Chapter 33: One More Love Flag Has Been Added

One More Love Flag Has Been Added

"I...! I want to go to university...!"

While we were hiding in the bushes, Ayanokoji had said, "I've never spoken my mind about my feelings," but when I heard her determination right now, I couldn't just sit there.

"Well said, Ayanokoji!"

Bang!

I slammed the thick hand of the man grabbing Ayanokoji's pale wrist with my chop, and snatched her away.

I stand between the old man and Ayanokoji.

"W-Who are you?! Who are you?!"

"I'm Ayanokoji's friend! No matter what you say, isn't it gross for a man in his forties to marry a teenage high school girl? You lolicon!"

"What did you say, you bastard!"

The old man raised his fist to hit me.

But the hand never came down.

"The marriage is already bad, and adding violence is just worse."

This was because Onizuka was behind the man, gripping his wrist tightly.

Behind Onizuka is Ijuin.

While searching for Ayanokoji among the trees in the garden, the two of them met me up without being called.

At first, I thought an adult had found me, and I was terrified.

The two of them were impressed by my enthusiasm and offered to help me.

Onizuka climbed a tree from above, while Ijuin and I split up and searched for Ayanokoji in the large garden.

As a result, we discovered the old man and Ayanokoji standing near the pond.

"What...! You're from Onizuka-san's house...!"

"Oh, you know me, old man?"

Even though Onizuka was squeezing his wrists tightly, the old man was shaken when he saw Onizuka's face.

As expected of two rich people.

Apparently our young master's face is well known.

Moreover, it seems that Onizuka is of a higher status than the old man.

Rather than being of high social status, it might be more accurate to say that Onizuka have a lot of money.

"Hey, Uraraka! What's the commotion?"

Accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps, adults came scurrying down the restaurant's corridor facing the garden.

The grey-haired man walking at the front is probably Ayanokoji's father.

For the mother, I knew at a glance.

Diagonally behind her father was a beautiful blonde woman with a worried expression who looked just like Ayanokoji.

She must be what they call a beautiful witch; she looks so good you wouldn't believe she has a high school-aged daughter.

"Father! Mother!"

"You guys...!"

Ayanokoji's father caught sight of Onizuka and Ijuin and his face turned a mix of surprise and confusion, but then his brows quickly furrowed in anger.

"What are you doing? Do you think it's okay to do this?!"

Is this what you worried about?!

You're the one who decided your daughter's life without even asking her opinion and then arranges an arranged marriage meeting, and now you're the one to say that?

"You were the one who...!"

"Wait."

I was about to yell back, but Ijuin stopped me with one hand.

He stepped in between me and Ayanokoji's parents.

"We are very sorry, Ayanokoji-san. As her friends, we could not bear to see her suffer - this was a decision made solely by Onizuka and me."

"I'm sorry."

Ijuin gave a perfect bow, followed by Onizuka.

I can tell without asking.

The two of them protected me, an outsider, so that I wouldn't get scolded.

"...!"

Ijuin's straightforward and honest apology seemed to calm Ayanokoji's father's anger a little.

In addition, even Onizuka bows his head.

It is not something an adult would do to lash out in anger at the child of a person in power and a child who has apologized sincerely.

"Reika!"

"Y-yes!"

Ayanokoji's father, no longer able to get angry at Ijuin and Onizuka, turned his anger towards Ayanokoji.

Ayanokoji straightened her back in response to her father's sharp glare.

"Your engagement was to take place by the time you turned eighteen, unless you had already made up your mind! You should have agreed!"

"...That's true, but..."

...Until eighteen?

We're still sixteen, for fuck sake.

She still had two years left, but they forced her to go on a blind date and blocked her escape route.

What was it about 'made up your mind'?

The man she was introduced to seemed very keen to marry Ayanokoji.

It's perfect in creating an atmosphere that makes it impossible to refuse.

"If you marry this person, your future will be secure! What exactly are you dissatisfied about?"

"......"

Ayanokoji cringed at her father's furious yelling.

It seemed like she couldn't make a sound.

A secure future?

Dissatisfaction?

