By the time the convoy arrived at the stadium, the place was already packed.
News vans lined the surrounding streets. Reporters stood behind barriers. Camera crews moved from one position to another while photographers waited near the entrance.
Inside the limousine, Fran sat to my left with her phone resting face-down on her lap. Anathasia sat on my right, staring through the tinted window.
Her brows slowly furrowed.
"Isn't this... a bit too many people?"
I glanced at her.
"So you do think this isn't normal either."
Anathasia clicked her tongue.
Apparently, yes.
A few moments later, the convoy rolled to a stop directly in front of the stadium's main entrance.
The moment it did, dozens of men in tailored suits exited the surrounding vehicles and immediately formed two orderly lines. The crowd was gently pushed back as a clear path opened toward the entrance.
Then the same man from before approached our limousine. The door opened. He stepped aside and lowered his head.
Outside, camera flashes erupted instantly.
Fran looked at the doorway. Then at us. Then very deliberately leaned back.
"I think Mom and Dad should go first."
"Good idea," I said immediately.
"Terrible idea," Anathasia said at exactly the same time. She latched onto my arm and shook her head so aggressively that her hair swayed.
"No."
Her arms crossed into an X.
"Absolutely not."
"I prefer quiet."
"I prefer low-profile."
"I prefer not being perceived."
I stared at her.
"Then why did you call the CEO?"
"We could've taken a taxi."
"I didn't think he'd make it public!" she protested.
"We barely contact them! They probably got excited and went completely overboard!"
Before I could respond, she suddenly placed both hands on my shoulders.
Then shoved.
"Wait—"
I stumbled straight out of the limousine.
"Idiot—!"
The moment I stepped outside, the world exploded into flashes.
Cameras.
Questions.
Voices.
Japanese.
Lots and lots of Japanese.
I had no idea what anyone was saying. Fortunately, the security detail immediately closed ranks around us.
Behind me, Fran slipped out. Behind Fran, Anathasia used both of us as human cover.
The three of us were effectively escorted into the stadium while Anathasia hid behind my shoulder like a wanted criminal avoiding public exposure. The moment the doors shut behind us, all three of us released a collective sigh.
"This," Anathasia declared, "is why economy class will always be superior."
"I think we should go back to economy too."
"Agreed."
Fran quietly fixed her hair.
I looked around instead.
The interior of the stadium was enormous. Modern architecture stretched across every direction. Glass, steel, polished surfaces, layered walkways.
Technically speaking, I'd signed off on its construction years ago. Actually seeing it in person was a different experience entirely.
As my gaze wandered through the reception area, it eventually settled on a silver-haired girl speaking with what appeared to be one of her teachers. The moment I saw her profile, recognition clicked.
"Ah."
I stopped walking.
"It's him."
A pause.
"Or... her?"
"What?"
Anathasia followed my gaze.
Then immediately froze.
"Ah."
Her expression flattened. We exchanged a glance. Then nodded simultaneously.
"That's the Disvinadiya boy."
"Well... girl now."
"Pretty much."
Anathasia folded her arms. Quietly studying the silver-haired student.
"Looks like they haven't noticed us yet."
She glanced at me.
"Think we can slip away before they do?"
"I would genuinely love that."
My eyes shifted toward Fran. She was standing beside us, completely absorbed in her notes. Reading. Memorizing. Reviewing. Preparing.
Anathasia followed my gaze. Then immediately understood.
"Ah."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"Right."
"You're here as faculty."
"And I'm technically here as her guardian."
"Exactly."
I shrugged.
"So unfortunately, we can't disappear."
"Shame."
"You're making it sound like we're a pair of troublesome teenagers."
"Aren't we?"
Anathasia opened her mouth, paused, and then closed it again.
"Fair point."
Her attention drifted back toward Fran. The moment she saw her daughter still diligently studying, her entire expression softened.
She nudged my arm.
"Look at her."
I looked.
Fran remained completely focused.
"She's so diligent."
"So responsible."
"So hardworking."
I nodded.
"Nothing like you."
The softness immediately vanished.
"Excuse me?"
"Especially since you've been avoiding administrative work since college."
SMACK.
A hand landed squarely on the back of my head. I rubbed the spot while Anathasia stared up at me flatly.
"I had reasons."
She raised one finger.
"First, I was still adjusting."
A second finger.
"Second, paperwork is horrible."
She pointed at me.
"Why do you think I made you handle all the complicated Kithia stuff?"
A third finger.
"Third, I was designed to be cute and beautiful."
She nodded firmly.
"Not to process paperwork."
I stared at her.
