The elderly man appeared to be in his eighties or nineties. His skin was wrinkled like dried orange peel, and most of his teeth were gone.
Despite sitting in a wheelchair, he radiated energy, his bright eyes brimming with vitality.
Behind him, a teenage girl with black hair was pushing the wheelchair, followed by several bodyguards in suits and sunglasses.
"Who are they?"
"Is that the chairman?"
"No way! Is that girl the chairman's granddaughter? She's gorgeous!"
The nearby students quickly realized that the elderly man was the school's chairman, and a wave of shock rippled through the crowd.
Many eyes lingered on the girl, who exuded both beauty and an air of elegance.
She frowned slightly, a trace of disdain flashing in her eyes, clearly displeased. However, as she passed Erina, she paused, her eyes widening in surprise as she gave Erina a second, longer look.
"When did this school have such an outstanding girl?" she wondered. "Her poise is even more impressive than mine."
At the entrance of the principal's office, the school's principal and staff were already gathered, awaiting the chairman's arrival.
As soon as they saw him approach, the principal bowed deeply, greeting him with, "Good day, Mr. Takahashi."
"Good day, Mr. Takahashi," echoed the vice-principal and the other teachers, bowing as well.
Sui, following behind them, observed the scene with mild curiosity, wondering when things would settle down.
He noticed Erina waiting at the door and gave her a brief, apologetic smile, signaling that she'd have to wait just a little longer.
The girl pushing the wheelchair noticed Sui's glance toward Erina and briefly turned her attention to him, her curiosity piqued.
"So, what brings you here today, Mr. Takahashi?" the principal asked eagerly as he stepped forward to take over pushing the wheelchair.
The old man smiled warmly. "I just came to check on the students. How are they performing this year?"
"The students have been doing quite well," the principal replied, though his smile seemed somewhat strained. Meanwhile, the other teachers stiffened slightly, bracing for the chairman's scrutiny of the school's performance.
"That's the chairman of our school, Takahashi Fumio," Sui's homeroom teacher whispered as she sidled up to him. "He's a very kind man who cares deeply about the students. The tuition here is low because of him, and he's allowed many students from less wealthy families to enroll."
Sui nodded in understanding. That explained why this prestigious private school didn't charge exorbitant fees. He had always wondered why the cost was so reasonable. If the tuition had been higher, he probably wouldn't have been able to attend in the first place.
"That girl is Mr. Takahashi's granddaughter, Takahashi Airi. She's an accomplished chef herself, but she has quite the reputation for being arrogant," the teacher added.
At that moment, Airi's sharp voice cut through the room, "Stop with the pleasantries. The school's performance has been poor these past few years. If things don't improve this year, we may have to cut your funding."
The teachers' faces paled at her bluntness.
"Airi, don't speak to the principal that way," Takahashi Fumio gently chastised his granddaughter.
"Yes, Grandpa," Airi responded, though her tone remained displeased. She turned back to the principal. "Now, please hand over this year's performance report."
The principal quickly presented her with several documents, detailing the school's enrollment, graduation rates, and competition results.
Airi glanced over the reports with a slight snort, then settled into a chair in the principal's office and began reviewing them thoroughly.
Meanwhile, Takahashi Fumio remained in his wheelchair, chatting casually with the principal. When his gaze fell upon Sui, he offered a warm smile.
Caught off guard, Sui returned the smile, unsure of what to make of the interaction.
After about half an hour, Airi finished reading the reports. Her expression darkened as she slammed the documents onto the desk. "This is appalling! Last year's graduation rate was only 80%, with over a hundred students being held back. And this year's average student grade was a pathetic B! On top of that, you didn't win any major competitions this year, except for a single second-place finish. How do you call yourself an educator?"
"I-I'm terribly sorry, Miss Takahashi," the vice-principal stammered, along with several other teachers, all scrambling to apologize.
"Airi, please mind your manners," Takahashi Fumio admonished, his tone kind but firm.
"Grandpa, you're too lenient. It's because of people like them that the school has been declining year after year!" Airi retorted, her frustration evident.
"I apologize for my granddaughter's outburst," Takahashi Fumio said, turning to the principal with a gentle smile. "She's been spoiled by her mother. Please, don't take offense."
"No, no, it's entirely our fault," the principal responded hastily, still visibly tense.
Even though the chairman wasn't directly blaming them, everyone knew that Takahashi Fumio's advanced age meant he was no longer deeply involved in school affairs. Once Airi took full control, she was likely to slash the school's budget—and perhaps even replace the principal.
"Let's set that aside for now," Fumio said, changing the subject with a smile. "It's been a long time since I've tasted the students' food. I'd love to sample some today."
"Of course," the principal replied quickly. He knew the chairman cared deeply about student development and made it a tradition to taste their food whenever he visited, though his declining health had limited these visits in recent years.
"While the school's overall academic performance may not have been stellar in recent times, there are still some exceptional students who have emerged," the principal added, suddenly remembering Sui and seeing an opportunity to improve the school's standing.
"Oh? Is that so?" Takahashi Fumio asked, intrigued. He glanced at Yuzuki and Sui. "Are these two of them?"
"Indeed," the principal responded, smiling confidently.
Sui felt a pang of exasperation. So this was why the principal had asked him to wait. He intended to use his achievements to win favor with the chairman.
"This must be your daughter," Takahashi Fumio said, looking at Yuzuki. "I've heard great things about her talents."
The principal nodded proudly, but Fumio's gaze soon shifted to Sui. "And who is this young man?"
"His name is Sui," the principal quickly interjected. "He is the most outstanding student in our school."
"Yes, absolutely!" the vice-principal chimed in, nodding vigorously.
Sui blinked in disbelief. The same vice-principal who had wanted to expel him earlier was now praising him as the school's best student?
Noticing Sui's skeptical glance, the vice-principal's face reddened with embarrassment.
"Oh, a foreigner?" Takahashi Fumio said, smiling kindly. "How are you adjusting to life here in Japan?"