---
I was running.
No—
I was being chased.
"SAITO."
That voice.
Sweet.
Sharp.
Terrifying.
I turned around, and there she was.
**Aoi Kanzaki.**
Except… not the Aoi I knew.
She was wearing an elegant kimono, her hair perfectly styled, her smile calm and merciless. Behind her stood a massive mansion—*my* mansion—with banners hanging everywhere.
**WELCOME HOME, HUSBAND.**
My blood froze.
"N–no," I whispered, stepping back. "This isn't real."
She tilted her head. "Ara~? What's wrong, dear husband?"
I turned and tried to run, but my feet wouldn't move.
Chains suddenly wrapped around my arms.
"WHAT—?!"
Aoi clapped her hands once.
Instantly, a group of maids appeared out of nowhere.
"All right," she said pleasantly. "Today's schedule."
She pulled out a scroll.
"5:00 AM: Wake up husband."
"5:01 AM: Scold husband."
"5:02 AM: Make husband apologize."
"5:03 AM: Punish husband."
"WAIT WAIT WAIT—!"
She snapped her fingers.
A maid held up a wooden sword.
Another held a mop.
Another held… a marriage certificate the size of a door.
"You lost our kendo match," Aoi said sweetly. "So you'll clean the dojo. Naked."
"I NEVER AGREED TO THAT!"
She leaned closer, her eyes glowing dangerously.
"In marriage," she whispered, "everything is agreed."
Suddenly, the scene shifted.
I was kneeling in a dojo.
Wearing an apron.
While Aoi sat on a throne made of kendo armor.
"Again," she said lazily. "Say it."
I clenched my teeth. "I… I'm sorry…"
"Louder."
"I'M SORRY, MY WIFE."
The entire kendo club appeared, clapping.
"MINAGAWA GOT DOMINATED!"
"LOOK AT HIM!"
"CAPTAIN'S WIFE IS SCARY!"
"NOOOOO—!"
Aoi stood up, walked toward me, and lifted my chin with her shinai.
"You belong to me now."
Her smile widened.
"And you'll call me *Master*."
"AAAAAAAA—!"
---
I shot upright in bed.
My sheets were soaked.
My heart was pounding like it was trying to escape my chest.
"…It was a dream," I muttered.
A nightmare.
A ridiculous, humiliating, horrifying nightmare.
I wiped my face and stared at the ceiling.
"…There's no way," I said firmly. "There's absolutely no way I'm letting that happen."
Still—
My stomach twisted.
Because no matter how absurd it was…
The marriage part was real.
I got out of bed, took a shower, and tried to calm myself down.
*Three days*, I thought.
*This is the first.*
---
At breakfast, my parents acted like nothing had happened.
My mother hummed softly while pouring tea.
My father read the newspaper.
No mention of ultimatums.
No mention of marriage.
That somehow made it worse.
I left the house early.
---
At school, everything felt… off.
I spotted Aoi near the entrance.
She was surrounded by her usual group of friends, laughing softly.
For a moment, my chest tightened.
I remembered her pale face.
The fear.
I stepped forward.
"Kanzaki."
She didn't react.
"Aoi," I tried again.
She walked past me.
As if I wasn't there.
"…Oi."
Nothing.
Students glanced at us.
I turned around, confused.
She was already gone.
"…What the hell?"
---
In class, I sat behind her.
Perfect chance.
She dropped her pen.
I picked it up and leaned forward.
"Hey. You dropped—"
She took it without looking at me.
No "thanks."
No reaction.
I frowned.
"Kanzaki, about yesterday—"
She stood up.
"Sensei," she said calmly, "may I change seats? I'm having trouble concentrating."
The teacher blinked. "Ah… sure."
She moved.
Far.
Away from me.
My chest felt strangely tight.
---
During lunch, I tried again.
She sat with her friends.
I approached.
"Kanzaki, we need to talk."
One of her friends looked at me awkwardly.
Aoi stood up.
She walked away.
Didn't even spare me a glance.
"…She's ignoring you hard," Ryo whispered beside me.
