Chapter 1 - There Was A Time When I Thought So, Too (Final Part)
That day I had a super lazy day. To the point that my parents shouted, "How long are you going to stay in bed!". I woke up before noon, watched the latest anime on the official video website, and forced myself to play various games. Study? Well, I'll do it later. Holidays are best spent indoors. It's different with extroverts, who say they spend the holidays playing outside, which I don't think makes sense.
"Okay, I finally beat him!" I finally defeated the boring game boss, took off the headphones, and lay down.
"Hey, Shuuji!" Immediately, there was a noise from outside the room, and without waiting for me to answer, my mother came in.
"Hey, don't come in here!"
What should I do if she comes in while I'm showing something embarrassing?
"I called you hundreds of times. It's your fault for not answering" Mom would blame me instead.
This unreasonable attitude of hers is a matter of course, but her appearance is a bit strange now, which makes me tilt my head and ask,
"Mom, what's wrong?"
Her long hair was neatly styled and arranged as if she had just been to the salon, her makeup was exceptionally good, and she was wearing fashionable clothes as if she were going out for a walk.
"Is Mom going somewhere?" I asked again.
"Come here for a while."
She didn't answer my question, but gestured with her serious face.
"What? Is dinner ready? Or are we going out to eat?"
I looked at my watch, it was too early for dinner, but—
"That's not it. Come on."
"Eh, what?"
Because of the serious atmosphere, I could only obey and leave the room. When I went downstairs to the living room, I found my father sitting at the table with a worried look on his face and his hands crossed. He always dresses casually on holidays, but now he is dressed so neatly that he looks like he is going to work.
"Shuuji, sit there."
My father urged me to sit in the chair across from him. As for Mom, she sat next to Dad, and for a moment, both of them stared at me with serious expressions.
"Did I... do something wrong?"
The atmosphere was uncomfortable, as if I was being nagged. I racked my brain to remember if I had done something wrong, but I was confused because so many things filled my mind. However, I certainly hadn't done anything that was a compelling reason to be nagged like that. Should... so, right?
"Shuuji, I need to tell you something."
"Hey, what's up, Dad? What's going on?"
In my opinion, this is such a serious thing that Mom and Dad went out of their way to dress decently and talk to me. Seriously, I'm confused. I can't predict them!
"Actually, Shuuji—"
Just when I felt bad about what he was about to say, Dad cleared his throat and said,
"You have a fiancée."
"Eh?"
You have a fiancée?
It took me a while to understand what he meant because there were some words that were strange to me. I tried to take the time to digest the words, but my mind couldn't keep up with the shocking meaning they contained. As I remained silent, Dad said to me again,
"Shuuji, you already have a fiancée."
"Fiancée... I have a fiancée? Fiancée!?"
No, wait a minute. Calm down!
First of all, what is the meaning of the word 'fiancée'? Is it related to ochazuke (rice with tea poured over it) or fukujinzuke (vegetable slices pickled in soy sauce)? No, no, it has nothing to do with context. Well, if I remember correctly, 'fiancée' is a marriage partner already chosen by the parents, just like a future wife, right?
"Is this fiancée really... for me?"
"That's right," Mom and Dad nodded seriously.
It seems that she is really... real. However, 'fiancée' is a word I've only seen in manga and anime or other creative works lately. I have a 'fiancée'? Such a thing? I still didn't understand the words, but my father explained them as if he was remembering the past.
"Dad and Mom are good friends with the parents of the other party, and once we discussed the marriage of our children. At the request of the other party, if Shuuji had a girlfriend, both parties would have canceled the engagement..."
As if continuing my father's series of words, my mother said with a regretful expression,
"Like the word 'Koibito' without 'Ko', there is no hope if your life is just smiling at two-dimensional girls all day long. I bet on you, Shuuji, you will never get a girlfriend."
"No, no, these are the words of the parents themselves!"
It hurts, but it's the truth! However, after the bitterness of reality hit me, I finally woke up from the shock of the engagement issue. In front of me, my father nodded his head in agreement with my mother's words,
"That's why—" he continued,
"We have spoken to the other side of the family and have decided to proceed with the engagement."
