Mion led Rosa to an empty room in her home. It was completely bare as Rosa looked around.
"You're probably used to a giant table for these meetings, right?" Mion smiled as she walked in.
"That's an understatement." Rosa giggled as she followed inside. "All my meetings in the past were in office buildings, with heads of a business, while wearing a suit. So all of this is very different."
"My family is a little more traditional when it comes to this." Mion sighed. "I guess all that matters is the meeting itself, though.
"I don't know how to thank you and Shion for this." Rosa smiled. "My name only got me so far with my career, and my family would never help me the way you have."
"I'm sure Shion will have a way for you to thank us." Mion laughed.
"I know, and I'm terrified of what that could be." Rosa sighed.
"You must be, Ms. Ushiromiya," an older woman said, making them both turn to the doorway.
"Hi, mom." Mion smiled. "This is our friend Rosa, like we promised."
"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Sonozaki." Rosa offered her hand.
"Please, call me Akane." Akane stepped inside and bowed.
"My apologies." Rosa brought her hand back and bowed.
"My daughters have told me so much about you." Akane smiled.
"Hopefully, all good things." Rosa nervously laughed.
"I can assure you they were." Akane walked over to the side of the room. "Please, have a seat."
"Oh, of course." Rosa walked over and sat on her knees like Akane. Mion sat between them at the other end of the room.
"So, Mion showed us your design for your next idea." Akane smiled at Rosa. "I can see why she wants us to support you."
"I'm happy to hear that." Rosa nodded. "I drew it after your daughter Shion asked me to draw out the idea I had from my dream."
"This came from a dream?" Akane raised an eyebrow.
"Yes." Rosa nodded again. "I drew it out like many of my ideas, and Shion said she loved it. It also came to me after meeting All of your daughter's friends, so they should also deserve thanks."
"I'm happy to hear they helped contribute to this idea." Akane nodded. "I love the design and think it's worth the support."
"I'm happy to hear that." Rosa smiled as she closed her eyes. For the first time, everything was turning out-
"If it were up to me, I'd immediately agree to support you." Akane smiled.
"Wait, it's not up to you?" Rosa dropped her smile as she opened her eyes.
"It's up to me," an older woman said at the doorway, causing everyone to turn to her. "You must be Rosa."
"I am…" Rosa gulped as she looked at the older woman. She only glared at her without showing any emotion. It was like being in front of her father again, which had been a few years at this point.
The older woman continued staring at Rosa as she walked into the room and approached Akane. However, Rosa noticed that Akane had moved next to Mion, and the older woman was sitting in front of her. Rosa started to have chills as she kept staring at her without showing any emotion.
"I'm Oyrou Sonozaki, the head of the family," Oryou stated. "I understand you're looking for support to start a business."
'Ye… yes ma'am…" Rosa stuttered as she bowed
"And what makes you think your business is worth our time?" Oyrou asked.
"I…" Rosa started to sweat. "I believe my dress idea is new and innovative, and"
"Why?" Oryou cut her off.
"Why…?" Rosa's eyes were wide.
"You said it's new and innovative, so why is that?" Oryou continued to stare at Rosa.
"It's…" Rosa started to stutter as she thought of an answer. Despite all the interviews she had in the past, this was probably the most scared she's ever been. "It's a mix of traditional Japanese clothing with a modern design."
Oryou looked over at Akane, who walked over and handed her the drawing. Oryou looked at it as Rosa continued to stare.
"I suppose," Oryou replied. "While I wouldn't wear it, I agree younger women like my daughter and granddaughters would be interested in it."
"I believe so, too, which is why I'm looking for financial support." Rosa nodded.
"But why invest in you?" Oryou asked. "If your family won't invest in you, why should we?"
"My family?" Rosa's eyes went wide again.
"I know of your family, Ms. Ushiromiya," Oryou stated. "Your father is a very successful man in the world. And while none of his children have reached the same heights, they were more successful than you despite being younger. Your brother Krauss started his hotel chain at 25 while you're almost 30. So why should I bother supporting you?"
Rosa looked done again, ready to cry. She already felt things were going wrong, but now Oryou had brought her family life into the meeting. While Rosa knew everyone knew her last name, no one had ever brought it up in past meetings. All that kept playing in her mind was how her family members, like Eva, had told her she was a failure and an embarrassment. Realizing the meeting was a loss, Rosa took a breath to-
"Mama!" Maria came running into the room.
"Maria?" Rosa turned and saw Maria running toward her.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Shion smiled as she scratched the back of her head. "I was playing with Maria and didn't realize this was where all of you were having a meeting."
"Shion…" Mion facepalmed.
"So that's the adorable baby Shion told us about." Akane giggled.
