Asuna Yuuki felt like she was floating in a daze as she returned to the hall.
With a casual sweep of her eyes, she spotted Ayano Kannagi and Yukari Shinomiya standing about ten meters apart, discussing something over the phone.
Without even looking, Asuna knew Yukari was advising Ayano on how to tactfully and safely reject the upcoming arranged marriage.
At this thought, Asuna's expression turned slightly... complicated.
Ayano and Yukari still think that Mr Luo Shu is just an ordinary member of the Hidden Management Department, don't they?
They're probably planning to use him as a connection to some so-called important figure to resolve the impending marriage meeting without causing conflict.
But... who could have guessed that the Hidden Management Department only has one male member?
With only one man, who else could Ayano Kannagi's arranged marriage partner possibly be?
This doesn't even need explaining!!
Still in a daze, Asuna walked over to Ayano Kannagi's side.
Ayano seemed surprised by Asuna's approach but quickly tried to cover:
"Asuna, what are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be observing from the sidelines?"
As she spoke, Ayano stole a glance toward the restroom area, confirming Luo Shu hadn't reappeared, then hurriedly waved her hands:
"Quick, quick, go back to your seat before Luo Shu comes out and sees you."
At this moment, Nanase Kudō, sitting not far away, also frantically gestured:
"Asuna, you're at the wrong table! We're over here!"
Asuna glanced at the nervous Nanase and the confused Yukari nearby, then turned back to Ayano and said:
"He won't be coming out."
Struggling to get the words out, she continued:
"That... Mr Luo Shu has already left."
"Eh?" Ayano froze, completely bewildered.
He left? Just like that?
Before Ayano Kannagi could react, Asuna Yuuki took a deep breath and then, like a warrior marching to certain death, blurted out bluntly:
"He asked me to pass on a message to you before he left."
"Huh?" Ayano Kannagi was utterly baffled, unable to comprehend how Luo Shu and Asuna Yuuki could possibly be connected.
Yet in the next second, Asuna's words left Ayano's mind completely blank.
"He said that in the Hidden Management Department, he's currently the only male."
The only one.
Him alone...
Only one?
At that moment, Ayano Kannagi lost all ability to react...
The next instant.
"AAAAAHHHH!!!"
A scream worthy of a groundhog echoed through the hall!
...
"We are truly very sorry!!!"
At the first-floor counter, Ayano Kannagi, Asuna Yuuki, Nanase Kudō and Yukari Shinomiya bowed 90 degrees in apology to the staff.
Comforted by the female staff member, the group walked out of the restaurant with complicated expressions.
Nanase Kudō glanced back at the signboard and said with a tearful face:
"I don't think I'll be coming back to this restaurant ever again."
Yukari Shinomiya then remarked with some surprise:
"I never expected that gentleman to have already paid the bill. He's unexpectedly considerate, isn't he?"
Asuna Yuuki looked at her two carefree best friends, then at the utterly devastated Ayano beside them, and hesitantly said:
"I don't think now is the time to be discussing this, do you?"
To this, Yukari Shinomiya responded very calmly: "It's fine, Ayano will get over it."
Puffing out her chest, she declared confidently:
"It's just a tiny misunderstanding! With our Ayano's strong heart, there's absolutely no problem!"
As she said this, Yukari herself laughed: "It's not like Ayano would actually say bad things about him to his face, right?"
"I did."
"Eh?" x3
Yukari Shinomiya, Nanase Kudō and Asuna Yuuki all turned to stare at Ayano Kannagi in shock.
"Ayano, what exactly did you say?" Nanase Kudō asked, dumbfounded.
At this point, Ayano Kannagi raised her head and said gloomily:
"I said my blind date was a short, ugly pervert who couldn't get a girlfriend and was always lusting after his female subordinates."
"To his face?" Yukari Shinomiya was stunned.
Ayano Kannagi, looking like a hardcore gamer who hadn't slept for seven days and nights with dark circles under her eyes, said:
"Right to his face."
Right to his face?
Asuna Yuuki suddenly understood why Luo Shu hadn't been honest with Ayano Kannagi, and why Ayano had reacted so explosively by screaming in the restaurant.
If it were her, she'd scream too.
"Maybe... you could apologise in person?" Asuna suggested hesitantly. "Ayano, aren't you supposed to report to that Hidden Management Department in a few days? You could properly apologise to him then?"
"...Would that work?" Ayano said weakly.
Seeing Ayano's pitiful, small-animal-like expression, Yukari Shinomiya felt both sympathy and amusement:
"Judging by how that gentleman asked Asuna to pass on the message and paid the bill alone, he doesn't seem angry."
At this point, Yukari paused before adding, "Besides, part of why you had this misunderstanding is because of the information I provided."
"After all, I was the one who told you those rumours I heard in Akihabara."
"That's not the point..."
Ayano Kannagi waved her hand dismissively. In her low spirits, she had no intention of shifting blame onto her best friend, instead muttering gloomily:
"I just remembered... my father asked me several times before about how I felt about Luo Shu..."
"Uh..."
Nanase Kudō turned to exchange a glance with Asuna Yuuki.
Bloody hell!!
Could it be that Jūgo Kannagi had confirmed Ayano's feelings for Luo Shu before arranging for them to meet as potential partners?
This...
This situation was rather awkward now...
"Talk about digging your own grave..." Nanase murmured under her breath.
Having secretly read many novels at home, Asuna Yuuki instantly grasped the situation:
"This must be one of those 'chasing-husband crematorium' scenarios, and on super hard mode at that."
"Will you two stop chattering over there?"
Yukari Shinomiya gave these two mischievous girls a helpless look. Couldn't they stop provoking Ayano?
"The priority now is to clarify Ayano's situation."
As she spoke, Yukari Shinomiya asked curiously:
"Ayano, are you trying to refuse the arranged marriage, or are you planning to accept it?"
"Come on! Give us your answer quickly!!"
In that instant, Ayano Kannagi felt as if she'd been backed into a corner at the edge of the world, with nothing but a lifeless abyss behind her.
Why did she have to answer such an embarrassing question!!!
Facing her three curious best friends, Ayano felt her scalp tingle.
She really wanted to dig a hole right now and bury herself alive...