It was around 10 PM at night.
Shinjuku Prince Hotel, Tokyo.
Inside the dining and bar FUGA, Restaurant.
There were 8 people sitting at the vip table.
"I don't understand why you brought a kid here, Tokiomi?"
One of them holding a wine glass raised a question at Tohsaka Tokiomi.
Hearing this, others also glanced at him playfully.
This made the kid in the question who was sitting next to Tokiomi very annoyed, but it was only for a second.
With a hypocritical smile on his face, he continued eating without worrying since he knew someone would help him.
All of them noticed this, except Tohsaka Tokiomi and snorted disdainfully in their hearts.
"What an arrogant Kid!"
"Cough!" Tohsaka Tokiomi coughed and spoke up, "He's my son-in-law, Shinji Matou. Grandson of Zouken Matou."
"His grandfather wants him to learn and adapt with this kind of situation as the next successor of Matou Corporation."
Tohsaka Tokiomi's words made everyone speechless.
Has that old man gone mad? Didn't he know the particular of today's meeting?
You, actually sent a kid here?
Are you looking down on us?
Even they grow older, the arrogance withing them hadn't diminished at all.
"Hello, Everyone."
Shinji stood up and greeted like he was some big shot.
Though he might sound polite, there was no politeness from his action.
"Humph! A kid is a Kid. This meeting is not for everyone! Go there and sit!"
The one who spoke was Kyoshiro Tohdoh.
Tohdoh was a tall man with spiky brown hair and eyebrows.
His words made Shinji freeze.
Tohsaka Tokiomi covered his eyes as he had expected this from the beginning.
And, it was clearly Shinji's fault for his pretentious action.
Who gave you the courage to act here?
Your Grandfather?
Not enough.
Have you forgotten what he said before?
Even though he introduced him as his son-in-law to add a little capital, he knew very well that no one would take it to heart.
After all, their status is there.
Each had their own pride and arrogance.
Compared to them, what kind of thing are you?
Now, he was a little worried about his daughter and the future of Matau Corporation.
What's more, they are all here for a purpose not because of friendship.
You expect them to shake your hands politely?
"Kyoshiro is right! Let this kid understand his place. You think just because you're Zouken's grandson, you can do whatever you want, huh?"
Kōsetsu Kirihara, the head of the Kirihara industries jumped into his best friend's support.
"You.." Shinji's face changed at this moment.
The anger in his heart seemed to overflow.
More than that, he felt that Tohsaka Tokiomi was simply useless.
Instead of helping me, you covered your eyes.
"What? You really thought we were afraid of you? Just because you're the next successor of the family business? Since when?"
Kirihara continued with a mocking smile.
No one came forward.
They were all watching the fun.
"Listen kid. People sitting here are more powerful than your family. Now, you should understand the reason why your grandfather sent you here."
Both Tohdoh and Kirihara sneered at Shinji's thought and showed disgust at the same time.
Sure enough, it's a spoiled brat.
Thinking that everyone here is your subordinate? Are you worthy? Not even your grandfather has that qualification.
Reason why they respect Zouken was because he earned it unlike Shinji, who had no qualification or achievements.
A rich second generation.
Although some of them were born with golden spoons.
Except for him, all of them had achieved something in their lives, despite inheriting family business.
"Enough! You both don't forget why we're here!"
Ichiro Yaoyorozu, the head of the Yaoyorozu family stood up.
His timing was indeed perfect.
On hand, he let others suppress Shinji while on the other hand, he himself intervened to calm down the situation.
No matter how you look at it, it was a win-win situation for him.
This way he killed two birds with one stone.
That doesn't mean he's a villain.
As Tohsaka said they gather here for a purpose, a common interest, not because of friendship.
So, he had to think of himself first.
After Zouken, he was the senior according to his age and status too.
Even Tohsaka Tokiomi listened to him.
"Young Shinji. Are you sure you want to listen? Have your grandfather told you the main reason for this meeting?"
Ichiro Yaoyorozu turned his head and asked.
He also felt that it'd be too much for a young boy like him to follow for their next conversation.
"I..." Shinji opened his mouth and didn't know what to say.
He looked angrily at his father-in-law as if demanding to help him.
Grandpa didn't mention anything at all.
He just said, "Dear Grandson. Get ready. Today you're going to a small meeting in my place. Listen to your father-in-law. Don't make trouble and be sure to learn from them."
Shinji being Shinji. He basically blocked the last two sentences and thought that everyone here would welcome him like he used to in the past.
Unfortunately, the opposite happened.
Looking at his confused eyes, everyone present probably understood that old guy's abacus.
Ichiro said in his heart, "Zouken Zouken! This is something only you could do... Hehehe. However, have you ever thought of consequences if your plan backfired?"
At a glance, he could tell this kid had a bad temper and never saw the world.
He would bet his life on the claim that even Zouken had no idea of his grandson's sick mentality. Maybe his love for him blinded him to notice this.
Just look at his gloomy and hypocrite expression.
