Side: Yutaka Kusuhara
Was I dreaming?
Was this truly reality?
"Th-That’s right! After all that talk of engagements and marriage when they barely know the meaning of the words... they’re like children throwing a tantrum over a game of house!"
I couldn’t fathom what had happened to Rena or what was driving her to such extremes. I simply didn't understand. To begin with, I had never seen her act so aggressively. But if I were asked if the Young Lady had done anything to provoke her... I couldn't imagine that either.
Given the Young Lady's demeanor I had witnessed at previous parties and the way the Senior Managing Director spoke of her, it was impossible to believe she would ever take the initiative to associate with someone like Rena.
If that was the case, the problem surely lay with Rena... no, the issue was no longer about who was at fault.
The most critical thing to consider was that Rena was repeatedly hurling verbal abuse at the Young Lady with blatant hostility. And the undeniable fact was that Satsukawa Senior Managing Director was displaying visible displeasure toward her.
For me... no, for the President of our company, who was Rena's father—and by extension, for our company itself—this was an extremely grave situation.
To put it bluntly, it was no laughing matter.
"And once all of that has settled, I'm going to marry Sara-san! This isn't a lie or a joke! We’re serious!"
Meanwhile, what had been unfolding on the stage for some time was a speech of sorts by that man. No matter how much of a high school student he was, he was still just a child; under normal circumstances, there would be no reason to take him seriously when he started shouting about marriage.
...Or so it should have been, but in this particular instance...
He was displaying an eye-popping level of intimacy with none other than that Young Lady. On top of the shocking fact that they were living together, there was a proposal and a declaration of engagement. They had even gone so far as to exchange a kiss on stage... and with the Young Lady initiating it, it was no longer something that could be dismissed as "unbelievable."
To top it all off, even the Madam—Mayumi Satsukawa-san—had formally recognized their engagement. At this point, the weight of the conversation had shifted entirely.
"Phew... I didn't intend to announce this so publicly yet... I suppose it was my mistake not to tell the two of them that. Well, I never imagined they would do something so bold, so I suppose it can't be helped."
"S-Satsukawa... Senior Managing Director, is this story..."
"...It's the truth. But regarding anything beyond that, as I mentioned earlier, please wait for the announcement at the Year-end Party. I don't intend to make it public yet."
"I-I understand. But, does that mean... there is still more to this story..."
"That's right. Their engagement is... only about half of the story, I suppose?"
"H-Half!?"
I couldn't even begin to imagine how much of an uproar the mere fact of the Senior Managing Director's daughter getting engaged would cause!
And yet, there was still at least half of the information remaining untold?!
This story had the potential to develop into a massive scandal that would ripple through the entire massive conglomerate of the Sawa Group!
Particularly for the factions that had been desperately scheming to get close to the Young Lady, this was already a matter of life and death.
Moreover, if the partner was some nobody whose name they had never even heard... I didn't think they would accept such a story so easily—
Wait...
Could the announcement at the party...
Be something so significant that it involved those kinds of matters too?!
"In any case, please wait until the Year-end Party for further details. Also, I'll leave it to your judgment as to what to do about today’s talk. It's not impossible that there are other company associates here right now... and as they say, you can't put a lock on people's lips."
"I-I understand. We will keep this matter strictly internal."
"I see. Then, if you'll excuse me, I'll take my leave now."
"Eh? The—the Miss Contest hasn't ended yet..."
"I'd like to see it through to the end, but it seems like it would be bad to let Mayumi roam free like that for much longer. I have no choice but to take her home quickly."
"I—I see..."
Certainly, the way the Madam was acting... In the first place, it was a complete mystery why she was even there, but to think she had such a side to her... In that sense, the Young Lady might be the same.
Are they truly mother and daughter after all?
"Ukyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! Knock it off already, you ultra-preemptive stupid coupleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!"
"This is bad. Honestly, what is Mayumi thinking... Well then, I'll be going."
"I-I understand!! Please take care."
"Thank you. Oh, and one more thing."
"Y-Yes?"
"...Regarding her case, make sure you deal with it yourself in the end. There are a few things that concern me, so I may ask for a report at a later date. Keep that in mind."
"Y-Yes... I am terribly sorry. If possible, I would like to apologize to the Young Lady directly..."
"That's not necessary. She has an extreme dislike for any man other than Kazunari-kun approaching her. It would be counterproductive."
"Yes..."
"Then, excuse me."
In the end, without so much as a flicker of a smile or even a social pleasantry, the Satsukawa Senior Managing Director left, leaving behind only a sharp, cold gaze.
I was unable to offer a single word of support for Rena to the Senior Managing Director, and I left him with nothing but a bad impression... Far from losing points, I couldn't even escape a negative evaluation.
