Chapter One: I Want to Be Your Fiancée!

For high school student Toru, love was something that happened to other people.

He couldn’t imagine having a girlfriend when he didn’t even have friends. His parents’ discord and eventual divorce left him with no illusions about romance.

Naturally, the idea of getting married felt like something from a distant future—if it was even possible at all.

But then—

“Hey, Renjō-kun…”

The female classmate standing before him called his surname in a clear, beautiful voice.

Her eyes, like blue gemstones, gazed at Toru shyly.

This girl was considered the most beautiful in the school, with flawless features. In fact, aside from one other person, Toru didn’t know any girl as lovely as her.

Standing in front of her, even a nationally famous idol would pale in comparison.

Her name was Aino Lyuti.

As her name suggested, she was born in Finland, a Nordic country.

Her hair was a flowing, beautiful blonde, and her eyes were a stunning sapphire blue. The blazer of her school uniform seemed to exist just for her, fitting her perfectly.

Though petite, she stood out strikingly. As the daughter of a major Finnish corporation, she was always reading alone in class, earning her the nickname “the aloof goddess.”

And now, Toru found himself alone with this girl in the school library after hours.

The setting sun streamed through the window, casting a beautiful glow on Aino’s golden hair.

No one else was around. The clock read exactly six o’clock, and everyone else had likely gone home.

Toru broke out in a cold sweat. Being alone with her was nerve-wracking enough, but he could guess what Aino was about to say, which made it even worse.

“I want you to marry me!”

Aino’s blue eyes sparkled as she leaned toward Toru.

To an outsider, this might seem like a completely out-of-the-blue statement, but for Toru, it was different.

This was the sixth time Aino had said those words to him.

And Toru’s response was always the same.

“Look, Lyuti-san. I’ve said this before, but I’m only sixteen. Under Japanese law, I can’t get married yet.”

“That’s why I’m asking you to be my fiancé, isn’t it?”

Aino’s cheeks flushed, and she gave a playful smile.

If this were a confession born of love, Toru might have been overjoyed.

But—

“All you have to do is be my fiancé in name only. That’s enough.”

Aino whispered to Toru as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

How did it come to this?

A headache hit Toru, and he began to recall how he got entangled with this aloof goddess.

It started a few days ago.

☆

Toru attended Kōbunkan High School, located in Nagoya’s Higashi Ward. In an area known for its competitive schools, Kōbunkan was a prestigious coed institution offering both middle and high school education.

Saying you attended Kōbunkan in Nagoya was a point of pride, as it was a renowned academy.

When Toru passed the entrance exam for Kōbunkan’s middle school alongside his childhood friend, he thought everything was going smoothly.

She was the prettiest girl in elementary school, and that hadn’t changed in middle school.

Having such a cute childhood friend who would smile brightly and say, “I’m so happy to go to the same school as Toru!” was something many boys would envy.

But that dreamlike situation didn’t last long.

(I… hate myself.)

In his heart, Toru muttered to himself.

No matter what, it seemed impossible to like the person he was now.

Now in his first year of high school, Toru was utterly ordinary.

His grades weren’t bad by any means. He consistently ranked above average.

But that was all. It wasn’t something to boast about to others.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t climb higher. In this competitive academy, he was surrounded by far more exceptional people.

On the other hand, there were plenty of students who, despite average grades, were popular or excelled in extracurricular activities.

But Toru had no such talents. He’d even quit his club activities.

He always acted polite and friendly toward his classmates. But that wasn’t his true self.

He was just trying not to stand out.

He wasn’t hated, but he had no close relationships either.

Even his once-close childhood friend had grown distant after an incident in middle school.

Her name was Kōnoe Chika. Whenever the top scorers of the regular exams were posted, Chika’s name was always at the top.

The school’s exams were notoriously difficult, yet she scored near-perfect marks—a true prodigy.

On top of that, she was a student council officer and the ace of the girls’ basketball team.

She was the complete opposite of Toru.

She was so exceptional that she’d become a distant figure to him.

Back in middle school, Toru and his childhood friend Chika were constantly compared. Though he was too embarrassed to admit it, Toru had feelings for Chika and worked hard to become someone worthy of standing by her side.

But no matter how much he tried, he could never be the kind of person who could stand next to her.

That harsh reality had been driven home to Toru time and time again. No matter where he went, he remained ordinary.

If that were all, it might have been fine.

Even if they weren’t as close as before, they could have stayed friends.

But an incident in middle school had hurt Chika. And Toru had been powerless to help her. Worse—he had run away.

Toru had let Chika down, and she was disappointed in him. Because of that, they no longer even spoke.

Above all… that incident made Toru hate himself.

“Ha…”

With a sigh, the subway he was riding arrived at Nagoya Station. Every day, he transferred to the national railway at this, the largest terminal station in the Chūbu region, to head home.

It was April, just after starting his first year of high school, but since it was a combined middle and high school, little had changed in his daily life.

He went to school and came home alone every day. That was all.

Even at home, Toru was alone. With his divorced parents both absent, he lived by himself.

There had once been others he could call family, but they no longer treated him as such.

That said, Toru wasn’t without his small joys.

(I’ll stop by the bookstore and buy a new book on the way home.)

Though his parents were gone, he was fortunate not to lack money. His mother, after all, was the daughter of a prominent Nagoya business family.

Near Nagoya Station, where he transferred, there were several large bookstores. Toru entered one of them.

Be it mystery novels, light novels, non-fiction, or manga, Toru read anything and everything.

Maybe he should be studying instead.

(But no matter what, I…)

He could never catch up to Chika. Nor could he match his brilliant classmates or his once-exceptional father.

He had no goals. His career aspiration surveys were always left blank.

(So how am I supposed to find a way to accept myself?)

Lost in thought, Toru wandered through the bookstore.