Tell me how a teenager could keep up with this all the time without feeling tired.
You think you're Izumi Miyamura? Not even he could do it.
Shinji was used to getting everything easily.
Enjoying wealth, privileges and flattery everywhere.
Believing that the whole world revolves around him.
A proud son of heaven!
He had never been in a situation like this, where no one is afraid of his background.
Extremely clueless about the basic rules and courtesy among rich families.
It seems he was more trash than the rumours.
I don't know what Tohsaka saw in him?
All of them had similar thoughts and some even want to laugh out loud, for Zouken to have this day as well.
If he didn't fix this shitty mentality of his, then what awaits him in the future is only death.
Zouken was fully aware of his grandson's personality and that's why he sent him here.
He also guessed what others would feel when a teenager without qualification sat on the same level with them.
Let it be a good lesson for him.
Don't get too proud because you have a good background.
It was all his fault for spoiling him too much.
After Shinji's parents died, Shinji was the only family he had left.
So, he couldn't bear to hurt him at all which resulted in him being like this.
But is this true?
He really may not be aware of his grandson's true character.
And, there was a reason why he chose to do it now.
Seeing no one coming to his rescue, Shinji gritted his teeth and thought darkly.
'Damn you all! Just wait till I go home.'
'And you Tohsaka. I'll treat your daughter very well.'
After knowing that no one is afraid of him, he finally showed his true colors.
He always bullies the weak and fears the strong.
A pathetic coward in all senses.
He could only bitch behind others.
"Ichiro-san, I think we should let him hear."
Tokiomi said, but Shinji didn't appreciated it at all.
"Trash! Why didn't you say this from the beginning? Want to watch my joke? Ok Ok.. If I don't break your precious daughter, I'll become a pig."
He dared not to say in front of his face for fear of being beaten to death.
Shinji reverted to his fake smile and thanked his dear father-in-law.
"Okay. Let's start."
"I think you all know why we all are here, right?" Ichiro took initiative as he wanted everyone to focus on the subject.
Everyone's face finally showed a bit of seriousness except Shinji.
"To be honest. I didn't expect Azami Nakamura to hide too deep."
Kirihara said with a bit of fear and others nodded.
After all, he also participate in this type of meeting in the past.
"There's no need to think about a dying man."
"I'm afraid The Imperial Family is going to rise again and we'll be suppressed again."
This sentence made everyone uncomfortable.
If it was before they could balance the power, now a biggest variable appeared making them very helpless.
You guessed it right.
They're anti-royalists.
Now, the world is changing rapidly.
This hereditary system of the Royal family has becoming less popular since the birth of democracy.
This is very undemocratic, unfair and elitist.
"However, who would have expected Izumi Miyamura is the son of Iori Vermillion. Although, he acted against The Royal Family. It's only damaged their reputation which didn't fit his usual style at all."
"This is not a good sign at all."
Tohsaka Tokiomi drank the wine and said wryly.
Izumi Miyamura?
Shinji looked terrified.
He has indeed heard this name.
Even his grandfather told him not to provoke him.
In fact, he was very unwilling in his heart.
Obviously, I'm older than him, but I'm being despised by this group whilst he was respected by them.
This differential treatment made him very unconvinced.
Why? Why?!
This is so Unfair!
No one is paying attention to him or else they could see a dark light in his eyes.
"Indeed. Don't you think this is an opportunity." Ichiro added with a smile.
"How so?"
Tohdoh looked very puzzled.
"Just think for a moment. It's all started from Royal Family. The rumours, the marriage. Iori Miyamura ran away from her home, all because the Imperial Family was rotten to the core."
"You know I was a little excited thinking that Izumi Miyamura will destroy The Royal family like he did with Nakiri. Now, looking at it, I was obviously thinking too much."
Then it hit them.
"But Ichiro-san. Izumi Miyamura has already killed the cancer of the Imperial Family. So, I think they have already reconciled and this could be their plan to fool us into the trap."
"I think so too."
"Same."
One by one agreed with it.
"But it could be the opposite. The decision for marriage cannot be done without one's father consent and also when the rumours was flying, her father didn't step forward to clarify it."
Michiaki Sakaki, the leader of East Beach Electric Railway Group, patriarch of the Sakaki clan.
He was a tidy person who was only seen to wear his office's outfit.
From his calm face, no one could tell what he was thinking, unlike Shinji.
"I'm guessing that Izumi Miyamura did this to warn them not to get over friendly with him as a few days back, they went to see him and thought that he forgave them."
Hearing this, Ichiro smiled at Sakaki while others were also thinking his words seriously.
"As expected of you, Michiaki-san.. You're indeed the brain of our group."
"Hahaha.." Sakaki waved his hand and continue to sip his wine.
He really did guess it right, but he miscalculated one thing.
Iori Miyamura father had indeed neglected this matter due to his wife's health and when he found out, the situation of the rumours had already worsened.
As for the marriage, it was entirely his fault since he was blinded by the elder's proposal.
No one is perfect.
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