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Chapter 52 part 2 – The Ootori Group (Corporate Group) (1)

I might be a substitute for my late father Kiichi, but separately, at least the two eldest sons of the Ootori family believe I have the duty and right to lead as the “Dreaming Miko” for Ootori.

And that they have no intention of handing this over to anyone else.

After all, the Zaiatsu Head Zenkichi is an adopted son, Great Uncle Tora Saburou only cares about tinkering with machines, the mediocre Uncle Genji is a second son, not the eldest.
The genius elder brother Tatsuya is a soldier, and is also the child of Ryuujiro, my grandfather’s younger brother.
The other daughters who have already married out and have no rights.

And I am the only child of my late father Kiichi.
Although there are four other children in my generation, none of them are from the eldest son’s line. 

The same applies to the children of Great Uncle Tora Saburou, who is older than me.

In other words, from the perspective of the family, there is no one else.

Of course, if the eldest line ends, the responsibility would pass to a spare family member, but there has been no such example so far, and my great-grandfather and grandfather seem uninterested in that.

As proof, I am protected more strictly than anyone else in the family.

The fact that they talk to me, call me to the family’s top meetings, and have me experience various things is definitely with the intent to raise me as quickly as possible.

And although I sometimes forget, I am determined to respond to this in order to avoid not only my own ruin and the destruction of my family but, if possible, the downfall of Japan itself.

I’m not entirely sure how my great-grandfather and others perceive my thoughts, but at least it’s a Win-Win relationship.

However, these circumstances of the Ootori family are known to some extent by other zaibatsu and parts of the kazoku aristocracy.
This is because those who have married into the Ootori family or married out from it have conveyed the family’s unity to other houses.

Also, those who come and go at the Ootori household, those in the upper ranks within the Ootori zaibatsu, and people around companies closely connected to Ootori each sense something about the Ootori family, who are somewhat untouchable like beings above the clouds, from their respective positions.

Into this came the unprecedented huge success in American stocks, as if they already knew they would win.
From this success, some whispered the keyword “Ootori’s Priestess.”

It hasn’t quite been connected to the great achievements of Kouryuu-sensei, but it is apparently regarded as one sign that fortune is favoring Ootori.

Also, those who know are aware that Tokita, the chief secretary of my great-grandfather, became my personal aide as an alternative measure after my father passed away, and that Tokita is a core figure who is actively operating in the U.S.

So the question arises, “Then who is orchestrating Ootori’s recent flashy moves?” and a hypothesis is formed.

Most people reject one particular idea.

Certainly, I might be the “Ootori Priestess,” but after all, I am just a young girl who will only turn seven this spring.
No matter how much I might possess some sort of supernatural power as a priestess or even be a prodigy, common sense says that’s just not possible—it becomes a mental barrier.

However, the other day, this suspected young child appeared on the public stage to celebrate the new beginning of the zaibatsu.
It was said to be like a “congratulation” ritual.

“Well then Reiko, about the future, um, group? policy,”

One day in April, I talked with my great-grandfather and my grandfather at a detached building of the mansion.

Recently, it’s become known not only among the mansion’s residents but also within the family, and it’s considered part of my education.

“Ootori has effectively become huge, but this is more like unhealthy growth. So for a while, let’s focus on mergers, reorganization, and streamlining.”

“That’s the obvious choice. Also, I want to strengthen unity.”

“Then how about holding something like a general meeting of the presidents? Preferably regularly.”

“Not a family meeting?”

“Right. A meeting? a report session? No, maybe a social gathering? where the presidents of the companies under the group’s umbrella gather.”

“There’s something similar in the army called the ‘Kaikosha,’ you know.”

My grandfather, the father figure, comments with amusement.
I strike a pose and think for a moment.

“I want an organization itself and a place where everyone can gather, but I want to actually hold meetings where we all come together. So, a presidents’ meeting.”

“A presidents’ meeting, huh? Is that really necessary for that group of companies?”

“To strengthen unity. Just like us. Oh, if we’re doing the same thing, maybe an annual garden party would be good too.”

“That sounds good, Father. I agree with Reiko. We’ll work out the details later, but sharing meals together has its effect even for people who aren’t soldiers.”

“If it’s two against one, I’ll follow the principle of democracy. But since we’re at it, why not give the meeting a name?”

(Come to think of it, the old postwar zaibatsu groups in Japan had names like ‘Something-kai’.)

“I think that’s a good idea. Reiko, do you have any suggestions?”

“Even if you ask me… What about you two?”

“Well, how about ‘Kujakukai’ (Peacock Society), inspired by the venue at the Imperial Hotel the other day? Peacocks are close to the phoenix after all.”

“That might be good. But if we do that, we’ll have to rent that venue at the Imperial Hotel every time, right? What do you think, Reiko? By the way, I can’t think of anything.”

“Father is so selfish… Well, I’m okay with ‘Kujakukai’ too, but how about something flashier like ‘Houou-kai’ (Phoenix Society)? Since ‘Hou’ and ‘Ou’ together can be interpreted as Ootori and Suzuki, and for a group, having a bird in the name symbolizing being under the wings makes sense. Also, we can build a venue for the presidents’ meeting under Ootori from now on and name it accordingly.”

Both of them show agreement on their faces in response to my words.

Then, later on, the Ootori Group issues a notice establishing the presidents’ meeting.

The organization is named ‘Houou-kai.’
It’s inspired by Ootori but symbolizes a stance of spreading wings across the world.

The Ootori Group, while leading finance and holdings, starts full-speed ahead with a dual structure of Ootori and Suzuki.