Chapter Two: Mina rakastan sinua
After school.
Toru was at a café with Aino.
Aino’s fair cheeks were flushed as she glanced around nervously.
Being alone with a boy in a café might be embarrassing for her.
But she was the reason they were here.
The encounter with Chika during lunch break had been intense.
After Aino told Toru she wanted him to be her fiancé, Chika’s face had paled.
Since middle school, Chika had maintained her perfect superhuman image, never losing to anyone.
Seeing her so rattled was rare. Asuka, who was obsessed with “defeating Kōnoe Chika,” would have been thrilled to witness it.
Chika muttered, “There’s no way that could happen.” She seemed about to say more, but noticing another student council member approaching, she glared at Toru and Aino before striding away confidently.
Even if the details of their conversation weren’t clear, it was obvious to onlookers that Toru, Aino, and Chika were at odds.
Toru wanted to ask Aino what she meant by the fiancé comment, but with so many eyes on them, it wasn’t the right place.
So, he suggested they go to a café after school.
They were at a chain café in the Unimall underground shopping arcade near Nagoya Station, far from school, so running into classmates was unlikely.
They sat across from each other at a table. The red, plush sofa was comfortable.
Aino ordered an iced cocoa with soft-serve ice cream.
Toru couldn’t help but smile. “You like sweet things?”
“N-Not really… I mean, anyone would order this, right?” Aino said, then lowered her eyes shyly and added softly, “Okay, I do like sweet things.”
“No need to be embarrassed about it. I like sweets too.”
“Really?” Aino smiled, looking a bit pleased.
As Toru was deciding what to order, a female server approached.
Aino looked up and said to her, “Two iced cocoas with soft-serve, please.”
Surprised, Toru looked at Aino, who whispered, “Is it okay if we get the same thing?”
Since he liked both soft-serve and cocoa (in fact, they were favorites), Toru nodded, “Sure, why not?”
The tall, beautiful server overheard their exchange, smiled warmly, and said, “Understood,” before leaving.
“It’s kind of… like a date, huh?” Aino murmured with a smile, then quickly covered her mouth. “N-Not that I wanted to go on a date with you, Renjō-kun!”
“Sorry for dragging you to a place like this.”
“N-No, I was happy you suggested it…” Aino said in a barely audible voice.
At the very least, this wasn’t a date. Toru was here to find out Aino’s intentions.
“Straight to the point—why did you say you want me to be your fiancé?”
If it was a lie to rattle Chika, that would be fine, but would the timid Aino go that far?
When he asked, Aino shook her head nervously. “N-No, I was serious… I invited you to lunch because of that too.”
“I see. That clears up one mystery, but now there’s a bigger one. Why me?”
It was a genuine question. Toru and Aino hadn’t been particularly close.
It didn’t seem like Aino was close to any other boys, but asking a near-stranger to be her fiancé wasn’t normal.
Aino nodded. “Since Kōnoe-san was badmouthing you, I blurted out the fiancé thing, but I didn’t explain enough, did I?”
It was probably the most under-explained event in Toru’s short life.
Still, he could narrow down the reasons.
“You need a fiancé, even if it’s just for show, right? Like, to avoid being forced into a marriage?”
Aino’s eyes widened in surprise. He’d hit the mark.
“How did you know?”
“There’s no other reason.”
Even if Aino liked him, she wouldn’t jump to “be my fiancé.”
There didn’t seem to be any advantage to choosing Toru as a fiancé.
To be precise, considering his connection to the Kōnoe family, there might be some benefit.
But Aino didn’t seem to know about his ties to the Kōnoe family. She was genuinely shocked to learn he and Chika were once engaged, and it didn’t seem like an act.
If so, it made sense that Aino needed a fiancé for some reason.
The reasons for needing a fiancé were limited. Being pressured into an unwanted marriage was a plausible one.
His guess had just happened to be right.
Aino nodded, impressed. “That’s right.”
“I can’t say much, but… you know I was born in Finland, right?”
“Yeah, I know.”
That was about all Toru knew about Finland—that it was east of Sweden and west of Russia.
“My mother is the representative of the Japanese branch of a Finnish company.”
He’d heard Aino was the daughter of a Finnish conglomerate. Her mother must be part of that corporate family.
She was probably as much of an heiress as Chika.
“But the company’s been in the red for a while… and the Finnish headquarters cut off support. So, they sought funding from a major Japanese company to rebuild…”
The president of that company made a condition: they’d support her mother’s company in exchange for Aino’s engagement to one of their relatives.
It was an outdated proposal, and Aino’s reluctance was understandable.
The problem was that Aino’s mother was open to the idea.
Aino looked down. “My mother doesn’t care about me. She only cares about her company.”
“So you want me to be your fiancé to refuse that proposal?”
Aino nodded. “If I show I already have a fiancé, they’ll back off.”
“But I’m not sure that would work…”
Parental consent was needed for minors to marry, but what about engagements? Toru wasn’t sure.
“Please! Just a temporary, pretend fiancé. I won’t cause you any trouble.”
“Why me, though? There must be plenty of other guys.”
Toru asked again. He understood why Aino needed a fiancé, but not why she chose him.
Aino lowered her eyes. “Because… you’re kind, Renjō-kun.”
“Am I?”
“And you don’t seem like the type to take advantage of my weaknesses.”
“I might, you know?”
“R-Really?” Aino’s face reddened as she looked at him seriously.
