Side: Sara
“Phew... How bothersome.”
I muttered those words in a whisper too quiet for anyone to hear as I reassessed the situation I had been placed in.
Currently, by my side were four female attendants arranged by the Sawa side. Beyond them stood several truly annoying men; some were bickering with each other, while others would suddenly try to approach me, causing quite a nuisance.
However, all their attempts were being blocked by the female attendants. Moreover, it seemed they were all keeping each other in check, preventing anyone from taking any bold action. Still, given that we were surrounded by a crowd—even if they were keeping their distance—it remained a troublesome affair.
I wanted to get to Kazunari-san’s side as soon as possible. I didn't have time to be held up in a pointless place like this. My irritation was beginning to boil over.
“Madam, it has been far too long. I trust you haven't changed?”
“Truly, you are always so young and beautiful. It is quite enviable.”
“If you would be so kind, perhaps if you have time later, you could join us...”
“Oh, but the Madam is supposed to be with us after this...”
“Well... er, sigh...”
Meanwhile, beside me, my mother was already half-surrounded. She let out a slightly troubled sigh as a barrage of invitations was directed at her. But the reason it had turned out this way was that Mother had been far too leisurely in the first place; it was nothing but her own fault.
Therefore, this was her punishment for making my precious Kazunari-san wait. No, perhaps even this much wasn't enough of a penalty.
“Why don't you all show some restraint? I arrived here first—”
“My father is a high-ranking official who once handled a major project under the Satsukawa Senior Managing Director. People like you—”
“What about it? Unlike you lot, I've met the Young Lady many times—”
Huh?
I have no recollection of ever seeing your face in the slightest.
While I made that silent retort, it was likely just one of the rabble I had perfunctorily dealt with—reluctantly—during a past appearance at this party, now exaggerating the truth. To be this self-absorbed was truly pathetic.
“Nfufu, as popular as ever, I see.”
“If you have time to spout such nonsense, why don't you exercise that power you're so proud of and do something about this situation?”
“Sara-chan, so harsh...”
I didn't particularly like thinking this way, but if Mother truly intended to settle this situation, it would be quite simple. However, exercising such power recklessly is never a good thing, and above all, Mother would dislike it. I only said it as a sarcastic remark.
“Everyone, you are bothering the Young Lady. For now, please—”
“Bothering her? I only intend to offer my greetings to the Young Lady. Why don't you all stop being in the way?”
“Exactly. Besides, I have an important matter to discuss regarding the arranged marriage proposal I made to the Young Lady the other day—”
“Haha, then I have a prior engagement, don't I?”
“Hmph, you were probably rejected anyway, weren't you? In that regard, mine was merely postponed by order of the President, so unlike you—”
“I wasn't rejected in person! The meeting for the arranged marriage was simply canceled!”
At the female employee’s casual remark, the group in front of us began arguing once again. But thanks to that, their attention had shifted. I wondered if we should take this opportunity to leave.
“Goodness, this is exactly why I don't want to show my face in public.”
Mother had also managed to escape the situation somewhat, muttering in an exasperated tone.
“What a coincidence. I, too, wish to never show my face again for as long as I live.”
“That won't do, Sara-chan. Not when it concerns Kazunari-kun.”
“I know that. That's why I've shown my face today with the intention of staying until the end.”
The reason I decided to attend this Sawa Party, an event I had never participated in properly before, was of course for the sake of the future. I didn't care about my own position, but since Kazunari-san had resolved to follow in my father's footsteps, I also needed to be prepared.
That was why, even at a party that could be called a farce, I had to participate as Kazunari-san’s partner.
“Madam, Young Lady, this won't lead anywhere, so let us break through the circle, even if we have to be a bit forceful.”
“That's fine, but honestly, I don't want Sara-chan to go into the crowd. I wouldn't want any man other than Kazunari-kun to touch her, even by accident.”
“You're stating the obvious. The only man in the world allowed to touch me is Kazunari-san.”
“...Wow, Young Lady, how passionate.”
“...Nice, things are getting interesting.”
“...The story about the Young Lady having a partner was actually true.”
“Now, now, leave that talk for later. Anyway, while those guys over there are bickering among themselves, let's get the Madam and the Young Lady—”
I wasn't sure if I should call these female employees reliable for having such a cheerful conversation amidst such a troublesome situation. Regardless, I was tired of staying here, and above all, the fact that I was keeping Kazunari-san waiting even now was a major problem for me.
