it might be better to head home for
today.
“—It’s like looking at my old self.”
Seeing my flustered face, Tennouji-san spoke.

Page | 148
Page | 149
“That cornered expression… I saw it in the mirror countless
times back then.”
Muttering with a hint of sadness, Tennouji-san fixed me with a
determined gaze.
“You know that during the Management Game, you can’t log in
on Sundays, right? Do you know why that is?”
“Isn’t it… so we can focus on studies outside the game?”
“No.”
Tennouji-san shook her head.
“It’s so students who are mentally overwhelmed by the game
can regain their composure.”
Her answer caught me off guard.
“Executives bear immense responsibility. Because of that,
they’re far more prone to mental health issues than employees.
…In fact, executives have a higher suicide rate.”
“…Is that so?”
“The Management Game may just be a game, but it’s a class that
heavily impacts your grades. And since students at Kiou
Academy carry the weight of their parents’ expectations, many
are particularly sensitive about their performance. …Every
year, some students break down mentally during the game, so
the academy set aside one rest day a week.”
I had no idea there was such a reason.
But Tennouji-san is right. Every student at Kiou Academy
carries the burden of their parents’ expectations or family
legacy. Even without the Management Game, some students
push themselves to the brink every day. Hinako and Tennouji-
san are among them.

Page | 150
“Mental health care is essential for executives. It’s no different
in the game. …So please, just accept it and let me help you
unwind today.”
Tennouji-san’s words struck a deep chord in my chest.
The fact that I’d made her worry this much hit me harder than
anything.
(…I see. I’ve been cornered, haven’t I?)
There were plenty of signs, I’m sure.
Hinako, Asahi-san, Taishou, and Shizune-san all expressed
concern about my lack of sleep and exhaustion. With so many
people worried about me, there’s no way I’m in a normal state.
“…Alright.”
I nodded deeply and looked at Tennouji-san.
“I knew I was pushing myself too hard. …Today, I’ll focus on
relaxing.”
“Good. Resting is part of the job, you know.”
Tennouji-san nodded with satisfaction.
“Honestly… Didn’t I tell you not to overdo it?”
Come to think of it, I vaguely recall her saying something like
that when I was researching her management strategies.
Thinking back, she might have already picked up on this side of
my personality even then.
“…You’re probably the only one who’s said that to me.”
“The better someone’s doing in the Management Game, the
easier it is to get sucked in. …I had a hunch, but it seems Izuki-
san is at risk of becoming a workaholic.”
I couldn’t even argue.
Page | 151
Looking back, before coming to Kiou Academy, I was always
working part-time jobs to make ends meet. Since enrolling, I’ve
been buried in studies.
I talked with my old classmates from back home and decided to
stick to this way of life, but I might have been unconsciously
chained to it. I need to keep working hard, but making
everyone around me this worried isn’t what I want.
“Now, let’s get moving! First, to the art museum!”
“Sure. But didn’t it look pretty far from here?”
“Yes. That’s why we’ll take the car.”
As she spoke, Tennouji-san glanced to the side.
The car that had brought her here was still parked nearby.
When my eyes met the driver—a man in a black suit—he
bowed deeply.
“Last time, you escorted me for some commoner-style fun,
Izuki-san. This time, I’ll show you how to enjoy an upper-class
outing!”
With Tennouji-san, who seemed even more energetic than
usual, I headed toward the car.
I silently apologized for my gloominess, which had probably
been casting a shadow over her until now. …At the same time, I
couldn’t help but think that a bright expression suited her far
better.
◆
After spending two hours leisurely exploring the art museum,
we stepped outside, still savoring the afterglow.
“How was it?”
Tennouji-san asked.

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“It was my first time at an art museum, but… I really enjoyed
it.”
“Hehe, I thought so.”
Tennouji-san smiled happily.
“Not with your eyes, nor your ears… but with your heart—
that’s how you enjoy art. I believe this stimulation is something
precious, something you can’t find anywhere else.”
That’s why she wanted to share it with me, it seems.
I agreed that art appreciation had a unique charm. Unlike
sports, movies, manga, or games, this heart-driven form of
entertainment had an indescribable allure.
“Do you come to art museums often?”
“Once or twice a month, perhaps. I visit whenever a painting
I’m interested in is on display.”
That’s a decent frequency.
Tennouji-san had guided me through the museum almost
entirely. She knew the layout so well, she must have visited this
place many times.
“Did any painting catch your eye, Izuki-san?”
“Hmm… It might sound cliché, but Water Lilies had a
captivating charm.”
“Claude Monet’s masterpiece, yes?”
There was a crowd around Water Lilies, and it was highlighted
as one of the museum’s main exhibits, so it’s probably a famous
piece. The painting, depicting flowers floating on water, felt
heavy and somber from a distance with its deep blues
dominating the canvas. But up close, I noticed the soft, delicate

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portrayal of light, and I stood there, transfixed, staring at it for
a while.
“Actually, Water Lilies is part of a series, and there are other
variations of it.”
“Really?”
“There’s an event coming up where other Water Lilies paintings
will be displayed. I’ll invite you again.”
That sounds exciting.
As we started walking, I felt a slight tingling in the soles of my
feet.
The museum was huge, and I must have gotten tired from all
the walking. I checked the time on my smartphone. Three in the
afternoon… still some time before dinner.
“Should we take a break?”
“Yes, let’s. How about a café?”
Tennouji-san suggested smoothly.
“By the way, I’ve already picked a place. It’s just a short walk
from here.”
“…Impeccable escorting, as expected.”
“It’s a lady’s refinement.”
Tennouji-san said with a proud smile.
In her case, “a lady’s refinement” seems to cover just about
anything she sets her mind to. Whether it’s related to being a
lady or not, she’s undeniably impressive.
“Welcome, Tennouji-ojou-sama, Master Tomonari.”
As we entered the café she’d chosen, a male staff member in a
tailcoat bowed deeply.
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Following Tennouji-san, who seemed perfectly at ease, I took a
seat.
The interior was lavish, reminiscent of a European palace. The
floor was marble, paintings adorned the walls, and the tables
were set with what looked like expensive tea ware. At the back
of the café was a stage-like area with a grand piano
prominently placed. The white ceiling was adorned with golden
chandeliers, and everywhere I looked, the scenery exuded
elegance.
“This is a members-only café patronized by the Tennouji
family. I come here about once a week.”
I’d thought she seemed familiar with the place, and it turns out
she’s a regular. I was surprised when the staff called us by
name without us introducing ourselves, but they must already
know Tennouji-san and were informed in advance that I’d be
accompanying her today.
“This place is incredibly refined.”
“You don’t need to feel stiff… or so I was going to say.”
Sitting across from me, Tennouji-san looked directly at my face.
“You’re surprisingly calm.”
“Well, uh… I guess it’s because of where I live these days.”
Living in the Konohana family’s mansion means I’m constantly
surrounded by furniture worth tens of thousands of yen or
paintings worth over a million.
Building up some immunity is only natural.
“You live in the Konohana family’s secondary residence, don’t
you, Izuki-san?”
“Yeah. Not the main estate.”

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“The main estate is even grander. I visited it once long ago for a
high-society party, and even I was awestruck. …It’s a bit of a
frustrating memory.”
Back then, Tennouji-san didn’t see Hinako as a rival, so she
probably felt genuine awe. …Well, that sincerity still peeks
through even now.
Come to think of it, I’ve never seen the Konohana family’s main
estate.
Kagen-san often uses the secondary residence, but Takuma-san
seems to stay at the main estate. …Hinako and Shizune-san are
probably dining with Konohana Group executives right now,
and it’s possible the venue is the main estate.
“Here’s the menu.”
A staff member handed us the menu.
Living in the Konohana mansion has made me immune to
elegant atmospheres. But that’s only the atmosphere—when I
saw a menu with no prices listed, my brain froze.
“…How much is this?”
“You don’t need to worry about that today. I’m here to help you
unwind, after all.”
I’d thought this was a study session, so I didn’t bring much
money.
It feels a bit tactless to keep fussing over prices in a place like
this, so I decided to accept Tennouji-san’s kindness for now.
I ordered the same tea as Tennouji-san, and it was promptly
brought to our table.
Bringing the cup to my lips without making a sound, I took a
quiet sip.

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“…Delicious.”
It was a milk tea with a gentle sweetness.
A faint bitterness added a perfect accent, leaving a clean
aftertaste.
“The tea this time of year is rich and delightful, isn’t it?”
“Does the taste change by season?”
“Yes. The period when high-quality tea is harvested is called
the quality season, and among them, autumnal teas—harvested
in the fall—are aromatic, rich, and pair wonderfully with milk
tea.”
“Huh… I’ve been drinking more tea since coming to Kiou
Academy, but I had no idea.”
“Tea is my personal hobby, so I’m just particularly
knowledgeable about it.”
Good thing it’s not general knowledge…
Since enrolling at Kiou Academy, I’ve been learning about tea
types and teaware brands, but I still get shocked when
classmates talk about it, thinking, “Do I really need to know
that much?!” Upper-class culture runs deep.
As I enjoyed this refined moment with Tennouji-san, a woman
in a beautiful dress stepped onto the stage at the back of the
café and bowed to the patrons.
She sat at the grand piano and began playing softly.
It was a delicate piece. Maybe because I’d just experienced so
much art at the museum, the gentle notes seemed to flow
naturally into my heart.
“Pavane for a Dead Princess… A pavane is a dance that was
popular in 16th-century Europe.”

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Savoring Tennouji-san’s explanation, I enjoyed the tea and the
performance.
I don’t know much about pianos, but the complex, continuous
notes were played distinctly, like individual grains, making it
very easy to listen to. The pianist must be someone famous.
When the performance ended, the audience applauded. The
pianist stood and bowed again.
Finally, she glanced at Tennouji-san and gave a slight nod,
which Tennouji-san returned with a smile.
Since it’s a place she frequents, they’re probably acquainted.
“If she’s a friend, you can go talk to her, you know.”
“Right now, I’m a guest, and she’s a performer. I wouldn’t do
something as tactless as disrupting that wonderful dynamic.”
Tennouji-san said calmly, sipping her tea.
Before being acquaintances, they’re a performer and a guest.
…Tennouji-san is likely enjoying the music of a professional
performer, not just her friend’s. That feels like the ultimate
form of respect.
…This is what a true Ojou-sama is.
If Hinako is the perfect Ojou-sama, Tennouji-san is the
quintessential one. It’s not just her elegant speech and
actions—her very way of being, her approach to life, is filled
with grace.
“You’re surprisingly multitalented, Tennouji-san.”
“The ‘surprisingly’ part is unnecessary.”
Oops, my tongue slipped.
But Tennouji-san wasn’t seriously upset—her face was still
smiling.
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“Still, most of the hobbies you’ve seen today are relatively
new.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Tennouji-san looked at me with gentle eyes.
“—Thanks to you.”
In high spirits, she continued.
“Until recently, I was desperately trying to become a daughter
worthy of the Tennouji family. I was careful not to show it, but
back then, I was mentally and physically exhausted, and my
family often worried about me.”
I know the Tennouji-san from that time.
It was when talk of an arranged marriage came up, and she
mistakenly thought she had no choice but to comply. She was
indeed cornered back then.
“You were the one who broadened my world, Izuki-san. Thanks
to you, I was able to face my parents’ true feelings and find a
more balanced life. …As a result, I’ve been able to discover all
these hobbies.”
Tennouji-san had been overly focused on meeting her parents’
expectations—or rather, she’d created an idealized version of
those expectations in her mind and misunderstood that
fulfilling them was her sole purpose.
The result of being freed from that burden is the Tennouji-san
of today.
Still as diligent as ever, but no longer trapped in tunnel vision,
she now accepts the emotions directed at her and lives fully.

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She thought she was carrying a heavy burden, but in truth,
Tennouji-san was always light on her feet. Now, she’s using
that freedom to experience all sorts of things.
“Izuki-san, I want to thank you again. Because of you, my life
has expanded tremendously.”
Tennouji-san bowed her head quietly.
“I don’t think I did anything that special.”
“To me, it’s more important than anything.”
Hearing her say that makes me feel like my efforts to persuade
her were worth it.
“—Anyway, what I want to tell you, Izuki-san, is that I was able
to change my approach to life because of you.”
Tennouji-san took a sip of her tea.
Then she set the cup down with a bit of force.
“And yet—! Now you’re the one getting all worked up like I
used to! Honestly, I can’t help but want to say something!”
“I’m sorry…”
I had a bad feeling when she took that sip, and sure enough, the
conversation went there…
“Lately, you’ve been just like the old me. …That’s why I decided
I had to be the one to reach out this time.”
“…I see.”
“The old me might have looked at a cornered Izuki-san and
said, ‘Keep pushing like that.’”
Would she, though?

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It’s true that Tennouji-san has changed from before, but I think
even the old Tennouji-san would have told me to rest if she saw
me now.
She’s aware of her own growth, so she’s a bit hard on her past
self, but to me, Tennouji-san has always been kind from the
moment we first met.
I still vividly remember when she called out to me while I was
searching for Hinako’s lost wallet, telling me to stand up
straight. …Back then, she was so cool and kind. To someone like
me, who didn’t know left from right, she made me think, “I
want to be like that.” She says I reached out to her, but the one
who truly extended a hand first was Tennouji-san.
“…I’ve changed because of you, too, Tennouji-san.”
I couldn’t help but voice my thoughts.
“Confidence. Speaking clearly. Standing tall. Working hard.
…You taught me all of those things. So, thank you.”
Without a doubt, Tennouji-san was the one who showed me
their importance.
I looked straight at her, chest puffed out with pride.
In this refined setting, where a single misstep would be out of
place, I’m sitting face-to-face with the heiress of the Tennouji
Group. The old me would have been intimidated. But now, I’m
surprised at how confidently I can carry myself.
Seeing me like this, Tennouji-san seemed momentarily
stunned.
Her cheeks gradually flushed a soft red.
“W-Well… I’m glad to hear that!”
Somehow, the air between us grew a little awkward and warm.