Toru shrugged. “No, I wouldn’t.”
“A-Anyway, I need you, Renjō-kun. I don’t have anyone else to rely on.”
Looking up at him, Aino’s plea left Toru hesitant.
Being relied on by such a cute girl didn’t feel bad.
She’d stood up for him against Chika. If he could, he wanted to help.
But could he really help her? Her proposal seemed unrealistic.
And surely there was someone better suited to help her.
What could two minors like Toru and Aino do?
“You still have time to consider the proposal, right?”
“Um… yeah.”
“Then think about other solutions. And maybe look for other fiancé candidates. I just happened to help you when you almost got hurt, Lyuti-san.”
Aino opened and closed her mouth, as if wanting to say something.
But she swallowed her words.
Instead, she whispered, “If there’s no other way… will you help me, Renjō-kun?”
Toru hesitated for a moment. But there was only one answer.
“Of course. I’ll help you as much as I can, Lyuti-san.”
Aino’s face lit up, her blue eyes sparkling. She looked so happy it was almost mesmerizing.
Before he knew it, Toru had gotten deeply involved with Aino. That wasn’t supposed to happen.
For now, he decided to look for other solutions. Information was key.
“What’s the name of the company trying to help your mother’s company?”
It might not be his place to ask, but he had no choice.
When Aino told him the company name, Toru realized he wasn’t entirely unconnected.
“Lyuti-san… that company…”
“What about it?”
“It’s part of the Kōnoe Group.”
In other words, it was a company run by Toru and Chika’s family.
That meant the man Aino was being pressured to marry was likely a Kōnoe relative.
Who could it be? Toru probably knew them, but… when he asked Aino, she didn’t know the name.
He’d have to find out himself.
“Lyuti-san, mind if I step out for a bit?”
“Sure, but why?”
“I’m going to call the Kōnoe main house to check.”
Toru stepped outside the café and took out his phone in a quiet corner of the underground arcade.
He called the liaison between him and the Kōnoe family.
The call was answered before the first ring ended.
“Hey, Toru-kun! You hardly call, so your big sister was feeling lonely!”
The woman’s voice was strikingly cheerful. Toru chuckled.
“Glad to hear you’re doing well, Fuyuka-san.”
Fuyuka-san, the female secretary of the Kōnoe family, is a woman in her late twenties with a cool vibe. However, her coolness is only skin-deep; her personality is quite carefree.
Fuyuka-san lives and works at the Kōnoe main house. She is tasked with handling communication between Toru and the Kōnoe family, effectively serving as his guardian in practice.
She is the only person from the main house who treats Toru kindly, and he is grateful for that. Since she is easy to talk to, he can even ask her who is intended to be Aino’s fiancé.
That said, diving straight into the main topic would be unwise.
“I have something I’d like to ask you, Fuyuka-san,” Toru said as a preface, pondering how to broach the subject. But his caution was unnecessary.
Fuyuka-san let out an “Ehehe” laugh, a sound hardly befitting an adult.
“Calling me at this timing means it’s about that, right? Sorry for the delay in letting you know!”
“That?” Toru asked.
“Come on, don’t play dumb. Didn’t you hear it straight from your classmate, Aino Lyuti-san?”
Fuyuka-san’s flippant tone gave Toru a sinking feeling. Why did Fuyuka-san know about Lyuti-san?
In a relentlessly cheerful voice, Fuyuka-san continued, “A blonde, blue-eyed beauty as your fiancée? Toru-kun, you’re one lucky guy!”
“Uh, so that means…” Toru started.
“The Kōnoe main house plans to make you, Toru-kun, Aino Lyuti-san’s fiancé!” Fuyuka-san announced gleefully over the phone.
“That’s news to me. Why would I be Lyuti-san’s fiancé?” Toru asked.
The Kōnoe family’s secretary, Fuyuka-san, had just declared that Toru was to be Aino’s fiancé.
It was a bolt from the blue, utterly abrupt.
Over the phone, Fuyuka-san chuckled. “You didn’t know? Sorry about that!”
“So, the opinions of the people involved—us—don’t matter at all?” Toru pressed.
“The world’s unfair, isn’t it? That’s just how it is,” Fuyuka-san replied without a hint of remorse. Toru knew she wasn’t the one who made the decision, but still.
“If I marry Lyuti-san, her mother’s company becomes part of the Kōnoe clan. That’s the deal, right?” Toru asked.
“Exactly. Arranged marriages are so outdated, but that’s the head of the family’s intention, no doubt about it,” Fuyuka-san confirmed.
When Toru was kicked out of the Kōnoe main house, he lost his position as Chika’s fiancé. Since then, he had assumed the Kōnoe family expected nothing of him. But now, it seemed they intended to use him again.
If the Lyuti family’s company is family-run, sending a Kōnoe relative to marry into it would allow the Kōnoe family to take control.
“Leaving me aside, I feel bad for Lyuti-san. To have her engagement decided by a third party’s convenience…” Toru said.
“That’s up to you, isn’t it, Toru-kun?” Fuyuka-san replied.
“Up to me?” Toru echoed.
“If you become Lyuti-san’s ideal fiancé, it’ll all work out. If she falls head over heels for you, there’s no problem, right?”
“That’s absurd,” Toru protested.
“I think you can do it, Toru-kun. If I were her, I’d be thrilled!” Fuyuka-san teased.
