Chapter 8 | “About the Future Ahead”
“Are you okay?”
Since Charlotte-san, who had been crying, started to calm down, I tried calling out to her.
After confirming that Charlotte-san gave a small nod, I wiped her tears with the handkerchief I had.
“Thank you, Akihito-kun.”
“No, as your boyfriend, it’s only natural I’d do this much.”
“Not that. I mean for supporting Lottie so much. The reason she’s able to look so happy now is thanks to you being there.”
That feels a little off to me.
I’ve also been incredibly supported by Charlotte-san.
If it’s not one-sided, but rather both of us supporting each other, that makes me happy.
“I was able to look forward because Charlotte-san was there for me, and just having her around makes me happy.”
When I answered like that, Charlotte-san blushed and looked down.
It seems she got embarrassed.
But since she tightly grabbed the sleeve of my clothes, I think she was happy.
“Hehe, what a nice relationship. Well then, before Kanon-chan arrives, let me talk about one more important thing. The reason I rushed to push you two together, even using forceful methods, which Akihito-kun has been wondering about—”
I had been curious about that, though I hadn’t put it into words.
It seems she saw through my concern from the flow of the conversation.
“So there really was some reason you had to hurry, huh?”
Even as I asked, I had one guess in mind.
The matter of the fiancée.
“Yeah, that’s where it all started. To be honest, Akihito-kun, I feel bad for you, but I was planning to entrust you to Kanon-chan.”
Saying that, Sophia-san looked up at the ceiling with a nostalgic expression.
“It was me who introduced you to Kanon-chan. When I had to leave Japan soon, I didn’t think it was right to leave you alone. So, I introduced you to Kanon-chan, who at the time wanted a little brother or sister.”
I met Kanon-san when I was practicing soccer in the park with a soccer ball Onee-san had bought me.
She had approached me back then as if she just happened to spot me—but that was the day after Onee-san left.
Yes, it was as if she appeared to take her place.
I hadn’t thought there was a connection, so I didn’t question it, but now that I think about it, it was all planned from the start.
“That said, I didn’t intend to leave everything about Akihito-kun to her from the beginning. Once you grew up and could speak English fluently, I planned to come pick you up. But—seeing Kanon-chan happily reporting about your recent life, I thought it’d be pitiful to take you away.”
When did I become able to speak English fluently?
I don’t quite remember, but by the time I entered middle school, I could handle everyday conversations without issue, I think.
The ones who helped me study were Kanon-san and Kaguya-san, and it was Kanon-san who prepared study materials so I could efficiently study on my own at the facility.
I had thought it was just a series of coincidences—but it turns out everything was guided.
They say when too many coincidences pile up, it’s no longer coincidence but inevitability, and that’s exactly right.
“I’m sorry for not keeping that promise. But to me, Kanon-chan was like a daughter too.”
“Like a daughter, huh…”
Sophia-san, talking about Kanon-san, indeed had the gentle face of a mother.
Kanon-san herself is only a year older than me and Charlotte-san, so watching her since she was young probably made her feel like a daughter.
“Well, from the flow of the conversation, I get that Kanon-san has known you since she was little… but does that mean the Bennett family had ties with the Himeragi family?”
“Yes, we’ve had ties since I was young.”
“…I didn’t have any, though…”
Charlotte-san reacted to Sophia-san’s words with a hint of dissatisfaction.
True, considering they had ties, it’s strange that Charlotte-san and Kanon-san didn’t meet until recently.
“All I can say is that a lot happened… For starters, Lottie didn’t even know I was a company president, right?”
“Uh… I didn’t know until just the other day, but last week at the hotel, I heard people calling you president, so I kind of figured it out…”
Last week would be when she met Kanon-san at the hotel.
Either Kanon-san or Kaguya-san must have called her President Bennett or something.
Not knowing until then means Sophia-san had been hiding it from her daughter.
“It feels like there’s a lot of complicated stuff going on, huh…”
“Well, you could say the current situation came about from all sorts of things getting tangled up.”
When I grumbled, Sophia-san laughed as if she couldn’t help it.
Really, just how many things are tangled up in this?
“Since I figure you’ll ask, I’ll say it upfront: I didn’t tell Lottie because I have no intention of making her president. No matter how you look at it, she’s not suited for it.”
“She’s an honest, good girl, after all.”
Charlotte-san pouted at her mother’s words, but I agree.
She has the ability to bring people together and is loved by subordinates—but she’d absolutely get tripped up.
Among those who climb the ranks by commanding others, there are people who deceive or look for weaknesses.
Above all, since she doesn’t doubt people, I can only imagine her getting tricked by bad guys.
“Besides, I wanted Lottie to freely do what she loves.”
“So you were planning to leave it to a relative?”
Or maybe to Emma-chan—but compared to that free-spirited girl who only opens up to family, Charlotte-san feels more suited for it.
“No, there are no relatives. The company itself is bigger than the Himeragi conglomerate’s, but it seems our family wasn’t blessed with many children. Even I was adopted.”
