End of the Samhwa Nation Trip!
The Ichinose family gathered in the reception room.
It was a soundproofed space, perfect for important conversations.
"Dear, stop drinking coffee. It's before the meal."
"Mm."
Ichinose Jun and Momo were creating a gentle atmosphere.
But Baby Yui, sitting across from them, couldn't relax. It was impossible to shake off the tension.
Watching her patient parents, she steeled her resolve.
She had to do this.
First, a deep breath.
"Hoo..."
Looking at Sion and Clara, whose relationships had advanced, Ichinose Yui felt she could no longer put this off.
The girl needed an answer to one question to set her direction firmly and move forward.
"If—just hypothetically, really—I were to get involved with a man from a polygamous culture... would that damage the company's reputation or image...?"
An unexpected question. Ichinose Jun and Momo's eyes widened in surprise.
Confirming this issue was crucially important to Ichinose Yui.
Her actions could undermine the time and effort her parents had built.
It was something she hadn't even considered back when she was lost in sweet dreams of Rohan and overwhelmed by her budding feelings.
As her once-chaotic mind sorted itself out, she'd discovered the problem.
The more she dwelled on it, the bigger the wall seemed. She couldn't find an answer alone.
"Hmm~"
Momo was the first to regain her composure.
Smiling warmly, she tapped her lips with a finger.
Repeating her daughter's worry in her mind, interpreting it.
"A man from a polygamous culture—Rohan cadet, right?"
"!!!"
Baby Yui jumped at her mother's words, glancing at her father.
She knew Momo had found out from the meeting with Jane, but her father had only suspected.
"..."
Ichinose Jun struggled to maintain his stoic expression, watching his daughter. Baby Yui realized her father knew too.
She gave up hiding it entirely.
With her face flushed, she nodded faintly, head bowed.
"It's commendable you've thought that far, but our Yui overthinks things."
Momo finished, taking her husband's hand.
A signal to say something to their daughter. Ichinose Jun let out a long sigh.
"Yui."
"Yes, Father..."
"If I hadn't built a family and lived alone, I wouldn't have run the company. I'd have swung my sword my whole life."
Baby Yui looked puzzled at Ichinose Jun's words.
Momo stifled a laugh.
He showed charisma with only necessary words in corporate policy announcements or speeches, but he was still clumsy with explanations and emotions in front of his daughter.
Stepping in for Ichinose Jun, who hesitated to be too direct lest he hurt his sensitive, delicate-hearted girl.
Momo provided the interpretation.
"Things like a political marriage to easily grow the company bigger than it is now—reasons Mom and Dad didn't choose that for you, got it?"
Baby Yui pondered Momo's question seriously.
'The reason Father and Mother gave for my sake...'
Many possibilities came to mind. All unconditionally kind.
But no single, tidy answer emerged.
Momo lovingly watched her struggling daughter and spoke.
"Cheonoecheon is ultimately just a means for the family. Nothing is more precious than family."
"Ah..."
Baby Yui realized the deeper meaning behind her father's words in a chain reaction.
Her father had given up sword time to build the company and social standing, simply to increase ways to protect and comfort her mother and herself.
"..."
Baby Yui bit her lower lip hard to hold back surging emotions.
To clearly show how much Ichinose Jun valued family, Momo continued.
"Dear, if the company becomes an obstacle to Yui's future, what will you do?"
"Close the doors. Physically slicing the headquarters in half works too."
Money could be earned rotten with just a sword and the will to do it.
Momo smiled contentedly at Ichinose Jun's sincere immediate reply. Yui was so startled she released her bitten lip.
"Understand? No need for such complicated worries. Mom and Dad are satisfied if you live as you want."
"Yui, no need to worry about the company. No need to force yourself as heir. If you want it, I'll give it now. If it's a burden, I can run it for decades or centuries without issue."
"Dear! If you work that long, when will we date? We haven't had time for a trip lately..."
Half-joking, half-serious, Momo's words flustered Ichinose Jun, who hastily corrected himself.
"...If Yui wants it, I'll give the company now. If burdensome, I can run it a few years, sell shares, and step down."
"Yeah, Dad says so?"
