"As long as they are not family, they are all outsiders… This is from your experience, isn't it?"
Asato Hitomi understood her mother's meaning immediately. Because her mother had initially married her father through a political arrangement—a calculated union of families—and only later fell in love with him. It could be said to be a classic example of love after marriage. Perhaps it was during that process that her mother had developed pure feelings for her father.
Of course, it wasn't to say that just because people were family, they would necessarily get along well. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many terrible families in the world. Just like Asato Hitomi herself and her mother—they couldn't bring themselves to reconcile before, and their relationship had remained at an all-time low, only now showing signs of improvement.
However, it was true that pure feelings were more likely to arise among family members. Asato Hitomi felt this way about her younger sister, Akira-chan, so she could accept this notion on an intellectual level.
But she couldn't fully understand: besides family, did pure feelings truly not exist?
Because her most important relationships right now were her friends. She believed that friends could also be important presences that lasted a lifetime, so she naturally hoped to develop pure feelings with them. She had invested so much of herself into these bonds.
But she also understood that, although her relationship with the three Literary Club members was very good now, it hadn't reached the point of treating them as her own children—that level of unconditional devotion. She used to think that perhaps as their time together lengthened, their friendship would gradually deepen. But now she had to question that assumption.
Time alone wasn't the magic ingredient.
Asato Megumi also noticed her daughter's confusion and continued to explain, her voice patient yet firm.
"Of course, what I'm saying isn't absolute. While it's true for me, there are 'exceptions.'"
Asato Hitomi was somewhat surprised to hear her mother not speak in absolutes. In the past, her mother would only demand that she accept her reasoning without question—a one-way transmission of wisdom.
Indeed, her mother had become much more flexible. The change was subtle but unmistakable.
Facing such a mother, Asato Hitomi could also humble herself more to seek her guidance. She set aside her pride, just a little.
"Could you please elaborate on the exceptions?"
"Of course." Asato Megumi took a sip of her tea, savoring the warmth. "For example, for men who have served in the military, there is a purer camaraderie with comrades they can entrust their lives to. That absolute trust in each other can even surpass that of family. But not everyone has the special status of a comrade, do they?"
"I see…" Hitomi nodded slowly. "That is indeed an 'exception.'"
"So, what I'm saying is just the general situation. In reality, for an individual, the judgment of the importance of different people in their heart will vary depending on their 'identity' and 'environment.'"
"Identity and environment…"
Asato Hitomi was pensive. These two words used to only make her think of 'restrictions'—chains that bound her to expectations she hadn't chosen. But when her mother had just mentioned giving her the dowry prepared for her in advance, she realized that the Asato family surname actually brought her many things. It wasn't just a cage; it was also a source of power.
It turned out she had just been unilaterally unwilling to accept her family's help, like a rebellious child refusing to eat their vegetables because they didn't like the taste. However, what she ate, what she wore, and the cars she rode in were all from her family. The conveniences her family provided her were far more than she had ever imagined.
"Exactly, because humans are creatures that 'compare with each other' and extract emotions from that comparison." Asato Megumi's eyes glinted with understanding. "A large part of the pure feelings you desire comes from this dynamic. Sometimes it can also manifest as jealousy, pride, or even hatred, but becoming distorted proves that the source of this emotion is pure love. It's the same energy, just channeled differently."
At this moment, Asato Hitomi recalled the smug expression Shinomiya Shion had worn on her face by the window that morning—that subtle, infuriating smile of satisfaction. Just as her mother said, that was an expression born from a sense of superiority after internal comparison… which made it even more infuriating, because it made her realize she had been outdone. The feeling was unmistakable.
"So, you first need to analyze your identity and your environment, and then determine who is important to you. Simply put, you need to create a priority list in your heart."
"Priority list?" Hitomi tilted her head, intrigued.
"Yes, it refers to the ranking of important people in your life. Of course, I'm not asking you to make a difficult choice, nor will I ask you foolish moral dilemmas like 'who to save if two people fall into a river at the same time.' It's simply from the heart—in terms of importance, you can always rank them one, two, three."
Asato Megumi's previous upbringing of her daughter had been a failure, she now admitted. Imposing adult principles on a child was the worst teaching method, so being disliked by her eldest daughter was her own doing. But today, Asato Megumi was completely different from the past. She would lead by example, explaining these truths she had realized through her own life experience.
"For example, for me, before I got married, the most important thing to me was the Asato family—which means my parents, your grandparents. And after I got married, my family became the most important part of my life. So for me, the most important people are my husband and children…"
"But for you, Mother, Father is still the most important, isn't he?"