“—!”
That must have been news to Charlotte-san too.
Like me, she stared at her mother’s face in surprise.
Maybe Sophia-san took care of me because she saw herself in me.
“We’ll talk about that later. For now, it’s about you, Akihito-kun.”
Sophia-san smiled wryly while patting Charlotte-san’s head.
It’s an intriguing topic, but she’ll probably tell us another time.
—Knock, knock, knock.
Perhaps embarrassed to be seen getting patted by her mother, Charlotte-san was sneaking glances at me when the door was knocked on three times.
“May I come in?”
The clear voice belonged to the owner of this room.
“Of course, go ahead. Come in, Kanon-chan.”
“Pardon me.”
With permission granted, the door slowly opened.
Beyond it, Kaguya-san was holding the doorknob, while Kanon-san bowed in the center.
“How far have you gotten in your talk?”
Kanon-san walked in with refined steps and looked at Sophia-san while sitting on the sofa.
“We veered off track a bit, but I think I covered most of it. Though I haven’t talked about that matter yet.”
“I see. Then I’ll explain it myself. That’s the proper way, after all.”
I don’t know what “that matter” refers to, but it seems Kanon-san will take over the explanation from here.
“Yeah, I’ll leave it to you. Did things go well on your end?”
“Yes, mostly according to plan. Thanks to you, Onee-sama.”
“…”
Charlotte-san probably doesn’t like that her mother is being called Onee-sama by a girl around her age.
She’s staring at the two of them with a really complicated expression.
If I had a mom and someone else called her Onee-sama, I’d be pretty troubled too.
“Akihito, Charlotte-san. First, let me apologize. I’m sorry for dragging you around with our selfish ideas.”
Turning to us, Kanon-san gave a deep bow.
She shouldn’t have heard the conversation here, but her apology suggests it was part of the plan.
“N-No, um…! Don’t apologize…!”
Charlotte-san flailed her hands in a panic.
She’s probably not used to being apologized to by others.
“Please lift your head, Kanon-san. Both Charlotte-san and I understand that you were doing this for us.”
“Thank you, both of you.”
Unlike earlier, Kanon-san flashed a cute smile.
I could tell there was a hint of relief mixed into that smile.
She’s sharp, cultured, and mature, but she’s only a year older than us.
She must have been handling things without showing her own anxieties.
“Where to start—there’s a lot to say, but since you’ve heard most of it, I’ll keep it brief. It all began a few months ago—when the idea of finding a fiancée for Akihito came up.”
Kanon-san began speaking calmly.
That’s exactly what we were about to ask, so it’s perfect timing.
“I didn’t like that idea, so I asked Onee-sama for help.”
“I heard about the fiancée thing from President Himeragi a little while ago, but why did that come up so suddenly?”
A fiancée discussion popping up a few months ago feels oddly timed.
More importantly, I shouldn’t have been officially recognized as part of the Himeragi conglomerate yet.
It’s weird they’d even think of setting me up with a fiancée.
…Speaking of which, Charlotte-san’s giving me a look like she wants to say something. Oh, I never told her about this…
Well, she probably knows it got canceled after that exchange with President Himeragi, so it’s fine.
“Does Charlotte-san know about the quota you were given?”
“I briefly mentioned that I needed to earn a special recommendation to a certain university.”
“That’s good. I figured you wouldn’t have told her something like that.”
“Ugh…”
If I said I hadn’t told her until recently—would she get mad…?
“Why did that special recommendation become a condition…?”
Maybe it had been on her mind, because Charlotte-san asked hesitantly.
I looked at Kanon-san, and she nodded with a smile.
That must mean it’s okay to tell her.
“That recommendation is only given to students who achieve exceptional grades at a specific high school. That’s why they said if I could earn it, they’d recognize me as part of the Himeragi conglomerate.”
At our school, only one student every few years gets that recommendation—it’s that tough.
Even after thinking my promise with Onee-san wouldn’t come true, I kept studying hard for that reason.
I hurt and disappointed Kanon-san back in middle school, so as atonement, I wanted to at least join the Himeragi conglomerate and be of use to her.
“They didn’t need to test you like that…”
Charlotte-san lowered her eyes sadly.
She must feel sorry for me.
But it couldn’t be helped.
There’s no way that president would easily take in an orphan like me.
“But your grades up to this summer proved you’re capable, Akihito. You ranked in the single digits on the national mock exam, and the teachers gave you high praise too. They’d heard about your middle school grades as well, so there was a good chance you’d get the recommendation. That’s why they started preparing to bring you in.”
Surprisingly, even though that president said he wouldn’t acknowledge me, behind the scenes he recognized me as competent.
Was he saying that to keep me from getting cocky, or was it just his policy not to acknowledge me until results were final? Either way, it doesn’t matter now.
“And that led to the fiancée thing?”
“Yes. Political marriages are an effective way to grow a family. Since the family only had girls, they probably thought they couldn’t pass up using a boy like Akihito.”