Satisfied with her husband's words, Momo smiled and informed Yui.
"Did you get the answer you wanted?"
She nodded. Her puppy-in-the-rain expression had brightened considerably.
For parents, that alone made the time worthwhile and happy.
"I want to talk more with our daughter, but let's hold off? Guests are waiting."
"Yes!"
Baby Yui sprang up at Momo's words.
"Yui, can you prepare the dishes? Mom'll be out soon."
Baby Yui headed to the door with an "Okay."
Momo, stuck close to Ichinose Jun, cheered energetically.
"Don't worry about anything—look ahead. Our daughter is the prettiest in the world, so Rohan cadet is bound to fall for you!"
Ichinose, fidgeting as she exited, replied softly.
"I-I'll do my best...!"
Baby Yui left the room.
Clack!
Confirming the door securely closed, Momo dropped her smile.
"..."
The conclusion was positive, but Yui's worry wasn't baseless.
On the contrary, it showed keen grasp of societal constraints—worthy of praise.
'Need to make moves in advance.'
Momo recalled certain media figures.
Small and medium enterprises surviving on ads in communities were on her list too.
'If word leaks that Cheonoecheon's heir marries a polygamous man, hyena packs will swarm to tear it down.'
History bore witness.
Similar incidents had happened multiple times.
'I know exactly what they'll say without seeing.'
People claiming Ichinose Jun's only daughter abandoned Samhwa Nation's pride to bow to foreigners, spewing sensational barbs to hurt.
When wealth and power grew immense, allies and enemies arose simultaneously—that was the natural order.
Silencing such people was child's play.
But making them shut up after her daughter was hurt would always be one step late.
That was the real issue.
'Start now so it quiets later. Consider changing laws too.'
As Momo planned in her head.
Ichinose Jun spoke with deep emotion.
"Momo... kids grow up in an instant."
"Heehee, you're really weak to Yui."
"..."
"It hurts to see your daughter leave the nest, but the happiness of sharing love and building a family—we know it best."
"Ahem...!"
A heavy nod.
Momo was convinced this was great progress.
"It makes no sense for parents to block their daughter seeking happiness."
"...I know."
His words said so, but complex emotions showed on his face.
Momo grinned widely at such Ichinose Jun.
He looked in need of comfort.
*****
The meal Momo prepared was delicious, just as Noah guaranteed.
Rohan cleared two bowls of rice, and Momo smiled, pleased at his healthy appetite.
After the meal.
Rohan sliced the peaches he'd brought for easy eating. Explanations followed about the friction and incident with Cheongnim.
Understanding the situation, the three marveled at the wild coincidence while praising him for handling it well.
Jane corrected one thing from Rohan's explanation.
"No matter what anyone says, Yui and Noah are already adults. Don't feel guilty for involving our daughters in minor issues. It wasn't wrongdoing."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Wrapping up the explanation.
Noah stood, shadowboxing the air as she recounted her part.
"I nailed an uppercut right to that guy's jaw as he charged—his head smashed into the ceiling, dangling like this──."
Momo and Jane smiled warmly at Noah's gestures.
Eyes like watching a delightful performance.
··
··
Lunch eaten, explanations done.
Time to return to Academy City. Rested, Rohan itched to train.
Rohan finished goodbyes with Ichinose's parents and Jane, facing Baby Yui.
Noah, on the other side, clung to Clara and Sion, whining not to go.
"Ichinose, you'll come back after break ends, right?"
"Probably."
"Can't be helped even if it's regrettable. Spend time with your parents."
Ichinose smiled as usual at Rohan's words.
"Drive safe. I'll message."
Rohan promised to text upon arrival and got in the driver's seat.
Sion was in the passenger seat.
"Porter! Bye!"
Noah tapped the window.
Rohan rolled it down, correcting her.
"Trip's over, so porter duty ends."
"Ah! Why! Keep doing it! Cook too!"
"We'll see after watching you."
Ending Noah's farewell with "Be good over break."
With the engine running, he waved once more to his friend's parents.
'Oh, gotta tell Instructor Juyeon.'
Rohan messaged Juyeon that they were leaving Samhwa Nation.