Reborn in Tokyo: From Heiress to Global Tycoon

Chapter 391 Graduation Ceremony

Early March, Sheng Hua College, Higher Division.

Starting early in the morning, one after another expensive-looking cars began to pass by the school gate.

The driver opened the car door for the occupants in the back seat. The students, dressed in neat uniforms, got out of the car, while the parents, dressed in restrained-color formal wear or suits, bowed slightly to each other and said things like congratulations on their graduation.

The decline in the overall environment does not seem to have affected this historic campus.

The road in front of the auditorium was swept clean, with only dark traces left in the cracks of the stone slabs by the light rain that fell last night. Banners congratulating the graduation hung on both sides of the school gate, and the early spring flowers in the flower beds had already been replaced. Their colors were not intense, but they were enough to show that the school never skimped on such occasions.

Looking at the scene before you, it's hard to connect the declining economy outside with this historic campus.

Students still stop at the school gate to take pictures.

The mother would straighten her daughter's bow tie, while the father stood by, trying to maintain a serious expression. A boy was tapped on the shoulder from behind by a friend, and nearly bumped into his sister carrying a bouquet when he turned around. The graduation ceremony at St. Hua Academy is pretty much the same every year: dignified, quiet, yet still full of the lively atmosphere of the students' last day of school.

However, if you look at it for a longer period of time, you can still find some changes.

Some of the faces that appeared at the entrance ceremony are no longer here today.

The construction company president, who used to chat and laugh with the principal in the front row of the parents' section, was replaced by his younger brother. A certain lady who was always impeccably dressed was absent; after her daughter was dropped off at the school gate by the family driver, she stood there alone, adjusting her cuffs.

However, some families that were not particularly prominent in the past are now arriving in newer cars, the fathers have replaced their badges with commemorative badges from the new company, and the mothers are much more composed when talking to other parents than they were three years ago.

Wealth doesn't simply vanish into thin air.

Or rather, while a considerable amount of wealth disappeared in the bubble, the meager amount that leaked out was enough to nourish a new batch of elites.

When some people are shattered after the bubble bursts, others will climb up the ladder by stepping on the empty spaces left by others. Schools like Seiwa Academy were among the first to realize this, because their students and parents were already closer to the flow of funds in Tokyo than the average person.

As Satsuki and Shuichi were walking on campus, they happened to see a mother and daughter taking pictures next to the school gate.

The girl was holding a bouquet of flowers, and her mother stood behind her, smiling happily. Shuichi glanced at her briefly before looking away.

Satsuki, however, lingered for a moment longer.

"Three years ago, their family probably didn't come in that car."

Shuichi followed her gaze and thought for a moment.

"The one that trades in medical devices?"

"Yes," Satsuki said. "Last year we received equipment orders from several hospitals, and recently we've also started a system maintenance partnership with SIS."

Xiu Yi smiled.

"Do we have to see all of this at the graduation ceremony?"

"Didn't Father notice it too?"

Shuichi did not deny it. He glanced at the fork in the road ahead, but slowed his pace.

Satsuki walked ahead and naturally headed towards the road on the right, but after taking a few steps, she stopped in front of the road sign.

She looked up for a while, then frowned very seriously.

"Father, this way...probably?"

Shuichi stood there, watching his daughter studying the road signs, and finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"You little rascal, it's this way."

He pointed to another road.

Satsuki turned to look at him.

Xiu looked at her, his tone a mix of amusement and helplessness.

"To be honest, I've probably been at this school longer than you have."

"Was Father also a graduate of St. Hua Academy?"

"I'm not like that." Shuichi walked to her side and brought her back to the right direction. "I often come to see Principal Kuga because of official business. Although it's not that many times, I at least know where the auditorium is."

Satsuki blinked, then naturally stepped aside, folded her hands, and playfully performed a traditional female greeting.

"Then please lead the way, Father."

Shuichi was both amused and exasperated by her action.

"Aren't you going to say anything in response? This is the school you're about to graduate from."

Satsuki lowered her hand, her tone very serious.

"No, I must listen to my father and not argue with him. I must be a lady."