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My face feels hot. It’s probably flushed bright red by now.
“C-Come to think of it, Suminoe-san also said Tennouji-san’s
changed, didn’t she?”
To shift the mood, I blurted out the first new topic that came to
mind.
“Did she now?”
“Yeah. I heard a bunch of stuff from her during our study
session the other day.”
I talk about Suminoe-san, carefully avoiding any mention of her
true nature.
“Tennouji-san, you helped Suminoe-san out back then, right?”
“It wasn’t about helping her. I simply didn’t want Suminoe-
san’s talents to go to waste. The one who truly helped her was
herself, through her own efforts.”
It seems Tennouji-san wants to frame it as scouting Suminoe-
san for the group’s company purely because of her abilities.
“Do you talk to Suminoe-san often?”
“Yes. Though, since we’ve been in different classes since second
year, it’s mostly just catching up after school when we run into
each other.”
“I see… Suminoe-san really looks up to you, so she might feel a
bit lonely.”
“Oh? Did she seem that way?”
“Well…”
I’m not sure if lonely is the right word, but her affection for
Tennouji-san came through loud and clear.

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Before their classes split… back when Suminoe-san could see
Tennouji-san every day, maybe she was doing a bit better than
she is now.
“I’ve had a vague sense that Suminoe-san looks up to me.”
It seems Tennouji-san has faintly picked up on Suminoe-san’s
feelings.
Though, of course, she probably hasn’t noticed Suminoe-san’s
true nature.
“But… she admired the old me, so she might find the current
me a bit complicated.”
Tennouji-san says this with a complex expression, glancing at
the clock on the café wall.
“Well then, shall we head to our next destination?”
“There’s more?”
“Yes. …Haven’t we both been stuck at desks a lot lately?”
That’s true enough.
“At times like this—nothing beats getting your body moving!”
◆
With a faint sense of nerves, I let out a breath.
After standing still for a while, I hear footsteps approaching.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
As Tennouji-san walks toward me, I can’t help but stare, utterly
captivated.
“…You look absolutely stunning.”
“You’re back to using polite speech.”

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While I’m dressed in a simple black suit, Tennouji-san, wearing
a striking blue dress, flashes a smile.
She extends her hand to me.
“Now… shall we dance?”
A slow, gentle melody begins to play.
After leaving the café, Tennouji-san had led me to a dance hall.
The venue, clearly designed for ballroom dancing, is spacious,
elegant, and steeped in a refined atmosphere. The polished
wooden floor has just the right amount of glide, and every step
echoes with a satisfying sound. Ornate lighting fixtures hang
from the ceiling, casting a soft, warm glow.
Since they offered costume rentals, we both changed into
formal attire. It’s been a while since I last wore dance-specific
clothing, as I haven’t had much chance to ballroom dance lately.
The dance we’re performing is a slow waltz.
Come to think of it, the very first dance Tennouji-san taught me
was this same slow waltz.
“My, you remember the steps surprisingly well.”
“Well, I was drilled pretty hard…”
“It seems my teaching was quite effective. Shall I teach you the
tango next time?”
Unlike the waltz, the tango is a passionate and intense dance.
I’m a little intrigued, but I’ll save that for another day.
Maintaining our hold, I pivot with Tennouji-san in a smooth
half-turn. The movement feels almost effortless, with no
resistance whatsoever.
In ballroom dancing, there are moments when you feel
perfectly in sync with your partner.
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These moments are pure bliss. It’s as if the boundaries between
me and Tennouji-san blur and vanish… not just one of us, but
both of us surrendering to the flow, creating an almost mystical
sensation.
“Looking back, it’s quite nostalgic.”
Tennouji-san says with a soft smile.
“The first time we danced, Izuki-san, you were so nervous you
were practically trembling.”
“Was I that nervous?”
“Oh, absolutely. You’d freeze up just making eye contact with
me.”
Now that she mentions it, I think she’s right.
“I was the same when I was younger. I felt so much pressure to
perform perfectly that I’d end up getting nervous…”
“…No, it wasn’t quite like that.”
As Tennouji-san tilts her head curiously, I continue.
“It wasn’t the dance that made me nervous—it was the fact that
I was dancing with you, Tennouji-san.”
“…”
I stop short of saying more, feeling too embarrassed and
apologetic to continue.
Even though it’s just dancing, our bodies are close, our faces
nearer than usual… and doing that with Tennouji-san? Of
course I was nervous.
I’ve gotten somewhat used to it now, but honestly, I’m still a bit
on edge.
Feeling a little inadequate as I dance, I notice Tennouji-san
suddenly miss a step, nearly losing her balance.
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“Tennouji-san?”
It’s rare for her to make a mistake like that, so I glance at her
face and see…
“…You’re not the only one who’s nervous.”
“Huh?”
Tennouji-san’s cheeks are faintly flushed as she looks away.
An awkward silence hangs between us, but we keep dancing.
…Oh no, now I’m hyper-aware of my sweaty hands.
It seems Tennouji-san feels the same, as we both fidget
nervously while moving.
“S-So, um, Izuki-san, why did you decide to join the student
council?”
Tennouji-san changes the subject.
Come to think of it, I haven’t explained that to her.
But how should I put it? …Tennouji-san feels competitive
toward Hinako. I don’t want to ruin this fun atmosphere, so I’ll
gloss over that part.
“Actually, I want to become an executive at a certain company
someday, and I needed accomplishments to make that happen.
I heard that being part of the student council at Kiou Academy
would give me an edge…”
As I explain, Tennouji-san’s eyes sharpen.
“The Konohana Group, I presume?”
“Wha—?”
“You didn’t mention the company’s name in front of me. And
you need a high-caliber achievement like the Kiou Academy
student council. Those two points make it easy to deduce.”
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She saw right through me.
I’m left speechless, my mouth clamped shut.
“In other words, you’re aiming for the student council for
Konohana Hinako’s sake?”
“No, it’s not just that…”
Tennouji-san stops dancing.
The gentle, beautiful melody continues to play, evoking a faint
sense of loneliness and longing…
“In your eyes, what do you see…?”
Tennouji-san suddenly pulls me closer.
“Are you only looking at… Konohana Hinako?”
Our noses brush ever so slightly. Still, Tennouji-san doesn’t
break eye contact.
The face reflected in her eyes is one of turmoil—hesitating,
struggling to find an answer, lips sealed.
Then… I notice her eyes trembling.
Tennouji-san’s eyes always seemed strong, radiant. But not
now. Seeing them this close, I can tell. There’s a faint flicker of
anxiety in them.
Something’s wrong.
Tennouji-san is looking at me with such intensity… so why am I
wearing this confused expression?
“…That’s not true.”
My breath rustles Tennouji-san’s hair.
I close my eyes, then open them again.

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The face reflected in Tennouji-san’s eyes… it’s no longer
wavering.
“I started to say earlier, but it’s not just that. I want to stand as
an equal with you, with Narika, with everyone I interact with
daily.”
“As an equal…?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
This—it’s something I resolved at the end of summer break.
At the end of summer break, I had the chance to return to my
old life. But I didn’t.
One of the reasons for that—was Tennouji-san.
“Coming to Kiou Academy and meeting all sorts of people made
me want to become someone like them. …You, Tennouji-san,
are one of the people who inspired that in me.”
Tennouji-san listens to me earnestly.
I want to be someone who can shoulder great responsibilities,
like them. Specifically, I want to become an executive at the
Konohana Group, at the very least.
And—I’m even thinking of ambitions beyond that.
“Right now, I’m attending the academy under a fake title… but
someday, I want to stand beside everyone as my true self.
…Aiming for the student council is one step toward that.”
That, I believe, is what it truly means to be equal.
To stand side by side with everyone in the truest sense—that’s
what I want.
Hearing my feelings, Tennouji-san lets out a small sigh…
“…You really are a challenger, aren’t you?”

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A challenger, huh? …When she puts it like that, maybe I am.
For a commoner like me to have such ambitions, I guess I am a
challenger, aren’t I?
“It’s exactly because you’re like that, that I…”
Tennouji-san gazes at me with a dreamy, almost enraptured
expression.
“…Tennouji-san?”
“N-Nothing! …I almost let it slip.”
Her face flushes bright red as she covers her mouth with both
hands.
As the next song starts, we take each other’s hands and begin
dancing again.
We dance a slow, deliberate waltz, as if confirming our feelings
with each step.
“Let me ask you one thing. …If I asked you to join the Tennouji
Group, what would you do?”
“That’s…”
I owe Hinako for hiring me. And as her caretaker, I want to stay
by her side and ease her burdens. She’s always fighting a lonely
battle. My desire to support her is strong.
But I owe Tennouji-san, too, and if she were in trouble, I’d want
to help her. If she placed her trust and expectations in me, I’d
feel compelled to live up to them.
Should I choose based on the work? …Salary’s not the deciding
factor. Both would likely offer more than generous terms. Then,
the industry? Should I pick what suits me best? …No, if I’m not
suited for it, I’ll just study until I am by graduation.

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I’m overthinking this so much that sweat beads on my
forehead.
In the end, the conclusion I reach is—
“…B-Both… maybe…?”
“Haaaaahhh!”
Tennouji-san lets out the deepest sigh I’ve ever heard.
“Swindler, dense, blockhead.”
“Uh…”
“I’ve come to understand you all over again, Izuki-san. You’re
the type who keeps putting off these kinds of decisions, never
giving a straight answer until the very end.”
“…Ugh.”
Being called out like that makes me want to push back a little.
…Besides, what about her side of things?
If I made a decision right now, is she even ready to accept it?
“Well, I figured as much from the start. If anything, this puts me
in the best position. After all, I’m more suited to going after
what I want than waiting around—”
“—Then I’ll go with you.”
Her eyes widen at my words.
“H-Huh!?”
“I choose you, Tennouji-san.”
“Wha—!? H-Hold on—!?”
Tennouji-san lets out a strange squeak and stops in her tracks.
Seeing her reaction, I feel a sense of satisfaction.

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“Just kidding. …See? You’re not ready for that either, are you?”
“W-Wait, hold on…! I-I think we’re talking about different
things here!”
“Different things? We’re talking about the future, right?”
“Yes, but! It’s just—!”
Isn’t this about which company I’d work for…?
“I’ve come to understand you better, too. …You’re weak to
being pushed, aren’t you?”
“W-Wha—!?”
Tennouji-san’s mouth flaps open and closed as she stares at
me.
“D-Don’t get too full of yourself! If you say something like that
again…”
“If I do?”
Her face beet red, Tennouji-san declares,
“I-I’ll make you take responsibility!!”
That sounds a bit too serious to be a joke, so I practically rub
my forehead against the floor in apology.
◆
After that, we danced for about an hour more, then each took a
shower to wash off the sweat before leaving the dance hall.
“Phew… I worked up a good sweat today.”
“Yeah.”
Though some of that sweat was from awkward moments.
As we stroll under the evening sun, a faint electronic chime
comes from Tennouji-san’s side.
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“Excuse me.”
She pulls out her smartphone and holds it to her ear.
I catch snippets of the conversation—something about a
“management game,” so it’s probably a classmate on the other
end.
Tennouji-san says, “I’ll call you back later,” and ends the call.
“Game stuff?”
“Yes. But I’ve decided to focus entirely on relaxing today, so I’ll
deal with it another time.”
Even so… if they’re calling her directly, it might be urgent.
“If you’re holding back because of me, don’t worry. I’m good
now. Thanks to you, I’ve had plenty of relaxation.”
Honestly, my stubborn insistence on taking a break was the
issue to begin with. Now that I’ve reflected on it, there’s no
need to force the downtime.
Besides, unlike me, Tennouji-san seems to have her mental
health perfectly under control. There’s no reason for her to
pause her work just to keep me company.
She should do what she wants. Sensing my feelings, Tennouji-
san chuckles and nods.
“Understood. …Then I’ll step away for a moment.”
She moves a short distance away and starts another call.
This one lasts longer. From what I can tell, it’s not casual chit-
chat but a serious discussion requiring careful thought and
measured responses.
I sit on a nearby bench to wait, and soon Tennouji-san returns.
“Sorry for the wait.”

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She takes a seat beside me.
“Nice work. What was that about?”
“It was about a business partnership. We’re currently
evaluating potential companies, and one of them was making
an aggressive pitch, so I had to handle it.”
“Wow. Well, with your company, I bet tons of people are eager
to partner up.”
“Fortunately, that seems to be the case.”
Last time it was M&A, and now it’s a business partnership.
Tennouji-san runs her company by leveraging connections
with all sorts of businesses.
It makes me think—I might need to form partnerships with
other companies someday, too.
Now I’m curious about what Tennouji-san’s partnerships look
like.
“What kind of candidates are there?”
“Something like this, more or less.”
Tennouji-san hands me her smartphone.
The screen displayed documents from various companies.
About ten in total, perhaps. I slid my finger across the screen,
checking the characteristics of each company.
“For now, the second company is the most promising
candidate.”
I looked at that company’s documents.
It was a clearly excellent enterprise. The company was large in
scale, and its industry was closely aligned. Partnering with
them would likely yield stable returns.
(…Hm?)
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However, as I read through the other companies’ documents,
something caught my attention.
“…What about this company? Doesn’t it seem like a good fit?”
“Huh?”
I handed the smartphone back to Tennouji-san.
Tennouji-san silently read the documents displayed on the
screen.
“…Do you think so? This company’s budget constraints are
quite strict, and overall, I believe its scale doesn’t match my
company’s.”
“The numbers might suggest that, but I have a feeling this
company shares the closest vision to yours, Tennouji-san.”
Having said that, I realized I couldn’t quite explain why I felt
that way.
Still, Tennouji-san fell into deep thought.
“…I’ll arrange a meeting.”
With that, Tennouji-san picked up the smartphone and started
another call.
A few minutes into the conversation, Tennouji-san broke into a
bright smile. The lively tone of her voice hinted that the
discussion was going well.
After waiting a bit, Tennouji-san returned to me.
“How’d it go?”
“We really hit it off!”
Tennouji-san said cheerfully.
“You were right, Izuki-san. This company not only shares my
vision but is already looking beyond it. The numbers might
Page | 174
favor other companies, but I’ve decided to partner with this
one. There’s nothing more valuable than a partner who shares
the same vision!”
It seemed Tennouji-san, deep down, hadn’t wanted to choose a
partner based solely on numbers.
Documents alone could only reveal so much. Finding the
partner she truly sought left Tennouji-san in high spirits.
“…But how did you know it would turn out like this, Izuki-san?”
At her question, I paused to think.
I thought about it… but I still couldn’t put it into words.
“I just… got a feeling when I read the documents. Like, that
company seemed like the best match for you, Tennouji-san.”
In other words, pure intuition.
I felt a bit guilty for dragging Tennouji-san around with
something so vague, but since it worked out, I hoped she’d
forgive me.
As I mulled this over, Tennouji-san fixed me with a serious
gaze.
“Izuki-san.”
With a solemn expression, she declared,
“You might just… become an even bigger deal than I thought.”
◆
A few days had passed since I took a break with Tennouji-san.
At the Konohana family mansion, I was checking on the status
of Tomonari Gifts.
“…Looking good.”

