Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk.

Seiji Shiraishi didn't look at him, but simply picked up his teacup and chatted casually.

“The Miyazawa family is not an ordinary family. Mr. Miyazawa Hara is not an ordinary business owner either.”

Kiryu Yaya did not respond.

Seiji Shiraishi continued:

"He is very smart, knows a lot about banking, and knows how to get people to nod in agreement at banquets and conferences."

He paused for a moment after saying this.

"This kind of person isn't necessarily a bad person."

"It's just that sometimes I do things too quickly."

Too fast?

"Ah."

Seiji Shiraishi put down his teacup.

"During the bubble years, many tourism developments, golf clubs, and real estate projects in the Kansai region were developed too quickly. At that time, everyone thought that as long as they acquired the land and established the project, the money would naturally follow."

He smiled, but there was something indescribable about the smile.

"Looking back now, the fastest runner is not necessarily the safest."

Kiryu Yaya remained silent for a moment.

This is not an accusation.

It doesn't even qualify as a reminder.

It was just a casual remark made by a seasoned business owner over a teacup after a family dinner.

But some things don't need to be said too harshly.

If you say it too harshly, it will sound unnatural.

"Is President Shiraishi worried about Miyazawa-kun?"

Only then did Shiraishi Seiji turn his head and look at him.

"Huizi is a good child."

"Her father just passed away, so there are some things she may not see clearly."

"However, I'm just an outsider, so it's not appropriate for me to say too much."

After saying that, he seemed to think he had said enough, picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"If you're at the bank on Monday, it wouldn't be a bad thing if you could help out."

Kiryu Yaya nodded.

"I see."

The two did not continue the topic.

A few minutes later, Keiko Miyazawa and Ayako Shiraishi returned with fruit.

The atmosphere brightened up again.

Ayako Shiraishi said there was a box of strawberries left in the kitchen, and her mother insisted that they bring them all out; Keiko Miyazawa said she couldn't eat anymore, but was still forced to eat one.

Kiryu Yaya watched them laugh and joke, and only after Miyazawa Keiko sat down again did he seem to suddenly remember something, and speak naturally:

"Miyazawa-kun".

"Ok?"

"When you go to Mitsubishi Bank on Monday, please invite me along too."

Keiko Miyazawa paused for a moment.

"Kiryu-kun is coming too?"

“I was already at the branch store.”

Kiryu Yaya said:

"However, I am just an ordinary staff member in the financing review department. It is not appropriate for me to show up at client meetings unless someone asks me to."

"So when you get to the bank, if you feel you're not familiar with the process, just ask the switchboard operator or the receptionist to call me over."

Keiko Miyazawa blinked, then laughed.

"I see."

She was completely unaware of the caution behind those words, and only felt that Kiryu Yaya was considering the banking procedures for her.

"Then I'll leave it to you. Actually, there are a lot of things about the bank that I don't quite understand lately. My uncle can explain, but he speaks too quickly sometimes, so I don't want to keep asking questions."

Ayako Shiraishi laughed from the side:

"Huizi, you've finally admitted that you don't understand."

Keiko Miyazawa sighed softly.

"There's no way around it. I used to only know how to read textbooks, but now I suddenly have to look at accounts, seals, board documents, and bank files. It's really a headache."

Kiryu Yaya looked at her, his tone calm:

"There's nothing shameful about asking questions if you don't understand."

"But if everyone else seems to know a lot, and I'm the only one who doesn't, I'll feel useless."

"It's the same in banks."

Kiryu Yaya said:

"The most common mistake newcomers make is not asking questions because they are afraid of losing face. As a result, they only realize that what is truly embarrassing is pretending to know what they don't."

Keiko Miyazawa paused for a moment, then nodded seriously.

"I've got it."

Seiji Shiraishi, sitting next to him, relaxed slightly upon hearing this.

He didn't say anything more, but simply poured Kiryu Yaya another cup of tea.

"Kiryu-san, have some tea."

"Thank you."

It was almost nine o'clock when dinner was over.

The Shiraishi family saw them to the door.

Mrs. Shiraishi gave Keiko Miyazawa another small bag of snacks, saying that she could take it home and eat it if she got hungry that night.

Keiko Miyazawa quickly said no, but Ayako Shiraishi still forced it into her handbag.

Seiji Shiraishi stood outside the entrance and said to Yaya Kiryu:

"Today is really just a family dinner."

Kiryu Yaya nodded.

"It's a very good dinner."

Seiji Shiraishi smiled.

"That's good."

There wasn't much formality in that "That's good."

He seemed more like a man who had just experienced a family crisis, and after confirming that tonight's meal had indeed made his guests feel relaxed, he finally felt at ease.

Ayako Shiraishi drove the two of them back to Toyonaka Station.

On the way, she was still discussing with Keiko Miyazawa about going to the movies together next time, saying that there was a very popular romantic film from Tokyo recently.

Keiko Miyazawa smiled and agreed.

Kiryu Yaya sat in the passenger seat, listening to their conversation without interrupting.

The residential area outside the car window slowly receded.

The lights in every household, like quiet pieces of amber, were enveloped in the night.

Upon arriving at the station, Ayako Shiraishi bid farewell to the two.

Keiko Miyazawa stood in front of the station, holding the bag of snacks in her hand, with a relaxed smile on her face after dinner.

"Today is great."

She said softly.

"The Shiraishi family is very warm, isn't it?"

Kiryu Yaya looked at her.

"Ah."

“I used to think that everyone’s family was pretty much the same. Fathers were busy with work, mothers took care of the family, they ate together occasionally, and they argued occasionally.”

Keiko Miyazawa looked down at the bag of sweets in her hand.