Eventually, he reached the mystery novel section.

As expected of a large bookstore near the station, the selection was impressive, but there was one problem.

The shelves were so tall that shorter people couldn’t reach the books at the top.

In such cases, you’d typically grab a stepstool to use, but…

Toru froze at the sight before him.

A classmate was standing in front of the shelves.

There was no mistaking her.

Flowing golden hair, translucent fair skin.

Even from the side, her features were as perfect as an actress’s.

It was his classmate, Aino Lyuti.

Being of Finnish descent, her given name was Aino, and her surname was Lyuti.

(What’s Lyuti-san doing in a place like this…?)

Petite Aino was standing on a stepstool, reaching for a book on the top shelf. She was wearing her blazer uniform, likely on her way home from school, just like Toru.

Aino was a celebrity of sorts. A breathtakingly beautiful girl, and a foreigner at that. She always wore a cool, aloof expression and didn’t interact with anyone.

Toru had been in the same class as her in middle school and was her classmate now, but he knew little about her personality or behavior.

They might have had some brief, formal interactions, but that was the extent of it.

Toru decided to pretend he hadn’t seen her.

She wasn’t someone he particularly wanted to engage with. Of course, as an ordinary high school boy, Toru found Aino’s beauty captivating.

But whether he wanted to get closer to her was another matter entirely.

Aino’s aloof personality made her unapproachable, and Toru wasn’t particularly interested in getting involved with others.

Or rather, he lacked the courage. He had a vague sense that Aino might dislike men, and it was obvious that trying to connect with her would lead to rejection.

He knew all too well that getting hurt like that would only make him hate himself more.

Besides, Aino was far too famous, far too striking a beauty.

Getting involved with her felt like too much. Just like his childhood friend Chika had become a burden to him.

As he turned to leave, Toru noticed something.

Aino had a desperate expression, standing on tiptoes, stretching to reach a book.

Unlike her usual cold demeanor in the classroom, there was a delicate, human charm to her now. For a brief moment, Toru’s curiosity was piqued.

What book was she trying to get?

Stopping to look was his mistake.

Perhaps sensing his gaze, Aino turned toward him and let out a small “Ah.”

In that moment, she lost her balance.

She was already in a precarious position, standing on tiptoes on a stepstool, reaching upward…

Losing her posture, she was about to fall. If she fell from the stepstool, she’d likely hit her head hard on the floor.

It’s dangerous, Toru thought, and in that instant, he sprang into action.

“Kyaa!”

Almost simultaneously with Aino’s high-pitched scream, Toru caught her in his arms.

As Aino fell backward, he embraced her from behind. Her golden hair fluttered, brushing against Toru’s hand. The sweet scent unique to girls tickled his nose, and Toru’s heart skipped a beat.

Suppressing his flustered feelings, Toru asked, “Are you okay, Lyuti-san?”

“Y-Yes…” Aino nodded repeatedly, then turned to look at him, her blue eyes fixed on him. She tilted her head. “Renjō…kun?”

“That’s right, that’s right. Renjō, your classmate. Do you know my first name too?” Toru couldn’t help but tease her lightly, assuming she wouldn’t remember his given name.

But his assumption was wrong.

“Toru-kun, right?” Aino said in her beautiful voice.

Toru was surprised that she remembered his first name. Being called “Toru-kun” gave him a ticklish feeling. It had been a long time since anyone called him by his first name. With no family and no close friends, even his childhood friend Chika no longer addressed him that way.

He was holding a girl in his arms. Even if it was just to save her from falling off a stepstool in a bookstore, the fact remained that he was embracing a girl from behind.

Suddenly, Toru became acutely aware of this.

It seemed Aino felt the same. Her cheeks flushed, and she glared at him. “…Let go of me.”

“S-Sorry.” Toru hurriedly tried to release her. But since Aino had fallen into him and was leaning against him to stay upright, letting go wasn’t so simple.

Carefully, Toru eased his hands off her body and gently patted her shoulders.

Aino seemed to realize the situation then. She looked up at him shyly, her eyes meeting his.

Toru shrugged and smiled. “Can you stand on your own?”

Aino nodded quickly, adjusted her posture, and slowly stepped away from Toru.

Then she stared at him.

Her blue eyes were clear and transparent.

Toru assumed she was wary of him. It made sense—she’d been held by a guy she barely knew, and he could understand why she might feel uncomfortable.

(But to help her on instinct, only to be met with a look of disdain instead of gratitude… talk about bad luck.)

The thought crossed his mind, and he fell into self-loathing.

He hadn’t helped her to be thanked. He had no intention of saying something patronizing like, “Good thing you didn’t get hurt.”

He planned to walk away.

But then Aino lowered her eyes, and, as if mustering her courage, spoke in a small voice. “Um… Renjō-kun?”

“What?”

“You helped me because I was about to fall, right?”

Aino spoke in flawless Japanese. Toru vaguely recalled hearing that she’d lived in Japan since childhood. Despite her Finnish appearance and heritage, she was likely a native Japanese speaker.

“Well, yeah,” Toru nodded vaguely.

He hadn’t had much choice, but his intention had been to help Aino. He couldn’t just stand by and let someone get seriously injured.

Aino’s face lit up, her eyes sparkling with joy.

(She can make an expression like that…)

Toru was a little surprised. This expressive Aino seemed delicate and endearing.

The usual emotionless Aino was a beautiful blonde, blue-eyed girl, like a French doll. To Toru, she was neither more nor less than that.

But now, she was a living, breathing girl his age, standing before him.

Toru didn’t fully understand the meaning behind her bright expression.

But it seemed she was happy that he had helped her.

Maybe she didn’t dislike him after all.

However, Aino quickly changed her expression, puffing out her cheeks and glaring at him with narrowed eyes. Her cheeks remained red. “D-Don’t get the wrong idea. I would’ve been fine even without your help.”

