Volume 1 - CH 27

One day.

Suddenly, Yuzuru texted her, “I’d like to talk to you, let me know a convenient time.”

Arisa, who had finished washing the dishes, sent him a reply saying, “Now would be a good time,” and immediately received a phone call.

It was an invitation to a summer festival.

[“So, what do you think? I don’t have a ticket or anything this time, and it’s kind of a spur-of-the-moment offer from my dad. You can always say no, saying you have something to do.”]

Unlike the pool, the summer festival was limited to a specific time of the day.

That’s why the excuse that she had to do something she couldn’t miss at the time works.

“Summer festival?…… Can we see things like fireworks?”

However, compared to a swimming pool, a festival has a lower psychological hurdle.

Besides, if it means seeing some beautiful fireworks, she was a little curious.

[“Oh, we can see it ……. It’s pretty decent too.”]

Arisa hadn’t been to a summer festival in years.

Maybe since she was in elementary school.

“I’ll take you up on your invitation.”

[“Thank you……. Also, my sister and mother would like to meet you, is that okay?”]

“Oh, yes. Understood.”

Then, after setting a meeting place and time, Arisa hung up the phone.

Then she went back to the living room to report.

“Who were you on the phone with?”

The first person who asked her was her foster father.

Naoki.

He unfolded the newspaper and did not even try to face Arisa,……, but had a strong tone that did not let her decline answering.

” It was Yuzuru Takasegawa-san. …… He wanted to know if I would be interested in joining him at the summer festival in a week. I’ve been invited to go.”

“You were?”

“Yes.”

When Arisa answered, …… her adoptive mother – Emi Amagi – gave a small tongue click.

A blatantly unhappy expression appeared on her face.

And ……

“Caught in some distasteful… romance.”

-That’s what she said.　

Arisa’s aunt was not on good terms with Arisa’s mother, who was her sister.

That’s why she hates Arisa, the daughter of her sister.

It is Emi, her foster mother, who is sarcastic and mean to Arisa. And occasionally she raises her hand to Arisa as well.

“We should not allow it in our house. ……”

“If you can’t take it, that’s your problem.”

Naoki said in a cold voice.

Emi held her tongue at that comment.

At first glance, she seems to be at the top of the hierarchy in the family, as Naoki is often away from home for work and leaves the housework and child-raising to Emi.

But strangely enough, she does not disobey only Naoki.

“This marriage proposal is very important to both Amagi and Arisa. I’m sure we’ve talked about this …… many times.”

“I understand ……. Naoki-san.”

However, Emi had a dissatisfied expression on her face.

Unlike her adoptive father, Naoki, her adoptive mother, Emi, is against this marriage proposal.

Of course, she is not thinking about Arisa.

It’s a story that Arisa can’t relate to at all. ……

She doesn’t like the fact that her niece, who looks just like her sister, whom she hated, is marrying into a wealthy family called Takasegawa, who is well-groomed, elegant, and kind.

To put it simply, she doesn’t want Arisa to be happy.

She didn’t know what happened between Emi and her mother, but it was unreasonable for Arisa.

“Speaking of which, did you have a yukata with you?”

Naoki abruptly asked Arisa.

Arisa shook her head left and right.

“No, I don’t have one.”

“Did you plan to go in casual clothes then?”

“……Shouldn’t I? “

“He’s the son of an old-fashioned, patriarchal family. He’ll be wearing a yukata. You’re going to have to walk beside him in western clothes.”

Naoki said as if he was appalled.

That’s a very stupid picture when you think about it.

A Sarashi-wearing person might be better.

When Arisa became quiet, Naoki stood up silently.

He took out his wallet from the drawer and took out five 10,000 yen bills from it.

He placed them on the table.

“Go and buy something with this. Any extra you have, put it towards your allowance.”

“Th..thank you very much …….”

Without further ado, Arisa took the money.

For Arisa, Naoki is much scarier than Emi, who abuses her.

He never raises his hand at Arisa, and he never says anything mean to her.

On the contrary, he sometimes blames Emi and defends her when she goes too far.

Emi rarely raises her hand against Arisa in front of Naoki.

However, at the same time, she was as close to indifferent to Arisa as possible.

At least that’s how it seemed to Arisa.

More than she was of the person who had an obvious hatred for her, Arisa was more afraid of Naoki, who she couldn’t tell what’s on his mind, but was the most influential person in the family.

The fact that he was a grown man who was not related to her at all added to her fear.

“Naoki-san, don’t spoil her too much. ……”

“It’s a necessary expense.”

The only thing Naoki cared about was the reputation of his house.

To be precise, he hates the fact that it will affect his business.

“Arisa. You’re the one who wanted this marriage to happen.”

“Yes …… I know.”

Arisa told Yuzuru that she was forced to accept an arranged marriage.

That’s how she explained it.

But the explanation was …… slightly adapted to make it more convenient for Arisa herself.

Naoki, her adoptive father, only asked Arisa, “I have a few marriage proposals, would you like to consider them?”. And that’s all he asked.

It was Arisa who replied that she would try matchmaking.

She was afraid of Naoki, so she couldn’t say no.

In the meantime, Naoki brought several marriage proposals to Arisa.

Originally, she didn’t want to get married, so she kept turning them down.

From Emi’s point of view, she must have seemed like a selfish and arrogant girl who was choosy about men.

She couldn’t say no anymore.

Just when she was at a loss, she finally met Yuzuru.

“Do well. For your own sake.”

“Yes.”

Is he saying this intending to genuinely support Arisa’s love life?

Or Is he threatening her that if she breaks it off, …… there will be nothing left for her?.

Or is he saying it with a completely different intention?

Arisa didn’t know.

But that was enough to terrify her.