I, Hiroshi Nohara, the star of Japanese cinema

Chapter 226 The Thoughts of the Koyama and Fujiwara Families! The Satisfaction of Both Families! They are all relatives who mutually acknowledge each other!
The wooden sliding door of the Sakura no Sato restaurant was gently pulled open, and the afternoon sun slanted across the cherry blossom branches in the courtyard, making the pale pink buds even more translucent.

After discussing the engagement between Masaya and Fujiwara Isshin, the two families walked together to the hotel entrance, preparing to return home.

Fujiwara no Maru raised his hand to straighten the hem of his kimono, his gaze falling on Koyama Yoshiharu, his tone full of the gentleness of an elder: "Koyama-san, thank you so much for your help today. The engagement date is set for September 7th. We can keep in touch by phone about the venue arrangements and guest list."

"Not at all, not at all, Fujimoto Maru-san, you're too kind!" Koyama Yoshiharu quickly waved his hand, a genuine smile on his face, his hands unconsciously rubbing against his suit trousers—having just shaken the prefectural councilor's hand, he felt he had to protect that "face."

Yoshiharu Koyama also said with great emotion, "It is an honor for our Koyama family to be able to form a marriage alliance with your family. If Masaya does anything wrong in the future, please forgive him and Mrs. Fujiwara."

Fujiwara Temari, who was holding Masaya's hand and chatting away, smiled and chimed in, "How could such a sensible child like Masaya be wrong? Last time, Isshin told me that Masaya even helped him organize the prefectural office's publicity materials. Her handwriting is so neat and clear, she's even more meticulous than the young women in the office."

As she spoke, she took a small velvet box out of her cloth bag and put it into Masaya's hand: "This is a hairpin I picked out in Ginza a few days ago. It's made of pearls and will match the kimono you'll be wearing for your engagement party. Take it for now."

Maya held the box, her cheeks as red as ripe cherries, and whispered, "Thank you, Aunt Fujiwara, this is too kind..."

“Why are you being so polite with your auntie!” Fujiwara Temari patted the back of her hand, then turned to look at Misae, her eyes full of admiration: “Misa is becoming more and more capable. I heard that your ‘Future Manga Club’ now has seventeen or eighteen people? Hiroshi Nohara has a good eye for talent, finding such a capable wife.”

Misae was embarrassed by the praise and leaned closer to Hiroshi Nohara, taking his arm in hers: "It's all thanks to Hiroshi-kun. If it weren't for him helping me find a publisher, I don't know when the manga would have been colored."

Hiroshi Nohara ruffled her hair and looked at Isshin Fujiwara: "Isshin-san, I'll be back from Tokyo on September 7th. If you need any help with the engagement party, just call me anytime—you have my cell phone, or you can page me if you're busy during the day."

Fujiwara Isshin nodded sincerely, "Thank you, Hiroshi-san. I might really need your help then. The prefectural government wants to show a short film about Kumamon at the engagement party, and I'll need your help with the editing."

"It's no big deal," Hiroshi Nohara replied with a smile.

Mengya, holding a Kumamon plush toy, tiptoed up to Fujiwara Temari, her big eyes sparkling: "Aunt Fujiwara, will Kumamon come to the engagement party? I want to take a picture with it and get its autograph!"

Fujiwara Temari was amused by her adorable appearance and bent down to pat her head: "Yes, yes, I'll have Isshin bring Kumamon so you can take as many pictures as you want. But Yumeya has to promise Auntie that you'll dress up nicely that day and be my flower girl, okay?"

"Okay!" Mengya nodded immediately, holding up the doll and cheering, "I want to wear a pink dress, just like the one my second sister bought me last time!"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh at her lively demeanor.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the cherry blossom trees, casting dappled patterns on the ground, and a faint warmth filled the air.

“It’s getting late, we should head back.” Koyama Yoshiharu glanced at his watch, bowed to the Fujiwara family and said goodbye: “Fujiwara Maru-san, Fujiwara-mrs. Isshin-san, we’ll take our leave now. See you on September 7th.”

