Volume 3 - CH 32

“No…”

As she strained her words, the gaze of her family pierced into Arisa.

Arisa cowered involuntarily, terrified, but…

(Yuzuru-san…!)

She tightly squeezed her engagement ring.

She confirmed that Yuzuru’s love for her was tangible.

“No…? That’s right, isn’t it, Arisa? You don’t want to get married…”

“That is not what I meant.”

Arisa interrupted Haruto’s words.

Then in a clear voice, Arisa said.

“I don’t want to call off my engagement to Yuzuru-san!!”

Each of them had a different reaction to those words.

Emi’s expression twisted in annoyance, Mei displayed a small smile, Naoki’s eyes widened in surprise, and Haruto…

“A-Arisa?　What are you talking about? …There’s no need for you to push yourself…”

“Shut up! …A bystander should stay out of it.”

“B-bystander…”

Ignoring Haruto, who flinched at the unexpected outburst from Arisa, Arisa turned to Naoki.

While she had tears in her jade-green eyes, Arisa said to Naoki in a strong tone.

“I want to marry Yuzuru-san. …Even if you say no, I will definitely marry Yuzuru-san!!”

Holding back her fear, Arisa clearly expressed her feelings to Naoki.

She was afraid to speak her opinion to Naoki.

But more than that…, she was afraid of tearing apart her relationship with Yuzuru.

“This girl is being selfish even after all this time!”

Emi approached Arisa, her voice trembling with anger.

On the other hand, Arisa …glared at Emi with teary eyes.

Emi stopped in her tracks at Arisa’s unexpected defiance.　

It’s because the usual Arisa would have silently turned her face down and let herself be subjected to the treatment.

“T-this girl… those eyes…”

“Stop.”

Then, perhaps coming to himself, Naoki hurriedly stopped Emi.

He grabbed Emi’s arm forcefully with his strong hand.

Then he glared at Emi.

“I’ve told you many times not to hit Arisa. …Don’t you understand?”

“…no, I’m sorry.”

“Tell that to Arisa.”

Emi’s expression twisted in displeasure at Naoki’s words.

However, she couldn’t resist her husband’s words and turned to face Arisa.

“…I lost my temper. I’m sorry.”

“…No, it doesn’t matter.”

Arisa brushed off the apology, which was completely devoid of feeling.

She did not have time to deal with Emi right now.

“Naoki-san… I like Yuzuru-san. I love him. I want to marry him from the bottom of my heart.”

Then Arisa showed him her left hand.　

The engagement ring on her ring finger was shining.

Naoki’s eyes widened again, perhaps from too much surprise.

Naoki wasn’t the only one.

Emi also held her mouth.

And Haruto …stiffened like a stone from the shock.

“Yuzuru-san gave it to me today. He proposed to me to make our engagement official. And I …accepted it.”

Arisa’s cheeks blushed slightly as she said this.

Her mouth loosened and she almost grinned… But it was not the time to be ecstatic.

“Certainly… I didn’t want to go on matchmaking meetings. That’s a fact. …I couldn’t say no to it, so I reluctantly underwent it. That was also the case with my engagement to Yuzuru-san at first. But now, it’s different. While I was with him… I was attracted to him and fell in love with him. I wish to marry Yuzuru-san… Please… Please allow me and Yuzuru-san to get married.”

Then Arisa bowed deeply to Naoki.

Naoki was …silent.

What if he says no?

What if he gets angry?

Unimaginable anxiety struck Arisa.

Her heart thumped so hard that she thought it might burst.

“…It’s been a while, huh?”

Arisa looked up.

Naoki had …a very calm expression on his face, contrary to Arisa’s imagination.

Somehow, he seemed to be happy.

“Um, what does that…”

“No, I’m sorry… I’m just a little surprised that it’s been so long since you’ve voiced your opinion so clearly.”

Naoki said, then …slowly bent his back.

At first, Arisa had no idea what Naoki was doing.

And, Naoki… bowed his head to Arisa.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that I was forcing you into an arranged marriage.”

“E, eh!?　U-um… P-please, stop it… P-please raise your head!”

Arisa was bewildered by Naoki’s completely different attitude from usual.

In her mind, Naoki was… a dignified father with absolute power at home, for better or worse.

“I should’ve talked with you more. I was foolish. Please forgive me.”

“I-I understand… I-I will forgive you.. so please..”

Please raise your head.

When Arisa said that, Naoki slowly raised his head.

“It’s not my intention to force you to get married. Then I’ll ask you this… you wish to marry Yuzuru-kun, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

Arisa answered Naoki’s question clearly.

She looked at Naoki steadily from the front.

I see, Naoki nodded quietly.

“All right. Then… as a father, I’ll support your love.”

At Naoki’s words, Arisa involuntarily blushed and turned her eyes away.

She felt ashamed now that she had spoken so loudly about her love for Yuzuru.

“It’s not like… I’m in love…”

“Hmm? You’re not…?”

“No, I am.!”

When Naoki tilted his head, Arisa said loudly, her face turning red.

Then, she clearly expressed her intentions to Naoki.

“Please inform the Takasegawa family and Takasegawa-san to proceed with the engagement of Yuzuru-san and me in earnest.”

Naoki nodded significantly at Arisa’s words.

Thus…, the engagement of Arisa and Yuzuru was officially recognized by the Amagi family.

“Hmm, you guys are so in love after all. Arisa-san, why didn’t you just say so from the beginning? ….Please go ahead and explode everlastingly.”

“P-please stop it, Mei-chan!　Don’t make fun of me!”

AN:

Those who sleep on their rights are not worthy of protection

Heaven helps those who help themselves.

If you are unwilling to help yourself, if you cannot even hold the hand that is extended to you, don’t you think that you have neither the right nor the value to be helped?

That’s why I had Arisa-chan wipe her ass by herself.

I think she is now a little more suitable to be the bride of the Takasegawa family.