Xiu Yi smiled and shook his head, then turned and walked towards the auditorium.

"Alright, let's go. Don't keep Principal Kuga waiting too long."

Satsuki jogged a couple of steps to catch up.

"Yes, Father."

The father and daughter walked along the corridor outside the school building toward the auditorium.

People frequently stopped to bow to them, and Shuichi politely returned their greetings, while Satsuki maintained a very proper smile. Those gazes held curiosity, awe, and even a hint of probing, but since it was graduation day, no one would dare to act rudely in such a setting.

Xiu glanced at his daughter, then suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, right, you were chosen to speak on stage as a student representative, right?"

"uh-huh."

Satsuki's tone carried a hint of pride.

Xiu Yi found it amusing.

"While I don't mean to question your speaking ability, is it really okay to have a student who has only attended classes for a total of two months over three years of high school be the student representative?"

"My classmates really like me."

As she said this, her eyes curved slightly, as if she genuinely felt it was something to be proud of.

Seeing his daughter like this, Shuichi couldn't help but want to reach out and touch her head.

"That's true, who wouldn't love my daughter?"

"Damn it."

Satsuki's hair was neatly combed today, and she immediately raised her hand to protect it.

"Father, my hair will be messed up."

Shuichi's hand froze in mid-air, then he withdrew it as if he had been greatly shocked.

"Sigh, she's going through a rebellious phase; my daughter's been naughty."

"Hmph, it's my father's fault for messing up my hair."

Satsuki pretended to be very dissatisfied and walked forward with her arms crossed.

This time, it was Xiuyi who couldn't hold back anymore. His daughter would never normally show such an angry demeanor. If anyone really made her angry, she would "kill" them with a smile on her face—of course, "kill" is just a metaphor.

Shuichi caught up with Satsuki and started walking side by side again.

"So, have you prepared your speech?"

"no."

Xiu paused with a step.

"No?"

"Um."

Are you planning to speak without a script?

Shuichi looked at her with some surprise, thought for a moment, and then nodded as if he had convinced himself.

"That works too. The content of graduation ceremonies is always the same old thing: thanking the teachers, thanking the school, and wishing the students all the best for the future..."

As he spoke, he saw Satsuki looking at him with a half-smile, and a sense of unease suddenly arose in his heart.

Shuichi's voice stopped.

"You'll do it the usual way, right?"

Satsuki was still smiling as she looked at him.

Looking at her expression, Shuichi's tone became less certain.

"...Right?"

Satsuki, with her hands behind her back, took a light step forward.

"Who knows?"

Repair your forehead.

Satsuki turned around and reached out to push him to continue walking forward.

"Okay, okay, never mind what I'm going to say. Let's go, or we'll really be late."

"You little rascal."

As she pushed him forward, Shuichi couldn't help but say, "Today is the graduation ceremony, and Principal Kuga isn't young anymore. You should at least give him some time to prepare."

"Don't worry, Father, I will be very polite."

"That's never what I'm worried about."

Satsuki laughed even more happily.

Shuichi sighed and couldn't help but raise his hand to his forehead.

"Ah, as long as you don't declare war on the whole of Japan."

"What kind of person do you think I am, Father?"

"my daughter."

"Then Father should have confidence in me."

"Of course I'm confident." Shuichi sighed again. "That's the problem."

Satsuki laughed out loud.

……

A large crowd had already gathered outside the auditorium. School staff were confirming the guest list, while lower-year students from the student council were guiding parents into the venue.

Several teachers stood by the entrance. When they saw Shuichi and Satsuki coming over, the teacher in charge of receiving them immediately came forward and greeted them with a more formal attitude than when they greeted other parents.

"Mr. Saionji, Ms. Saionji, seats have been arranged inside."

Xiu nodded slightly.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Satsuki also bowed to the other party.

After they were led into the auditorium, the volume inside noticeably decreased.

The front row VIP seats were already quite full, with school board members, parents from the former Chinese community, political figures, and representatives from several companies all talking quietly in their respective seats.

On the other side of the auditorium were the student seats, where each third-grade class took their seats in order, their uniforms neatly laid out in a dark color.