Page | 175
With the help of the marketing firm Asahi-san introduced, it
seemed Tomonari Gifts was on track to break out of its
stagnant performance. By analyzing customer data, we were
steadily achieving more efficient, waste-free operations.
As I mentally organized my company’s status, a video call app
notified me of an incoming call.
I prepared my microphone and answered.
“Takuma-san, good work today.”
“Good work. I saw your email. Looks like things are picking up
nicely.”
“Thanks to you.”
I’d been updating Takuma-san on our progress via email.
My company’s smooth sailing was undoubtedly thanks to
Takuma-san. Without his advice, I’d have stumbled somewhere
along the way. Out of gratitude, I made sure to share detailed
updates about my company with him.
“With these results, you could start expanding the business.”
Takuma-san said from the other side of the monitor.
“The catalog gift was more of a new venture, but now it’s time to
scale up existing operations. Got any ideas, Izuki-kun?”
“Yes. I’m planning to add a business-oriented menu. So far,
we’ve focused solely on individual customers, but I want to
target corporations moving forward.”
“I see… Nice. It’s not too different from your individual services,
so you can probably get it off the ground quickly. Solid strategy.”
“Thank you.”
It wasn’t as flashy as a new venture, but it carried less risk. I
agreed with his assessment of it being a solid plan.
Page | 176
“That said, you might hit a wall soon.”
Takuma-san dropped an ominous comment.
“Entering new markets comes with its share of risks. Plus, your
company’s been growing at a breakneck pace, so it wouldn’t be
surprising if you faced some turbulence around now.”
“Uh…”
What was he seeing that I wasn’t?
It didn’t feel like he was just throwing out random warnings…
“How’s your stock market studying going?”
“I’ve covered the basics you sent in the email.”
“Still just the fundamentals, huh… How about a paper test next
time? Anything less than a perfect score, and your punishment is
skipping dinner.”
“…Isn’t that kind of an old-school penalty?”
“What else would you hate? Making you run errands for me
would probably just make you happy.”
Well, he wasn’t wrong. Doing errands for Takuma-san would
probably teach me a ton, and I’d end up enjoying it.
Unfortunately for him, my days of poverty had made me
immune to hunger. Even the sharp Takuma-san hadn’t seen
that coming.
“Keep studying the stock market. It’ll prepare you for what’s
ahead.”
With that, Takuma-san fell into thought again.
“Oh, but you’ve got Hinako, don’t you…”
“What about Hinako?”
“No, uh… never mind. You’ll be fine.”
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It felt like he was dodging something.
“Alright, let’s wrap this up. Your homework is to keep studying
stocks.”
“Thank you.”
I ended the video call.
(…Talking to him always fires me up.)
Lately, chatting with Takuma-san boosted my motivation for
the game.
He must be inspiring me. Somewhere along the line, I’d come to
deeply respect Takuma-san. No surprise there. At first, I didn’t
know what to make of him, and his attitude toward Hinako and
the others rubbed me the wrong way. But once you got past
that, he was an incredible person—so much so that those initial
impressions faded away.
Still, to me, Takuma-san was a wall I had to overcome.
(For now, I’ll have the marketing firm look into how much profit
this corporate service might bring.)
I was glad I’d relied on Asahi-san’s connections. I decided to
have them conduct another market analysis.
The management game lasted six weeks, and we were nearing
the halfway mark. I wasn’t in a rush, but I had to keep an eye on
the schedule.
(It’ll take a bit for the analysis results to come in… Guess I’ll use
that time to prep and review for class.)
I closed my laptop, shifting gears.
Lately, I’d been struggling to keep up with the Academy’s
classes, so I’d resolved to put in extra effort on prep and review
today. Perfect timing.

Page | 178
Steady, consistent effort was the key. Tennouji-san had taught
me that.
After hitting my pre-planned prep and review goals, I opened
my laptop again.
“Alright, let’s see the results…”
While I was studying, a few days had passed in the game.
The market analysis results were in, so I skimmed through
them.
“…Huh?”
I tilted my head at the results.
The projected profits were… lower than expected.
What was going on?
I wasn’t arrogant enough to think my ideas were foolproof, but
this corporate service plan had even gotten Takuma-san’s
approval. I could believe I’d misjudged something, but Takuma-
san missing a call like this? Unlikely.
Which meant… he probably saw this coming and approved it
anyway.
I dug into the details of the market analysis.
The reason for the low projections was clearly stated.
“…Competitors.”
In short, another company had already started a similar
service.
When I saw the company’s name, I was stunned.
“This company…”
I was facing a tough problem.

Page | 179
The competing company’s name… SIS Corporation.
Suminoe-san’s company.
◆
The next day, after classes ended, I glanced outside the
classroom and noticed someone staring at me.
She beckoned me over, so I approached her.
“Hello, Tomonari-san.”
Suminoe-san greeted me with a gentle smile.
“Care to chat for a bit?”
“…Sure. I actually wanted to talk to you too, Suminoe-san.”
That’s why I’d already told Hinako and Shizune I’d be late
getting home.
We headed to the café where we’d studied with Kita before,
deciding to talk there.
After settling into our seats, we ordered drinks and took a
moment to relax.
“From the look on your face, you’ve figured it out, haven’t you?”
As I wondered how to broach the topic, Suminoe-san smiled.
“My company runs a corporate e-commerce service. We mainly
deal in office supplies, but we also sell gifts as part of our
offerings.”
As Suminoe-san explained, a café waiter brought over two cups
of tea.
Sensing we were having a serious conversation, the waiter left
quietly.
Suminoe-san took a cup, closed her eyes, and sipped the tea
elegantly.
Page | 180
“The real SIS Corporation doesn’t run a service like that, right?
So, that e-commerce site was something you created in the
game?”
“Yes. As soon as the game started, I launched the e-commerce
division as a new venture.”
Just as I thought…
I’d looked into it, and the real SIS Corporation had no e-
commerce division. As expected, Suminoe-san had started it on
her own initiative in the game.
“So, I was surprised. To think someone was doing the exact
same thing as me.”
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t exactly the same.
I ran a gift-focused e-commerce service for individuals, and its
niche approach had earned some praise. Suminoe-san’s service,
on the other hand, targeted corporations and didn’t specialize
in gifts. Her e-commerce platform mainly sold stationery,
whiteboards, files, and office furniture like desks and chairs.
But it also included items for ceremonies and events.
That’s where our plans overlapped. Since Suminoe-san’s
platform already dealt in stationery, it could easily meet
demands like gifting a fountain pen for a special occasion with
its existing services.
Her platform wasn’t gift-focused, but it still fulfilled gift-related
needs. That’s why we were competing.
That said, you might hit a wall soon.
I finally understood what Takuma-san meant yesterday.
The wall was a competitor… a rival.

Page | 181
To grow Tomonari Gifts further, I believed expanding into
corporate services was almost essential. The sophisticated,
adult-oriented vibe of Tomonari Gifts meshed perfectly with a
corporate service.
To make the company bigger, this was a wall I couldn’t avoid.
What should I do…?
Outmaneuver her, or strike some kind of agreement?
What did Suminoe-san want, anyway?
“…Why did you start an e-commerce division, Suminoe-san?”
To gauge her intentions, I asked a safe question, but her answer
was driven by personal feelings rather than logic.
“For Tennouji-sama, of course.”
Suminoe-san spoke with a rapturous expression.
“I created this service to support Tennouji-sama’s company.
The Tennouji Group is heavily involved in M&A and corporate
restructuring, so they’re chronically short on office supplies… I
wanted to solve that with the power of my love.”
Motives aside, she’d clearly identified a real need.
When I’d considered starting a corporate e-commerce service,
I’d researched the market myself, not just relying on the
marketing firm. The office supply market was one I’d been
quietly eyeing. Mastering it could attract new customers that
individual services couldn’t.
“Tomonari-san, I have a proposal.”
Suminoe-san looked me straight in the eye and said,
“—Would you give me your company?”
I’d anticipated those words.

Page | 182
A buyout proposal. Suminoe-san wanted to acquire my
company.
“The services I’m developing and yours target nearly the same
market. If we both expand here, we’ll end up cannibalizing each
other’s customers. That’s not a tasty outcome for either of us.”
In an already niche market, competing could lead to mutual
destruction.
I understood Suminoe-san’s reasoning for proposing a buyout.
But… there was one thing that didn’t add up.
“Before I respond to the buyout, can I ask one thing?”
Suminoe-san blinked slightly and nodded.
“Ever since I realized we were competing, I’ve been
wondering… Why didn’t you tell me about your e-commerce
division?”
That’s what I’d wanted to discuss with her.
For example, during our study session with Kita, she could’ve
mentioned it. We’d talked about business, so she’d deliberately
dodged the topic.
Why had Suminoe-san kept quiet about her e-commerce
division?
I had a hunch.
“Were you… waiting for me to grow my company?”
To my question, Suminoe-san sipped her tea before answering.
“Yes. You were doing exactly what I’d planned to do, so I
decided to observe for a while. If you failed, I’d avoid the risk. If
you succeeded, I’d propose a buyout at the right moment.”
And now, as planned, she was offering to buy my company.

Page | 183
In short, Suminoe-san had used me as an experiment. Could a
gift-focused e-commerce site succeed? How far could it grow? If
it showed promise, she’d simply acquire my service and claim
it as her own.
It wasn’t a bad strategy at all. Using M&A to pioneer new
ventures was a standard tactic for a resource-rich company like
SIS Corporation.
“Thank you for building such a great service. From here on—
leave it to my company.”
Suminoe-san said, meeting my gaze.
Her confident, dependable smile made a part of me whisper
that following her was the right choice.

Page | 184
Page | 185
At times, I felt that same reliability from various people at Kiou
Academy. I’d sensed it from Hinako, Tennouji-san, Narika, and
others. It was the aura of someone destined to lead, a quality
that naturally shone through.
Suminoe-san was one of them.
“—I’ll have to decline.”
At my response, Suminoe-san’s eyes widened in surprise.
“…You may not know this, Tomonari-san, but being acquired by
a major corporation is a success story for a startup. Being
offered an M&A means your company’s value is recognized.
There’s no need to view ‘acquisition’ negatively.”
“I understand that.”
I’d studied enough to know that much.
My refusal wasn’t because I hated the idea of losing ownership
of my company.
“The reason I’m declining is that our directions are different.”
I explained step by step.
“Tomonari Gifts is a gift-focused e-commerce site. One of its
core principles is eliminating complexity. If you want to send a
gift, you come to our site. We want to keep that simple, user-
friendly experience.”
Suminoe-san nodded slightly, listening.
“You’re worried about the service being compromised. But if I
acquire Tomonari Gifts, I intend to operate it with its current
structure largely intact. To boost sales synergy, we’d simply
make my service the entry point…”
“That’s exactly the problem.”
I shook my head.
Page | 186
“A gift-focused service nested within an office supply platform
is inherently complex.”
Tomonari Gifts targeted adults, and its appeal to older
demographics had grown, as confirmed by the marketing firm’s
analysis.
In a digital world overflowing with information, simplicity
itself was a charm. I didn’t want to lose that edge.
“Plus, our services have completely different vibes. Tomonari
Gifts prioritizes a sophisticated image, but… your platform is
different, right?”
I recalled what Takuma-san had taught me about the
importance of a company’s world.
Adult relationships, subtle thoughtfulness, and care—my
service sold that sophistication. Suminoe-san’s practicality-
focused platform had a wildly different world.
Suminoe-san had no intention of running a gift-focused e-
commerce site. She only wanted my service to bolster the gift
segment of her platform. But without a unified world, both
would lose their distinctiveness.
I understood now. A world was a brand.
It was the very image people held of a company. It had to be
simple, pure, and powerful.
“I don’t want to tear down the brand I’ve built. That’s why I
can’t accept your acquisition offer.”
“…I see.”
Suminoe-san let out a small breath. It sounded like a sigh, but it
could’ve also been a deep breath to steady her heart.
“Very well. If you’re that resolute, I’ll back off for now.”

Page | 187
With that, Suminoe-san stood up.
“Then… I hope you won’t come to regret this.”
Leaving those ominous words behind, Suminoe-san walked
away from me.
◆
Back at the mansion, I sat in my room, staring at the computer
monitor.
(Having turned down the acquisition… there’s no doubt I’ve
stepped onto a thorny path.)
By rejecting the idea of joining forces, the competitive
relationship between me and Suminoe-san would continue.
The wall still hadn’t been scaled. If anything, the real challenge
was just beginning.
SIS Corporation is a company on a scale that makes Tomonari
Gifts look like a speck. If they seriously dive into the e-
commerce sector, I don’t stand a chance in my current state.
I need to come up with some kind of countermeasure…
As I racked my brain, my smartphone buzzed with an incoming
call.
“Huh, Tennouji-san?”
What could she want at this hour?
Maybe, like before, she’s worried I’m being cornered. With that
thought, I answered the call.
“Tennouji-san, what’s—”
“—Tomonari-san! Have you seen the news about the
Management Game!?”
Tennouji-san’s frantic voice cut through.
Page | 188
“No, not yet, but…”
“Please check it right now!”
I’d been so focused on dealing with Suminoe-san that I hadn’t
checked the news.
Following her urging, I pulled up the in-game news.
In the Management Game, updates like recent M&A activity or
market capitalization rankings are periodically released as
news.
And in that news… one sentence caught my eye.
—SIS Corporation has acquired Tech Capital Corporation.
“…What?”
Tech Capital Corporation is the VC Suminoe-san introduced me
to, and Tomonari Gifts Corporation had received funding from
them. Naturally, in exchange, Tomonari Gifts had given Tech
Capital shares.
In other words, if Tech Capital was acquired—
“…My shares… they’ve been taken.”