“I don’t think so,” Toru muttered without thinking. If things had continued, she would’ve definitely fallen and gotten hurt.

Realizing it was just bravado, Toru thought there was no point in arguing.

There was no reason to upset her.

But Aino’s mouth opened and closed, and she fell silent.

Then, fidgeting with her hands clasped together, she looked down shyly.

This threw Toru off.

He hadn’t meant to get involved with her.

A warning bell rang in his head.

Getting any more entangled with this girl would lead to trouble. He had no proof, but his instincts told him so.

Yet when Aino glanced at the bookshelf, the words that came out of Toru’s mouth were unexpected, even to himself. “If you need a book, want me to grab it for you?”

“Huh?” Aino tilted her head, looking puzzled.

“With my height, I can probably reach it if I use the stepstool,” Toru said.

If Aino tried to reach for something again and ended up in the same situation, it could be bad.

He could call a store clerk, but it would be faster for Toru to get it himself.

That’s the excuse he made to himself.

In truth, he should just walk away.

Being rejected as meddlesome would hurt, and being thought to have ulterior motives would be even worse.

So why was he making this offer?

Toru didn’t even know himself.

Aino looked at him with her beautiful sapphire eyes, her petite face sparkling with expectation.

Toru couldn’t help but smile gently and ask, “Which book were you trying to get?”

Aino pointed to the top shelf. “Um… The Long Goodbye.”

“Chandler?” Toru responded immediately, and Aino seemed a little surprised.

Raymond Chandler was an American hard-boiled novelist, and The Long Goodbye was his masterpiece.

“Have you… read it?” she asked.

“Yeah, I have.”

As an avid reader, Toru had read it because it was a hard-boiled classic. A readable new translation was available, and though it was thick, he found it engaging and finished it quickly.

“Really…” Aino’s face lit up with a smile, as if she were pleased. To Toru, it was surprising that Aino would read such a book—it didn’t fit her image.

Toru stepped onto the stool, reached up, and easily grabbed the blue-and-white paperback.

It was thick and had a solid feel, but as a paperback, it wasn’t too heavy.

“Here you go, Lyuti-san.”

Aino hesitantly accepted the book. “I-I didn’t really want you to get it for me,” she said quickly, as if to hide her embarrassment.

She didn’t have to be that embarrassed.

“Should I put it back then?” Toru teased.

Aino puffed out her cheeks. “Renjō-kun, you’re so mean.”

“I think you’re the mean one, Lyuti-san,” Toru said calmly, but Aino flinched.

Clutching the paperback to her chest, she lowered her eyes. “You’re… right. Th-Thank you. I really did want you to get the book. And I was glad you helped me when I almost fell.”

Her words were halting, but she was clearly expressing her gratitude.

The way she mustered her courage to say it was, in Toru’s eyes, quite cute.

She probably wasn’t used to saying thank you. Maybe she was surprisingly shy. But when necessary, she could speak honestly, even if hesitantly.

In that brief moment, Toru felt he understood Aino a little better.

“It’s… a bad habit of mine to act tough,” Aino mumbled.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad habit,” Toru replied.

Aino’s blue eyes widened in surprise. “Really?”

“If it’s something you need to do to protect yourself.”

Aino maintained her aloof presence in class, deliberately acting distant and showing she didn’t need help or friends.

There was probably a reason for that. Her cold demeanor had a story behind it.

(But I’m not going to pry into that.)

Toru didn’t think it was his place to carelessly intrude on a stranger’s personal matters.

He was the same way. He kept relationships superficial and didn’t want others commenting on his listless lifestyle.

And… he didn’t want to experience the same pain he felt with Chika again.

Aino was clearly someone special. Getting involved with someone like her would only remind him of his own ordinariness.

So Toru decided to leave quickly.

But Aino seemed to have other ideas. She murmured to herself, as if savoring his words, “‘If it’s something you need to do to protect yourself.’”

She seemed to like the phrase.

Then she let out a small, amused laugh, her golden hair swaying lightly. “Renjō-kun… you’re kind.”

“Me? I’m not kind at all.”

“Someone who isn’t kind wouldn’t catch a falling classmate or climb a stepstool to get a book for them.”

“Anyone would do that.”

“Maybe. But even so, if it’s you, Renjō-kun…”

Aino cut herself off, staring at Toru as if observing him.

Her gem-like eyes were pure and clear.

(What was Lyuti-san about to say?)

Curious about her unfinished sentence, Toru caught himself.

He’d lingered too long.

There was nothing more for him to do for Aino. He’d done something out of character, but that was over now.

He didn’t want her to think he had ulterior motives.

A girl as striking as Aino probably dealt with plenty of guys like that.

Toru gave a vague smile and raised a hand. “Well, glad I could help. I’ll be going now.”

Aino looked puzzled.

Then her expression turned to panic, and she muttered something quietly. It sounded like “Wait,” but her voice was so soft he wasn’t sure.

Toru turned on his heel and quickly left the scene.

After leaving the bookstore, he realized he’d forgotten to buy the book he wanted.

Sighing, he thought, Oh well. He could stop by the bookstore tomorrow or the day after.

All Toru needed to do was return to his peaceful, boring routine.

(I’m not the kind of person who gets involved with someone like Lyuti-san.)

The blonde, blue-eyed “aloof goddess.” Getting close to someone that radiant would only make him hate himself more.

He’d probably never interact with Aino again.

But Toru didn’t understand Aino at all.

He could never have predicted that, starting from this day, he’d end up spending every day with her.

☆

The day after encountering Aino at the bookstore.

The first period English class ended, leading to a short ten-minute break (called “hōka” in Aichi Prefecture).

Toru let out a small yawn.

(…So sleepy.)

