"Makoto Amano! What are you talking about!?"
You actually want to impregnate my sister?
Haruno couldn't help but stand up from the tatami mat in a huff.
Although most of her anger was just an act.
"Fu~"
To the surprise of Haruno and Amano, instead of being angry, Mrs. Yukinoshita smiled and clapped her hands.
Clap, clap...
Mrs. Yukinoshita first covered her smiling mouth with a folding fan, then put down the fan and flapped her hands up and down.
Gradually, her eyes became sharper.
"You're quite capable."
She said in an appreciative tone.
"No, I dare not take credit."
Makoto Amano realized he had been at a disadvantage from the beginning.
His mother-in-law had never accepted him, from before until now.
It seemed that she had become more shrewd recently and had become more defensive towards him.
Well, he could only admit that she deserved to be the mother of Yukino and Haruno.
"Now that everything is out in the open, I won't beat around the bush anymore. I want you—"
Mrs. Yukinoshita caressed her chin, and her eyes slowly swept across Makoto Amano's face, like the movement of fish gills.
"To become a part of the Yukinoshita family... no, to become my son-in-law and the adopted son of our family."
The roles of son-in-law and adopted son are different from a traditional surrogate, as the male is naturalized (registered) as the "adopted son" of the woman who is the head of the family.
Since it is an "adopted son" relationship with a household registration connection, it grants legal inheritance rights.
By marrying the daughter to the "son," the son-in-law and adopted son would be more closely connected to the family.
This is in line with the Japanese inheritance system, where blood relationship is not always the primary consideration.
For them, ensuring the continuation of the family is the most important thing.
"Mother?"
Son-in-law and adopted son?
Does that mean Mother no longer intends to hand over the Yukinoshita estate to me or Yukino?
Haruno didn't expect this sudden turn of events...
If Mother intends to hand over the family business to Makoto Amano, then what is her position now?
"Haruno, step back for now."
Mrs. Yukinoshita seemed to find Haruno a bit bothersome.
"No, no, I can't accept it. Mom, how can we hand over the Yukinoshita family to an outsider? There's still me and Yukino..."
She shook her head, standing her ground with a determined expression, refusing to back down.
Her resistance was reasonable, and she knew her mother wouldn't blame her too much for it.
"Enough, you, a daughter who can't even arrange flowers properly, what can you do?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita looked disgusted.
In her eyes, being able to arrange flowers was seen as a bonus for inheriting the family business.
"I..."
Haruno didn't expect her mother to use such an excuse to silence her.
This feeling...
It feels a lot like Amano's style?
She looked at Makoto Amano, who was lost in thought, with a complicated expression.
"Sister Haruno is not suitable to inherit the Yukinoshita family business."
Just as Haruno was wondering if Makoto Amano should say something at this point, he suddenly stabbed her in the back with his words.
Haruno stared fiercely at the teenager sitting across from her, her eyes questioning what he was talking about.
"Oh, and why is that?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita wanted to hear Makoto Amano's opinion.
It could be considered as the second or third test for him.
"Because Sister Haruno has been imitating you all this time."
After Amano Makoto said this, Mrs. Yukinoshita's expression gradually changed.
"But the imitation is poor. Although she can pass on the surface, if she were to face those influential figures who can stand on equal ground with the Yukinoshita family, her performance would likely be secretly ridiculed by others. For example, they might say, "She is just a fake copy of her mother" something like that..."
Makoto Amano added a clarification.
"What are you talking about, you bastard!"
Haruno angrily grabbed him by the collar.
This was the second time he had "added drama" without permission, but she had never added any drama to herself, following the script they had discussed.
"Mom, I think he just wants to embezzle our family's property, so he's talking nonsense to get attention."
Haruno angrily let go of his collar under her mother's displeased gaze, but her expression still showed her unwillingness.
"I think what Amano said makes a lot of sense."
However, Mrs. Yukinoshita seemed to be seriously considering what Makoto Amano had said.
She noticed the flaws and inadequacies hidden beneath her daughter Haruno's usual perfect and impeccable performance.
"Look at your current appearance. Have you forgotten what I taught you about composure?"
"I..."
Faced with her mother's reprimand, Haruno could only shrink back and refrain from saying anything more.
On the other hand, Makoto Amano discreetly gave Haruno a thumbs up for her acting skills.
"Now?"
After scolding Haruno, Mrs. Yukinoshita looked at the boy in front of her again.
Makoto Amano undoubtedly met her criteria for selecting talent in terms of appearance, style of conversation, alertness, and flower arrangement.
"What is it?" Makoto was Confused
"I haven't heard your answer yet?"
She said with a smile on her face.
"Accept me as a son-in-law... Auntie, are you serious?"
To be honest, Amano was still a little scared.
He never expected her to propose the idea of him becoming the "son-in-law and adopted son" directly.
"Of course, I'm serious. So, what's your answer? Will you agree or reject?"
"I..."
He showed a troubled expression.
"But Yukino doesn't like me at all, and I also don't think I'm worthy of the Yukinoshita family..."
"It seems that Brother Amano is very self-aware."
Haruno took the opportunity to add an extra line of drama for herself.
"Yukino is just being capricious and shy as a girl. If she really didn't like you, why would she go to your house after running away from home?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita's tone started to show the pressure that brooked no questioning or resistance.
"I..."
Knowing there was no way to avoid this reasoning, Makoto Amano could only seek help from Haruno with a corner of his eye, who hadn't left the stage yet.
This was part of the "play" they had extensively discussed beforehand.
"Wait, Mom, while Brother Amano may indeed be excellent, it's too hasty to let him and Yukino be together like this. I think he should first become familiar with the rules of the Yukinoshita family, like living in our house and doing 'groom practice' or something..."
" If he performs well, then mother can consider accepting him as a son-in-law and adopting him, which would help quell any objections from others."
Although they were in the Yukinoshita family now, the family members were not just the mother and daughter.
"Groom practice?"
Sounds interesting...
And what Haruno said seems to make sense.
Mrs. Yukinoshita narrowed her eyes slightly, wearing a mischievous smile like a young girl.
———