Page | 189
Chapter 4: Management Game
The next morning.
In the car heading to the academy, I gazed out at the scenery in
a daze.
“Izuki-san, are you okay?”
“…Yeah.”
Shizune-san was worried about me, but right now, I couldn’t
even muster the energy to fake cheerfulness.
The fact that Suminoe-san had bought my company’s stocks
was something Hinako and Shizune knew about. It had been
splashed across the game’s news, so Narika, Taishou, Asahi-
san, and others knew too. After it happened, they all reached
out with calls or messages, full of concern.
“…Izuki?”
Hinako, sitting next to me, looked at me with worried eyes.
I remembered how I’d made everyone worry when I got too
absorbed in the game before. …I slapped both cheeks, trying to
shake off the gloom.
“I’m fine. I slept on it and calmed down.”
“…Mm.”
Sulking wouldn’t change a thing.
Somehow scraping together some positivity, I got out of the car
before Hinako, as usual.
“See you at the academy, Hinako.”
“Mm. Wait for me, okay?”

Page | 190
As I headed toward the academy, I started thinking about my
next move.
But as I passed through the school gate and approached the
building—.
“Why, good morning, Tomonari-san.”
I came face-to-face with the one girl I least wanted to see right
now.
“…Suminoe-san.”
“You look like you have something to say.”
Well, yeah, no kidding.
Glancing around, I noticed classmates subtly watching us.
Thanks to the in-game news, plenty of people must’ve pieced
together what was going on between me and Suminoe-san.
If I spoke impulsively, I’d probably end up saying something
pathetic, so I steadied myself and spoke calmly.
“…That was quite an aggressive move you pulled.”
“I warned you, didn’t I? Don’t regret it.”
Suminoe-san said it without a hint of guilt.
Generally speaking, a company acquisition means gaining
control by securing its stocks. There are various ways to do
this—negotiating with shareholders to transfer their shares or
launching a tender offer bid, a TOB, to buy up shares from
multiple shareholders at once.
But the method Suminoe-san used? Hardly standard.
The company she acquired, Tech Capital Inc., is a venture
capital firm—a fund specializing in investing in startups. They
provide funding to struggling ventures in exchange for stocks,
profiting when those ventures grow as expected.
Page | 191
Tomonari Gifts received funding from Tech Capital, and in
return, Tech Capital holds a portion of Tomonari Gifts’ stocks.
So, when Suminoe-san acquired Tech Capital, she effectively
gained control over the Tomonari Gifts stocks Tech Capital
owned… meaning her company now holds a position to
essentially dominate Tomonari Gifts.
This—is an indirect acquisition.
It’s the kind of strategy where, if someone won’t listen to you,
you go over their head and control their boss instead.
It’s not illegal. But this forceful, money-talks approach?
Honestly, it didn’t feel good to be on the receiving end.
“I thought I made it clear I wouldn’t agree to an acquisition…”
“The business world isn’t so sweet that people back off just
because you say no.”
That shut me up.
The Tomonari Gifts stocks held by Tech Capital amount to just
under forty percent of the total shares.
If they’d taken over half, I’d have been forcibly turned into a
subsidiary without question, so I’m barely hanging on by a
thread. …No, maybe I’m not even hanging on anymore. Even
without full subsidiary status, they’ve got significant voting
rights, so Tomonari Gifts’ operational freedom has been
drastically reduced.
“Please don’t misunderstand—I didn’t single out your company
specifically.”
Suminoe-san said with a composed smile.
“I wanted to bring multiple companies under Tech Capital’s
investment portfolio under my control anyway. It’s all to make
my company the top player in the IT industry.”
Page | 192
Tech Capital is a company with far more assets than Tomonari
Gifts. Acquiring a fund just to indirectly control Tomonari Gifts
wouldn’t make sense, so I’d figured there was a bigger goal.
But I hadn’t anticipated the specifics of that goal.
“Hehe… surprised? That I have ambitions?”
“Yeah… is this all for Tennouji-san’s sake too?”
“Of course.”
Suminoe-san began explaining her ambitions.
“In the future, I want to be Tennouji-sama’s right hand. I want
to serve someone who will one day make their name known
across this country—no, the world—supporting them in both
public and private matters. In the Management Game, I’m
treating this as practice.”
Suminoe-san’s feelings for Tennouji-san were a bit unhinged,
but hearing her words alone, she sounded like a perfectly
diligent go-getter.
The know-how of growing a company would likely serve her
well under Tennouji-san in the future. That might be why
Suminoe-san is so focused on expanding SIS.
“Well, I also just plain wanted to take you down.”
—Wait, what?
I felt like an idiot for listening so seriously.
“Eliminating obstacles is part of the practice. I won’t forgive
you for seducing Tennouji-sama.”
“…Seducing?”
She’d said she disliked me before, but seducing? That’s news to
me.
Just what kind of person does Suminoe-san think I am?
Page | 193
“Until now, Tennouji-sama was far more stoic. Beneath her
elegant demeanor was an unmistakable drive, always pushing
herself to surpass her rival, Konohana-san.”
Suminoe-san spoke of the Tennouji-san she knew.
“But Tennouji-sama has changed. Because of you.”
Suminoe-san glared at me.
“Ever since meeting you, Tennouji-sama has softened.
…Specifically, around the time of the June aptitude test! That’s
when signs of change started showing…!”
Suminoe-san clenched her fists, trembling with anger.
That’s terrifyingly specific.
That was exactly when Tennouji-san’s engagement issue I
helped resolved. Sure, Tennouji-san changed around then, but
was it really so obvious?
“And ever since then, you and Tennouji-sama have grown
closer…! The number of times you two make eye contact during
after-school tea parties has increased by 2.7 times, and when
you walk side by side, the distance between you has shrunk by
four centimeters! My eyes don’t miss a thing!!”
Scary, scary, scary, scary—!
The serious atmosphere shattered. I mean, she’s probably dead
serious, but…
“You were watching the tea parties, huh…”
“I was watching!! With tears of blood!!”
“…You could just join us normally, you know?”
“I can’t! Talking about school or the game is one thing, but
private matters? I’d die of nerves!!”
Weren’t you supposed to support her in public and private?
Page | 194
“The old Tennouji-sama would never have formed an alliance
with Konohana-san. Never would she have stooped to such
camaraderie.”
That… might be true, as Suminoe-san says.
Hinako once said she thought Suminoe-san might dislike her.
…This is probably why. Suminoe-san idolizes Tennouji-san, so
deep down, she might see Tennouji-san’s rival, Hinako, as an
enemy.
“That’s why I’m bringing you down—to wake Tennouji-sama
up. Once it’s clear you’re nothing special, Tennouji-sama will
surely come to her senses. This, too, is my duty as her future
right hand.”
Hearing Suminoe-san’s goal, I recalled something Tennouji-san
had said.
—It’s just… she admired the old me, so she might have mixed
feelings about who I am now.
Both I and Tennouji-san herself thought her change was a good
thing.
But it seems there’s one person here who despises that change.
“You’re not worthy of standing by Tennouji-sama’s side. You’ll
be out of this game in no time.”
With that, Suminoe-san turned on her heel and left.
◆
In the end, I couldn’t come up with any countermeasures
against Suminoe-san, and the school day ended.
Even after returning to the mansion, I holed up in my room,
thinking alone.

Page | 195
I can’t let this go on—I need a plan, and fast. Driven by that
urgency, I researched ways to escape Suminoe-san’s indirect
control, listing out anything I could realistically pull off.
Knock knock came a tap at my door.
When I said, “Come in,” Hinako stepped inside.
“Good work today… I brought tea.”
“Thanks.”
I took the cup and sipped slowly.
The crisp sweetness seemed to ease the tension coiled deep in
my mind.
“…This is even tastier than before.”
“R-Really…!?”
When I gave my honest opinion, Hinako looked downright
shocked.
“All that effort paid off…”
That innocent smile of hers tugged at something deep in my
chest.
…She really is talented, isn’t she?
When Hinako puts her mind to it, she can handle just about
anything flawlessly. The problem is she rarely puts her mind to
it, but lately, she’s been full of energy even after coming back to
the mansion.
Hinako’s growing. …I can’t let myself fall behind.
“With delicious tea like this, I guess I’ll push a bit harder.”
I straightened my slouched posture, summoning fresh
motivation.

Page | 196
As I turned back to my computer, Hinako came closer, peering
at the screen with me.
“Still struggling with the Suminoe-san thing?”
“Yeah. Honestly, it’s giving me a headache.”
Or rather, I’d been clutching my head until Hinako walked in.
“Mm… then leave it to me.”
Out of nowhere, Hinako said that.
I shifted my gaze from the screen to her.
“The Suminoe-san thing… I’ve got a good solution.”
“A solution?”
“Mm. I’ll protect you, Izuki.”
Hinako said it with a gentle smile.
“Do a third-party allotment and give my company some shares.
…If you do, I’ll make your company a subsidiary and protect it
from Suminoe-san.”
Thanks to Takuma-san’s advice to study up on stocks, I
understood what Hinako was suggesting.
A third-party allotment is a fundraising method where new
shares are issued to a specific third party in exchange for funds.
It has the advantage of letting you hand shares to a trusted
party, but issuing a large number of new shares dilutes the
ownership percentage of existing shareholders. Shareholders
who once had a say in management could lose influence due to
their reduced stake, so you have to consider their rights
carefully.
But on the flip side, it also means you can escape the control of
those existing shareholders.

Page | 197
Right now, Tomonari Gifts’ largest shareholder is SIS Inc.—in
other words, Suminoe-san.
If I issue a ton of new shares to Hinako through a third-party
allotment, the largest shareholder would shift from Suminoe-
san to Hinako, and Tomonari Gifts would fall under the
Konohana Group’s protection. That would free me from
Suminoe-san’s control. In exchange, I’d be part of the Konohana
Group, but since Hinako knows what I want to do, she wouldn’t
tie me down.

Page | 198
Page | 199
This kind of anti-takeover strategy has a specific name.
“…A white knight, right?”
“Yup.”
Hinako nodded, looking somewhat pleased.
When a company is suffering under a hostile takeover, a
friendly acquirer swoops in to save the day. For a company in
need of rescue, it’s not an overly dramatic term—it’s spot-on.
“I’ll be your white knight.”
Hinako puffed out her chest proudly.
But for some reason… I couldn’t immediately nod in agreement.
Hearing Hinako’s proposal, I was inwardly shocked, thinking,
That’s an option!
But at the same time…
(…Is that okay?)
Something felt off.
I had a gut feeling I shouldn’t take this outstretched hand.
For the company’s sake, letting Hinako help here would be the
smart move. Like Suminoe-san said, it’s an honor for a venture
to be approached for an M&A. I turned down Suminoe-san’s
offer because our visions didn’t align, but Hinako knows
Tomonari Gifts and me, its founder, inside and out. She’s a
friendly acquirer.
The company I’ve poured my heart into is being scouted by the
prestigious Konohana Group. There’s no greater honor. …There
shouldn’t be.
And yet, something still nagged at me…
(…Oh.)
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That’s it.
Exactly.
Didn’t I just talk about this with Tennouji-san recently?
I want to stand by Hinako’s side.
Hinako, Tennouji-san, Narika, Asahi-san, Taishou, Kita, and…
even Suminoe-san. I’m working hard right now to truly stand
as their equal.
That’s why I’m aiming to be an executive in the Konohana
Group, why I’m striving for the student council, why I’m giving
my all in the Management Game—every bit of it is for that goal.
…Then, no way.
I can’t take Hinako’s hand here.
I’m aiming to be her equal—how can I let myself be one-sidedly
protected like this?
“…Sorry, Hinako.”
I bowed my head and said it.
“I don’t want to accept that proposal.”
“…Huh?”
Maybe it was a completely unexpected response, because
Hinako let out a faint sound.
“W-Why…?”
“I can’t let myself be saved out of pity.”
To begin with, there’s no reason for Hinako’s company to
acquire mine. It’s not like she sees my company as an
investment opportunity either. Hinako’s just reaching out
because she sees I’m in trouble, plain and simple.
In other words, this isn’t business or anything—it’s just pity.
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That’s exactly why I can’t accept it.
“…I want to be your equal, Hinako.”
If I fall under Hinako’s protection, I’ll never be her equal.
At Kiou Academy, tons of students admire Hinako. They always
watch her from a distance, staring dreamily or singing her
praises.
But, and maybe this sounds rude, I don’t want to be like them.
I don’t want to just admire her from afar. I don’t want to be her
follower.
I want to be someone worthy of standing by Hinako’s side.
“So, can you trust me? I’ll handle this on my own somehow. …If
I rely on you here, I feel like I’ll never be able to stand by your
side.”
I poured out my feelings.
Hinako stayed silent for a moment, then…
“…Okay.”
With her head lowered, Hinako left the room.
Through the gaps in her hair, I saw her ears, bright red.
…Did I make her mad?
I know Hinako doesn’t look down on me.
She reached out to me out of pure kindness. Rejecting that
outright would understandably upset her.
But—this is something I can’t compromise on.
From here on, I’ll let my actions do the talking.
“…Alright!”
Psyching myself up, I turned back to my computer.
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◇
Leaving Izuki’s room, Hinako walked down the hallway with
her gaze fixed on the floor.
Staring blankly at the red carpet, Hinako bumped her head
against a wall with a thud.
“Ow!”
“Ojou-sama…?”
Shizune, who happened to be cleaning nearby, noticed Hinako.
But Hinako hurriedly turned around and started walking again,
eyes still on the floor…
“Ow!”
“O-Ojou-sama? Um, are you okay? Your room’s this way…”
“Ugh…”
Shizune looked puzzled at Hinako’s odd behavior.
Rubbing her forehead, Hinako let Shizune guide her to her
room.
Once inside, Hinako headed straight for her bed.
Burying herself in the blankets and going still, Hinako
prompted a worried look from Shizune.
“If you’re feeling unwell, I can call a doctor…”
“No… just leave me alone for a bit…”
This isn’t about feeling sick or anything like that.
Perhaps deciding it was best to follow instructions for now,
Shizune’s footsteps faded, followed by the sound of the door
closing.

