"Has he not arrived yet?"

  The Suzuki family, a powerhouse in the world of business and teology, holds a simir status to the Shinomiya family in this world. However, there's a notable differeween them: while the Shinomiya family has many heirs and stant petition, the Suzuki family doesn't face suternal strife.

  With the eldest daughter married off, only the you, Sonoko, remains. Ah a bit of insight could see that the Suzuki family wasn't pnning to marry Sonoko off—instead, they'd likely bring in a husband who could join the family and support their legacy.

  Sonoko Suzuki was feeliless. If this were just a typical birthday party, anyone from her family could have attended as a representative, without it being such a big deal. But this time was different.

  Not only was Sonoko present, but her mother, Tomoko Suzuki, had e along as well.

  "Let's wait a bit longer," Tomoko said, notig her daughter's impatience.

  Seeing her daughter's ck of posure, Tomoko sighed internally. Despite her age, Sonoko still hadn't learhe patience required to take over the family one day. How could she entrust the entire Suzuki empire to her?

  "You watched the live broadcast, didn't you? You should uand, this may no longer be a world where business empires dominate, but one where sorcerers hold real power," Tomoko expined, her voice serious.

  As one of the most powerful families, the Suzukis were aware of the existence of sorcerers, but they'd never realized that sorcerers possessed such overwhelming strength. This was nothing like the so-called "sorcerers" they'd seen before.

  "Yes, yes, I know!" Sonoko replied, rolling her eyes, clearly bored by her mother's lecture.

  Tomoko resisted the urge to scold her. After all, Sonoko was her only daughter, and she was still young. There lenty of time to guide her into being a fitting successor.

  "Oh, if only Ran and Makoto could be here!" Sonoko sighed, menting to herself. She hated formal gatherings like this; they were always so dull.

  Tomoko didn't ent on Ran, whom she found to be polite a enough, but her opinion of Makoto Kyogoku was less favorable.

  Makoto was known as a karate champion, someoh reflexes quiough to dodge bullets. Impressive as that was to the average person, it didn't mean mueone like Tomoko, who saw him as little more than a brawler.

  Especially now, with the rise of sorcerers, martial prowess alone was nothing. How could a mere fighter like Makoto pare to a sorcerer?

  "Sonoko, you haven't... done anything serious with Makotht?" Tomoko asked, frowning slightly.

  "Huh?" Sonoko looked fused for a moment. When she realized what her mother was implying, her face flushed. "Of course not! Makoto and I just started dating! I'm not that easy!" she protested, genuinely embarrassed.

  Tomoko felt a bit relieved at this. She hadn't doubted Sonoko's innoce, but it was good to hear her firm it. Her expression softened.

  "Good. Just remember, Makoto Kyogoku is, after all, just an ordinary person," Tomoko cautioned. "He might just be ied in you because of the Suzuki family's power."

  Like any mother in her position, Tomoko had her reservations. Her daughter, though kind, wasn't necessarily someone who'd turn heads with beauty alone. Makoto's i, she suspected, had more to do with Sonoko's family status.

  "Who says that's true?" Sonoko pouted, a bit annoyed. "Makoto isn't that kind of person!"

  It seemed nobody would have expected that the Suzuki family's younger heiress could be so lovestruck.

  Tomoko sighed again, feeling a mix of amusement and frustration. Perhaps she'd sheltered Sonoko too much from the real world.

  "Just be careful, dear. Don't do anything you might regret," she advised gently.

  "Yeah, yeah, I get it," Sonoko grumbled, though she knew her mother's words came from a pce of care.

  Meanwhile, standing quietly behind the two was a woman with long blue hair and an effortlessly posed demeanor: Mei Mei.

  "Apologies if our family drama has eained you, Miss Mei Mei," Tomoko said, notig her presence. Knowing Mei Mei's status as a top sorcerer, Tomoko spoke with genuine respect.

  "Not at all," Mei Mei replied, shrugging slightly. "I just didn't expect the sed daughter of the Suzuki family to be so... straightforward."

  Sonoko bristled slightly at the subtle implication of being called naive, but when she saw it was Mei Mei, she bit back her retort. She knew her pce well enough not to antagonize a person her own father would respect.

  Tomoko smiled, aowledging the unspoken dynamic. "In any case, we're grateful for your pany, Miss Mei Mei. We hadn't expected you to accept our invitation."

  "Oh, don't thaoo soon," Mei Mei replied zily, lifting her wine gss. "I'm not here because of your family, after all."

  Mei Mei's i y solely in the presence of Ryuji. The Suzuki family's invitation had simply provided her with a ve excuse. She was well aware that Tomoko likely hoped to gain her favor, but Mei Mei couldn't have cared less. To her, sorcerers and the elite of society inhabited entirely different realms.

  Tomoko's smile faltered slightly at Mei Mei's bluntness, but she recovered quickly, maintaining her polite facade. "Even so, we're hoo have you here."

  Meanwhile, in another part of the mansion, Kaguya Shinomiya reparing for the event.

  "Wow, Kaguya-! You look geous!" Chika Fujiwara excimed, her face lighting up as she watched her friend, now dressed elegantly for the occasion.

  Kaguya nodded in aowledgment, though her usual stoic expression softened. While Chika could be a bit of a handful, Kaguya appreciated her enthusiasm. That said, seeing Chika jump arouedly causiain... assets to bounce made Kaguya's mood darken slightly. She looked down at herself, trying not to feel a pang of envy.

  "Kaguya-?" Chika asked, notig her friend's sudden silence.

  "Ahem! Nothing," Kaguya replied, clearihroat as she tried to suppress her earlier thoughts.

  "Oh, by the way!" Chika suddenly remembered. "I heard that the sorcerer from the ret live broadcast, Ryuji, is going to be here. Is that true?"

  Kaguya, feeling o hide the truth from Chika, simply nodded.

  Enced, Chika leaned in closer, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "I also heard from my father that this ba is more than just a birthday party… it's a setup for you and Mr. Ryuji to get acquainted. Is that true?"

  Kaguya blushed, caught off guard by the blunt question. After a moment, she nodded, her tone measured. "Yes. My father arra."

  Chika's eyes widened. "Does that mean Kaguya- might be getting married soon?"

  "Not so fast!" Kaguya's calm demeanor nearly cracked. "They'll want us to get to know each other first. It's not like I'm getting married tomorrow!"

  But in her heart, she khat if Ryuji gave his sent, her father would likely arrahe wedding sooner rather than ter. After all, this was a rare opportunity to secure an alliah someone as powerful as him.

  As she thought about it, Kaguya's mind drifted back to her brief iions with Ryuji—the strong, fident presence he exuded. For a moment, she felt a sense of admiration and awe.

  Meanwhile, in the luxurious car on the way to the event, Ryuji observed Hayasaka Ai as she poured him a drink with practiced elegance. He couldn't help but notice the way she seemed unusually attentive.

  "So, now that we're being ho," Ryuji began, his tone light, "who put you up to this?"

  Hayasaka, unfazed, smiled slyly. "'t a girl be ied in someone as remarkable as Mr. Ryuji?"

  Ryuji chuckled, seeing through her facade. "e on. Kaguya's too io pn something like this."

  Hayasaka's smile didn't waver. "Believe what you like, Mr. Ryuji," she said, tilting her head slightly. "After all, who wouldn't want to make a good impression on someoh your... ualents?"

  Ryuji smirked, not fully buying it but willing to py along.