"See you on September 7th." Fujimoto Maru also bowed in return, and after watching the Koyama family get into the car, he turned around and led his family to his own car.

Hiroshi Nohara opened the car door, first letting Yoshiharu Koyama and Takaya Koyama sit in the back seat, then went around to the passenger side and opened the car door for Misae: "Sit down slowly, don't bump your head."

Misae smiled and nodded. After getting into the passenger seat, Hiroshi Nohara started the car, and the engine emitted a steady, low hum.

The car slowly drove out of the parking lot in Sakura no Sato and headed home along the streets of Kumamoto.

Most of the shops along the roadside have wooden signs, with the words "Sato-ya" and "Suzuki Records" standing out prominently in the sunlight. Occasionally, students on bicycles pass by, their baskets filled with freshly bought dorayaki.

Everything was so peaceful, everything was so beautiful.

"The Fujiwara family really knows how to behave properly."

Yoshiji Koyama, sitting in the back seat, suddenly spoke up, his voice full of excitement. He leaned back in his chair and tapped his knee lightly with his fingers: "When we were eating just now, Fujiwara Maru-san spoke so logically—no wonder he's a senior councilor from Kumamoto Prefecture."

Koyama Takaya nodded in agreement, still stroking the silk handkerchief that Fujiwara Temari had just given him—the handkerchief was beige, embroidered with tiny cherry blossoms, and felt soft and smooth to the touch.

"Indeed, Lady Fujiwara is an elegant person. When she served tea to Masaya just now, she raised her wrist just right and held the teacup steadily without spilling a drop. She also speaks softly."

She turned to look out the window, her eyes filled with relief: "I'm relieved that Zhenya has married into such a family."

Hearing this, Misae, in the passenger seat, couldn't help but laugh. She turned to her parents in the back seat and said, "Mom, don't say that. You're very kind too. Last time I had a cold, you got up in the middle of the night to make me ginger soup. You were more attentive than anyone else." She paused, then looked at Yoshiharu Koyama, her tone full of blessings for her sister: "Besides, you and Isshin are such a perfect match. Just now at dinner, Isshin even put sea bream on your plate, saying, 'This has fewer bones, you should eat more.' His eyes were so gentle. You'll definitely be happy marrying him."

As she spoke, Misae turned her head again to look at Hiroshi Nohara, who was driving.

Sunlight streamed through the car window, highlighting his features. He was always very focused when driving, his hands firmly gripping the steering wheel, his eyes fixed straight ahead. Occasionally, he would slow down because of pedestrians on the roadside, his movements calm and composed.

As Misae watched, a happy smile appeared on her face, and her voice softened: "But I'm very happy too, Hiroshi-kun is also my support."

Upon hearing this, Hiroshi Nohara's lips curled up slightly. He turned his head to look at Misae, his eyes gentle: "Silly girl, you're my fiancée. If I don't help you, who will I help?"

"Mmm!" Misae nodded emphatically, her cheeks as red as ripe apples.

Watching the young couple's interaction from the back seat, Yoshiji Koyama smiled so broadly his eyes narrowed. He touched his face and exclaimed, "It's truly a blessing from the gods! I used to worry about what would happen if Maya and Misae didn't meet good men—Maya is too gentle, I was afraid she'd be bullied; Misae is a bit too carefree, I was afraid she'd be deceived. But now, Maya has met Isshin-san, and Misae has met Hiroshi-kun, both such wonderful people. And Hiroshi-kun, needless to say, at such a young age, he's a third-rate director at TV Tokyo, has his own production department, his manga sells well, and he's so good to Misae. I'm so satisfied!"

As he was speaking, he suddenly remembered something and looked up at the rearview mirror outside the car window.

The car following behind could be seen in the mirror—it was driven by Masaya, who had just gotten her driver's license last year and was driving the family's older Nissan.

At this moment, Masaya was driving steadily, while Yumeya in the passenger seat was holding a Kumamon plush toy. She would hold the toy out the window for a while and then whisper to it, looking exceptionally lively.

Yoshiharu Koyama glanced at his youngest daughter in the rearview mirror, the smile fading slightly, and his tone becoming more worried: "It's Yumeya..."

