Chapter 29: A Political Marriage for a High School Student?

A Political Marriage for a High School Student?

I knew I had to hurry, so I stopped Ayanokoji right after school.

"A-A-Ayanokoji!"

My voice is trembling!

Just before she was about to step out of the classroom and into the hallway, a beautiful, well-groomed blonde girl turned around.

A pleasant smell, different from Ijuin's, wafted through the air.

It's the smell of a girl.

Even though we're both women, when it comes to formally asking someone out on a date, my hands start to sweat like Niagara Falls.

If it were filtered, it would probably be enough to sell as tap water.

"After school, if you don't mind, why don't we stop by a cafe?"

I ended up speaking in an old man's syntax with a lot of punctuation.

If it were text, it would be accompanied by emojis, making it even creepier.

With my heart beating fast,

"I'm so happy!"

Despite my old man-like grammar, Ayanokoji's face brightened up.

Yeaaah!!　

I gave a big fist pump in my heart.

It made me so happy to get permission to go on a date.

"But I'm sorry..."

My joy was short-lived, as Ayanokoji's neat eyebrows soon quirked in an apologetic expression.

"I'm very happy to be invited, but... I have plans today..."

"I, I see..."

...If she has a prior engagement, there's nothing I can do.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't disappointed to be turned down, but the good news is that the invitation itself seems to be welcomed.

I didn't get the feeling that she dislike me.

It seems like there's no other way around it, it was just bad timing.

"So, Let's try again another day..."

Pirorirorin! Pirorirorin!

Just as Ayanokoji suggested adjusting the schedule, a smartphone started ringing.

The sound came from so close that I wondered if it was me, and took out my smartphone, but the screen remained black.

Instead, Ayanokoji was standing in front of me, holding a smartphone with a ringtone playing in her hand.

Looking at the screen of her smartphone, her expression darkened for a moment.

Maybe it's someone she doesn't like?

"Ah, sorry, excuse me for a bit..."

"Oh, yeah..."

Ayanokoji apologized, turned her back to me, and said "Hello," as she held the smartphone to her ear.

["Hey! Do you remember today's promise?"]

The man's angry shout came out of Ayanokoji's smartphone.

Is she in speaker mode?

No, Ayanokoji has the smartphone to her ear, so it's not on speaker, the man on the other end is just talking in a really loud voice.

"I understand, Father."

["If you're even a minute late, I won't be able to face my son-in-law! Don't do anything that will bring shame to my reputation!"]

"Yes, understand."

Ayanokoji apologized profusely in the empty space.

Father, she says?

What kind of nerve does he have to suddenly yell at such a polite and beautiful girl for no reason whatsoever?

There seem to be a lot of toxic parents in this world.

Or rather, your son-in-law?

She's a high school girl, 16 years old?

Is it normal for a father to talk about his son-in-law?

"...Phew."

Ayanokoji hung up the phone and took a breather.

She turned around to look at me.

"I apologize for the inconvenience. I apologize for the unsightly behavior..."

"Hey, Ayanokoji, what about a son-in-law..."

Without even having time to listen to Ayanokoji's apology, I blurted out something that had been bothering me.

"Ahh... Father's voice is always so loud..."

I feel like I've eavesdropped on someone's conversation, but it's their fault for calling at such a loud volume.

In response to my question, Ayanokoji's gaze wandered.

It wasn't so much that it was difficult to say, but rather that he was troubled.

"...I have a fiancé."

F-F-Fiance?!

"Not your boyfriend?!"

Ayanokoji nodded quietly.

"...My parents decided on this person. They decided on this person long before I entered high school - I have to marry him as soon as I graduate."

"That's..."

Isn't this a political marriage?　

It's something you only hear about in fiction, like a princess marrying into another country in order to bring the two countries closer together politically.

Or is this just something that happens when you're rich?

No, it's not right for parents to force their beautiful adolescent daughter to decide who her partner is.

"...Ayanokoji, what do you think of that person?"

To put it bluntly, it means "Do you like it?"

No matter how angry I was at the fiancée that was decided upon without my consent, if Ayanokoji had truly fallen in love with him, then there was no need for me to get involved.

"...That person is forty years old."

"A F***ing old man!"

I was so surprised that I raised my voice.

For a moment, the class's attention was focused on me, but then everyone quickly returned to their own activities.

It's not a question of whether she likes him or not.

It wasn't on that level.

There probably aren't many people who are interested in love with someone more than a generation older than you.

And to get married as soon as you graduate from high school...

"If Ayanokoji get married, what will happen to you?"

It was common knowledge in my previous life that most students went on to university after graduating from high school.

Can she still go to college if she get married before she go to college?

Or get a job?

"...It seems I will be a full-time housewife. He is financially well-off after all..."

Full-time housewife...

Those words somehow seemed to have a stronger nuance of being confined to one's home for the rest of one's life, rather than of not having to go out into society.

"...Are you okay with that, Ayanokoji?"

"...It was my parents' decision."

Ayanokoji smiled as if she had given up.

That smile made my heart pound.

I instinctively grabbed Ayanokoji's shoulders.

"I'm listening to Ayanokoji's feelings, not your parents' opinions."

"......"

Her large, sparkling eyes trembled.

I thought she might cry, but she didn't show any tears.

"...I..... I actually want to go to university."

Ayanokoji's desired university is the most difficult to get into in Japan.

When I heard that, I was convinced.

In fact, Ayanokoji is the top student.

It's not surprising that she planned to continue studying after graduation, and it's unlikely that she would work hard without a goal like that.

Rather, I was angry that people around her were trying to ruin her career path, when she was overflowing with motivation and talent.

This is definitely weird.

"It's really weird that Ayanokoji's parents are deciding your marriage on their own when you want to continue your education."

"Even so..."

Ayanokoji's expression has remained the same as before, as if she had given up, as if there was nothing she could do.

Give up on your life.

That's the same as suicide.

"Children are not tools for their parents! Ayanokoji should be able to live the life she wants!"

"......"

A tear spilled from Ayanokoji's eye.

I was upset and fumbled for a handkerchief in my pocket, but Ayanokoji was surprisingly manly and wiped away her tears with the sleeve of her sailor uniform.

"...Yes, thank you, Saotome-san."　

Ayanokoji thanked me even though I hadn't done anything.

For the time being, her smile returned and she stroked her chest.

"I have a matchmaking session today, starting at 3 pm at a restaurant in Tokyo."

Saying this, Ayanokoji showed me the screen of her smartphone, which displayed the restaurant's website.

"Here?!"

It even comes with a Japanese-style garden?

"Yes."

Very upper class.

Ayanokoji nodded as if it was obvious.

"I have never expressed my feelings before. So today, I will speak clearly...!"

"It might not work though," Ayanokoji added as she headed home.

As I watched her leave, I made a decision.

...I have to stop this matchmaking somehow!

Of course, if Ayanokoji had a fiance and was still planning to marry him, then the original plan to force Ijuin and Onizuka onto her would also have fallen through.

But more than anything, I wanted to protect her, as she spoke her true feelings even though she was on the verge of tears.

I wanted to do something about it.

I left the classroom to consult with Onizuka and Ijuin.