"No kidding," Takeshi muttered.
I clenched my fists.
---
By the time club activities started, my patience was gone.
The kendo hall was silent.
Aoi stood on the opposite side, adjusting her armor.
She didn't look at me.
Not once.
This wasn't rivalry.
This was rejection.
The kind that hurt more than insults.
"Uh…" one of the first-years spoke up. "Captain candidates… are you two okay?"
Silence.
Aoi tied her men tightly.
I stared at her back.
"…We're fine," I said.
She said nothing.
We trained.
Swords clashed.
Harder than usual.
Angrier.
Every strike felt like it carried words we refused to say.
After practice, everyone left quietly.
Only the two of us remained.
I took a step forward.
"Kanzaki."
She froze.
But didn't turn around.
"Yesterday," I said slowly, "what your parents told you—"
She spun around.
Her eyes were cold.
"Don't."
"…What?"
"Don't talk to me," she said flatly. "Not here. Not at school."
I swallowed.
"Are you—"
"I said don't."
She walked past me.
Again.
Left alone in the dojo, I clenched my fists so hard they hurt.
---
That night, I couldn't sleep.
Her silence was heavier than any argument.
And I had a feeling—
This was only the beginning.
---
The second day began with silence.
Not the peaceful kind.
The suffocating kind.
I stared at the ceiling, fully awake long before my alarm rang. My body felt heavy, as if gravity itself had doubled overnight.
*Day two.*
One day left after this.
I sat up slowly, rubbing my face.
That stupid dream from yesterday still clung to my mind like a bad joke that refused to fade. Every time I closed my eyes, I could still see her smile. That calm, merciless smile.
*Get a grip,* I told myself.
This wasn't about nightmares.
This was about reality.
---
Breakfast was quiet.
Too quiet.
My mother placed a plate in front of me. "Eat. You'll need your strength."
Her tone was gentle. Almost caring.
It made my skin crawl.
My father folded his newspaper and glanced at me. "School. Club. Come straight home after."
I looked up. "Why?"
He smiled faintly. "Because time is precious."
I clenched my jaw but said nothing.
They were enjoying this.
That much was clear.
---
At school, I searched for her without meaning to.
Then pretended I wasn't.
Aoi Kanzaki stood near the shoe lockers, talking with a teacher. Perfect posture. Calm expression. As composed as ever.
She didn't look at me.
Not once.
*Fine,* I thought bitterly. *If that's how you want it.*
Except—
That wasn't true.
Because the moment she walked past me again, without even acknowledging my existence, something twisted painfully in my chest.
It shouldn't hurt.
We weren't friends.
We weren't close.
We were rivals.
So why did it feel like being erased?
---
In class, I tried to focus.
I really did.
But every time I glanced forward, all I saw was the empty seat where she used to sit. She had moved again. Further away.
As if distance alone could solve everything.
The teacher droned on about economics, but my mind drifted.
*The Minagawa Group.*
I remembered my first visit to headquarters.
The height of the building.
The smell of polished floors.
The way everyone straightened their backs when my father passed.
I remembered standing beside him, feeling small—but proud.
*One day,* I had thought, *I'll stand here too.*
That dream had shaped me.
Disciplined me.
And now—
I clenched my pen so tightly it snapped.
"…Minagawa?"
I blinked. "Yes?"
The teacher frowned. "Are you listening?"
"Yes," I lied.
I wasn't.
All I could think about was the choice waiting for me.
Marriage…
Or everything I'd worked for.
---
During lunch, Ryo nudged me.
"You look like hell," he said. "Did you two finally murder each other?"
I forced a smile. "Something like that."
Takeshi studied me more carefully. "This isn't normal. You two aren't fighting. That's worse."
Across the cafeteria, Aoi sat with her friends.
Laughing.
Eating.
Living.
Like nothing was wrong.
I stood up before I could stop myself.
Ryo grabbed my sleeve. "Oi. Don't."
I ignored him and walked toward her table.
"Aoi."
She stiffened.
Her friends fell silent.
