I Was Sleep-Deprived at a Matchmaking Meeting and Ended Up Engaged - Chapter 8

Still sleep-deprived, I went to the matchmaking meeting.

“U-um, I heard from a friend that Shirakami-san is really strict about work.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll go easy on you.”

Ayato fell silent.

“It’s okay if I go easy on you, right?”

…What is this?

Even though it should be a sweet line, it feels like I’m being threatened.

But then, this time it was Yoshinori who fell silent.

“…But what exactly should I do to go easy on you?”

“Who knows?”

They both went quiet.

Their relationship experience was too low to come up with anything.

Perhaps because they were being too quiet, the jazz playing in the restaurant sounded unusually loud.

“…Should I order a refill?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

The two of them looked at the menu while maintaining some distance between them.

“Ah, excuse me for a moment,” Ayato said as he stood up.

When he returned from the restroom, Yoshinori apologized.

“Sorry.”

With his slightly drunken head, Ayato thought:

I see.

So, this marriage isn’t going to work out?

No, that’s just my own wishful thinking.

“I’m sorry, but would you meet my parents?”

How did we get to that!?

“I know it’s sudden.

But after some intense back-and-forth, it came to that—”

Came to what?

And why now, at this very moment!?

I didn’t even fix my makeup, so my restroom break was pretty quick, you know!?

This family is scary!

I absolutely don’t want to go!

As Ayato thought this, Yoshinori sighed and said:

“Sorry. That’s just the kind of person she is.”

What kind of person is she!?

I absolutely don’t want to go!

Ayato repeated in his heart.

“Um, I’d rather not go,” Ayato said timidly.

“No, you don’t have to go,” Yoshinori replied.

“Eh? Really?”

Just as his voice rose with joy, Yoshinori said:

“Because she’s coming here now.”

Ayato saw Yoshinori pale for the first time.

What should I do? It’s exactly the mother I expected.

Ayato was flustered by the gorgeous beauty who looked exactly like Yoshinori and arrived immediately.

She said she happened to be eating with friends nearby.

“Everyone wanted to meet you. Well, I thought I should determine if you’re suitable to be our family’s bride first.”

“Mother,” Yoshinori said reproachfully.

No, you don’t need to defend me.

After all, I won’t be seeing this somehow amazing mother again in the future, Ayato thought.

Thinking that, while he was scared and nervous.

There was also a sense of ease knowing he wouldn’t have to be with this person forever.

“You’re probably just after our family’s wealth, right?”

“Ah, no, I’m not interested in the wealth.

Actually, I’d like to decline this matchmaking.”

Yoshinori’s mother, who had just sat down on the red velvet chair between them, leaned forward.

“What are you saying? You should aim for it! Otherwise, it sounds like my son got rejected!”

I am rejecting him.

“Yoshinori, order the cheese platter and that wine I like. Give some to this person too.”

Amid the commotion, Yoshinori’s mother, Ai Megumi, slipped in her order.

Since talking made her throat dry, she drank quite a bit and got drunk. Thinking she wouldn’t marry Shirakami-san anyway, she spoke her true feelings.

“First of all, I don’t need your son.”

“No, you should aim for him!”

When asked what kind of man would be good if her son wasn’t acceptable:

“Well…

He doesn’t seem like a bad person, but as a mother-in-law, wouldn’t someone without a mother who seems a bit troublesome be better?”

“What’s with this person!?

Just aim for my son, okay!”

Why?

Just as Ayato thought this person was unexpectedly easy to talk to, Yoshinori, who had been silent, suddenly spoke.

“—This Sunday.

The three of us should go look at wedding dresses.”

Huh!? It wasn’t Ayato but Ai who exclaimed.

“No way! Can you believe this son!?

Now!?

At this timing!?

Listen—

Oh, what’s your name?”

“Fujimiya Ayato.”

“That’s the same name as Fujimiya-san’s grandchild.”

“…Isn’t it a common name?”

Yoshinori looked at her with an expression that said “No, it’s probably not,” but didn’t say anything.

“Well, whatever.

Listen.

When this son is quiet and thinking about something by himself—

He always reaches conclusions on his own and says outrageous things.

You should be careful!”

“Yes, I’ll be careful.”

“Yoshinori, if you bring your mother-in-law along to look at dresses and venues, she’ll be totally turned off. You two should go alone.”

…So, we’re going after all?

“When I got married, my mother-in-law decided everything.

It really wasn’t any fun at all.

Now that you mention it, you look a lot like Fujimiya’s Ayachan.

She was about three years old when I last saw her.”

It’s just your imagination.

I also find you very easy to talk to, but it must be just my imagination.

Come to think of it, over twenty years ago, I think I got candy from this person when she was still young near the riding grounds,

Ayato thought, but while thinking it must be his imagination, he drank the wine Ai recommended.

“This place is kind of relaxing. The chairs are nice too.”

“Yes. They’re comfortable to sit in, aren’t they?”

“Especially the chair Ai-san is sitting in—it even has armrests, like a human chair.”

What kind of compliment is that for a chair!?

They drank until Ai said that and the second bottle was empty.