That phrasing bothers me a bit.
As far as I know, Kanon-san’s an only child.
I’m curious why she specifically said “girls,” but maybe she just meant it as a clear gender distinction.
“Just to confirm, my fiancée is still being searched for and hasn’t been decided yet, right?”
If it’s not set, canceling it should be easy.
But if it’s already decided, it involves a third party, which could get tricky.
Kanon-san’s fiancée situation got messy too, after all.
“Right. Well, the most likely candidate was Charlotte-san, though.”
“…Huh?”
A totally unexpected statement came from Kanon-san, who smiled brightly.
Charlotte-san and I couldn’t help but look at each other.
“I thought someone as sharp as Akihito would’ve figured it out by now… You hadn’t noticed yet?”
Kanon-san looked like she was having a blast.
Sophia-san was covering her mouth, looking pleased too.
…Wait, then what was all our effort for…?
“W-What do you mean…?”
“To put it simply, the real reason we had Charlotte-san come to Japan was to make her Akihito’s fiancée.”
From the way she said “had her come,” Kanon-san must have been the one who called her.
Of course, it probably didn’t go directly to Charlotte-san but through Sophia-san.
She did say earlier she asked Sophia-san for help.
But then…
“It’s natural to be confused, but when the idea of finding Akihito a fiancée came up, I turned to Onee-sama. It was to stop Father from doing as he pleased and to keep Akihito’s freedom from being taken away.”
Kanon-san continued with a serious expression, addressing our confusion.
It doesn’t feel like a lie.
“The reason you didn’t tell us she was a fiancée candidate was because it wasn’t finalized—right…?”
“No, that’s not it. If that were the only reason, I would’ve told you she was one of the candidates.”
Kanon-san shook her head, denying my words.
It seems the reason the fiancée thing was hidden is tied to that too.
“The reason we didn’t say it was because we wanted you two to get close without our interference. We wanted you to fall for each other on your own terms and have a marriage you both wanted.”
So that’s why they were scheming behind the scenes.
Thanks to that, I’m dating Charlotte-san now, so I can’t really complain.
I should probably be grateful instead.
“I kind of get why Charlotte-san was the most likely candidate… but why wasn’t it finalized? Was it because of President Himeragi?”
Since this was before Charlotte-san came to Japan, the fiancée talk must have been going on for at least four months.
I don’t know how fast these things usually move, but since Kanon-san called her specifically for this and Sophia-san was on board, the only one I can think of who’d oppose it is President Himeragi.
“Exactly as you said, Akihito. After arriving in Japan, Onee-sama proposed to Father that Charlotte-san be your fiancée, but he didn’t agree.”
“Why not? A political marriage with a big family is what President Himeragi wants, right?”
“He was wary. Father has known Onee-sama for a long time and knows how sharp and capable she is. More importantly, he didn’t think she’d use her own daughter for a political marriage—so he was deeply suspicious. Plus, Onee-sama’s company is bigger in scale.”
Since it involves the fate of the company, he couldn’t accept it without understanding her intentions.
Especially if the other side is higher-ranking, it’s a natural judgment.
“But because of that, he couldn’t outright refuse either. They’ve been important business partners for a long time, and we’d be the ones in trouble if the deal fell apart.”
Kanon-san had whispered to me during my confrontation with President Himeragi that the Himeragi conglomerate was in a weaker position.
So that’s why the fiancée talk stalled…
I’m not too sharp on corporate power dynamics.
But the fact that President Himeragi didn’t brush off Sophia-san is proof of that.
President Himeragi must be in his late forties, so there’s about a decade’s age gap with Sophia-san, yet she still dominated the room.
“Does that mean if we’d just stayed quiet, I could’ve lived with Charlotte-san without any issues…?”
Since Charlotte-san was the top candidate, I can’t shake the feeling I might’ve done something unnecessary.
But Kanon-san shook her head.
“No, even if things went as we planned, there’s a high chance you’d have ended up as Father’s puppet, Akihito. Plus, it’s entirely possible he’d have found another candidate besides Charlotte-san. So I think the actions you took were right. That’s why Onee-sama and I lent a hand.”
True, if I was doing something unnecessary, Kanon-san would’ve stopped me.
Charlotte-san and Kanon-san are equally kind, but while Charlotte-san affirms everything I do, Kanon-san would stop me if she thought it was wrong.
They’re similar, but their ways of thinking are different.
Well, Charlotte-san’s my girlfriend, and Kanon-san’s more like a big sister.
That relationship dynamic might play a part too.
“Thank you…”
“There’s no need to thank me. It’s because you worked hard, Akihito. Really… including Charlotte-san’s part, you did great.”
Kanon-san looked at me with the eyes of a sister proud of her brother’s growth, filled with emotion.
It’s getting kind of embarrassing.
“Now, we’ve talked about a lot—but Akihito, what do you want to do from here?”
After wiping her eyes with a handkerchief, Kanon-san asked me about the future.
