Chapter 265 - Touching, and Meeting by Chance
"—I want you to lend me your name as my daughter's fiancé."
The repeated words, their meaning unchanged, once again battered my thoughts.
Even though I had sensed something outrageous was coming, I couldn't possibly have predicted a request from such a direction, and there was no way I could give a proper response.
What is this guy talking about—I managed to calm my inner turmoil, which was on the verge of collapsing into a mix of natural doubt and shock. Peeking at Yotsuya-shi's expression, I understood that this 'request' was, at the very least, not some kind of joke.
In that case, I needed to think.
If he was seriously asking me to become his daughter's 'fiancé,' what was the reason?
Was this Yotsuya-shi's idea alone? Or had his daughter already agreed to it?
This was likely not a matter to be treated lightly or as a joke. From his demeanor so far, it was clear he cared for his daughter very much.
Only daughter, couldn't be completely shielded from public eyes, unnecessary entanglements, forced into unwilling hardship, marriage proposals, a detestable expression, Yotsuya currently unable to protect her, lend your name—
He had said it. The first reason he contacted me was to protect me.
It was unnatural to suddenly throw a burden from a different angle at someone you had decided to protect. Was it a matter of his daughter's affection... a matter of priorities?
Probably not—while he may have a slightly forceful and self-paced side to him, he was still 'Yotsuya Togo.' I could sense that at his core, he was a thoughtful person who walked the righteous path with immense power and pride.
—Ah, so that's what this is.
"A fake engagement... to protect each other?"
"—...You truly never cease to amaze me."
I was honored by the compliment, but the pieces to reach that conclusion were all there.
To set up a fiancé to ward off marriage proposals. It was an exceedingly simple countermeasure, and I had to admit to myself that I was extremely convenient for that role right now.
A true 'upstart' irregular. In inverse proportion to my skyrocketing status, I still had absolutely no entanglements, a blank slate with no public or private life to speak of.
However, the buzz... It's strange to say it myself, but with the spotlight I'm currently under as a top star in the virtual world, I could create a certain sense of 'plausibility'—especially as a partner for Yotsuya's daughter.
Even if there were marriage proposals that 'couldn't be rejected by Yotsuya's power' for some reason, and with no other partner in the picture... surely no fool would be stupid enough to pick a fight with the great Yotsuya Development after learning she already has a fiancé.
If you can't refuse, just create a reason to block it from the start.
And it wasn't just his daughter who would benefit from shutting down such burdens and hardships. With the position of [Acrobat] and 'fiancé to Yotsuya's daughter'—there wouldn't be many who would try to meddle with such a dangerous opponent.
In other words, it was a mutually beneficial relationship where I, too, stood to gain.
In addition, the fact that he repeatedly emphasized 'lending your name' meant—
"That's the only thing that makes sense..."
Plus, it was hard to believe he would truly entrust his daughter, whom he seemed to cherish so much, to a man he had just met. That was another part of my reasoning.
"...You have a good head on your shoulders. You think for yourself and come to your own conclusions. You're very good at that."
"That's, um... I'm flattered."
Lately, I've been on the receiving end of my master's overly sweet praise-fests, and I've gotten better at accepting compliments from people more gracefully than before—but even so, I still feel a little squirmish when I receive such direct, straightforward praise.
While I was shrinking back in a rather pathetic way, Yotsuya-shi, having heard my deduction, nodded in deep admiration.
"Just as you said, this request is for you to play the part of a 'fake fiancé.' We've been discussing this for some time, and I have my daughter's consent."
Ah, that was... regardless of whether I accept or not, that was a relief for now.
Not that I ever thought he was the type of person to act in a way that would disrespect his daughter's wishes.
"You said I'd be lending my name, but this isn't something that will be announced to the general public, right? Since your daughter isn't well-known in the first place."
"Ah, that's correct as well. The knowledge of the engagement will be limited to the clever—excuse me, the resourceful and powerful heads of large organizations who would be aware of my daughter's existence."
If any fool still wouldn't back off after that, he'd finally be able to discard all mercy. As he uttered such terrifying words, Yotsuya-shi's expression was simply that of a doting father.
"Furthermore, I give you my word that your name as fiancé will not leak to the 'outside.' On the name of Yotsuya, you can place your full trust in that."