“Please don’t mess with me…” Toru sighed.
“Just so you know, Toru-kun and Lyuti-san’s consent is technically required. But it’s already been decided,” Fuyuka-san added.
Neither Toru, Aino, nor even Fuyuka-san could change the Kōnoe family’s decision. That said, an engagement shouldn’t proceed without the consent of those involved.
If Toru and Aino resisted as hard as Aino had tried to, things might change. For instance, if someone else from the Kōnoe family became Aino’s fiancé, it wouldn’t inconvenience the company. That could be an option.
“Let me think about it,” Toru said.
“Take your time!” Fuyuka-san replied in her usual light tone before saying, “See ya!” and hanging up.
(What a mess…) Toru thought, troubled by how to explain this to Aino.
For now, he decided to return to the café. As he entered from the underground mall, he noticed something unusual.
Aino was sitting at the same table, but two young men were standing around her. The tall men were grinning and talking to her.
(Is she… being hit on?) Toru wondered.
Aino’s striking appearance wasn’t just noticeable at school. A blonde, blue-eyed, beautiful Caucasian girl in a blazer uniform naturally drew attention. Her petite frame and quiet demeanor likely made her an easy target.
They seemed to be asking for her contact information, and Aino looked troubled, trembling slightly with her head lowered.
Toru hurriedly returned to the table. When Aino saw him, her face lit up.
“Toru-kun!” she called out.
Being called by his first name startled him. Aino’s expression turned joyful, then suddenly confident as she puffed out her chest.
“I already have someone I’m dating,” she declared.
Toru almost asked, Really? but then noticed Aino staring at him expectantly. He realized she meant him as her “boyfriend” to fend off the men.
Understanding her intent, Toru smiled at the two men. “So, yeah, she’s my girlfriend.”
The men exchanged glances, shrugged with a “Can’t be helped” look, and left.
Relieved, Toru looked at Aino, who grabbed his uniform sleeve tightly.
“Lyuti-san?” he said.
“…I was scared,” Aino admitted, her blue eyes slightly teary as she looked at him.
Being approached by two much taller men must have been frightening, Toru thought.
“Sorry. I didn’t think this would happen and left you alone,” he apologized.
“No, thank you for helping me, Toru-kun,” Aino said, then covered her mouth, blushing. There was no need to call him by his first name anymore since the pretense was over.
As if to hide her embarrassment, Aino spoke quickly. “This kind of thing… happens a lot. But I’m fine on my own. I can protect myself.”
“Really?” Toru asked, sensing it was bravado.
Aino hesitated, then said in a tiny voice, “The truth is… I wish I had someone to protect me.”
Her gem-like eyes gazed at Toru, as if expecting something.
Toru couldn’t bring himself to say he’d protect her. He couldn’t make such an irresponsible promise. Just as he had failed to help Chika, he didn’t believe he could be of help to Aino.
Still, he was already deeply involved with her. Aino looked at him with concern.
“So, the person who’s supposed to be my fiancé… what kind of person are they?” she asked.
Toru had to tell her what Fuyuka-san had confirmed.
“It’s me,” he said.
“Huh?” Aino’s blue eyes widened, and she tilted her head cutely.
Toru explained the situation: as a member of the Kōnoe family, he was to become Aino’s fiancé, with the eventual goal of marrying her to secure her mother’s company for the Kōnoe clan.
That was the Kōnoe family’s aim.
“Unbelievable…” Aino murmured.
Toru nodded. “I get why you’d feel that way. But this kind of outdated nonsense is exactly what the Kōnoe Group does.”
“No, that’s not it…” Aino said. “I’m just shocked that you, Renjō-kun, are my fiancé. What a coincidence.”
“Well, yeah, it’s surprising,” Toru admitted.
“Maybe it’s fate,” Aino said, looking at him with a delighted smile.
“So, if you, Renjō-kun, become my fiancé, everything’s solved, right?” she added.
“I suppose, but that means marrying me. Are you okay with that?” Toru asked.
“I-I don’t mean I want to marry you or anything…” Aino stammered, her cheeks red.
Even if they followed the Kōnoe family’s plan and got engaged, they were just classmates, not lovers. It would complicate things.
“Don’t you hate the idea of marrying someone you don’t even like, Lyuti-san?” Toru asked.
“W-Well…” Aino fidgeted with her pale fingers, glancing at him shyly. “I mean… if it’s with you, Renjō-kun, I might… want to get married.”
“Huh?” Toru blinked.
“N-Not in a weird way! I just mean, if I have to marry someone else, I’d rather it be you. You’re my age, cool, kind, and… you understand me,” Aino explained.
“I wouldn’t say I understand you,” Toru replied. Until recently, they were barely acquaintances, so he couldn’t claim to know her well. Though he had learned that Aino wasn’t the aloof, cold girl she seemed but a shy, honest girl who struggled to express herself.
Aino smiled. “You can understand me from now on. I think… you will.”
“Really? You’re okay with me?” Toru asked.
“Yes,” Aino said. “I’ll accept the engagement with you, Renjō-kun. No, I mean… I want to marry you.”
Her blue eyes sparkled mischievously, and she giggled. Her face was red to her ears, but her expression was beautiful and gentle.
Toru thought it over. Was Aino really okay with marrying someone she didn’t love? Still, he understood that, realistically, choosing him as her fiancé was her best option.