"…We need to talk," I said quietly.
She didn't look at me.
One of her friends spoke nervously. "Uh… Kanzaki?"
Aoi stood up.
She bowed politely—to them.
Then walked away.
Just like that.
My hands trembled.
Not with anger.
With helplessness.
---
Kendo practice that afternoon was brutal.
No one said it out loud, but everyone felt it.
The air was tense. Heavy.
Aoi fought harder than usual. Faster. Sharper. Like she was trying to drown something out.
Every time our shinai clashed, sparks seemed to fly.
Not from bamboo—
From everything we weren't saying.
"Stop," the instructor barked eventually. "You'll injure each other."
We stepped back, breathing heavily.
I looked at her.
For just a second—
Her eyes met mine.
There it was.
Fear.
Gone as quickly as it appeared.
She turned away.
After practice, the others hesitated near the exit.
"Captain candidates," one of the second-years said carefully, "if something's wrong… you can talk to us."
Aoi bowed slightly. "Thank you. But it's personal."
I nodded. "Yeah."
They left.
The door slid shut.
We were alone.
Again.
---
The silence stretched.
I broke it.
"Is ignoring me really easier?"
She didn't answer.
"Aoi."
Her shoulders tensed.
"I know something happened yesterday," I continued. "Our parents—"
"Stop."
Her voice was sharp.
I took a step closer. "I'm not your enemy."
She finally turned around.
Her eyes were cold—but tired.
"Don't pretend you understand," she said quietly.
"…Then help me understand."
She laughed.
A short, humorless laugh.
"You can't," she said. "Because if you did, you'd hate me."
That made no sense.
"Try me."
She looked away.
"…Just stay out of my way," she muttered.
She grabbed her bag and left.
Leaving me behind with more questions than answers.
---
That night, I walked home instead of taking the train.
The city lights blurred as I walked aimlessly.
*What did they tell her?*
My parents threatened my future.
What did hers threaten?
Reputation?
Freedom?
Something worse?
I remembered her pale face.
That wasn't anger.
That was someone cornered.
---
At home, my parents were waiting.
My father gestured to the sofa. "Sit."
I didn't.
"I need time," I said.
My mother tilted her head. "You have time. One day."
"Why her?" I demanded. "Why not someone else?"
My father's smile returned.
"Because the Kanzaki family is the perfect partner."
"And because," my mother added softly, "you're both strong."
I laughed bitterly. "This isn't strength. This is control."
Neither denied it.
That night, sleep refused to come.
I lay awake, staring into the darkness.
*Tomorrow.*
*The third day.*
The last day.
---
Morning came too fast.
At school, the atmosphere felt different.
Heavier.
As if the countdown had reached its final seconds.
Aoi avoided me completely.
Not even a glance.
But—
For the first time—
I noticed something.
Her hands were shaking.
Just slightly.
---
The final bell rang.
Club activities were canceled.
Too many teachers busy.
As if the world itself wanted to push us forward.
At sunset, I stood before my house.
The same house.
But it felt different.
Like a battlefield.
I took a deep breath and stepped inside.
---
The living room was already prepared.
Tea served.
Seats arranged.
Aoi was there.
Standing.
So was I.
Our parents sat calmly, waiting.
The same four smiles greeted us.
"Have you decided?" my father asked.
Silence.
Aoi clenched her fists.
I swallowed.
The weight pressed down on my lungs.
I looked at her.
She looked at me.
For the first time in days—
We really looked at each other.
No rivalry.
No pride.
Just two people cornered by fate.
I opened my mouth.
She did too.
And—
"I accept the marriage."
"I accept the marriage."
Our voices overlapped.
Perfectly synchronized.
The room fell silent.
And just like that—
Everything changed.
---
For a moment, no one spoke.
Our words still hung in the air, heavy and irreversible.
*I accept the marriage.*
I felt it the second the sentence left my mouth.
That subtle, terrifying shift—
the point where there was no turning back.
Across from us, the adults reacted exactly as I feared they would.
They smiled.
Not wide.
