[593] Heading to the Yukinoshita Residence

Chapter 593: Heading to the Yukinoshita Residence

A black sedan cruised along the road, with Hachiman, Yukino, and Haruno sitting inside.

As expected, plans never keep up with changes. Originally, Hachiman had intended to meet Mrs. Yukinoshita after graduating from his third year of high school to settle things. Unexpectedly, the meeting was brought forward.

Not that it mattered much. His current assets had already exceeded 200 billion yen, so dealing with the Yukinoshita family wouldn't be much of a challenge.

Even though the timing had changed, Hachiman had long made preparations. He had requested the Nakiri family to strategically short Yukinoshita's stocks at the right time.

Through his investigations, he found that aside from a construction company, most of the Yukinoshita family's assets were tied up in stocks.

Therefore, any stock market turmoil would undoubtedly cause serious damage to their family.

Ah, now he suddenly felt curious to see Mrs. Yukinoshita's expression when she discovered the market chaos.

A mischievous thought flickered in Hachiman's mind.

Glancing at the silent Yukinoshita sisters, Hachiman raised an eyebrow and asked, "Miss Haruno, Yukino, do you know why Mrs. Yukinoshita is asking to see me?"

Yukino remained silent, as she truly had no idea why her mother wanted to meet Hachiman.

Just a few days ago, Mrs. Yukinoshita had called and asked Yukino to bring Hachiman home for a conversation.

Normally, Yukino would have outright refused.

However, after the events of the graduation ball, her relationship with her mother had slightly improved. Moreover, she had been considering introducing Hachiman to her parents.

After all, one was her beloved, and the other was her family — they would have to meet sooner or later. She might as well treat this as a rehearsal.

As Yukino stayed silent, Haruno chuckled softly from the side.

"Maybe she wants to discuss your marriage to Yukino," Haruno playfully winked at Hachiman, as if hinting at something.

Hachiman naturally understood her meaning. It was nothing more than Mrs. Yukinoshita planning to use Yukino's marriage as a bargaining chip to gain some advantage.

Thinking of this, he responded with a reassuring smile.

However, upon hearing her sister's words, Yukino couldn't help but exclaim in shock.

"What? Marriage?!"

"That's right, your marriage with Hikigaya-kun," Haruno repeated cheerfully, her tone teasing. "Isn't this something Mother decided long ago? You knew about it, didn't you?"

Hearing that, Yukino fell silent.

Indeed, her mother had mentioned it to her before.

Back when Hachiman was just starting to show promise, Mrs. Yukinoshita had already suggested that she interact with him more.

And when Hachiman had fully risen to prominence, her mother became even more insistent, stating outright that Yukino should marry him.

Marrying Hachiman...

The thought made Yukino's typically cool and composed face flush faintly with a rosy hue.

Seeing this, Haruno raised her elegant eyebrows with an amused expression.

"Hikigaya-kun really is impressive," she teased. "You've completely swept Yukino off her feet. Just mentioning marriage turns her face red like that."

Wait — "swept off her feet" didn't sound quite like a compliment.

Hearing her sister's remark, Yukino couldn't hold back and retorted, "Sister, w-who's been swept off their feet by him? Don't say such nonsense!"

Unfortunately, Yukino's flushed face completely undermined any attempt at denial.

Seeing her sister's contradictory reaction, Haruno found it amusing but decided to offer a gentle reminder.

"Yukino, don't get too excited just yet. You know Mother's personality well—your marriage with Hikigaya-kun is unlikely to be that simple."

Yukino was momentarily at a loss for words.

That's right—she had been so caught up in the moment that she'd forgotten.

As her daughter, Yukino understood her mother perfectly. Mrs. Yukinoshita was a woman who prioritized family interests above all else.

Yukino also knew deep down that her mother's encouragement to interact with Hachiman was purely because of his remarkable abilities.

And if Hachiman wanted to marry her, it would likely come at a significant cost.

In fact, her mother might very well use the marriage as a bargaining chip to tie Hachiman to the Yukinoshita family's cause, leveraging his influence to further expand the family's power.

Thinking about this, Yukino's expression darkened.

Was she ultimately just a burden to Hachiman?

Just then, a warm hand gently grasped hers.

Startled, Yukino looked up to see Hachiman smiling at her with reassuring warmth.

"Don't worry. I've got this," he said softly.

That smile inexplicably eased the turmoil in Yukino's heart, though she still couldn't help voicing her concern.

