The clinking of a fork against a champagne flute brought the lively chatter of the room to a hush.
Isamu Sumeragi, the patriarch, stood at the head of the main living room, a gentle smile on his face.
He held a glass aloft, his gaze sweeping over the gathered family and employees.
"Thank you all for coming." His voice was warm, carrying a weight of deep-seated authority that was still gentle. "Each and every one of you is a part of this family, and to see you all here, sharing in this joy, is the greatest gift a man could ask for."
Haruya and Tsumugi watched as he took a slow sip of his champagne, a flicker of nostalgia in his eyes. "The world outside it can be a difficult place. Filled with rivals, with competition, with fleeting trends. But this," he gestured around the room, "this is what endures. The bonds we share, the name we carry. The Sumeragi name was not built on a single person's ambition. It was built on one word alone. Family."
A chorus of cheers and "Kanpai!" echoed through the room as everyone raised their glasses.
Haruya and Tsumugi, who had just finished their cakes, found their way to the front, and their grandfather ruffled both of their heads once more, an act that felt like a silent blessing.
As the celebration returned to a lower pace, a new set of figures approached Isamu.
A tall, well-dressed man with sharp eyes, accompanied by an elegant silver-haired woman with a reserved smile.
The man bowed respectfully, a business card held between his thumb and index finger.
"Isamu-san, my deepest congratulations on another successful year and another wonderful birthday," the man said, his voice smooth and professional. "My name is Shirogane, and this is my wife. It is an honor to finally meet you."
He gestured to the card, but Isamu gently declined it with a wave of his hand.
"Mr. and Mrs. Shirogane, it is a pleasure to meet you as well," Isamu said, his smile still pleasant but his posture unyielding. "However, please, not now. Today is for family, for celebration, for the simple things. The Sumeragi name stands on a foundation of knowing when to work, and when to truly live." He gestured to the surrounding room. "Business will always be there tomorrow. My family is here today."
Mr. Shirogane's eyes widened slightly, a momentary look of surprise giving way to a respectful nod. "I understand completely. I apologize for the sudden intrusion. Please enjoy your evening."
He and his wife offered one last bow, a sincere gesture of respect.
They didn't leave, however, but smoothly blended into the crowd, finding a quiet corner near the garden entrance.
Mrs. Shirogane seemed to be somewhat upset with her husband; her smile turned into a frown as she spoke with him at the side.
The exchange was brief, almost unnoticeable to most, but Haruya and Tsumugi had watched it with quiet curiosity.
"That was kind of direct, wasn't it?" Tsumugi whispered to Haruya, not with surprise, but with a simple observation.
Haruya nodded, watching the Shiroganes as they left the premises. "He's always been like that. Business is important, but family is everything to him."
"Hm," Tsumugi said, taking another small bite of cake. "It's different. A lot of the people my parents deal with are so serious all the time."
"Yeah," Haruya agreed, a new appreciation for his family's values settling in his heart. "Grandpa is really smooth at this business thing."
"There you are, Haruya."
A gentle voice broke their quiet conversation. Haruya and Tsumugi turned to see Akari Sumeragi, Haruya's mother, approaching them.
She was a woman of timeless elegance, her long hair tied back in a neat bun, with a few strands framing her kind, oval face.
Her eyes, the same shade of gold as Haruya's, held a perpetually soft and caring gaze.
She was dressed in a simple, but beautiful, dark kimono that perfectly complemented the traditional elements of the estate.
"Oh, and Tsumugi!" Akari's face lit up with a brilliant smile as she spotted the blonde girl beside her son. "My, it's been so long! Auntie has missed you."
Akari reached out and gently patted Tsumugi's head.
Tsumugi's usual cheerful expression softened instantly, and her eyes fluttered closed with a look of pure contentment.
She leaned into the touch, letting out a small, almost purring sound, her wavy blonde hair tickling Akari's hand.
Haruya watched the scene with an amused smile, finding it both funny and endearing.
His cousin had always been a bit like a contented cat, seeking out warmth and affection.
"You've grown bigger since I saw you last year," Akari continued, her voice full of genuine affection. "You're becoming such a beautiful young lady."
Before Tsumugi could respond, Isamu came up from behind them, a glass of wine in his hand. "Akari, there you are. I was wondering where you'd gone off to."
Akari turned, her smile broadening. "Dad, happy birthday! And no, I wasn't trying to hide from everyone, I was just looking for Haruya and Tsumugi."
"These two are always together, aren't they?" Isamu said with a fond chuckle, his eyes twinkling.
He gave Haruya's shoulder a firm, loving squeeze. "It's a pity Kenjiro couldn't be here today. The work he's doing abroad is important, but a man should make time for his father's birthday."
Akari's smile faltered for a second, but she quickly recovered. "He said he sends his deepest apologies, Dad. He promised to call as soon as he could."
Isamu snorted playfully, taking a sip of his wine. "That brat hasn't even bothered to call me yet. He's been a Sumeragi for too long, always forgetting his old man. It's a good thing I have you and Haruya to keep me company." The playful tone in his voice made it clear that while he missed his son, it was far from a serious complaint.
It was a well-worn joke between them.
"Dad, there you are!"
The small family circle was then joined by two new people.
Tsumugi's parents, Minako and Masaru Kotobuki.
Minako, whose maiden name was Sumeragi, was a woman who shared a striking resemblance to her father, Isamu, with the same sharp yet kind eyes and a confident demeanor.
Masaru Kotobuki, Tsumugi's father, was a handsome man with a gentle face that seemed to match his position as the owner of one of the world's biggest musical instrument manufacturers.
"Dad, Akari, it's so good to see you all together," Masaru said, a warm smile on his face. "Haruya, my goodness, you've grown so tall! You're starting to look just like your father."