Not openly joyful.
But satisfied.
Like players who had just checkmated their opponents.
My father exhaled slowly, as if he had been holding his breath for days. "Good."
That single word made my stomach churn.
Aoi stood rigid beside me. Her face was expressionless, almost empty, but her hands were clenched so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.
My mother clasped her hands together. "I knew you'd make the right decision."
*Right for whom?* I wanted to ask.
Aoi's mother stood up gracefully. "Then we can proceed."
"Proceed?" I echoed.
My father nodded. "There are formalities. Living arrangements. Announcements."
Aoi finally reacted. "Wait."
Her voice was calm, but I could hear the strain beneath it.
"We said we accept the marriage," she said slowly. "Not that we accept everything else."
For a split second, I thought—
*Good. She's pushing back.*
Then her father spoke.
"Of course," he said gently. "But marriage is not a part-time commitment."
Aoi stiffened.
My mother continued, unfazed. "Starting next week, you'll begin preparations."
"Next week?" I snapped. "That's—"
"Plenty of time," my father cut in. "You've already wasted three days."
I clenched my fists.
This was happening too fast.
Too smoothly.
Like a machine that had been waiting for this exact moment to start moving.
Aoi turned her head slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. "What about school?"
"You'll continue as usual," her mother replied. "Discretion is important."
Discretion.
So that was the plan.
Tie us together quietly.
Let the bond solidify before we could even understand it.
My father looked at me. "You'll move in together."
My heart skipped.
"…What?"
Aoi's head snapped up. "That wasn't discussed."
My mother smiled politely. "It's only natural for an engaged couple."
"That's insane," I said. "We're students."
"And heirs," my father corrected.
The word echoed painfully.
Aoi's parents exchanged a glance.
Her mother spoke softly. "We'll arrange a suitable residence. Neutral ground."
Aoi looked down.
She didn't argue.
That silence scared me more than any protest.
---
The meeting ended shortly after.
No celebration.
No congratulations.
Just decisions being stacked on top of decisions, crushing everything beneath them.
When the parents finally left the room to "discuss logistics," Aoi and I were left alone.
The door slid shut.
Silence rushed in.
I exhaled shakily. "So… that's it."
She didn't answer.
"Aoi."
She turned away.
"…You didn't have to say yes," I said quietly. "If you'd refused, I would've—"
She laughed.
Not loud.
Not amused.
Bitter.
"And do what?" she asked. "Sacrifice your future?"
I frowned. "You don't know that."
She faced me then.
Her eyes were sharp—but wounded.
"I know exactly what they were holding over you," she said. "Because they did the same to me."
My chest tightened. "What did they say?"
She hesitated.
Then shook her head. "It doesn't matter."
"It does to me."
She stared at me for a long moment, as if weighing something.
"…They told me," she said slowly, "that if I refused, they'd destroy everything I've built."
My breath caught.
"Everything?"
"My reputation. My career. My freedom," she replied flatly. "They reminded me who controls my life."
I clenched my teeth.
So that was it.
Different threats.
Same cage.
"I didn't say yes because I wanted to," she continued. "I said yes because I was cornered."
"…Me too."
Our eyes met.
For the first time, there was no hostility there.
Just understanding.
It was strange.
Uncomfortable.
Dangerous.
She looked away first. "Don't misunderstand."
"I'm not."
"This changes nothing between us," she said firmly. "We're still rivals."
I almost smiled.
"Good," I replied. "I'd be worried if you suddenly became nice."
She scoffed.
Then—
Something cracked.
Her shoulders slumped slightly.
Just for a second.
"…I'm scared," she admitted quietly.
The words hit me harder than I expected.
I swallowed. "Yeah."
"Me too."
---
That night, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Engaged.
The word felt unreal.
Every plan I'd made—
every future I'd imagined—
had been rewritten in a single sentence.
*I accept the marriage.*
I turned onto my side.
Somewhere, in another house, Aoi Kanzaki was probably doing the same thing.
Thinking.
Regretting.
Preparing.
The idea unsettled me.
