Noticing that Ayanokoji's expression was a little off, his eyes seeming dim yet revealing a hint of distortion, Meari couldn't help but poke Ayanokoji's arm with her hand.
"Ayanokoji, are you alright?" Meari asked with concern.
"...I'm fine." Ayanokoji looked up and smiled, "I just haven't sat down to eat with family like this in a long time, and I'm a little nostalgic."
This was the truth; he initially thought that, but his thoughts went astray midway...
"Ayanokoji, you're still just a high school student, aren't you? Don't your parents eat with you?"
Ayari's father followed Ayanokoji's words and inquired about his family situation.
"My family situation is a bit different from others."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka cleared his throat slightly, "My mother passed away very early. My father is probably a government official and is very busy every day. He lives outside so as not to disturb me. So, I've been living alone since junior high, and it's been a long time since I've eaten with family..."
He hadn't eaten with family since junior high... This was something Meari didn't even know.
Ayari's mother, on the side, felt a surge of sympathy and couldn't help but say, "He's a father, yet he can't fulfill his fatherly responsibilities. How high is his position, how busy is he? It's been years, and he can't even spare a moment to eat with you?"
Ayanokoji shook his head with a wry smile, "I don't know, because of some confidentiality policies, he never tells me about these things."
"Confidentiality policies..." Hearing this term, Ayari's father frowned and gently admonished his wife, "Alright, everyone's family situation is different, so don't worry about these things."
As a middle-aged man, he keenly sensed that it might be related to politics and didn't want to discuss it. His wife glared at him and then continued to ask Ayanokoji other questions.
"If your father doesn't eat with you, do you have anyone else at home to take care of you?"
"I had a private tutor with me when I was in elementary school. After she left, I've been living alone," Ayanokoji paused, then added, "Oh, and I also have an older brother who is currently attending Advanced Nurturing High School."
"Advanced Nurturing High School?"
Hearing that name, Ayari's parents both turned their heads and exclaimed, "That's one of the top prestigious schools in the country! Your brother actually got into that school!"
Advanced Nurturing High School, this school is equivalent to "Hengshui High School" in China, very famous among parents, a top prestigious school in the country with almost a hundred percent success rate in college admission and employment.
In the eyes of their generation, entering Advanced Nurturing High School and successfully graduating meant securing a stable government job.
Moreover, during their time at this school, all student expenses were covered by the school, and students lived in dormitories as part of a communal life. As long as their child was sent to this school, they wouldn't have to bear the students' living expenses anymore.
Many financially struggling families hoped their children could attend Advanced Nurturing High School, and Ayari's parents were no exception.
Meari's grades had always been at the top of her class since she was young, and her parents had high hopes for her, wishing she could attend Advanced Nurturing High School.
As long as she attended that school, future job prospects would be no problem at all, and she would have a bright and visible future.
But Meari was more stubborn than they imagined, insisting on applying to Private Hyakkaou Academy, a school they had never even heard of before.
The reputation of Private Hyakkaou Academy only circulated within the upper echelons of society; although many children from wealthy families graduated from this school, its reputation was not widely known because it only admitted a small number of students each year.
Meari also entered this school with the goal of changing her social class, managing to get in as a commoner with great difficulty.
"If Meari hadn't changed her mind, she would be attending that school right now..." Ayari's mother sighed.
Saying this, she gave Meari a resentful look.
Because of the "confidentiality agreement" signed before enrollment, Meari did not tell her parents that it was a "gambling high school"; they did not know the specific situation she was in at school, simply thinking it was a noble high school.
Of course, to avoid worrying them, Meari did not mention these things either.
That was a noble high school! Although Meari, as a top student, was exempt from tuition, her living expenses would definitely be high... Ayari's mother couldn't help but worry, unsure if she could afford it.
Hearing the hidden complaint in her mother's words, Meari rolled her eyes.
If she had really gone to Advanced Nurturing High School, how could she have several million yen in her possession after only one month of enrollment? And... how could she have met Ayanokoji Kiyotaka?
"Meari is excellent; most people in our school are not as good as her. She will get good grades no matter which school she attends."
At this moment, Ayanokoji chimed in.
Ayanokoji could see that Ayari's mother was concerned about expenses, so to dispel her worries, he continued, "Our school often gives cash rewards to students with excellent grades. The top ten students receive at least one million yen in prize money."
"One million yen!? They reward students that much?"
His monthly salary was only three or four hundred thousand, so how could the school reward students so much money? It was equivalent to several months of his salary.
Not only Ayari's parents but even Meari herself was confused. When did the school have such a rule?
As Meari was feeling bewildered, she noticed Ayanokoji subtly winking at her and instantly understood—Ayanokoji was finding an excuse for her, allowing her to openly display the money she had won to her parents.
At this moment, Ayanokoji didn't forget to cover for her... He really must be interested in her.
Meari lowered her head, hiding the smile on her face.
During their conversation, lunchtime quickly passed.
Ayari's parents were very satisfied with Ayanokoji.
He had rushed to their house early in the morning and meticulously prepared expensive gifts, indicating his regard for Meari.
His appearance and demeanor also brightened their eyes; he looked as handsome as a male lead in a morning drama, and he had a very elegant and amiable temperament.
He was truly a genuine second-generation rich kid, just as Meari had said, even living alone in a luxurious duplex mansion.
Ayari's family still lived in a simple three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment.
Although he came from a wealthy family, he didn't have the arrogance of the rich; his conversation was polite, graceful, confident, and sincere.
Moreover, he was very good to Meari, constantly praising her virtues and saying how excellent she was during their conversation...
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was simply too outstanding, so much so that Ayari's parents began to have doubts.
Could their daughter really be friends with such a boy?
Was she really not hiring a rented boyfriend to fool them?
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