Aino was willing to accept the engagement—more than that, both the Kōnoe family and her mother likely wanted it.
If that was the case, the only thing left was Toru’s decision.
(…What do I want?) he wondered.
Toru didn’t have anyone else he harbored feelings for. His childhood friend, Chika, was no longer by his side.
Even so, the idea of getting engaged to Aino felt utterly overwhelming.
Even if it was just a formality, being engaged meant that, barring other circumstances, they would end up married.
Aino looked up at him anxiously. “Is it… no good?”
“It’s not that it’s no good, but this kind of thing needs careful thought…” Toru replied.
“I-I’ve thought about it a lot!” Aino insisted.
“Really?” Toru asked.
“Really,” Aino nodded vigorously.
Toru wasn’t convinced. It felt like she was speaking impulsively.
He tapped his fingers on the table. “For example, could you have kids with me?”
Aino’s face turned bright red, and she glared at him with her blue eyes. “T-That’s… sexual harassment!”
“It’s a fact. Marrying me means that kind of thing could happen. So you should think it through carefully,” Toru said.
“…I could,” Aino mumbled.
“Huh?” Toru blinked.
“If you, Renjō-kun, wanted to do that kind of thing, it’d be okay. O-Of course, having kids would be after marriage,” Aino said, her face growing even redder as she averted her eyes.
Toru was stunned by her response and realized his own recklessness. He’d meant to make her hesitate, but it backfired. Worse, he’d inadvertently pushed her to say something outrageous.
“D-Do you want to do that kind of thing, Renjō-kun?” Aino asked, turning the question back on him.
Toru was at a loss. Before him was Aino’s petite frame, her clear blue eyes sparkling beautifully, her small red lips glistening. Asuka had mentioned that Aino had a surprisingly good figure. Toru’s gaze unwittingly drifted to her chest, noticing its gentle curve.
Aino gasped, wrapping her arms around herself to cover her chest, blushing. “Were you just looking at my chest?”
“I wasn’t,” Toru lied.
“Liar,” Aino shot back.
Toru felt his cheeks heat up. He’d messed up.
He thought Aino would hate him for it, but her expression showed confusion rather than disgust. Eventually, a faint, pleased smile appeared on her face.
“So, Renjō-kun’s a boy after all,” she said.
“Didn’t you know? I’m just another dumb guy,” Toru replied.
“You always seem so uninterested in everything, so I thought maybe you weren’t into girls either,” Aino said.
“No way. If it’s someone like you, Lyuti-san—” Toru started, then caught himself. Saying he’d be interested in a beautiful girl like her would be a mistake. Besides, he doubted she’d be flattered by a compliment from someone like him.
But Aino’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “Someone like me? What were you going to say?”
“Forget it,” Toru said.
“No way. It’s bugging me. If you don’t tell me, I won’t forgive you for staring at my chest,” Aino teased.
Toru shrugged, realizing it’d be worse to stay silent. Resigned, he muttered, “I was going to say, if it’s a beautiful girl like you, Lyuti-san, there’s no way I wouldn’t be interested.”
“R-Really? So… you think I’m cute?” Aino asked.
“I think 99 percent of guys would say you’re cute,” Toru replied.
“Not other guys. I’m asking if you think I’m cute, Renjō-kun,” Aino pressed.
“W-Well… I think you’re cute,” Toru admitted.
“How cute?” she asked.
Toru gave up holding back. There was no turning back now. “I think you’re probably the first or second cutest girl in school.”
“Hmm, really…” Aino’s response was curt, but she fidgeted with her hands, blushing.
Toru was embarrassed too. How had the conversation veered here?
Aino blinked, as if realizing something. “‘First or second in school’ means there’s someone else you think is just as cute?”
“Well…” Toru hesitated.
“Kōnoe Chika-san?” Aino asked.
Reluctantly, Toru nodded. He couldn’t lie.
Aino muttered, “I see,” looking slightly displeased. “Kōnoe-san’s really beautiful, isn’t she?”
“Yeah. But she’s got nothing to do with me anymore,” Toru said flatly.
Aino stared at him intently. “Hey, Renjō-kun… what happened between you and Kōnoe-san back then?”
Toru froze, his breath catching. She’d asked about the one thing he least wanted to discuss.
Just then, their order arrived—an iced cocoa with soft serve. It looked… sweeter than expected. Aino’s face lit up.
Perfect timing.
“Let’s eat before it melts,” Toru said.
(Maybe I can dodge this…)
But it wasn’t that easy.
Aino glared at him, her expression sharp. “D-Don’t think you can dodge this!”
“What do you want to know about me and Kōnoe-san for?”
“Because I’m going to be your fiancée, Renjō-kun. I want to know about your ex-fiancée,” Aino replied.
She had a point. Though Toru hadn’t agreed to the engagement yet, the Kōnoe Group was deeply involved in Aino’s situation. It might be better to explain his history with Chika upfront.
Toru took a deep breath and began. The incident had happened three years ago.
“You know that Kōnoe-san and I are childhood friends and cousins, right?” he said.
“Yeah… and that you were engaged,” Aino nodded. Chika herself had revealed it, though their relationship was supposed to be a secret. If it got out at school, it’d cause a stir, especially with how many guys wanted to get close to Chika.
“So, please keep this a secret,” Toru said.
“Of course. So… I’m the only one besides Kōnoe-san who knows your secret, huh?” Aino said, giggling happily for some reason.
