The System Won't Work Unless I Have Girlfriends

The next day.

Yaeko, who had gotten really drunk last night, woke up as usual. However, she didn't remember anything that happened while she was drunk. As a result, she felt confused about the situation.

"Shoko, is there something you need to say to me?"

Yaeko asked her eldest daughter, who was sitting across from her at the breakfast table.

It was breakfast time, but Yuzuru, who was usually talkative, was unusually quiet. Meanwhile, the eldest and normally timid one, Shoko, had been acting cold toward Yaeko. As a woman herself, Yaeko could recognize Shoko's cold gaze all too well.

But Shoko simply gave a "Hmph" and continued eating her breakfast.

Yaeko was taken aback. This was the first time Shoko had ever been angry with her. The worst part was that Yaeko didn't know the reason. If Shoko was just going through a rebellious phase, there should at least be some clear cause. But all Yaeko remembered was waking up at home after the drinking party with her colleagues.

"Yuzuru, tell me what's going on with Shoko," Yaeko said, turning to her younger daughter.

Feeling her mother's gaze, Yuzuru flinched. She was only a first-year in middle school and had little understanding of adult thingy. But there was no way she was going to tell her mom what had happened.

'Mom! You attacked big bro Masamune in your own bed when you were drunk! No way. That'll only escalate things further,' Yuzuru thought nervously.

Yuzuru firmly believed her mom wasn't that kind of person. However, she also knew that Shoko had feelings for Masamune, and seeing their mom do something like that while drunk had clearly made Shoko uncomfortable.

"Shoko must be angry because you didn't tell us anything about going to the hot springs with big bro Masamune, Mom!" Yuzuru blurted out, trying to change the topic.

Yaeko's eyes widened. "How did you know about my plan?" she asked calmly.

"From big bro!"

Yaeko paused. "You mean… Masamune?" She tapped her jaw, sinking into deep thought. "So that's how it is…"

Masamune, her boss, had been the one to send her home. Perhaps that was why Shoko was angry—because Yaeko had never told her daughters anything about working with Masamune. In fact, she had never even mentioned who her boss was.

'What's the point?' Yaeko thought to herself. She had given them a brief explanation before, assuring them it wasn't some shady black company. That explanation should've been enough.

She also remembered Masamune had probably invited them to Hokkaido. Considering her friends were going as well, this trip felt more like a holiday than a business inspection. But her boss seemed fine with it.

"Fine, you two can come as well," Yaeko finally said.

"YAY!"

"Mother, how about you?"

Their grandmother shook her head. "I'm fine. A long trip to Hokkaido at my age wouldn't suit me. Go ahead."

"Very well. I'll buy some souvenirs for you from the local shops," Yaeko promised.

She thought to herself, 'A holiday with family… When was the last time I did something like this?'

She couldn't even remember. Being an adult meant working all the time, and as the head of the family—a single parent—she had little time for trivial things like holidays or even shopping. Now, as the CEO of a branch company under her boss's conglomerate, Yaeko felt the weight of her responsibilities more than ever.

A rare smile appeared on her face. She felt indebted to Masamune yet again.

'Why hasn't Shoko's mood changed?'

Yaeko glanced at Shoko, who had finished her breakfast a little too quickly.

---

Initially, the trip to Hokkaido was planned to include only Masamune, his mother Kinue, his manager Miyako, Yaeko, and Hana. However, new faces joined the group: Shoko and Yuzuru.

"Sigh, I wish I could bring my kids too," Miyako said with a sad tone.

"Just bring them then," Hana replied casually.

"Hana, you don't understand. My kids are so busy with showbiz right now. Ruby is with her idol group, and Aqua just got a new acting offer. I'm lucky I even have time for myself right now."

Hana hummed thoughtfully as she glanced at Kinue, who had her son with her, and Yaeko, who had her kids. Speaking of family, Hana's own daughter was in the U.S. at the moment. It just so happened that Hana had a lot of business to discuss with Masamune, giving her a week's stay in Japan.