Last night, he’d stayed up watching recorded anime and reading a foreign mystery novel from his backlog… and ended up staying awake until 3 a.m. He was completely sleep-deprived.

The next period was world history.

This school was not only a prestigious academy but also known for its laissez-faire atmosphere.

In other words, unless you had a strict teacher, you could doze off during class without much consequence.

World history was probably one of those classes where sleeping wouldn’t draw attention. However, it was the one class Toru actually looked forward to.

He had always liked history, but the world history teacher’s anecdotes were overwhelmingly entertaining.

So, sleeping wasn’t an option.

Still, during the break, Toru’s sleepiness was intense. Normally, he’d spend the time reading, but in this state, he might just fall asleep.

At that moment, someone slapped his back repeatedly.

“…Ouch,” Toru muttered.

The culprit circled around to face him, grinning teasingly. “You looked sleepy!”

The girl narrowed her cat-like eyes and smiled. “Morning, Renjō!”

“Sakurai-san, you’re full of energy,” Toru said, shrugging.

The girl tilted her head, her neatly trimmed brown hair swaying lightly. “Am I?”

Her name was Sakurai Asuka. She was Toru’s classmate and an acquaintance since middle school—nothing more, nothing less.

Asuka was a tall, beautiful girl with a bright, popular personality.

She wore her uniform stylishly, slightly loosened.

Despite her somewhat gal-like appearance, her grades were stellar, always in the top single digits of the year.

She was, by all accounts, a near-perfect person. Normally, Toru avoided getting too close to people like her.

The reason he occasionally talked with Asuka was tied to his childhood friend.

Toru smiled. “By the way, think you can beat Kōnoe-san in the next exams?”

“Of course!” Asuka swung her arms enthusiastically, striking a gutsy pose.

Kōnoe-san was Toru’s childhood friend, Kōnoe Chika. Toru no longer called her by her first name.

That aside, Asuka saw Chika as her nemesis.

Despite Asuka’s excellence, she was always overshadowed by Chika.

In middle school, Chika was often first in the year, with Asuka in second. In the student council president election, Asuka lost to Chika in a one-on-one race. Even in the school tennis tournament, she lost to Chika in the finals.

Asuka was incredibly talented but always one step behind Chika.

That was the kind of girl Sakurai Asuka was.

So, she had unilaterally declared Chika her rival, determined to beat her.

That’s where Toru came in. Asuka had approached him in their third year of middle school, knowing he was Chika’s childhood friend, hoping to gain an edge.

Unfortunately, by then, Toru and Chika were already estranged.

(So, to Sakurai-san, I was probably useless.)

Yet, strangely, their acquaintance had continued since then.

They were just classmates who occasionally talked, nothing more or less, but sometimes other boys would envy Toru.

Asuka was as beautiful as Chika and, unlike Chika’s reserved demeanor, had a friendly, approachable personality that made her quite popular.

She didn’t seem interested in romance, though. To Toru, Asuka was just a lively girl obsessed with “defeating Kōnoe Chika!”

And Toru didn’t dislike her for it.

He had once dreamed of becoming someone worthy of standing beside Chika but had given up long ago.

Asuka, however, kept challenging her, no matter how many times she lost.

Toru found that determination dazzling and enviable.

Asuka leaned in close, whispering in his ear.

The sweet scent of a girl made Toru’s heart skip a beat for a moment.

(I’m going to get jealous looks from the other guys again…)

Toru gave a wry smile inwardly.

Asuka, oblivious to his thoughts, continued, “Hey, don’t you know any of Chika’s weaknesses? Like, something that could take her down in one shot?”

“Like what?”

“Maybe she’s terrified of snakes and faints at the sight of one?”

“I’ve never heard anything like that.”

With Chika, such obvious weaknesses didn’t exist.

Toru had known her since childhood and knew she was practically a perfect superhuman.

…Even Chika had faced things she couldn’t handle, but that wasn’t a weakness.

Besides, even if Chika had a weakness, it wouldn’t matter.

“Sakurai-san, you wouldn’t be satisfied beating Kōnoe-san by exploiting a weakness, would you?”

Asuka wouldn’t stoop to such underhanded tactics. Beating Chika fair and square was what mattered to her.

Despite their shallow acquaintance, Toru understood that much about Asuka.

She blinked in surprise at his words, then blushed slightly and smiled happily. “You’re right. You really get me, Renjō. I like that about you.”

“Don’t tease me.”

“I’m not teasing!” Asuka giggled.

In high spirits, she peered into Toru’s eyes, her large eyes sparkling mischievously. “Just watch. In the next exams, I’m going to crush Kōnoe Chika fair and square! And the high school student council president seat will be mine!”

“That sounds like something a villain would say.”

“Rude! Kōnoe Chika is the villain, and I’m the hero of justice!”

Toru couldn’t help but chuckle. “Kōnoe-san hasn’t done anything bad.”

“But that ‘I’m a perfect superhuman’ smug face of hers—isn’t that villain-like?”

“Well, maybe a little.”

Since middle school, Chika had become more reserved. She was kind to everyone, but her aloof attitude sometimes rubbed people the wrong way.

But she hadn’t always been like that. As a child, her expressions were lively and full of joy.

Part of what changed Chika was Toru’s fault. But Asuka wouldn’t know that.

“And…” Asuka crossed her arms, staring at Toru.

“And?”

Lowering her eyes, she said softly, “I think Chika’s a bad person for not valuing a great childhood friend like you.”

“You mean me?” Toru asked, pointing to himself in surprise.

Asuka nodded.

She knew Toru and Chika had grown distant, but he’d never explained the details, nor could he.

From Asuka’s perspective, it might look like the exceptional Chika had abandoned Toru.

But that wasn’t the truth.

(I’m the one who ruined things with Chika.)

