kscans

Chapter 278 - The Now for Later

"Uh—um… what did you just say?"

"To summarize, I've received an invitation for a date."

"…Excuse me."

"I received an invitation for a date."

"…Nia-san, are you sure you're the same Nia I know?"

"The one who made our clothes."

"So, uh… I'm really at a loss right now."

"I'm also pretty seriously at a loss."

"No, I'm sure you are, Haru, but… can I ask one thing?"

"Anything."

"When you ask me, 'What should I do about it?', what on earth am I supposed to do?"

"Well, that's… I was hoping you could pass judgment."

"Judgment on what?!"

—After clearing the dungeon, we returned to the city at lightning speed. Now settled in at our usual tavern, we sat facing each other with contrasting expressions.

Having steeled my resolve, I broached the subject of that matter with a dead-serious face. Sora, on the other hand, just looked utterly baffled and bewildered.

Reporting this to Sora was also something Nia asked me to do, but I guess anyone would be confused if a topic like this was suddenly thrown at them.

"Um, Haru?"

"Yes."

"I assume this is about that, but… you don't need to be so considerate of me, you know?"

Yeah, well, I honestly expected her to say that.

In fact, Sora couldn't 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 she was feeling inside, without even needing to hear them.

However,

"Fake or not, you're still my fiancée, right?"

"!…"

I'm aware it's a line that would justifiably make her blush, but I have no intention of backing down, because this isn't that kind of issue.

"Chitose-san explained the details, 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."

Basically, to put it bluntly… while we are engaged, we're both allowed complete freedom in our romantic lives.

According to Chitose-san, 'It's blunt, but we don't care if people suspect it's a sham,' or something to that effect. In the end, it seems all they needed was a plausible excuse to refuse marriage proposals.

Mr. Togo's weakness was a single point: he couldn't refuse proposals for Sora without a reason. The why behind that wasn't explained, but it seems he wanted a reason he 'had no choice but to refuse,' no matter what form it took.

As for the problem of 'wouldn't it just cause friction if the lie was exposed?'… that's based on the premise that the people making the proposals are 'shamelessly approaching, knowing that he can't refuse.'

Therefore, looking out for oneself is a mutual affair. The other party isn't so squeaky clean that they can complain about a defensive wall that took effort to build.

Once the Yotsuya family has an official reason to refuse outright, it's unlikely anyone with a death wish would cross that line and keep meddling.

I did ask the obvious question: if they're so worried about public perception, wouldn't it be counterproductive if the sham was exposed and their 'little trick' became public knowledge?

But according to Chitose-san—'The 'Yotsuya heiress' isn't known to the world in the first place, so there's no fake engagement to expose, is there?'

Since there's an absolute agreement not to publicize Sora's existence, it's impossible for our engagement to become common knowledge—when the Deputy Representative of 'Yotsuya Development' himself declares it, I have no choice but to believe him.

And so, that's why.

However, there's a but that exists within me.

Because fake or not—my partner, Sora, has become too important for me to treat a relationship with a name attached to it so lightly.

"So… but still, I want to hear it. What do you think, Sora?"

"What do I…"

Alright, this is going to take a bit of courage to say…

"Would you… dislike it if I got close to another girl—someone other than you, Sora?"

Even if this comes off as a conceited, mistaken assumption, the only one here to laugh at me is myself. I know she's not the type to tease someone in a moment like this.

"Dislike it… um… well………… you see…"

I've noticed it a few times before—a feeling close to jealousy, though not quite the full extent of it, directed at me.

…Honestly, I'm aware that we're already conscious of each other as members of the opposite sex.

And here—we also have a 'however' that exists between us.

"No—I wouldn't dislike it."

After ten, twenty seconds of thought, Sora stated it clearly.

In situations like this… no, even when it's not like this, she doesn't lie. She has secrets, but she doesn't lie—a common trait between the two of us.

"…What about you, Haru, if it were the other way around?"

"Let's see—I don't think I'd dislike it either."

To be precise, I don't have the right to say I would.

Because the two of us are, together, not trying to develop romantic feelings for anyone.

"Well, if it did happen, I think I'd be pretty crushed, 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 woman, I would nod without a second thought.

I'm also confident that Sora thinks of me fondly.

But—

—But I'm still afraid of 'romance.'

Being a people-pleaser (for someone else's sake) was because I couldn't find my own worth in anything else.

Showing only my good side to everyone, regardless of gender, was because I had convinced myself that I'd never be the object of anyone's attention.

And—the reason I could continue my relationship with the girl who was conscious of me was because we drew a 'line' together.

I didn't know the details, but it was because we realized we were 'the same kind of people.'

Let's stay partners. Together, again and again, as if to confirm it—

"—Haru…?"

"…Sorry, it's nothing."

A warmth on my fingertips brought me back to my senses.

Those beautiful amber eyes were looking at me with concern, probably because I was making a strange face.

"…—Anyway, that is my answer."

Realizing I was trying to cover something up, I imagine.

Sora immediately pulled back and put on a nonchalant smile—I'll gratefully accept her consideration and shove these troublesome feelings deep into my chest.

"So in conclusion… all I can say is, feel free to do as you please."

"Yeah, that makes sense."

And she probably knows.

The fact that I'm so dutifully asking for confirmation means I haven't turned down the invitation yet. And if I haven't turned it down—

"I think I'll meet 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?"

As for the 'date invitation' itself, I've already told her everything I can. So Sora's 'worry' is only natural.

If this had been just a date invitation, I wouldn't be this troubled.

"I feel like that's something the woman should be more worried about than the man…"

"No, I mean, that might be true generally, but…"

"Plus, Nia already knows my real face is the same as my avatar's."

"Wait, what… That's new information."

So yeah, 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.

I'll hide my identity and meet her once in a crowded place. That should be the compromise.

Even though she presented that ticket, I actually turned her down at first… but Nia was so earnest and persistent that I finally realized it myself.

I am responsible for making her act this way—I don't know where this will lead, but I need to bring some kind of closure to it.

"Um, and I mean no disrespect to Nia-san, but… if any trouble comes up, please rely on me, okay?"

"Of course. It's a promise."

The promise we just made, to protect each other.

I didn't say it out loud, but that was also one of my deciding factors. Without a reliable backup, I wouldn't have been willing to accept an impromptu offline meeting invitation.

"Well then… probably this weekend. I'm off."

"…I really don't know what kind of face I should be making to nod at this."

Even so, Sora nodded with a very troubled look on her face, saying, "I understand." I, too, was unsure of my own expression as we stared at each other in a strange atmosphere.

Even though it's not a relationship either of us wants, and thus it isn't that kind of relationship in reality. Deciding to go on a date with another woman on the very day you get engaged is—

"I wouldn't be able to complain if she stabbed me…"

"…Um, please don't look at me. I'm not going to stab you."

Regardless of my personal circumstances or intentions.

I had to admit that from an outsider's perspective, I was quite the 'scoundrel.'