Toru didn’t think it was an amusing story, but Aino seemed delighted.
“Back then, Chika was a frail kid. She was in and out of the hospital, and in elementary school, she missed a lot of days,” Toru explained.
“Really? She doesn’t seem like that at all now,” Aino said.
“Well, she’s completely healthy now, with no weaknesses. But back then, her illness meant she was often alone and downcast,” Toru continued.
“And you were there with her?” Aino asked.
“Exactly. That was my role. I’d sit by her bedside, talking to her, and Kōnoe-san… Chika would smile happily. When we got engaged, I told her, ‘No matter what, I’ll protect you and stay by your side.’ I was just a kid, but I thought I was cool. Looking back, it’s embarrassing, but Chika… she seemed happy,” Toru said, a nostalgic feeling washing over him. Back then, his relationship with Chika was different. She needed him.
Toru snapped back to reality. Aino was glaring at him, slightly annoyed. “That sounds like you’re gushing about her.”
“It might’ve been if we were still engaged, but that’s not reality,” Toru said.
Aino’s face fell, as if realizing her mistake. She looked at him nervously. “Sorry, that was insensitive.”
Toru smiled. If anyone was insensitive, it was him too. “It’s fine. The point is, the Kōnoe family expected me to be Chika’s shield as her fiancé. So why do you think I lost that role?”
“Because… you couldn’t fulfill it?” Aino guessed.
“Exactly. I failed to protect Kōnoe-san. As you know, she’s the daughter of a major corporate group, so she always had bodyguards. But it wasn’t foolproof. In our first year of middle school, she was kidnapped for ransom. And so was I,” Toru said.
“That’s… a huge deal!” Aino exclaimed.
“It didn’t make the news. There was an agreement between the police and the media. But for me and Kōnoe-san, it was a big deal,” Toru said.
What happened was simple. Toru couldn’t prevent Chika’s kidnapping in the first place, which was understandable—he was just a middle schooler. But what happened next was the problem.
“I abandoned Kōnoe-san and escaped,” Toru said quietly.
“What?” Aino’s blue eyes widened as she stared at him.
“I had a chance to escape from the kidnappers, and I took it without trying to help her. In the end, the police rescued her unharmed, but I lost the trust of both Kōnoe-san and the Kōnoe family. That’s why the engagement was called off,” Toru explained.
“B-But in a situation like that, you couldn’t help it…” Aino said.
“I could’ve stayed by her side, but I fled to save myself. I was expected to protect the Kōnoe family’s precious daughter, even at the cost of my life,” Toru said.
“That’s… unfair,” Aino protested.
“Even setting aside the Kōnoe family, from Kōnoe-san’s perspective, the fiancé who was supposed to protect her and stay by her side betrayed her. Of course she’d be disappointed,”
Yes, Toru had done something irreparable. The engagement’s dissolution wasn’t just his fault; it was also the result of power struggles between the main and branch families. But the outcome was the same.
Even if his life was at risk, Toru should’ve stayed with Chika. If he had, he wouldn’t have lost her or been consumed by endless self-loathing.
“That’s the kind of guy I am, Lyuti-san. Do you still want me as your fiancé? You’ll end up disappointed, just like Kōnoe-san,” Toru said, his tone resigned.
He couldn’t move forward. Even if someone needed him, he might fail them again. He feared losing the trust of someone important to him once more.
Aino was charming, kind, and delicate. Any guy would be thrilled to get close to her. And she wanted to be engaged to Toru. But if the same thing happened again and he lost her like he lost Chika, he might never recover.
That terrified him.
Aino gazed at him with pure, beautiful eyes. “I think that’s wrong.”
“What do you mean?” Toru asked.
“You were the one protecting Kōnoe-san all the time, right? What did she ever do for you?” Aino asked.
Toru hadn’t considered that. Chika was far more accomplished than him, and he’d worked hard to be worthy of standing by her side, to protect her frail self. But the idea of her doing something for him in return never crossed his mind.
Aino looked at him gently. “You’re supposed to be partners. It’s awful that you were expected to protect her one-sidedly and then got blamed when you couldn’t. If I become your fiancée, Renjō-kun, I want to support you.”
Aino said this firmly, then looked down shyly. “If there’s anything I can do, that is…”
Toru scooped a spoonful of soft serve and thought. She was right—an engagement shouldn’t be one-sided devotion.
“If you’d support me, Lyuti-san, I’d have to support you too,” Toru murmured.
Aino’s face lit up, and Toru realized his mistake. It sounded like he’d accepted the engagement. While it was true he had few options, there was still time.
Maybe there was a way to save Aino’s mother’s company without an engagement, convincing the Kōnoe family otherwise.
“I-I’m not saying I’ll get engaged to you, Lyuti-san. Can you give me a bit more time to think?” Toru asked.
“Sure,” Aino said, giggling. She reached out, and Toru braced himself, but her pale fingers gently brushed his cheek. There was soft serve on her fingertip—apparently, he had some on his face like a mustache.
Aino smiled happily, licking her finger. Toru felt his cheeks heat up and couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Her eyes sparkled mischievously. “I’m not like Kōnoe-san. So remember, I want to marry you, Renjō-kun.”
☆
The day after Aino pressed him about the engagement, Toru was in the school library, located on the fourth and fifth floors of the annex. The private school, with 2,500 middle and high school students, had a spacious library with an extensive collection.
