Roland had originally planned to sit back and enjoy the show, curious to see how Haruno would convince his Aunt Yukio with her acting.
But to his surprise, Haruno resorted to such dishonorable tactics! Unable to challenge her mother's authority directly, she decided to drag him, an innocent bystander, into her mess.
What do you mean I don't want to get married?
How could I possibly not want to?
You big boob Haruno, please use your brain for once!
Theoretically, anyone could refuse marriage, but he was the least likely to do so. After all, he had been the one to propose the matchmaking meeting in the first place, tho not him exactly, atleast the proposal was from his side.
I came to you for a matchmaking meeting, but now you're saying I don't want to marry you? Does that make any sense?
Now that you've made it all my fault, how am I supposed to explain this to Aunt Yukio?
Roland stared blankly at Haruno, but she shamelessly averted her gaze.
Damn it! If you're going to pass the buck, at least look me in the eye!
"Little Roland, you don't want to?" Yukio turned to him, surprised by her daughter's words.
She didn't care whether Haruno's statement was true or just a way to shift blame. The important thing was that her daughter had declared her willingness to have children. Now, she couldn't back out later.
"Aunt Yukio, I never said I was unwilling. In fact, I'm quite willing myself." Roland had been thoroughly outmaneuvered by Haruno, and he didn't know how to explain himself. Fine, no explanations at all! If we're going down, we're going down together!
As expected, Haruno was visibly startled by his response.
After all, she had just declared her willingness. If this bratty younger brother like existence also agreed, wouldn't she actually have to go through with it?
It wasn't that she didn't want children, but she still had to attend matchmaking meetings for her younger sister!
Haruno immediately glared at Roland, her eyes burning with anger. This little brat is trying to trap me! If this becomes irreversible, I swear I'll make sure you can't get out of bed tonight!
Roland returned her gaze with a smug look, as if to say, Who told you to pass the buck? Now you know what it feels like to be teased, don't you?
Now that he held the upper hand, wouldn't it be nice to make his big sister Haruno meow obediently for him?
Alright, alright, no meowing. But did you really have to resort to violence?
The moment Roland shot Haruno that smug look, she stealthily reached behind him, pinched the tender flesh on his waist, and gave it a vicious twist!
Hisss~!
This was a pain no man could endure! Roland quickly switched to a pleading expression.
So that's how, men were often the disadvantaged ones. It's not due to logic or anything serious, it's due to this type of behavior.
Why could Haruno so confidently shift the blame onto him, while a simple glance back from him earned him a pinch?
Damn it! Roland couldn't exactly pinch her back, so he had to abandon his plan to get the upper hand.
"Are you willing? Then why did Haruno say you weren't?" Yukio watched the two exchange glances, unsure if they were flirting or feeling guilty.
"Well, big sister Haruno wasn't entirely wrong," Roland stammered, forced to explain under the threat of Haruno's pinching. "If this were a few years later, I'd definitely be willing. But I'm still a student, and I'm about to start my senior year of high school. The academic pressure is overwhelming. I simply don't have the mental space for a child right now."
"If that's all, there's no need to worry," Aunt Yukio declared. "Your first child will be raised by the Yukino Family and must bear the Yukino surname. Is that acceptable?"
Though she adored her Little Roland, the matter of children concerned the Yukino Family's legacy. No matter how fond she was of him, she had to handle this matter seriously.
Roland understood this perfectly. The Yukino Family was vast and powerful, yet they had no male heirs now. If both Haruno and Yukino were to marry, wouldn't their entire legacy be divided among other families?
Therefore, Yukio couldn't easily allow her daughters to marry. Anyone seeking to marry a Yukino woman would have to be prepared to become a live-in son-in-law.
However, Yukio held a special fondness for Roland. She didn't necessarily require him to become a live-in son-in-law; she simply needed one child to carry on the Yukino Family's legacy.
Roland had no objections to this. His principle regarding a child's surname was simple: the child should bear the surname of whoever was capable of raising them.
"That's fine, but what does this have to do with my studies?" Roland asked, puzzled.
"Your first child will be raised by Aunt Yukio's side, requiring none of your attention. It won't interfere with your studies," Yukio stated calmly.
