"I told you before that Haruto and I are partners in a new venture, but I never told you the name of our company, did I?" Yukino asked.
"No, you didn't. Why would the name of a little startup run by two kids matter? It's good that you're exploring entrepreneurship, and as long as you don't lose too much money, the experience is valuable. I didn't think I needed to scrutinize a hobby project," her father replied.
"Our company is called 'Haru-Yuki'," Yukino said.
"Haru-Yuki? Haruto and Yukino... simple and direct. Wait. Haru... Yuki?" Gin repeated the name slowly as the gears in his head began to turn at high speed. "Haru-Yuki Animation Studio?" he blurted out.
Although Gin's company dealt mainly with live-action and theatrical animation, he had certainly heard of the legendary TV anime Madoka Magica. He knew all about the "Warrior of Love" and the cultural storm that series had created. Suddenly, the puzzle pieces clicked into place.
"Haruto-kun... you are the author of Madoka Magica? You are 'The Warrior of Love'?" Gin looked at the young man with an entirely different expression.
"Well... yes, Mr. Gin. That's correct," Haruto said after a brief pause.
A total miscalculation.
A flicker of genuine disappointment crossed Gin's face.
If Haruto was the Warrior of Love, he already possessed a world-class animation studio. If there was a sequel to To the Moon, there was zero logical reason for Haruto to partner with Sugar Man Pictures again.
But then, Gin looked at his daughter.
How on earth did she manage to find a talent like this and convince him to partner with her? Haruto's identity as Shiori Takahashi was impressive enough, but the Warrior of Love? Is she actually some kind of genius scout?
He let out a quiet sigh, immediately recognizing the reality of the situation. He buried the carefully prepared pitch for the sequel rights deep in his mind and turned back to Haruto with a genuine smile.
"If that's the case, let's forget about business tonight. Let's just enjoy the food and the drinks."
Haruto felt a massive wave of relief. His opinion of Yukino's father shot up. The man was a true professional; the moment he realized a deal was impossible, he dropped it without a single trace of awkwardness.
Under Gin's enthusiastic hospitality, the sake flowed freely. Haruto, who wasn't much of a drinker, soon found himself drifting into a hazy, half-conscious sleep.
"I have to say, you've certainly accomplished a lot this past year," Gin muttered, casting an annoyed glance at his daughter once Haruto had drifted off.
All three of them had been drinking, but genetics were a powerful thing. Yukino's grandfather had once taken second place in a legendary drinking competition. The family's tolerance for alcohol was beyond the realm of normal human biology. While Haruto, who had a decent tolerance for an average person, was out for the count, the father and daughter were barely even warmed up.
"And here I thought you actually invited him here to thank him. Turns out you're just as shallow as I thought. Haven't you made enough money off the first movie? You really wanted the sequel rights too?" Yukino shot back at her father.
"Hah! Money is like oxygen, dear. You can never have enough," Gin smirked, though he didn't press the issue. He wasn't a fool; unless Haruto had a temporary lapse in sanity, he would never give the sequel script to Sugar Man Pictures now.
"I haven't seen you in months, and you've certainly changed. But since business is off the table with your friend, let's talk about family. You need to pull yourself together and find a partner. You're twenty-seven; the clock is ticking." He poured himself another drink.
"I've told you a thousand times. I haven't met a man who matches my level of excellence," Yukino said, falling back on her standard excuse.
"Besides, all my friends are women. I don't have the opportunity to meet guys."
"An excellent man?" Gin's voice rose in frustration.
Now that Haruto was asleep, he didn't feel the need to maintain his dignified persona; he was just an old father worried about his daughter's future.
"What qualifies as 'excellent' in your eyes? Haruto is lying right there, is he not excellent enough? Is he not a man? How can you work with someone like that for years and still just be 'friends'?"
"He's just a kid, Dad! What are you even saying?" Yukino's eyes widened in shock.
"A kid?" Gin laughed. "I've never met a 'kid' that powerful in my life."
"And look at you," he added. "The entire night, you were terrified I was going to trick him. You were constantly on guard for his sake. If you care about him that much, why are you still making excuses?"
"You are such a stubborn old man. You're getting more annoying by the day! When I was in school, you were terrified of me dating; the moment I graduate, you're breathing down my neck to get married. Do you think I'm a goddess? I hid in the regional offices for two years just to get away from this, and the moment I move back to Tokyo, you start right up again." Yukino was speechless.
"I'm twenty-seven and he's nineteen. Please, stop talking. The age gap is massive. You're making it sound like I'm desperate."
"Hmph. I don't care about the numbers. I just want you to find someone. Twenty-seven and you've never even been on a date... it's embarrassing," Gin muttered.
Yukino decided she was done with the conversation. She stood up, walked over to the sleeping Haruto, and draped his arm over her shoulder.
She lifted him up, preparing to leave. Although the high heels made it difficult, she was a regular at the gym and a dedicated yoga practitioner; her weight was standard, but her functional strength was more than enough to support him.
Gin sat frozen in his seat, his expression shifting from shock to something more complex. He watched his daughter, who usually avoided physical contact with men at all costs, willingly support the young man's weight and guide him toward the door.
He had been joking earlier, but now, the more he looked at them, the more something felt "off."
Subconscious actions were often the most honest reflections of the human heart.
'What on earth is going on here?' he wondered.