"But Mother will—"

Before she could finish, Hachiman interrupted her firmly.

"It's fine. I know exactly what your mother is thinking. But Yukino, don't underestimate me. In all this time we've known each other, have you ever seen me suffer a loss?"

Hearing this, Yukino paused and realized he was right.

No matter how shrewd her mother might be, Hachiman was no pushover.

Indeed, in all the time she had known him, she had never seen him come out on the losing side.

Hearing Hachiman's reassuring words, much of Yukino's anxiety dissipated, and a gentle smile returned to her face.

"Mm, I believe in you."

Witnessing this scene, Haruno felt a pang of envy but quickly masked it with another teasing remark.

"Wow, has little Yukino already been completely 'trained'? Hikigaya-kun, you're amazing."

Yukino's face turned crimson as she immediately protested.

"Tr-Trained?! Sister, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Thinking about it carefully, it was true that Hachiman had "trained" her more than once in various ways. But there was no way she could admit that out loud. Frustrated, she glared at Haruno.

"Sister, if you keep talking like this, I'll stop speaking to you."

"Alright, alright, I'll stop," Haruno said with a shrug, feigning innocence.

Ah, Yukino, you're still too naive, Haruno mused inwardly. The Hikigaya-kun you trust so much probably doesn't even intend to spare me. Looks like he's aiming for both sisters.

A hint of a bitter smile flickered on Haruno's face at the thought.

Oh well, it's still better than being trapped in the cage of the Yukinoshita family.

Even though she had long been designated as the family's successor, most of the time, she still had little control over her own life. For all she knew, Mrs. Yukinoshita might one day marry her off purely for the family's benefit.

That was certainly not the life Haruno wanted.

Just as Yukino often said, she was an independent person, not a tool to strengthen the family.

Haruno, too, yearned for freedom, rather than being used by her mother as a bargaining chip.

If it ever came down to that, she'd rather "let Hachiman have the advantage." After all, she was still Yukino's older sister. Hachiman probably wouldn't do anything too outrageous to her.

Probably...

While Haruno's thoughts drifted, the car gradually came to a stop.

They had arrived at the Yukinoshita residence.

Stepping out of the car, a traditional Japanese-style house came into view.

Under Haruno's lead, the three entered the Yukinoshita estate.

Before long, Haruno slid open a wooden door, revealing Mrs. Yukinoshita leisurely sipping tea inside.

"Mother, I've brought them," Haruno announced formally.

Mrs. Yukinoshita nodded gently.

"Thank you, Haruno. You've worked hard."

Then she shifted her gaze to Hachiman, a faint smile appearing on her face.

"Hikigaya-kun, it's been a while."

"Indeed, it has, Auntie," Hachiman responded calmly, offering a polite nod and a measured apology.

"I'm sorry I haven't had the time to visit due to my busy schedule."

Mrs. Yukinoshita showed no particular reaction to his words. Her warm, composed smile remained unchanged.

"No need to apologize. Naturally, your career takes precedence. I'm already delighted that you could come today."

Mrs. Yukinoshita then shifted her gaze to Yukino and spoke gently, "Welcome home, Yukino."

Yukino simply nodded faintly. The thought of being used by her own mother as a bargaining chip to pressure Hachiman left her with little desire to be pleasant.

Her mother's expression remained indifferent despite Yukino's cold attitude. Instead, she turned back to Haruno.

"Haruno, thank you for your efforts. You and your sister may go rest now. I have some matters to discuss with Hikigaya-kun."

"Understood, Mother."

Haruno nodded, then looked at Yukino.

"Let's go rest, Yukino."

"I understand."

Yukino glanced at Hachiman, who wore a confident smile, before nodding and following Haruno out.

Once the sisters had left, Mrs. Yukinoshita gestured politely.

"Hikigaya-kun, please have a seat."

"Thank you, Auntie." Hachiman expressed his gratitude and sat across from her.

Neither spoke initially, and silence filled the room for a full minute.

Finally, Mrs. Yukinoshita's lips curled into a faint smile.

"I heard you recently acquired a game company?"

Hachiman showed no surprise that she was aware of his recent activities. Instead, he chuckled lightly.

"I'm flattered, Auntie. I didn't expect you'd know about that."

Although the Yukinoshita family's influence couldn't match that of the Nakiri family, gathering information was still easy for them — especially when it came to someone as significant to Mrs. Yukinoshita as Hachiman.

"For a promising young talent like yourself, the Yukinoshita family naturally pays extra attention," she remarked with a smile.