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Left alone, Hinako buried her face in her pillow, her legs
kicking up and down restlessly.
(Ughhh…!)
Her face felt hot. Like it might erupt any second.
She was probably making a really weird expression right now.
No way could she let anyone see her like this, so she kept her
gaze fixed downward.
She was utterly at the mercy of the emotions welling up from
deep within her.
Her mind replayed the conversation she’d just had with Izuki.
—I want to stand as your equal, Hinako.
Izuki’s words, his voice, his expression—they all came rushing
back, vivid in her mind.
“So… so cool…!”
As if to vent the overwhelming passion she couldn’t contain,
she kicked her legs even faster.
She rubbed her face against the pillow repeatedly, but her
heart showed no signs of calming down anytime soon.
(That’s right… Izuki wants to get closer to me…)
It wasn’t just her imagination. Izuki had said it himself, plain as
day.
His earnest feelings had reached her, loud and clear.
“~~~ !”
A wordless sound escaped her lips.
Clutching the pillow tightly, Hinako rolled back and forth
across the bed.
(I’m so happy… so happy, so happy, so happy…!)
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She felt an inexplicable urge to shout at the top of her lungs.
Warmth overflowed from her chest, swirling through her body,
searching for an outlet.
(But… ughhh! I wanted to work hard for Izuki’s sake too…!)
A complicated feeling, distinct from her joy, began to bubble
up.
Honestly, she hadn’t expected her proposal to be rejected.
She didn’t mean to underestimate Izuki, but in this situation, he
was undeniably at a massive disadvantage. SIS was a company
dozens of times larger than Tomonari Gifts. Facing them head-
on, finding a way to come out unscathed wasn’t something you
could just stumble upon.
That’s why she’d suggested what she thought was the best
course of action.
She’d come up with a plan, believing it would make Izuki
happy.
(I even kept a board position open for him, just in case he’d
join…!)
She’d secretly hoped they could enjoy the game together.
At the academy or the mansion, side by side, diving into the
management game with passion—she’d pictured that scene,
her heart racing with excitement as she made her proposal.
But… Izuki’s words about wanting to be her equal had thrilled
her, and the way he’d said it was undeniably cool.
(…So cool.)
Her heart was already overflowing.
Maybe this was fine, then.

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Things hadn’t gone as planned, but she was probably happier
than she’d ever expected to be.
If there was one lingering regret, it was that she still didn’t
know what Izuki planned to do next. He’d said he’d handle it
himself, but it wouldn’t be that easy.
(Maybe I could pull some strings behind the scenes…)
She considered secretly supporting Izuki without him noticing.
But… after he’d asked her to trust him, scheming behind his
back didn’t sit right with her.
“Ughhh…”
She was thrilled that Izuki had said what he did.
But… was it okay to leave things like this? That question
swirled in her mind.
Just then, a knock came at the door.
“Ojou-sama, are you really alright?”
“…I’m fine. You can come in.”
Recognizing Shizune’s voice, she gave permission to enter.
Shizune approached and gently placed a hand on Hinako’s
forehead.
“…No issues, it seems.”
Confirming there was no fever, Shizune let out a relieved sigh.
“See? I told you I was fine.”
“Still, your face is awfully red.”
“Th-that’s… it’s nothing.”
Embarrassed, Hinako turned her face away.
“Did Izuki-san enjoy the tea?”
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“Yeah, he said it was even better than before… hehe.”
That had been another thing that made her happy.
Hearing Hinako’s words, Shizune smiled as if it were her own
accomplishment.
“Your efforts paid off.”
“It’s thanks to you teaching me so carefully, Shizune. …Thank
you.”
Despite her busy schedule, Shizune had patiently guided her
through the art of brewing tea until the very end.
Looking straight at Shizune, Hinako expressed her gratitude.
Shizune, placing a hand on her forehead, gazed upward
dramatically…
“…I’m glad to be alive.”
She was genuinely, deeply moved.
Hinako hadn’t meant to thank her that grandly, but she decided
to make a habit of expressing her gratitude more often.
“But I bet Izuki looks forward to the tea you brew too, Shizune.
So next time, you should make it for him instead of me.”
“That’s fine by me, but… are you sure?”
“Yeah. It feels a bit unfair if I’m the only one getting to be
happy.”
She didn’t want to do anything that would steal Izuki’s
happiness.
At the end of summer break, that worry had grown so much
that she’d been bedridden for a while. Had she taken something
precious from Izuki’s everyday life? She never wanted to feel
that anxiety again. Even if Izuki said it was fine, she knew she
had to be mindful.
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“…Understood.”
Shizune nodded.
“Did Izuki-san seem troubled by the acquisition issue?”
“He was. But he said he wants to handle it himself.”
“I see. …Well, in light of his determination, I’ll refrain from
giving him a hard time this time. Truthfully, it’s less about
Izuki-san’s shortcomings and more about the other side being
unexpectedly aggressive.”
“Yeah… Izuki’s been studying hard. He even knew about things
like white knights.”
Hinako agreed that Izuki wasn’t at fault.
Knowing about third-party allotments and white knights meant
Izuki had been diligently studying M&A and stocks on his own.
The breadth of his knowledge was too vast to have been picked
up just since Suminoe Chika’s hostile takeover began.
“Speaking of which, I heard from the other maids that when the
management game first started, Izuki-san was doing something
with Takuma-sama in the office.”
“Izuki… with that guy?”
An image of her brother’s sly, mischievous grin flashed in
Hinako’s mind.
“Takuma-sama said he was ‘helping with work,’ but he might
have been giving Izuki-san advice on the game. …Knowing him,
I hope there’s no ulterior motive.”
Having been toyed with by Takuma before, Shizune couldn’t
easily trust him.
Hinako felt a twinge of suspicion too.
“…Shizune.”
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“Yes?”
She wanted as little contact with her brother as possible.
But if Izuki was at risk of falling into Takuma’s clutches, she’d
cast aside her personal feelings without hesitation.
“Call him.”
Shizune nodded, pulling her smartphone from her pocket.
Hinako took the phone, the dial tone ringing in her ear.
At the same time, she pressed the enter key on her computer.
“I just sent some data to the tablet. Show it to Izuki. …I think
helping this much should be okay.”
“Understood. …Will it be alright if I’m not here?”
“Yeah. …It’s just a sibling conversation.”
Not that they were anything like a typical sibling pair.
Shizune looked worried but ultimately chose to trust Hinako,
bowing respectfully before leaving the room.
“Shizune?”
Her brother’s voice came through the smartphone.
“…It’s me.”
“Hinako, huh? Rare for you to call. What’s up?”
His tone was as carefree as ever.
She could never read what he was thinking, yet he always
seemed to see right through her. It was infuriatingly unfair and
hard to deal with.
“What are you planning with Izuki?”
Hinako cut straight to the point.

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“I know you’ve been putting ideas in his head. …What are you
trying to do with him?”
“Hmm, who knows? That’s up to Izuki-kun.”
His vague response made Hinako purse her lips tightly.
…So annoying.
As if sensing her irritation, Takuma chuckled with amusement.
“No need to worry. I just want to give his talents a little push.”
“Talents…?”
Hinako echoed, and her brother continued.
“He’s—kind of like me.”
◆
Some time after Hinako left my room.
While I was brainstorming countermeasures for Suminoe-san’s
acquisition, there was another knock at my door.
“Good work today.”
“Shizune-san? What’s up?”
“Earlier, Ojou-sama was acting a bit strange, so I came to
investigate the cause.”
“Huh?”
Acting strange…?
Does that mean I really did upset Hinako?
“Just kidding. Well, she was acting odd, but it doesn’t seem to
be anything bad, so no worries.”
“I-I see…”

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If Shizune-san says it’s fine, then I guess there’s no need to
worry.
“Ojou-sama wanted me to give this to you, Izuki-san.”
With that, Shizune-san handed me a tablet.
“This is…”
“It’s information Ojou-sama has gathered on various
companies. It’s more detailed than what’s publicly available.
…She said helping this much should be okay.”
“…Thank you.”
“Please save your thanks for Ojou-sama later.”
Of course, I planned to do just that.
This level of help didn’t feel like charity. Even if it wasn’t
Hinako, anyone from the Tea Party Alliance would offer this
much support without hesitation. I’d do the same.
Grateful for Hinako’s thoughtfulness, I looked at the tablet’s
data.
“What are you working on now?”
“I was looking for companies that could help with the
acquisition countermeasures. So this information is exactly
what I needed.”
I answered while skimming through the documents on the
tablet.
There were countless company profiles—far more than ten or
a hundred. It was clear Hinako’s success in the game wasn’t
due to luck or her family’s status. This kind of diligent effort
was the real reason.
“…Companies are kind of interesting, aren’t they?”
I said, reading the files and jotting down notes with one hand.
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“Corporate philosophies, investor reports… when you dig into
them from different angles, you start to see the company’s true
nature. …You can almost glimpse the kind of leader running
things behind it all.”
There’s no need to be intimidated by the word “company.”
In the end, companies and services are created by people.
Behind the cold data, there’s always a human with emotions.
“Looking at the data, I can vaguely picture the other person’s
face or their thoughts… then all that’s left is to check if we’d get
along.”
And with that—negotiations tend to go smoothly.
I’d felt the same way when I read Takuma-san’s email or when
I found Tennouji-san’s business partner. The hidden intentions
behind the data gradually become clearer.
“Izuki-san, that’s…”
For some reason, Shizune-san, standing beside me, had a grave
expression.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing major, but…”
Shizune-san hesitated, as if struggling to find the words.
“It’s just… you sound an awful lot like Takuma-sama.”
◇
On the other end of the smartphone, Takuma began speaking
with evident enjoyment.
“You know about my talent, right? My emotional intelligence—
my EQ—is abnormally high. I can just sense what someone’s
thinking.”
That much she knew.
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They were family, after all. She’d heard about her brother’s
abilities plenty of times.
“In other words… you’re a mind-reading weirdo.”
“Ouch, that’s harsh. And here I thought they called me a
genius.”
Despite his words, he didn’t sound the least bit bothered.
“One day, I asked Izuki-kun to help sort some documents. And
in a split second, he spotted a lie in them. He said, ‘This doesn’t
feel genuine, does it?’”
That must be what Shizune mentioned earlier. When the
management game started, the two had been working together
in the office. It seemed Takuma had sensed something in Izuki
then.
“He can instinctively tell if data is true or false.”
Takuma stated simply.
“More precisely, he can sense hidden intentions. If he sees
manipulated information, he doesn’t need logic—he just knows
it’s off. And even if the data itself is flawed, he can tell if the
person behind it is trustworthy.”
Takuma explained calmly, but it wasn’t something Hinako
could easily accept.
So… Izuki had the same talent as this guy?
“…One occult freak like you is more than enough.”
“It’s not occult to us.”
Hinako furrowed her brow.
Us. She hated that word. It felt like he was already claiming
Izuki as one of them.

Page | 213
“For example, when a classmate invites you to a tea party, how
do you tell if it’s just polite small talk or genuine?”
“I just… kind of know.”
“Exactly. You just know. It sounds vague, but strangely, those
instincts are often spot-on.”
Takuma continued.
“For us, that instinctive range is much wider. Just like you can
tell if an invitation is sincere, we can judge whether the
information in front of us is true or false.”
Hinako knew about Takuma’s talent, but this was the first time
he’d explained it in such detail.
It sounded logical… or at least, it seemed to. But that could just
be Takuma’s silver tongue at work. She was afraid to buy into it
too easily.
Hinako knew better. Konohana Takuma’s talent wasn’t
something you could sum up as “sharp intuition.”
He could offer exactly what someone wanted, play the
personality they liked, and even bring up topics they’d rather
avoid to steer negotiations in his favor. That’s how Takuma had
earned the trust of the Konohana Group’s executives at an
unprecedented speed, securing his position. …If he weren’t so
carefree and playful, he’d have been welcomed as the next head
of the family without question.
“…But Izuki’s never shown signs of anything like that before.”
“True. That’s probably because I was the trigger.”
Takuma responded to her doubt.
“Learning about someone like me… talking with me—it must
have been a good spark for him.”

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Hinako couldn’t deny the possibility.
Takuma was, for better or worse, an extraordinary person—far
from ordinary. Plenty of people had changed their way of life
after being influenced by him. …Even Shizune was one of them.
Maybe Izuki, too, had been inspired by Takuma, awakening his
own talent.
“…So you’re the root of this?”
“Hey, now. It’s not a bad thing. If anything, you should be
calling me his mentor.”
She could hear Takuma’s wry smile through the phone.
“You get it, don’t you, Hinako? This is undeniably a talent for
leadership. Being able to read someone’s true intentions means
you can avoid risks and uncover hidden opportunities.”
Coming from Takuma, who’d risen to power with that very
talent, it carried weight.
“The only downside is he lacks ruthlessness. With this talent,
he could even exploit people’s weaknesses if he wanted. If he
could just master that… he could become me.”
That one sentence reminded Hinako exactly what kind of
person her brother was.
My brother just believes his way of life is the right one, so he’s
merely laying out the path to get there. To him, it’s probably
meant as kindness. But as expected, he hasn’t considered
Izuki’s feelings at all.
“…I don’t need it.”
Hinako thinks of Izuki… of someone precious to her.
Izuki has always watched over her. Even though she’s lazy,
burdened by troublesome things, and lately tossed around by

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all sorts of emotions, Izuki always looks at her with a gentle
smile.
There’s no way that kind face should ever disappear.
“Izuki doesn’t need to be ruthless.”
Hinako said it with a stronger tone than usual.
“In the world of business, ruthlessness is essential. If Izuki-kun
could just cast aside his emotions, he could become a top-tier
executive. He could easily rise to a board member of the
Konohana Group—”
“That’s irrelevant.”
Cutting off her brother’s words, Hinako spoke.
“Izuki won’t become like you. He’s nothing like you, who treats
others as pawns.”
Takuma often uses others to maneuver skillfully for his own
gain.
Hinako knows all too well what happens to those who fall
victim to him.
Some lost their families, others their dreams. At first, they all
followed Takuma with shining eyes, but in the end, the only
one laughing was Takuma.
It’s not that Takuma doesn’t understand people’s feelings—
quite the opposite. He’s sharper than anyone when it comes to
reading others. Which means this man discards their feelings
knowingly.
…Maybe it’s because he can see them that they feel so trivial to
him.
Konohana Takuma always treats others’ feelings lightly.

