Volume 1 - CH 3

What did they say? Yuzuru”

“I have to use crutches for at least a week. And It will take half a month to fully recover”

Yuzuru replied to his Grandfather, who didn’t seem to be too worried.

And thus he inwardly grumbles, “That cat….. , next time I see you, I will definitely take take care of you”

“Oh! Takasegawa-San”

Arisa and her adoptive parents approached Yuzuru with changing color on their face.

Even if they are called adoptive parents they haven’t finished adoption procedure yet, that’s why Arisa and they have different surnames.

While Arisa is “Yukishiro”, they are “Amagi”.

I’ve heard they are family from good lineage, also in recent years they seem to be suffering from difficult financial condition.

That’s why Amagi couple faces looked so pale.

On the other hand, Arisa had a frightened and tearful expression, which I think nobody has seen it in school.

And they looked totally exhausted.

“I’m sorry, this child ……instigated something strange”

“We’ll pay the treatment fee and compensation fees, so……”

“I’m sorry……”

Arisa’s adoptive parents hold down Arisa’s head and forced her to bow.

That action – consciously or unconsciously, I don’t know – was somewhat violent, and it looked as if he was hitting her head from above.

The Amagi couple and Arisa desperately apologized, to which Yuzuru’s grandfather and father reply nonchalantly.

“No, It’s fine……It was this stupid guys fault to climb the tree and fall”

“In the first place, it was this child who climbed the tree without permission.”

They proclaim that they don’t need treatment and compensation fee.

In fact, Yuzuru climbed up and fell on his own, so Arisa has no fault.

“Please raise your heads. It was my fault to climb the tree. In addition……”

Suddenly, Yuzuru realized.

Arisa’s cheeks were slightly swollen.

…… It seems her relationship with her adoptive parents isn’t going well, Yuzuru speculates.

“I just felt like showing off in front of the person I love. Oh no, it’s embarrassing ……”

I like her, Yuzuru clearly stated. At this, Yuzuru’s Grandparents, Arisa’s adoptive parents and Arisa herself were totally baffled.

“Will you “Engage” me? Yukishiro, no … Arisa”

Of course, It’s a fake ‘Engagement’.

It seems that the intention was properly transmitted to Airisa.

Arisa nodded a little, dyeing her cheeks slightly red.

“I will gladly …… ‘Engage’ you. Takasegawa-san …… No, Yuzuru-san”

Thus, we are now happily engaged.

After that, Yuzuru took Arisa out for a private conversation.

The sun is setting and the sky is dyed with deep red.

Yuzuru tried to sit on a bench outdoors, but with …… crutches, he couldn’t sit properly.

Somehow I was able to sit down with the help of Arisa.

“I’m really sorry”

Arisa said in a slightly tearful voice.

The sunset illuminates her flax-colored hair, making it shine in golden.

However, despite its beautiful appearance, …… It somehow gave me a sense of transience, as if it could disappear at any moment.

“Why are you apologizing”

“……I am sorry for the trouble I have caused you”

“It was my own fault for falling from the tree……”

“It’s, It’s not……that, It’s about “Engagement”. You covered for me, didn’t you? When it comes to the calling off engagement, It was my action that caused all this to happen. You propose “Engagement” because you realize my situation with Amagi family, right?”

Considering the explanation of Arisa’s “My Adoptive father was the most excited” and the rumor that they are in dire financial situation, it seems like they are after the betrothal-money.

Yuzuru realized if he didn’t help her now, her relationship with adoptive parents may worsened.

“In the first place, it was my own fault to fall from the tree. And It made story more complicated. So there’s no need for you to be bothered or indebted to me……”

“Even then. That was a really big help. At that rate, I might have been forced to marry someone I didn’t like. I really, don’t want to be married to someone who are only after my body in exchange for money!”

Arisa said that while hugging her shaking body.

Then she looked at Yuzuru with a faint smile.

“Takasegawa-san, you are my benefactor. For now, I am safe from troubles”

“…… I can’t really put my head into the others family problems. However, we are classmates. So if you have any problems, please contact me. I will help you as much as possible”

Yuzuru, who sympathized with her circumstances, promised that, even though he finds it a rather unreliable statement.

Unless they are violating the law, they will simply refuse saying, “Stay out of the family affairs”.

A poor attempt to stir things up could make Arisa’s position even worse.

Arisa isn’t stupid either, knows its just a verbal promise.

However……

“It’s really, really encouraging just to hear that”

Her Jade-colored eyes were moist as she said this with such an expression that looked relieved and somewhat saved.

Three days later, after the end of Golden Week.

Yuzuru decided to return to his apartment.

My parents and grandparents were trying to stop me from going back,…… it will probably take one hour to reach my apartment from here.

It will be time consuming to pick up and drop off by a car.

I was a little loss……, but Yuzuru who didn’t want to get up early in the morning, decided to return to his apartment.

(I guess I’ll have to take a break from my part-time job. But …… I think an inconvenient life is about to begin.)

Early in the morning on the first day of school, Yuzuru opened the door of his apartment building, sticking out his cane, trying his best to go to school.

Then there……

“Good morning, Takasegawa-san”

“……Why are you here?”

A beautiful girl with light brown hair and green eyes.

Arisa Yukishiro stood.

She said with her usual calm expression, but in a determined voice, with a strong will in her beautiful eyes.

“I will support Takasegawa-san until you are fully healed”

“It’s going to be hassle……”, said Yuzuru while trying to scratch his head, he released the crutches which caused him to staggered greatly.