"But you need to know, it's not like we suddenly started talking about your fiancée."
From their point of view, this sounds like a discussion that has been going on for a long time, but from my point of view, it comes out of nowhere. As I scratched my head in confusion and doubt, my father said something that surprised me even more,
"Anyway, your fiancée is coming to meet us today, so you better get ready to welcome her."
"Eeeeh!? Here!? Seriously!?"
It's not that I'm unprepared, it's just that everything happened so suddenly that I couldn't keep up!
"This is too sudden!"
Mom sighed as she said to my panicked self,
"If I told you in advance, you would definitely make excuses to refuse or run away."
"Well, that might be true! But what am I supposed to do today!?"
"Don't be indecisive, just meet her for now."
"No, where did the word "just meet her" come from!"
I don't know how to greet her! I don't even know if I can talk to her properly! I mean, what kind of girl is coming? Am I dreaming? I pinched my cheek, but the pain was the same. Or is this a prank? However, when I looked around the room, there was no camera.
"Come on, get ready!" my mom and dad stood up and looked at the clock.
I looked at them again and finally understood after so much time had passed.
"Is that why Mom and Dad are dressed so neatly today?"
"That's right. Shuuji, you need to change and clean up as well. Your clothes stink."
Another hurtful word. Then Mom and Dad started decorating the living room and preparing food to welcome their future daughter-in-law. As they were busy, I began to realize that the subject of the fiancée and the fact that she was coming to see me today was real and true.
"Fiancée, huh..."
An introvert like me having a fiancée? What kind of girl is she? The more I thought about it, the more nervously my heart pounded and my cold sweat started to break out.
"F-For now, I have to change clothes! No, maybe I should take a shower as well."
Feelings of anxiety, curiosity, and nervousness. With so many things running around in my head, I ran to the bathroom and decided to refresh my appearance, which was still the same as when I just woke up.
***
It's almost time for my fiancée to arrive.
"Huu ... haaa...."
Have I ever felt so nervous in my whole life? No, I haven't. Have I ever felt so depressed in my entire life? Absolutely never. A few minutes ago, this Sunday was a normal day, but in such a short time, everything changed so drastically. I sat in the chair in the living room and waited nervously.
"Anyway..."
What kind of girl would my fiancée be? Of course I'm going to wonder about that.
"Hmm~ she must be—"
My fiancé must be an innocent and introverted girl like me? Could it be a girl who likes to exercise? Or what if he was a very scary brat? First of all, her age is not necessarily the same as mine, she could be older or younger than me. In fact, when I asked my parents about it, they just said it would be more fun if you met her yourself later! My imagination went crazy and I felt like this head was about to explode.
"But even so..."
Even in the midst of all this, there is a part of my mind that feels doubtful. Does she mind being my fiancée? No, more importantly, has she accepted the idea of this engagement? In other words, this engagement is what our parents decided, but did she agree to it?
I was just told suddenly and could only go with the flow, but I thought that the other party had already been informed in advance, and I was curious how she felt when he came here. On the other hand, I was curious if she would say, "I can't take it!" when we met later. Frankly, I'm afraid she will.
"Huh..."
I kept thinking about that whirling thing and couldn't stop my fear. Then, when it reached the fourth round of my long anxiety, finally —ding-dong! The intercom sounded.
"----!"
I woke up with my legs shaking like a newborn animal and tried to go straight to the front door, but my shaking self made my father and mother anxious, so they told me to stay where I was and wait.
"Oh my, you've grown up, haven't you! You came alone?", "Come in, come in, don't hesitate to come in."
There was a loud noise of Mom and Dad greeting them at the door. Mixed in with them was a faint voice that I thought was my fiancée's. I can't hear her clearly from here, but it's enough to make me aware of her presence. My heart was beating very fast from nervousness.
"............!" The sound of the three people's footsteps came towards me.
What kind of girl is my fiancée?
"Huuuu... haaa...."
Anyway, calm down! Try to stop shaking!