The path Ayanokoji wanted to take in life wasn't so general.

After all, who decided that being a full-time housewife means stable happiness?

Ayanokoji will go to university, study what she likes, and get the job she wants.

She has the right to make her dreams come true, and with her abilities, she can surely make any dream come true.

"You're not the one who decides Ayanokoji's happiness!"

Ijuin and Onizuka had tried to protect me, but I couldn't keep quiet.

"Oh, hey, Saotome...!"

"You idiot...!"

Ijuin called out to me to stop me, and Onizuka grabbed my shoulder to stop me, but I shook them all off and approached Ayanokoji's father.

"Have you guys ever had a proper conversation with Ayanokoji?! Have you ever properly asked her what she wants to do, what her career aspirations are?!"

"Who are you?! Outsiders have no right to interfere in other people's homes!"

Ayanokoji's father refuses to listen to what I have to say.

That makes me even more angry.

"Someone who doesn't even know Ayanokoji's dreams shouldn't talk about Ayanokoji's happiness!!"

"...!"

I also raised my voice, trying not to be outdone by Ayanokoji's father.

If it's more advantageous to shut someone up by yelling, then I'll follow that rule.

Don't underestimate the former boys' volleyball team members.

Over the past three years, I've gotten used to being yelled at by the manager and coaches.

You're not going to scare me by a little loud noise!

"A secure future? FUCK THAT SHIT!!!"

My scream is absorbed into the clear sky.

Even though I was high school girl, the adults were left breathless in the face of my genuine spirit.

"Saotome-san...!"

Ayanokoji, who had been silently watching the argument from behind, had suddenly come up next to me.

With a look of determination in her eyes, she took a deep breath into her small mouth.

"Anyone who puts their mind to it can do it!!"

This was the first time I had heard the gentle and calm Ayanokoji's loud voice.

Not only Ayanokoji's parents, but everyone there was frightened by her screams.

"I've fallen in love with you, Saotome-san!!!"

….....

.....Eh?

……Hah?!

Before I could comprehend what Ayanokoji was saying, her soft hands gripped both of my cheeks rather roughly.

She suddenly turns my face towards her.

Chuu~.

Ayanokoji's face, with her eyes closed, was so close it was almost too close.

A soft feel on the lips.

–Ayanokoji kissed me?!

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"You're two women!"

Before I could respond, Onizuka and Ijuin, their faces bright red, pulled me and Ayanokoji away.　

Eh!?

Eehhh?!

My first kiss!

I did it with Ayanokoji!!　

I could only cover my mouth and looked in shock.

"...What a thing to say..."

"Dear!"

Ayanokoji's father clutched his head and collapsed.

Ayanokoji's mother and her attendants look after him.

"...I never thought she'd be this kind of woman..."

The man who was her fiance muttered a few words and disappeared off somewhere.

Ayanokoji, who had caused a commotion among everyone present, seemed unfazed by what had happened.

"Oh, nowadays, gender is a minor issue."　

...Is that so?

Is it really a minor issue?　

Normally, I would be thrilled if the girl I like kissed me, but unfortunately, I have a woman's body, so my emotions just can't keep up.

Can I be happy?

If female Ayanokoji likes me in a female body, would it be okay for us to go out?

If I go out with Ayanokoji, that would mean I already have a partner, I won't have to worry about other men approaching me anymore...

But I couldn't wave my hands in joy, just thinking that our feelings were mutual.

Because the real me is not Saotome Otome. 

Ayanokoji, who had been pulled away from me, stood next to me again and put an arm around my shoulders.

"I won't give up Saotome-san to you two either."

"...Huh? So?"

"...Bring it on."

Sparks seem to be flying between the three childhood friends.

Could it be that these three have reached a point where they can't be repaired?

The plan to become friends with Ayanokoji has crossed a line, and it looks like a battle will break out between Ijuin and Onizuka, who are supposed to reconcile, and drag Ayanokoji into it...

In this state, it's impossible to make Ayanokoji the main heroine!

As I keenly felt that the plan that Nagumo and I had worked out was going to waste, I noticed something strange.

–The necklace Onizuka gave me is missing.