I used Nene's last name in this because they aren't together in this chapter.
Also, it's been 10 chapters. I tried to post the link to the discord but this site won't let me. If you really want it, I could try to PM you it.
Etsuya truly knew the meaning of risk.
It was a concept that he dealt with nearly every day. He was a businessman, after all. He had to know both the pros and cons of any deal he was thinking of making. He had to know the people he was getting mixed into. He had to be prepared for any losses. He had to calculate every move he made in order to come out okay in the end.
Of course, he would run into unexpected things from time to time. Not every scenario was the same. He learned that the hard way several times, the most recent one happening in his very own headquarters of Totsuki with Yukihira and Aldini. But even with how angry he was with that, he ended up with experience for any future similar cases. However, there was one situation where Etsuya had trouble applying any of the tactics that he learned over the years.
It was the case of Kinokuni Nene.
He knew the situation. He was interested in her since they both entered the Elite Ten. She had a great head on her shoulders. She was meticulous. She took no bullshit. She also could kill anyone with her sharp tongue, though Etsuya didn't doubt she could physically kill as well. She wasn't even scared of him and his power. All in all, she was the perfect person to be by his side.
But it was risky to approach her in that matter.
Etsuya was a thinker. He would brainstorm for hours until he had a plan of action. It was fairly easy when it came to businesses, as the common goal was to get as much profit as possible. But with Kinokuni, there seemed to be no profit from her side of things. Well, other than having him, of course, but even he knew that wasn't an acceptable answer right now. The rational side of him told him to just move on to something else since there were more cons to pros with each idea he thought of executing. He was at a standstill.
But he really wanted her.
The only thing he could do now was to watch and wait for an opportunity.
It only took about a year, a failed coup of Totsuki, and being knocked down a few seats.
When Kinokuni made little effort to rise up in the ranks, Etsuya knew there was something wrong with her. His future queen would never settle for such a low seat, especially with her juniors. Her strength and mind were what attracted him to her, and he felt awful watching the person she had become after the defeat of Central.
"And here I thought you hated when people moped around after a loss."
"The hell are you talking about?" Kinokuni lifted her head from the paperwork she was working on.
"I was just thinking about how you've been moping around since we got back from Hokkaido." Etsuya clarified, leaning back in his chair. "And I remembered how much of a nag you were when I was pissed off about Yukihira. And here you are practically doing the same thing."
"You were being annoying about it." The female countered.
"And do you know how annoying it is to listen to you sigh and watch you walk around like a zombie? Do you know how annoying it is to see you do the things that you got mad at everyone else for doing? Your hypocrisy is really pissing me off."
"Did something hurt your overinflated ego that you decided to pick a fight with me out of the blue?" She narrowed her eyes.
And that's where he saw his opportunity to bring back the person he became infatuated with.
"Heh." The male pushed up his glasses before striking.
"If I wanted to pick a fight, I would find someone who could actually give me a challenge. Probably someone in a seat higher than mine."
By the way her whole demeanor changed, he could tell that he had been successful. It wasn't her style to go into fits of rages, as she showed by calmly getting out of her seat. However, once she came to his desk he could see the anger in her pink eyes.
"I hope you're having fun gloating about your seat now, because I plan on taking it from you soon enough."
"Oh? Just tell me whenever you want to try."
"Tomorrow." Kinokuni declared. "We share our last class together so right after then."
"Okay. I'll give into this charity round." Etsuya hummed.
"Die." She said before leaving the room.
Etsuya allowed his smile to grow. Sure, he still had the risk of losing his seat tomorrow, but it was worth seeing that cool expression on Kinokuni's face again. She needed to be in top shape in order for him to claim her, after all, and he didn't mind helping her get back on her feet. And when he saw her the next afternoon with a determined expression, his smile came back.
For now, everything was going according to his plan.