"That's true now." Asato Megumi's expression softened, just a fraction. "And then there's you, Hitomi, and Akira-chan. The three of you are in the top three positions in my heart. And then… myself."
"Yourself, really?" Asato Hitomi showed a somewhat surprised expression.
Because according to her mother's previous statements, she had thought her mother would then mention her grandparents or other relatives. But it turned out to be herself. That was unexpected.
And this was the essence of Asato Megumi's lesson this time—the core of her wisdom.
"Yes, exactly myself. In reality, most people put 'themselves' first. Everyone thinks of themselves first in any situation. Hitomi, you can think about whether this is true for you."
"…"
Asato Hitomi reflected as her mother had instructed, turning the idea over in her mind like a puzzle piece. And at that moment, she suddenly realized that the source of all her emotions was indeed 'herself.' Every feeling, every desire, every frustration—it all traced back to her own needs.
"This is precisely why you have the idea of treating the other person as your possession," Asato Megumi continued, her voice gentle but piercing. "Because for you, what is most important is always yourself."
"I see…"
Asato Hitomi seemed to understand a little. Although her heart's desire was to think of her friends, tracing it back to the root, the true reason for wanting to think of her friends was actually because 'she wanted friends.' The desire was self-originating.
And Kuroha Akira was the same. Why did he like money so much? Ultimately, because he wanted to live a relaxed and pleasant life. In the end, it was still for himself. He was honest about it.
And this was also the reason why most people could get along happily with Kuroha Akira—because he was not fake. He was selfish but real. There was no pretense, no hidden agenda beyond his own comfort.
In contrast, she herself was insincere… She said she valued friends the most, but in the end, wanting friends was still for herself. She hadn't been honest about her own motivations.
"And the key lies in whether, in this priority list, there is an existence with a higher priority than yourself," Asato Megumi said. "The pure feelings you desire are mostly found within that space."
"Are you referring to… love?" Hitomi's voice dropped.
"Generally speaking, after having someone you like, this kind of feeling is more likely to emerge. Because love is the feeling that most makes people want to give everything. Many people will consider the other person more important than themselves after falling in love. Marriage is the same principle—I myself am the best example."
So Asato Megumi had an existence with a higher priority than herself—her husband and children. But she did not put her parents before herself, which indicated that Asato Megumi's relationship with her own parents was not particularly good. Perhaps, when the Asato family had chosen to let her mother accept the arranged marriage, her mother had also harbored some resentment in her heart. History repeating itself.
"But as I just said, love is not the only thing that can meet this condition… However, this depends on your own thoughts, Hitomi."
"You mean whether I can spontaneously consider the other person more important than myself, right?"
Asato Megumi couldn't help but show a joyful expression, appearing very satisfied. This child, Hitomi, was indeed smart from a young age—she understood everything with just a hint, like a prodigy solving a puzzle before the pieces were even laid out.
"That's right. If you, Hitomi, cannot put the other person's priority before your own, then the pure feelings you desire will be like a mirage—something that can be seen but not reached, an oasis that disappears as you approach."
However, Asato Megumi, to prevent her daughter from giving foolishly or recklessly, still added a crucial explanation.
"Of course, I'm not asking you to selflessly dedicate yourself without any thought of return. After all, it would be too sad to give without getting anything in return—that's not love, that's martyrdom. Feelings should be mutual, so at the very least, the other person must be someone who can respond to you, so that you can achieve mutual understanding. It's a two-way street, not a one-way sacrifice."
"Hmm…"
At this moment, the first person who appeared in Asato Hitomi's mind was Kuroha Akira.
Akira-kun—is he someone who can respond to her?
No… at least for now, she couldn't think of anyone who he would consider more important than money. Not even Shinomiya Shion, who lived with him, seemed to have surpassed his obsession with financial security. He was pragmatic to a fault.
"But before you give your true heart, you must first clearly see if the other person is worthy of your true heart. This is like investing; it requires your discerning eye and careful evaluation. You wouldn't invest your life savings in a company without researching it first."
"However, unlike investing, investing can still expect returns based on data and analysis. But the giving of emotions is very likely to be a wasted effort—there are no guarantees, no safety nets. Therefore, it can be said that this is 'the biggest gamble in life,' because you cannot be sure whether the other person will truly place you in a more important position in their heart than themselves—as important as you consider him to be."
Asato Megumi's voice softened, carrying the weight of her own experience.