Page | 216
“Different from me, huh? …Are you that confident you know
Izuki-kun so well, Hinako?”
“I don’t need to know everything to understand.”
Hinako said calmly.
“You don’t have a Tennouji Mirei by your side.”
She recalls that noble, fiercely competitive, and righteous girl.
“You don’t have a Miyakojima Narika by your side.”
She recalls that clumsy, earnest girl who faces herself head-on.
“You don’t have a Hirano Yuri by your side.”
She recalls that warm, meddlesome, and unpretentious girl.
“You don’t have a Taishou Katsuya or an Asahi Karen by your
side.”
“…All of them are his friends, aren’t they?”
“Yes, friends.”
She recalls those two mood-makers who quietly support all
sorts of people.
…For some reason, the ratio of girls feels suspiciously high, and
it bugs her a little, but she pushes it aside for now.
What matters is that Izuki has friends like these.
“You can only build relationships based on mutual gain. That’s
why you’re surrounded by nothing but business partners. …But
Izuki’s different. He’s always worked hard for someone else’s
sake. That’s why he’s surrounded by so many friends.”
And so—
“Izuki’s already living a life different from yours. …No matter
how you try to sway him, it’s pointless. Because Izuki has
plenty of people around him who’ll stop him.”
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Hinako wasn’t the least bit afraid for Izuki’s future.
She was certain he’d be fine. She trusted he’d never become
like this man.
“Hmm, what a waste. He’s got such a knack for business.
…Personally, I’d love for him to become my right-hand man
someday.”
“That’s not happening. Look elsewhere.”
See? In the end, this guy’s only thinking about himself.
“…Well, what you think is your prerogative, Hinako.”
Takuma muttered under his breath.
“Oh, it’s about time for work. Are we done here?”
“Mm.”
She’d figured out her brother’s intentions, so there was nothing
left to say.
This man is looking for a second Konohana Takuma. He wants
to mold someone into a convenient right-hand man.
If Izuki wanted that, she wouldn’t stop him.
But if he doesn’t… then stopping it is her mission.
(…Huh?)
As her thoughts reached that point, Hinako suddenly realized
something.
If Izuki really does have the same talent as her brother…
If Izuki is just as sharp at reading others’ feelings…
Then, has Izuki noticed my feelings…?
“…Hey.”
“Hm?”
Page | 218
Takuma responded with a curious tone to Hinako’s suddenly
meek voice.
“Izuki isn’t, like, reading hearts the way you do… is he?”
“Nah, he’s not that sharp. Seems like he hasn’t even picked up
on your feelings.”
“Wha—!”
Her face froze as her heart was suddenly laid bare.
“W-What are you talking about…?”
“I mean, it’s obvious. Were you seriously trying to hide it?”
“Sh-Sh-Shut up…!!”
Even knowing it was pointless against this guy, she tried to
brush it off.
Her brother laughed gleefully.
“Even we have our blind spots. Izuki-kun seems like the type
who’s clueless about that kind of thing… Probably, he’s just
dense when it comes to himself.”
Yuri, Izuki’s childhood friend, once said something about him.
That Izuki’s a good guy but tends to neglect his own needs in
the process.
When Hinako heard that, it made her heart ache… but right
now, still unprepared, she felt a tiny bit relieved thinking,
Thank goodness.

Page | 219
Chapter 5: Negotiation
The next morning.
Arriving at the academy, I was about to enter the classroom
when Tennouji-san beckoned me over.
“Tennouji-san?”
“Tomonari-san, come with me for a moment.”
She led me to a quiet corner of a stairwell landing and turned to
face me.
“What’s the status on the acquisition matter?”
I’d figured there was a nine-out-of-ten chance that’s what she
wanted to talk about.
It was a delicate topic, and I hesitated over how much to share,
but Tennouji-san was trustworthy as a person, and we were
allies, so it should be fine.
I explained everything step by step: Suminoe-san’s ambition to
dominate the IT industry, her acquisition of Tech Capital to that
end, Hinako’s concern for me and her suggestion of a white
knight, and then—
“…and so, I’ve decided to handle this on my own without
relying on Konohana-san.”
To build my own strength, I deliberately turned down Hinako’s
proposal.
Tennouji-san listened to my explanation with her arms
crossed.
“Well, well… that’s quite the resolve, isn’t it?”
“You’ve got a really big smile there.”
Tennouji-san was grinning like a predator baring its fangs.
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In the end, Suminoe-san and I were set for a head-on
showdown. It was exactly the kind of competitive scenario
Tennouji-san, who loved a good challenge, would relish. Plus,
since she saw Hinako as a rival, my decision to forgo Hinako’s
help probably earned me some points with her.
“You understand, I presume, that this choice is only feasible
because it’s a simulation?”
“…Yes, I’m fully aware.”
If this were all happening in reality, I’d be completely ignoring
the perspectives of the employees working at Tomonari Gifts. I
have a duty to keep them from being cast out onto the streets,
yet I chose a tougher path just to stick to my principles.
In a real-world scenario like this, I’d have had no choice but to
accept Hinako’s protection.
“However, I believe there are lessons that can only be learned
through a simulation. In fact, that’s why I’ve been so aggressive
with M&As myself.”
Corporate acquisitions and mergers cost astronomical sums. In
reality, you couldn’t engage in M&As so frequently, but
Tennouji-san was actively pursuing them for the sake of
learning.
“Tomonari-san, you made a choice not to win but to learn. As
long as you’re aware of that… I respect your decision.”
“Thank you.”
Hearing Tennouji-san say that gave me a surge of confidence.
“So, what’s your plan for the actual strategy?”
“Well…”
As I started to answer, someone approached.

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“—Good day.”
A calm, beautiful voice reached my ears.
“Suminoe-san…”
“Hehe, we’ve been running into each other a lot lately, haven’t
we?”
Suminoe-san flashed a refined smile.
Looking at her now, she didn’t seem the least bit scheming. Her
ability to maintain such a polished facade reminded me of
Hinako in some ways.
Tennouji-san spoke up to this poised Suminoe-san.
“Suminoe-san, as it happens, I’ve formed an alliance with
Tomonari-san here.”
“…Yes, I’m aware.”
Of course she’d know—she was always spying on our tea party
gatherings, after all.
“So let me say one thing. Your methods… they’re like slapping
someone’s face with a wad of cash to make them submit. It’s a
tad forceful, don’t you think?”
“…You’re absolutely right. But I’ve decided that’s the only way
to wake you up, Tennouji-san.”
“Wake me up…?”
Tennouji-san looked puzzled, and Suminoe-san continued.
“Tennouji-san, I have one thing to say to you as well. That man
over there isn’t worthy of you. Tomonari Izuki is nothing but a
person who’ll drag you down. I’ll prove it.”
Suminoe-san glared at me as she spoke.

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She’d apparently decided not to hide her resentment toward
me.
I had plenty I wanted to retort, but the battle lines had already
been drawn. Arguing wouldn’t change our relationship.
So instead… I talked business.
“Suminoe-san, are you familiar with Wedding Needs Co., Ltd.?”
She seemed momentarily surprised that I’d address her in this
tense atmosphere, but she quickly regained her composure.
“Yes, I’m aware of it.”
“Thought so. …Well, I’m planning to meet with their CEO
today.”
At that, Suminoe-san smiled.
“I see. I understand what you’re trying to do. But your chances
are slim. Because I’ve already approached that company
once—”
“—My company is different from yours.”
The reason for refusing an acquisition had always been just
that.
Tomonari Gifts and SIS were fundamentally different in their
essence… just as Suminoe-san and I, as their leaders, had
fundamentally different mindsets.
If that difference sparked this conflict, then it would also be
what settled it.
“I’ll survive this my way.”
The resolution would likely come today.
After school… I had an appointment with a certain someone.
◆
Page | 223
After school, at the academy’s café.
I was seated at a reserved table when I stood to greet a male
student approaching from across the room.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Ikuno from Wedding Needs Co., Ltd.”
“Tomonari Izuki from Tomonari Gifts.”
I exchanged a brief handshake with the boy who introduced
himself as Ikuno and sat down.
This time, I’d devised a plan to escape Suminoe-san’s control.
The key figure in that plan was this classmate of mine.
A waiter handed menus to me and Ikuno.
“What’ll you have, Tomonari-kun?”
“I’ll go with a blend coffee.”
“Then I’ll have the same.”
The waiter nodded and turned away.
“Is this your first time at this café, Ikuno-kun?”
“Yeah. My family’s pretty strict, so I’m usually told to head
straight home after school.”
Ikuno gave a wry smile.
I knew a lot of students were in similar situations.
Ikuno’s family ran Wedding Needs, the leading company in the
bridal industry. Beyond providing wedding venues, their
business spanned hotels, restaurants, and other related
ventures—a diverse portfolio.
With a family business of that scale, parental restrictions were
often tight. It was like how Narika wasn’t even allowed to visit
a candy store back in the day. Hinako and Tennouji-san might

Page | 224
seem free, but they usually had dedicated security trailing them
whenever they went out.
Like other students, Ikuno was managing Wedding Needs, his
family’s company, in the game. Just as in reality, he reigned as
the top player in the bridal industry within the simulation.
“This is my first time talking to you like this, Tomonari-kun, but
I’m actually a bit nervous.”
“Huh? Why’s that?”
I could understand me being nervous, but there was no reason
for Ikuno to feel that way…
“Come on, you’re a member of that Tea Party Alliance, aren’t
you?”
There it was—the Tea Party Alliance.
That topic had been coming up a lot lately… and it felt like it
was being misunderstood.
“Uh… that tea party is really just casual chatting, not some
grand affair like ‘Tea Party Alliance’ makes it sound…”
“What? But I heard rumors that you guys seriously discuss
politics, economics, military strategy, and even the future of
Kiou Academy.”
What kind of rumor was that?
Considering I only transferred here this spring, there’s no way
we’d be having those kinds of talks.
“Some even say you’re pulling the strings behind the scenes,
Tomonari-kun.”
“W-Why would anyone believe such a ridiculous rumor…?”
“Well, there’s also talk that you’re the one who brought that
group together in the first place, so maybe that’s why…”
Page | 225
Come to think of it, what was the reason the six of us started
hanging out? …Oh, right. I kept turning down invites from
Taishou and Asahi-san to hang out, but that felt weird, so I
finally agreed. Then, since it was a good chance, I invited
Tennouji-san, who wanted to get closer to Hinako, and Narika,
who seemed like she wanted friends.
…So, saying I brought them together wasn’t entirely wrong, was
it?
“L-Let’s talk about the game! That’s what we’re here for, after
all!”
“R-Right, yeah.”
That topic felt dangerous, so I steered clear of it.
Just then, our coffees arrived, and we both took a moment to
sip and settle down.
We let out a simultaneous “Phew.”
“The acquisition stuff sounds like a mess, huh?”
Ikuno said, setting his cup on the table.
“You heard about it?”
“Well, fund acquisitions aren’t exactly common.”
Apparently, Suminoe-san’s fund acquisition had reached even
those who weren’t initially paying attention to her or me.
It felt like I was in the spotlight, and I couldn’t help but squirm.
“Suminoe-san’s SIS Co., Ltd. is a major IT firm. For venture IT
companies receiving funding from Tech Capital, having SIS at
the top isn’t necessarily a bad deal…”
“Some might see it that way. But I’ve decided to fight back.”
That’s why I arranged this meeting.

Page | 226
I took a sip of coffee and looked at Ikuno.
It was time to get serious.
“As I mentioned before, I’d like to discuss a capital and business
alliance today.”
I cut to the chase.
Ikuno bowed his head apologetically.
“I’m sorry. I feel bad since you went through the trouble of
setting this up, but… I have no intention of forming a business
alliance.”
Ikuno said, staring at his coffee cup.
“I get similar proposals from IT companies all the time, and I
turn them all down…”
“Suminoe-san was one of them, right?”
“…You knew?”
“Not directly, but I had a hunch.”
I pulled out my laptop and continued.
“I think I can offer something different from Suminoe-san.”
Ikuno’s eyes widened.
“Are you familiar with Tomonari Gifts?”
“Not really. I’ve been so focused on declining alliances that I
haven’t looked into it much…”
“Then take a look at these materials.”
He probably lost interest in researching Tomonari Gifts the
moment he learned it was an IT company. I had a guess about
why.

Page | 227
I displayed Tomonari Gifts’ materials on the screen for Ikuno to
see.
“Tomonari Gifts runs an e-commerce service specializing in
gifts. We deal exclusively in high-quality items that show
proper respect to the recipient. It’s perfect for ceremonial
occasions like weddings or funerals.”
You can’t choose cheap gifts for formal events. In that sense,
our service is a great match.
Analyzing the gift market clearly shows its connection to
ceremonial occasions. Weddings, coming-of-age ceremonies—
gift-giving is customary for these events.
That’s why I was certain Suminoe-san had approached Ikuno.
Her e-commerce business included a ceremonial category, so if
she wanted to grow that sector, partnering with the bridal
industry leader would be a natural move.
Up to that point, my thinking aligned with hers, but—
“What I want to emphasize is that Tomonari Gifts isn’t strictly
tied to online transactions.”
“…What do you mean?”
Ikuno was clearly intrigued.
He probably assumed I’d pitch the same thing as Suminoe-san.
But I was different. Suminoe-san and I had distinct visions.
“Tomonari Gifts’ mission is to promote the beauty and coolness
of casually exchanging gifts. Our main platform is e-commerce,
but we’re open to meeting user needs beyond that. In fact,
we’ve already started a catalog gift business that doesn’t rely
on internet access.”
I showed Ikuno the data on our catalog gift business.

