All the Heroines are my Ex-girlfriends

Hearing Yukima Azuma's request that she join the trip,

Mrs. Yukinoshita's expression became somewhat unreadable.

∘ ∘ ∘ ( °ヮ° ) ?

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

She eyed Yukima Azuma suspiciously.

(≖_≖ )

She wasn't stupid.

This request was clearly a way to make her do something.

Yukima Azuma offered a gentle smile.

"It's really nothing major."

"It's just that lately, Yukino hasn't been smiling much. I wanted to ask for your help."

"Since you're her mother—bound by blood—I'm sure you must have many ways."

"As long as you agree to this small request of mine, I'll sign the contract immediately."

"Oh, right—didn't we talk about the Suou family situation before?"

"All in all, Mrs. Yukinoshita, you don't want the Yukinoshita family's future development to be held back because of you, do you?"

(≖⩊≖)

As he spoke, Yukima Azuma's smile grew deeper.

Mrs. Yukinoshita's eyelids twitched as she listened.

In the business world, she had seen plenty of dirty players, schemers, and people who made outrageous demands...

But someone like the boy before her?

Not only had she never seen anything like it—she'd never even heard of anything like this.

The condition for signing a contract… was that she had to dote on her own daughter?

What kind of demand was that?

And yet, it was a demand she couldn't refuse.

Just the thought of her previously strained relationship with her daughter…

Already gave Mrs. Yukinoshita a headache.

"(ノ _ <,, )

Heaven sees all, and karma always comes around.

Watching her ever-changing expression,

Yukima Azuma knew—this was in the bag.

The legendary Witch of Chiba… don't tell me she can't even coax her own daughter?

As for whether her image would completely collapse while doing so—

That was not within Yukima Azuma's scope of concern.

In her silence, Mrs. Yukinoshita tacitly agreed to the deal.

With the goal of this visit now accomplished,

Yukima Azuma calmly took another sip of tea.

He had to admit—Mrs. Yukinoshita's skill in the art of tea was truly exceptional.

Likely refined specifically for business negotiations.

No wonder back during the family registry talks,

Mrs. Yukinoshita had put on airs and ceremoniously prepared tea.

It's just… back then, he'd been too young, too arrogant—he hadn't even looked at the tea.

Had he known it was this good, he'd have definitely sat down, enjoyed every last drop, then started mocking her.

As he sipped, Yukima Azuma's thoughts wandered.

"Come to think of it, if you could choose a natural talent," he asked casually, "what would you pick?"

Glancing at the skill point panel on his system, Yukima Azuma asked offhandedly.

Mrs. Yukinoshita was taken aback by the question.

Wasn't that a bit of a mental leap?

What did that have to do with this?

She thought for a moment,

Then answered, "Comprehensive management, I suppose."

As the head of the Yukinoshita household—

In truth, Mrs. Yukinoshita's business acumen didn't need much more advancement.

Talent, after all, had its limits.

She'd already done as much as someone in her position could.

The only thing left to improve might be her ability to oversee and coordinate everything.

Because of how much time she spent managing and juggling everything,

Mrs. Yukinoshita had missed out on many things she should have done.

That was the one true regret of her past.

That answer, however, didn't give Yukima Azuma any inspiration.

First of all, Yukima Azuma had no need for time-saving talents like that.

Laplace Corporation had already pushed time efficiency to its limits.

The path they were on now was a shortcut among shortcuts.

Not to mention, Yukima Azuma had already found someone to help—his own schedule was basically leisurely.

Second, there was almost nothing in Yukima Azuma's past that could be called a regret.

Ever since being reborn into this world, nearly everything he had done had been driven purely by desire.

He had left not a single regret for himself.

Thinking this far, maybe he should hold onto his skill points a little longer.

Use them only when the moment truly called for it.

...

After sipping tea for a while longer,

Yukima Azuma stood up and took his leave.

Might as well let Mrs. Yukinoshita enjoy a moment of peace, to properly think through her next step.

Once he left Chiba, Yukima Azuma returned to Tokyo.

Upon arriving back at the Yukima household,

One glance told him the car wasn't at home.

Yukima Azuma decisively skipped going inside and instead detoured toward the Laplace building.

By this time, night had already fallen.

Even so, several floors of the Laplace building still glowed with light.

Not because Yukima Azuma was overworking his employees.

It was simply that several subsidiaries of Laplace Corporation were running full tilt at the moment.

Every second had to be seized.

That said, nearly no one at Laplace Corporation had any complaints.

Because if there was one thing Laplace Corporation had in abundance right now—it was money.

As for overtime pay, they were practically stuffing wallets until they burst.

"President, you're here. Should I let CEO Yukinoshita know?"

A junior secretary who had come downstairs to grab some coffee happened to bump into Yukima Azuma.

She immediately bowed and asked.

Glancing at the cup of coffee in her hand,

Yukima Azuma casually took it and looked at the label.

Triple-strength black coffee.

This secretary had been specially assigned to assist Yukino.

At first, Yukino had objected—thinking such small tasks didn't require anyone's help.

But as the workload piled up, Yukima Azuma couldn't stand watching anymore.

So he'd gone ahead and forcibly hired her.

And if the secretary was holding this kind of coffee…

It was obvious who the intended drinker was.

"No need to notify her. You go ahead and clock out and have some fun."

"I'll bring the coffee up myself."

Yukima Azuma waved her off, clearly intending to shoo her away.

The secretary's eyes lit up like stars.

ヾ(｡✪ω✪｡)ｼ

In truth, within Laplace Corporation, a good number of employees shipped their two big bosses.

After all, they were a perfect match—talented, beautiful, and charismatic.

And neither of them had that annoying, exploitative vibe typical of corporate overlords.

This particular secretary was the captain of the secret shipper brigade.

Still, after silently fangirling for a moment, she nervously asked:

"Um, if I clock out now… what about my overtime pay…"

Yukima Azuma looked at the girl before him, using the meekest tone to ask the most brazen question.

He couldn't help but rub his temples.

"Your overtime pay's staying. Happy now? Shoo shoo shoo!"

(╯'□')╯

The secretary immediately beamed like a sunflower.

"Boss is so generous! Then I won't interrupt your icha-icha time! I'm gone, I'm gone~"

ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧

With a playful little twirl, she vanished in a flash.

Yukima Azuma began to seriously question whether hiring a bunch of Gen Z kids had been a mistake...

Then, with the coffee in hand, he stepped into the elevator of the Laplace building.