Saijo no Osewa ~ Takane no Hana [LN] - V2 Chp 4 part 4
The next day.
In the classroom where class was over and was currently on break, I sighed deeply.
[Yo, Tomonari. You seem to be down]
[What is it~? If you need advice, we’re here for you, you know?]
Taisho and Asahi-san came over.
They always come to me when they want me to talk to them. It’s not a coincidence that both of them are mood makers in the class. Both are very attentive, if they sense that someone needs help, they may unconsciously call out to them.
[Um, I have to ask you two… what is the process of an arranged marriage?]
[Eh!? Tomonari-kun, don’t tell me, you’ve been approached about a potential matchmaking!?]
[No, it’s not about me, it’s about my friend] (EDN: Finally, someone is actually asking for a friend)
[Oh what? I thought I had been betrayed]
Betrayed? I tilted my head and Asahi-san explained.
[Nowadays, only a few big companies have arranged marriages~. From our social status, I think it’s best to describe that arranged marriages are like a ball and a chain]
[Sometimes, even at our level of status, our parents will suggest that we get engaged. But it’s not so formal as to be called an arranged marriage… and of course, you have the right to veto it]
Taisho added to Asahi-san’s explanation.
Betrayed is… I guess he thought I became a gold digger.
[Is it normal to veto an arranged marriage in the first place?]
[It depends on the house… Really, I can only say it depends on the parents]
Taisho said with a difficult face.
[At the level of Konohana-san, there may be no veto rights, but that’s usually a pattern that has been firmly explained from an early age… I don’t think they’re doing it too forcefully because the world’s eyes are strict these days? If the groove of the parent and child is too deep, it may conflict with the company’s management later]
In the case of Hinako, an arranged marriage wasn’t decided due to her personality.
I was convinced by Asahi-san’s explanation, and I arrived at one conclusion.
Tennouji-san… if she feels like that, she can refuse the arranged marriage.
But, she won’t refuse. Perhaps the reason for that is because she was adopted.
Tennouji-san wanted to return the favor to the Tennouji family who raised her. Therefore, she never intended to refuse the marriage from the start. Considering her determination, she’d surely accept any partner. In her eyes, she didn’t have the option to refuse from the start.
But, is that really the right thing to do?
Is it right for me to support Tennouji-san’s decision?
—There’s no way.
I couldn’t pretend that I didn’t notice. I’ve already seen evidence several times.
Tennouji-san isn’t interested in the proposal. She’s shown signs of that many times.
When the idea of the arranged marriage came up, Tennouji-san seemed gloomier than usual. When I asked her if she was okay with it, she replied, [I’ll keep quiet about it], I wasn’t stupid enough to miss such an obvious sign.
[Tomonari-kun, are you okay? You look conflicted…]
[I’m fine. I was just thinking about how to ruin an arranged marriage]
[Are you really okay!?]
Asahi-san sounded astonished.
[Well, I don’t know about you, but… I don’t think you should do that, right?]
[It happens all the time in fiction, though. The protagonist interrupts an arranged marriage to save the heroine who’s about to get married reluctantly, and snatches the bride. I’d like to do that once myself~…]
[If Taisho-kun did it, it’d be more like a comedy than a drama]
[Shut up! I’m cool when I’m serious too!]
[Yes yes]
Asahi-san brushed aside Taisho’s agitated reaction in an appropriate manner.
[In reality, the smartest way to solve this problem is for the two parties to discuss it among themselves. In this day and age, the probability of a successful marriage proposal isn’t very high, and even the other party must take into account the possibility of rejection to some extent. If you think about it that way, the hurdle to veto becomes lower…]
Asahi-san put her finger to her chin and spoke thoughtfully.
[But you know, I hear that marriage is all about compromise]
[Ughh, I don’t want to hear about it. Dreamless stories are poison for children]
[At least half the students at the academy are heirs to their company since they were children]
Asahi-san said with a wry smile to Taisho, who had covered both his ears.
They’ve been heirs to their companies since they’re children. Because of that, her words left a strong impression on my ears.
[By the way Tomonari-kun, are you doing something with Tennouji today?]
[Yes. Until a while ago, I was taught etiquette, but we decided to concentrate on studying today because the competency tests are approaching]
[Hmmm~]
Asahi-san gave a suggestive nod.
[Rumor has it that the two of you have been in a somewhat good mood lately, you know?]
[Eh?]
[I mean~ Tomonari-kun is popular, isn’t he? Tennouji-san is just as popular as Konohana-san, right? How many boys dream of being liked by those two?]
At Asahi-san’s remark, Taisho shook his head with a serious face, saying [I’m one of them].
Not long ago, Tennouji-san and I had a light disagreement, but before I knew it, people around me seemed to think we had a good mood going between us. In fact, I feel that revealing my true identity has brought me closer to Tennouji-san. This is exactly what it means by the phrase it rains and the ground hardens.
(EDN: If you didn’t know, it’s an idiom that means people get closer after fighting)
Anyways, I must clear up this misunderstanding for the sake of Tennouji-san’s honor.
[…It’s really not that kind of relationship]
[Well, I had a feeling that’d be the case. But Tomonari-kun, you seem to be enjoying every moment these days]
[Well… at least I’m enjoying myself]
If that’s how I felt from Asahi-san’s point of view, then there’s no doubt about it.
As I told Tennouji-san directly, I enjoy learning various things from her.
Hearing my comment, Asahi-san smiled gently.
[I think Tennouji-san enjoys being with Tomonari-kun as well]
If that was the case, I’d be happy too, but…
No, the other party wouldn’t be limited to me. Tennouji-san always looks happy when she’s in the academy. The most important thing to remember is that you can’t just take a chance on a new person and expect both of them to be happy.
Why in the world would I sacrifice that?
Tennouji-san, are you not aware of what you’re throwing away with this arranged marriage?
If so, then what should I do is—
TL: Ezu
ED: Animu
PR: Mateo