Side Mayumi
I never imagined Kazunari-kun would follow his confession with a proposal right before my eyes.
To do it in front of a crowd this massive was nothing short of staggering. I couldn't tell if he simply had nerves of steel or if he was bold to a fault. Either way, there was no denying he was a big shot. I didn't mean that mockingly; I was genuinely impressed.
Perhaps, considering the future, that kind of grit was exactly what he needed. Hehe.
As for Sara-chan, I never dreamed she would show this much growth. Personality traits and deep-seated hang-ups cultivated over many years aren't things that improve easily. I would have been satisfied today if she had shown even the slightest sign—the smallest glimmer—that she was capable of moving forward.
That was the extent of my expectations.
Yet today, Sara-chan clearly declared the feelings she had been harboring to everyone. She even showed a flicker of concern for the men she so loathed, regardless of her underlying reasons. It was a sign that she was overcoming her habitual indifference and developing the consideration necessary for societal life.
Just how incredible this was... I'm certain no one else truly understands.
That was why the ones most surprised by Sara-chan today were undoubtedly us. Of course, Kazunari-kun was likely just as shocked, but as her parents, we had the history of watching her longer than anyone else. In that sense, our surprise ran deeper. I'm sure Masaomi-san was somewhere in this venue watching, feeling just as stunned.
He might even be crying with joy at his beloved daughter's growth. Hehe.
Regardless, the result of this test was a pass.
I couldn't quite give it a perfect score, but I was more than satisfied because they had shown me a result I could fully accept. As promised, I would allow the two of them to continue their life together.
However, many difficulties still lay ahead. They couldn't afford to be careless.
We would do our utmost to support them, and we would all work hard together from here on out.
But for now...
I'm so happy for you, Sara-chan.
And... congratulations.
I hope you find happiness with the one you love.
One by one...
Shimmering tears like overflowing jewels fell from Sara-san’s eyes, creating tiny puddles at her feet.
She looked so precious that I felt an immediate urge to pull her into my arms and wipe her tears away. I was nearly overwhelmed by the impulse.
But right now...
"Ugh... waah... hic... You idiot, Kazunari-san... Why? Why are you always so sudden? This is... hic..."
"I'm sorry, Sara-san. But I just felt that..."
"That’s not all! This time... this was supposed to be my turn! That was the whole reason I agreed to this farce!"
"Eh... what?"
I was bewildered by Sara-san’s reaction—or rather, her claim. I was fairly certain she had just said, "It was my turn."
"Sara-san?"
"...You idiot, Kazunari-san... ugh... I love you... hic... I love you so much. I... I adore you, Kazunari-san..."
"Yes... Yes! I love you too, Sara-san! So... Sara-san, your left hand!"
Watching her voice catch as her tears refused to stop, I began to lose control over my own emotions. It wasn't exactly crying in sympathy, but at this rate, my own tear ducts were going to give way. I hurriedly took out the ring and gently took her left hand in mine. All I had to do was put it on her finger, and yet, for some reason, I couldn't get it right. It was only then that I realized my hands were trembling just as much as hers.
"A-Ah... wait, uhm..."
"Sniff... Kazunari-san... please calm down. It’s okay. I’m not going anywhere. I will always be by your side..."
She gently placed her right hand against my cheek, her eyes still brimming with those shimmering jewels. Even so, she gave me a warm smile that brought peace to my heart.
Even though she was clearly overwhelmed by her own emotions, she was still trying to smile for me. She was acting strong.
I couldn't keep looking pathetic at a crucial moment like this!
"...Phew."
I took a deep breath to settle my nerves as much as possible, then tried once more to slide the ring onto Sara-san’s ring finger.
Though we were both still shaking slightly, her smile had given me enough composure to succeed. This time, the ring went on smoothly.
Actually, it went on a bit too smoothly. The ring size might have been a little too large; I’d likely need to have it adjusted later.
"Sniff..."