Furthermore, there was a high possibility that he would demand some kind of report later. I didn't know what had concerned him about Rena, but if that was the case, I had no choice but to get serious about questioning her for the details. Depending on how this was handled, this was a serious matter that could turn out even worse.
As for Rena, her relationship with the Young Lady was undoubtedly hopeless... and the impression she left on the Madam was likely the worst as well. Rather than making an introduction, it was almost certain that I had indirectly lowered my own standing. Truly the worst possible result...
And then there was that man—Takanashi, was it?
Since the Senior Managing Director was going to announce him specifically at a corporate party, it was hard to believe they would only be reporting the fact of the engagement. And the Senior Managing Director’s "half" comment... there would likely be some kind of announcement regarding that man as an individual as well.
I couldn't even imagine what it could be yet... but seeing the Senior Managing Director's meaningful behavior, I had a very bad feeling—no, it was too early to conclude that.
At any rate, I didn't know if I would actually have a chance to meet him at the party, but I needed to think of some way to follow up beforehand. I could tell from the exchange on the stage that doing so might eventually lead to the favor of the Young Lady and the Madam.
All I could do now was pray that the trouble between Rena and the Young Lady wasn't definitive... depending on the situation, I might need to report this to the President. Even if it meant bracing myself for a reprimand...
Truly...
Today was the worst day ever...
I thought Masaomi-san wouldn't be coming today because of work, so why was he here? Well, there was no point in thinking about that now!
More importantly, since when had he been at the venue, and how much had he seen? That was the most critical part!
"M-Masaomi-san... um, since when...?"
"Hm? Let's see, since the cooking battle in the final screening... I suppose?"
"Eeeeeeh?! S-Since that long ago?!"
"Forgive me, I didn't actually intend to show my face like this... but regarding today, let's talk about it again at a later date."
"Y-Yes..."
Talk about it again at a later date... which meant he definitely wasn't going to act like he didn't see anything or just let it slide.
Well... I was aware I messed up in various ways myself, so I knew that was asking too much.
But talking about it was going to be a bit scary...
"Mayumi, I have a lot of things to question you about, but that will wait until we get home."
"Ye~es. I understand."
"Everyone, I apologize for the disturbance. Mayumi, we're going."
"Eh, but the Miss Contest isn't over ye—I-I get it, don't look at me with such a scary face."
"You'll explain everything once we're home, understood?"
"Ye~es... what a shame."
It seemed that even Mayumi-san had no intention of defying Masaomi-san right now. After bowing apologetically to those around her, she gave a big wave toward the audience seats and obediently began descending the stairs in the center of the stage. On the way, she didn't forget to look back and give me a wink. That person really never wavered.
"Kazunari-kun, Sara, I'm truly sorry. I'll give Mayumi a proper lecture later, so please forgive her this time."
"Ah, no, that's not really an issue! Mayumi-san was surely doing it for our sake..."
"Nfufu, Kazunari-kun, I love you~♪"
"Father, please give her a very thorough lecture."
"…Sara-chan, that’s cruel."
"Right, I understand. Kazunari-kun, I'm sorry to ask again, but I'll leave the rest to you, all right? And... please take care of Sara from now on."
"...Yes. Leave it to me."
"Good."
That was an absolute for me, something that didn't even need to be said. So, with the intent of telling him he could rest easy, I gave an exceptionally firm reply. Hearing that, Masaomi-san nodded deeply with a satisfied look... and with a refreshing smile, he made a gallant exit.
As if chasing after Masaomi-san’s back... Mayumi-san looked back one last time, wearing her usual soft smile and giving a small wave before she departed.
"...They’ve finally settled down."
"...It seems so."
"Kazunari-san, what is the matter?"
"Eh, what is?"
"No, you look as though something happy has happened..."
"...It's nothing big. Just..."
"Just?"
Just... that Masaomi-san said, "I'm counting on you."
The meaning of him stating "I'm counting on you" regarding Sara-san again after seeing my proposal. It felt a little different from before, like it carried a deeper significance, or rather, I felt the weight of his words. I couldn't put it into words well, but it made me strangely happy.
Besides, I was also secretly happy that he relied on me to handle the mess Mayumi-san left behind. At the very least, it meant he trusted me that much.
"Fufu... Then Kazunari-san, shall we bring this to a close soon, as per my father's request?"
"Yeah. Let's wrap things up."
"Yes."
So many things had gotten mixed together that it had turned into a total mess, so I didn't know if my engagement declaration had been conveyed as intended.
But if it failed, I'd just give it one last push... wait, huh?
"Ah-ah... I guess it was bound to end up like this..."
"Uh... what is this?"
Before our eyes, a long line of people was leaving the venue... or rather, many backs were already receding.
Almost all of them were men, with slumped shoulders, hanging heads, or clutching each other's shoulders as if to comfort one another... or even running away as if escaping from something, leaving the venue one after another.
