After the barbecue party ended, Mira Tsubakihara reluctantly drove Akane and the others home.
Unlike Saki Yoshida, Tosaka Fuyuka did not follow Kazuma. Instead, she returned to her own home—a large, once-impressive mansion. However, aside from the house itself, little remained of the Tosaka family's former glory.
"You're back?"
"Mother…"
Under the night sky in the courtyard, Tosaka Fuyuka rushed into her mother's arms the moment she saw her. Surprised by her daughter's sudden affection, her mother smiled gently. "It seems you've been doing well these past few days, Fuyuka. You've changed."
In the past, Fuyuka would never have expressed her feelings so openly. She would have kept everything buried deep inside. Now, her weary mother could clearly sense the change in her.
"It's alright. I've made some friends," Fuyuka said softly.
"A friend of the opposite sex? The last person who called sounded like a boy," her mother teased lightly.
"Mm."
After chatting for a while longer, her mother gently urged her upstairs. "Get some rest, Fuyuka. We'll have guests tomorrow, so wake up early."
"Guests?"
"They're from the Takahara family," her mother explained. "The head of the Takahara family was close to your father. He's willing to help us through this difficult time and will come tomorrow to discuss it. The third son of the Takahara family will be coming as well. You two used to play together when you were children—you were childhood friends. Do you remember him? The boy named Yuuma."
Takahara Yuma?
Tosaka Fuyuka frowned slightly. She remembered him vaguely, but nothing clearly.
They had practiced kendo together when they were young, but beyond that, there were no special memories. If her mother hadn't mentioned it, she might not have remembered him at all. Later that night, after taking a shower and returning to her room, Fuyuka still felt distracted.
She should have felt relieved that the Takahara family might help them through this difficult time, yet for some reason, a faint uneasiness lingered in her heart.
Instead of going to bed, she sat at her desk and opened her diary.
The next morning, Tosaka-senpai woke up early and changed into a kimono reserved for formal occasions. She and her mother sat together in the reception room to meet the Takahara family. Sitting beside his father was Takahara Yuma.
She still vaguely remembered what he looked like. Her mother was right — they had been childhood friends. But that was all. Tosaka Fuyuka felt no special affection toward him.
On the contrary, Takahara Yuma blushed after sneaking a couple of glances at her.
Tosaka Fuyuka shifted her attention to Takahara Yuma's father, the head of the Takahara family, who was conversing with her mother. She remembered him as well. Like her own father, he was skilled in swordsmanship, and she had seen him many times at the dojo.
They were not strangers.
Even so, the girl frowned slightly. A vague sense of discomfort crept into her heart. The way the man looked at her felt strange, making her feel uneasy and instinctively repulsed. She had never experienced such a feeling before, yet this time it was unusually strong.
Is it because of what happened between Akane Nanao and Coach Tougou that I've become more sensitive than before?
"It's been a long time. Miss Tosaka has grown even more beautiful," the head of the Takahara family said, suddenly turning toward her. "You still remember Yuma, don't you? You used to play and practice kendo together."
"Um… I remember. Miss Tosaka, hello," Takahara Yuma said, sounding both nervous and excited. His gaze held an unmistakable admiration, as though he were captivated by her beauty and composure.
Tosaka Fuyuka, however, remained calm. She showed little reaction to his emotions and simply nodded politely.
"Lady Tosaka, our Takahara family can help resolve your debts — and any other troubles as well," the head of the Takahara family said, withdrawing his gaze. After a brief pause, he continued, "However, I have one condition."
Tosaka Fuyuka was momentarily stunned, but her mother had already anticipated this. Even a family with close ties would not offer help without reason. She had prepared herself for such a request.
"Please go ahead."
"It's not a difficult condition. I hope to marry your daughter to my son," the man said with a smile.
Silence filled the room.
Tosaka Fuyuka's pupils shrank, her breath catching in her throat. What did he just say?
Beside him, Takahara Yuma was equally stunned — and delighted. His father intended to arrange a marriage? He had already held a favorable impression of Tosaka Fuyuka, and her beauty and temperament had only deepened it.
Naturally, he was willing.
"In a sense, this would be a marriage alliance. If Miss Tosaka marries into the Takahara family, we will become relatives. The Takahara family will naturally do everything in our power to help you. Besides, my son and Miss Tosaka have known each other since childhood. Childhood sweethearts, perhaps even mutual feelings — a match made in heaven. Isn't it perfect?"
Tosaka Fuyuka quietly clenched her fists beneath her sleeves. Seeing her mother fall into deep thought made her heart grow cold. Marry into the Takahara family? Childhood sweethearts? She felt nothing of the sort.
She wanted to refuse.