Roland: "..."
Indeed, with the Yukino Family's immense wealth, they could easily care for a child without needing Roland's involvement.
Roland had originally thought he could use his studies as an excuse to get out of this predicament. He never imagined Yukio would be so persistent about helping the Yukino Family have a child, insisting he have one first and foremost.
After all, childbirth was the woman's responsibility mainly it doesn't exactly need his attention to say, and he wouldn't need to stay home to care for the child. The impact on his studies would be minimal.
Roland was momentarily speechless. If his refusal had truly been about his studies, Yukio might have already convinced him.
But that wasn't the case. His reluctance stemmed from his guilt over the Fake Love situation.
So, even though Yukio's arguments were perfectly reasonable, he had to find a way to refuse.
But how could he possibly refuse?
Logic wasn't on his side. Unless he resorted to... irrationality?
Irrationality?
Maybe it was worth a try.
After a moment of silence, Roland suddenly wrenched himself free from Haruno's grasp. Under her skeptical gaze, he quietly moved to Yukio's side om the sofa and sat down, leaning against her.
"Aunt Yukio~, can't we postpone the marriage? I'm not ready yet..." Roland buried his face in her soft buxom which filled his nose with her milky scent, while his voice dripping with feigned distress.
That's right, his irrational tactic was... the art of acting like a spoiled child!
Generally speaking, adults are powerless against a child's charm.
And wasn't Aunt Yukio particularly fond of him?
Then all he had to do was charm her directly. After all, having children wasn't something that needed to happen right away. If he played his cards right, he could surely soften her heart.
Haruno, who had witnessed the entire exchange, thought to herself, I don't know if Mother's heart will soften, but mine is thoroughly disgusted!
Are you sure such a revolting tactic will work?
Mother is notoriously strict and domineering. How could she possibly...
Fine, I take it back.
Just as Haruno was convinced Roland's behavior was a waste of time, her mother actually relented! Her usually stern and dignified mother had fallen for this act?
Even you believed this obvious performance?
Haruno's lips twitched in disbelief. Just how much does Mother adore Roland?
"You..." Yukio gazed at Roland, who had buried his face in her embrace, his cuteness irresistible. Unable to resist his charm any longer, her tone softened. "I can't resist you. But you must get married immediately after graduating high school, understand?"
"I understand, thank you, Aunt Yukio~" Roland said, secretly delighted that things had worked out. He snuggled comfortably into her arms, eliciting a doting expression from Yukio.
This reaction wasn't surprising. After all, she was a mother, and it was impossible for her to lack maternal instincts entirely.
If her own daughter were to act as affectionately as Roland, she wouldn't hesitate to indulge her.
The problem was, could she even imagine her daughter behaving that way?
Yukio simply couldn't picture it.
So, she channeled all her maternal affection into her Little Roland. She hugged him tightly in return, savoring the moment. Since he had grown up, she rarely had the chance to hold him like this.
But more than the embrace itself, it was what was happening with his other hand that truly moved her.
Roland was undeniably greedy. Seeing how effective his affectionate tactics were with Aunt Yukio, he decided to seize the opportunity to complete a System mission.
Roland still had the "Affection Breakthrough Mission 1: Holding Hands (1/3)" to complete. He had already completed one iteration of this mission in Aunt Yukio's room, and he was now racking his brain for an excuse to intertwine his fingers with hers again.
Since acting cute seemed to be working, why not take this opportunity to advance the mission progress?
With this thought, Roland continued to act cute in Yukio's arms while secretly reaching for her hand behind Haruno's back. Under Yukio's surprised gaze, he once again slipped his fingers between hers, intertwining their hands.
Yukio: "..."
Yukio began to harbor doubts.
Could the reasons Roland had given for not wanting to marry Haruno so quickly be mere excuses? Was the real reason his fear that marriage to Haruno would prevent him from developing an inappropriate relationship with her?
Was that why he was hesitant to marry Haruno until he could gauge her true feelings?
Yukio wasn't certain of her suspicions, but she knew one thing...
After a moment's hesitation, she secretly tightened her grip on Roland's hand, hiding it from her daughter.
She didn't even know what she was doing anymore...