Some time after Yuzuru and Arisa had “made up”—during a lunch break.
Arisa was eating with Ayaka and the others.
“So, you managed to make up, at least?”
At Ayaka’s question, Arisa nodded.
“Yes. …I’m sorry for making you worry.”
As Arisa bowed her head, Amaka and Chiharu both nodded emphatically, as if to say exactly.
“Honestly… when people who usually get along start acting awkward, it makes things uncomfortable for the rest of us too.”
“I’ve already been thinking about various things on the assumption you two would get married, you see. Well, I’m relieved. I’m glad it didn’t end in a broken engagement.”
“Broken engagement.”
At Chiharu’s words, Arisa gave a small shudder.
“I’m really glad… that Yuzuru-san is such a kind person…”
She murmured that, her face turning pale.
At the time, she’d been stubborn—but looking back calmly, it wouldn’t have been strange if he’d come to dislike her.
If Yuzuru had said something like, “It’s fine. Let’s just end this”—
The shock might have killed her.
“Well… if something this trivial had caused it to fall apart, I’d have laughed at you forever, though.”
Ayaka burst out laughing. Arisa puffed up her cheeks.
“…It’s not trivial. It’s important.”
“No, I meant the reason—the injection thing—”
“It’s not trivial.”
Arisa said it with a serious expression.
Ayaka couldn’t tell whether she was joking in her own way, or genuinely didn’t think it was trivial.
“…So, are you going to get it? Or not?”
Not trivial, she insisted—so Amaka asked her that.
Arisa promptly looked away.
“N-no, well… um, it’s still a bit early anyway, so I thought I’d decide gradually…”
She’d made up with Yuzuru, but her fear of injections hadn’t changed.
It seemed she still didn’t want it.
The three of them exchanged wry smiles.
That said, it wasn’t particularly important to them, so they didn’t press the matter further.
“…By the way, what did you mean earlier about thinking of various things regarding my marriage with Yuzuru-san?”
Not wanting to dwell on the injection topic any longer, Arisa changed the subject—and decided to ask about the part of Chiharu’s earlier comment that had caught her attention.
Was she planning some sort of surprise after their wedding…?
Surely not—no matter what, that would be far too soon.
“Hm? Ah… well, the Takasegawa family is quite a prominent house. Naturally, as the Uenishi family, we’re interested in what sort of person their future heir’s partner will be.”
Then she smiled brightly.
“Personally, I’d like for our families to stay on good terms. Naturally… it would be much easier if it were a girl I already get along with.”
If a friend’s marriage partner had an awful personality, Arisa would hate that.
On the other hand, if it were someone she knew, it would be reassuring…
That was how Arisa interpreted it, and she nodded firmly.
“I see. In that case, I look forward to getting along with you from now on as well.”
At Arisa’s reply, Chiharu formed a small smile.
“Oh? Really? Then… would you be open to a more intimate, family-level relationship?”
“Yes… I don’t particularly mind—”
“Arisa-chan… you probably shouldn’t agree to things like that so readily.”
As Arisa was about to nod, Ayaka cut in—smiling wryly, but a little forcefully.
“…You’re not planning to treat that as a verbal agreement just now, are you?”
“That’s rather cruel. There’s no way I’d pull something borderline fraudulent on a friend. It was a joke, a joke.”
“No, I’d still call that a scam…”
“It’s not a scam. I made a proper preface, after all.”
At the exchange between Ayaka and Chiharu—
Arisa and Amaka tilted their heads in confusion.
“Um… what are you talking about?”
When Arisa asked, Chiharu beamed.
“Oh, I meant exactly what I said. Not just between individuals, but if our families could grow closer as well…”
“You’re proposing a political marriage, aren’t you?”
Ayaka cut her off with an exasperated look.
Meanwhile, Chiharu gave a small shrug.
“I didn’t go that far.”
“You didn’t say it outright, but you implied it, didn’t you?”
“Well… interpretation is up to the individual, I suppose.”
She neither confirmed nor denied Ayaka’s point.
Which, in itself, was an answer.
“…Wait, don’t tell me—you were suggesting marrying Arisa-san’s child to your own?”
Catching on, Amaka spoke with a fed-up expression.
Counting chickens before they hatch would be an understatement.
“Yes, something like that. The exact form doesn’t matter—but I thought it would be nice if the Uenishi and Takasegawa families could form an even deeper bond…”
As she said that, Chiharu glanced at Arisa to gauge her reaction.
And as for Arisa herself—
“M-my and Y-Yuzuru-san’s c-child…?! Th-that’s…!!”
She froze, her face turning bright red.
Then she shook her head vigorously.
“N-no… no way!! That’s not okay!! We’re still in high school… th-that’s indecent!!”
At her flustered reaction—
Ayaka and Chiharu exchanged looks, then grinned.
“Well, who knows? Yuzurun might be…”
“He could already be secretly preparing, you know?”
“N-no, that’s not… th-things like that should come after going through the proper steps…”
“Steps? …What kind of steps are you thinking of, Arisa-chan?”
“What exactly would you like him to do to you?”
The two of them began teasing her.
Arisa flailed in panic.
Watching the three of them, Amaka let out a sigh.
“…Could you not do this at school?”
