Sonoko stood quietly at the entrance of the Suzuki estate, her gaze fixed on the main gate with burning anticipation.
"Sonoko, you know you could wait in the living room," Ayako called out from the foyer.
"I'm fine right here, Sis!" Sonoko shot back without turning around.
It had been three days since she had seen him. Three long days. She wanted to see Heiji the second he arrived.
Suddenly, headlights cut through the darkness. A car swept into the driveway. Sonoko's eyes lit up instantly. Before the vehicle even came to a complete stop, she was sprinting forward on her long legs.
"Heiji!"
I had barely stepped out of the car when a blur of motion collided with me. I instinctively caught her, wrapping my arms around her waist as she threw herself at me. A second later, soft lips pressed against mine.
It was a deep, lingering kiss. When we finally broke apart, she leaned her head against my chest, her face flushed a deep red.
"Come on," she murmured, still clinging to me. "Let's go say hello to Father and Mother."
I took her hand and let her lead me into the living room to pay my respects to Shiro Suzuki and his wife.
The Hatamoto family wasn't exactly a top-tier financial conglomerate, but they held a respectable position in Japan. An invitation from them was something even the Suzuki group had to acknowledge with a degree of courtesy.
"So," I said, glancing down at Sonoko as we walked back out, "Mrs. Suzuki decided to let you handle this one for practice, huh?"
"Mhm," she hummed, snuggling into my side as we settled into the backseat of the family limousine. "Mom said a mid-sized event like this is perfect for me to cut my teeth on. But I didn't want to go alone. Thank god you're here, Heiji." She giggled, looking genuinely happy.
"Dummy." I smirked, resting my chin on her head. "You're just like Kazuha used to be. You call, and I come running. Anytime."
I knew what she was thinking. She sometimes felt insecure about our relationship, worried that I was out of her league. I didn't push it. She rubbed her head against my chest like a content cat, closing her eyes.
In the driver's seat, the Suzuki family butler kept his eyes strictly on the road, the picture of professional indifference.
An hour later, we arrived at the harbor.
The massive luxury liner sat silently in the dock, bathed in floodlights. The deck was a hive of activity as crew members loaded the final provisions.
"It's a lot smaller than the Sallybeth," I noted.
"Well, naturally." Sonoko lifted her chin, her expression smug. "Our family's cruise ship is ranked in the top three in Japan. You can't compare this to ours."
"Miss Sonoko, Master Heiji, I will take my leave now," the butler said as he unloaded our bags. "Please call when you return."
"Thanks. Drive safe," I said.
The car pulled away, and Sonoko looped her arm through mine, steering me toward the VIP boarding ramp.
"Good evening," a crew member greeted us. "This is the VIP entrance for the Hatamoto wedding. May I see your invitations?"
"I'm Sonoko Suzuki of the Suzuki Financial Group. This is my boyfriend."
She pulled two elegant envelopes from her small purse and handed them over. The crewman checked the names, bowed low, and stepped aside.
As we walked down the wide gangway, Sonoko squeezed my arm. "Heiji, aren't you curious why I have two invitations?"
I chuckled. "It's simple deduction. Usually, invitations are limited to control the headcount. But for a family like the Hatamotos inviting a powerhouse like the Suzukis, they wouldn't be stingy. They want the prestige of your family's attendance. They probably sent invitations to your direct relatives, plus a stack of blank 'plus-one' invites to ensure you'd bring guests. My invite is just one of those blanks, right?"
I looked at her, confident in my reasoning.
"Wrong," Sonoko said instantly.
I blinked. "My deduction was off?"
Did the Hatamoto family really only send two specific invites? That seems short-sighted.
Sonoko shook her head, her lips pouting slightly. "Heiji's invitation is a 'Direct Family' invitation, issued specifically to you. It's not some spare blank card."
I raised an eyebrow, sliding my hand around her waist. "Did you make them add it?"
"Nope." She beamed. "Mom made them add it."
I paused, surprised, then leaned down and planted a quick kiss on her lips. "Fair enough."
We stepped onto the deck of the liner.
"Welcome. May I ask your names?" An elderly man, clearly the head butler, stepped forward to greet us.
"I am Sonoko Suzuki. I'm here with my boyfriend to offer our congratulations to Miss Natsue."
" The Suzuki family's second daughter?" The butler's eyes widened, and his posture straightened into rigid respect. "My apologies. It is an honor. Please, follow me to see the Master immediately."
Sonoko gripped my hand as we followed him, glancing around the deck. "Mr. Butler, why are there so few people? It feels a bit empty for a wedding."
It was true. Even if the Hatamotos weren't titans like the Suzukis, this turnout was pathetic.
"Please do not take offense, Miss Suzuki," the butler said, his voice lowering. "Because of the Master's... temperament, invitations were limited. And of those invited, many chose not to attend."
Figures, I thought. Gozo Hatamoto probably only invited the big fish, and the big fish didn't feel like swimming in his pond. If Mrs. Suzuki hadn't wanted to use this as a training exercise for Sonoko, we wouldn't be here either.