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He studied it with a serious expression.
“What do you think?”
I looked him straight in the eye and asked.
“Our goals are pretty similar, aren’t they?”
I’d hit the mark—Ikuno’s silent surprise confirmed it.
“When I looked into Wedding Needs’ corporate info, it
mentioned plans to advance IT and digital transformation. But I
got the sense that wasn’t your true intention. …Deep down, you
want to stick to traditional methods, right?”
These days, every company is exploring IT to streamline
operations. IT adoption focuses on efficiency, while digital
transformation involves creating new business through digital
tech.
Wedding Needs claimed to be pursuing digital transformation.
But I felt that wasn’t the truth.
Behind the data… Ikuno’s expression seemed clouded.
“…You’re right, Tomonari-kun.”
Ikuno clasped his hands and began to explain.
“To be honest, I’m mostly just following my parents’ orders.
The Management Game is closely watched by the business
world, so my parents don’t fully trust me to handle it… The
digital transformation thing was their decision. But if I’m being
honest, I want to stick to traditional, dignified services. There’s
online weddings and live-streamed ceremonies now, but I’m
against those. The value of memories created through time and
effort—that’s what I want to promote through our services.”
I’d suspected that was Ikuno’s true stance.
That’s why I believed my proposal would resonate with him.
Page | 229
“What we’re after isn’t efficiency but cultural promotion. In
that sense, I think we share a vision. For example, Tomonari
Gifts’ website clearly explains complex etiquette like wrapping
or noshi. We could include wedding-related info there too.”
Of course, Tomonari Gifts’ e-commerce service is compatible
with ceremonial occasions, as I mentioned earlier.
But more than that, I’m offering Ikuno a platform to promote
the marriage values he cherishes. Fortunately, the groundwork
for that is already in place.
“Please, won’t you partner with my company? With Wedding
Needs’ cooperation, we can significantly enhance our
ceremonial services.”
In return, I’d gain a shield against Suminoe-san’s acquisition
and a chance to improve our ceremonial offerings.
Ikuno considered my proposal for a moment before
responding.
“…At first, I was going to turn you down.”
He spoke with a hint of resignation.
“Since I’m not interested in digital transformation, I’ve been
skeptical of partnering with IT companies. Suminoe-san
approached me with a digital transformation-focused alliance,
so I declined before my parents could find out. …To be honest,
with me just following my parents’ orders, I wasn’t all that
motivated for the game.”
He looked at me.
His eyes were far more lively than when we’d started talking.
“But you saw through to my true feelings, Tomonari-kun, and
that made me happy. …This Management Game is a rare
opportunity. I think I’ll use it to pursue what I want.”

Page | 230
Ikuno bowed his head.
“I accept the capital and business alliance. Please let me invest
in your company.”
“Thank you so much.”
I bowed even deeper than he did.
As I sighed in relief internally, Ikuno looked at me curiously.
“But… how did you know what I wanted?”
The digital transformation plan wasn’t his own. He was asking
how I’d seen through it.
It was a natural question, but I didn’t know how to put the
answer into words.
It was a feeling—a gut instinct.
So…
“…Just a hunch.”
I gave a wry smile and left it at that.

Page | 231
Epilogue
Some time later, news broke that Tomonari Gifts Co., Ltd. had
successfully completed a third-party allotment of new shares.
The subscribers were Wedding Needs Co., Ltd. and a reliable
major player in the bridal industry that Ikuno introduced to us
later—a total of two companies.
Thanks to this, Tomonari Gifts managed to fend off SIS’s
aggressive advances. The two companies that took on the new
shares promised not to sell their stakes, ensuring that
Suminoe-san’s control over Tomonari Gifts’ management
wouldn’t grow any further. While their promise not to sell isn’t
absolutely ironclad, breaking it would harm Tomonari Gifts,
which would, in turn, disadvantage Wedding Needs due to our
business partnership. For now, at least, there shouldn’t be any
issues.
When I arrived at the Academy, I spotted Suminoe-san.
Suminoe-san was drawing stares from the students around
her… and so was I. The impact of the Management Game on
reality is impossible to overstate.
The takeover drama between me and Suminoe-san was
probably the biggest incident in this round of the Management
Game. Even Ikuno, whom I’d just met, knew about it, and
everyone likely knew how it ended, too.
“Suminoe-san.”
I called out to her as she headed toward the classroom.
“Oh, Tomonari-san. Come to hurl insults at me, have you?”
“No way, nothing like that.”

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The days of us glaring daggers at each other are over. I don’t
want to do that anymore… No, even if this mess hadn’t been
resolved, I wouldn’t be slinging insults.
Sure, Suminoe-san and I were rivals, but I didn’t hold any ill
feelings toward her.
“If you’re aiming to be the industry’s top dog, I get that
sometimes you need to play hardball. Buying out a fund? That’s
not something I’d have ever thought of… I learned a lot from
you this time, Suminoe-san.”
“…You’re way too nice, you know that?”
Suminoe-san let out a small sigh.
“I’m done collecting Tomonari Gifts’ shares. A takeover seems
too tough, and I’ve decided it’s not worth sinking more funds
into.”
“…I see.”
That’s a relief.
Any further fighting would’ve definitely turned into a
quagmire. While we’re busy dragging each other down,
competitors could swoop in and eat our lunch. I’m grateful she
decided this was the time to call it quits.
“Suminoe-san, how about joining me for tea after school
today?”
“Huh?”
Suminoe-san looked utterly baffled by my suggestion.
“Now that this is settled, I’d love to build a friendly relationship
going forward.”
“…I see.”

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Suminoe-san nodded, as if she’d grasped my intentions, but
then—
“But you’re planning to start a corporate gift delivery service,
right?”
“I’m not backing down on that.”
When it comes to the corporate gift delivery market, I’m
confident Tomonari Gifts will come out on top.
With our partnership with Wedding Needs as a springboard,
Tomonari Gifts plans to dive deeper into handling gifts for
ceremonial occasions. Having Wedding Needs as a proven
partner opens doors not just in the bridal industry but in other
sectors, too.
I want to make Tomonari Gifts an even bigger company.
That’s why I have no intention of slowing down now.
“…I’ll join the tea party. After all, the loser has to swallow the
winner’s demands.”
“It’s not exactly about winning or losing…”
“From every angle, this is your victory.”
Suminoe-san gave a faint smile.
Well, if she’s not hung up on it, I guess that’s fine.
“Then let’s meet at the café after school.”
“Got it.”
“By the way, I’ve invited Tennouji-san, too.”
“…I just remembered some urgent business, so I’ll have to pass
today.”
“It’ll be fine, come on. Let’s go together.”
“N-no way… I’ll die of nerves…!”
Page | 234
Suminoe-san’s face suddenly went pale.
“Didn’t you talk to her just fine before?”
“That was all bravado!”
“You don’t have to put it so bluntly…”
Honestly, she completely transforms when it comes to
Tennouji-san…
Suminoe-san grabbed my clothes with a desperate look, but
then, as if something dawned on her, she lowered her gaze and
fell deep in thought.
“…No, I’ll go.”
Suminoe-san said in a small voice.
“I need to apologize to Tennouji-sama.”
◆
After school.
As Suminoe-san and I were ordering drinks at our usual café,
Tennouji-san approached the table.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“No, we just got here ourselves.”
Tennouji-san promptly ordered a tea.
—Truth be told, I was supposed to meet with everyone from
the Tea Party Alliance today.
But since I wanted to talk things over with Suminoe-san, I
prioritized this instead. Tennouji-san seemed to sense our
intentions and had already given her approval.
A short while later, drinks for the three of us arrived.
Tennouji-san lifted her teacup to her lips.
Page | 235
“The tea here is quite nice, isn’t it?”
Muttering to herself, Tennouji-san caught Suminoe-san’s eye,
who cautiously spoke up.
“…Um.”
Suminoe-san glanced at me and Tennouji-san.
“I take back what I said before. It was wrong of me to say
Tomonari-san corrupted Tennouji-san.”
Suminoe-san bowed deeply. Tennouji-san looked at her
directly and said,
“I accept your apology.”
Tennouji-san forgave her.
For Suminoe-san, this apology was about closure. The
Management Game is designed to include competition between
students, so no one would fault Tomonari Gifts and SIS for
clashing. But Suminoe-san had brought just a hint of personal
conflict into it, stepping slightly beyond the game’s boundaries.
She couldn’t truly move on until she addressed this.
That’s why Suminoe-san apologized—to make amends with
everyone properly.
“I’m not angry anymore… But purely out of curiosity, Suminoe-
san, why did you think I’d been corrupted by Tomonari-san?”
“Well…”
Suminoe-san’s face twisted, clearly struggling to answer.
But if she didn’t explain, the lingering tension would never fully
dissolve. So, I spoke up on her behalf.
“Suminoe-san really admires you, Tennouji-san.”
“Wha—?!”
Page | 236
Suminoe-san shot me a horrified look, her face paling.
I’m not done yet, so I’d appreciate it if you’d listen quietly.
“That’s why she was thrown off by the changes in you. I think,
in her own way, Suminoe-san was worried about you.”
I wasn’t about to go so far as to say Suminoe-san adores
Tennouji-san to death. What I said should be enough to get the
point across.
Tennouji-san nodded deeply, as if everything clicked into place,
and said,
“Suminoe-san, my grades have actually been improving a lot
lately.”
Suminoe-san’s eyes widened at Tennouji-san’s update.
“I used to be relentlessly stoic, as everyone could see, but I
must’ve been carrying stress without realizing it. I’m only
human, after all. I thought I could endure any hardship for my
goals, but it seems I was wrong.”
It’s true—Tennouji-san used to be incredibly stoic.
And she was the type to bottle up her stress without ever
letting anyone see it.
“I’ll spare you the details, but thanks to Tomonari-san, I’ve
found a lot more balance in my life. As a result, I’ve been able to
face my weaknesses and work freely without feeling weighed
down. To me, Tomonari-san is nothing less than a benefactor.”
She’s probably talking about when I stopped her from going
through with that arranged marriage.
Being called a benefactor is a bit embarrassing, but looking
back, I’m glad I stepped in. If that engagement had gone
through, Tennouji-san would’ve left Kiou Academy, and by
now, she’d be gone from our lives.
Page | 237
“Also, Suminoe-san, you may not know this, but through this
Management Game, I’ve decided to aim for the student council.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. So I haven’t lost my ambition, not at all.”
Tennouji-san may have changed, but she hasn’t gone soft.
I know that better than anyone.
“By the way, Tomonari-san’s aiming for it, too.”
“Huh…?”
“He’s quite the ambitious guy, don’t you think?”
Suminoe-san stared at me intently.
I gave an awkward smile.
“I know it’s a stretch, but like Tennouji-san said, I’m aiming for
the student council, too.”
Even now, saying it out loud makes my heart race—it’s a
daunting goal.
But I can’t take back what I’ve said. At the end of summer
break, talking with my old classmates gave me unshakable
resolve. I’m past the point of chickening out.
“A stretch… I might’ve agreed with that before, but not
anymore.”
Suminoe-san said with a serious expression.
“Look around you.”
Around me?
I wasn’t sure what she meant, but I followed her advice and
glanced around.

