Brother Du Du, I wonder if you can beat that pervert.

　Sitting on the bed in the room assigned to Kotone in the mansion that serves as the participants' accommodations, Akihana smiled and shook her legs alternately.

''Well then, the game has already started, so let's hurry up and go cheer, Akika-san. And I have to go pick up my victorious brother, too.

　Kotone had been fidgeting around the time the match was about to start as she sat in her chair, and she couldn't wait to get out of this place and towards the bleachers. That was, of course, to watch his own brother Mizushige's match... but he also wanted to watch Masato's match.

''Haha, you're sure of victory, Kotone's brother...''

''Of course, even Mr. Du Du can't win if you go against your brother.

'Hmmm.... But no, no, no, we're not done talking yet. I haven't gotten Kotone to nod her head to my proposal yet.

''So........so, talking about it, why do you involve Mr. Dou Dou?　Even Mr. Du Du must find it annoying..................... Because Mr. Du Du, in order to be with Ruizhao, he joined this big festival.......

　Kotone, who becomes depressed and depressed forlorn in the middle of the game, is nimble with a rather conniving look on Akika's face. There's no way not to use this ultra-black Kotone's wavering heart.

''You're so easy to understand, Kotone,''

What?

'Well, well, it's all right!　I'm sure brother Dou Dou Dou Dou wouldn't be bothered!

Where in the world do you get such confidence from...

Because, first of all, we're a great family.　For your brother, it's super backwards for him. But I don't think that brother is interested in that kind of thing. But I can tell you this, okay?　We're so cute!　And the fact that Kotone and I are beautiful girls from different backgrounds is a big plus. If a marriage proposal comes from us........and with the added bonus of being able to marry both of us at the same time!　How can there be a man in this world who isn't dominated by this?　Besides, we're going to be amazingly beautiful in the future.

　As expected, Akika's story felt ridiculous, and Kotone's voice grew louder as well, albeit with a sigh.

''No way!　There is no way my Sanzenin family would approve!　You are the Huang family's daughter, aren't you!　There's no way I'm going to accept this story!　And Mr. Du Du, you know about Mizuho....

''Oh I didn't tell you. Brother Dou Dou Dou didn't join in to get Zuiho, right?



　In front of Kotone, who was stunned and looked up, Akika threw the snacks she brought with her into her mouth as if nothing was wrong.

''Rather the opposite. The Shitendera family wants Dou Dou Dou brother, no doubt. I've been caught up in the process of running the big festival so far, but after talking to the brother of Dou Dou Dou, I'm sure of it. But because of that, the success rate of this operation has jumped up. I'm the son-in-law that Sitenji wants, okay?　Even though he had to go to this roundabout way, that Shitenji wanted it. Shitenji who would do anything to keep his power down.......if we could take this home and explain it well......

....!

''I'll figure out the details of that, so Kotone, you just need to do as I say.

'Wait...wait a minute!　Why should we have to do that in the first place!　The daughter of the Sanzenin and Huang families to someone who doesn't know what horse he is!　Oh........of course, I think he has a wonderful personality........ But!　Just because of that!

''It's because it's the Sanzenin family and the Huang family, Kotone. It's almost impossible for us to choose a lifetime partner. Even if we could, we would only choose from all the matchmaking stories brought to us.

....!

　Akihana's face, which had been scowling until now, quickly became serious, and Kotone kept her mouth shut. Also, the content of that which Akihana spoke was the truth of the majority of daughters who were of a famous family with abilities.

''I really don't like it. I ... I have a lot of things going for me. So it's a hell of a lot of trouble for someone to be with me. And I really don't want to impose that on the man that the house decides for me. But ... nope, so I was thinking, I'm going to find someone tough enough to get through this kind of thing with me, and I'm going to jump in with him.

....

　Kotone raises a thin, well-shaped eyebrow. It's because she can feel that she's carrying something in Akika's words that she can't tell the outside world. I don't know what it is, and I can't even ask. There are many things in the lineage of gifted people. It's because Kotone, who was born into the lineage of gifted people, can naturally understand that some of them have underhanded circumstances that can never be revealed to the public.

''And besides........there are other reasons for inviting Kotone, right?''

What's that...?

　In contrast to Kotone, who was listening to him divinely, Akihana, who had a serious face, changed and grinned like a mischievous child.

　And, for the first time in my life, to a man other than my relatives.

'What?　What are you talking about?　I'm not looking at Mr. Dou Dou Dou like that...

So you don't like it?

'How could I not like it!　Mr. Dou Dou Dou is nice...ugh!

　Seeing Kotone, who huffed and shrank with a red face, I grinned again as if to say that I had taken a ploy.

''Hmmm, Kotone, it's not every day that we get a chance to be with someone we personally like, is it?　First of all, you don't get to meet many people just for the sake of it, and you're only introduced to a few men on schedule in an understandably prepared social circle. Then, I wonder if I'll find someone like my brother in Du Du?　I don't think he'll come. That guy from Du Du, he looks like a very commoner. What a shame, he's so strong and cool. He's just a great guy that Sitenji is after. And there's a guy we can't stop thinking about. It's a miracle, isn't it? It won't happen again......no, it won't!

"~~~~!

　Kotone, still flushed, clasps her hands in her lap.

''.......let me ask you one thing.

Yeah?　What?

''Qiu Hua, do you.......like Mr. Dou Dou Dou?

I don't like it?

"...and...?

　For the first time in her life, Kotone almost fell in the middle of nowhere.

''But........I think I'll be able to love him one day. If it's Dou Dou Dou brother......... He seems kind, he's angry for other people, and he's also strong.''

....

Most importantly, you seem to do whatever you say.

　Once again, Kotone gawked, but managed to hold it together.

'Is Kotone okay?　If this works, you're still with me, right?　It's your husband's share, you know. It's tough when he's so exclusive, you know?

'....Both your father and grandfather had more than one woman besides my mother and grandmother. No problems in that area.

'Oh, so do we!　It's really crazy!　I'm just doing this all the time!　The first time I saw a romance film, I was so moved by the fact that there is this wonderful world out there. The idea of loving only one other person.

Oh ... me too!

　Akika's eyes widened for a moment as Kotone unexpectedly took a bite out of him.......but gradually it turned into a smile. And Kotone showed a smile as well.



'Well ... really,'

　They locked eyes and started laughing broadly once more. The sight of them could be considered appropriate for their age. Kotone chewed on the fact that this was the first time in her life that she had made a friend of the same s*x. Was it a miracle that she had met not only a person named Yuto, but also Akika?　My eyes relaxed at the thought.

'Alright then, let's go!

　When they finished laughing for a moment and Akika jumped off the bed, the two of them turned to look out the window at the same time.

''There's something noisy outside........oh, that's it!

　Kotone looked out the window and her face changed color.

''Akika-san!''

''Yeah, I can see that......................something serious seems to be going on. Kotone, I'm going to go wake up your brother, just wait for me!

Yes!

　With that, they ran out of the room.