The butler led us through a long corridor and pushed open a set of heavy double doors.
Clang.
Before we even entered, the sound of shattering china echoed from inside.
"Who cooked this garbage?! It's inedible!"
The roar was old, raspy, and furious. Sonoko's brow furrowed in annoyance, but her face remained composed. I watched her from the corner of my eye, impressed. She really had learned to control her temper recently. Her aura was becoming more refined.
The butler hurried over to an elderly man—Gozo Hatamoto—and whispered in his ear.
Gozo's head snapped up. He looked at Sonoko, and a look of genuine excitement replaced his anger. He stood up and walked over briskly.
"I didn't expect the Suzuki family to grace us personally! Welcome, welcome!"
He was thrilled. Partly because the food was bad, but mostly because he had been losing face with all the rejections. Sonoko was his saviour.
"Hello, Uncle Gozo. On behalf of the Suzuki Financial Group, I wish the Hatamoto family well," Sonoko said, bowing with perfect grace.
The Hatamoto family members swarm her immediately. For a mid-level family, catching a crumb from the Suzuki table could mean the difference between bankruptcy and booming success. Sonoko handled the circle of sycophants with a polite, aristocratic smile.
I watched for a moment, satisfied she was holding her own, and slipped out to the deck.
The ship had already set sail. The lights of the harbor were fading into the distance, leaving only the dark, mysterious ocean.
Footsteps approached from behind.
"Hello. I'm Takeshi Hatamoto. Thank you for coming to my wedding."
I turned to see a handsome, somewhat nervous young man extending his hand.
"Heiji Hattori. Congratulations." I shook his hand firmly.
Takeshi looked me over, blinking. "I have to say, for Miss Sonoko's partner... you have the most refined atmosphere of anyone I've met tonight."
I suppressed a smirk. Sonoko has stepped up her game, so I had to match her. Changing my "vibe" was easy enough.
"You flatter me. Where's the bride?"
Takeshi rubbed the back of his neck, blushing. "Natsue is changing. The wedding isn't until tomorrow, but Grandfather insisted on holding the ceremony first thing in the morning. She had to start prepping now."
"I see. Well, congratulations again."
"Thank you. honestly, I'm a bit overwhelmed that the Suzuki family actually came."
"The Suzuki Group has its own code of conduct," I said, making it up on the fly. "They engage with people based on principle. Their presence is a sign of respect for that code."
It was total nonsense, but Takeshi nodded earnestly, hanging on every word.
After a while, Sonoko came out to the deck.
"Everyone, I'd like to introduce someone," she announced to the room as she dragged me back inside. The room went quiet.
"This is my boyfriend, Heiji Hattori."
I smiled—a polite, detached, aristocratic smile—and nodded. "Good evening."
I could see the calculation in their eyes. Who is this guy? He carries himself like royalty.
"Mr. Hattori," they chorused, bowing slightly.
It was getting late, past ten-thirty.
"Miss Sonoko," Gozo Hatamoto cut in. "Tomorrow is the big day. You should rest. I have a suite prepared for you. Butler, show her the way."
"Thank you, Uncle Gozo. Come on, Heiji."
"Wait," Gozo barked, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the family members whispering about me. "Stop guessing. Heiji Hattori is just the son of a police chief in Osaka. He's not a business tycoon. Don't embarrass yourselves." He turned to me with a huff. "Don't cause trouble, boy."
With that, the old man stormed off.
The butler led us to two adjacent doors. "Miss Sonoko, this is your room. Master Heiji, this is yours."
"No need," Sonoko said, snatching a key card. "One room is fine."
She grabbed my hand and pulled me inside before the butler could react.
As the door clicked shut, Sonoko collapsed onto the bed. "Ahh, I'm exhausted!"
I chuckled.
"Hmph. You're not going to comfort me?" She pouted.
"What kind of comfort did you have in mind?"
"Hehe. Come here."
I saw the glint in her eye. She lunged at me, but I sidestepped.
"Ah!" She stumbled toward the vanity table.
I caught her by the waist before she could hit it, spinning her around and pulling her tight against my chest.
"You jerk, you scared me," she whispered, rolling her eyes, though her cheeks were flushed. She closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling, waiting.
I lowered my head and kissed her. The room seemed to heat up instantly.
"Heiji..." She looked at me, her eyes misty and full of affection. "Make me yours."
I didn't need to be told twice.
Outside, the ocean breeze whispered against the hull of the ship. Inside, the night passed in a haze of passion, the moon seemingly hiding behind the clouds to give us privacy.
When I opened my eyes, Sonoko's hair was tickling my nose. She was asleep in my arms, looking different than before—more mature, radiating a quiet, stunning charm.
I nudged her gently. "We should shower."
She buried her face in my chest, her voice muffled and shy. "Mhm."
The wedding was about to begin. But for us, the real event had already happened.