In that case, this was no time for hesitation... but I...
“...ra-san!”
“...!”
Just as I was finally steeling my resolve, that voice faintly reached my ears.
It was a voice I could never mistake, the voice of the man more precious and beloved to me than anyone else. And then, parting the crowd, the person who appeared before me was...
Fufu...
To come rushing gallantly to my side during my time of trouble like this... as expected, Kazunari-san is the most dependable and wonderful man in the world.
“Sara-san!”
Pushing through the crowd, I shouted the name of Sara-san, whose figure was finally coming into view. Perhaps my voice had managed to reach her even in this bustle, as Sara-san looked back toward me with a startled expression.
From what I could see from here, it was just as I had imagined. Several young men—who seemed to be arguing about something—were surrounding her, while women in suits were forming a wall to keep them at bay. Those people were probably the attendants on Sara-san’s side that Takenaka-san had mentioned.
But if she was surrounded by such a large crowd and all those guys were targeting Sara-san, I couldn't just stand by and take it slow!
“...Phew, seeing her at this distance, it’s seriously no joke. It’s beyond just putting idols to shame.”
“...With a beauty like that being the Senior Managing Director's only daughter, it’s no wonder guys are swarming all over her.”
“...Yeah. She’s exactly my type, but it’s impossible for me to barge in on those guys over there.”
“...That tall guy over there, I’m pretty sure he’s the son of the General Manager at Hardy. And the one with glasses and a 7-3 part is the son of the Sales Manager at Mitsuoka, and the one next to him is from our group company...”
“...I guess the people gathering there are of that caliber, too.”
“Excuse me, coming through.”
“W-Whoa, what’s with you all of a sudden... Wait, T-Takenaka-san?!”
Some of the bystanders were surprised by the person who spoke to them—as had happened several times already—but Takenaka-san managed to push them aside and finally succeeded in securing a path.
Now, all that was left was to rush to Sara-san’s side... but those guys were right in front of her.
“Sara-san!”
I called out once more and stepped forward without hesitation through the gap Takenaka-san had made. Sara-san, who had been looking this way, broke into a smile that looked like a flower blooming.
Good, it seemed she was okay for now.
“Wait a moment. Who are you?”
“I haven't seen your face before. And just now, didn't you call the Young Lady by her first name?”
“The Young Lady hates that kind of overfamiliarity, you know. It’s pathetic to pretend to be a friend without even knowing that.”
“I don't know what business you have, but could you please step back for now? Young Lady Sara and I have an important matter to discuss—”
“Hey, don't decide that on your own! I’m the one who has business with the Young Lady first!”
“You guys are the ones who have nothing to do with this. Don't interfere between me and Sara-san.”
As expected, the guys who had been arguing stood in my way as if to intimidate me. I tried to talk back to them without backing down, but since Masaomi-san had told me not to expose our relationship yet...
Now, what should I do?
“This guy... he’s a brat who doesn't know how to speak properly.”
“What company does your parent work for? If you take that attitude with us, you might find yourself in trouble later, you know?”
“No, we should give this guy a proper warning right here. He should know who he’s talking to—”
“How interesting. Why don't you try saying who is warning whom?”
““?!””
Suddenly, someone cut into the conversation.
In contrast to her usual soft, beautiful voice that sounded like bells ringing, this was a freezing, cold voice that seemed to hide a fierce anger within its calm.
“What do you mean by ‘in trouble later’? Do you perhaps intend to do something to Kazunari-san?”
“E-Er?”
“Y-Young Lady?!”
“Just now, she called this guy by name...?”
“I called him by name. Is there a problem with that?”
““?!””
Quietly gathering her intense anger, Sara-san’s gaze grew even sharper, and the pressure of her voice became incomparably stronger. At her appearance, which seemed to brook no argument, the men began to visibly falter.
“In the first place, what is it with all of you? Gathering so suddenly and being so noisy...”
“I-I wished to speak with the Young Lady about future matters...”
“I have absolutely nothing to discuss with you.”
“Guh... no, that’s...”
The man who had been acting all poised now had a panicked expression on his face after being flatly shut down by Sara-san’s cold response, which left not even a sliver of room for negotiation.
But the guys remaining behind him were radiating a sense of composure, as if mocking the man who had just been pushed away.
“Good evening, Young Lady Sara. The other day, regarding the photo for the arranged marr—”
“Do not call me by my first name so familiarly. It is unpleasant.”
“...! M-My apologies.”