Xiaoshan Gaoya knew what her husband wanted to say, sighed softly, and continued, "Mengya is still young, she'll get better with time. Although she's lively, she's not a bad person. Last time, when the neighbor's child lost their toy, she helped look for it all afternoon. She'll definitely find someone good to rely on in the future, so let's not rush things."

"I'm not in a hurry for her to find a partner, but I'm worried that she might meet the wrong person."

Yoshiharu Koyama frowned, his tone turning serious: "As you all know, there are plenty of delinquents on the streets these days—dyeing their hair yellow, getting tattoos on their arms, roaring around on motorcycles, and causing trouble in parks at night. Last time I went to pick up Yume from school, I saw a few yellow-haired thugs blocking girls at the school gate, and I was so scared that I quickly pulled Yume away. In Japan, you can get married at 18, and Yume is only 16 now, she still has two years left! If she hangs out with those yellow-haired thugs and ends up bringing a yellow-haired son-in-law home, I'll be utterly disgraced!"

Hiroshi Nohara couldn't help but laugh when he heard this—in his previous life, he often saw jokes online about "the worst thing about having a daughter is encountering a blond-haired guy," and he never expected that Yoshiji Koyama would have the same worry in this world.

He slowed down and waited for the red light to come on before turning to Yoshiharu Koyama and saying, "Uncle, don't worry, Mengya is very shrewd. She won't hang out with those people. Last time I went to her house, I heard Mengya telling Miya that a girl in her class wanted to drag her to hang out with the blond guy, but Mengya refused outright, saying, 'Those people don't look like good people, they're so rude.' You see, she knows what she's doing."

"I hope so."

Yoshiharu Koyama sighed, but his tone remained firm: "However, I can't let my guard down. From now on, I'll go to Yume's school every week to talk to her teacher and ask who she plays with at school; if she goes out on weekends, she must be accompanied by Masaya or Misaya, and she must be home before 7 p.m. She's my most beloved youngest daughter, and I absolutely cannot let her get involved with those blondies!"

Koyama Takaya couldn't help but laugh at her husband's nervous expression: "You're just too protective of Yumeya. You weren't this nervous when Masaya and Misaya were this age."

“That’s different!” Yoshiharu Koyama immediately retorted, “Yume is the youngest, and she’s frail. She even had pneumonia when she was little. If I don’t protect her, who else should I protect?”

Misae smiled too, then turned to Yoshiharu Koyama and said, "Dad, don't be so nervous. I'll help keep an eye on Yumisa. Next time she comes to Tokyo, I'll take her to the production department of TV Tokyo so she can see what a proper job is like. That way, she won't want to hang out with those delinquents anymore."

Hiroshi Nohara nodded in agreement: "Yes, next time I'll take her to see the animation production of 'Yamishibai' so she can see how Section Chief Hashimoto and the others draw storyboards. I'll also let her chat with the manga artists in the company. Maybe she'll become interested in manga."

Seeing that his family was worried about Mengya, Koyama Yoshiharu's expression finally softened, and he couldn't help but laugh: "Okay, okay, with you all helping to keep an eye on things, I feel much more at ease."

The red light turned green, and Hiroshi Nohara stepped on the gas, the car slowly moving forward.

The atmosphere inside the car relaxed again, and Koyama Takaya started talking to Misae about the kimono they would wear to the engagement party, while Koyama Yoshiharu chimed in from time to time.

But the atmosphere was a little different in the car that Masaya was driving behind.

Mengya was hugging a Kumamon plushie when she suddenly shivered. Her small shoulders trembled, and she quickly put the plushie down and touched the tip of her nose with her soft white hand—the tip of her nose felt cool and was a little red.

"Huh? Why is it suddenly so cold?" Mengya frowned and looked out the window in confusion.

The sun was shining brightly, and the cherry blossom trees along the roadside were full of life, but she still felt as if a cold wind was blowing down her neck.

She tilted her head and thought for a moment, then suddenly pouted and muttered, "Could it be that Dad is talking about me behind my back again? Last time I came home ten minutes late, he told Mom, 'Is Mengya playing with bad kids?' He's definitely talking bad about me again this time!"