“What do I want to do…?”
“Since Father’s no longer involved, you’re free now, Akihito. You won’t be monitored anymore. If you want to join the Himeragi family, you can; if not, you’re free to live as you please. Of course, the Himeragi conglomerate will support you for free until you get a job. That much atonement is necessary.”
It seems there’s an option not to join the Himeragi conglomerate.
Conversely, if I say I want in, they’ll accept me even without meeting the quota.
But hold on a second—
What did she just say…?
“I was being monitored…?”
“Ah, well, let’s put that aside for now.”
When I poked at the part that caught my attention, Kanon-san tried to change the subject with a smile.
I’m starting to sweat even more uncomfortably.
“Since when was I being monitored…?”
I never noticed I was being watched until now.
Since when, and how much did they see—honestly, I can’t stop the cold sweat.
“Well, from the beginning, I suppose.”
Kanon-san gave up and answered while looking away.
The beginning—where does that even start…?
“You mean since I became a high schooler?”
“No, since you started living with me.”
“…”
Everyone has things they don’t want others to know.
Even I have tons of private stuff I’d rather keep hidden.
Thinking that all of it was watched and reported to Kanon-san—there’s nothing but despair.
Even my dates with Charlotte-san were seen, weren’t they?
“They’ve stopped now, right…?”
“As I said earlier, of course we’ll make them stop. I think it’s unnecessary, and privacy matters.”
If that’s the case… maybe it’s just barely safe?
No, it’s still pretty despair-inducing.
“O-Okay. Let’s leave that for later…”
I didn’t want to dig deeper myself, so I decided to switch gears.
I’ll just believe they only watched me outside and not inside the house.
I have to believe that.
“Let me answer your earlier question. Before deciding whether to join the Himeragi conglomerate, I want to stay with Charlotte-san forever from now on.”
“Ah, Akihito-kun…!”
When I shared my honest feelings, Charlotte-san, listening beside me, blushed happily.
She casually held my hand, so she must be really pleased.
“Hehe, that’s wonderful.”
“We’re rooting for you two.”
Kanon-san and Sophia-san watched us with satisfied expressions.
There’s probably no one left to tear us apart now.
“As for whether I join the Himeragi conglomerate, could you tell me what you think first, Kanon-san?”
Even if the situation’s changed, my feelings haven’t.
But I wanted to know what Kanon-san thought.
“I…”
Kanon-san glanced sideways at Sophia-san.
Meeting her gaze, Sophia-san nodded with a smile.
That must have solidified her resolve.
Kanon-san looked straight at me with steady eyes.
“I’d like you to officially join the Himeragi family and become my little brother.”
It seems our feelings aren’t at odds.
“I also want to join the Himeragi conglomerate to be of use to you, Kanon-san. Changing my family name now would complicate things again, so I’d like to do it after graduation.”
I honestly shared my feelings and bowed deeply.
Then Kanon-san reached out to me.
“Finally… we can truly be siblings now…”
With happy tears in her eyes, Kanon-san hugged me tightly.
Charlotte-san froze beside me, and Kaguya-san glared at me intensely from across the room, but I don’t think I did anything wrong.
“Um, Kanon-san… in front of everyone…”
“You don’t have to be shy anymore—well, I can’t say that. You’ve got a girlfriend, after all.”
Kanon-san must have noticed Charlotte-san’s reaction too.
She let go of me with a troubled smile.
Looking at Charlotte-san, she was alternating between our clasped hands and me, as if wrestling with something.
It’s a little embarrassing, but…
“You don’t have to hold back.”
“Ah…”
When I gently pulled her close, a warm breath escaped Charlotte-san’s lips.
“Oh my, oh my.”
“Pretty bold.”
It’s embarrassing to be seen by her mom and my sister-figure, but since I’ve put a lot of emotional strain on Charlotte-san lately, I’ll accept this much.
They’re both smiling at us anyway.
“Should we step out if we’re in the way?”
“N-No, you don’t need to go that far…!”
I let Charlotte-san go slowly while responding to Kanon-san’s teasing.
Charlotte-san gave me a look that seemed reluctant—almost lonely—but I plan to spoil her a ton when we get home.
“Then, shall we move things along so Charlotte-san can pamper Akihito sooner?”
“—!?”
When Kanon-san said that with a smile, Charlotte-san blushed so hard it was like a BOOM! sound effect might pop up as she looked down.
She loves teasing people too…
“Oh, there’s one thing I’d like to bring up too. Is that okay?”
So far, Sophia-san and Kanon-san had been doing most of the talking, but there’s something I really want to confirm.
“Of course, go ahead. What is it?”
“Charlotte-san and I are already dating. The issue with President Himeragi is settled too, so from now on, Sophia-san, you’ll go back home properly, right?”
I understand why Sophia-san hadn’t been going home.
And from what I’ve heard, there’s no reason for her to stay away anymore.
It’ll mean the end of living with Charlotte-san, but it’s probably better for them to live with their mom.