Still sobbing softly, Sara-san raised her left hand to eye level. She gazed at the Half Eternity shining on her finger, turning her hand again and again. She looked at it with a radiant, joyful smile, even as the light dazzled her.
"...Sniff... uuuugh... waaaaaah."
Overcome with emotion, she began to cry even harder. I couldn't just stand there and watch her as she looked ready to collapse.
"Sara-san, don't cry... please don't cry."
When I gently pulled her toward me, Sara-san dove into my chest as if she had reached her limit. I wrapped my arms around her slender frame, pulling her into a deep embrace. Sara-san pressed herself against me, holding on tight.
"...As if I could help it! Ugh... I’m so happy... hic... Kazunari-san, Kazunari-saaaan!"
"Sara-san..."
"I love you... sniff... From the bottom of my heart... I love you... I adore you! To me, you are... I, I... only you..."
"Y-Yes... Yes! M-Me too! I feel the same way!"
It was no use.
The way she was sobbing uncontrollably in my arms was just too precious. She was so dear to me.
I tightened my embrace, if only to hide my own pathetic expression from her.
"Sara-san... Sara-san..."
Putting every ounce of my affection into it, I gently stroked her head. I smoothed her hair over and over, carefully and tenderly.
After a while, her sobbing began to subside. She nuzzled into my chest.
"Sniff... Kazunari-san... stay like this just a little longer..."
"Okay..."
Though her voice was still thick with tears, there was a clear sense of vulnerability in her tone.
It was just like before; whenever her emotions overflowed, her temperament reverted to something more innocent and clingy—her Full-on Spoiled Mode.
"...Thank you, Kazunari-san."
"Are you okay now?"
"...Yes. I apologize for showing you such an unseemly sight."
"No, that’s absolutely not true."
With her face still buried in my chest, Sara-san finally seemed to have regained some composure.
Even so, she didn't seem to want to let go yet. She kept her arms wrapped around my back, making it clear she wanted to stay like this.
Of course, I didn't want to let go either, so I held her just a little bit tighter.
"My heart... it's thumping so hard."
"...I'm aware of that myself. But..."
"Fufu... I wasn't just talking about yours, Kazunari-san. It's the same for me. Being held like this by you, my heart thumps, I feel such a flutter... You're so dazzling, so wonderful... Today, once again, I've fallen in love with you..."
"...Sara-san."
"I don't want that... At a time like this, please call me Sara..."
In her Full-on Spoiled Mode, the thumping of my heart intensified. Perhaps my heartbeat had reached her, because Sara suddenly pulled back to look at me, her eyes still misty.
"...Kazunari-san."
Then, she softly closed her eyes.
Just as she did—
"Umm... I am so, so incredibly sorry to interrupt while things are heating up, but could you two give it a rest? Also, do you realize where you are, you two?"
"Ah..."
The interruption came in a familiar, high-pitched anime voice that was a mix of awkwardness and exasperation. I instantly remembered where we were. Since this had practically become a recurring pattern, I could guess what the surrounding scene looked like without even turning around.
Bracing myself, I slowly looked around.
The first thing I saw was Minamin. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she was glaring at us with a Scornful Look that some people might have considered a Reward. Beyond her stood the other Miss Contest Participants. They were clasping each other's hands, their cheeks red as they stared at us with breathless intensity.
As a side note, the Stuck-up Woman and the President were simply staring in a daze.
And finally...
"Nfufu... Oh, Kazunari-kun! Mother just got to see something wonderful again!"
Mayumi-san, who had already witnessed my confession from the Arena once before, was practically writhing with excitement, squirming in a way that suggested she was about to lose it.
I had acted knowing Mayumi-san was present, so I had no regrets. Still, a man who would propose right after a confession in front of his lover's mother—I doubted there were many like me in the world.
I supposed the only saving grace was that Masaomi-san wasn't here. But wait, what about the audience?
"It's over! I'm finished!"
"I'm going home! I'm going hoooome!"
"What is this? Is this reality?"