---
The next morning, the news spread faster than expected.
Not officially.
But rumors didn't need announcements.
Whispers followed us through the hallways.
"Did you hear…?"
"Minagawa and Kanzaki…?"
"No way."
At lunch, Ryo stared at me like I'd grown a second head.
"…Engaged?" he repeated.
I sighed. "It's complicated."
Takeshi leaned back. "That's an understatement."
Across the cafeteria, Aoi sat stiffly, ignoring everyone.
Ignoring me.
But this time—
It felt different.
Not rejection.
Distance.
Deliberate.
---
Kendo practice that day was canceled.
A message from the instructor cited "personal matters."
I knew what that meant.
They didn't want us near each other.
Didn't trust what might happen.
At sunset, I received a message.
**Unknown Number:** *Tomorrow. 7 PM. We need to talk.*
My heart skipped.
I knew who it was.
---
That evening, my parents called me into the study.
My father folded his hands. "Now that you've accepted, there are expectations."
Of course there were.
"You'll begin learning joint operations with the Kanzaki Group," he continued. "Public appearances will come later."
My mother smiled. "You did well."
I felt sick.
Afterward, I locked myself in my room.
I stared at my phone.
At that message.
*We need to talk.*
I typed a reply.
**Me:** *Fine.*
---
The next day passed in a blur.
At 6:55 PM, I stood at the designated location.
A quiet park near the river.
Neutral ground.
Aoi arrived exactly on time.
She stopped a few steps away.
The air between us was tense—but not hostile.
"So," I said. "We're really doing this."
She crossed her arms. "Looks like it."
I hesitated.
Then spoke honestly.
"We don't have to be enemies," I said. "Not anymore."
She studied me carefully.
"…Don't push your luck."
I smiled faintly. "Worth a try."
She sighed.
"This doesn't mean I forgive you," she added.
"For what?"
"For existing," she replied flatly.
I laughed.
Despite everything.
Despite the pressure.
The fear.
The future looming over us—
I laughed.
She blinked, startled.
"…Idiot."
But—
She didn't look away.
And for the first time since that nightmare—
I wondered if this forced beginning might lead somewhere unexpected.
---
The third day ended faster than Haruto expected.
Too fast.
The sun was already setting when the final bell rang, painting the classroom in shades of orange and gold. Students rushed out, laughing, complaining, making plans for dinner or games. To them, it was just another normal day.
To Haruto, it felt like the countdown to an execution.
Three days.
That was what their parents had given them.
And now… time was up.
Haruto stood up slowly, his bag hanging heavily from his shoulder. His eyes moved on their own, betraying him, searching for her.
Aoi Kanzaki.
She was still seated, calmly putting her notebook into her bag, her movements precise and elegant as always. Her long dark hair reflected the fading sunlight, making her look unreal—like a character who didn't belong to the same anxious world as him.
She hadn't looked at him once all day.
Not in the morning.
Not in class.
Not during lunch.
Not even at kendo practice.
And yet, somehow… Haruto felt like she was more aware of him than ever.
As if she was deliberately pretending he didn't exist.
"Haruto."
He flinched.
It was Riku, his best friend, standing beside his desk with a worried expression.
"You okay, man? You've been spacing out nonstop these past few days."
"I'm fine," Haruto replied automatically.
Riku didn't buy it.
"Yeah, sure. And I'm the emperor of Japan," he muttered. Then his gaze shifted toward Aoi's desk. "This about Kanzaki?"
Haruto stiffened.
"…Don't."
Riku sighed. "You know people are talking, right? You two have been acting weird. Even during kendo. You didn't yell at each other once."
That alone was suspicious.
Haruto forced a weak smile. "We just… needed a break."
Riku studied him for a moment, then raised his hands. "Alright, alright. I won't pry. But whatever it is—don't let it eat you alive."
If only it were that simple.
As Haruto left the classroom, he felt it.
A presence.
He turned.
Aoi was standing at the door.
For the first time that day, their eyes met.
The world seemed to freeze.