Yet the moment she tried to speak, thoughts of her mother's hardships and the family's dire situation surfaced in her mind. Should she allow herself to be selfish just this once? This marriage could resolve the family's crisis, but she didn't know what to do. Without warning, Kazuma's figure appeared in her thoughts.
"Ka…"
The conversation continued.
"Fuyuka marrying into the Takahara family would indeed solve many problems," Mrs. Tosaka said slowly, nodding. She glanced at her daughter, who seemed to be enduring something, and hesitated. "But she's still in school…"
"That's not an issue. They can get engaged first," the head of the Takahara family replied with a smile. "My son is still studying as well. The wedding can wait until after graduation."
In Japan, it is not uncommon to marry or begin working after graduating from high school.
On the surface, it sounded like a flawless solution. Yet her daughter's reaction was clearly unusual, and as her mother, Mrs. Tosaka could not ignore it.
"Mr. Takahara, could you give us some time to consider?"
"Do you still have concerns? There's no need to hesitate — just say it."
The words were also directed at Tosaka Fuyuka. Feeling his gaze on her, she gently bit her lip and looked up, meeting her mother's concerned eyes. Warmth filled her chest, yet she still couldn't find the words. Seeing this, Mrs. Tosaka seemed to understand.
"The safety of the Tosaka family is important, but your happiness matters more, Fuyuka. I believe your father would think the same. You are our most precious treasure. Sacrificing you for the family would be putting things in the wrong order."
"Mother…"
Her nose stung, emotions threatening to overflow.
"I just didn't expect you to have already fallen in love," her mother said with a gentle smile. Her usually reserved daughter actually had someone she cared about. "Is it the boy we talked about on the phone last time?"
"Huh? I… like him?"
Did she really like him? Tosaka Fuyuka didn't know. She had no experience with love and understood little about it. She didn't even know what it meant to like someone. Yet Kazuma's image lingered constantly in her heart. She found herself thinking of him again and again, missing him without realizing it.
Is this what it feels like to like someone?
Meanwhile, the Takahara father and son had both grown displeased. Takahara Yuma, in particular, looked pale, as if struck by a heavy blow. Hearing that Tosaka Fuyuka already liked someone else made his chest tighten painfully.
"Madam, are you refusing?"
"If Fuyuka can accept Yuma, of course I wouldn't refuse. It is indeed a good proposal. But since she already has someone she likes, I cannot allow her to be unhappy as her mother."
"You like someone?" the man scoffed. "Is something so trivial more important than your family's survival?"
Sensing the aggressiveness in his tone, Mrs. Tosaka frowned, ready to respond. Before she could speak, however, the head of the Takahara family's phone suddenly rang. After answering, his expression shifted from confusion to shock, as though he had received unexpected news.
When he hung up, he gave Mrs. Tosaka a long, meaningful look. "I didn't expect you to be connected to that woman. It seems I've wasted my time."
The confusion did not last long. Soon after, Mrs. Tosaka received a call herself. When the woman introduced herself as Mira Tsubakihara, she was stunned.
"With that woman's involvement, it seems the Tosaka family's troubles will be resolved. Although we cannot become family, I hope our friendship can continue," the man said, realizing his goal was no longer achievable. "We'll take our leave now."
Takahara Yuma was still reeling from the sudden emotional upheaval. He truly liked his childhood friend, Tosaka Fuyuka, but seeing her resistance to the arranged marriage and learning that she already liked someone else left him feeling miserable.
In an instant, it felt as though he had fallen straight into hell.
He remained dazed even after leaving the Tosaka residence, until his father's cold voice cut through his thoughts.
"Useless."
Looking up, he met the terrifying gaze of the head of the Takahara family. Takahara Yuma did not dare to argue. He lowered his head, silent and shrinking into himself, his cowardly nature fully exposed. Deep down, he already understood that there was no longer any possibility between him and Miss Tosaka.
In the courtyard of the Tosaka residence, Fuyuka had already learned the whole story.
"Oh, it's Miss Mira."
"Fuyuka, you really gave your mother a pleasant surprise."
Mrs. Tohsaka looked at her daughter with a complicated expression.
No, this has nothing to do with me. Mira was probably helping for Kazuma's sake.
Even so, it still put her mind at ease.
"It's better not to marry him. That child has no opinions of his own and is completely controlled by his father. He wouldn't make a good husband," Mrs. Tohsaka said, shaking her head. "Touka, you won't live happily if you marry into that family."
She saw the situation clearly.
"However, you can bring your sweetheart home sometime so your mother can see what kind of person managed to make my daughter fall in love. If you want, Touka, you could even get married after graduation~."
Tosaka Fuyuka blushed, her heart beating faster under her mother's teasing. "Marriage and all that…"
That guy probably had no idea how many girls were already drawn to him.
The scene from last night resurfaced in Tosaka-senpai's mind.
A faint sense of melancholy filled her chest.
*****
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