Hearing this, Masaya, who was driving, couldn't help but laugh.

She glanced at her younger sister in the passenger seat, her tone full of older sisterly affection: "You, all you know how to do is think about these things. Dad wasn't saying anything bad about you, he was just worried about you. Last time you had a cold, Dad got up in the middle of the night to make you ginger soup and stayed by your bedside, afraid you'd get a fever again. He was grumbling about you because you're his most beloved daughter."

Mengya pouted, leaned back in her chair, and played with Kumamon's ears in her hand. Her tone was a little aggrieved: "But he used to worry about my eldest sister and second sister too. Now he only worries about me. My eldest sister has her brother-in-law Xin, and my second sister has her brother-in-law Guangzhi. They both have someone to take care of them. It's just me. My dad is always controlling me. He won't let me go to the park with my classmates, he won't let me watch TV too late, and he won't even let me dye my hair light brown. He says, 'Girls should be simple.'"

Hearing her younger sister's complaint, Maya couldn't help but laugh. She sighed softly, her voice gentle yet tinged with shyness: "Silly girl, marriage is a lifelong matter for a girl. Eldest sister is with Isshin-san because Isshin-san can take care of her and give her a sense of security; second sister is with Hiroshi-kun because Hiroshi-kun can protect her and support her manga club. It's not that Daddy has abandoned eldest and second sister; it's just that they've both found someone they can rely on, and Daddy is at ease."

She paused, turned to look at Mengya, her eyes full of expectation: "You're still young, there's no need to rush to find a partner. When you grow up, you'll meet someone who can take care of you and love you, and then your old dad will be at ease."

Hearing this, Mengya's eyes lit up. She sat up straight, patted her chest, and said with a hint of defiance, "I know! I'm going to find a really great boyfriend in the future! Even better than Brother-in-law Guangzhi! Like, a director at Tokyo TV, or a cartoonist like my second sister, who can draw beautiful comics and earn a lot of money! Then I'll bring him home and show Dad that my boyfriend is better than my eldest and second sisters', so he won't worry about me anymore!"

Seeing her younger sister's earnest expression, Maya couldn't help but smile. She gently shook her head and said earnestly, "Mengya, if you want to find a great boyfriend, you first need to become great yourself. Your most important thing right now is to study hard, get into a good high school in Tokyo, and then get into a good university. Only when you're in a better place can you meet more outstanding people. For example, my older sister studied hard and was able to get into a prestigious university in Kumamoto. After graduating, she was able to work as a teacher in a middle school and meet Isshin-san. My second older sister met Hiroshi-kun and started her own manga club because she loved manga."

She reached out and patted Mengya's head, her voice gentle: "If you don't study hard now, you'll only be able to stay in this small town of Kumamoto in the future. How will you meet outstanding people then? So, stop thinking about finding a boyfriend and focus on your studies first, okay?"

Upon hearing the word "study," Mengya's face immediately fell, her lips pouting so much they could hold an oil bottle, and she leaned against the back of her chair, looking aggrieved: "I know, I know... but studying is so hard! I always get math problems wrong, and I can't remember English words..."

Although she complained, she still nodded slightly: "But I will work hard. When I get into a high school in Tokyo, I will go to visit my second sister and ask her to take me to see Hiroshi's brother-in-law's production department!"

Seeing her younger sister's distressed yet expectant expression, Maya couldn't help but smile: "Okay, once you get into a high school in Tokyo, Misae can take you there. But if you don't get in, you can't go."

"I'm sure I can pass the exam!" Mengya immediately puffed out her chest, her eyes full of determination—although studying was difficult, the thought of going to Tokyo to see her second sister and brother-in-law Guangzhi, and seeing the animation production process, gave her motivation.

Maya smiled and nodded, stepped on the gas, and the car slowly followed behind Hiroshi Nohara's car, driving along the street where cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

Sunlight streamed through the car windows, bathing everything inside in a warm glow. Mengya, clutching a Kumamon plushie, gazed at the cherry blossom trees outside, murmuring, "I must get into a high school in Tokyo." Occasionally, she would think of seeing Kumamon at her engagement party, and a sweet smile would appear on her face. The two cars drove one after the other through the streets of Kumamoto in 1991.