Even though the voting hadn't ended yet...
"It's not 'what is this'! After flaunting such a moving proposal and flirting so much... and now everyone knows you’re living together?! Bringing up the topic of children makes it all too real; everyone who was in love with Satsukawa-san is bound to fall into despair! Honestly, aren't you basically a married couple already?!"
"No, that's still, as you'd expect..."
"Yes, we are still just fiancé and fiancée. Marriage is a story for a little further in the future."
"Oh-ho, is that so, is that so~"
Even as we were talking, the audience—almost entirely men—continued to leave the venue one after another.
From what I could see from here, the number of people remaining in the audience seats had dropped to about half. With the numbers thinned this much, the voting was going to be a mess.
I wondered what would happen.
………………
…………
…
"U-Um... then, I'd like to begin the voting...!"
The declaration was made by Minamin, whose tension had completely plummeted, and the staff members waiting at the side of the stage all began moving at once. Their destination was, of course, the audience seats—but empty seats were already conspicuous, and when I checked as I was coming down from the stage, it was truly less than half capacity.
In other words, I was being shown exactly how many people were there for Sara-san only and not the Miss Contest itself.
"Wow... I was really moved today."
"Totally! To think I'd get to see the moment a classmate gets proposed to!"
"The part where he put the ring on her was just like a movie!"
"And on stage, too... as expected of the guy that Satsukawa-san chose!"
"Her father said 'I'm counting on you,' didn't he?! It's a straight line to marriage now!"
"Takanashi-kun, want to go to karaoke next time?! With your wife, obviously!"
"No fair! You just want to grill him for gossip! I'm joining too!"
"Hey, hey, what do you think, Takanashi-kun?!"
"E-Eh, um... sorry, I'll have to consult with Sara-san first..."
The situation around where we were stationed had changed completely. Now, the groups talking on my left and right were the female students who had originally been toward the back. Since the front rows had emptied out all at once, they had taken the opportunity to move forward.
Of course, that in itself wasn't a problem, but they seemed quite excited.
"You have to ask her!"
"Satsukawa-san won't come if we just invite her normally."
"She's turned me down before... but if Takanashi-kun is coming, then Satsukawa-san will surely..."
I thought it was something to be welcomed that Sara-san was being sought out for communication by her own gender like this. Especially since today was right after Sara-san had shown her true self in various ways; it made me happy that they were still trying to interact with her so favorably.
However, the question was what Sara-san herself thought about it.
"A lot happened, but it looks like everything is going to wrap up well."
"Kazunari's proposal and the goal of showing those idiots reality were both completely achieved. In the end, we can call it a great success."
"Yeah. I think Kazunari showed his manliness."
"Right. To be able to do that much in that place, he’s really something."
"No... if you're going to say that, it's because I got courage from you two, you know?"
"What are you talking about?"
"This is all the result of Kazunari’s strength. Truly... right?"
"Hayato?"
What was wrong? Hayato seemed a bit off.
It didn't seem like he was hiding embarrassment; he was looking at me, but it felt like he was thinking of something else... like something was on his mind? That was the feeling I got.
"Yes, collecting the voting ballots now~"
Before I knew it, a staff member carrying a ballot box with both hands had come right next to us. They were currently in the middle of having the group next to us—the female students who had been making high-pitched squeals earlier—drop their ballots in. For some reason, the female students kept glancing over at me with smirks every time they cast their vote.
What was with that meaningful reaction?
"Collecting the voting ballots~"
Continuing on, Yuji was the first to drop his ballot into the staff member's box as they arrived in front of us. Then Hayato and Hanako-san each put theirs in one by one, and finally, when I put mine in...
"Takanashi-kun, you voted for your wife, right?"
"W-Wife..."
"No, no, you don't have to be shy now! Ah, sorry for asking such a silly question. Please, be happy~!"
And so, I ended up being teased even by the staff.
If the atmosphere stayed like this when school started after the break, what was going to happen? In a different sense than before, I felt nothing but anxiety.
"Alright, that’s all the voting ballots collected. Thanks to certain people, it looks like the collection and counting time will be much shorter... so please wait just a moment~"
Because the Miss Contest had been ruined, Minamin's tension remained low. But if I may say so, this whole situation was completely unexpected. To begin with, I had intended to make my move after Sara-san had won. So while I felt sorry, I wanted to say it was an act of God. It was by no means the intended result.
"Mufufufu, he said 'wife'!"
"If I say I want to hear the story of how she met her husband, I wonder if Satsukawa-san will be happy to talk about it?!"
"I-I'm intensely curious about their private life..."
"A young man and woman living together, there’s no way nothing’s happening!"
"Kyaaaaaaaaa!! I-Is that really it?! Has Satsukawa-san become a woman...!?"
"Th-That's too much! You shouldn't say such things as a maiden!!!!"