“Uh, thanks, Sakurai-san, but…”

As Toru hesitated, unsure how to explain, Asuka blushed and mumbled, “Forget I said that.”

“Anyway, I won’t be satisfied until I put that smug Chika in her place! I’ll make her cry tears of regret!”

“You really sound like a villain.”

Asuka puffed out her cheeks at Toru’s words. “Whose side are you on, Renjō? Mine or Kōnoe Chika’s?”

“I’m rooting for you, Sakurai-san,” Toru answered without hesitation.

He admired Asuka’s courage to keep challenging an unbeatable opponent, no matter how many times she lost.

If only he could have been like that.

“Got it. Thanks. Then I’ll have to beat Chika for you too.”

Asuka smiled, satisfied.

At that moment, Toru felt a gaze from afar. Turning, he saw intense eyes glaring at them from a seat by the classroom’s corridor.

It was Aino. Her beautiful sapphire eyes were clearly fixed on them.

Her refined face bore a distinctly displeased expression, quite different from her usual emotionless demeanor in class.

But when their eyes met, Aino’s fair cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away.

Asuka seemed to have noticed Aino’s odd behavior too. “Renjō, did you do something to Lyuti-san?”

“Nothing at all. Do you think an ordinary guy like me would have any connection with Lyuti-san?”

Toru kept quiet about running into her at the bookstore yesterday. He didn’t intend to hide anything from Asuka.

But Aino might want to keep it a secret. Falling off a stepstool while reaching for a book and being saved might be embarrassing for her.

Still, Asuka narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “But that girl… she’s been glancing at you all morning.”

“Really?”

Toru hadn’t noticed.

Maybe it was because of yesterday’s incident.

Asuka gave him a skeptical look. “Something definitely happened, didn’t it?”

“Maybe she’s glaring at me for no reason?”

“No way. It’s rare for the ‘aloof goddess’ to pay attention to anyone like this.”

She had a point.

Aino stood out. A blonde, blue-eyed Nordic beauty was bound to draw attention in the classroom.

She always read alone with a cool expression. Like Chika, she was reserved, but unlike Chika, who was surrounded by friends, Aino seemed uninterested in everyone.

She was always alone.

If Aino was showing interest in Toru, it was no wonder Asuka found it strange. Other classmates seemed to be glancing their way too.

(I don’t want to stand out, but this is trouble…)

Toru’s motto was to live peacefully and avoid trouble. Getting caught up with the extraordinary blonde, blue-eyed goddess and becoming the center of attention was the last thing he wanted.

Lost in thought while glancing at Aino, he was tapped on the shoulder by Asuka.

Asuka, looking somewhat dissatisfied, said, “Lyuti-san is an absolute beauty, isn’t she? Not like me.”

Toru thought Asuka was more than beautiful enough herself but kept that to himself.

Instead, he said, “I’m not particularly interested in Lyuti-san.”

“Really? Even though she’s that cute? She’s got a face like an idol, and despite being petite, her figure’s surprisingly good.”

“Well, sure, but…”

“Anyway, with that mystical appearance, it’s no wonder she’s popular. Maybe in terms of looks alone, even Kōnoe Chika can’t beat her.”

“Maybe because Finnish girls are rare around here.”

“Some of the boys call her the goddess Freyja, you know,” Asuka muttered.

Toru tilted his head. “Freyja?”

“You don’t know? The Norse goddess of love and gold. It’s a fitting nickname for her name and hair color. Lyuti-san is Finnish, and Finland’s part of Scandinavia, right?”

“No, Freyja’s from Norse mythology, not Finnish mythology.”

“Huh? Really?”

“I think there’s an epic called Kalevala that’s considered Finland’s ancient mythology.”

Toru recalled some knowledge he’d read in a book.

Among the Nordic countries, Finland apparently had distinct ancient traditions separate from Sweden or Norway.

He didn’t know the names of Finnish gods, but Freyja, at least, wasn’t connected to Finland.

So, likening Aino, a Finnish girl, to Freyja was a bit off.

“You know some weird stuff, Renjō,” Asuka said, sounding impressed.

Toru shrugged and gave a noncommittal reply, “It’s not a big deal.”

With the break almost over, if he could steer the conversation away from Aino for a bit longer, he’d be safe.

But Toru’s thinking was naive.

He noticed the classroom growing noisy.

Asuka, standing in front of him, was staring behind him, frozen.

Cautiously, Toru turned around to find a very petite girl standing there, looking down at him with blue eyes.

Her cheeks flushed, she whispered, “Renjō-kun… I have something to talk about during lunch break. W-Would you like to eat together?”

The classroom fell silent, as if a wave had passed through it.

Aino Lyuti, the aloof figure who was always alone in class, who never ate with boys or even girls, was inviting Toru to have lunch with her.

For her to suddenly ask an unremarkable classmate like him to eat together was bound to draw attention.

Aino, standing before him, was trembling, her cheeks red.

(This… is trouble…)

Toru didn’t know what had gotten into her, but it was clear Aino was acting impulsively.

Thanks to her, Toru was now the center of unprecedented attention.

He was already getting glares from boys for talking to Asuka, and now with Aino involved, it felt like he was sitting on a bed of needles.

“I-Is that okay?” Aino asked, looking up at him.

Her beautiful blue eyes nearly drew him in, and he caught himself.

An alarm went off in his head.

Making the wrong choice here could lead to serious trouble.

As he hesitated, unsure how to respond, Asuka interjected, “Lyuti-san, are you and Renjō close?”

Aino fidgeted, clasping her small hands. “Not exactly, but yesterday, Renjō-kun helped me.”

“Helped?” Asuka echoed, then glared at Toru.

Toru had kept quiet about helping Aino at the bookstore, thinking it was for the best. That had backfired.