In the car ahead, Yoshiharu Koyama was still chatting with Takaya Koyama about the details of the engagement party, while Misae would occasionally chime in. Hiroshi Nohara would sometimes turn to Misae and say a few words in a gentle tone.

In the car behind, Masaya was driving attentively, while Mengya was quietly planning her future, occasionally chatting with Masaya about interesting things that happened at school.

The cherry blossom trees lining the street swayed gently in the breeze, their pale pink buds ready to bloom, much like the family's hopes for the future—Masaya's engagement party, Misaya's manga club, Yumeya's studies, and Hiroshi Nohara's business in Tokyo—everything was moving in a positive direction.

The sun shines brightly, and the breeze is gentle. Such a day is peaceful and warm, yet it fills one's heart with a sense of security.

……

As soon as the black sedan came to a stop in front of the Fujiwara family's courtyard, Fujiwaramoto Maru got out of the car.

The hem of his dark gray kimono swept across the cobblestone ground, making a soft scraping sound. He glanced up at the neatly trimmed holly bushes in the courtyard, then at the wooden plaque reading "Fujiwara Mansion" hanging under the eaves. His originally serious face subtly curved upwards at the corners of his mouth.

"The members of Xiaoshan's family are much more well-behaved than I expected."

Fujiwara no Motomaru turned around and watched his wife, Fujiwara no Temari, get out of the car, his tone filled with obvious satisfaction: "Especially Koyama Yoshiharu, even though he knows I'm a prefectural assemblyman, he doesn't flatter me at all. When he talks about Masaya's education, he's more articulate than those young clerks in the prefectural office—no wonder he's a veteran teacher who's taught for decades."

Fujiwara Temari smoothed the cherry blossom petals stuck to her kimono cuffs and smiled as she continued, "Of course! I had the butler check before. The Koyama family has been civil servants for generations. Yoshiji-san himself teaches Japanese at a middle school, and Koya-san was a classical literature teacher at the middle school in the next town before his marriage. People from such educational families, how could their manners and speech be lacking? Didn't you notice what Koya-san said? When he mentioned 'The Tale of Genji,' even Isshin couldn't get a word in edgewise. That kind of knowledge isn't something you can fake."

As they were talking, Fujiwara Isshin locked his car and came over. Hearing his mother's words, he immediately nodded in agreement: "Mom is right. Masaya told me yesterday that her mother used to teach a graduating class at school, and the average score in Japanese was the highest in the whole prefecture for five consecutive years. Later, in order to take care of her and her two younger sisters, she quit her job to become a housewife—if she hadn't quit, she might be the dean of students at the school now."

"Oh? Is there such a thing?"

Fujimoto Maru raised an eyebrow, his eyes showing even more admiration: "So, Takaya-san is quite a capable woman. Nowadays, many women only care about daily necessities after marriage, but she has managed to raise her three daughters so well—Masaya is steady, Misaya is capable, and even the youngest, Yumeya, is clever. It's clear that she has put a lot of effort into her children."

Fujiwara Temari covered her mouth and chuckled softly, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes revealing tenderness: "You're only realizing this now? I've said it before, the Koyama family is a respectable family, a perfect match for Isshin. We women, no matter how capable we are before marriage, mostly end up revolving around the home afterward. Before I married you, I was an assistant at my father's trading company, accompanying him to clients in Osaka and Tokyo. Back then, people called me 'the female president of the Fujiwara family,' who would have thought I'd be spending my days at home researching recipes and tending the garden?"

"Hahaha, you still have the nerve to bring that up!"

Fujimoto Maru laughed at his wife's words, his tone filled with the warmth of memories: "I still remember the first time we went to negotiate a fabric deal in Osaka. The other party's boss deliberately tried to lower the price, but you managed to negotiate it up in just a few words and even got them to increase their order by 30%. Later, your father told me, 'My daughter is more capable than my son.' At that time, I felt that marrying you was truly a blessing."

