Chapter 45 – Capitalism, Blood, and Beautiful Women

The late afternoon sun streamed through the high-rise windows, casting golden slivers of light across the pristine glass desk.

"All right, all right… Don't get mad, little master."

With a teasing curve of her lips, Yokoyama Ritsuko brushed back a stray lock of hair. The light caught on her earrings, glinting like fire.

"Don't tell me you're actually into this older woman? I thought you already won over little Kanade. What more could you want?"

Her tone was airy, playful.

But when the name Kanade left her mouth, Shinguuji Akira froze.

The teasing vanished from his face.

"You two… close?"

"If we weren't, why would she tell me something so personal?"

Ritsuko's voice softened. "We met a few years back. I handled a legal issue for the royal family, and that's how we crossed paths."

She leaned back, legs crossed with deliberate poise.

"Even back then, I thought, 'Who could ever be worthy of a girl like that?' Never imagined it'd be you."

"She's everything a man could ask for. Beautiful. Gentle. Smart. Already headed to Todai's med school now that she's eighteen."

She chuckled softly. "You being engaged to her… you must've built up a mountain of good karma in a past life."

Akira gave a faint smile.

Karma, huh?

If karma means reincarnating and meeting her again this way… then sure, I'll take it.

"Treat her well, little master. Or I'll come after you myself." Her eyes sharpened with a seriousness that cut through the air.

"To me, Kanade's like a little sister."

"I got it, Miss Ritsuko."

"That tone's all wrong."

She smirked. "And don't stress about that little… incident. She's yours now, whether you like it or not. Consider it a trial run of domestic life."

Akira scoffed. "Bliss? That was chaos."

"Oh, I know. First times are always awkward. You'll get better with practice."

He narrowed his eyes. "You sound awfully confident for someone who's never practiced either."

Her smile cracked.

The room's air shifted instantly. Gone was the playful lawyer — in her place, the real Ritsuko emerged, sharp, commanding, a veteran of countless boardrooms.

Akira tensed.

"…Forget it," she muttered, quieter now. "Some things don't need explaining."

If anyone else had thrown that jab, she might've buried them in legal paperwork. But Akira was… Akira. She couldn't win that way.

"…My bad," he said at last. "Didn't mean to cross a line."

The tension dissolved. Slowly, warmth returned to her gaze.

Know when to push — and when to pull back.

"Anyway," Akira straightened, voice cool and focused. "Let's get to the real reason I called you."

Ritsuko tilted her head. "This the first time you've had guests over since moving in?"

"I want your help."

She arched a brow.

"I'm planning to acquire a company."

That made her sit up straighter.

"What kind?"

"Small. A publishing house. Just a foothold in Tokyo is enough — I'll expand it myself."

"…You sure you don't want your father's backing?"

"No. He already gave me one concession — live freely until I'm twenty-five. If I ask for more, I lose everything I'm building."

That resolve caught her off guard.

He wasn't just playing entrepreneur.

He meant it.

"…You really have changed," she murmured.

Akira smiled faintly. Reincarnation will do that.

"I need capital. So I came to you."

Ritsuko blinked. "You're asking me for money?"

"Don't play broke. You've made millions off our family cases."

"And why would I hand it over?"

"Because I'm offering equity. And returns."

Her lips parted. That... wasn't what she expected.

"…You little shark."

"You'll get a stake. If this takes off, you won't regret it."

"So I fund it, work for free, and cover losses too?"

"Exactly. Capitalism at its finest."

Ritsuko groaned, burying her face in her hands.

"You're bleeding me dry…"

"Better me than my dad, right?"

"…You're unbelievable."

But beneath the exasperation — she smiled.

She liked this new Akira.