Just as I took a deep breath and stood firm, the living room door opened in front of me.
"Sorry to interrupt -" a cool, cheerful voice said.
My parents led her into the living room, and the girl who would become my fiancée entered the room. She is—
"Nn, n?"
I couldn't believe my eyes and rubbed them. Because this girl who was introduced as my fiancée—or rather, was the one I knew very well before.
"Nice to meet you—" the girl who became my fiancée smiled and greeted me.
Her light, swaying hair sparkled softly in the living room light. Her pale skin, her wide eyes, and her high nose. Then there were her slender, well-groomed fingers. Her clothes were inconspicuous as well, but her whole body was filled with an irresistible elegance that made me so amazed.
"—I am Hanatsuki Miran," she continued.
Yes. The figure in front of me today is the top of the school caste, that is, the most popular extroverted girl in the school. The girl who usually frolics and talks to me during school—the gyaru, Hanatsuki-san!
"----" the impact is too strong for my brain to accept.
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I froze speechless with a gaping mouth. Why is Hanatsuki-san here? I've been waiting for my fiancée, and I want to say hello to her, you know? What do you mean, Hanatsuki-san is the one who became my fiancée? No, no, isn't that wrong?
"Emm—" I'm in a mess.
Then my mom poked me with her elbow and said, "Come on, say hello to her first", and it finally dawned on me after four pokes.
"Uhm, I'm Eizawa Shuuji."
Although the confusion in my brain was still unresolved, I said my name anyway. It felt very strange to introduce myself to someone I already knew.
"It's new for us to meet outside of school, right?" Hanatsuki-san changed her formal attitude and spoke to me with her usual bright smile. With those expressions and words, I was once again reminded that this girl in front of me was a gyaru, who was my classmate.
"At school, we're in the same class now", Hanatsuki-san explained to my parents, giving me a look that asked me to agree. I, who still can't handle this pressure, can only nod my head.
"I heard that from your parents. But Shuuji didn't bother you, right?"
Mom asked her with a worried look on her face, to which Hantsuki-san replied with a smile and said,
"He's not bothering me, really. Instead, he was attentive when I talked to him, and his reactions were always interesting as well."
This is the first time in my life that people have told me that my reactions are interesting, but I don't know if I should be happy or not when I hear this sentence. Besides, it would be more appropriate to say that I was forced to respond to it. Although we've been keeping our distance lately.
"............?"
True. Unbeknownst to me, Hanatsuki-san hated me and I had to keep my distance from her. So why is she standing in front of me now as my fiancée?
Thinking back to Hanatsuki-san's behavior these days, I feel even more confused about the situation. However, I don't have the courage to express my doubts and thoughts here, and right now I can only watch the conversation between the gyaru in my class and my parents as if I were daydreaming.
"I don't want to chat while I'm standing, so please sit down. Shuuji, don't just stand there, sit down too."
As my parents greeted her, we both sat facing each other. When my eyes met her, my heart started beating fast, so I turned my face away.
"I'll go make tea...", "I'll call your parents...."
Huh? Are you going to leave us now? Despite my fear, Mom and Dad deliberately left the living room....
"............"
An awkward silence followed as I was left alone with Hanatsuki-san.
"............"
I wondered if I should say something, but I couldn't think of a single decent thing to say, and when I realized that she was my fiancée, I became a little embarrassed and couldn't look at her face. In that silence, as I struggled to think of what to do—
"Hey, hey..." she said in the same tone she used to talk to me in school.
"Did you hear about our engagement?"
"Uh, y-yeah..." I nodded my head, avoiding eye contact. I might be the most nervous party right now.
"Uhm, sorry."
"......?"
Hanatsuki-san's apology came immediately. I was shaking with nervousness and embarrassment, but I calmed down a bit when her face also showed an uncomfortable feeling.
"W-What is it?"
I tilted my head, not knowing what she was apologizing for, and Hanatsuki-san opened her mouth while looking down slightly.
"I mean, lately we've been kind of distant from each other during school..."