And the surrounding female students were as noisy as ever.
Wait, just now, wasn't there clearly a voice I recognized mixed in there?!
"...Well, after showing off that much, it’s inevitable. It looks like it’ll be noisy after the break... Ah, I’ll wring Yuri later."
"We just have to wait until they get bored. Natsumi-senpai, please handle the wife's follow-up in class and coordinate with the Fan Club. The handsome guy, too. Kazunari might have other troubles, so I'll stay with him whenever the wife isn't around."
"Roger that."
"Understood. I'll leave Kazunari to you."
"You don't even have to say it."
"Um, Hanako-san?"
It seemed that Hanako-san had been firing off instructions as if she had planned this from the start, and the discussion on countermeasures had ended in a flash—without me, the person in question.
"In these situations, it's better to overthink things and assume something will happen. If nothing does, then we'll just have a laugh about it later."
"...I see. Thank you."
"Working hard for a younger brother is an older sister’s role."
Saying that, Hanako-san gave a slightly embarrassed smile.
As usual, her blunt style of saying only the essentials with few words hadn't changed... but her kindness definitely came through.
"Alright, thank you for waiting! It looks like the counting is already finished, so we'll move straight to the results announcement! Now, contestants, please come forward~"
At Minamin’s signal, the contestants appeared one by one from the side of the stage in order of their entry numbers. Since Mayumi-san had withdrawn, the last one was, of course, Sara-san.
By the way, the Stuck-up Woman was no longer even showing a social smile. Even now, she was looking uncomfortably toward the audience seats, never once looking straight ahead. The contrast with her first appearance, when she was so full of confidence, was incredible.
"Well, contestants, first of all, great work! While I'm not really sure what was what by the end, I think each screening was a heated battle! Now, we're finally at the results announcement, but actually, I don't know the results either! So many irregular things happened that I'm actually looking forward to seeing how it turned out in the end! Now, continuing on, we were supposed to have a few words from the Festival Executive Committee President... but due to various circumstances, it seems the President is not in a position to give a comment. Therefore, we're skipping it!"
The President has various circumstances?
I remembered that just before I left the stage, the President was staring blankly at the half-empty audience seats, his back radiating a certain melancholy. Was he so shocked he couldn't even comment?
But if I may say so, it was simply the price for forcing Sara-san to participate.
"By the way, I wonder what happened with the match between Satsukawa-senpai and Mayumi-san?"
"N-Now that you mention it..."
"Kazunari, did you hear anything from Mayumi-san?"
"No, I didn't hear anything... but..."
"Judging by Mayumi-san's demeanor, Sara likely won."
"Yeah. I think so too."
I hadn't heard a clear answer, but since Mayumi-san was enjoying herself by playing along with the exchange between me and Sara-san... if Sara-san had failed, she surely would have shown some kind of reaction earlier.
But since she didn't say anything, that meant...
"Now, for the results announcement!!! Please note that only the top three will be announced!! First... 3rd Place!!!!"
A drumroll flowed from the speakers, and the words "Final Results Announcement" appeared in large letters on the screen on stage. While the spotlights moved around wildly and the audience held their breath, a staff member jogged over to Minamin from the wings and quietly handed her a note.
Clang!
The sound effect stopped sharply, and Minamin opened the paper.
"3rd Place!! Entry No. 4!!! Sakura..."
The person called for third place was the only third-year student among the contestants this time. As far as I could remember, she was someone who had received reasonably high marks in all the screenings, so in a sense, it was a natural result. But considering Mayumi-san's withdrawal and the fact that the Stuck-up Woman probably came in last, I had thought that person might have been the runner-up.
"Eh? That person is third?"
"That's a bit unexpected. But if that's the case, then second is..."
"Hmm, surely it couldn't be that woman... right, surely not."
As expected, everyone else had the same prediction as me, and now it was becoming more and more unclear what would happen. Even if the Stuck-up Woman was the runner-up, it wouldn't be a problem, but since I had just attacked her by asking if she had anyone supporting her... it might be a bit awkward if she actually took second place.
"Now then, moving on, the announcement for 2nd Place... the runner-up!!!!"
Another drumroll began, and the spotlights started their frantic dance again.
Since I had already achieved my goal, the importance of Sara-san's actual rank had diminished... but since she worked this hard, it was only natural to wish for her to win.
That said, there was no doubt Sara-san would win, so I didn't need to be particularly anxious...
"2nd Place!!! Entry Number... eh? The number? Kazunari Takanashi... HUH?! Kazunari Takanashi!!??"
"...Huh!?"
"...Eh!?"
"...Wh-What was that!?"
My best friends all stared at me with identical expressions of shock. I, meanwhile, stared at the monitor, praying I’d misheard.
But there it was, projected in high definition for everyone to see.
Kazunari Takanashi.
Um...
What exactly was going on here?