The Night of the Party
Tokyo's elite gathered at the Imperial Grand Hotel, a venue reserved only for the most prestigious events. The ballroom glittered under the light of crystal chandeliers, the air thick with the scent of expensive champagne and hidden agendas.
Tonight wasn't just a celebration of Ayaka and Ryo's engagement.
It was a declaration of war.
The moment Ryo stepped into the venue, every pair of eyes turned toward him. Some with curiosity, some with amusement—but many with suspicion.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, he exuded an air of effortless confidence. Unshaken. Untouchable.
But when Ayaka entered a few moments later, the room truly fell silent.
She wore a breathtaking crimson gown, the color of both power and danger, accentuating every graceful movement she made. She looked like a queen.
And next to her, Ryo looked like the king she had chosen.
They walked together, unhurried but deliberate, making it clear to everyone present—this wasn't a game anymore.
---
The First Strike
As expected, the first challenge came almost immediately.
A woman in a deep emerald dress approached with a glass of wine in hand, a smirk playing on her lips.
Reina.
Ryo's ex-girlfriend. And the woman currently milking the engagement for her own publicity.
"Ryo," she greeted smoothly, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "I never thought I'd see the day. You? Engaged?"
Ayaka barely reacted. But Ryo noticed the slight way her fingers curled against the side of her gown.
He smirked. "Reina, always a pleasure. Enjoying the party?"
Reina's eyes flicked to Ayaka, assessing her. "I must say, Ayaka, you're braver than I thought. Marrying a man with a history like his? That takes either confidence or foolishness."
Ayaka smiled—polite, calculated. But there was steel in her eyes.
"Well, Reina," Ayaka replied smoothly, taking Ryo's arm, "some of us prefer to judge a man by who he is now, rather than who he was with… certain mistakes in the past."
Reina's smirk twitched, her grip on the wine glass tightening.
Ryo barely held back a laugh.
But before Reina could fire back, a voice cut through the tension.
"That's enough."
Everyone turned.
Daichi Tachibana.
Ayaka's father stood at the top of the staircase, his presence commanding immediate attention. The real battle had begun.
---
Father vs. Fiancé
"Ryo Kazuki," Daichi's voice was calm, but laced with challenge. "Since you're now part of the Tachibana family, it's only right that we put your skills to the test."
Murmurs spread through the room. A test? At an engagement party?
Ryo merely raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't aware engagements required an exam."
A low chuckle rippled through the guests, but Daichi remained unfazed.
"I believe in knowing the worth of the people I allow into my family," Daichi continued. "So let's make this simple." He gestured toward a deck of cards being brought in by one of his assistants.
"We'll play a game," Daichi said. "One hand. Winner takes all."
Ryo's expression didn't change. "And what exactly am I wagering?"
"If you win," Daichi said, "I will publicly announce my full support for this engagement, with no further interference."
Ryo's jaw tightened slightly. He wasn't stupid—Daichi never made bets he could lose.
"And if I lose?" Ryo asked.
Daichi smirked. "Then you walk away from Ayaka. For good."
---
The Room Holds Its Breath
Silence fell over the ballroom.
Everyone was watching.
Waiting.
Ayaka's heart pounded. She wanted to stop this. To shut her father down.
But she also knew Ryo.
He wouldn't back down.
And when she looked into his eyes, she didn't see doubt. She saw fire.
Ryo stepped forward. "Alright." He picked up a card, glancing at it before setting it down. "Let's play."
---
The Game Begins
The dealer shuffled.
Two cards were placed face down in front of them.
Ryo glanced at his cards—King of Spades. Nine of Hearts.
Daichi's expression was unreadable. Of course it was.
The dealer placed three community cards on the table.
Ace of Diamonds. Ten of Clubs. Queen of Spades.
A dangerous spread. A straight could form easily.
Ryo didn't blink. "Check."
Daichi's lips twitched slightly. "Raise."
Ryo tilted his head, pretending to consider. "Call."
Another card.
Jack of Hearts.
The tension thickened. Now anyone with a King had a straight.
Ryo's pulse remained steady. He already had his move.
Daichi glanced at his own cards, then met Ryo's gaze. "All in."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Ayaka's breath caught.
He was forcing Ryo to risk everything.
But Ryo Kazuki only smiled.
"Call."
---
The Reveal
Daichi flipped his cards.
Ten of Spades. Jack of Diamonds.
A strong hand. But not strong enough.
Ryo laid his cards down.
King of Spades. Nine of Hearts.
The King completed the straight.
Ryo had won.
The room exploded into murmurs.
Daichi's jaw tightened. For the first time, the great Daichi Tachibana had lost.
Ryo leaned forward slightly. "I believe that means you owe us your full support."
For a moment, Ayaka thought her father might refuse.
Then, he did something no one expected.
He laughed.
Not bitterly. Not angrily.
But with something almost like… amusement.
"You're dangerous, Kazuki," Daichi said, standing. "Very well. A promise is a promise. You have my public support."
And just l
ike that—Ryo had won the first battle.
But Ayaka knew her father too well.
The real war was just beginning.
---
End of Chapter 9