Chapter 8

"Whether it's Japanese, Western, or Chinese cuisine, I've prepared to meet any request...! I love cleaning, so please entrust me with all household chores...! I also have a basic knowledge of DIY, just in case it might come in handy. A-And, ah! If bugs come out, I'll do my best to deal with them! I'm not very good with spiders... but to protect you, Komin-san, I can fight...! I've completed courses in mental care, lymphatic massage, self-defense, nutrition, traditional Chinese medicine, and candle mastery through correspondence! If there's anything else needed, I'll study it thoroughly!! ...So... please... Komin-san... will you marry me...?"

"......For now"

"Yes, sir!"

"......What's a candle master?"

No good.

My thoughts couldn't keep up with the situation, and I ended up focusing on a strange point.

There are more important things to ask, me.

Pull yourself together...

"What's this about a candle master? Wait... What, m-marriage...?"

My voice cracked pitifully as I asked.

"Me and Hanako-san...?"

"Yes..."

Damn.

The way she lowered her head, blushing, was so cute that I wanted to say "I accept" and offer my hand.

Riko Hanako, with her invincible weapon of cuteness, was becoming increasingly terrifying.

I cleared my throat and tried to regain my composure.

It wasn't going well...

"Where did this marriage thing come from?"

"I thought about staying at your place."

"Okay, I get that."

"But to live together, we have to get married...!"

"I don't understand that part."

When I tilted my head and crossed my arms, Riko Hanako grabbed the hem of my shirt, thinking I was rejecting her.

"Wait. I'll explain in order... In short, the barrier is my father. It's not about whether I want to get married or not, a-actually, that's a mistake, ignore that...! Anyway, to get past my father, marriage is the only option..."

Trouble.

Not only did I not understand the order, but it became even more complicated.

Riko Hanako probably gets confused when she panics.

When I stumbled in the entrance, she got flustered and tried to give me a knee pillow...

"Riko, I'll listen, so calm down. Can you start from the beginning?"

I tried to soothe her with a calm tone, and she nodded seriously.

"Let's start with a deep breath."

"Yes. Sssuuu-haa. Sssuuu-haa."

"Good. So, why do you have to get married to live together?"

"Well, my father has always said, 'Living together is irresponsible!' So I thought he would never allow it."

"...If he's that opposed to cohabitation, wouldn't student marriage be even more impossible...?"

"Persuading him isn't easy, but my father's favorite words are 'serious' and 'responsibility'..."

From her clear explanation, I could only return a strained smile, imagining what kind of person Riko Hanako's father must be.

He's probably a passionate type, completely opposite to me.

Just thinking about it made me shiver.

His daughter is so gentle...

...But, there was a point I should have addressed first...

"Isn't cohabitation strange? You mean living together, right?"

Even if we're not in a romantic relationship, living together as a man and a woman would still be considered cohabitation.

When I pointed this out, Riko Hanako rubbed her fingertips together.

"Technically, it would be living together at this point... but living together could turn into cohabitation, right? If that happens, we won't be able to live together anymore... I don't want that..."

Huh!?

Huh huh!?

What did you just say, Riko Hanako!?

"You're saying something strange! That our relationship might change from living together to cohabitation! ...No, no, no, no, that's impossible!"

I laughed, thinking it was a joke.

But I was the only one laughing, so I quickly stopped and felt awkward...

But what else could I have reacted with besides laughter?

The school's top beauty and me...

"Even if the sky and the earth were to turn upside down, there's no possibility of anything happening between us."

I didn't want to be seen as a delusional guy, so I denied it with all my might. For some reason, Riko Hanako's lips trembled, and she lowered her head.

Oh, that.

Did I say something wrong...?

"Komin-san and I... are impossible..."

"Y-Yeah. You think so too, right?"

"..."

Riko Hanako fell silent.

I didn't know what to do, so I scratched my head pointlessly.

Why doesn't Riko Hanako say that there's no possibility of our relationship progressing?

Is it because...

She's being considerate of me?

I can't think of any other reason.

I must be a really bad person to make her do that...

...To change the atmosphere, I need to shift the conversation.

"...I think you're in a hurry. I can understand that, but you should be careful when choosing someone to live with. If you choose just anyone, you'll probably regret it."

"Sorry... I said something strange... Did I make you feel bad?"

"No, no, that's not it at all...!"

I was shaken, but there was no way I could feel bad about being asked to marry the school's top beauty, for any reason.

Honestly, if I didn't think about anything extra, I would have said "Yes, please!" without hesitation.

But I'm a gloomy, timid person who overthinks, so I couldn't take that step...

"Komin-san, I'm really sorry for making such an unreasonable request. But please believe this: I didn't choose just anyone."

"..."

I understand.

I know I was chosen because I live alone, seem harmless, have an extra room, and can help her.

Even knowing that, I still wanted to accept her.

I had just thought that it would be better to stay apart to control my feelings, but only a few minutes ago.

I didn't want to waste this miracle that had fallen into my lap.

Even if it means suffering in love in the future...

"So... what do you think, Riko?"

"Huh? Me?"

"Yeah. I mean, are you really okay with... marrying someone like me..."

Riko Hanako looked up at me with a pleading expression, then averted her gaze, blushing, and whispered hoarsely.

"I want Komin-san..."

...Damn, that's unfair.

Because when she makes that face, I want to protect her.

That's it. It's fine. Anything.

If Riko Hanako is relying on me and I can do something for her, why should I hesitate?

Why and whether it's believable don't matter.

Because right now, I'm being proposed to by the school's top beauty.

It feels like a dream, but this is reality.

Is it reality, right?

I pinched the flesh on my thigh to make sure Riko Hanako couldn't see.

It hurt.

Okay, no more hesitation.

I'll accept this miraculous situation as if I won the lottery.

It would be a waste to back out in fear.

What is a guy with no dating experience hesitating about?

If I miss this opportunity, I'll probably end up single for life.

That's right.

I don't have an obligation to keep my marriage history clean for someone I might never meet in the future.

But if I accept Riko Hanako now, I can gain a wife I never thought I could have.

My imagination, which had been completely inactive due to the shock of the conversation, finally woke up.

My wife in an apron, super cute.

My super cute wife sitting next to me on the living room sofa.

My super cute wife brushing her teeth next to me in the morning in the bathroom.

In an instant, about fifty scenes of "cute wife moments" raced through my mind.

It's the best.

Even if it's a contract marriage, it's not a problem.

Just being able to live a pseudo-life with a cute wife is a blessing.

With that decision, I mustered the courage to say it.

"Then... shall we? ...M-Marriage..."

Damn.

I shouldn't have said it in a questioning tone...

I was disappointed in myself for such a wimpy and lame way of saying it.

But to my surprise, Riko Hanako reacted in an unbelievable way.

Her clear eyes widened, and her small, red lips opened and closed.

Then she covered her mouth with both hands, and after a long silence, she whispered almost inaudibly, "It feels like a dream."

It was a reaction like being proposed by someone she loved.

I know it's not the case, but she made me feel very happy.

...You wanted to stay in Japan this much?

Then my choice wasn't wrong.

"Although it will be tough, I'll do my best to cooperate, so let's work together."

"......! Yes...! Komin-san, thank you so much... I'll never forget this day..."

Riko Hanako smiled with tears in her eyes, clearly moved.

"Then, ahem... Komin Shunto-kun, I'm not much, but please treat me kindly for a long time."

She sat down on the floor of my room in a small seiza position and said this with a serious face, then bowed her head...