Chapter 66

A week and a little more had passed since Halloween.

On that day, the third national mock exam was held.

After the mock exam, Yugen and Airisa were grading their own answers in the apartment.

"Having so many mock exams in a row is tiring, isn't it...?"

After finishing her self-grading, Airisa stretched widely.

There had been another high-difficulty mock exam just two weeks prior, so they had two consecutive mock exams in a month.

There was a break for Halloween in between...

But even Airisa seemed tired.

"But... at least, this is the end of the mock exams."

"Right. ...How about we go out next Saturday? It could be a break as well."

In other words, it was an invitation to a date.

Recently, they had been having "home dates" that were essentially study sessions, so going out to play was a welcome idea.

However...

"Actually, I have something to discuss with you."

"Discuss? What is it?"

"Yes... Ayumi, my sister, can she come with us?"

Yugen's suggestion made Airisa's eyes widen.

The story goes back to last night.

"Hello?"

"Brother, it's me, me!"

"Are you the 'I'm me' scammer?"

"Taka-se-ga-wa A-yu-mi, Ayumi Takasegawa!!"

"Oh, it's you, Ayumi."

"It's not 'oh, it's you.' I'm calling from my phone, so you should know!"

Ayumi pouted on the other end of the phone.

Of course, Yugen was joking, and Ayumi was pretending to be angry.

As siblings, this kind of playful banter was a daily occurrence.

"So, what's up? ...We have a mock exam tomorrow, Saturday."

On Saturday, they had to go to school to take the exam.

It was a bit odd to take an external mock exam at school, but that's how it was.

"Studying?"

"Yes, I'm studying. Please be brief."

"I want to go shopping for clothes in the city next weekend."

"So you want me to come along as a bodyguard and carry your bags?"

"Half of it, yes."

Their sibling relationship was quite good, and Yugen had accompanied Ayumi on shopping trips many times, even after he started living alone.

However... what did "half" mean?

Yugen tilted his head in confusion.

"What about the other half?"

"Brother, you don't know anything about girls' clothes, do you?"

"I can tell if something is cute or not."

"But you don't know about trends or brands."

Indeed, Yugen didn't know much about women's brands.

He had no interest in them.

He knew a bit about watch and suit brands because he was interested in them.

"So I want Ailisa to come too."

"Ailisa?"

"Well, isn't it about time to get some proper winter clothes? Ailisa is a girl, so I think she feels the same way. I want to go shopping with her to deepen our friendship."

"I see."

Still, Yugen had just received money from Ailisa for a coat recently.

He was worried if she had enough money.

"Sure, I'll ask her."

"Thanks. Brother, I love you."

"Sure, I love you too."

"Anyway, that's what happened."

"I see."

After hearing Yugen's explanation, Ailisa nodded in understanding.

Then she nodded again.

"Sure, that's fine."

"Is the money okay?"

Yugen didn't know how much allowance Ailisa received.

But he assumed it wasn't much.

The Takasegawa family considered clothes, cosmetics, stationery, and textbooks as expenses outside of the allowance, so Ayumi must receive a significant amount of money for clothes from her parents.

If Ailisa accompanied Ayumi shopping, her wallet would probably be drained.

"At my house, the allowance is given not monthly but for specific purposes."

"For specific purposes?"

"For example, if it's clothes that need to be replaced regularly, I get a lump sum every quarter. For dates, I get money each time. So if I tell my stepfather that I'm going shopping for clothes with Yugen and his sister... I might get some extra money, but at least I recently received money for winter clothes, so my wallet is warm."

Yugen had always had questions about Ailisa's financial situation.

For example, she said she had never bought expensive soap, but she wore fashionable clothes.

And when they went on dates, she never hesitated to pay for movies or meals.

He wondered if she had an allowance or not.

But now, his questions were answered.

It seemed that Ailisa's stepfather was trying to raise her without any inconvenience.

He provided money for dates with Yugen and for clothes.

However... as a man, her stepfather didn't have the concept of being particular about soap.

There were probably many such things.

Ailisa felt a strong sense of inferiority and insecurity when she saw others having things she didn't have, but since they weren't necessities, she couldn't ask her stepfather for money to buy them.

"I see. ...So, it's actually beneficial for you."

If the allowance was given for specific purposes, Ailisa's wallet wouldn't be affected.

In fact, having a specific purpose meant that she would have a reason to receive money, which was a benefit.

"Yes. ...I'll be a burden to my stepfather, though."

Ailisa said this with a slightly apologetic expression.

After all, it was her stepfather who had forced the engagement and marriage, and the expenses were necessary for that, so Ailisa didn't need to be hesitant...

But she still felt bad about it.

"Don't worry. ...Your stepfather has gained a significant benefit from our engagement."

"But we're not married yet, right? Is there a benefit even in this situation?"

The word "yet" caught Yugen's attention, but he didn't press the issue.

He answered Ailisa's question.

"Your stepfather's company has already received a substantial investment from my parents. Well... the investment talks started before our engagement, but the investment amount increased after the engagement, so it has had some impact."

In reality, the stepfather's goal was more about the fact that the Takasegawa family had taken him under their wing and the recognition from others.

The engagement between Yugen and Ailisa wasn't officially announced, but information always leaks somewhere, and Yugen's father was acting with the assumption that the information would leak... or even actively leaking or hinting at it.

By doing so, he was making it known that the Amakusa family was under the Takasegawa umbrella.

The Amakusa family was also using this to raise funds.

People might hesitate to lend money to the Amakusa family alone, but knowing that the Takasegawa family was behind them, many would be willing to lend money.

Yugen had also checked the money flow out of curiosity... and found that even before the pool incident, the Tachibana, Kousai, and Satake families had already started moving small amounts of money.

...Well, if you traced the family trees, they were all connected in some way.

Such a network was already in place.

If Yugen's parents hinted at the engagement to the Takasegawa branch families and relatives, the information would spread quickly.

"In other words, even if we don't end up getting married in the future, even if the engagement is just a temporary one... the fact alone has given your stepfather a significant benefit. ...So, I think it's fine. It's okay to be a bit selfish... though I don't know the detailed financial situation of the Amakusa family, so I can't say anything irresponsible."

A company's financial troubles and a family's financial troubles are not the same.

Even if the company's finances improved, it wouldn't necessarily mean that the Amakusa family's finances would improve immediately.

"...Right. Thinking about it, it's a necessary expense. Wasting money is bad, though."

Ailisa smiled slightly.

The expenses for getting along with the fiancé's sister were a necessary expense, and it was her right to request it.

This seemed to alleviate her guilt a bit.

"...Right. I think you're correct."

But isn't this based on the assumption that we will get married?

Yugen thought to himself but just nodded along.

Unconsciously, Airisa talks about marriage as if it's a given.

Sometimes she forgets that their engagement is a "fake."

If you think she should just forget and get married, please bookmark and rate (change the stars at the bottom of the table of contents to ★★★★★).

Ailisa's affection for Yugen: 60% → 65%

Yugen's seriousness: 50% → 60%

If you think Yugen should be more passionate,

please bookmark and rate (change the stars at the bottom of the table of contents to ★★★★★) to make their love burn.