Shuichi quickly found his name in the front row.

Next to his seat was a nameplate that read Saionji Satsuki.

Principal Kuga had clearly made special arrangements, hoping that Satsuki could sit next to her father in a special capacity and then walk over from the VIP section when she went on stage to speak.

After Shuichi sat down, he saw that Satsuki was still standing.

"Why aren't you sitting? Didn't Principal Jiu specifically arrange for you to sit next to me?"

Satsuki raised her hand and shook her index finger.

"Graduation ceremony is all about sitting with your classmates."

She glanced at the VIP seats around her again, lowering her voice slightly.

"And I don't want to sit with a bunch of old men."

Several school board members nearby were talking and paused for a moment when they heard this. Xiu Yi was also taken aback for a moment, then laughed and scolded, "Who are you calling an old man, you little brat?"

Satsuki had already turned around and waved to him with her back to him.

"See you later, Father."

Shuichi watched her walk towards the student seating area, the smile still lingering on his lips. A former member of the school board, a member of the old Chinese aristocracy, whispered beside him, "Your daughter seems to be in a very good mood."

"She's graduating today, so of course she's in a good mood."

As he spoke, Xiu Yi's gaze remained fixed on his daughter's retreating figure.

……

As Satsuki walked through the corridor, many students looked over.

She didn't deliberately quicken her pace or put on any special gesture; she simply followed the passageway left between the student seats toward the third-year A group's seating area.

From afar, Ayako had already spotted her.

"Saionji-kun! Over here!"

Ayako's voice wasn't loud, but it was still quite clear amidst the somewhat restrained conversations around her. She raised her hand to signal to Satsuki, but immediately realized that this was a graduation ceremony, so she quickly lowered her hand and sat up even more upright than before.

Satsuki walked over and found that Ayako and Reiko were already seated, with one empty seat in the middle.

"Thank you, Yoshino-kun."

"That's how it should be."

After Ayako finished speaking, she glanced at Satsuki's collar again, as if trying to remind her of something. Satsuki looked down at her uniform but didn't find anything wrong.

"What's wrong?"

"No," Ayako quickly shook her head, "I just think this looks good today."

Satsuki smiled and sat down among them.

"It's a graduation ceremony, after all."

As she spoke, her gaze fell on Reiko on her right.

Reiko was also wearing the uniform of Seiwa Academy today, her hair was neatly combed, and she placed the cover of her graduation certificate on her lap.

She sat upright, and her expression was fine, but her gaze remained fixed on the stage, lost in thought.

Satsuki did not speak immediately.

She was certainly aware of the Qinghe Society's actions.

Recently, the Saionji faction has been gaining increasing influence within the Prime Minister's Office and the party. The remnants of the old Keiseikai (Takeshita faction) have been largely absorbed, the Hakusuikai within the Sumitomo main family has quieted down and begun to stabilize, Seibu has been forced to bow down, and even the banks are starting to be mindful of Saionji's wishes…

This is not a situation that Qinghe Society would like.

They dared not directly confront the Saionji main family, nor was it appropriate to target the Kaibu official residence at this time, so they chose the Isogawa family instead.

Seiichiro Isogawa held considerable influence within the official residence and had a past connection to the Takeshita clan. From the perspective of the Seiwakai, the Isogawa family was indeed a convenient position for probing.

Satsuki snorted inwardly.

If they want to test the waters, then let them try.

Once a hand is extended, don't expect to retract it completely.

Since the Takashina family is willing to confront the Isogawa family on behalf of the Kiyowa Association, they should bear the consequences of this choice.

Satsuki wouldn't escalate this into a full-scale war with the Seiwakai, as that would give them an excuse to band together. She only needed to cripple the Takashina family so they could never recover, making the Seiwakai understand the consequences.

Reiko was unaware of these things.

Or perhaps she knew she should come to him, but she never spoke.

Seeing that she was sitting upright but her mind was not at all in the hall, Satsuki finally called out softly.

"Reiko?"

"Uh! I'm here!"

Reiko snapped back to reality, her voice much louder than she had imagined. Several people around her immediately looked over, and she quickly raised her hand to cover her mouth, her shoulders shrinking inward.