It was Toru’s favorite place, where he often passed time aimlessly. But today, he had a purpose.
Sitting at a reading table, he opened a softcover book titled A Guide to Understanding Finland. The reason? Aino was Finnish.
In class that day, Aino hadn’t been her usual solitary self. She’d been surprisingly forward, approaching Toru at every opportunity: “Renjō-kun, you’re on class duty? Need help?” or “Hey, Renjō-kun, want to eat lunch together?” Each time, she’d look at him with sparkling, upturned eyes, whispering, “Will you marry me?” in his ear.
It was quiet enough that others probably didn’t hear, but if it got out, it’d be trouble. The boys in class were already jealous, and Asuka was inexplicably grumpy.
Toru couldn’t help but be hyper-aware of Aino, constantly dodging her advances. He understood her desperation—if the engagement didn’t happen, she’d be forced to marry some stranger.
But Toru couldn’t decide.
(Even if it’s just a formality, can I really be of help to Lyuti-san?)
Yet, Aino’s sparkling blue eyes and her plea of “Marry me” stirred something in him. Since being abandoned by Chika and the Kōnoe family, no one had needed him. But now, Aino did.
Reading about Finland was, perhaps, his way of wanting to understand her.
(No, I’m just a little curious, that’s all, he told himself, flipping a page.)
Toru knew little about Finland—just that it was a cold country in northern Europe. The book covered politics, economy, history, culture, and tourism, with contributions from forty writers. Toru was surprised that a small country of five million had so many experts in Japan.
Flipping through, he learned that Finland had a high proportion of blonde, blue-eyed people compared to other European countries. Aino’s beautiful blonde hair and sapphire-like eyes were like something out of a painting. However, Finnish women were often tall, many over 170 cm.
(Lyuti-san’s pretty tiny, though…)
He recalled her stretching on a stepstool in a bookstore, desperately reaching for a book, and chuckled.
Then he caught himself—thinking about Aino again.
A shadow fell over the page. Someone was peering over him. Toru looked up to see a petite girl.
“What are you reading?” Aino asked, tilting her head. Her golden hair swayed, brushing the chest of her blazer uniform.
Toru stared at her, and she smiled back, giggling. Panicking, he hid the book. If she knew he was reading about Finland because of her, it’d be embarrassing given the timing.
But Aino didn’t like that he hid it. She puffed out her cheeks, frowning. “Why’d you hide it?”
“Personal privacy,” Toru said.
“A naughty book? I didn’t think you’d read those, Renjō-kun,” she teased.
“It’s not a dirty book,” Toru replied.
“You don’t read naughty books?” Aino asked.
“…I don’t read them openly in the library,” Toru clarified.
“Oh, so you read them at home?” Aino said, giving him a skeptical look.
Toru shrugged. “Like I said yesterday, I’m just another dumb guy.”
“Hmm,” Aino murmured, blushing slightly. “If we get married, you might not need naughty books anymore.”
“Huh?” Toru stared at her.
Aino quickly hugged herself, covering her chest. “I-I didn’t mean it in a weird way!”
“Then what did you mean?” Toru asked, amused.
Clearly, she meant it in a weird way, and she’d brought it up herself. Aino mumbled, “Ugh,” her cheeks bright red, glaring at him with teary eyes.
“Y-Yesterday, you said you wanted to have kids with me, Renjō-kun!” she exclaimed.
Her beautiful voice echoed through the library, freezing the air. She’d been speaking quietly, but her emotions got the better of her, and her voice carried.
Toru hurriedly looked around. It was after school, and they were in a corner of the reading area, so not many people were nearby. But two girls at the next table were blushing and staring.
“Lyuti-san… I didn’t say that,” Toru said.
“You did!” Aino insisted.
Toru thought back. He had said that marriage would mean having kids. And he’d accidentally stared at her chest, saying he’d be interested in a beautiful girl like her. In a way, he’d said something close.
They locked eyes. Aino’s face was red, and Toru felt his cheeks heat up too.
Aino leaned in, her lips close to his ear. “Like I said yesterday… if you marry me, it’s okay to do that kind of thing.”
Her whisper tickled his ear, making his heart race. She pulled back, giggling.
Toru suppressed his flustered feelings and shrugged. “You are saying it in a weird way, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, maybe. So, will you get engaged to me?” Aino asked.
Toru was stumped. That was the fourth time she’d asked today.
“Lyuti-san… can you give me a bit more time to think?” he asked.
Aino smiled at Toru’s words, as if certain that he would eventually accept her.
Toru hadn’t anticipated Aino being this forward. If things continued like this, he might end up swept along and agreeing to the engagement.
With the Kōnoe main house and his guardian, Fuyuka-san, orchestrating the engagement, there were no obstacles. The groundwork had already been laid.
Just then, a female student approached from behind Aino. She was tall, beautiful, and, as usual, wore her uniform slightly disheveled. It was their classmate, Sakurai Asuka.
Her expression was sour. Standing with her hands on her hips, she looked back and forth between Toru and Aino.
“Sakurai-san, what’s wrong?” Toru asked cautiously.
Asuka glared at him with narrowed eyes. “I saw a guy making inappropriate comments to a female classmate.”
“Me?” Toru asked.
“You said something to Lyuti-san about wanting to have kids, didn’t you?” Asuka said.
Apparently, she’d overheard. Aino’s voice carried well, likely reaching far enough to be heard.
