Chapter 278 - The Now for Later
"—Um... what was that, again...?"
"To summarize, I received an invitation for a date."
"...Um."
"I received an invitation for a date."
"...The Nia-san you're talking about is the same Nia-san I know, right?"
"The same Nia-san who made our clothes."
"So, uh... I'm very troubled right now."
"I'm also genuinely troubled."
"No, I'm sure you are, Haru, but... can I ask one thing?"
"Anything."
"When you ask me, 'What do you think I should do about it?', what am I supposed to do...?"
"Well, that's... if you could deliver a verdict."
"A verdict for what...?!"
—After finishing our expedition, we returned to the city at lightning speed. Now, settled down at our usual tavern, we faced each other with contrasting expressions.
Having steeled myself, I had brought up 'that matter' with a dead-serious face. In response, Sora could only show a look of stunned confusion.
Reporting this to Sora was something Nia asked me to do, but I guess I can't blame her for being confused when I spring something like this on her out of the blue.
"Um, Haru?"
"Yes."
"I think I understand what's going on, but... you don't need to be so considerate of me, you know?"
Yeah, honestly, I expected her to say that.
In fact, Sora can't really say anything else. Considering her personality—
"Our relationship has gotten a little complicated, but... that engagement is just a camouflage, after all."
I knew what words would follow, and what was in her heart, without even needing to hear them.
However,
"Fake or not, you're still my fiancée."
"...Tch!"
I'm aware it's a line that would justifiably make her blush, but this isn't that kind of problem, so I have no intention of backing down.
"Chitose-san gave me a detailed explanation, so I understand it correctly. The engagement is just a pretext for a very small circle of people who can interfere with the Yotsuya family, and it doesn't bind us in any way."
In other words, to be blunt... we're engaged, but we each have complete freedom when it comes to romantic relationships.
According to Chitose-san, 'It's blunt, but we don't mind if people suspect it's a fake marriage.' Apparently, as long as they can maintain the posture of refusing marriage proposals, that's all that matters.
Yotsuya Togo's weakness was that he couldn't refuse marriage proposals for Sora without a reason. The 'why' behind that hasn't been explained, but it seems he wanted 'a reason he couldn't refuse' in any form.
As for the issue of whether it would eventually cause trouble if the lie were exposed... the premise is that the people proposing these marriages are 'approaching her without reservation, understanding that he can't refuse.'
Therefore, self-preservation is a mutual game. The other parties aren't so pure themselves that they can complain about a defensive wall that was painstakingly built.
Once the Yotsuya family has a reason they can openly refuse, there likely aren't many people with a death wish who would still cross that line and meddle.
As for public appearance, I did ask the obvious question: wouldn't it be counterproductive if the sham were exposed and the 'trick' became public knowledge?
To which Chitose-san replied—'To begin with, the "daughter of the Yotsuya family" isn't known to the world, so there's no fake engagement to expose, is there?'
Since the absolute agreement is not to publicize Sora's existence, it's impossible for our engagement to become known to the general public—when the Deputy Representative of the renowned 'Yotsuya Development' asserts that, I have no choice but to believe it.
And that's why...
However, within me, there's a 'but.'
Fake or not—my partner, Sora, has become too important for me to treat a named relationship so lightly.
"So... I know, but I want to hear it anyway. What do you think, Sora?"
"What do I..."
Alright, this is a bit... it takes some courage to say.
"Would you hate it if I got close with Nia—with another girl besides you?"
Even if this is a conceited, mistaken assumption, the only one here to laugh at me is myself. I know she's not the type to tease others in situations like this.
"Hate it... um... that is.................. um..."
I'd noticed it a few times before—she had shown feelings close to jealousy, though not quite reaching that point.
...To be honest, I'm aware that we're already conscious of each other as members of the opposite sex.
And here—I'm also aware that for us, there exists a 'however.'
"I—wouldn't hate it."
After ten, twenty seconds of thought, Sora said it decisively.