Her expression was unreadable—calm, composed, but her eyes… her eyes trembled, just slightly.
Haruto opened his mouth.
"Aoi—"
She walked past him.
No words.
No glance back.
Only the faint scent of her shampoo remained in the air.
"…Damn it," he whispered.
---
### **That Evening – Haruto's House**
The atmosphere at home was suffocating.
Haruto sat on the sofa, his back straight, his hands clenched tightly on his knees. Across from him, his parents sat side by side, smiling.
Too much.
That same smile.
The one that wasn't warm.
The one that didn't reach their eyes.
Beside them sat Aoi and her parents.
Aoi was perfectly still, her posture flawless, her hands folded on her lap. She looked like a porcelain doll—beautiful, fragile, and terrifyingly silent.
Haruto swallowed.
This was it.
No more delays.
No more pretending.
No more running.
"Haruto," his father began calmly, adjusting his glasses. "The three days are over."
"I know," Haruto replied, his voice hoarse.
Aoi's mother chuckled softly. "My, my… time flies when young people are suffering, doesn't it?"
Aoi didn't react.
Her father leaned forward slightly. "So? Have you come to a decision?"
Silence.
The clock on the wall ticked loudly.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Haruto felt sweat trickle down his back.
His dream flashed before his eyes.
The Kanzaki-Tachibana Corporation.
A business empire built over generations. Thousands of employees. Influence, power, responsibility.
Ever since he was a child, Haruto had dreamed of standing at the top—not for money, not for fame, but to prove himself. To show that he wasn't just a timid boy hiding behind his parents' shadow.
He clenched his teeth.
"…Before that," he said suddenly, "I want to ask something."
All eyes turned to him.
He stood up and looked directly at Aoi.
"For these three days… why did you ignore me?"
Aoi's fingers twitched.
The room fell silent.
Slowly, she raised her eyes to meet his.
"…Because," she said quietly, "if I talked to you, I might have made a decision I'd regret."
Haruto's breath caught.
Her parents exchanged glances, amused.
"And what decision would that be?" Haruto asked.
Aoi hesitated.
For the first time, her composure cracked.
"…Running away," she admitted.
Haruto's heart clenched.
Aoi stood up.
"I hate being controlled," she continued, her voice shaking despite her efforts. "I hate being told what my future will be. I hate that my life was decided before I even had a chance to choose."
Her parents watched silently.
"I tried to hate you," she said, looking straight at Haruto. "It would've been easier if I did. But no matter how much we fight… you're honest. You don't look down on me. You don't treat me like an object."
Haruto felt his chest tighten.
"I was scared," Aoi whispered. "Scared that… if I thought about it seriously… I wouldn't be able to say no."
Silence engulfed the room.
Haruto took a deep breath.
He stepped forward.
"I was scared too," he said. "I imagined the worst. You yelling at me every day. Ordering me around. Turning my life into hell."
Aoi blinked.
"…I'm not that bad."
He let out a weak laugh. "Yeah. I figured that out."
Their eyes locked.
In that moment, something unspoken passed between them—an understanding forged through conflict, fear, and stubborn pride.
Their parents leaned forward.
"So?" Haruto's mother asked sweetly. "What is your answer?"
Aoi's parents smiled.
That same smile.
Haruto felt his legs tremble.
He remembered his dream.
He remembered his fear.
He remembered her eyes at the classroom door.
He looked at Aoi.
She looked at him.
They inhaled at the same time.
"I—"
"I—"
They froze.
Then, as if guided by fate—
"I accept the marriage."
"I accept the marriage."
The words overlapped perfectly.
The room erupted.
"Wonderful!"
"As expected!"
"This will strengthen both families!"
Their parents stood, applauding as if they had just watched a successful business deal.
Haruto and Aoi stood frozen, staring at each other.
"…You said it too," Haruto muttered.
"…You did as well," Aoi replied.
Their faces slowly turned red.
Neither of them smiled.
But neither of them looked away.
Somewhere deep inside, beneath fear and pride, something new had begun.
Something neither of them could stop anymore.
---