“Tch, there’s context—” Toru started, then faltered.
What kind of context could possibly justify saying something like that to a beautiful classmate?
“Uh, Sakurai-san, do you think I’d say something weird to Lyuti-san for no reason?” Toru tried.
“Well… normally, I wouldn’t think you’d say something like that, Renjō…” Asuka trailed off, her expression suggesting she was curious why Aino had said it.
“You and Lyuti-san seem awfully close lately…” Asuka said, her eyes wavering with unease as she looked at Toru.
It was true—they’d barely spoken before but now seemed suddenly close.
Aino giggled. “Hey, Sakurai-san, I’m… going to marry Renjō-kun.”
Toru stared at Aino, shocked. She looked unfazed.
He hadn’t explicitly told her to keep it a secret, but he never expected her to announce it to Asuka’s face.
Asuka blinked, dumbfounded, as if Aino’s words were too abrupt to process. A few seconds later, her face contorted in shock.
“M-Marriage? You and Renjō?” Asuka stammered.
“Yup. We’re getting married, so it’s not weird to talk about having kids, right?” Aino said.
“Why would you two get married?” Asuka asked.
Toru explained it was due to family circumstances, omitting details about the Kōnoe main house. Asuka, overwhelmed with confusion, pressed a hand to her forehead and looked down.
“That’s… ridiculous. Arranged marriages in this day and age? Unbelievable…” Asuka said.
“But it’s happening,” Toru replied.
“What I don’t get isn’t the facts—it’s your feelings. How can you and Lyuti-san accept such an unfair engagement?”
Toru was at a loss. Asuka’s point was valid. The engagement was decided by the Kōnoe and Lyuti families without regard for their feelings.
Aino spoke up. “Sakurai-san… do you like Renjō-kun?”
“Huh? W-Why would I like Renjō…?” Asuka stammered.
“Just a feeling,” Aino said, her expression serious.
Asuka’s cheeks reddened, her eyes darting. “Tch, that’s…”
“I’d like an answer,” Aino pressed, clasping her hands in front of her petite frame and staring straight at Asuka.
Asuka, flustered, blushed deeply. It was understandable—she’d been suddenly asked if she liked Toru. But her reaction seemed excessive.
“I-I…” Asuka began.
“Which is it?” Aino asked, her gaze unwavering.
(Why does Lyuti-san think Sakurai-san likes me?) Toru wondered, surprised that Asuka didn’t laugh it off or deny it outright.
Asuka looked down, fidgeting hesitantly. “It’s not like… I like Renjō or anything.”
“Really?” Aino asked.
“Of course it’s true!” Asuka shouted stubbornly.
They were in a library reading area where talking was allowed, but Toru thought she should lower her voice. Still, the atmosphere wasn’t one he could interrupt.
Aino’s face lit up, and she giggled. “Okay, then I don’t need to hold back, right? I want to marry Renjō-kun.”
Aino said it casually, as if it were obvious. Toru was startled—she’d been saying it since yesterday, but the issue was saying it in front of Asuka.
Asuka looked shocked, staring at Toru and Aino. “Are you serious?”
“I’m serious,” Aino replied.
“Why? You’re not dating Renjō, and you don’t even like him, do you? Marrying him is absurd,” Asuka said.
Aino fell silent for a moment, then gave an enigmatic smile. “Is it that strange? I’m choosing the best option for my happiness.”
“And that’s getting engaged to Renjō?” Asuka asked.
“Yup. It’s way better than marrying someone else,” Aino said.
“But that’s just using Renjō! It’s wrong!” Asuka protested.
“That’s why I’m asking him, ‘Please marry me.’ If my wish becomes his, there’s no problem, right?” Aino said.
“B-But…” Asuka faltered.
“And, you know, I don’t… dislike Renjō-kun,” Aino added, blushing slightly and glancing at Toru with upturned eyes. Her petite frame seemed to cling to him, making him flustered.
Asuka stood there, as if short-circuited, staring blankly.
Toru understood being shocked by a classmate’s sudden engagement, but Asuka’s agitation seemed deeper than that. He’d known her for a while, closer than most girls due to her goal of surpassing Chika. Still, he didn’t think she liked him. Aino seemed to suspect it, but Asuka denied it.
So why was Asuka so rattled?
Aino took Asuka’s hand. Asuka flinched, but Aino smiled brightly. “Will you support us?”
Asuka stared at Aino’s small hand, silent. Toru watched nervously. Finally, Asuka shook off Aino’s hand, muttered, “Sorry,” and fled.
Her uniform skirt fluttered as she left. Toru gazed at her retreating figure until Aino tugged his blazer sleeve, glaring at him with puffed cheeks.
“Sakurai-san’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Aino said.
“Uh, and?” Toru replied.
“I get why you’d stare, but… if we get married, no cheating, okay?” Aino said, her expression almost jealous, as if she truly liked him.
Toru’s heart skipped a beat. What did Aino really think of him? And what did he think of her?
“I haven’t decided to marry or get engaged to you, Lyuti-san,” Toru said.
“Right. But I’ll keep asking until you do. So… will you marry me, Renjō-kun?” Aino said, her sapphire eyes sparkling as she giggled happily.
Toru hesitated. She’d asked five times already. He could reject her firmly, and she’d likely stop.
(Why can’t I do that?)