In situations like this... no, even when it's not like this, she doesn't lie. She has secrets, but she doesn't tell lies—that's a common trait we both share.
"...What about you, Haru? If it were the other way around?"
"Let's see—I wouldn't hate it either, I think."
To be precise, I don't have the right to hate it.
Because the two of us, together, are not trying to develop romantic feelings for anyone.
"Well, I think I'd be pretty crushed if that actually happened, though."
"I might feel lonely, too."
Sora is cute. She's such a charming girl that I still wonder, 'what kind of miracle is this,' that she's my partner.
Yes, charming. So much so that... if asked if I'm attracted to her as a member of the opposite sex, I would nod without a second thought.
And I'm confident that Sora feels something for me as well.
However—
—However, I'm still afraid of 'romance.'
Being a people-pleaser was because I couldn't find my own worth in anything else.
I only ever showed my good side to everyone, regardless of gender, because I had convinced myself that no one would ever take a real interest in me.
And—the reason I was able to stay friends with a girl who was interested in me was because we drew a 'line' together.
I didn't know her circumstances, but I knew we were the 'same type.'
Let's stay partners. The two of us, again and again, as if to confirm it—
"—Haru...?"
"...Sorry, it's nothing."
I felt a warmth on my fingertips and snapped back to reality.
Those beautiful amber eyes were looking at me with concern, likely because I was making a strange face.
"...—Anyway, that is my answer."
Perhaps sensing my attempt to brush it off,
Sora immediately pulled back and offered a nonchalant smile—I gratefully accepted her consideration and decided to shove these troublesome feelings into the back of my mind.
"So, in conclusion... I can only say you're free to do as you please."
"Yeah, that's how it would turn out."
And she probably knows.
The fact that I'm taking the time to confirm this means I haven't turned down the invitation yet. And if I haven't turned it down—
"I'm thinking of meeting her, just once."
—it means I have the will to do so.
"...I have no intention of interfering, but please let me worry. Are you sure you'll be okay?"
As for the date invitation itself, I've already told her everything I can. So, Sora's 'worry' is to be expected.
If this were just an invitation for a date, I wouldn't be in such a bind.
"In that respect, I think the woman should be more worried than the man..."
"No, I know that's generally the case, but..."
"Besides, Nia already knows my real face is the same as my avatar's."
"Wait, what... That's new information."
So, in a way, since my face is already out there, I'm damage-proof—even though the proposed stage is the real world, not the virtual one.
Hence, 'I'll meet her,' not 'I'll go out with her.'
...Honestly, I can't believe either of us is sane. But including a certain circumstance I haven't told Sora about yet, my honest feeling is that it's hard to refuse.
We'll hide our identities and meet once in a crowded place. That's probably the best compromise.
Even though she presented me with that ticket, I actually refused at first... but Nia was so incredibly insistent that I finally realized it myself.
I am responsible for pushing her this far—I don't know where this will lead, but I need to bring some kind of closure to it.
"Um, I know this is incredibly rude to Nia-san, but... if any trouble comes up, please rely on me, okay?"
"Of course. It's a promise, after all."
The promise we just made, to protect each other.
I didn't say it out loud, but that was also a factor in my decision. Without a reliable safety net, I probably wouldn't have been willing to accept an invitation for a sudden offline meeting.
"Well then... Probably this weekend. I'm off."
"...I really don't know what kind of face I'm supposed to make when I nod to that."
And yet, "I understand"—Sora nodded with a thoroughly troubled look on her face, and I, also unsure of my own expression, found us staring at each other in a strange atmosphere.
Even though it's not the kind of relationship either of us wants, and in fact, it isn't that kind of relationship. Deciding to go on a date with another woman on the very day you got engaged—
"Can't complain if I get stabbed for this..."
"...Um, don't look at me like that. I'm not going to stab you."
Whatever my personal circumstances or intentions were.
I had to admit that from an outsider's perspective, I looked like one hell of a scoundrel.