Maria continued to run but tripped and fell face-first. She immediately started to cry.
"Maria!" Rosa shot up and ran over to her daughter. She picked her up and hugged her. "You need to be more careful."
"I'm sorry!" Shion frowned as she ran over to Rosa. "I didn't think she'd trip!"
"It's okay, Shion." Rosa patted Maria on the back. "You're okay, Maria. Mama's here."
Maria clutched onto her mother while continuing to cry. Rosa continued telling her everything was okay while rocking her.
"So this is your daughter?" Oryou was now standing behind Rosa.
"Yes, she's my little angel." Rosa turned around. "The one person I want to make the most proud in this world."
"More than anyone else in your family?" Oryou raised an eyebrow.
"The rest of my family views me as an embarrassment." Rosa sighed. "They bullied me growing up, told me I'd never amount to anything. Even my oldest brother refused to give me my share of the family inheritance when I became an adult."
"Your oldest brother?" Oryou asked. "You mean, Krauss?"
"Yes." Rosa nodded, tears starting to form in her eyes. "He told me it would be a waste, and if I wanted money so bad, I could get on my damn knees and beg my father for it. Or get on my knees for some rich man who felt bad for me."
Oryou's eyes shot open at that last line. She then looked at Shion, who had both of her hands clenched in fists. She turned back to Rosa, wanting to say something, but Rosa continued.
"I know you think I'm a failure to my family, and you're probably right." Rosa sniffled. "But I don't want to be a failure to my daughter. I'll do anything to prove investing in me is worth your time. Just please give me a chance."
Oryou continued to look at Rosa and Maria, who started to calm down. Then, she finally looked at Akane and Mion. Akane stood there frowning while Mion had her hands together. Oryou sighed as she looked back at Rosa.
"If the future head of our family has faith in you, then I guess that's enough for me." Oryou closed her eyes. "We'll support you."
"You'll really support me?" Rosa's eyes went wide.
"Of course." Oryou finally smiled. "Besides my granddaughter telling me it was worth it, I can't say no to a mother who rushes to her daughter the second she needs her."
Rosa was now fully crying. After so many meetings, being told no at every single one, and never getting any support from her family, someone finally said yes.
"Thank you." Rosa sniffled as she wiped her eyes with one of her hands.
"Thank my granddaughters." Oryou sighed as she handed her a tissue. "Both of them wouldn't stop begging for me to support you."
"That's cause Rosa is an amazing designer." Shion smiled as she put her arm around Rosa. "Getting her to start her own business would benefit everyone."
"Let's take it one step at a time, Shion." Rosa wiped her eyes before looking down at Maria. Thankfully, she was smiling again.
"Agreed," Oryou stated. "We'll fund the creation of a small number and give you a chance to sell them. After that, we'll go from there."
"Can I suggest one be the same color as the kimono you're wearing?" Akane smiled. "My daughters must have suggested you wear it for the meeting."
"They did." Rosa smiled with tears still in her eyes. "They told me the black suit I wore would hurt my pitch and said this kimono was better."
"Black suit?" Oryou raised an eyebrow. "I was wondering why I saw my granddaughter handing a black suit to one of our security guards and telling them to burn it."
Rosa froze as she blinked repeatedly. At the same time, Shion slowly backed away from her as she started to sweat.
"I'm sorry," Rosa slowly smiled. "What was that you just said?"
"My granddaughter Shion handed the black suit to a security guard and told them to burn it," Oryou replied. "I didn't think much about it cause the suit was ripped up, so I thought it was just something that needed to be thrown out."
Rosa slowly turned around to look at Shion. While Rosa was still smiling, Shion began to shake.
"I may have accidentally ripped it while Mion told me to get it washed," Shion explained while shaking.
"Shion." Mion facepalmed. "Rosa, I swear I wasn't part of that. I told her to find someone to get it washed for you.
"On the plus side, you look great in that kimono." Shion nervously laughed. "I'm sure mom won't mind you keeping that one with how good you-"
"Mion," Rosa turned to the girl in question. "Can you hold Maria for me, please?"
"Sure." Mion held Maria for Rosa.
Once Maria was out of her hands, Rosa cracked her knuckles and turned back to face Shion, who quickly turned around.
"I'm sorry!" Shion started to run for it. "It was an accident! I swear!"
"You're going to regret this, Shion!" Rosa took off after her. "You know how much that suit cost!?"
"So that's why Rena said your mom can be scary." Mion smiled at Maria.
"Shion." Maria reached up to her.
"I told you, I'm Mion." Mion giggled.
"I think I like her." Akane smiled.
"She definitely has the right idea about how to deal with Shion." Oryou laughed.