“Of course, I plan to go back from now on.”
“Thank you.”
This is how it should be.
We’re neighbors anyway, so I can see Charlotte-san and Emma-chan anytime.
—Or so I thought…
“So, here’s my suggestion: how about you live with us too, Akihito-kun?”
Sophia-san dropped a bombshell proposal.
“A-Are you serious…?”
“If I start going back, Lottie and Akihito-kun’s time living together will end, and that’d be a shame. Plus, I want to fulfill the promise I made to you long ago.”
She casually let slip that she knew we were living together, but I’ll set that aside for now.
It seems she’s seriously considering having me live with them.
But—is it okay to rely on them that much…?
“Either way, Akihito’s officially my little brother now, so I’ll be living with him too.”
“Huh!?”
As I was hesitating, Kanon-san dropped another bombshell with a smile.
Even if we’re proper siblings now, we’re not blood-related.
Living under the same roof—couldn’t that lead to some mistakes? Is that even allowed…?
Sophia-san’s grinning ear to ear, though.
“Ah, Akihito-kun, no way…!? You can’t live alone with her, no way…!”
And then jealous Charlotte-san started tugging at my clothes with teary eyes.
She must think Kanon-san’s going to steal me away.
If Kanon-san comes, Kaguya-san’s 100% coming too, but Charlotte-san doesn’t get that…
“Live with us…!? We’re lovers, so there shouldn’t be any problem…!”
Charlotte-san said that, looking at me with pleading eyes.
Kanon-san probably isn’t joking.
If she decides to live with me, she’ll make it happen no matter what.
That’d put emotional strain on Charlotte-san and might cause unnecessary misunderstandings.
More than anything, I didn’t want to let go of the life I’ve been living with Charlotte-san.
“Then… Sophia-san, I’ll take you up on your offer.”
And so, I decided to live with the Bennett family and Kanon-san.
“Yes, I think that’s the best option.”
“Right, that settles it. The house is already prepared, so let’s move in tomorrow.”
“…Huh, we’re moving?”
I couldn’t help but ask about the casual remark that caught my attention.
“The apartment you and the others are living in can’t fit this many people, right? I’ve prepared a house nearby, so you’ll move there.”
When she says “prepared,” she probably didn’t build it from scratch.
That wouldn’t be feasible in time, so she must have bought an empty house.
“Wait, the apartment we’re living in…”
“Yes, it’s owned by the Himeragi conglomerate. It was originally their property, rented out room by room, so we had you and Onee-sama live there.”
I see… That explains how they could put Charlotte-san and the others next door.
I just lived where Kanon-san told me to, so I didn’t think much of it.
“A house means you can have a cat too, you know?”
Just how much does Kanon-san know?
That smile’s starting to scare me.
“A cat would be nice… right? Emma would be happy too…”
Charlotte-san didn’t seem to question Kanon-san’s comment, just blushing dreamily.
She loves cats a ton too…
I’d be happy to have a cat too, so I’ve got no objections there.
Emma-chan would be thrilled.
“Plus, moving isn’t just about the size of the place. It’s also to keep you and Charlotte-san safe.”
“Ah…”
That’s true.
The issue with President Himeragi is resolved, but as a trade-off, there’s no way to deal with the public backlash I’m facing.
Of course, I plan to overcome that with Charlotte-san if it causes problems.
But there’s no guarantee of our safety.
With Kanon-san and the others, security will be tight, so it’s better to take their offer.
“Yeah, you’re right, Kanon-san. Can I leave it to you then?”
“It’s settled. Charlotte-san, any issues?”
“Y-Yes…! If I can be with Akihito-kun, I’d be delighted…!”
“Hehe, good. I’ve prepared a king-size bed, so the three of you can sleep together like before.”
King-size…
That’s the first I’ve heard of that…
“The room’s big enough for you two to use comfortably, so don’t worry, okay? When you want to sleep alone or get lovey-dovey, I’ll take Emma for you.”
Even Sophia-san’s saying embarrassing stuff with a big smile.
I wonder if she secretly wants to sleep with Emma-chan too, since they’ve been together so long. I’d feel lonely without Emma-chan.
It depends on what Emma-chan wants, but I’d prefer sleeping as three.
“In an empty room… just me and Akihito-kun…”
Charlotte-san muttered to herself, pressing her cheeks with both hands.
Her ears are red—what’s she imagining…?
“Thank you for doing all this for us.”
It feels a bit like we’re married with all these preparations, but I can tell they’re celebrating us.
More than anything, they’re doing this with our best interests in mind, so I’m grateful.
But—
“Oh, that’s right. There’s one condition about living together.”
It seems things won’t go so smoothly and conveniently after all.
Considering everything they’ve done for us, I feel like they might demand some outrageous price in return…
“What’s the condition?”
“Become Lottie’s fiancée. That’s our condition.”
“Fiancée…!?”
Feeling my face heat up, I turned my gaze toward Charlotte-san.