Sweating, Toru gave in. “I ran into Lyuti-san at the bookstore. I just helped her get a book off the shelf.”

“You said nothing happened with Lyuti-san, but you lied to me,” Asuka said, puffing out her cheeks and giving him a skeptical look.

Toru put his hands together apologetically. “Sorry. It wasn’t a big deal, and I thought it might not be right to talk about it without Lyuti-san’s permission.”

“Well… I guess that makes sense…” Asuka said reluctantly, her anger softening.

Toru sighed in relief.

But then Aino dropped a bombshell. “Renjō-kun didn’t just get a book for me. He caught me when I almost fell off the stepstool.”

“Renjō caught you…” Asuka muttered, while Aino spoke shyly.

The classroom buzzed.

The situation was spiraling in the opposite direction of resolution, drawing even more attention.

“And so, I wanted to thank Renjō-kun,” Aino added.

“You don’t need to thank me. It wasn’t a big deal,” Toru said gently.

Aino, being surprisingly shy, might back off if he said that.

But he was wrong.

“It might not be a big deal to you, Renjō-kun, but I can’t let it go. I’ll treat you to the most expensive thing in the cafeteria.”

Aino stated firmly in her clear voice.

Now what? Aino’s resolve seemed unshakable.

He could say he had prior plans, and even someone like Aino would back off. He didn’t actually have lunch plans, but a white lie could work.

Getting involved with a special beauty like Aino wouldn’t lead to anything good. Turning her down was the smart choice.

But…

Toru looked at Aino. She gazed back anxiously, her slender legs trembling slightly.

She must have mustered a lot of courage to invite him. The aloof goddess might actually be a timid, socially awkward girl.

In that moment, Toru felt that rejecting her invitation with a lie would be… wrong.

Sure, he was listless now. He lacked confidence, craved a peaceful life, and wanted to avoid trouble.

But if he lied and rejected Aino here, he’d hate himself even more.

That’s what he felt.

“I didn’t do anything worth treating me to a meal, but maybe you could buy me a coffee from the vending machine after lunch?”

“You’ll eat with me?” Aino’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.

Toru’s heart skipped a beat.

It wasn’t fair for a cute girl to look so happy. It was too much.

Averting his eyes, Toru mumbled, “Yeah,” and nodded.

(It’ll be fine… probably.)

This was just a thank-you for yesterday. It wouldn’t lead to deeper involvement with Aino.

Unlike Asuka, who seemed socially adept, Aino gave off a fragile impression.

That fragility made her the mystical, aloof goddess, but to Toru, it was a source of unease.

Getting too close to Aino might hurt her or disappoint him. It might be overthinking, but Toru feared repeating what happened with Chika.

“Good,” Aino murmured, smiling.

Her face flushed slightly. “N-Not that I wanted to eat with you, Renjō-kun. This is just a thank-you, okay?”

“I get it.”

“I’m not happy about it or anything.”

Despite her words, Aino lowered her eyes shyly.

Toru could tell her true feelings contradicted her words. Maybe she was a tsundere.

For some reason, Aino seemed to like him, but was yesterday’s incident the only reason?

Or was there something else?

Toru thought about it, but he could count their past interactions on one hand.

Looking up, he saw Asuka glaring at him, clearly in a bad mood.

“Even if Lyuti-san isn’t happy, you must be thrilled, right, Renjō? Eating with such a cute girl.”

“Most guys would be, yeah.”

“And you’re one of those guys, right?”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

Denying it would only complicate things. Toru gave a wry smile and nodded.

Asuka gave him a skeptical “Hmph” look, but Aino looked delighted. “So… you’re happy, Renjō-kun.”

Her voice was cheerful, her sapphire eyes sparkling as she looked at him.

Looking back, Toru would think this was the turning point. If he had rejected Aino here, things would have been different.

At the very least, he wouldn’t have ended up in the unforeseen situation of becoming Aino Lyuti’s fiancé.

☆

Kōbunkan, the school Toru and the others attended, prided itself on its free-spirited atmosphere as a prestigious academy. During lunch break, students could go off-campus to buy bread at a convenience store or eat at a restaurant.

On the other hand, the school had a fairly luxurious cafeteria, and the school store always had a line. With 500 students per grade and 3,000 across six grades of middle and high school, it was no surprise.

So, even if Toru was going to eat with Aino, they could choose between eating off-campus or at the cafeteria.

Aino had offered to treat him to the most expensive cafeteria item, but since Toru didn’t intend to let her pay, they weren’t limited to the cafeteria.

By the way, Toru didn’t bring a bento. No one made one for him, and he wasn’t motivated to make one for himself.

Aino was the same—she didn’t bring a bento either.

“So, Lyuti-san, what do you prefer? Eating out or the cafeteria?”

“Whatever you like, Renjō-kun.”

Aino tilted her head slightly, her flowing golden hair swaying lightly.

Her every gesture was so charming that Toru nearly froze, but he snapped out of it.

It was lunch break now. The two of them were standing in the hallway outside the classroom, about to head off to eat.

Aino stood out so much that lingering would make them the center of attention.

Realizing he’d quickened his pace, Toru noticed Aino struggling to keep up behind him.

Though Toru was of average height for a boy, Aino was petite even among girls. Naturally, if he walked too fast, she couldn’t keep up.

Cursing his thoughtlessness, Toru slowed his pace. Aino seemed to notice, letting out a small giggle.

“You don’t have to be so considerate. I would’ve been fine.”

“You don’t need to push yourself.”

“I’m not pushing myself.”

“Even if you’re fine and not pushing yourself, it bothers me, Lyuti-san.”

“Hmm.”

Aino stared at Toru’s profile as they walked slowly, her expression slightly pleased.

It made Toru feel ticklish.

It wasn’t that he was being considerate because Aino was a beautiful girl. He simply disliked thoughtlessly imposing his own pace on others.