"Bro, are we flying on that plane?!" Yuzuru exclaimed, staring at the large aircraft.

The plane resembled a commercial airliner, but its sleek black design and lack of typical branding made it stand out.

Masamune chuckled. "Cool, right? That plane belongs to her." He pointed at Hana.

Hana, always busy with work, couldn't afford to fuel a small plane every time she traveled, so she had purchased a large, long-range aircraft. After all, she often brought a lot of people along on her business trips.

---

Thanks to Hana's plane, they took off for Hokkaido without any issues. After about an hour, they arrived in Sapporo and then headed straight to the resort.

Upon arriving at the resort, Hana seemed so stressed with work that she couldn't take it anymore.

"I'm going! Here I come—a hot bath!"

Without checking in first, Hana did as she pleased. Seeing this, Kinue and Miyako decided to follow her, just in case someone crossed her path—because that could be dangerous.

'We just dropped into the lobby. Sigh. That woman…'

Masamune shook his head at Hana's antics.

"Please leave this to me," Yaeko offered, signaling that she would handle the rooms and other arrangements. Despite being a CEO herself, it was only natural for her to take care of this for her boss.

"Thanks, Aunty! I'll check out that matcha store I missed. Yuzuru, come with me," Masamune said.

"Okay!" Yuzuru chirped, following him eagerly.

In the end, the group split up quickly, leaving Yaeko and Shoko behind.

"Shoko, follow me. We'll check the room first," Yaeko said.

Shoko simply nodded at her mother's orders.

As they approached the reception desk, it became clear there was a commotion unfolding nearby. Yaeko, being observant, decided to ignore it at first, preferring to see how the staff would handle the situation. After all, this resort was part of their business holdings.

"What do you mean every single room here is booked?!"

"Sir, there are still a few rooms available, if you might consider them," the staff member said politely.

"Like hell I'll sleep in the cheapest room in this place! Give me the best one! Hurry!"

"My apologies, sir. Our best room has already been reserved. Also, please mind your tone; you're disturbing our guests. Respectfully, we would like you to leave."

Yaeko nodded in silent approval of how the staff handled the situation. While waiting, she overheard the argument clearly. Something about the man's voice sounded eerily familiar.

When Yaeko glanced to her left, she immediately regretted it.

'Why is he here?'

She recognized him instantly. A slightly tall man with black hair, a thin mustache, and a face that had grown much rounder since she last saw him—her ex-husband, Kenji. She had heard he was supposed to be working in Korea.

"You!" Kenji's voice boomed as his gaze locked on Yaeko.

Despite his heavier appearance, Yaeko could still recognize him.

"Yaeko, you're staying here, aren't you? Of course, you'd take the VIP rooms for yourself, huh?" he said angrily.

Yaeko met his anger with a calm, stoic expression. Without even glancing directly at him, she told the staff, "Call the police. Right now."

Kenji glared at her, frowning. "You dare—" he began, but then stopped, his gaze shifting to something—or someone. His expression twisted into a sneer.

"Huh. So be it. I'm leaving! There's no way I'm staying in the same place as that deaf, filthy daughter of yours. HAHAHA!"

Yaeko's body trembled slightly as she tried to suppress her emotions. Shoko, standing next to her, clung tightly to her mother's side.

Kenji smirked cruelly, continuing to mock her. "Even now, you've finally made something of yourself, Yaeko, but your daughter—she speaks volumes about how pathetic you really are—"

His words were abruptly cut off as a fist slammed into his face.

Crack!

The sickening sound echoed as Kenji fell back onto the floor, landing hard on his backside. He clutched his nose, which was clearly broken.

"UGHH! W-Who dares?!" Kenji growled, glaring up angrily.

Standing over him was a young man, his eyes blazing with fury.

Bang!

"Like I give a fuck about who you are."

The young man's fist connected again—and again—and again.