I was waiting in the preparation room near the hall where the dinner party would take place, ahead of everyone else.
「Kaminagi-sama, everyone has arrived.」
Ueno-san knocked and entered the room.
「Ah, thank you.」
I slipped my phone into my pocket and stepped out of the room,
What I saw was breathtaking.
The first to catch my eye was Mary.
Her golden hair shone against a vivid light green evening dress. Rather than a pretty girl, she had the elegance of a stunning beauty. Is she really just one year older than me?
「PleasE DoN’T stare So mUch… I’m Not uSEd To BeIng LoOkEd aT anD It’s EmBArRassInG…」
Mary blushed deeply as I stared at her.
Come to think of it, I can see her whole face clearly now.
「Ah, sorry, sorry. I was just surprised, you’re incredibly beautiful without the mask. That green dress really suits you too.」
As I complimented her, her pale skin flushed all the way to her neck, creating a strikingly beautiful contrast.
「Hey, hey! Yuuki-oniichan! What about us!?」
Haruka looked up at me with sparkling eyes full of anticipation, while Touka spun around, showing off.
Haruka wore a soft cherry blossom pink dress, and Touka was dressed in turquoise blue.
Both of them had styled their hair into matching side ponytails for the occasion.
「So you both went with side ponytails today. I don’t see that look on you often, it’s really cute. Haruka, your dress has cherry blossom embroidery worked into the lace, right? It suits you so well.」
「Th-thank you!」
「And Touka… I see, the dress has tiny sequins and snowflake patterns scattered throughout, all in matching colors.
Very stylish, just like you. It really suits you.」
「Ehehe, I know, right~?」
Finally, I turned to Hikari, who had been quietly waiting in the back.
「Your dress reminds me of twilight, deep and mysterious. The sequins sparkle like stars, and the corsage at your chest is a black rose. The black pearl in the center shines beautifully. And those lace gloves that reach your elbows make your skin look even more flawless. You look stunning, Hikari.」
When I spoke honestly, her cheeks flushed even more deeply, like a blooming peony.
So cute. I’ll say it again, so cute.
「That may be your honest impression, but… you’ve come a long way, haven’t you?」
「Kaminagi-sama… you truly know how to charm a lady, don’t you?」
「Baaya-san, what are you saying!?」
「Oh, no no, it’s just that the four beautiful flowers here have all turned as red as peonies.
Please, by all means, continue to charm our young ladies with that silver tongue of yours.」
「Charm? That makes me sound like some kind of player… I just said what I honestly thought.」
「Ah, Kaminagi-sama, Hikari-sama, Haruka-sama, Touka-sama, if you would, please accept these.」
With that, Baaya-san held out a tray with the rings we bought earlier today.
「I thought they might be needed in the next part of the evening, so I brought them just in case.」
「Wait, what do you mean by that…?」
「If you would, Kaminagi-sama, please come this way. There’s a lounge with a lovely view.」
「But what about the time…?」
「It should be fine. Ueno-san, if you would, please.」
「As you wish, Baaya-sama.」
◇◆◇◆
We moved to a lounge with a great view. A few guests were already there, all of whom glanced our way, wondering what was going on.
「This spot has a lovely view. Please, go ahead.」
The staff quickly cleared the nearby chairs and tables for us.
Why does this suddenly feel incredibly nerve-wracking…?
I took the rings from Baaya-san and stepped in front of Hikari.
「Are you sure I should go first?」
「I want you to go first. You’ve always been by my side since we were little. You’re incredibly important to me.」
「That’s supposed to be my line. You’ve always stayed beside me, protected me from so many things, and no matter how unpleasant things got because of me, you never abandoned me. That’s why I fell in love with you. I decided that I would return that love, and that I’d keep walking beside you until the day you tire of me and leave.」
「Yeah… Hearing it said out loud again really is embarrassing.」
「Exactly. So let’s keep it light, just like us, right?」
「You’re right. Hikari, thanks for everything until now, and let’s keep being together from here on too.」
「Yes! Leave it to me!」
I slipped the ring onto her left ring finger.
Hikari stared at the ring glittering on her hand, then turned toward me and gave me a soft kiss, just barely brushing my lips.
「For now, since the others are watching… let’s call that enough, okay?」
Blushing furiously, she stepped back.
「Alright, next up is—」
「Me! I won the rock-paper-scissors game.」
They were doing that…? And Touka’s okay with this?
「It’s fine~ My turn will come too!」
「Thanks, Touka.」
「Make sure you flirt properly with Haruka too!」
After Touka patted me on the back with that remark, I turned to face Haruka.
「P-please take care of me!」
Her face was redder than a boiled octopus, no, beyond that, more like a vinegared one.
I took a step forward, ring in hand, and looked straight at her.
「Haruka, our first meeting came out of nowhere. If we hadn’t met back then, I don’t think I’d be standing here now. Things moved quickly after that, and I was confused. I kept wondering if I was really the right person. But now, I can say it. Thank you for meeting me, Haruka. Thank you for falling for me. Thank you for loving me. From now on and always, I’ll treasure you.」
「But I… I’m plain… not cute or anything…」
「Even so, I fell for you by my own choice. And Haruka, you really are an incredibly cute girl.」
I gently slipped the ring onto her left ring finger, then leaned in and kissed her.
Come to think of it, this was our first kiss.
「Hic… I’m just… so glad I met you, Yuuki-san… hic… Please take good care of me… forever…」
Haruka’s face lit up like a flower bud blooming into full spring, just like her name.
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