He thought a lack of imagination was something to be ashamed of. It wasn’t about grand “imagination” but something simpler.

If he put himself in Aino’s shoes, it was obvious she’d struggle if he didn’t adjust his pace.

From that perspective, would it be better for Aino—and himself—to eat out or go to the cafeteria?

Going to the cafeteria together might draw stares or cause a commotion among other students.

But eating out could spark even more rumors and speculation.

(It’d be troublesome if people thought it was like a date…)

With that in mind, eating quickly at the cafeteria seemed the better option.

Toru reached that conclusion, believing it would also keep Aino from being put in an awkward position.

“Let’s go to the cafeteria then,” he said.

Aino nodded obediently.

She was quiet, following Toru silently.

Many thought Aino’s silence in class was because she was aloof, acting cold toward others.

Toru had assumed that, as someone special, Aino simply wasn’t interested in her classmates.

But now, he saw her a bit differently.

“Lyuti-san, you’re kind of…” he started.

“Kind of?”

“Shy, maybe?”

Aino’s face turned red instantly.

She glared at him with her blue eyes. “I-I’m not some timid, spineless coward who can’t be honest!”

“I didn’t say all that…” Toru was taken aback by her intense reaction.

Aino seemed to realize her outburst, covering her mouth with her hand, her face reddening to her ears.

“Y-You trapped me!” she accused.

“Wasn’t that more like you digging your own grave?”

“M-Maybe, but…”

Aino mumbled a small “Ugh,” her eyes almost teary.

Toru was now certain that Aino was a shy girl at heart.

Her tough, cold demeanor was just a front; deep down, she was timid.

But he didn’t mean to say it was a bad thing. He reflected that he might have been too direct.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Aino took offense.

Toru didn’t mind if she disliked him (in fact, he wanted distance), but hurting her wasn’t his intention.

“I’m pretty shy myself. And I’m way more of a coward than you, Lyuti-san.”

This wasn’t just to smooth things over—it was how he truly felt.

Toru wasn’t good with people. Unlike Aino, he could manage superficial interactions with classmates, but at his core, he was shy and didn’t reveal his true feelings.

He saw that as a flaw and knew he couldn’t change it.

And he was a coward. That’s why he’d lost his childhood friend, Chika.

Aino looked at him curiously. “Really?”

“Yeah. I’m a timid, spineless coward who can’t be honest. Probably way shyer than you, Lyuti-san.”

Aino giggled at his words, her mood seemingly restored. “So… we’re kind of alike, then.”

She murmured it softly, but happily.

Aino said they were alike, but Toru hadn’t considered that. The idea that ordinary Toru and extraordinary Aino could be similar never crossed his mind.

“I don’t think we’re alike. I don’t have any good qualities, and I’m not special like you, Lyuti-san.”

“Me, special?”

“You know, some people call you the goddess Freyja.”

“R-Really?” Aino’s eyes widened in surprise.

It seemed she was unaware of the nickname.

“Well, Freyja isn’t a Finnish goddess, I think.”

“Um, right. And…” Aino’s sapphire eyes sparkled as she looked at him. “I’m not some goddess. I’m just a normal person, like you, Renjō-kun.”

She giggled happily.

Her joyful expression caught Toru off guard, making his heart skip. He rarely saw her like this.

The Aino in class was a facade, and he probably didn’t know the real her at all.

Before he knew it, they’d reached the cafeteria’s ticket machine. It wasn’t too crowded.

Aino turned to him, her golden hair swaying, and looked up at him with her hands clasped behind her back. “What are you ordering?”

“I’ll get the A set meal…”

“Then I’ll get the same,” Aino murmured with a smile, then quickly looked flustered. “N-Not that I want to match you or anything, okay?”

“Uh, sure…”

From the flow of the conversation, it was clear Aino had chosen the same meal on purpose.

He didn’t know why, though.

Surprisingly, Toru was acting more naturally than he’d expected.

He thought he’d be nervous eating with one of the school’s top beauties, but it wasn’t so bad.

It seemed Aino felt the same. Usually expressionless and alone, she was lively in front of him.

Her words about being alike echoed in his mind.

Without thinking, Toru stared at her.

Noticing his gaze, Aino’s cheeks flushed. “I-Is there something on my face?”

“No, it’s not that.”

Toru quickly denied it. He couldn’t admit he’d been captivated.

Aino’s ever-changing expressions were so different from her usual demeanor.

It reminded him… of Chika—his childhood friend, Kōnoe Chika. She used to laugh like that too.

But Chika was no longer by his side. An incident had torn them apart.

If he got too close to Aino, would he end up hurt like he was with Chika?

That scared him.

(But…)

Aino’s presence was irresistibly captivating. Unlike the ordinary, self-deprecating Toru, she was a beautiful, exceptional girl.

Her radiance dazzled him.

Their food arrived on trays, interrupting his thoughts.

The cafeteria was a large hall filled with tables.

They chose seats at a table in a quieter corner, sitting across from each other.

Since water was self-serve, Toru was about to get some for both of them when he noticed someone approaching and froze.

It was a female student.

Her presence was so commanding it felt like the space around her was different.

Her glossy black hair was long, and she was a tall, stunning beauty.

Her strikingly beautiful face had a cold edge, and her figure was impeccable.

When her strong-willed black eyes turned toward him, Toru felt himself shrink.

He knew her well. She was the person he dreaded most in the world.

“Well, Renjō-kun, it’s rare to see you with a girl,” said his childhood friend, Kōnoe Chika, with a bright smile.

To others, her smile might seem perfect.

But Toru noticed… her eyes weren’t smiling.

“You’re alone yourself, Kōnoe-san?” he asked.

“Just by chance. Unlike you, I’m not always living a lonely life.”

