Volume 4 - CH 13

It was the first day of Golden Week.

Yuzuru was visiting the Amagi family.

“It’s been a while. Amagi-san.”

Yuzuru bowed lightly to Amagi Naoki, who greeted him at the door.

The reason why Yuzuru visited the Amagi family was to pick up Arisa and greet Naoki.

Even if she is his fiancée, it is only reasonable to ask for permission after seeing him properly when taking care of his precious daughter.

“Ah, long time no see. Yuzuru-kun.”

Naoki said in an indifferent and obliging voice.

Next to him stood Arisa, who gave Yuzuru a small bow.

“Since you’re here… Please come inside.”

“Well, I’ll take your word for it. Pardon my intrusion.”

Yuzuru took off his shoes and went into the house.

This is the first time he has been to Arisa’s house since she caught a cold.

“Yuzuru-san… this way.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Arisa led him to the drawing-room.

He sat down on the sofa as she suggested.

“Ah… right. Here, please take this. It’s from my father.”

Strictly speaking, Yuzuru gave Naoki the sweets that he had purchased with the money transferred from his father.

Naoki received it with the same blank expression as ever.

“Thank you, Yuzuru-kun.”

He said in a cold voice.

At the same time, Arisa’s foster mother, Amagi Emi, came into the parlor.

She had a tray in her hand with tea for the three of them.

“… It’s been a while.”

“…Yes, it’s been a while. Arisa-san has always been a great help to me.”

Emi made such a sociable remark, then placed the tea on the table.

“Thank you very much.”

“No, no… Then, please take your time.”

Then she bowed lightly and left the room.

After Yuzuru saw her off, he sipped his tea.

It turned out to be made from reasonably good tea leaves.

First, he had a light chat with Arisa…

Then Yuzuru got down to business.

“Naoki-san. Thank you for allowing me to become officially engaged to Arisa-san.”

Then Yuzuru bowed his head to Naoki.

The reason he is here today is also to greet him after they’ve made their engagement official.

However… If Naoki didn’t give him permission, he was going to take her away by force, so it was just a social courtesy.

” …If Arisa wants to marry Yuzuru-kun, then I have no reason to oppose her. Please take care of Arisa…”

Naoki answered in a nonchalant voice.

But Yuzuru’s gaze caught a glimpse of his mouth slackening slightly.

And then there was a strong knocking sound.

Click!　The door opened briskly.

The person who appeared was a girl who looked to be about twelve or three years old.

The girl smiled a friendly smile and then bowed politely.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Amagi Mei… I’m always taken care of by Takasegawa-senpai – Ayumi-san.”

Amagi Mei.

She is Arisa’s cousin and a first-year middle school student.

She was also the junior of Yuzuru’s sister, Takasegawa Ayumi.

“Are you Mei-san? …No, thank you for always taking care of my sister.”

When Yuzuru reached out to her, she smiled and took his hand in hers.

“…How’s my sister doing at school?”

Since it was a good opportunity, Yuzuru decided to directly ask his sister’s junior how she was doing.

Perhaps this question was expected, Mei answered without seeming to think about it.

“Not only me, but everyone respects her. She’s a really dependable senpai.”

“Hee~… that’s good to hear. I thought she might be pestering the juniors and playing queen.”

When Yuzuru said this with a touch of mischief, Mei’s expression twitched for a moment.

Then, after showing some thought, she answered.

“…Not at all.”

It seemed that Yuzuru’s prediction was not that far off.

Considering Ayumi’s character and Mei’s position, it was inevitable that she would be made a henchman.

“Well… let me know if it gets too bad.”

As expected, she wouldn’t be bullying her.

Yuzuru wanted to believe in his sister.

However, Yuzuru still expressed his concern to his fiancée’s sister, but…

“Don’t worry about it… I want to be like Takasegawa-senpai, I think. It’s my goal.”

Mei smiled at him.

Apparently, she was aiming to be the next queen after Ayumi graduates.

Despite her appearance and friendly smile, she apparently had a strong personality.

She and Arisa were totally unlike each other…

It is understandable that they are cousins, as they seem to have similarities in the areas where there are large gaps between the outside and the inside.

“…Yuzuru-san, you resemble Takasegawa-senpai very much, don’t you?”

“Hmm… Which part?”

When Yuzuru asked her that, Mei had a momentary “Oh no!” expression on her face.

Apparently, that was a blunder on Mei’s part.

In other words, they were similar in a “bad” way.

“ …I thought the color of your eyes and such were very similar.”

Mei made a reasonable attempt to deceive him.

Yuzuru narrowed his blue eyes that he inherited from his father.

Yuzuru thought he could ask a little more in-depth questions such as.. ‘how about the other aspects apart from appearance?‘, but…

He got tugged on his clothes.

“Yuzuru-san… Please don’t pester Mei-chan too much.”

Said Arisa, reproaching Yuzuru.

At first glance, it seemed like a helping hand to Mei… but at the same time, it also appeared as if she was jealous of her fiancé talking to her cousin and was sulking.

“Yeah, I’m sorry.”

“…Please tell that to Mei-chan, not me.”

At the urging of his fiancée, Yuzuru turned again to his future sister-in-law who had a relieved expression on her face.

“Sorry about that… I’ll tell my sister that you look up to her.”

“…Thank you very much.”

Mei bowed her head to Yuzuru.

Now, staying too long would be rude.

So, Yuzuru stood up and thanked Naoki again.

Then he picked up Arisa’s carry-on bag (sleepover set) and headed for the door.

“Ah…”

And there he met a young man.

As soon as he saw Yuzuru, he raised a small voice, and then his expression twisted a little awkwardly.

It was during the Golden Week holidays, and he had just returned home.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. Haruto-san.”

“A-ah… Yuzuru-kun. Yeah, it’s been a while.”

Yuzuru politely greeted Haruto, to which Haruto responded with a brusque reply.

And after seeing Arisa and her bag held by Yuzuru, he had an indescribable expression on his face…

” Then, I’ll take my leave.”

“Hey, Haruto.”

Haruto disappeared into the back of the house without listening to Naoki’s restraint.

Naoki frowned, wondering what’s going on.

Mei, on the other hand, let out a small sigh.

Then she turned to Yuzuru and Arisa and said.

“He’s a little heartbroken. Please forgive him.”

Yuzuru and Arisa looked at each other…

They couldn’t say anything, so they simply shrugged their shoulders.