"Feel sorry……"

Her voice trailed off.

Satsuki looked at her, her tone still gentle.

"What are you thinking about? You seem so lost in thought."

"Ah... I wasn't thinking anything."

Reiko chuckled a few times, her eyes darting around, before quickly finding another reason that seemed somewhat plausible.

"I'm just wondering why the ceremony hasn't started yet, and I'm getting a little tired of sitting."

"It may take some more time to prepare."

Satsuki shifted her gaze to the busy stage above.

On stage, Principal Kuga was already confirming the proceedings with several teachers. The emcee stood to the side, holding cards and speaking quietly to the sound engineer. The parents' section of the auditorium gradually quieted down, and the conversations among the graduates also subsided.

Satsuki's gaze lingered on the stage, but she felt a pang of disappointment.

Reiko hasn't told her about it yet.

She had initially thought that Reiko would at least talk to her before the graduation ceremony. After all, Seiichiro Isogawa had already seen through the Seiwakai's intentions and should understand that dragging this matter out would not benefit the Isogawa family. But Reiko kept the matter bottled up, as if the graduation ceremony would pass peacefully as long as she didn't speak up.

Satsuki glanced at Reiko again, turning her eyes slightly to the side.

Reiko kept looking at the podium, her expression seemingly calm, but her finger was still pressing on the flowchart.

In fact, she is not lacking in talent and ability, and her judgment is quite sharp, so why does she hesitate in this matter?

Satsuki thought for a moment.

Could it be because of Takashiro Naoto?

SIS's records mention that the Isogawa and Takashina families had a history of interaction, and their children had met many times at gatherings of political families. Takashina Naoto was able to lure Reiko out that day precisely because of this old connection.

Satsuki turned her gaze away and sighed softly to herself.

Reiko, you can't keep measuring your stance by old friendships.

The preparations on the podium finally ended, and the conversations in the auditorium gradually subsided.

Principal Kuga stood up and walked to the microphone.

He was wearing a black tuxedo with a white flower pinned to his chest and a gentle smile on his face.

Seiwa Academy holds a graduation ceremony every year, sending off a new batch of students each year. Principal Kuga was clearly very familiar with the process, handling every detail of his speech perfectly from the very first greeting.

He first thanked the parents for attending, and then thanked the third-grade students for their hard work during their time at the school. He then spoke about the history of St. John's College, the school motto, the students' upcoming entry into university and society, and also about family, responsibility, and upbringing.

These are all common phrases heard at graduation ceremonies.

The students in the auditorium listened quietly. Some were attentive, some relaxed, and others were already waiting for the photos and dinner after the ceremony. The parents' seats were even more restrained; occasionally, someone would exchange a whispered remark before quickly falling silent again.

Satsuki sat in the student section and listened attentively.

Principal Kuga's speech was not bad. He knew the families today's graduates came from and that the external economic environment was changing, so he avoided overly optimistic statements in several places.

He didn't say that the future would definitely be smooth, nor did he say that hard work would definitely be rewarded. He simply hoped that no matter where the students went, they would never forget the etiquette, responsibility, and knowledge that Sheng Hua College had taught them.

At the end of his speech, the principal closed his hand.

"Dear graduates, from today onwards, you will be leaving the Advanced Department of Shenghua Academy and embarking on a new path."

"I wish that in the future you will continue to cherish the manners you have learned here, respect those around you, and live up to the expectations of your families and teachers."

He bowed slightly to the audience.

Applause erupted in the auditorium.

Satsuki clapped along. Her movements were unhurried, and her expression was calm.

The applause lasted for a while. Principal Kuga did not immediately return to his seat, but waited until the applause gradually subsided before looking down at the audience again.

His gaze swept across the student seats, finally settling on the third-year A group.

Ayako instinctively sat up straighter.

Reiko also came to her senses.

Satsuki looked up and met Principal Kuga's gaze, which was about half a hall's distance away.

Principal Kuga picked up the process sheet, and his voice was broadcast throughout the auditorium via microphone.

"Next, student representative Saionji will give a speech."