Fujiwara Temari blushed slightly at her husband's words and gently patted his arm: "That's so old news, why bring it up again? Right now, our biggest concern is Masaya's marriage. Once they're engaged, I'll help with the wedding preparations. After we have grandchildren, I'll stay home and take care of them, enjoying the joys of family life."

Just then, Fujiwara Isshin suddenly stepped forward, his tone unusually serious: "Mom, I talked to Masaya, and I don't plan to let her quit her job after she gets married. She loves being a teacher and is currently teaching Japanese at a middle school. Her students all like her, and last time, a student's parent even sent a thank-you letter to the school. I think that women can have their own careers after marriage and don't necessarily have to be housewives at home."

Upon hearing this, both Fujiwara no Honmaru and Fujiwara no Temari were stunned.

The courtyard fell silent instantly, with only the rustling sound of the wind blowing through the cherry blossom trees, and a few pale pink petals slowly drifting to the ground.

Fujiwara no Maru frowned, his tone disapproving: "Isshin, you're wrong. It's not a good look for a woman to show her face in public. Our Fujiwara family is quite respectable in Kumamoto. If your wife goes to school and interacts with a bunch of students every day, people will say our family doesn't know proper etiquette. Besides, you're busy with your work at the prefectural government, so someone needs to take care of things at home. If Masaya stays home and takes care of things, you can work with peace of mind."

Fujiwara Temari chimed in, "Yes, Isshin. It's not that Mom doesn't want Masaya to work, it's just that after a woman gets married, family is the most important thing. Look at Mom, how capable I was at the company before, but after getting married, I still stay home to take care of you and your older brother. Masaya is young now and finds work interesting, but when she has children, she'll naturally realize that taking care of children at home is much easier than teaching at school. Besides, our family isn't short of that salary, why make her work so hard?"

Fujiwara Isshin shook his head, his eyes even more determined than before: "Dad, Mom, times have changed. Look at Misae, she started 'Future Manga Club' with Hiroshi-kun, and now they have seventeen or eighteen manga artists as employees. Hiroshi-kun not only doesn't object, but he also helps her find publishers. Masae told me that her biggest dream is to pass on the charm of classical literature to more students, and she would definitely be unhappy if she had to quit her job. I married her to make her happy, not to confine her at home. As for household chores, we can hire a housekeeper, and I can help with cooking and cleaning after get off work. Masae doesn't have to shoulder all the burdens alone."

Fujimoto Maru looked at his son's serious expression, remained silent for a moment, and then glanced at his wife beside him.

Fujiwara Temari sighed softly, tugged at her husband's arm, and whispered, "Forget it, let the children decide for themselves. Masaya is a sensible child; even if she continues working, it won't interfere with things at home. Besides, Isshin has a point; many young couples work together these days, so let's not be too stubborn."

Fujimoto Maru was silent for a few seconds before finally nodding, his tone softening considerably: "Alright, we older generation really don't understand the thoughts of you young people. As long as you live well in the future and Masaya is willing, your mother and I won't object. But let me make this clear from the start: if no one takes care of things at home in the future, don't come complaining to us."

Fujiwara Isshin immediately smiled and bowed deeply to his parents: "Thank you, Dad, thank you, Mom! I promise I'll take better care of things at home from now on and I'll never let Masaya suffer!"

Just then, the telephone rang in the living room, breaking the warm atmosphere in the courtyard.

Fujiwara Temari quickly said, "It must be the butler calling. I'll go answer the phone."

She then strode quickly toward the living room, the hem of her kimono swaying gently with each step.

Not long after, Fujiwara Temari's excited voice came from the living room: "Old Maru! Isshin! Come quick! It's Governor Muto on the phone!"

Fujiwara Honmaru and Fujiwara Isshin were both taken aback—Muto Masao was the governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, and he rarely called their home except for work-related occasions. Why did he suddenly call today?

Fujimoto Maru hurriedly walked to the living room, straightening the hem of his kimono as he went, his tone tense: "Why would Governor Muto suddenly call? Is there some emergency at the prefectural government?"