Because he was starting to nod to her proposal. Being asked to marry her so many times didn’t annoy him—he found himself happy about it. Any guy would feel thrilled being asked by the school’s most beautiful girl, but was that all?
There was no benefit for Toru in this engagement. It was the Kōnoe family’s will, something he was being forced into. (But even if they hadn’t ordered it…) he might still want to agree.
Aino was in trouble, facing marriage to an unknown man due to family circumstances. Toru could save her. The petite girl before him needed him, and he couldn’t suppress his desire to respond—perhaps to make up for failing Chika.
Aino tilted her head. “You’re quiet. Thinking?”
“Yeah, sort of,” Toru said.
Aino gave a mischievous smile, and Toru hesitated, confused by her expression. Then he noticed—the book he’d hidden was gone.
Aino was holding it, staring at the softcover titled A Guide to Understanding Finland.
(Oh no…)
He’d picked it up because Aino was Finnish but hid it to avoid embarrassment. He’d forgotten about it, and Aino had snatched it.
Toru worried about her reaction. Would she find it creepy? But Aino blushed, looking at him shyly. “You were reading this because I’m Finnish?”
“If I said I was just curious about foreign cultures, would you believe me?” Toru asked.
“Nope,” Aino said, giggling. “You wanted to know more about me?”
“Well… maybe,” Toru admitted.
“Really… I’m not that happy about it,” Aino said, clearly delighted.
(She’s so easy to read,) Toru thought. He hadn’t realized how expressive she was. In class, she seemed cold, but maybe she was just lonely.
“Did you know Finland’s divorce rate is much higher than Japan’s?” Aino asked.
“No, that’s surprising,” Toru said. He’d imagined Nordic countries like Finland as prosperous, with robust welfare and education, unlike Japan’s harsh society.
Aino smiled. “Finland’s a normal country. My parents are divorced too.”
Toru was surprised—his parents were divorced as well. “But I think you and I could get along if we got married,” Aino said.
“Really?” Toru asked.
“Yup,” Aino said confidently, though Toru didn’t understand where it came from.
He couldn’t predict such a future. Their relationship was empty—no romantic feelings, let alone marital love. Even if they married, there was no guarantee they’d get along.
Yet Aino seemed to trust him inexplicably. She closed the book and looked at him. “My name, Aino, is spelled A-i-n-o in the alphabet.”
“Does it have a meaning?” Toru asked.
“Aino comes from a maiden of the water in Finnish mythology. She was the most beautiful girl in the land, betrothed to an old god by her mother’s command. She cried and refused, but no one helped her,” Aino said.
Toru stared, stunned. Aino’s situation was eerily similar. “What happened to her?”
“She threw herself into a lake and died. It’s a famous tragedy. But I’m different,” Aino said quietly, meeting Toru’s eyes with her clear blue gaze, shimmering with pure expectation.
“I have you, Renjō-kun. I have a hero the myth didn’t,” she said.
“I’m no hero. I’m a weak person who couldn’t save a childhood friend,” Toru said.
Aino shook her head, smiling gently. “You can save me. Don’t talk about yourself like that. I’m weak too, but I’ll try to support you.”
“Thanks, but…” Toru started.
“Together, we’re not weak,” Aino said firmly, her cheeks red.
Her words sounded almost like a confession. Clasping her hands, she continued, “I want to marry you!”
Her eyes sparkled as she pressed closer—the sixth time she’d said it.
Toru’s usual response was set, but he was shaken. He blurted out that Japanese law didn’t allow marriage at sixteen, delaying his answer.
Aino smiled mischievously. “That’s why I’m asking you to be my fiancé, right? You just have to be my fiancé in name. That’s enough.”
She whispered it. Right—the engagement wasn’t about love, just a practical choice.
Being a fiancé in name gave Toru an excuse to accept. He could convince himself it was to follow the Kōnoe family’s will and save Aino.
But the blushing Aino before him—did she really see it as just a formality? And could Toru see it that way? Accepting meant staying with her, helping her as she supported him. If the engagement continued, they’d marry, and she’d no longer be a stranger.
If she became as irreplaceable as Chika once was, losing her would terrify him. He was tired of fearing loss.
Yet he couldn’t reject the hand she offered. He wasn’t strong enough to abandon a girl seeking his help.
(It’s fine. It’s just a formality…) Toru told himself, facing her.
“I’ll decide now,” he said.
Aino flinched, her eyes wavering with fear of rejection. But his answer was already set.
“I’ll be your fiancé, Lyuti-san,” he said.
“R-Really?!” Aino exclaimed.
“Yeah. But if we can solve this another way, we’ll do that and call off the engagement. It’s just a formality,”
“But until then, I’m your fiancée, right? I’m so happy… thank you,” Aino said, her smile radiant.
Toru was drawn in by it. He had a premonition—he’d get even more involved with her, unable to turn back. Yet he couldn’t refuse her.
Being needed by Aino, by anyone, was something he craved.
Aino giggled, the setting sun illuminating her golden hair. She leaned close to his ear.
“Mina rakastan sinua.”
(T/N: "Mina rakastan sinua" is Finnish and means "I love you" in English.)
Toru couldn’t make out the words—Finnish, perhaps? He was curious, but when he asked, Aino shook her head.
Aino took a step back and put her index finger to her lips.
“It’s a secret. It doesn’t mean much. But… I’ll tell you someday,” she said.
“When?” Toru asked.
“When we get married,” Aino replied, her smile divine.
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