Minako reached over and ruffled Haruya's hair in the same way Isamu had moments ago. "He's right, you know. I had to do a double-take. Another few years and you'll be a spitting image of Kenjiro back in his prime."
Haruya felt slightly embarrassed, still unused to the praises of his relatives, but he was happy to see them. "Thank you, Auntie Minako, Uncle Masaru."
"We were just talking about Kenjiro," Akari said, her gaze lingered back to the old man. "He sends his best wishes."
Masaru nodded in understanding. "I'm sure he'll make it up to you, Dad." he suddenly paused and followed his words, "Minako and I just came from a table with some business acquaintances, and they were talking about the Shinomiya Zaibatsu."
Crossing his arms, he spoke in a low voice. "Apparently, they've been making some impressive strides lately."
'Shinomiya?' Haruya wondered where he had heard of that name before.
Isamu's expression, which had been warm and open, hardened almost imperceptibly at the mention of the Shinomiya Zaibatsu.
He let out a loud, derisive snort.
"Success?" he scoffed. "It's just Gan'an letting that brat of his, Oko, run amok and use dirty tactics to get what he wants. He's been expanding the Shinomiya Zaibatsu by preying on smaller companies, using hostile takeovers and price manipulation."
"They think they're on top because they're growing fast, but they're sacrificing their integrity to do it. That's not success. That's just being a bully with money. And let me tell you, it's not a sustainable model. They're still not a match for the Sumeragi family's strength. We've built our name on honor and unity, not on deception and greed." The old man complained.
His words, though spoken with a low, rumbling voice, carried a cold edge that was unusual for his birthday party.
Haruya clearly noticed that his grandfather saw the world of business as a battlefield, but he believed in fighting honorably, with strategy and the strength of a united front.
The Shinomiyas, in his view, had no honor. They were parasites, not pioneers.
"Oh, Dad," Akari said gently, placing a hand on his arm. "It's your birthday. Don't let a discussion about business sour the mood."
Minako nodded in agreement. "Akari is right, Father. Let's talk about something more pleasant." She turned to Tsumugi. "Mugi, have you told Haruya about your latest piano recital? Tell them how you won another award."
The subject change was a smooth, well-practiced transition.
It was as if a silent pact existed within the family to shield Isamu from the more distasteful aspects of the business world, at least on his special day.
Isamu's stern expression softened. He shook his head, a small, amused smile returning to his face.
"Right. My apologies," he said, his voice returning to its usual warmth. "Let's not bother with those lousy Shinomiyas. Now, about that piano piece, Tsumugi… I want to hear all about it."
The conversation flowed easily from there, shifting from the harsh realities of the business world to the more peaceful, creative world of music.
Tsumugi eagerly launched into a detailed explanation of her latest composition, her hands gesturing excitedly as she described the complex melodies and chords.
She moved her fingers through the air as if pressing down on invisible keys, her passion for the music clear to everyone.
Akari and Minako, meanwhile, slipped into a quiet conversation of their own, each of them with an arm around their respective children, their voices soft and low.
Haruya found himself captivated by his family's enthusiasm, realizing that this was what his grandfather meant by the concept of putting family first.
A space where they could be themselves, a place of shared interests and genuine connection, unburdened by the pressures of the outside world.
As the night slowly grew more silent, the party began to wind down.
One by one, the guests paid their respects to Isamu and the rest of the Sumeragis and began to leave.
The Sumeragi and Kotobuki families gathered once more near the entrance, their farewells a mix of warm hugs and heartfelt promises to meet again soon.
"I'll come visit you as soon as we're settled in Tokyo, Onii-chan!" Tsumugi chirped, giving Haruya one last tight hug. "No more homeschooling, so we can finally go to school together."
Haruya smiled, his heart feeling full. "I'll be waiting."
Isamu watched his grandchildren interact with each other with a smile on his aged face.
He turned to the daughter and in in-laws. "Can't you stay for tonight?"
"Dad, you know how busy we are," Minako rolled her eyes. "But don't worry, once we've settled back into Tokyo, we'll visit you more."
"Alright, alright," Isamu waved his hands and complained humorously. "Politicians and their sweet words."
"We'll make sure to visit more, Dad." Akari softly replied. "I apologize if Haruya and I haven't been able to drop by often. I don't have much time to take him here."
Haruya raised his head and stared at his grandfather. "I'll make sure to visit you more often, grandpa," he promised.
Isamu's eyes softened as he looked at his precious family. "I understand. You should all head home before it gets too late. I'll have the staff clean this all up. These old bones also need to get some rest."
Seemingly trying to hide his expression, Isamu turned around and left, only waving his hand back at them without looking back.
"I think he's about to cry." Minako laughed alongside her husband, knowing how emotional her father could get.
"Well then," she turned towards Akari and Haruya, "it's also time for us to go home. Tsumugi, say goodbye to Haruya for now."
"Goodbye, Onii-chan! I'll see you soon!" Tsumugi gave Haruya a big hug and left with her parents.
Watching her parents lead her away, a splash of cheerful, blonde energy in the otherwise formal setting, Haruya felt a pang of sadness.
But it was quickly replaced by a quiet excitement.
The feeling of seeing his little sister-cousin again had been a comforting anchor in his life, and now that anchor would be much closer in the near future.
He turned to his mother, who was already waiting for him.
The drive back to their home was silent, but it was a comfortable silence.
Haruya looked out the window, watching the city lights blur by.
The words of his grandfather and the image of his cousin's excited face echoed in his mind.
Today, it seemed like he learned a lot more.
He knew, with a certainty that was both gentle and strong, that their family's strength was not in its empire, but in the unbreakable bonds they all shared.
More than ever, he was excited about the future.
...
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