With a press conference desk, spotlights, and even an MC appearing out of nowhere, I was honestly at a total loss. No explanation followed, but since the MC had already kicked things off, it seemed I was expected to go through with the report regardless.
My only saving grace was that the people sitting before me were all familiar faces.
"Er, well then, we would like to begin the report..."
The MC seemed to be debating whether to address me or Sara-san first.
I guess I have no choice but to go with the flow...
"I’ll speak first."
I had already decided to take the lead anyway, so that part was fine, but the sheer absurdity of the situation was throwing me off. I needed to just put my mind to it and get this over with quickly. I’d likely be bombarded with questions later, regardless.
"Er... first, regarding the most important part. During our discussion the other day, I was able to get Sara-san's Father to acknowledge our relationship. I feel that we truly owe everyone here for your help in making that happen. Thank you very much!"
We hadn’t coordinated it beforehand, but Sara-san bowed her head at almost the exact same second I did. Even though I was the one doing the talking, knowing that she was right there beside me in spirit made me happy.
"A lot happened and things took some unexpected turns, but I think the final result stayed the same. Because of that, Sara-san and I... are now officially, albeit tentatively, engaged."
Todo & Tachikawa: "Kyaaaaaa!!!"
"Congratulations!!!"
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!
Todo-san and the others cheered, and everyone burst into a thunderous round of applause at once.
I was happy, truly, but this completely staged environment felt so bizarre. It was hard to know exactly how to react.
Why did this suddenly turn into a full-blown press conference...
Sara: "...Eri, is that quite enough? Kazunari-san is clearly distressed, and this is beginning to exceed the limits of what I am willing to tolerate..."
Nishikawa: "Guh..."
Natsumi: "See? I told you it would end up like this."
Hanako: "Pointless theatrics. You should have just braced yourself from the start."
At Sara-san's words, which were laced with a sharp edge of irritation, Nishikawa-san looked visibly cowed.
Judging from Sara-san and Hanako-san's remarks, this entire spectacle had been orchestrated by Nishikawa-san for some specific purpose. Though what that purpose was, I still had no clue.
Nishikawa: "Sigh... fine, I'll act normal. I'm sorry. It's a bit ahead of schedule, but please switch to the next setup!"
As Nishikawa-san called out to the back of the room, staff members appeared from the shadows in droves. As I watched in bewilderment, the layout of the room was transformed in the blink of an eye. A dining table appeared in the center, and preparations for a meal were already underway. A cooking space was even set up against the wall, complete with a professional-looking chef.
...What is even happening?
Me: "Uh..."
Natsumi: "Ahaha, sorry, Takanashi-kun. For the sake of Eri's honor, let’s just not ask why."
Me: "O-okay. I think I understand."
I didn't understand at all, but I decided to pretend I did. The one thing I knew for certain was that this was all Nishikawa-san's doing.
Nishikawa: "Hey, Natsumi, don't make it sound so weird."
Todo: "But it might actually be easier to talk now. It was a little hard to speak up when things were so formal..."
Hayato: "Todo-san, you shouldn't say that out loud."
What did that mean? I was curious, but since I’d just promised not to pry, I couldn't exactly ask.
Nishikawa: "W-well, since it will still be a little while before the meal is ready, shall we just chat freely? And... if possible, please go easy on me..."
Even though we hadn't even started the actual debriefing, Nishikawa-san was already acting like she was afraid of something. Again, I was curious, but I figured this was another topic I should stay away from.
Yuji: "Kazunari, in the end, what did your Dad and Mom have to say?"
Me: "For now, they said they'll give a firm answer during the formal meeting with Sara-san's parents. But my Dad said he had no intention of refusing, and my Mom told me not to hesitate."
Hayato: "In that case, it sounds like things will be settled without a hitch. Congratulations."
Todo: "Congratulations again, Takanashi-kun!"
Following Todo-san's lead, everyone offered their congratulations one after another. Now that we were finally talking normally, I was able to thank them with a bit more ease.
Me: "Thanks, everyone. Also, Todo-san, I wanted to thank you specifically for what you did regarding Yukie-san."
Sara: "I would like to offer my thanks as well. Thank you for reaching out to my grandmother."
Todo: "Eh!? W-well, if you say it so formally... I was actually worried that I might have overstepped..."