Those days, I no longer interacted with her during break, nor was I approached when we crossed paths, and if our eyes met, she would have looked away. I felt like we were keeping our distance—although I realized too late that that's what Hanatsuki-san was really talking about.
"How to say it... Umm... I was embarrassed... when I realized that I was your fiancée, you know?"
Contrary to her usually cheerful appearance, Hanatsuki-san's cheeks were flushed with shame, and her expression was also agitated. While I was surprised by her appearance, I nodded inwardly as I said, "I see". So, the phenomenon of nervousness and embarrassment that I just felt was happening to Hanatsuki-san as well. Does that mean she has known about the engagement since then?
"It's not that I hate you and avoid you! But, sorry..."
The memory of the feeling of being hated and depressed disappeared from my mind. I immediately waved my hand at the apologetic Hanatsuki-san.
"I don't mind at all! It's okay" I replied.
"Thanks! But it's kind of strange that you don't seem to care at all" she said with a bitter smile.
I don't know why she's smiling like that, but now I just follow the mood and smile.
"This reaction of yours is so funny, you know?" then Hanatsuki-san smiled back as usual.
When I thought, she was going to laugh for a while—she suddenly smiled at me with a different expression of embarrassment and said,
"From now on, I will rely on you as my fiancée, Shuuji."
My heart was beating wildly. I used to turn away from her, but this time, I couldn't look away from the girl's smile. No, I don't want to miss her. In my opinion, she is more charming than any other 2D beautiful girl illustration I have ever seen.
"----"
Hanatsuki Miran, the popular extrovert as well as the gyaru in my class... is my fiancé. I'm still a little confused. I don't get along with people who are extroverted and gyaru... but because of her beauty, there's a part of me that honestly enjoys it. I have mixed feelings, and I haven't sorted out how the contents of my head and heart are.
"I-I'm counting on you too..."
With trepidation, I lowered my head and answered her with a few words. For now, I decided to accept the situation.
"I don't know why, this makes me nervous anyway."
When I saw Hanatsuki-san smile, I felt embarrassed and scratched my head. By the way, when I received this event in front of me, I thought for a moment and realized something,
Does Hanatsuki-san not mind having an introverted fiancée like me?
From her words and actions so far, it seems that she has accepted this idea of engagement, but Hanatsuki-san has many choices. If she wants, she can have a future with many men who are better than me. Even if this is the engagement our parents decided on, does she mind being betrothed to an introverted man and an otaku like me?
"What's the matter?"
"N-No, umm..."
A feeling of doubt overwhelms me as I try to ask her. Hanatsuki-san's eyes were so clear without any doubt, and I hesitated to ask such a dark and despicable question.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting..." Then, whether it was the right time or not, my parents returned to the living room—and I finally didn't get to ask that question.
***
After that, the four of us had dinner with Hanatsuki-san, but I didn't participate much in the conversation because of my nervousness. As I expected, Hanatsuki-san is really an extroverted person, which could be seen from the fact that she was so happy and open when she talked to my parents from the beginning to the end.
Then, as the night went on. Hanatsuki-san's parents came to pick her up and I greeted them at the entrance, but I was very nervous and didn't remember what I said at all. The only thing I remember clearly is that Hanatsuki-san's parents are charming men and women, unlike my parents. Both of our parents seemed to be very close to each other, and they talked for quite a while at the door.
"In that case, I'll see you at school tomorrow—" she said.
"Y-yes. Have a safe trip" I replied.
I came out of the entrance and saw Hanatsuki-san getting into his parent's car. I waited until the car disappeared from my sight, then went inside, had a reasonable conversation with my parents, and returned to my room.
"I'm tired..."
I flopped down on the bed. Along with the loss of tension, a feeling of fatigue enveloped me. In just half a day, life can turn out like this. My fragile mental state cries out at the speed of events and the magnitude of the changes taking place. There are many things to think about, but my sleepiness has taken over.
"I'll take care of everything tomorrow—"
With all that weight off my shoulders, I fell asleep.
TL: YouthTL (JP-ID), Retallia (ID-EN)
PF & ED: Retallia