Meeting my eyes, she shyly pinched the sleeve of my clothes with her fingers, her face still red.
I immediately understood what she wanted to say, so together with Charlotte-san, we turned our gazes back to Sophia-san and Kanon-san.
“Yes, gladly.”
—And so, Charlotte-san and I became fiancés.
◆
“—Finally, we can relax, huh?”
Sitting on Kanon-san’s bed, I spoke to Charlotte-san while watching Emma-chan, who was breathing softly in her sleep.
She happily rested her head on my shoulder, squeezing our joined hands as she clung to me.
Kanon-san and Sophia-san had said they still had things to do after wrapping up the talk and had left the room for now.
They’re probably off to see President Himeragi.
“When I came here, I was worried about how things would turn out… but for me, it ended in the best possible way.”
“Are you talking about becoming fiancés?”
“Geez, Akihito-kun, you’re so mean…”
Charlotte-san puffed out her cheeks and stared at me.
“I didn’t mean to tease you.”
“But having it put into words again is embarrassing…”
She protested with a look that said, You already know that, don’t you?
Well, she’s probably not just talking about becoming fiancés but also the fact that we can keep living together.
More than anything, realizing her mom doesn’t hate her must have eased Charlotte-san’s heart.
“We’re lucky, aren’t we? Surrounded by such good people.”
People like Kanon-san and Sophia-san are rare in this world.
We should be grateful that they’re watching over us.
“Yes, I think so too. But—”
Though she nodded, something seemed to bother Charlotte-san.
“But?”
“I do wish they’d told us more…”
“Ah… yeah, that’s true.”
Both Kanon-san and Sophia-san had been moving things along while hiding a lot from us.
I get the feeling of wishing they’d told us more.
I can understand keeping it secret to bring me and Charlotte-san together, given her personality, but I wish they’d at least properly explained things about her dad.
Because of that, Charlotte-san misunderstood that her mom hated her, which made her even more anxious.
Well, part of it might be that Charlotte-san tends to bottle things up, and Sophia-san didn’t notice.
“But since we didn’t talk things out properly either, we can’t really complain too much. Let’s make sure we don’t keep secrets from each other from now on.”
“Yes, I’ll talk things out properly too. It feels more reassuring that way.”
It’s not exactly learning from their example, but if we care about each other, it’s better to consult on everything.
That way, we won’t cause unnecessary misunderstandings, and maybe what we think is impossible could have a solution the other person comes up with.
This whole ordeal probably deepened our bond even more.
“Still, I was surprised. To think the person you were talking about, Akihito-kun, was my mom.”
Maybe because we’d reached a pause in the conversation, Charlotte-san brought up Sophia-san.
“I was shocked too. I thought you looked so alike, but I never imagined you were Onee-san’s daughter.”
Back then, Sophia-san didn’t even seem old enough to have kids.
I hadn’t heard she had children or was married either.
“There’s one thing I’ve been wondering about…”
“Hm?”
“It’s not like… you fell for me because I look so much like Mom, right…?”
Charlotte-san asked hesitantly, as if afraid.
She must have noticed from our earlier talk that I had special feelings for Onee-san.
That’s probably why she’s worried about whether I’m really seeing her.
No one wants to be a substitute.
“…I’ll be honest. When I first saw you, Charlotte-san, I thought you were my ideal girl.”
“—!”
Charlotte-san’s eyes widened, and she swallowed hard.
It must have been a shock.
I could’ve hidden it, and for a moment, I thought about lying to spare her feelings.
But we promised no secrets, and more than that, she’d probably see through the lie.
So I decided to tell her everything.
“But I only thought you were my ideal girl—I wasn’t seeing you as a stand-in for the Onee-san I admired.”
Yes, being drawn to and admiring Sophia-san shaped my ideal type into someone like her.
But that didn’t mean I was chasing after Sophia-san herself.
It’s just that I like that type of girl.
“Charlotte-san, you’re definitely the daughter of the Onee-san I admired, but Sophia-san is Sophia-san, and Charlotte-san is Charlotte-san. You’ll never be a replacement for her. I fell for your kindness and cuteness, and that’s why we’re together. I want you to understand that it’s not because you look like the Onee-san I admired.”
Sure, her looks and voice being the same were part of what caught my interest.
But I genuinely fell for her because of who she is inside.
I don’t want her to misunderstand that.
—Well, I did fall for her at first sight, so her looks played a big part… that’s true.
But deciding to date her was because I was drawn to her personality—that’s no lie.
“Is that… so? That’s a relief…”
Saying that, Charlotte-san pressed her face into my chest.
She must have been really worried.
“Sorry for always making you misunderstand.”
“It’s fine… As long as you’re really seeing me, that’s enough… I was just worried that if you were seeking Mom in me, now that you’ve reunited with her, I’d become unnecessary…”
I think she’s pretty negative when it comes to love.
She has a beauty that captivates everyone and a personality anyone would admire, yet she lacks confidence in herself.