Fujiwara Temari already had the phone in her hand, and handed it to him with a smile: "It's not about the prefectural government, it's about Isshin and Masaya's marriage! You should talk to the governor right away!"

Fujimoto Harumaru took the phone, took a deep breath, and spoke with perfect respect: "Governor Muto, this is Fujimoto Harumaru. May I ask what brings you here today?"

A gentle voice came from the other end of the phone: "Honmaru-san, there's no need to be so polite. I heard from my secretary that your family is determined to get engaged to the daughter of the Koyama family? That's great! I know Koyama Yoshiharu-san; he's a reliable old teacher, and his daughter must be just as good."

Fujimoto Maru quickly thanked him, "Thank you for your praise, Governor. We just finalized the engagement banquet with the Koyama family today, and we would like to invite you to attend."

"September 7th? That's perfect, I'm free that day!"

Muto Masao's voice was full of laughter: "Maru-san, why are you being so polite with me? We've known each other for so many years, how could I not come to your child's engagement party? Not only will I go, but I also want to be the officiant at Isshin and Masaya's wedding. I wonder if you would be willing?"

Fujiwara no Maru's eyes lit up with surprise, and he quickly said, "Yes! Of course I'm willing! It's an honor for the Fujiwara family and the Koyama family to have you as our witness! Thank you so much, Governor Muto!"

"You're welcome. We've been good friends for many years."

Muto Masao's voice remained gentle: "I also heard that your Isshin has recently been working with Hiroshi Nohara on a promotional plan for Kumamon? That Hiroshi Nohara is very talented. I've seen his film 'Seven Samurai,' it's a great movie that portrays the spirit of the samurai and the complexities of human nature. You should have Isshin learn from him and try to do a better job promoting Kumamon. That would also help me with my next re-election."

Fujimoto Maru quickly replied, "Don't worry, I will definitely have Isshin communicate more with Hiroshi-san! I will do a good job in promoting Kumamoto and live up to your expectations!"

After chatting for a few more minutes about everyday things, such as whether they should ask Hiroshi Nohara to help film a promotional video for the Kumamoto Castle Cultural Festival in September, Fujimoto Maru hung up the phone, his smile impossible to hide.

Fujiwara Temari quickly leaned over and asked, "What did the governor say? Did he agree to attend the engagement party?"

Fujimoto Maru nodded with a smile, his tone full of excitement: "Not only did he agree to attend, but he also offered to be Isshin and Masaya's witness! Governor Muto is the governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, and having him as our witness is a huge honor for our family! Officials from the prefectural government and presidents of various associations will definitely be there, so we need to talk to Manager Yamada of Sakura no Sato in advance and ask them to make the venue even more grand."

Fujiwara Temari clapped her hands excitedly: "Great! This will make the engagement party even more lively! I'll go to Ginza tomorrow to pick out some nice gifts so that our guests won't think we're stingy."

Fujiwara Isshin, standing to the side, couldn't help but sigh, "I never expected Governor Muto to be so accommodating. Dad, you and the governor have such a good relationship."

Fujimoto Maru waved his hand with a smile, his tone tinged with pride: "I've known Governor Muto for over twenty years. When he first entered the prefectural government, I was the one who introduced him to the councilor. But don't get too excited yet. Governor Muto just told me that you should learn from Hiroshi Nohara and do a good job with the Kumamon promotion plan to help him get re-elected next time."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming serious: "Isshin, you must seize this opportunity. Governor Muto values ​​Kumamoto's tourism industry highly. If you can promote Kumamon effectively and attract more tourists to Kumamoto, boosting the local economy, your future career in the prefectural government will definitely be smoother. I heard that Governor Muto plans to use Kumamon to increase public approval ratings. Communicate more with Hiroshi-san and see if you can produce a series of short films about Kumamon, or organize some offline events at the Kumamoto Castle Cultural Festival to further increase Kumamon's fame."

Fujiwara Isshin immediately straightened his back and bowed: "Yes! I understand! I'll call Hiroshi-san tomorrow and have a good talk with him about the Kumamon promotion plan, and try to come up with a plan that will satisfy Governor Muto as soon as possible!"

