ch41-ch60 · 052-ch51

Chapter 51 - The Marriage Prospect②

　Man, that was a shock, seriously.

　Sure, finding out the handsome college student who suddenly appeared was an Olympic candidate who's been on TV was surprising enough. But more than anything, finding out that ikemen was Rei-chan's omiai partner?

　So that's what last week's business was about.

"Ooh~ I didn't know high schoolers still did omiai these days~"

"So fancy, just like a rich young lady."

　Sumi and Kiriko were both impressed in their own ways, but Rei-chan herself was shaking her head vigorously.

"Th-that is not the case at all. It is not such a grand affair as you imagine. My family is merely traditional; we are not so wealthy as that."

"But~ he came all the way from Kyoto just to see you, so doesn't that mean there's a chance~?"

　Sumi whispered in a conspiratorial tone that was loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Th-there is no such thing...!"

"Hahaha, I do think Rei-chan is a cute, nice girl, but I'm not really thinking about marriage yet. We're both still young, after all. We only met because our parents asked us to."

　Shudo-san said this as if trying to help the troubled Rei-chan. Huh, he seems like a good guy inside too.

"Besides, sorry, but I didn't come here today just to see Rei-chan. My club had an expedition in the neighboring prefecture, and my older brother asked me to stop by while I was here."

　Apparently, Shudo-san comes from a family that founded a sports equipment company, and his eldest brother already works there.

　According to what Rei-chan told me later, there aren't any direct retail stores in this prefecture yet, so he's apparently doing field research because they want to build one. She figured that's probably how their families became close.

"Y-yes, you see? Everyone, is this not as I said? Watakushi and Shudo-san are not in such a relationship..."

"――But, meeting you here by chance feels like some kind of fate. Perhaps you might be my destined partner."

"Wha--..."

　Whoa, he said something outrageous with a charming smile. Ikemen are scary.

　A normal girl would probably fall head over heels, but.

　Unfortunately, Rei-chan looked frozen with a twitching expression, Kiriko was giving him dead fish eyes, and Sumi seemed put off. He had destructive power, just in a different way.

"...Huh, I'm actually pretty popular at university, but I guess it doesn't work on high schoolers."

　For some reason, Shudo-san looked amused by this disaster. Ikemen really are something else.

　Don't worry, I'm sure it works on other high school girls. We're just, well, a bit of a special bunch, if I do say so myself.

"―――So, are you going to open a shop in this shopping district?"

　Rei-chan forcefully changed the subject. That was way too abrupt...

"No, we're planning a large shopping mall, so I just came here to grab a bite... though I suppose opening a shop here wouldn't be bad either. The croquettes are delicious, and the shopkeepers are kind."

　Ah, he's playing along. He really does seem like a good person.

　Rei-chan, this seems like a pretty good catch.

"Speaking of delicious, I heard there's a popular food truck up ahead. I was thinking of heading there next."

"Oh! That's right, it's super delicious and cool!"

　Oops, we had the same destination.

　And wow, Sumi's promoting it more passionately than me, Papa's daughter. I'm happy, but... I get the delicious part, but what's with the cool?

"We were actually just about to go there. It's this girl's papa's shop."

　Kiriko pushed me forward from behind by both shoulders, and I bowed my head.

"Welcome, I'm from 'Rock Kitchen.'"

"Oh, so you're..."

　Wh-what, why is he looking at me so intently?

　Look over there, at your fiancée (tentative) instead.

"――Unusual hair color."

"Thanks."

"You don't seem to like it much? Sorry, that was rude of me."

　Ugh...!

　This ikemen is pretty sharp about things.

"...Since we're here, shall we go together?"

"Is that alright? Then I'll take you up on that offer."

　Well, we couldn't exactly tell a customer who was planning to go there, "We're going so you have to wait!" now, could we?

　And so, our group went from four to five, heading toward Papa's shop.