In reality, Masaomi-san had been persuaded in one fell swoop because of Yukie-san's intervention, so I had nothing but gratitude for Todo-san. Of course, since she didn't know the full extent of how much she’d helped, she seemed genuinely humbled by our praise.
Nishikawa: "That’s true. Because you met with Yukie-san, I was also able to deliver the message from my father."
Tachikawa: "Marina was the MVP today!"
Todo: "Uuu~, I'm happy, but please stop already~!"
Being praised by everyone at once proved to be too much for Todo-san. Her face turned bright red, and after looking around frantically, she suddenly ducked behind Hayato's back to hide.
It was unusual behavior for Todo-san, and I was quite surprised to see that she had instinctively relied on Hayato. Naturally, Hayato looked even more stunned, his face a complex mixture of joy and bewilderment.
Hanako: "So, you're really going to be an adopted son-in-law. Did he say anything else?"
Hanako-san seemed to be trying to shift the topic for Todo-san's sake. She gave my sleeve a little tug, signaling for me to follow her lead.
Me: "Anything else... oh, we talked about my future path. He said if I'm going to enter Sawa, I'll need a solid academic background, so he expects me to work hard."
Hanako: "Right. So, Takanashi-kun, you're definitely joining Sawa Electronics?"
Me: "He said that once I'm in university, he wants me to study while also helping out a bit with Masaomi-san's... Sara-san's Father's work."
Hanako: "I see..."
Nishikawa: "Is that so..."
Hanako-san and Nishikawa-san both fell into deep thought. It felt like those two had a strange mutual understanding, or at least a level of mutual respect for each other's intellect.
Sara: "I will be attending the same university as Kazunari-san, so we shall strive in our studies together."
Natsumi: "Now that you mention it, Sara, weren't you aiming to be a nursery teacher?"
Nishikawa: "Oh, that’s right. I think I remember hearing that before."
A nursery teacher?
That was news to me. I had never heard a word of this from Sara-san, and I realized only now that I’d never even asked her about her own hopes for the future. I had just assumed, without a second thought, that she had always planned on the university path.
...She didn't change her entire future just to accommodate mine, did she?
If Sara-san had a different dream she truly wanted to pursue, I didn't want her to sacrifice it for me.
Me: "Sara-san... did you want to be a nursery teacher? If so..."
Sara: "Please, wait. The context of that story is different now. It is certainly not as though I was hiding it from you, Kazunari-san..."
Even before I could finish my sentence, Sara-san had already anticipated what I was going to say. A slightly troubled expression crossed her face, but she looked me straight in the eye, pleading for me to believe her.
Sara: "...Before I met you, Kazunari-san, I had no real dreams or hopes for the future. I was so consumed with maintaining my public image that I had no room to consider a long-term vision."
Sara-san spoke with a hint of self-deprecation as she recalled her past. To be fair, if my own situation had continued as it was, I wouldn't have had the mental energy to think about the future either.
"In that stifling daily life, the only ones who provided me with a sense of healing were children. At the time, there were many children who came to play at my grandmother's shrine, and I used to play with them frequently. They were truly adorable; it was my only source of happiness."
Sara-san spoke softly, lost in her memories. Since children were free of ulterior motives and complex social games, I could see how she would have been able to interact with them with a pure heart.
Sara: "I realized that children were the only people I didn't feel a sense of resistance toward. So, when it came time to consider a future path, I thought simply that it might be good to have a job involving them. That was the only reason the 'me' of that time considered becoming a nursery teacher."
Looking back, Sara-san’s natural kindness when she was with Mio-chan was undeniable. She was overflowing with warmth. That was likely why Mio-chan had taken to her so instantly upon their first meeting.
She said she’d thought about it simply, but isn't the role of a nursery teacher actually perfect for Sara-san? If it’s something she truly loves, she doesn't need to give it up, and I should be the one encouraging her.
Sara: "However!!"
As if to cut through my thoughts and the heavy atmosphere, Sara-san spoke up with a clear, resonant voice. Her self-deprecation vanished, replaced by her usual dignified confidence.
Sara: "I met you, Kazunari-san, and I fell in love. My days with you have swept away everything that came before, and a new dream has been born."
Everyone in the room watched Sara-san as she spoke with a sudden radiance. No one interrupted; we were all captivated by her words.