Then, her tone subtly shifted as she continued, "You seem to have a very good relationship with Yukino."

Here it comes, Hachiman thought, amused by how quickly she had steered the conversation toward her true agenda.

"Yes, my relationship with Yukino is indeed very good," he replied calmly, raising an eyebrow.

"Then, I wonder—what does Hikigaya-kun think of Yukino?" Mrs. Yukinoshita inquired with a calm but meaningful gaze.

"Yukino, huh?"

At the mention of her name, Hachiman's expression unconsciously softened.

"She's a very adorable and genuine girl. I like her a lot."

Seeing this reaction, Mrs. Yukinoshita nodded in satisfaction. Perfect, she thought. This is exactly what I need to use Yukino as leverage for negotiations.

With a light chuckle, she proposed, "Then how about I arrange for Yukino to marry you?"

Feigning surprise, Hachiman's face lit up as though overwhelmed by joy.

"Really? That would be amazing. Thank you so much, Auntie!"

"As her mother, I naturally hope Yukino can marry an outstanding young man like you," Mrs. Yukinoshita remarked, her expression confident as if victory was already hers.

"However, while I'm willing to let Yukino marry you, there are a few conditions."

"Oh? Conditions?" Hachiman raised an eyebrow, feigning curiosity. "Please go ahead, Auntie."

Just as he expected, Mrs. Yukinoshita's conditions were as audacious as ever.

Not only did she demand half of his assets, but she also insisted that he abandon his independent ventures and join the Yukinoshita family's company to help further its growth.

"So, what do you think, Hikigaya-kun?" Mrs. Yukinoshita asked with a self-assured smile.

She was confident that despite Yukino's current rebellious phase, it wouldn't be difficult to regain control over her. After all, she had raised and molded her daughter from a young age, fully aware of every weakness Yukino had.

To Mrs. Yukinoshita, controlling Yukino meant controlling Hachiman. And with Hachiman under her thumb, the Yukinoshita family's rise to the upper echelons of power seemed inevitable.

The mere thought of the family's future success filled her with a subtle sense of excitement.

But would things really go as smoothly as she imagined?

Just as Mrs. Yukinoshita believed victory was within her grasp, Hachiman's face shifted into a mocking smile.

"Mrs. Yukinoshita, do you think these terms are fair?" he asked calmly.

"Oh? Is Hikigaya-kun planning to refuse?" she responded with mild surprise, though quickly composed herself. "I suppose it's understandable. If it's just Yukino, perhaps it's not entirely equitable. How about we include Haruno as well?"

In Mrs. Yukinoshita's eyes, Haruno held greater value than Yukino. Yet it hardly mattered—whether it was Haruno or Yukino, both could be treated as bargaining chips if the stakes were right.

Hachiman's potential was far greater than the combined value of her daughters. If binding Hachiman to the Yukinoshita family required offering both daughters, so be it. And if necessary, perhaps even more...

Just as Haruno had once said, this woman thought only of the family. Anything that benefited the Yukinoshita name was worth doing, no matter the cost.

Hearing such words, the two sisters eavesdropping outside the room fell into silence.

They weren't surprised; after all, they understood their mother all too well.

But even though they expected it, the anger in their hearts couldn't be quelled.

As Yukino's rage boiled over and she prepared to storm into the room, Haruno grabbed her arm firmly, stopping her.

At that moment, Hachiman's voice resonated once more from inside.

"You misunderstand, Mrs. Yukinoshita. What I meant was that we are not equals in this negotiation."

Mrs. Yukinoshita's brow furrowed slightly. "Not equals?" she echoed, confusion flickering in her eyes before giving way to annoyance. "Do you mean to say the Yukinoshita family isn't qualified enough?"

"Exactly." Hachiman's voice was calm, but his words were bold and arrogant.

Mrs. Yukinoshita's lips curled into a cold, incredulous smile. "What a joke. The Yukinoshita family is—"

Before she could finish, Hachiman interrupted her sharply.

"Soon, there won't be a Yukinoshita family to speak of."

Though his tone was composed, it carried a weight that made Mrs. Yukinoshita shudder with an unexpected wave of fear.

"What do you mean by that, Hikigaya-kun?" she demanded, her voice wavering slightly.

Before he could respond, frantic footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Suddenly, a bespectacled woman burst into the room, breathless and visibly panicked.

"Madam! Something terrible has happened!" she exclaimed urgently.