I Was Sleep-Deprived at a Matchmaking Meeting and Ended Up Engaged - Chapter 25

“Why did you turn it down? Didn’t Ai-san tell you two to go on a trip together?”

The next day, Keiki received a phone call from Kai.

“Stop being so uptight.”

To Kai’s comment about how this was just like an honor student, Keiki quietly retorted.

“…Why do you think I acted like an honor student? Because I’m serious and inflexible.”

“What kind of backwards anger is that…?”

“You should go instead,” Keiki said, only to have Kai snap back,

“I don’t have anyone to go with!”

Well, it’s not like two guys couldn’t go together?

Thinking this, Keiki hung up.

It probably wasn’t because they’d refused the pre-wedding trip, but Ayato and the others were summoned to a party hosted by relatives.

“What do you think it’s about? Are we going to be scolded for not going on the pre-wedding trip?”

“What’s with that? It’s like that RPG game line, ‘What do you mean you died?'”

Walking through a wide hallway decorated with strangely posed sculptures, they whispered to each other.

Ai had summoned them with considerable intensity, saying “Come immediately!”, so they had rushed over nervously, thinking they were going to be scolded about something.

But when they reached the courtyard venue, Ai was cheerfully chatting away.

“Oh my, you two are early.”

Thinking that if they were going to be scolded, they should at least make a good impression by being prompt, Ayato bowed his head slightly.

“Isn’t he lovely? This is Keiki’s fiancé.”

Um, we’re not actually engaged yet.

“Oh my, what a beautiful young lady. Where did you meet, Keiki-san?”

The woman speaking had a slightly sharp way of talking.

Apparently, this woman in the purple dress and Ai were rivals of some sort.

It seemed they had started competing over something, Ai had said “My son is getting married!”, and had apparently summoned them in a hurry to boast about something.

…The atmosphere felt tense.

“It was through Kai-san’s introduction.”

“Oh really? Oh, Kai-san!”

Just then, Kai arrived.

“Kai-san, you introduced this wonderful young lady to Keiki-san?”

“Truly, she’s a perfect match for Keiki, isn’t she?”

Kai said with a beaming customer service smile.

“But unfortunately, I can’t take credit. It was through an introduction from someone at the insurance company that works with our family.”

“Oh, an introduction from someone at an insurance company? I hear about that sometimes. They match up single people from companies they work with. And then when they get married, they can take out new insurance policies, right?”

…I see, so that’s what it was.

No wonder that insurance lady always brings up mixer parties.

Well, I guess it’s a win-win for both the introducer and the introduced?

Just as Ayato was thinking this, the woman in the purple dress spoke in a somewhat persistent voice.

“Instead of that, you should have introduced him to a proper young lady from a good family. Like the Kanos, or the Fujimiyas, or the Arakidas – they all have daughters of marriageable age, don’t they?”

Ai snapped her fan shut with a sharp clap – she had been fanning her face with it – and said,

“Ayato-san, greet Mutsumi-san.”

Mutsumi seemed to be this woman in the purple dress.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Fujimiya Ayato.”

“She’s Chairman Fujimiya’s granddaughter,” Ai added.

…So, you knew.

Well, of course you’d investigate who your son’s potential bride is, Ayato thought with a wry smile.

“Eh? You’re Ayachan?”

“Yes. It’s been a long time. Now that you mention it, I believe we met at the riding grounds before? You gave me some cookies, I think.”

Ai prompted, “I think this person gave you cookies.”

“A beautiful older woman who was horseback riding gave me cookies, right?”

“Oh my, was that me?”

Mutsumi’s mood had completely improved.

Having finished the formal greetings, Ayato felt relieved and looked over at the dessert table.

Desserts arranged on heavy white plates with pastel-colored flowers.

When they first arrived, he’d been worried about what might happen, but now he was starting to enjoy himself.

Keiki seemed to be deep in conversation with Kai and some acquaintances.

Apparently, he thought it would be fine to leave Ayato alone for a while.

Okay, first I’ll have this little rare cheesecake with blueberries and the matcha Bavarois in this shady spot.

Ayato sat down on a white bench beside a large tree.

Just as he took his first bite, a mysterious old man appeared and sat down next to him.

Wh-who could this be?

The old man probably just sat there because he was tired, but since they were sharing the same bench, Ayato thought some greeting was necessary. He made eye contact and bowed his head slightly.

The old man suddenly started talking about his experiences during the war.

…He’s just like my great-grandfather, Ayato thought as he nodded and listened to the story.

Nibbling on his cake as he did so.