Sara: "I am truly sorry that I did not discuss my previous future path with you until now. However, I am still attending the same university and merely changing my department, so it is not as if I am forcing myself into a difficult change. If you are aiming for Sawa, Kazunari-san, then for the sake of my own happiness, I simply wish to walk the path that allows me to support you."
There was no trace of hesitation in Sara-san's eyes. I knew for a fact that she was speaking her absolute truth. Besides, if it was a dream from before we met, it wasn't strange for her to have a different perspective now. The current Sara-san was a completely different person from the one who had felt so isolated before.
Todo: "But the fact that you love children hasn't changed, right, Satsukawa-senpai? You were so sweet to Mio-chan. And Mio-chan always tells me how much she wants to see Sara Onee-chan!"
Knowing how much Sara-san adored Mio-chan, it was only natural for Todo-san to feel that way. Anyone who saw them together would reach the same conclusion.
Sara: "Fufu... that makes me very happy. Please tell Mio-chan that I want to see her too."
Maybe I should ask Todo-san next time and we can take Mio-chan out somewhere to play. I'm sure both Sara-san and Mio-chan would love that.
Natsumi: "Mio-chan? Oh, that girl we met at the convenience store? Man... it would have been a disaster if Eririn had been there for that."
Nishikawa: "What is that supposed to mean?"
Natsumi: "I mean, Sara was holding the kid, and she and Takanashi-kun were both doting on her like parents... and then..."
Nishikawa-san's expression grew progressively darker as she visualized the scene Natsumi-senpai was describing.
Wait, why was she turning into a shadow?
Nishikawa: "...The two of them are already engaged... which leads to marriage... which means they’ll be a couple... wait, what about me? Sara just keeps pulling further and further ahead... and me? Have I even been confessed to? Wait, was that scumbag seriously the only one who ever tried to approach me?"
She was muttering in rapid-fire bursts, sounding like she was chanting a dark hex. As I watched her, I could almost swear I saw a literal aura of gloom spreading around her... no, that had to be a hallucination. What was I even thinking?
Nishikawa: "I’ll probably never find a partner on my own and just end up in some perfunctory arranged marriage... Eh? Am I really going to finish my student days without a single shred of romance or youth? Sara found a lover before anyone, got engaged, and is living her high school life to the fullest... even Natsumi is with Tachibana-san..."
The Nishikawa-san before me now perfectly overlapped with the "Dark Nishikawa-san" who had appeared at Sara-san's birthday party. Usually, she was a dependable person with elite capabilities, but she had this unfortunate tendency to fall into a pit of self-despair the moment things didn't go her way.
Hanako: "Heh... her darkness is as deep as ever."
Todo: "Hanako-san, what does that even mean?"
Tachikawa: "I think the image of a nursery teacher fits Satsukawa-senpai perfectly when she's with Takanashi-kun. They look so natural together. Besides, you really do love playing with kids, right?"
...Why does the image of Sara-san with me fit the profile of a nursery teacher?
She isn't implying that I'm a child, is she?
Sara: "Yes, I adore interacting with children. It is true that they were my source of healing in the past, and that hasn't changed one bit. ...However, one does not necessarily need to make it a profession to interact with children. Eventually..."
At that point, Sara-san's face flushed a deep crimson, and she gave my sleeve a shy tug. I didn't quite catch her drift, but there was no doubt she was thinking about something that embarrassed her.
Sara: "You see, in the past, I never even considered the possibility of getting married, so..."
Nishikawa: "W-wait a minute, Sara!! Stop right there!! You don't need to say another word!! I understand completely!!"
Nishikawa-san suddenly snapped out of her trance, looking frantic as she tried to silence Sara-san.
Hanako: "Ah, I see."
Nishikawa: "H-Hanako-san, please! Don't say it!! Isn't it enough for now!?"
Hanako: "In other words..."
Nishikawa: "Noooooooooo!!!! I don't want to hear the rest of it!!!!!!"
Drowned out by Nishikawa-san's desperate scream, Hanako-san never finished her thought.
Yuji, Hayato, and I all sensed intuitively that poking this particular hornet's nest would be a disaster, so we kept our mouths shut. We didn't know exactly what Sara-san had been about to say. We really didn't.
However, the sight of Todo-san and Tachikawa-san looking at each other with beet-red faces, and Sara-san fidgeting bashfully beside me... well, that probably told the whole story.