Page | 238
Ever since the Management Game started, the café has been
livelier than ever. Everyone’s probably craving a calm place to
talk.
The students gathered here were sneaking glances at us.
It makes sense that Tennouji-san, the heiress of the Tennouji
Group, or Suminoe-san, the daughter of a major IT company,
would draw attention. But unless I’m being conceited, it feels
like I’m the one they’re looking at the most.
“This takeover drama got the whole Academy’s attention.
That’s why you, the victor, are now recognized as a force to be
reckoned with across the Academy. You’re seen as a brilliant
strategist who fended off a challenge from a vastly superior
company.”
So that’s how people see me…
It’s a little awkward, but this time, the joy outweighs the
discomfort.
For me, who’s always wanted to be someone worthy of
standing beside Hinako and the others, that kind of recognition
is exactly what I’ve been chasing.
…The way they’re looking at me feels different now.
This isn’t just my imagination—I’m sure of it. I’m being
respected.
Not just as an equal, but as someone above them.
“…!”
Overwhelmed with emotion, I clenched my fist under the table.
“Is something wrong, Tomonari-san?”
“No… I’m just happy to be recognized like that.”
“You’re only realizing it now?”
Page | 239
Suminoe-san gave a wry smile.
“I get why Tennouji-san sticks with you. You two push each
other to grow just by being side by side.”
“Exactly!”
Tennouji-san said, sounding almost proud.
Seeing her like that, Suminoe-san…
“…I’m jealous.”
She murmured in a voice so soft it could’ve been swept away
by the wind.
But Tennouji-san didn’t miss it.
“Oh, I think you and I could have the same kind of relationship.”
“Huh…?”
“This takeover drama, putting our positions aside, was
honestly really fun. My eye for people never fails me.”
Tennouji-san said with a smug “hmph.”
“The Management Game is only at its halfway point. If you’re
up for it, why not come at me with everything you’ve got?”
“T-that’s too much… I couldn’t possibly…”
“Ugh, you’re so hard to get through to.”
Tennouji-san smiled gently.
“What I’m saying is, I want to grow alongside you, too.”
“—!”
Suminoe-san froze, mouth agape, clearly not expecting to hear
that.
Seeing her reaction, Tennouji-san stood up with a satisfied
look.
Page | 240
“Well, I should get going. You two have inspired me, and I’ve
got a ton of meetings lined up today.”
With that, Tennouji-san left the café.
At the same time, my smartphone buzzed in my pocket.
I gave a quick nod to the still-frozen Suminoe-san before
answering the call.
“Hey, good work today, Itsuki-san.”
“Shizune-san… what’s up?”
“I was wondering when you’d be heading home today.”
Oh, right, I hadn’t told her my plans yet.
What should I do? My business here is done, but…
“Itsuki… today’s a celebration.”
Hinako’s voice came through.
She must be with Shizune-san.
“A celebration?”
“Yup… Your victory party.”
Oh, that’s what this is.
If they went through the trouble of planning something like
that, I should head home.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“Understood. I’ll have the car wait nearby and send it to the
Academy.”
As expected of Shizune-san—always on top of things.
The call ended, and I stood up, grabbing my bag.
“Well, Suminoe-san, I’ll be heading out now.”
Page | 241
I meant to give a quick goodbye and leave, but…
“…Suminoe-san?”
No response.
She’s been quiet for a while now—is something wrong?
I leaned in to check her face…
“Sh-she’s… dead…?!”
“…I’m not dead.”
Suminoe-san, who looked completely burned out, replied in a
frail voice.
Being acknowledged by Tennouji-san must’ve thrilled her so
much that her mental stamina was pushed to its absolute limit
in every sense.
“…In the end, you never once blamed me.”
Suminoe-san said, her eyes slightly lowered.
“I understand now why people are drawn to you. You’re so
honest and hardworking that everyone can’t help but root for
you.”
She spoke with a refreshing air, almost like she was declaring
defeat.
If that’s the case, I can’t just nod along.
“I think the same could be said about you, Suminoe-san.”
Her eyes widened, and I continued.
“When you made your move to take us over, I looked into SIS
Co., Ltd. I noticed your company’s performance has been
skyrocketing… It showed me how hard you’ve been working.
Knowing that, I couldn’t bring myself to hold a grudge. If
anything, it lit a fire under me.”
Page | 242
It might be hindsight talking, but the truth is, Suminoe-san’s
challenge pushed me to take business management more
seriously.
Of course, the fear of my company being taken over was real.
But more than that, seeing the traces of Suminoe-san’s efforts
made me want to step up my game, too.
“To achieve results like that, it takes more than just a burst of
effort. You’ve been studying management diligently, haven’t
you?”
“Well, I mean…”
Acquiring a fund isn’t something you can do without serious
financial leeway. Suminoe-san’s skill in creating that leeway
deserves nothing but praise.
Tennouji-san mentioned last year that she saw Suminoe-san’s
potential and reached out to her. Thinking about it, Suminoe-
san must’ve been working hard even back then. She might’ve
been born with talent, but even Hinako, as reluctant as she is,
studies every day. There’s no way Suminoe-san, who can keep
up with Hinako’s grades at the Academy, would slack off. She
once said she was living aimlessly back then, but even so, she
did what needed to be done.
Someone who’s honest, hardworking, and inspires others to
cheer for them…
That’s Suminoe-san.
“I understand now why Tennouji-san reached out to you a year
ago. You’re a hard worker, Suminoe-san.”
Thanks to you, I think I’ve been positively influenced, too.
Hearing my feelings, Suminoe-san…
“…Suminoe-san?”

Page | 243
She stopped responding again.
But this time, she wasn’t burned out. Her face was bright red,
all the way to her ears—
“I-I…! I won’t let you charm me…!”
I have no intention of charming anyone, but…
Seeing Suminoe-san declare that with a beet-red face, all I
could do was give a wry smile.

Page | 244
Page | 245
Afterword
This is Yuusaku Sakaishi.
Thank you so much for picking up Volume 6.
I know there are quite a few people who start with the
afterword, so let me just say this loud and clear—this time, I
really went all out! I did a ton of research and poured my heart
into writing this! Honestly, this isn’t the kind of stuff a science
major should be tackling!
Anyway, I worked my butt off, so I’d be thrilled if you’d give it a
read…
As expected, there’s a lot to talk about in this afterword, so my
pen’s already itching to go. For the first time in a while, I’m
genuinely excited to write this afterword, so let’s dive in!
● About the Management Game Arc
Volume 6 has a slightly different flavor compared to the
previous Rich Girl Caretaker volumes, and there’s a reason for
that.
I’m sure some of you have vaguely felt this, but by the time we
hit Volume 4, it kind of felt like the series had “completed a
lap,” so to speak. The arcs for Hinako, Tennouji-san, Narika, and
Yuri were wrapped up, and then Volume 5 explored the
changes in Izuki and Hinako’s dynamic.
When it came to planning the story for Volume 6 and beyond, I
found myself at a crossroads. The conventional route would’ve
been to start a second lap, but there was something about this
series that had been nagging at me for a while. While Rich Girl
Caretaker doesn’t exactly ride the wave of mainstream, trendy
worldbuilding, the story itself has leaned fairly close to classic
rom-com tropes.

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You could argue that strikes a nice balance, but at the same
time, I couldn’t shake the question: “Doesn’t that mean we’re
not fully utilizing the world we’ve built?” I started to wonder if
there was a kind of rom-com that only Rich Girl Caretaker could
pull off.
That soul-searching led to the birth of the Management Game
Arc.
The characters in this series are all destined to take the helm of
major companies in the future. Hinako, Tennouji-san, Narika,
Yuri, Izuki, Asahi-san, Taishou… What kind of leaders will they
become? How will they run their companies? Answering those
questions is one of the core goals of the Management Game Arc.
Blending business with rom-com is a bit of an unusual genre,
but when you think about it, Rich Girl Caretaker has always had
that vibe from the start. If anything, it’s precisely because of the
groundwork laid in previous volumes that I was able to write a
story like this.
It’s like all the little foreshadowing crumbs I’d scattered—some
of which even I, the author, didn’t fully notice—piled up on
their own and exploded into this arc. That’s how the
Management Game Arc feels to me.
Of course, I made a conscious effort not to stray too far from
what makes Rich Girl Caretaker special. My editor was super
strict about that, too, so I think we managed to pull it off as a
team. That’s why, while the Management Game Arc brings
something fresh, I believe it’ll still hit home for fans who’ve
loved the series from the beginning.
If I’d tried tackling this concept back in Volume 1, it probably
would’ve been way too intense—like, borderline self-indulgent
levels of business talk. Thankfully, the foundation of Rich Girl
Caretaker kept me in check. So, thank you, Rich Girl Caretaker…

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It was a bold move, no doubt, but I hope you enjoy it.
I’ll be working hard on the second half in Volume 7, too.
● About the Companies Everyone’s Running
By the way, in Volume 6, we finally revealed the name of the
sports equipment manufacturer tied to Narika’s family. Some of
you might’ve pieced it together from Karen or Katsuya’s family
businesses, but almost every company in this series is loosely
based on a real-world counterpart. The Konohana Group, the
Tennouji Group, even Suminoe-san’s SIS—they all have models.
That said, I’m careful not to let the real-world inspirations
dictate everything, so I don’t stick too closely to their numbers
or specifics.
The one exception is Izuki’s company, which doesn’t have a
direct model. That said, there are plenty of similar companies
out there in reality. Izuki’s focus on the gift market—a pretty
niche sector—might seem out there, but it’s actually a market
that saw a bit of a boom during the pandemic. If this piques
your interest, it could be fun to look into!
● About Company Names
In the main story, Izuki’s company name was so slapdash that
Karen and the others couldn’t help but poke fun at it.
As I mentioned earlier, most of the companies in the story are
inspired by real ones, so their names sometimes reflect that.
But I’m not super rigid about it and play things by ear.
One real-world company name that really blew me away was
Bridgestone. Apparently, it comes from the founder,
Mr. Ishibashi—literally “Stone Bridge.” When they were eyeing
overseas expansion, they flipped it to “Stone-Bridge” for better
appeal, but that still didn’t sound quite right. So, they reversed
it entirely, and that’s how they landed on the sleek name we
know today. Talk about genius!
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Total tangent, but back when I was in the tennis club, I was
obsessed with Bridgestone rackets. They had this cool,
sophisticated vibe… even if they were ridiculously heavy…
[Acknowledgments]
I owe a huge debt of gratitude to everyone who helped bring
this book to life. Seriously, thank you all so much. To my editor,
I’m sorry for suddenly throwing such a bold curveball at you in
Volume 6, when things were starting to settle down. Thank you
for giving me the green light regardless. To Sakura Miwabe-
sensei, thank you for once again making the heroines so
captivating. The new character, Suminoe-san, is so refined and
adorable. And that bunny-girl Tennouji-san tapestry?
Absolutely stunning—I’m in awe.
Finally, to all the readers who picked up this book, my deepest,
heartfelt thanks.

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E-book Exclusive Short Story: The Ojou-
sama and the Internet Environment
About a week had passed since the Management Game began.
In the middle of our usual tea party, I casually voiced a
question that had been on my mind.
“Come to think of it, everyone uses computers pretty naturally,
don’t they?”
“That’s only natural.”
Tennouji-san set her cup down on the table and answered.
“In today’s world, computers are essential for work. We’ve
been studying how to use them since we were young.”
“If anything, we even had classes on that in our first year, didn’t
we?”
Asahi-san said with a cheerful laugh.
Those classes must be the kind that teach you how to use a
computer. My old high school had them too.
It’s true that most jobs these days require computer skills, so
it’s not surprising that everyone here has studied them.
But that wasn’t exactly what I meant…
“Even so, isn’t there a bit of a… bias in your knowledge?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, like how you don’t know much about commoner
culture…”
Things like the three-second rule or borrowing something and
never giving it back… Sure, those might be niche bits of

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knowledge, but there should’ve been plenty of chances to learn
about things like arcades or shopping streets.
Especially for someone like Tennouji-san, once she gets curious
about something, she’d probably look it up right away.
“…Now that you mention it, you’re right.”
Tennouji-san’s face took on a puzzled expression.
Next to her, Hinako tilted her head in confusion too.
“Why is that, I wonder?”
◆
“Because they use filtering.”
Back at the mansion, I asked Shizune-san about the question I’d
raised at the tea party.
She gave me a clear, straightforward answer.
“The upper class has a lot of… doting parents, shall we say—
pardon me, overprotective ones. To shield their wealthy sons
and daughters, they subscribe to special filtering services.”
At this point, you might as well just call them doting parents.
I can understand filtering for elementary school kids, but for
second-year high schoolers? That feels like overkill…
“Not knowing certain things can add to their air of refinement,
you see.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Well, when you saw these Ojou-samas who didn’t know about
commoner culture, what did you think? Didn’t you feel like…
this is the real deal?”
“…You’re right.”

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When I saw Hinako and the others clueless about commoner
culture, I wasn’t just exasperated—I felt something closer to
awe, like I’d come full circle. It was almost thrilling to realize
that a true, sheltered Ojou-sama, the kind you only hear about
in stories, was standing right in front of me.
In other words, this must be the kind of Ojou-sama image that’s
in demand.
The filtering, it seems, is partly to preserve that image.
“It’s not something for the general public, but if you look it up,
it’s easy enough to find. …Here it is.”
Shizune-san showed me the screen of her tablet.
“Celeb Filter… That’s, uh, pretty on-the-nose.”
Seeing the name of the filtering service, I couldn’t help but
make a wry face.
“Does Hinako use this service too?”
“She did when she was younger, but it’s been canceled now.”
“Why’d they cancel it?”
“Because when it comes to our Ojou-sama, if she has time to
look up unnecessary things on the computer, she’d rather
sleep.”
That I could believe with every fiber of my being.
“But lately, our Ojou-sama has been changing, so it might be
wise to keep an eye on her.”
“Yeah, you’re right… Hinako’s been getting into shoujo manga
lately, so she might even say she wants to buy some online.”
“Shoujo manga? She can buy as much of that as she wants…”
“No, I don’t know much about it myself, but I hear some shoujo
manga these days can get pretty intense. The ones Hinako’s
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reading now are borrowed from Yuri, so she’s probably filtered
out the spicier stuff, but…”
Am I starting to think like an overprotective parent myself?
Still, Hinako’s got that pure, almost naive personality—she’s a
greenhouse flower through and through. If she stumbled across
some overly stimulating content and got overwhelmed, it’d be a
disaster.
“Just to be safe, I keep an eye on Ojou-sama’s browsing history,
so I can step in and prevent anything before it becomes an
issue.”
“Is that… okay? Browsing history feels like a pretty private
thing…”
“It’s under Kagen-sama’s orders, and Ojou-sama has been
informed in advance.”
Well, if she knows about it… I guess it’s fine.
“…Oh?”
Suddenly, Shizune-san glanced at her tablet and furrowed her
brow.
“…This won’t do.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Ojou-sama is looking at an inappropriate website.”
“What?!”
◆
While Izuki and Shizune were discussing the Ojou-sama’s
internet environment, Hinako was in her room, working on the
Management Game.
(Phew… I’m done with today’s tasks. Time for a break…)

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As she looked away from the monitor, her eyes landed on a
shoujo manga sitting at the edge of her desk. It was borrowed
from Izuki’s childhood friend, Yuri, and for Hinako, it was
nothing less than a textbook on romance.
She’d already read all the volumes she’d borrowed. Yuri had
promised to bring the next ones when they met again, but
honestly, Hinako couldn’t wait that long. She needed to know
what happened next now.
“…That’s it! If I look online, maybe I can find out what
happens!”
Using the internet for personal reasons was a first for her.
Hinako quickly typed the title of the shoujo manga into the
search bar.
She managed to find the official page for the manga, but…
“…What’s this? An ad…?”
An ad-like banner appeared in the corner of the screen, and out
of curiosity, she clicked it.
The next moment, the screen filled with a vivid pink
illustration.
“Huh? Huh? Huuuh…!?”
It was an ad for a particularly risqué shoujo manga.
“W-W-W-What is this… What is this…!?”
Overwhelmed by a sensation she’d never felt before, Hinako’s
face flushed red as she floundered in confusion.
At the bottom of the page, a bold, explicit scene was displayed
in all its glory…
“Ojou-sama!”
“Hinako!”
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Shizune and Izuki burst into Hinako’s room in a panic.
But Hinako,
“Ugh… ugh…”
Was so overwhelmed that she’d completely fainted from the
shock.
“We were too late…”
“I knew it was too much for Hinako…”
Seeing the still-open computer screen, the two of them
clutched their heads in despair.
The next day, upon Shizune’s report and under Kagen’s
instructions, Hinako’s computer was quietly subscribed to the
Celeb Filter service without her knowledge.

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