“I’m home.”
Still slightly giddy after parting with Yuzuru, Arisa opened the door and stepped inside.
Not long ago, coming home had felt somewhat depressing…
But now, it wasn’t so bad.
The violence from her adoptive mother had stopped, and the number of barbed remarks had decreased.
Most likely, she feared upsetting Yuzuru—or more precisely, the Takasegawa family.
Her adoptive mother didn’t like Arisa’s engagement to Yuzuru, but rationally understood that it was necessary for her husband’s work.
Which meant, if there was anything unpleasant for Arisa now…
“Welcome back, Arisa!”
“…Yes.”
The man who rushed over first in response to her return—
was Amagi Hiroto.
At the moment, he was back home because his university was on spring break.
“Did he do anything to you?”
What exactly was he misunderstanding?
This cousin of hers seemed convinced that Arisa disliked Yuzuru and didn’t want to marry him.
…It was true that Arisa hadn’t wanted marriage—an arranged one, at least.
She wouldn’t deny that.
But that was in the past. Now, she held strong feelings for Yuzuru and genuinely wanted to marry him.
So his concern was completely off the mark.
Even so… no matter how many times she explained it, he refused to listen.
So Arisa had already given up.
“It was just… a normal meal.”
Did he do anything?
Well—he had.
He proposed.
Suppressing the smile threatening to creep onto her lips, Arisa replied coldly.
There was no point telling Hiroto about Yuzuru’s proposal.
The person she truly needed to tell was her adoptive father, Amagi Naoki.
(I wonder if he’s home today…)
Thinking that, Arisa slipped off her shoes and stepped inside.
And then—
“You’re back, Arisa.”
“Yes… I’m home.”
Naoki was there to greet her.
As Arisa found that unusual—
“…Arisa. I have something to discuss with you.”
A bad feeling crept over her.
It was the same feeling she’d had when Naoki once asked her, “Would you be interested in an arranged meeting?”
“…Yes. I understand.”
But she couldn’t refuse.
Arisa gave a small nod.
In the living room, her adoptive mother and her cousin Mei were already seated.
The two of them sat around the table, drinking tea.
It seemed this discussion would involve them as well.
(What is this about… everyone’s here…?)
An indescribable unease gripped Arisa.
She clenched the ring on her left ring finger tightly.
“Now that Arisa is here, let’s get to the point… It’s about your engagement to Yuzuru-kun.”
Her heart jolted.
She felt cold sweat trickle down her back.
“Arisa.”
At the sound of her name, Arisa straightened her posture.
“…Yes. What is it?”
“As I’ve said before… I have no intention of forcing you into marriage. So if you don’t want this, we can annul the engagement.”
Why—
why bring that up now?
One unpleasant thought after another flooded Arisa’s mind.
Could it be… that Naoki had changed his stance and now opposed her marriage to Yuzuru?
That, as his adopted daughter, she was no longer his choice—and he now wanted his real daughter, Mei, to marry him instead?
“…I don’t dislike it. And if we annul it… wouldn’t that cause trouble for Yuzuru-san and the Takasegawa family? And for you as well, Naoki-san…”
“It wouldn’t be ideal, but we can still manage. It’s not a formal engagement yet—only a provisional one. And…”
Naoki turned his gaze to his daughter—Mei, Arisa’s cousin.
The sixth-year primary school girl gave a small nod.
“If Arisa-san finds it difficult, then I can take her place.”
Mei said it plainly.
And as if agreeing with her, Amagi Emi—Arisa’s adoptive mother—clapped her hands with a faintly pleased expression.
“From the Takasegawa family’s perspective as well, Mei would be more convenient than an adopted daughter like Arisa.”
She looked straight at Arisa as she said it.
The hostility in her gaze made Arisa flinch.
“Arisa. If you don’t want it, you can say so,”
Hiroto said in a gentle, coaxing tone.
But Arisa couldn’t hear him.
(W-what is this… what’s going on?)
From the peak of happiness—
to the depths of despair.
That was how it felt, like being thrown straight down.
She couldn’t make sense of the situation at all.
The only thing she understood… was that at this rate, she wouldn’t be able to marry Yuzuru.
“…N-no, really, it’s fine. And besides… annulling an engagement that’s lasted a year would cause trouble. A-and more importantly, it wouldn’t be right for Mei-chan to take my place…”
Desperately, Arisa searched for reasons why their engagement shouldn’t be annulled.
She insisted that Mei shouldn’t be made to sacrifice herself.
But—
“I don’t mind.”
Mei said it clearly.
Arisa fell silent.
If Mei herself didn’t mind, then there was little reason it had to be Arisa who married Yuzuru.
“I’ve only seen him in photos, but Takasegawa-san seems very handsome. And… I hear he’s wealthy, so I have no complaints. Of course, if Arisa-san likes him and truly wants to marry him, that’s a different matter. I have no intention of taking the person you love.”
Mei cast a glance at Arisa as she spoke.
Do you like him or not? Do you want to marry him or not?
Make it clear already.
That was the message.
“B-but… Yuzuru-san seems to like me. So… I don’t think anyone else can take my place!”
It was Yuzuru Takasegawa who had chosen her.
He was completely devoted to her—he wanted to marry her.
Arisa clung to her strongest advantage.
That Mei couldn’t replace her.
But—
“That’s a ridiculous reason!”
The one who raised his voice was Hiroto.
“Just because he—Yuzuru-kun—likes you doesn’t mean you have to go along with it or marry him! …It’s not like it has to be Arisa, right, Father?”
Naoki nodded at Hiroto’s question.
“That’s right. …At the very least, from the Takasegawa family’s perspective, there’s no reason it has to be Arisa. I feel sorry for Yuzuru-kun, of course, but if Arisa says she doesn’t want this, we can’t force her. …At the very least, I have no intention of making her do something against her will. I’m sure they’ll understand… and I intend to persuade them to.”
Bit by bit—
like pieces in a checkmate puzzle—
Arisa felt her escape routes, her future happiness with Yuzuru, being sealed off.
“I… I…”
She had to say something.
If she didn’t, Yuzuru would truly be taken from her by her cousin.
Her face turned pale, her body trembling as she tried to speak—
“Arisa, don’t worry. It’s alright… no one is going to force you into marriage. Just be honest.”
Hiroto cut her off.
Not knowing what to do, Arisa lowered her gaze in silence.
“…Then we’ll proceed on that basis. Understood?”
As if confirming it, Naoki asked her.
Her mind had gone blank—she couldn’t answer.
“Then that settles it.”
With that, Naoki stood.
That was the signal—
Emi rose with a satisfied look, Hiroto with visible relief, and Mei… with an exasperated expression.
Only Arisa remained seated, head lowered—
“……I don’t want this…”
Somehow, she forced the words out.
Naoki, who had been about to leave, stopped in his tracks.
