Ultimate Man [JJK X SOL]: Loading Golden Entries at The Start

"Has he not arrived yet?"

The Suzuki family, a powerhouse in the world of business and technology, holds a similar status to the Shinomiya family in this world. However, there's a notable difference between them: while the Shinomiya family has many heirs and constant competition, the Suzuki family doesn't face such internal strife.

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

Sonoko Suzuki was feeling restless. 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 come along as well.

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

Seeing her daughter's lack of composure, Tomoko sighed internally. Despite her age, Sonoko still hadn't learned the 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 understand, this may no longer be a world where business empires dominate, but one where sorcerers hold real power," Tomoko explained, 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 was plenty of time to guide her into becoming a fitting successor.

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

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

Makoto was known as a karate champion, someone with reflexes quick enough to dodge bullets. Impressive as that was to the average person, it didn't mean much to someone 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 compare to a sorcerer?

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

"Huh?" Sonoko looked confused 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 innocence, but it was good to hear her confirm it. Her expression softened.

"Good. Just remember, Makoto Kyogoku is, after all, just an ordinary person," Tomoko cautioned. "He might just be interested 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 interest, 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 place of care.

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

"Apologies if our family drama has entertained you, Miss Mei Mei," Tomoko said, noticing 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 second 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 place well enough not to antagonize a person her own father would respect.

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

"Oh, don't thank me too soon," Mei Mei replied lazily, lifting her wine glass. "I'm not here because of your family, after all."

Mei Mei's interest lay solely in the presence of Ryuji. The Suzuki family's invitation had simply provided her with a convenient 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 honored to have you here."

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kaguya, feeling no need to hide the truth from Chika, simply nodded.

Encouraged, Chika leaned in closer, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "I also heard from my father that this banquet 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 arranged it."

Chika's eyes widened. "Does that mean Kaguya-chan 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 knew that if Ryuji gave his consent, her father would likely arrange the wedding sooner rather than later. After all, this was a rare opportunity to secure an alliance with someone as powerful as him.

As she thought about it, Kaguya's mind drifted back to her brief interactions with Ryuji—the strong, confident 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 honest," Ryuji began, his tone light, "who put you up to this?"

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

Ryuji chuckled, seeing through her facade. "Come on. Kaguya's too innocent to plan 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 someone with your... unique talents?"

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

***

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