Volume 1 - CH 25

“It’s been a while, Haruto-san. I see that you’ve returned. …… Did something happen?　I was under the impression that you would not be coming back in the summer.”

Arisa asked Haruto nonchalantly.

The Amagi family has a son who is a university student living alone in Kansai.

So Yuzuru guessed that he must be their son.

“Yeah, well, that was the plan. But then I heard that Arisa got engaged. I was wondering what was going on, so I came home.”

Haruto then turned his gaze to Yuzuru, who was standing next to Arisa.

It was not a very friendly expression.

“…… And you are?”

Haruto queriedYuzuru.

Yuzuru replied, thinking that in a situation like this, in manga and anime, they would say, ” Before you ask someone their name, you should tell them yours.”.

“Nice to meet you, Airisa’s stepbrother. I’m Yuzuru Takasegawa . I’m Arisa-san’s fiancee.”

“I see, you’re the one… I see. I am Haruto Amagi, Arisa’s stepbrother.”

Then, after a moment of silence, Haruto asked Yuzuru.

“…… Are you really Arisa’s fiancee, Yuzuru-kun?”

“Yes, I am.”

“…… How old are you?”

“I’m fifteen. I’m in the same grade as Arisa-san.”

Yuzuru, like Arisa, smiled socially and responded calmly.

He is educated as to the next head of the family, so he can do this much.

“Don’t you think it’s too soon, Yuzuru-kun?”

Of course, he thinks so.

However, there is no way that Yuzuru, the person involved in this matter, can deny this “engagement”.

However, it would also be out of line with common sense if he didn’t feel any discomfort at all.

“That’s right. That’s why we won’t get married until after college.”

“…… Are you planning to get married?”

Yuzuru thought inwardly that he was being absurd, but he did not say it directly.

” Where in the world would someone enter into an engagement without intending to get married?”

Yuzuru replied with sarcasm and a play on words.

If you ask me where in the world they are, they are here.

Because Yuzuru and Arisa have no intention of getting married.

Then Yuzuru gently tugged on the sleeve of Arisa’s dress and gave her a look.

“Isn’t that right, Arisa-san.?”

Whether or not we should tell him the truth, he asked for confirmation from Arisa Implicitly.

Then, in a whisper, she whispered into Yuzuru’s ear.

“Hide it”

In other words, she wanted him to keep it hidden.

Yuzuru is not sure if Haruto is trustworthy or not, but ……

He decided that if Arisa, who he had lived with for many years, decided that he could not be trusted, then he should follow her decision.

“I plan to marry Yuzuru-san after I graduate from college. I’m sorry for not telling you. I just assumed that Naoki-san had already told you.”

Naoki-san is Naoki Amagi.

In other words, it must be Arisa’s adoptive father.　

Since there was no direct contact with Arisa, Yuzuru somehow realized that Haruto was not trusted by Arisa.

“……… are you guys okay with this?”

Haruto looked a little shocked at the nonchalant attitude of Yuzuru and Arisa.

However, if anything, his words seemed to be directed more at Arisa than Yuzuru.

(I see. ……)

At this point, Yuzuru can kind of understand what kind of feelings Haruto has for Arisa.

He probably likes his cousin, Arisa.

Whether he is aware of it or not, Yuzuru was not sure.

And that’s why he’s against Arisa’s marriage.

“Of course. Arisa-san is a very attractive woman. To be with her would be my greatest dream.

“I also think that I can spend the rest of my life with Yuzuru-san.”

Both Yuzuru and Arisa answered in unison, but …… Haruto seemed unconvinced.

Nevertheless, as he couldn’t take the frustration out on Arisa, the person he had feelings for, he decided to target Yuzuru.

“Yuzuru-kun, do you know ……?”

“Know what?”

“Arisa’s, and Amagi’s situation. …… This marriage is a political marriage for the sake of betrothal money.”

Of course, Yuzuru knew this without being told.

In the first place, marriages between prominent families have always had some element of this in them, now and in the past.

“What are you trying to say?”

“…… Arisa can’t say no because of her position. You know what I mean. She’s just being told what to do.”

At that moment, Yuzuru heard a small sound.

It was a small, tiny, tongue-clicking sound…… Arisa had released.

He looked to the side to check Airisa’s expression.

(U~wa…… she’s angry.)

Her eyes, cold and dead from the start, grew increasingly cold.

Her expression maintained the smile from earlier, but her lips twitched occasionally.

It was obvious that she was in a bad mood.

But Haruto didn’t seem to notice it at all.

“Arisa-san. Your step-brother is claiming that……”

“Haruto-san, you’re overthinking this. Thank you for your concern about me ……. But don’t worry. I want to marry Yuzuru-san from the bottom of my heart.”

At least, that’s what she should say for now.　

As for Yuzuru, he thought, “If he’s against marriage too, why don’t you tell him what’s going on and ask him to help? “

But he decided that it is better to leave it at that since Arisa has decided that she can’t trust Haruto.

“Yes, that’s true..”

“…… Well, yes. In Arisa’s position, she has no choice but to say so. Yuzuru-kun, you understand,right.?”

“Well, yes.”

Apparently, Haruto doesn’t trust Arisa either,……at least not on her word.

Of course, it is by no means a mistake, Arisa is lying to Haruto.

However, no matter what Arisa says, the fact remains that she always ends up being “made to say”.

In other words, no matter what kind of intentions Arisa expresses, if it’s inconvenient for Haruto, it’s probably false for him.

It’s no wonder that Arisa doesn’t trust Haruto.

And moreover……

Is it because Arisa doesn’t believe in Haruto that Haruto can’t believe in Arisa?

Or is it because Haruto doesn’t believe in Arisa that Arisa can’t believe in Haruto?

Which comes first is like the question of whether the egg comes first or the chicken comes first, and there is no answer.

But there is no doubt that a two-way distrust exists between the two.

“But let’s say that’s the case, …… Haruto Amagi-san. What do you expect from me?”

“If Yuzuru-kun loves Arisa, please stop forcing her to marry you. …… Yuzuru-kun wouldn’t want Arisa to be unhappy, would you?”

“That, well, …… it is as you said”

Arisa was starting to lose her patience with her fake smile.

And it would be a shame to make the cab driver wait too long.

Therefore, Yuzuru was going to end the conversation in a slightly snarky way.

“Even if I were to cancel my marriage to Arisa-san unless the financial situation of the Amagi family improves, wouldn’t Amagi-san try to get Arisa-san to marry a wealthy man?”

“That’s …… no, but …..”.

“It’s a different thing If you have the power to protect Arisa-san. But if you don’t, then it’s best not to do anything unnecessary.”

Yuzuru was not wrong in his prediction that Haruto, who was merely a college student and who did not seem to be on good terms with the head of the family, Naoki, would not have any authority or power.

With that Haruto fell silent and didn’t speak again.

After confirming this, Yuzuru bowed his head.

“I’m sorry. I was out of line. …… I’m sorry for being rude. This is a matter for the Amagi family. So I’ll try to stay out of it. Then…, Haruto Amagi-san, Arisa-san. I’ll take my leave.”

Yuzuru stated, and promptly left the place.