"I am lucky, because I won the gamble. But I know many people who have lost miserably in this gamble—people who gave everything and received nothing in return. So, Hitomi, I will no longer force you to interact with anyone. That decision is yours alone to make."
Asato Megumi showed a bitter smile. She also knew that she had been too stubborn before, seemingly understanding people's hearts but in reality not even understanding her own. Precisely because she was becoming happier and happier under her husband's care, she understood even more how hard-won this happiness was—and how fragile it could be.
"Mother… Mom…"
Asato Hitomi once again used the more intimate address of "Mom" for Asato Megumi—a small but significant shift. Because at this moment, she truly felt her mother's concern for her. This time, everything Asato Megumi said was from the heart—a mother's teaching and genuine worry for her daughter.
"If you, Hitomi, only want money, or want to know how to manipulate people, I can teach you those skills easily. But what you want now is 'true heart'—and that is something even I cannot say I can definitely get my hands on. It's not something you can purchase or strategize into existence."
"It is so precious, so valuable that once obtained, one becomes cautious, fearing to lose it again. You hold it like a glass sculpture, terrified that any wrong move might shatter it."
"So now, I actually think it's fine for you, Hitomi, to continue putting yourself first—that way, you won't 'develop a weakness.' Self-preservation isn't selfishness; it's wisdom."
The Asato Megumi of the past had her own set of rigid principles, which was also the Asato family's consistent style. Even for a period after giving birth to Asato Hitomi, she still put herself first, which is why she forced Asato Hitomi to inherit that same cold pragmatism. At that time, she was actually 'stronger' than she is now—strong in the sense of being forceful and unyielding.
However, the current Asato Megumi had clearly become much 'weaker.' Her personality, attitude, and way of handling things had all become 'softer,' more flexible. She had learned to bend without breaking.
"But… Mom, you are very happy now, aren't you?" Hitomi asked, her voice curious.
"Yes… I am very happy now. But I am still not satisfied." Asato Megumi's eyes grew distant. "I even want to make up for the mistakes I made before—to repair my relationship with my daughter and with my mother-in-law… This is something the old me would never have thought of. I would have considered it weakness."
"But," Hitomi pressed, "does it feel good? This 'weakness'?"
Asato Megumi showed a happy smile, genuine and warm. This was the warm feeling of happiness she had never experienced in the Asato family before her marriage—the kind that came from connection, not control.
"Yes… it's very warm."
"So, Mom, you can also show this kind of 'true smile' now."
"Because true heart is such a terrifying thing—it can make a person 'completely unrecognizable,' haha." Asato Megumi laughed softly.
"Haha, Mom, you really have become a different person."
Asato Hitomi also showed a smile—not a smile worn as a mask as usual, but a natural expression of joy that reached her eyes. The mother-daughter relationship of the Asato family finally returned from negative to zero, and moved slightly towards positive territory.
Everything that needed to be taught to her daughter had been said. Asato Megumi would no longer interfere with her daughter's affairs as she had in the past, and she also believed that the intelligent Hitomi would think for herself and make her own choices after hearing these words. After all, she knew that her daughter's greatest strength was 'learning'—the ability to absorb wisdom and apply it.
Next was casual conversation time, and Asato Megumi asked her daughter.
"Speaking of which, Rui-san reported to me that you, Hitomi, seemed to have gone to 'that house' some time ago?"
"Yes, I went once, but I didn't go inside the house."
Asato Hitomi deliberately emphasized this point, because she still remembered her mother's previous instruction: not to enter that house without permission, especially after the owner of that house passed away. Now was a sensitive period, and she should not act rashly.
"Is it because you miss her? But she still comes to our house occasionally to see you and Akira-chan, right? Or is there another reason?"
"It's another reason." Hitomi's voice was careful. "My friend lives there."
"Your friend… lives in that house?"
"Yes."
"I see…"
Asato Megumi immediately understood many things, and her smile carried a hint of intriguing meaning—the kind of knowing look that said she was connecting dots her daughter hadn't even noticed.
Then she said to her daughter, "Hitomi, from now on, you don't have to mind what I told you before. You can go anytime you want, and you can also go inside the house."
"Is it okay?" Hitomi's eyes widened with surprise. "Won't it affect Dad?"
Asato Hitomi had strictly adhered to this agreement since she was a child—not because she was afraid of her mother, but because she was afraid of affecting her father's career. She had always put family first in that way.
"It's okay now. You're already so grown up, and your father has been biding his time for a long time. He won't be affected by such a small matter anymore."