“That’d never happen. The one I need most is you, Charlotte-san. Just having you by my side is enough for me.”
I’ve said it a few times, but it’s important, so I’ll say it again.
No matter what awful things happen to me, as long as she’s there, I’m sure I can get through it.
That’s how much she heals me and how much I depend on her.
“Then promise you’ll never abandon me…?”
“I’m more worried about you dumping me…”
“There’s no way I’d ever want to break up with you, Akihito-kun. Even being apart for a little while makes me lonely… You’ve completely turned me into someone who can’t live without you…”
Charlotte-san shyly turned her face away from me.
If anyone else heard that, they’d 100% misunderstand, so I’m seriously glad no one else is around.
Emma-chan’s sleeping soundly and doesn’t understand Japanese anyway, so there’s no worry there.
“…”
After going quiet, Charlotte-san started fidgeting.
Then she kept sneaking glances up at my face.
Could it be—
“Want to sit on my lap?”
When I asked, Charlotte-san nodded big with a kokun.
Seems she wanted to sit there.
“Come here.”
As usual, I spread my arms and waited for Charlotte-san to climb on.
But this time, unlike usual, she sat facing me.
Normally she sits sideways, but like this, we’re staring right at each other, and it’s embarrassing.
“What’s up?”
“I thought it might be nice to do it this way for a change…”
Seems she just wanted to try it.
“…”
For some reason, Charlotte-san glanced at Emma-chan’s sleeping face.
Next, she checked the door, then started looking around restlessly.
And then—
“A-Akihito-kun, close your eyes…”
Blushing bright red, she made her request.
This flow…
I closed my eyes as she asked.
Then something soft and moist touched my lips.
“Mm… mwah.”
“—!?”
A normal kiss—that’s what I expected, but suddenly something warm and soft parted my lips and slipped into my mouth.
Then it started moving, entwining with my tongue.
It tickled a little, and this soft thing was…
Shocked, I opened my eyes to see Charlotte-san gazing at me with misty, feverish eyes.
Did she know I’d open my eyes, or was she just keeping hers open—
But soon she closed her eyes and actively tangled her tongue with mine.
I was so stunned, I just let her do it.
“—Puha!”
How long had we been entwined?
When breathing got tough, Charlotte-san pulled her mouth away first.
A thread of saliva stretched between our tongues, looking a bit lewd before it naturally broke.
Charlotte-san, face still red, kept her misty eyes on me.
She really looked like she was in a daze.
“C-Charlotte-san…”
“One more…”
As I hesitated, Charlotte-san placed both hands on my cheeks and slowly brought her face closer again.
Oh no, her switch is fully flipped.
“W-Wait, this is seriously bad…!”
“Huh…?”
Grabbing her shoulders to stop her, she looked at me with such sad eyes.
I want to let her do what she wants too.
But Sophia-san and Kanon-san are only gone temporarily, and we don’t know when they’ll be back.
A normal kiss we could break off quick, but this one’s too distracting—I might not react in time.
Her deep kisses have that much destructive power.
“L-Look, Emma-chan could wake up anytime, and Sophia-san and the others might come back…”
I tried to calm the sad Charlotte-san somehow.
“…”
For her, it probably took a lot of courage to do that.
She seems really down, thinking I rejected her.
“It’s not that I didn’t like that kiss, okay? If we’re alone somewhere, I’ll do it as much as you want, so don’t be so sad…”
“Yes… I’m sorry…”
Oh no, it’s not getting through…
“I really mean it’s not like that.”
I pulled Charlotte-san close and gently stroked the back of her head.
That seemed to help, and she relaxed into me.
“I thought maybe it’s time we started doing kisses like that… so I just did it… Becoming fiancés made me so happy I couldn’t hold back…”
Charlotte-san pressed her cheek against mine while explaining her feelings.
“I was happy you did that, Charlotte-san. But it’s not a good time now, so let’s do it again when we get home.”
I was just surprised, not upset.
Honestly, I was really happy.
It’s just the place and time, so I have to hold back here.
—Well, it did make me feel pretty pathetic…
Charlotte-san moves fast.
“I want to go home soon…”
Seems she can’t wait any longer.
Makes sense—she’s fully switched on.
I kept soothing Charlotte-san until she calmed down.
Even with her switch flipped, it’s just excitement, so it’ll settle with time.
“—Calmed down?”
“If there’s a hole, I want to crawl into it right now…”
After about ten minutes, Charlotte-san pressed her face into my chest, squirming.
The excitement faded, replaced by embarrassment she’s now squirming over.
Losing control and going wild when her switch flips, then agonizing over it after—she’s got it rough.
“I was really happy, you know?”
“But you must think I’m shameless now…”
Shameless? More like a naughty girl…
I swallowed those words since they’d just embarrass her more.
“Only I know about it, so I don’t think you need to worry.”
“You’re the last person I want thinking that…”
Well, there’s no helping that.
Wouldn’t it be easier for her if she just owned it?
