The day before the soirée, after much deliberation, Rocco finally decided on his partner—Laxus.
The reason was simple.
Above all, he wanted to put an end to the endless bickering between his father and Sylas.
Another reason—albeit a bit of a naive one—was that just because Laxus was his partner didn't mean he couldn't talk to other people.
After all, the role of a partner was merely a formality for entering the event.
Once they were inside, he could simply part ways with Laxus and begin his real mission—ahem—his efforts to build a connection.
With that in mind, Rocco conveyed his decision to his father and Sylas.
However, the moment he did, the entire room froze over.
"…You're choosing that Del Fiore's son as your partner?"
When Rocco nodded his head firmly, his father's face turned paled visibly as if the weight of the world had just crushed him, collapsing in utter despair.
Was it really that tragic…?