Since it was already dark, Yuzuru decided to walk Arisa back to her house.
They walked side by side.
It had been hot during the day, but with autumn already setting in, the night air was a little chilly.
Though perhaps it felt colder because of the sharp contrast between day and night—and because they were still dressed in light summer clothes.
“Are you alright, Arisa?”
To Yuzuru, it was only a bit cool, but Arisa looked slightly cold.
When he asked, she wrapped her arms around herself.
“…I’m not very good with the cold.”
“And yet your name is Yukishiro.”
“That’s just because it has ‘snow’ in it.” The kanji for Arisa’s family name (Yukishiro) are 雪城. 雪 (yuki) means “snow” and 城 (shiro) means “castle”.
She gave a small laugh.
Still, she did look genuinely chilly, so it probably wasn’t just talk.
It might also be that her clothes offered less protection against the cold than his.
Either way, catching a chill wouldn’t be good.
After a moment’s thought, Yuzuru lightly tugged at his jacket and asked—
“Want to borrow this?”
“Eh? …But won’t you be cold, Yuzuru-san?”
“Let me have this one bit of pride.”
At that, Arisa replied, “Then I’ll gratefully accept,” and he took off his jacket and handed it to her.
Careful not to crease it, she slipped her arms into the sleeves.
The jacket completely enveloped her frame.
“It’s warm… Are you sure you’ll be alright?”
“Better than you were just now.”
It felt like his own temperature had shifted from cool to a little cold—
but it wasn’t unbearable.
“Really… thank you.”
Arisa narrowed her eyes softly.
Then she lowered her gaze to her feet.
“I don’t like winter.”
“Because it’s cold?”
“That too. But… when I was shivering, there was never anyone who would lend me their coat.”
Did she mean there was no one to help her?
Or was there something more behind it?
Yuzuru couldn’t tell.
“But this winter… I feel like I might come to like it a little.”
“I see. Then I’ll do my best to make sure you do. …Though we’ve still got more than two months to go.”
It was only mid-September, after all.
Talking about winter now was a bit premature.
“By the way, Yuzuru-san… this might not be an appropriate question, but…”
“Your measurements?”
“That’s not it! …Um, about the coat—you covered the cost for me, didn’t you? So I was wondering how your finances are… whether you’re pushing yourself too much. Your allowance is limited, and if it’s your parents’ money, then I’d feel bad…”
“I see.”
He wanted to tell her not to worry, but Arisa was the type who would worry about this.
He’d never really talked about his finances before, but if they were going to keep seeing each other, it was probably better she knew.
“My parents cover utilities. And clothing too—they said it’d be a problem if I dressed poorly.”
For clothes, he kept the receipts and claimed the cost later.
Though his parents were fairly lax about it, so it was more of a rough estimate than strict accounting.
“What about food?”
“They give me fifteen thousand yen so I don’t starve. Plus five thousand as pocket money.”
“…That’s less than I expected.”
“Well, I can’t really complain when I insisted on living alone.”
Even so, covering both food and leisure with twenty thousand yen was a bit tight.
So—
“I also have my part-time job.”
“Oh, you work part-time?”
“Yeah… come to think of it, I never mentioned it.”
Yuzuru only attended club activities once a week.
Aside from Saturdays, which he kept free for Arisa, he had five days off.
Since he didn’t have any particularly absorbing hobbies, he used that time to work.
“Earning your own money… that’s admirable.”
Arisa said it with genuine respect.
Yuzuru was glad to hear it—but at the same time, it left him feeling slightly conflicted.
“Hmm… no, not really.”
“What is it?”
“That’s not quite right… I think.”
As he hesitated, Arisa tilted her head.
“I’m not working because I have to. I just do it because I have free time. It’s basically a hobby. I could quit anytime.”
After all, even living alone was his own selfish choice.
It was only possible because his family was relatively well-off.
“A student’s main duty is their studies, right? So… unless there’s a real need, or you’re aiming to go pro, things like part-time jobs or club activities should come second. If your parents are around, then you should focus properly on studying.”
“…But you are managing both, aren’t you?”
It was true—his grades weren’t bad.
It wasn’t like he was neglecting school for work.
“But I’m not giving it my all. …Ideally, I should be studying seriously, like you do. Well… that’s just my personal view.”
“May I ask you something?”
“Go on.”
“If you think that… then why don’t you act that way?”
It was a fair question.
If he believed working part-time was admirable, that was one thing—but thinking it wasn’t ideal while still doing it was contradictory.
Of course… there was a reason.
“I’m not a good kid. I’m a bit of a bad one. And just studying all the time would be boring. Besides, even if a student’s duty is studying, I think life’s real purpose is enjoying yourself—having fun.”
There was also another reason.
In Yuzuru’s case, his future was practically decided.
If things went normally, he’d inherit his family’s business—the Takasegawa household.
In other words, he didn’t truly have freedom of career choice.
The only time he was free was while he was a student.
That was why his parents allowed his “hobby” job.
“So you’re not a good kid after all.”
At that, Arisa said so plainly.
Yuzuru gave a wry smile.
“I was hoping you’d deny it.”
“But…”
“But?”
“I like that about you.”
She let out a soft giggle.
Yuzuru’s heart gave a sudden thump.
While they were talking, they arrived near Arisa’s house.
“Shall I walk you all the way to your door?”
Normally, she would have said, This is far enough.
But—
“…Could you come with me today?”
For some reason, she wanted him to walk her all the way.
Of course, it was only about five minutes more on foot—no trouble at all.
So Yuzuru accompanied her to her front door.
“Since I’m here… would it be alright if I greeted your parents?”
“Yes… though I don’t think my adoptive father is home right now.”
Saying that, Arisa rang the intercom.
Then, in a slightly apologetic tone, she spoke to whoever answered.
“It’s Arisa. I’m home… Could you unlock the door?”
After a short while, the door opened rather roughly.
Arisa flinched.
The person who came out was a middle-aged woman with a displeased expression.
Arisa’s adoptive mother—Amagi Emi.
“Honestly, leaving the housework and staying out this late! You’ve been getting quite defiant lately—”
“I’m sorry. I’m the one who kept Arisa-san out so late.”
Yuzuru stepped forward, as if shielding her.
Then he gave a small bow.
And placed a polite social smile on his face.
“Ah… Takasegawa-kun. Thank you for keeping my daughter company.”
Emi looked momentarily taken aback.
Then, with an awkward expression, she addressed him.
(…If she dislikes Arisa that much, why oppose the marriage?)
Emi didn’t seem favourable towards the engagement between Yuzuru and Arisa.
Yet she clearly harboured some dislike towards Arisa herself.
It was apparently Emi who had slapped Arisa at their matchmaking meeting.
But if she disliked Arisa, then whether Arisa married Yuzuru or not shouldn’t matter.
It made no sense.
Not that Yuzuru particularly wanted to understand.
“I had a good time as well. …I’m the one who kept her out late. I’m very sorry. Please don’t scold Arisa-san.”
At that, Emi frowned.
Even so, it seemed she couldn’t continue berating Arisa in front of him.
“Arisa, come inside.”
“Y-Yes.”
Without replying to Yuzuru, Emi ushered Arisa in—
then shut the door rather forcefully.
(I hope Arisa will be alright…)
On his way home, just as worry crept in—
his phone buzzed.
A message from Arisa appeared.
Thank you for standing up for me.
Could I ask you to do that again next time?
Yuzuru let out a quiet sigh of relief.