"That's an incredible amount of vanity."
A pause.
"Not technically inaccurate, but still."
Anathasia ignored me and raised a fourth finger.
"And lastly..."
She placed a hand against her chest.
"I am a housewife."
Then pointed directly at me.
"Your wife."
She smiled triumphantly.
"Therefore, administrative work is your problem."
I blinked.
"That explains absolutely nothing."
"Sounds convincing to me."
"Of course it does."
The two of us fell silent after that, letting our eyes wander around the lobby while everyone else minded their own business.
Then, near the doorway leading toward the staff area, a familiar golden-blonde woman came into view.
Hinami Fuyukawa.
The current owner of Shuishuo International Conglomerates, Noah's wife, and one of our closest friends.
She spotted us almost immediately.
With a small smile, she raised a hand and gestured for us to come over. Fran looked up at the same time and instantly brightened.
"Aunt Hinami!"
She briskly made her way over, while Anathasia and I followed behind her. A faint smile tugged at my lips before a realization suddenly hit me.
"Oh..."
"What's up?" Anathasia asked, raising an eyebrow.
She watched as my gaze slowly swept across the entire lobby.
"Oh... shoot..." she muttered.
Without another word, she grabbed my wrist and practically dragged me toward the room Hinami and Fran had disappeared into.
For that brief moment, I could practically feel dozens upon dozens of eyes settling on our backs. Then the door slammed shut behind us.
Silence.
For a few seconds, both of us just stood there catching our breath.
Anathasia looked at me.
Then gave me a thumbs up and a smile. I couldn't help letting out a small laugh.
"The CEO definitely made everything ten times more complicated, honestly..."
"Couldn't agree more," she replied, rubbing her temple before both of us looked ahead.
Fran was already holding Noah and Hinami's daughter, Sayaka, in her arms. My eyes narrowed slightly. Something felt off. Then I realized why.
"Hinami."
"Yes?"
"Where's Noah?"
Hinami gestured toward another door nearby. A Japanese sign hung above it. I had absolutely no idea what it said, but judging from the context, it was probably the restroom.
"He's currently in the restroom," she replied. "He should be out anytime soon."
Just as I'd guessed.
"I see..."
Meanwhile, Anathasia had already vanished.
Or more specifically—
She had flickered onto one of the office chairs sitting nearby. The kind that spun around. Not that I knew what those were called.
"Fwahh~ how exhausting..."
She leaned back and started spinning around and around while Hinami and Fran remained occupied with Sayaka.
"I wonder what's happening in Fanji Zhoushan right now..." Anathasia suddenly blurted out.
The chair continued spinning.
"Wait, did I even read any light novels these days...?"
For a moment, I was almost interested. Then my curiosity immediately died. A sigh slipped from my lips.
"Are you still reading those Xianxia novels?"
"Yup."
The chair stopped abruptly.
"I found one that's over a thousand chapters long, actually."
That alone already sounded dangerous. Anathasia leaned forward slightly.
"You know how the usual overpowered protagonist either pretends to be weak or hides their true potential?"
I nodded once.
"This one genuinely is just an introvert."
"That's... something."
"It gets better."
That statement somehow worried me.
"They're an Origin Absolute."
I stared at her for a second before glancing elsewhere.
"I have no idea what that means," I said dryly. "But sure...?"
Anathasia simply shrugged before spinning the chair again, staring up at the ceiling while her dress swirled along with the motion.
Shaking my head lightly, I turned toward the door Noah was supposed to come out of.
Then suddenly—
An arm draped itself over my shoulder.
"What's up? You two really pulled some insane entrance, didn't you?"
The familiar voice made my expression flatten instantly.
"Dude..."
Noah stood beside me with an arm slung over my shoulder, his gaze still fixed on his daughter being cradled in Fran's arms.
"It was Anathasia's fault."
The spinning behind us stopped immediately.
"I just made one call."
A pause.
"One."
"Call!"
Noah let out a quiet laugh as Anathasia walked up behind me, still grumbling under her breath while watching Fran carry little Sayaka.
"I heard Narita Airport had to redirect a few flights because your Boeing was arriving," Noah added, amusement still lingering in his voice. "That's pretty insane to me."
For a moment, I just stared at him. Then at Anathasia. Then back at him again.
"See?"
I pointed at her.
"This is exactly what I've been dealing with."
"Hey."
Anathasia immediately frowned.
"I still think that's an overreaction."
"Anathasia."
"It was one plane."
"Anathasia."
"One."
"Plane."
Noah's shoulders shook slightly as he tried and failed not to laugh.