“Something impulsive?”
Togawa Sadaharu raised an eyebrow but didn’t follow Tsuzuki Shifune’s lead in sipping his coffee.
Mainly because… he didn’t actually like this particular blend.
Honestly, he was highly suspicious that this old classmate had deliberately ordered something she knew he disliked—just to see him suffer.
After all, back in their school days, Tsuzuki Shifune had loved watching him make a fool of himself.
But now that he had a chance to turn the tables on her, Sadaharu couldn’t help but smirk as he said,
“You gave me such a hard time about not being able to control my granddaughter, but look at you—you’re no better.”
“Oh, it’s completely different.” Shifune chuckled, shaking her head.
“My Chihiro, at the very least, doesn’t have a grandfather actively trying to crush her spirit at every turn.”
“Cough—!”
Sadaharu choked slightly, an awkward cough breaking his usually rigid expression.
“That was just to make her realize that staying with her useless father would ruin her sooner or later.”
“A grown man who still needs his daughter to take care of him?”
“I told my daughter not to bring that man into our family in the first place.”
“Spare me the Togawa family drama,” Shifune sighed, shaking her head in amusement.
“I have no interest in whatever mess your household has going on.”
That was a lie.
She did find it amusing—seeing how this old man, despite all his sharp words, clearly cared about his granddaughter’s well-being.
It was almost endearing.
Almost.
“…So, what do you actually want this time?”
Sadaharu leaned back slightly.
“Have you finally decided to use your industry connections to block Sakiko’s little band from getting anywhere?”
“Block her? Why is your first instinct always to crush your granddaughter’s hopes?”
“What’s there to be hopeful about?”
“I just don’t appreciate her going against me for the sake of that useless father of hers.”
“If she’s willing to come back home, I’d give her everything she wants—any resource, any opportunity.”
“She can play in whatever band she wants, with whoever she wants.”
“Hell, if she told me she wanted to form a band with some divorced rich woman, I wouldn’t hesitate to make it happen.”
“…You really regret your daughter’s marriage that much?”
“You weren’t interested in my family affairs, remember?” Sadaharu snorted, though the irritation in his voice was more playful than serious.
“Fine, then let’s get to your issue.”
Shifune set down her cup, her expression growing more serious.
“For a number of reasons, my granddaughter is not doing what I want her to be doing right now.”
“She’s been out in the world for years, picking up all kinds of… dubious skills.”
“And I’m worried that, on impulse, she might do something reckless in the name of her dead parents.”
Sadaharu frowned slightly, but before he could say anything, Shifune continued.
“Out of everyone I know—you might not have the best temper, but you definitely have the most influence.”
“So if the opportunity arises… I’d like you to keep an eye on her.”
“Make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid.”
“…And what do I get out of this?”
Sadaharu crossed his arms.
“You’re not even offering to help me in return.”
“You’re still that obsessed with equivalent exchange, huh?”
“No, you misunderstand.”
Sadaharu smirked, eyes gleaming.
“A real businessman doesn’t settle for equal trade.”
“I aim to get more than I give.”
“…You want Sakiko to come home, don’t you?”
Shifune’s lips curled into a knowing smile.
“My granddaughter, Chihiro, can help you.”
Sadaharu narrowed his eyes, clearly skeptical.
“Her? What can she possibly do for me?”
Shifune chuckled.
“I admit—it does make me sound like a failure of a grandmother to say this.”
“But the Chihiro I have now is not the naive girl she used to be—the one who only thought about music and nothing else.”
“Do you know how she survived in the UK on her own?”
“Or how much I wanted to beat her ass yesterday when I had to pay off all the ‘friends’ she scammed?”
“…”
Sadaharu stayed silent.
“Once, Chihiro was the type to sacrifice everything for music.”
“But now?”
“Not once, since she came home, has she even mentioned the guitar she used to love so much.”
“Only Chihiro understands—dreams alone aren’t enough.”
“You need solid ground to plant them in, or else they’ll wither.”
“And besides—your Sakiko might not be willing to listen to anyone else’s heartfelt words.”
“But when she meets someone just like her?”
“Someone who thinks the same way she does?”
“She’ll be easier to convince.”
“Of course, there was another possibility—”
“That Chihiro would end up being the one persuaded instead.”
But honestly?
That was the best possible outcome.
Shifune had no intention of letting her granddaughter abandon music completely.
So no matter what happened—she would benefit.
It wasn’t “equivalent exchange” at all.
It was an unfairly good deal—one where she stood to gain far more than Sadaharu.
“…So you want me to arrange for them to meet?”
Sadaharu tapped his fingers against the table.
“But you do realize that girl resists everything I try to do, right?”
“It might not go the way you think.”
“I can handle that part.”
Shifune sipped the last of her coffee and set her cup down.
“All you need to do is agree.”
“…Fine.”
Sadaharu exhaled, shaking his head.
“How could I refuse when an old classmate asks so nicely?”
“Hmph.”
Shifune scoffed internally.
As if.
He only agreed because he thought the plan was worth it.
And yet, he still had to throw in some nonsense about their “long-standing friendship,” as if she owed him a favor now.
Well.
Who actually came out on top?
That was yet to be seen.
She smiled as she rose from her seat.
“In that case, let me congratulate you in advance on your granddaughter giving up her little rebellion and coming home.”
“She’ll come back eventually.”
“…Will she?”
Shifune’s smile remained unreadable.
Her gaze flicked toward his untouched coffee.
“By the way, dear classmate…”
“I ordered that coffee for you, but you haven’t touched it at all.”
“What, are you rejecting my kindness?”
“…You really haven’t changed one bit.”
“Good to know.”
With that, Shifune paid the bill and waved a hand in farewell before walking out of the café.
Sadaharu, still seated, felt… strangely irritated.
Why did he have the nagging sense that he’d just been looked down on?
Like—Shifune’s granddaughter, whom she hadn’t seen in years, was still close to her.
Meanwhile, he, who saw Sakiko regularly, had nothing but constant tension between them.
…No.
He had to prove himself.
With that in mind, he pulled out his phone and called his granddaughter.
The call wasn’t immediately declined.
That alone reassured him—Togawa family discipline still held strong.
They might fight, but she still had manners.
“Sakiko, it’s Grandpa.”
His voice was calm, even.
“Do you have time?”
“There’s someone I’d like you to meet—someone I think you’d have a lot in common with.”
“…What?”
“She, like you, tried to build a band all on her own, without relying on her family.”
“But she failed miserably.”
“She doesn’t even have the courage to pick up her instrument anymore.”
“I thought you two might—”
“Grandpa, I’m busy. I’m hanging up.”
Click.
“…”
—
T/N: LMAOOO GRANDPA YOU SHOULD JUST GET TO THE POINT LMAOO
This is a fan translation of 素世同学，恭喜你被我优化了 by 杰克喵. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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