“Sorry about that,” Toru replied quietly.

But inside, he thought this was the worst possible timing. Of all people, he’d run into the one he least wanted to see.

Aino looked between Toru and Chika. She could likely sense the negative emotions Chika directed at him.

Chika narrowed her black eyes, amused, and studied Aino as if appraising her. “Are you… Renjō-kun’s girlfriend?”

Aino met Chika’s gaze warily. Both being well-known, they probably knew each other’s names and faces.

“What if I am?” Aino replied.

(Come on, just deny it…)

Of course, Aino wasn’t his girlfriend.

So why did she give a half-affirming response?

Toru couldn’t understand her reasoning, but her answer was enough to displease Chika.

Chika’s refined face twitched slightly—a change only Toru, her childhood friend, would notice.

If Toru had a girlfriend, it would bother Chika for reasons of her own.

Chika smiled broadly. “I wouldn’t recommend dating a failure like Renjō-kun.”

“D-Don’t badmouth Renjō-kun. It’s… none of your business, is it?”

Despite being intimidated by Chika’s commanding presence, Aino stood her ground.

Chika murmured, “Oh?”

(This is bad…)

Toru tried to stop Chika, fearing she might reveal something they kept secret at school.

But it was too late.

Chika’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “It is my business.”

“Why? You’re just his childhood friend, right?”

“No. Because I… was Renjō-kun’s fiancée.”

Chika said it in a sing-song, beautiful tone, laughing amusedly.

“F-Fiancée? You were engaged to Renjō-kun, Kōnoe-san?” Aino repeated, eyes wide with shock.

Toru understood her surprise.

But her voice was loud.

This was a top-secret matter. It would be bad if others overheard.

Toru glanced around nervously, but fortunately, the noisy cafeteria drowned out her voice.

No other students were close enough to hear.

Aino, the petite blonde beauty, and Chika, the elegant black-haired beauty, were among the school’s top five in looks, so they naturally drew attention, but other students only watched from a distance.

Relieved, Toru glared at Chika. “Kōnoe-san… that breaks our promise. We agreed to keep the past a secret at school.”

“Oh, it’s fine. It’s a fact that you and I were engaged due to family circumstances. Not something I like to remember, though.”

Chika’s words cut into Toru’s heart. To her, their engagement was a distasteful memory.

He knew that, but it was still painful. After all, Toru had had a crush on her.

Their relationship wasn’t just that of childhood friends—it was complicated.

For one, Toru and Chika were cousins. The Kōnoe family, Chika’s family, was one of Japan’s wealthiest.

The Kōnoe Group was a major conglomerate in Nagoya, spanning banking, department stores, auto parts, and ceramics—known to everyone in the Tōkai region.

Toru’s mother came from the Kōnoe family. When his parents divorced in elementary school, Toru was taken in by them.

So, he and Chika had lived under the same roof at one point.

And, with expectations of contributing to the Kōnoe Group, Toru was arranged to be Chika’s fiancé.

Such an engagement in childhood was unusual, driven by specific circumstances.

The Kōnoe family was old-fashioned, and Chika had been frail as a child.

Another reason, Toru thought, was that even to outsiders, he and Chika were very close as kids.

They saw each other as irreplaceable.

Toru loved Chika and worked hard to become someone worthy of her.

The engagement was a formality arranged by their families, not a romantic relationship.

So, Toru wanted Chika to like him for who he was.

But it didn’t work out. In the end, Toru was kicked out of the Kōnoe family, and the engagement was nullified.

That was the result of a major incident, but regardless, their relationship was irreparably broken.

Chika’s black eyes gleamed as she looked at Aino. “So, I know Renjō-kun very well. Unlike you, Lyuti-san.”

“And what are you trying to say?” Aino asked softly.

Chika smiled brightly. “You should stay away from someone as bad as him. Renjō-kun only cares about himself. When it matters, he’ll abandon even his fiancée.”

Her words were cheerful but laced with clear hostility.

Toru had done something to deserve that. He had hurt Chika deeply.

(Kōnoe-san’s right. Lyuti-san… shouldn’t get involved with me.)

Toru hated himself.

If he got close to Aino, he might hurt her like he did Chika.

At the very least, Chika’s words would make Aino doubt him.

But… Aino shook her head. “I don’t know what happened between you and Renjō-kun, but I don’t think he’s a bad person.”

Her voice was soft but firm. Chika’s words didn’t seem to affect her at all.

Chika’s large black eyes widened. For a brief moment, she looked slightly panicked.

“Why do you think that, Lyuti-san? Don’t you trust what I’m saying? I’ve known him since we were kids.”

“Because I’m looking at the Renjō-kun right now, not the one from the past. The Renjō-kun in front of me is a kind person.”

Aino smiled, then blushed slightly, lowering her blue eyes in embarrassment.

Chika looked stunned.

To Toru, Aino’s words felt fresh.

(That’s right…)

Chika knew the old Toru. She’d known him since childhood, but that wasn’t the same as the Toru now.

To Aino, Toru was the person standing here now.

It was an obvious statement, but Toru felt a little saved by Aino’s words.

Even the perfect superhuman Chika was visibly flustered, a rare sight. She glared sharply at Aino.

“You’ll regret this.”

“I won’t regret it. I’m not like you, Kōnoe-san,” Aino replied.

Chika faltered, then regained her composure with a confident smile. “You’re right. I’m Renjō-kun’s childhood friend and was once his fiancée, but you’re different, Lyuti-san.”

“I can’t be his childhood friend, but I can be his fiancée, can’t I?”

Aino tilted her head slightly, her golden hair swaying lightly.

Chika was speechless. Toru, unable to process Aino’s words, froze.

Aino looked up at him with her gem-like blue eyes. “Renjō-kun, I want you to be my fiancé.”