I Was Sleep-Deprived at a Matchmaking Meeting and Ended Up Engaged - Chapter 27

The Betraying Fiancée 18

While walking down the hallway, Yoshinori found himself thinking something slightly rude—could it be that Ayato was unexpectedly popular?

That picky Kai actually said he was interested in Ayato…

As Yoshinori worried about such things, the area behind him grew unusually noisy.

After all, they’d ended up giving Kai a ride home too.

Ai and Kai were nitpicking the poses of the statues that occasionally appeared along the wide, long hallway.

“You know, when it comes to statues that catch your attention,” Ayato began, “there are ones like the statues wearing clothes on their upper body but not on their lower body. Or the statues of children who look dejected for some reason, even though it’s supposed to be a fun park. Or the boatman who looks like he’s about to attack a revered holy man from behind. There are so many statues with poses that make you wonder, right?”

When Ayato said he wondered what they intended by placing those there, Yoshinori replied, “…I’m more curious about where you saw those.”

What’s this about a boatman attacking someone? he asked.

Lately, there’s been someone getting a bit too full of themselves at the company.

Ran Kogure thought Hanako would put them in their place, but before she knew it, Hanako had started hanging out with that person too.

That guy’s getting all chummy with Yuya-kun and Shirakami-san.

Thinking such thoughts, Ran Kogure walked down the twilight-filled hallway.

Just then, that flashy woman—Fujimiya Ayato—was approaching from the other direction with Yuya and the others.

Getting a bit full of herself just because she’s somewhat pretty.

At that moment, Ayato’s clear, resonant voice reached her ears.

“So get this—my little sister was wiping her hands on my clothes! When I asked her why, she said, ‘Because of the stripes, I thought it was a towel.’ Isn’t that unbelievable?”

“…She’s definitely your sister,” Yuya said.

Yuya, Midori, and Ayato noticed them and bowed their heads.

“Good work today~”

“Good work,” Ran replied elegantly.

After they passed each other, she could hear Ayato saying, “That person—is she from the secretary’s office? She’s so pretty~”

…Oh my.

“Well, she is a bit hard to approach.”

Hey, Yasui Midori…

But Ayato’s slightly improved impression immediately dropped again.

“Speaking of which, Ayato—when’s the wedding? You’ll invite us, right?”

“Yeah. When is it? We need to plan what we’ll perform.”

“Performances, huh? Shirakami-san’s relatives will be there too, right? Don’t do some act that’ll make them cringe, Yuya.”

Why just me!? Yuya retorted to Midori.

Marrying Shirakami-san!?

How insolent, Ran thought—and just then, someone grabbed her arm firmly.

“Ran-san, you were thinking about doing something mean to Ayato just now, weren’t you?”

It was Hanako.

“What? Are you going to stop me? Since when did you become that woman’s friend? You hate women who stand out more than you, don’t you?”

“…Ran-san, since you’ve occasionally taken me to some good parties, I’ll give you some advice. It’s better not to mess with Ayato.”

Hanako lowered her voice. “I heard from Yukimura-san in the business division—back when Ayato first joined the company, her photos were being bought and sold at high prices, which made Yukimura-san angry.”

“Wait. Doesn’t she have way too many enemies for someone who seems so nice?”

She felt a little sorry for Ayato.

“Apparently, Yukimura-san excluded Ayato from a drinking party. Everyone seemed reluctant, but they couldn’t go against Yukimura-san. And then, that Ayato—”

Hanako’s anger swelled as if she’d been there herself.

“Did she get back at her? That Yukimura-san?”

“Apparently, she made friends with a really handsome store clerk and spent the whole time at the counter showing each other cat photos!”

“…How terrifying,” Ran murmured.

“Ayato is the kind of woman who, even if she falls, won’t get up empty-handed. Well, she probably doesn’t even realize she’s doing it. But the more you mess with Ayato, the more it backfires on you. As you know, Ayato is marrying Shirakami-san. I’m planning to be invited to the wedding. And I intend to snag one of the rich, handsome men around Shirakami-san!”

Ran grew frantic. She had to get on good terms with Ayato right now!

“Um, Yoshinori-san, what are you doing…”

A little earlier, Hishikawa, the president’s secretary, had noticed Yoshinori staring down the hallway from the shadows and called out to him.

But Yoshinori put a finger to his lips. “Shh.”

“Sorry. It looks like they’re about to talk about some bad rumors about Ayato.”

“Aren’t you going to stop them?”

“I kind of want to hear.”

Bad rumors about his bride!?

“I was wondering what they could possibly find to say bad about Ayato.”

“Maybe it’s jealousy because she’s beautiful, capable, and stands out? And maybe some envy about her marrying you, Yoshinori-san?”

She said it, but it seemed like various delusions were running through Yoshinori’s head.

“Like if they found out there’s something suspicious in Ayato’s family’s basement…”

What kind of suspicious thing could be in the Fujimiya family’s basement…?

Maybe hundred-year-old pickled plums that you can’t tell if they’re rotten or precious?

Hearing “house basement,” what came to Hishikawa’s mind—just like Ayato—was under-floor storage.

“Do you want to hear about that?”

“Lately, I find myself wanting to know everything about Ayato.”

“Isn’t the direction of your affection getting a bit strange…?”

Actually, are you a stalker? Hishikawa muttered.