Volume 3 - CH 31

“I’m back.”

After parting ways with Yuzuru, Arisa opened the door and entered her home, feeling a little buoyant.

Not so long ago, coming back home had been a bit depressing…

But now, not so much.

The violence from her foster mother was gone, and so was the sarcasm.

Perhaps she was afraid of displeasing Yuzuru, or more strictly, the Takasegawa family.

Her adoptive mother is not happy about the engagement between Arisa and Yuzuru, but she knows in her rational mind that it is necessary for her husband’s business.

Therefore, if there was anything that Arisa felt bad about…

“Welcome back, Arisa!”

“…Yes.”

When Arisa returned, the first person to react was the man who ran up to her.

It was Haruto Amagi.

He was currently at home because his university was on spring break.

“Did he do anything to you?”

Now, what was he misunderstanding?

This cousin was under the impression that Arisa hated Yuzuru and did not want to marry him.

…It is a fact that Arisa did not want to get married or have an arranged marriage, so she does not deny that.

But that was in the past, and now Arisa has strong feelings for Yuzuru, and sincerely wants to marry him.

So his concern was misplaced.

But… no matter how many times she explained it to him, he won’t listen.

So Arisa had given up.

“Not really… It was just a normal meal.”

If she were to be asked ‘Did he do anything to you?’, surely he did.

Yes, he proposed to her.

Arisa coldly replied to Haruto while suppressing her mouth that was about to grin a little.

It’s no use telling Haruto that Yuzuru proposed to her.

The person Arisa really needs to talk to is her foster father, Naoki Amagi.

Would he be coming home today?

With that thought in mind, Arisa took off her shoes and went into the house.

Then…

“You are back, Arisa”

“Yes… I’m just got back.”

Naoki welcomed her home.

Arisa thought it was an unusual situation to be in…

“… Arisa. We need to talk.”

Somehow, she had a bad feeling about this.

This premonition… was the same as the one she had once had when Naoki had asked her if she was interested in matchmaking

“…Yes. I understand.”

But she couldn’t refuse it.

Arisa gave a small nod.

In the living room, Arisa’s foster mother and her cousin Mei were already there.

Both of them were sitting around the table drinking tea together.

It seems that the two of them were talking together.

(I wonder what he wanted to talk about… with the whole family together like this…)

Arisa felt inexplicably anxious.

She clenched the ring on her ring finger.

“Arisa has just returned. So let’s get into the main subject… It’s about the engagement of Arisa and Yuzuru-kun.”

With a thud, Arisa’s heart jumped.

Arisa felt an unpleasant sweat running down her back.

“Arisa.”

When Naoki called her name, Arisa straightened her back.

“…Yes. What is it?”

“‘As I said before… I’m not going to force you to get married. So if you don’t like it, we can call off this engagement.”

Why?

Did he just come around to saying that after all this time?

One after another, unpleasant images came into Arisa’s mind.

Perhaps… Naoki had become opposed to the marriage of Arisa and Yuzuru.

Or maybe instead of adopting her, he wanted Yuzuru to marry his own daughter, Mei.

“It’s not like I dislike it… And if we were to annul it… won’t it cause trouble for Yuzuru-san and the rest of the Takasegawa family?　Naoki-san will also be inconvenienced…”

“It is certainly not desirable, but now is not too late. It’s not a formal engagement, but a temporary one. Besides…”

Naoki looked at his daughter, Arisa’s cousin Mei.

The sixth-grader gave a small nod.

“If Arisa-san finds it difficult, I will be here to take over.”

Mei replied nonchalantly.

And as if in tune with Mei’s words, …somewhat happily, Emi Amagi – Arisa’s foster mother – clapped her hands.

“Takasegawa-san would be better off with Mei than with the adopted child like Arisa.”

She then looked at Arisa.

Arisa couldn’t help but cower at the strong hostility in her gaze.

“Arisa. If you don’t like it, say so. It’s okay.”

Haruto said in a soft cat-like voice.

But Arisa’s ears did not hear his voice.

(Wh-what is this…? What is happening…?)

From the pinnacle of happiness.

To the bottom of the valley of despair.

She felt as if she had been knocked down headfirst.

She couldn’t read the situation at all.

But what she did understood was …that if this continues, Arisa will not be able to marry Yuzuru.

“…N-no, I-It’s really okay. And also… Breaking off engagement that has been going on for a year is going to be trouble. An-and above all, having Mei-chan to be my substitute is not a good idea is what I think…”

Desperately, Arisa searched for a reason why she and Yuzuru should not break off their engagement.

She insisted that she can’t sacrifice Mei.

But…

“I don’t mind.”

Mei said clearly.

Arisa couldn’t help but hold her tongue.

As long as Mei says she doesn’t mind, there is little reason why it should be Arisa who marries Yuzuru.

“I’ve only seen him in photos, but Takasegawa-san is a very cool guy, and …he is also rich. So I’m not complaining. … Of course, if you really like Takasegawa-san and want to marry him, that is a different case… It’s not my intention to take away Arisa-san’s love interest.”

Mei said and looked at Arisa.

Do you like him or not? Do you want to get married or not?

Come on, make it clear.

It was as if she was saying that.

“But… Yuzuru-san seems to like me. I think it should be me after all instead of a replacement!”

The person who nominated Arisa was Yuzuru Takasegawa.

Yuzuru is madly in love with Arisa and wants to marry her.

Arisa wielded her greatest weapon.

That Mei can’t be a substitute.

But…

“That’s a strange reason!”

It was Haruto who raised his voice.

“Just because that guy…Yuzuru-kun, likes Arisa, doesn’t mean Arisa has to accommodate him, and there’s no reason she has to marry him! …It doesn’t mean it has to be Arisa, does it Dad.?”

Naoki nodded at Haruto’s question.

“I guess so… At least for the Takasegawa family, there is no reason why it has to be Arisa. As for Yuzuru-kun… well, it’s regrettable, but if Arisa doesn’t want to, however, I can’t force her… At least I am not going to force Arisa to do anything. He should be able to understand…. I’m going to try to persuade him to understand.”

Little by little.

It was like a game of Tsume-shogi.

(TN: Tsume-shogi- Tsume shogi or tsume is the Japanese term for a shogi miniature problem in which the goal is to checkmate the opponent’s king)

Arisa felt that her escape route, her happy married life with Yuzuru, was being blocked.

“I…”

She had to say something.

If she doesn’t say something, her cousin will really take Yuzuru away from her.

Arisa’s face turned pale and she tried to speak up, shaking, but…

“Arisa, don’t worry. It’s okay. …No one is trying to force you to get married. You can be honest.”

Arisa’s voice was blocked by Haruto.

Unsure of what to do, Arisa silently looked down.

“…Then we will move forward like that… Okay?”

As if to emphasize the point, Naoki asked Arisa.

Her mind went blank and she could not answer anything.

“Then we’re done talking.”

He stood up.

With that, Emi looked happy, Haruto was somewhat relieved, and Mei…. had a stunned expression on her face.

They got up from the couch.

Arisa just sat on the couch and kept her head down…

“No…”

Arisa somehow managed to wrestle the words out of her mouth.

Naoki’s movement stopped as he was leaving the place.