“Ahem, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am the eldest son of Sunao Kazama, the General Affairs Manager at U-it—”
“Why have you started introducing yourself without being asked? If you can only hold a one-sided conversation without considering the other person's situation, I find your competence as a company employee and a member of society quite questionable.”
“Ugh... I-I am very sorry.”
Having had their hostility toward me touch her reverse scale, Sara-san mercilessly cut down the men who were addressing her one after another. While her figure was even somewhat reliable, I couldn't just stay silent.
“Um, excuse me, but Sara-san is with me—”
“Just stay back, will you?”
“I've been staying silent until now, but... who do you think you are?”
“Huh?”
The moment I interjected, the attitude of the men who had been overwhelmed by Sara-san changed abruptly. They all began to openly show their hostility toward me, though to varying degrees. But that was an act that would only further incite Sara-san’s anger. This was getting a bit bad.
“I understand that you are an acquaintance or a friend of the Young Lady, but that is a separate matter from interfering with me!”
“That's right. I have business with the Young Lady; I have no business with the likes of you—”
“...Enough of this. If you say anything more about Kazunari-san—”
In response to the men who were suddenly crowding around and badgering me, Sara-san’s voice grew even lower, carrying a bone-chilling coldness. However, the group in front of us was so absorbed in berating me that they didn't seem to notice the change in her.
“Sara-san, calm down! Don't worry about me for now, let's just—”
“Heh... I don't know your faces at all either, but you're acting quite like big shots, aren't you?”
“?!”
“Ah...”
“M-Madam...”
At the very moment Sara-san’s anger was about to reach its peak, the voice that cut through mine as I tried to restrain her—which had completely transformed from its usual healing, gentle tone—belonged to Mayumi-san.
I had noticed her observing the situation for a while, but the current Mayumi-san was clearly different from usual.
“Well, I don't usually go out in public, and Masaomi-san handles things, so I don't have much contact with people from other companies... I suppose I can take that attitude as your true nature, then?”
“N-No, this is... not exactly...”
“T-That's right. I only intended to speak with the Young Lady, and he was interfering with that—”
“I believe I told you I have nothing to talk about. Is it possible you cannot even comprehend something that simple?”
““...?!””
This was truly a clash of titans. Facing a supreme pincer attack from Sara-san and Mayumi-san, the men finally began to panic and flail. Moreover, looking closely, people of various ages nearby—likely their associates—were also panicking.
Actually, I felt miserable for being completely useless.
“Attention all guests in the venue. The party will commence in approximately five minutes. Prior to that, we will have a greeting from the Representative Director, President, and CEO of Sawa Electronics, Shoji Satsukawa. We kindly ask all guests to return to their respective areas. Thank you.”
An announcement that felt almost out of place in its leisureliness played, creating an atmosphere that seemed to melt away the tension of the scene. The commotion from the bystanders, which had fallen silent, returned a bit, and Mayumi-san, one of the people who had created that tension, let her expression relax.
“Oh, is it that time already?”
“It's because Mother took too much time getting ready. You made Kazunari-san wait because of it, didn't you?”
“Eeeh... but Sara-chan, you were setting your hair quite meticulously too, weren't you?”
“Not as much as you, Mother. Or rather, please don't blame me.”
Feeling relieved at their usual conversation, which was so normal it was almost anticlimactic, Mayumi-san let out a small laugh.
“Well then, shall we move for now?”
“Yes. It would be a nuisance to Kazunari-san to stay in such an uncomfortable place forever.”
“Er, never mind about me, but I'm all for moving.”
In fact, even now, we were the center of attention in many ways. Especially the looks of envy and other feelings toward Sara-san and Mayumi-san, and the curious stares directed at me, were quite intense. Well, my presence must be too much of a mystery, so I could certainly understand their feelings.
“Oh, right, before I forget...”
Mayumi-san suddenly lowered her tone and, in the same voice as before, turned once more toward those guys—the men who were now surrounded by their associates and talking with serious faces. They immediately took on startled expressions.
“I'll overlook it this time, but consider this your only warning. And also...”
“If you try anything strange with Kazunari-san, be prepared for it to no longer be just a personal matter. And after this, never bring bothersome talk to me again.”
Capped off by that blunt warning from Mayumi-san and Sara-san, the group over there hung their heads in dejection, while some bowed deeply to show their intent to apologize. In any case, it seemed that the matter was settled for the time being.
Well, in the end, I didn't do anything. Sigh.