Will Kaguya date a boy?
Maki had never considered this question before. After all, it had only been about two months since her aunt transferred schools. She didn't expect that her aunt could fall for someone so easily.
Trust was an essential requirement for her aunt.
Without at least the baseline of trust, her aunt would remain wary of everyone.
Yet after just two months of contact, her aunt was already dating a boy who was practically a stranger?
Maki scrutinized the boy in front of her. The thick glasses made it hard to distinguish his features, but he was taller than her, with a proportionate build.
By all appearances, he seemed like a normal guy.
But Maki was convinced that he wasn't ordinary. Her aunt wouldn't trust just any boy so easily.
Moreover, they started dating after just two months of knowing each other.
Maki was certain of this.
"Auntie's boyfriend…"
She couldn't help murmuring to herself, still somewhat in disbelief.
Still, she tried her best to keep her emotions in check. At the very least, there was one thing she could be sure of:
No one would dare pretend to be her aunt's boyfriend.
"Are you seriously not joking with me?"
"I think Miss Maki should be well aware of Kaguya's personality. If you went to confirm whether it's true or not, how do you think she would feel?"
...This guy is definitely my aunt's boyfriend!
The fact that he could say that so accurately meant his relationship with her aunt was anything but ordinary.
Given how little a classmate of two months should know about her aunt, it was impossible for him to understand her that well without being close.
Maki exhaled softly and calmed herself, adjusting her emotions.
"So, you came to see me purely out of interest~?"
"Does Auntie know about this? Or more accurately, wouldn't she be angry about this?"
"My interest in you won't make Kaguya uncomfortable. Miss Maki, do you understand what I mean?"
It wasn't the kind of interest that had romantic undertones, but rather interest in her as a person. Maki understood what he meant.
And with that, she felt somewhat relieved.
He was her aunt's boyfriend. Given that her aunt controlled the Shinomiya family, he had to be reliable in every way. So, this meeting was probably just a casual introduction.
"But I'm curious. Why would Auntie's boyfriend be interested in me?"
"Because Miss Maki also has interesting qualities. For example, like Kaguya, you choose to silently endure when you can't change the situation, but won't hesitate to act when you can."
"But judging from how much you care about your family, you probably wouldn't go as far as Kaguya did."
Just moments ago, Ren had already used divination to gain insight into the Shijo family's situation.
Though the Shijo family had long been suppressed by the Shinomiya family, the elders of the Shijo family still valued their descendants and did not treat Maki as a disposable pawn.
Perhaps the Shijo family understood this dynamic more clearly than the Shinomiya family.
Recognizing that internal conflict would be disastrous, the Shijo family had always presented a united front against outside threats.
"Of course, that unity only exists because of the pressure from the Shinomiya family."
Maki naturally understood the implication behind those words, and she didn't deny it.
"Yeah, I think so too."
"Because of the Shinomiya family's oppression, the Shijo family has become united. But once the Shinomiya family stops targeting us, internal chaos will erupt in no time."
"I think that's why Mom, Dad, and Mikado are willing to give up most of their domestic assets to appease Auntie's anger."
Maki wasn't naive. Her parents were definitely under pressure from within the Shijo family, but they were also considering the family's future.
"We're using Auntie's presence as a threat to prolong the perceived danger to the Shijo family, keeping us in a state of external pressure, and in turn, maintaining internal stability."
"But this method can only work once."
"External threats won't hold the family together forever. Once real conflict breaks out, it could trigger even bigger disasters."
"This lie is the biggest landmine. If it explodes, it could shatter the Shijo family completely."
Maki felt the weight of this reality pressing on her heart.
Of course, she understood. That landmine would definitely explode one day. And when that time came, even the external pressure wouldn't be enough to bring order back to chaos.
Even if the family lost profits due to external aggression, someone would have to step up and shoulder the consequences.
But when that moment came, no one would be willing to play the fool.
If it really came to that, the Shijo family would follow in the Shinomiya family's footsteps and maybe fare even worse.
"Miss Maki, do you think that day is coming soon?"
Maki closed her eyes, pained by the thought, silently calculating when the conflict might reach its boiling point.
"Two years… maybe just one."
"If Mikado can take over the family business within a year and lead the Shijo family to greater heights, then the internal friction might be kept under control. But if he can't, the conflicts will only build up over the next year, until they erupt completely."
Maki couldn't treat everyone like fools, and she didn't think the order maintained by such a method would last long.
No one is truly stupid. Once their personal interests are affected, and they realize it was because their parents sacrificed them to maintain the family's order, the backlash would be instant.