“I think that side of you is cute and charming too, Charlotte-san, so isn’t it fine?”
“…Really…?”
Charlotte-san looked up at me with teary eyes.
These weren’t the feverish eyes from before—just embarrassment making her teary.
“Of course. I love every version of you, Charlotte-san.”
I can only say such embarrassing lines now because she’s squirming in shame.
Normally I couldn’t, but I’m holding it in just to say it.
If it eases her mind even a little, that’s enough.
“If you say that, I won’t be able to stop…?”
“Uh, well, I’d appreciate it if you could stop, not because I hate it, but because of who’s around…?”
I don’t want to be one of those lovey-dovey couples who flirt without caring about the place.
…Well, people might already see us that way, but we should still keep some decency.
“I don’t have confidence…”
“You don’t, huh…”
Can’t really say much to that.
“I love you too much, Akihito-kun… I end up wanting all of you…”
Like Shimizu-san and Riku said, Charlotte-san really dotes on me.
Being wanted this much, there’s no way I wouldn’t be happy as a guy.
But if Kanon-san or Sophia-san saw us like this, the living-together deal might fall apart.
…No, since we’re fiancés, maybe there’s no issue?
I don’t know—I’ve never been in this situation, so I can’t imagine their reactions.
“Akihito-kun…”
As I tried hard to imagine Sophia-san and the others’ reactions, Charlotte-san called my name, fidgeting with her index fingers pressed together.
“Huh, what’s up?”
I worried she might beg for another kiss, but I waited for her words.
“Since we’re fiancés now… I’d like you to call me by my first name from now on…”
My concern was unfounded—Charlotte-san’s request was about how I address her.
I get what she’s saying, but dropping the honorific…
“I’m not really a fan of calling people without honorifics… Is it not okay to keep it as is?”
“But you call Karin-chan without one…”
Well, yeah, but…
She’s bringing up Karin, huh…
“That’s because she’s my little sister.”
“Even for a sister, you could use -chan, but you don’t…”
Charlotte-san isn’t backing down at all.
She really wants me to drop the honorific.
“Hmm…”
“I’m your girlfriend… I want you to call me without it…”
Maybe as her boyfriend, she wants a sense of exclusivity?
Right now, I call Kanon-san, Sophia-san, and Kaguya-san by their first names with -san too.
Does she not like being called the same way as others?
But then dropping it would overlap with Karin…
“Then how about you drop the honorific for me too, Charlotte-san?”
If she wants me to do it, it’d be better if she called me without one too.
That’d feel more equal.
“M-Me too…?”
“Yeah, I’d like that.”
“…”
Charlotte-san’s eyes wandered, troubled.
She probably didn’t expect this counter.
And then—
“I can’t…”
She shook her head side to side.
“It’s the same for me. I can’t call you without it either, Charlotte-san.”
“Ugh…”
Charlotte-san’s eyes teared up.
Does she want it that badly…?
I don’t want to see her sad, so I racked my brain.
Is there a way to call her that she’d accept besides dropping the honorific?
What about a nickname?
Lottie, like Emma-chan and the others call her… nah, she wouldn’t like that.
No exclusivity there…
But Charlotte’s nickname isn’t just Lottie.
—That’s it.
“Hey, Charlotte-san.”
“Yes…?”
Charlotte-san looked at me with teary eyes.
“How about—Charl?”
“—!?”
When I suggested a new nickname, Charlotte-san’s resigned expression lit up brightly.
“Charl…!”
She parroted it back, sounding so excited.
“Is that okay?”
“Yes…! I think Charl is wonderful…!”
Good, she likes it.
“Then, Charlotte-san—no, Charl, I’d like you to call me by a nickname too.”
I like being called Akihito-kun, but since it’s a chance, I’ll ask for a nickname too.
I want a special way only she calls me.
“A nickname for Akihito-kun…”
Charl put a hand to her mouth and started thinking with a serious look.
I quietly watched her cute, pondering face.
And then—
“A-kun… how’s that…?”
Blushing shyly, she suggested an adorable nickname while bending slightly to look up at me.
…Seriously, too cute.
“If Charl wants to call me that, it’s fine.”
Honestly, it’s embarrassing, but it’s something Charl worked hard to come up with.
I want to respect that.
Besides, she suggested it because she wants to call me that.
“Hehe… A-kun, A-kun♪”
Yup, she’s humming it in super high spirits.
Watching her made me feel happy too.
Seeing her so delighted really warms my heart.
“Then, nice to meet you again, Charl—mm.”
She was so cute, I couldn’t resist giving her a quick surprise kiss.
Making her hold back too much isn’t good, and this much should be fine.
—My judgment, from a third-party view, was clearly a mistake.
“A-kun, that’s not fair… One more…”
She’d finally calmed down, but because I kissed her, Charl’s switch flipped again.
Since I started it this time, I couldn’t say no anymore—
And so, Kanon-san and Sophia-san, who came back, caught us kissing red-handed.
Post a Comment