Fujiwara nods in satisfaction and pats him on the shoulder: "Good! That's more like my son, Fujiwara no Makoto! Remember, this is a rare opportunity, so make the most of it. Not only do you have to do your job well, but you also have to maintain a good relationship with the Koyama family. Masaya is a good girl, so don't let her down."

Fujiwara Isshin nodded earnestly: "Dad, don't worry, I will definitely not let Masaya down, nor will I let you and Mom down!"

Seeing the serious expressions on the father and son's faces, Fujiwara Temari smiled and said, "Alright, alright, stop talking about work. It's getting late. I've asked the kitchen to prepare your favorite eel rice and your father's favorite sake. Let's eat first. After we finish eating, we can discuss the details of the engagement banquet, such as the guest list and the style of the venue decoration, and try our best to make this engagement banquet a grand success."

Fujiwara Maru nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "Alright, let's eat first. Today's a special day, we should celebrate!"

The family of three chatted and laughed as they walked toward the dining room. Warm yellow light from the living room shone through the paper sliding doors, illuminating the family photo hanging on the wall—in the photo, Fujiwara Isshin was still a boy in a school uniform, standing between his parents, smiling brightly.

The cherry blossoms outside the window glowed softly in the moonlight, and a gentle breeze carried their fragrance. Everything seemed so warm and beautiful.

Fujiwara Isshin walked behind his parents, his heart filled with gratitude—he knew that although his parents were sometimes stubborn, they were doing it all for his own good.

Now that his parents support his and Masaya's decision, Governor Muto is willing to be their witness, and he has the opportunity to gain the governor's appreciation at work, this kind of life is like a dream.

He secretly resolved that he must work harder in the future, not only to do a good job in the county government and put his parents at ease, but also to take good care of Zhenya and make her the happiest woman in the world.

As for the promotional plan for Kumamon, he will communicate with Hiroshi-san as soon as possible and strive to come up with a perfect plan that will live up to everyone's expectations.

The restaurant was already set with food. The fragrant eel rice was steaming hot, the eel skin was grilled to a golden brown and crispy, and the eel meat was tender and juicy. There were also delicate wagashi (Japanese sweets) and steaming matcha on the side.

The family sat around the dining table and began to enjoy this cozy dinner. Their laughter could be heard from time to time in the living room, making the quiet night feel especially warm.

Halfway through the meal, Fujiwara no Honmaru suddenly remembered something and looked at Fujiwara no Isshin: "By the way, did you tell your older brother, Kazumasa, about the engagement banquet? Tell him he must come back on September 7th. He's the older brother, how can he miss his younger brother's engagement banquet?"

Fujiwara Isshin put down his chopsticks and quickly said, "I already called my older brother yesterday and he said the project will be finished by early September, so he will definitely come back. He also said he wants to prepare an engagement gift for Masaya and told me not to tell him in advance, as he wants to give her a surprise."

"That's more like it." Fujimoto Maru nodded in satisfaction, then picked up another piece of eel and put it in his mouth. "Although your older brother is a man of few words, he still cares about this family. The trouble you encountered with the publicity plan at the prefectural government last time was resolved by him through a friend in Kyoto."

Fujiwara Temari also laughed and said, "Yes, Kazumasa is just too introverted and not good at expressing himself. Last time he called me, he said he wanted to take the opportunity of coming back to talk to Hiroshi-san about the promotional plan for Kumamoto. He said the prefectural government wanted to cooperate with TV Tokyo to make a short film introducing the local customs and culture of Kumamoto."

Fujiwara Isshin nodded: "I know. I'll have Hiroshi-san talk to my older brother more. Maybe they can come up with some good ideas."

The family of three ate and chatted, from the details of the engagement banquet to the future development of Kumamoto, from Masaya's job to his older brother's recent situation, one topic after another, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.

The moonlight outside the window grew brighter and brighter, and the shadow of the cherry blossom tree was reflected on the window paper, swaying gently, much like the family's expectations for the future—warm, beautiful, and full of hope.

(End of this chapter)