"Satsukawa-san! My Satsukawa-saaaaan!"
"Waaaaah, she was my ideal!"
"This is too much! It's not fair!"
"I love her... I love her... dammit!"
"Takanashi-kun, nice work!"
"No way! Was that seriously a proposal?"
"He told her to marry him!"
"Ugh, even I'm starting to cry..."
"For Satsukawa-san to cry like that, she must have been so happy..."
"The answer? What was her answer?"
"Like I said, she said she loved him too!"
"No, that's not a formal answer yet!"
Looking out, the male audience was in a state of absolute despair.
I could see them clearly—shoulders slumped, weeping and wailing as they lamented their fate.
In the back, the female students were making just as much of a fuss, though for very different reasons. They looked much like the participants on stage.
"...Kazunari, well done."
"Hanako-san, you look happy."
"Of course. There is no older sister who wouldn't be proud to see her younger brother's brave moment."
"I see."
"Man... this is refreshing to watch."
"Natsumi, stop being insensitive. I understand how you feel, though."
"Eririn, that’s just a follow-up hit."
"...Sniff... hic..."
"Todo-san..."
"Ugh... I'm so glad... I'm so glad..."
"Oh dear, looks like Marina is crying along with them..."
I turned my gaze toward the front row. Hanako and the others were giving us a standing ovation with beaming smiles. Yuji gave me a big thumbs-up, and Natsumi-senpai looked oddly amused as she surveyed the chaos.
However, Hayato's situation caught my eye—someone was clinging to him. It could only be Todo-san, but what on earth had happened to her?
"Ah well... things sure turned into a mess."
"Eh?"
"Thanks to you two overdoing it, the audience has been in chaos for a while. A fair number of the guys have already left. Did you seriously not notice?"
"...Ah."
Now that she mentioned it, the audience seats that should have been packed were now noticeably sparse in places. I had been so preoccupied that I hadn't noticed at all. Not that it really mattered.
"U-Uhm... Takanashi-kun, I just want to confirm something."
"Y-Yes?"
"Just now, you told Satsukawa-san... that you wanted her to marry you, right?"
"Yeah, I said it. Not that it's for right this second."
"No, I'm sure that's the case. But, well, sorry... I don't really know how to put this... isn't that a little too far ahead? Or rather, isn't that just way too out there? Don't you think?"
It was a fair point. To people who didn't know the depth of our relationship, a high school student suddenly asking someone to marry him would seem impossible.
But that was assuming the prerequisites were—
"No, that's—"
"Kazunari-san, please let me speak about that. Most of what I had planned is already over... but at the very least, I want my own moment in the spotlight at the end."
"Sara-san?"
"Minamin-san, the plans have changed quite a bit, but starting now..."
"Eh? You're going to do that Significant Announcement in this flow?"
"Uhm... as I said before, it's not exactly a significant announcement... no, that's fine. More importantly, I'm sorry to have caused such a disruption after you went to all the trouble..."
"Whoa, whoa, any more than that is off-limits! It’s fine, don't worry about me. Thanks to you, things got incredibly hyped up, and it was truly fun! Besides, this Miss Contest is likely going to go down in history, and since I was the MC... I get plenty of credit for that! Ehehe..."
"Fufu... I see. Then at the very least, I shall give you one more highlight, shall I?"
"Ohhh, I’m looking forward to that."
I had suspected that Sara and Minamin had some kind of secret agreement. Hearing this, it seemed that my intervention had thrown their original plans into disarray.
Moreover, considering what Sara had said earlier about "her turn," I suspected we had been planning to do very similar things.
Thinking about it that way, I might have felt a bit bad for stealing her thunder. Of course, I didn't regret it for a second.
"Kazunari-san, please wait a moment."
"Understood."
After a quick word to me, Sara walked off with a composed air. I watched her from behind as she disappeared into the wings of the stage, only to return seconds later.
In her hand, she was holding a long, slender box.
What was that?