Moreover, that house was originally his house. He would eventually return to the place where he was born and raised to reclaim everything that rightfully belonged to him. He couldn't let 'outsiders' who appeared out of nowhere snatch it away.
Asato Megumi thought so, though she didn't voice this part aloud.
And for Asato Hitomi, although she didn't know the specific details, this was undoubtedly a significant 'lifting of the ban.' This meant that she could now intrude into that territory that originally belonged only to Shinomiya Shion—the home turf where her rival had established dominance.
Of course, before competing with her, Asato Hitomi had to think carefully and seriously consider: Was Kuroha Akira truly the man she could put first—more important than herself?
Right now, he was just a candidate—mainly because she hadn't figured out 'what kind of identity' to give Kuroha Akira, and this would affect what kind of feelings would arise later.
As her mother said, love was the purest emotion that was easiest to develop, and marriage was the fastest path to becoming family. But she still wanted to explore 'if there were other possibilities'—if friendship could somehow evolve into something just as deep without the romantic complications.
Because she was not sure if Kuroha Akira would return her true feelings after she gave him her love. In fact, she knew that it was highly likely he wouldn't.
The main reason was that Asato Hitomi felt that, based on her understanding of Kuroha Akira, he would definitely be a philanderer. He was too charming, too easygoing, too naturally attractive to women. Because no woman could be ranked first in his heart—any woman who was beautiful, talented, pleasant to be with, and fun to get along with, could potentially become a woman he liked.
He liked 'everyone,' and she was probably 'one of everyone.' Ultimately, she just wasn't special enough to claim that top spot.
If she were to marry Kuroha Akira and become his wife, that would certainly make her special in a formal sense. But the problem was, Kuroha Akira was not a monogamous man like her father. If he later met a woman with whom he was truly compatible—someone who made his heart race in a way she couldn't—he would most likely cheat. The risk was simply too high.
Ultimately, Asato Hitomi lacked the confidence to become Kuroha Akira's top priority through love alone. If Shinomiya Shion was overwhelmingly a 'love-brained' person—someone who would throw everything away for love—then Asato Hitomi was a complete 'anti-love-brained' person. She approached relationships with strategy, not surrender.
No, she reconsidered, ultimately, women don't matter to him at all. The most important thing in his heart is money…
To become more important than money?
How was that even possible!
No, still not right. She paused, re-evaluating her thinking. Let's review what Mom said: money is just a tool to measure value and facilitate exchange. Comparing people to tools is inherently biased.
Asato Hitomi felt her thinking was veering off track and began to re-frame her approach.
Reverse the thinking—not opposing money, but standing on money's side?
That is to say, I have to tie myself to money…
I see.
The realization dawned on her like sunrise after a long night.
No wonder Mom's initial advice was to 'make the other person your own,' and the specific method was to buy them with money.
But the problem was, she didn't have enough capital to buy the other person's life completely. Although she didn't know exactly how much her dowry was, it would probably be very difficult to purchase Akira-kun all at once. Moreover, Akira-kun wasn't in a deep debt crisis right now, so this wasn't the right 'entry timing' her mother had spoken of.
In other words, she had to wait for the perfect moment—and then 'invest' at the appropriate time. That way, whenever he thought of money in the future, he would inevitably think of her. Thus, she would become a permanent part of his life, woven into his financial fabric.
By then, if she also gave her true heart, he would think: 'She has given me so much money, and she's so good to me—how can I not reciprocate?'
Then, even under a sense of guilt—or perhaps obligation—he would begin to give back more. Not just money, but time, attention, commitment.
Asato Hitomi, with her uniquely calculating line of thought, had conceived of a relationship that transcended the usual boundaries of love—a more 'mundane' but infinitely more binding connection.
That was: creditor and debtor.
The strongest relationship in this world—bound by money, cemented by debt. To make him owe her for a lifetime, unable to repay until death, so he would think of her constantly, even in his dreams. Although, such dreams would likely be nightmares—but that was fine too.
Anyway, she thought, this way, I will become an unforgettable existence etched in your memory, leaving an indelible mark in your heart… Isn't this constant yearning the purest form of attachment?
And then, I will never again feel frustrated by being unable to be seen by you.
Great… The problem is solved.
That night, Asato Hitomi slept soundly for the first time in weeks. Because at this moment, she finally felt at ease. She also knew very clearly what she needed to do next.
That was to wait for the most suitable time to invest, then seize the opportunity to put in her dowry at the perfect moment, and then engage in 'human interest compounding'—the most powerful force in the financial universe.
Akira-kun, she whispered to herself as she drifted off, I want you to owe me for a lifetime.