And yet, he could also show such an incredibly cool face, which just goes to show you can't underestimate him. How many people in the world could say 'trust me completely' with such utter lack of hesitation?
"So, what do you say?"
"..."
But well... no matter how convincing and trustworthy it was, if you asked me if I could easily nod along, the answer would be no. Even if it's fake, even if it's under the pretense of mutual benefit, it's difficult to say 'yes, please' and accept a fantasy like becoming a 'fiancé.'
I'm just a modern, average person. Over and over again, my mind just can't keep up.
"..................Um... would it be possible to meet your daughter once?"
At least, not with an opponent whose name and face I don't even know... I requested a meeting. I doubted he would refuse, and this would buy me a little time.
With that in mind, I voiced my request—and Yotsuya-shi offered a mischievous smile that was impossible to read.
It wasn't a bad premonition... but.
While I was trying to process the indescribable, strange fluttering in my chest, the sound of a soft knock on the door echoed through the room.
"...Yotsuya-san?"
"It would be unreasonable to ask for an answer before you've even met, even if it is a pretense. I have taken that much into consideration."
"...Did you perhaps just call for her?"
I remembered the scene where he had been operating his phone mid-conversation and asked. Yotsuya-shi chuckled, muttering, "You really are observant."
But I, for one, had no room to laugh back.
I did say I wanted to meet her, but I didn't ask for it to happen immediately. My main intention was simply to stall for time, so my heart wasn't even a millimeter prepared—
...and yet, despite my lack of preparation, there was another knock on the door.
"Well, shall we?"
No, we shall not—I couldn't possibly say that at this stage.
Instantly steeling my resolve, I gave a nod, and Yotsuya-shi nodded back emphatically before heading towards the door.
As I rose from the sofa to greet his daughter, who was likely already on the other side of the door, I was bewildered by a series of emotions welling up in my chest.
It wasn't nervousness, nor was it fear.
This feeling that the 'presence' I sensed from behind the door was bringing me, what on earth was it—
Our eyes met as Yotsuya-shi turned around, and he pulled the doorknob as if to show me the answer.
"—Excuse me."
And then, a single girl appeared.
A picture-perfect young lady, her still-youthful features filled with a graceful expression.
Her sleek black hair swayed as she gave a beautiful bow—and her sky-blue eyes met mine.
"—"
"Pleased to meet you. I am Yotsuya Togo's—... daughter... of....................."
I had lost my voice, and the girl's words trailed off.
Unlike in the virtual world, I couldn't read what was reflected in those eyes with any detail. But just as I couldn't tear my gaze away from her, it was certain that she was also looking at me—
"—Hk..."
With a jolt, her slender knees buckled as if her strength had left her, just as I had expected.
Therefore, I, who had already started moving, was able to catch the girl in a flash.
I hope her father, who was right beside us, will forgive me for reaching out first. Because just as a daughter is precious to her father—
"No way... it can't be—"
I, too, have someone I hold dear.
I'd have to ask her to overlook the difference in our years of acquaintance... but first, there was the matter of her, muttering in confusion in my arms.
"—Hey."
"Hk..."
Hearing my 'voice,' the girl, who had fallen even deeper into confusion, held her breath.
The nervousness, the confusion, the bewilderment, I was feeling all the same things as her—but there was something I absolutely had to confirm, right here and now.
And that was,
"Is this a dream, by any chance?"
"..."
—simply whether this very moment was reality or not.
With a deliberately joking tone that I had shown to 'someone' countless times... whether consciously or unconsciously, I managed to bring a faint smile to the dazed girl's cheek.
"...I wonder. At the very least, I don't remember logging in."
"I see. So it doesn't seem to be the virtual world, then."
The voice that reached my ears was, just... so overwhelmingly... It might be bad for her, who was at her limit, but it put me at ease like nothing else could.
For now, I'll put all my feelings, including surprise, on the shelf—
There was only one thing I could say right now.
"I'm happy to see you—Sora."
"Hk...—This is... so... unfair... honestly...!"
Even if her eyes and hair were different, even if the atmosphere she carried was different.
The girl I had finally met in the real world was the same 'partner' as always.
With her usual, not-at-all-scary angry face—Sora mercilessly pounded on my chest.