Under the scorching gazes of her three best friends and facing that socially lethal question, Ayano Kannagi unsurprisingly retreated.
"...I don't know?"
Ayano Kannagi blushed, her eyes darting about as she said:
"Right now, I don't even know how to face him; how could I have time to think about that sort of thing?"
"...Oh~ I see, that sort of thing~" Yukari Shinomiya teased with a smirk.
"Hmph, this is clearly the behaviour of someone smitten," Nanase Kudō said with a mischievous grin.
"Ayano, your face is really red right now." Asuna Yuuki couldn't help but laugh. "And you don't look like someone who wants to refuse the arranged marriage at all?"
Yukari Shinomiya was somewhat surprised, too. As she walked forward with the other three, she asked curiously:
"No way? Could it be that Ayano will be the first among us to get a boyfriend?"
Nanase Kudō immediately pulled a bitter face: "Please no, it'd be so embarrassing to be slower than this idiot Ayano!!"
"You three—"
Ayano glared at them indignantly:
"What do you mean it's embarrassing to be slower than me?"
"What do you mean I'll be the first to get a boyfriend?"
"What do you mean idiot?"
"If you keep teasing me, I'll drag all three of you to be my bridesmaids!!"
"You think it's embarrassing to be slower than me? Then let's all go together!!"
Asuna burst out laughing, while Nanase covered her stomach, turning her head away as she giggled uncontrollably.
"You... you're all... too much!!" Ayano was furious but completely powerless against these two.
Even her threats were useless—what could she do but endure it?
Strangely, Yukari Shinomiya, among the three, looked puzzled: "What are you laughing at?"
"Isn't this funny?" Nanase asked, confused.
"Wasn't Ayano just joking?" Asuna also found it strange.
Even Ayano herself was puzzled by Yukari's reaction.
At this moment, Yukari Shinomiya looked at the three of them in confusion:
"Ayano is the main family's young lady—she can naturally designate several branch family members to accompany her when she marries!"
"And those who accompany her would definitely be chosen from the branch families' eldest daughters. Aren't all three of us from branch families?"
Instantly, Asuna Yuuki and Nanase Kudō were stunned.
Ayano Kannagi also looked shocked:
"There's such a rule? How come I didn't know?"
Yukari Shinomiya was now completely bewildered: "You didn't know, Ayano? Uncle Jūgo's concubines are all daughters from the Mouri family branch houses."
"They're cousins with Ayano's mother..."
"I think... that's right." Ayano Kannagi said blankly.
At this moment, Yukari Shinomiya gazed quietly at the stunned Nanase Kudō and Asuna Yuuki before saying playfully:
"Moreover, I heard Ayano's mother and her aunts were also childhood friends who grew up together, just like us."
Asuna Yuuki: "..."
Nanase Kudō: "..."
Ayano Kannagi: "..."
The two girls exchanged glances before simultaneously turning their stares towards Ayano Kannagi.
"Why are you looking at me? I didn't know about this!!" Ayano instinctively retreated several steps, alarmed. "I didn't know our family had such traditions either!!"
"But you have this capability!" Nanase Kudō stamped her foot in flustered irritation.
Asuna Yuuki blushed and suggested, "How about... You write us a guarantee, Ayano? Promise you won't drag us into this?"
"...Is that really necessary?" Ayano's lips twitched.
Yukari Shinomiya then said cheerfully, "Personally, I don't mind whether we sign guarantees or not."
Instantly, Asuna and Nanase both stared at Yukari in shock.
Someone among them was actually willing to become a concubine?
Even Ayano was utterly dumbfounded. What nonsense was this? Her close friend was willing to become her future husband's concubine? What kind of situation was this?
Observing their stunned expressions, Yukari continued smiling:
"Don't you think this sounds rather fun?"
"Moreover, it would solve Asuna's engagement troubles at once. Most importantly, the man doesn't seem too bad either. Isn't this perfect?"
'No, this isn't fun at all! And it's definitely not perfect!' X3
Ignoring their expressions, Yukari cheerfully added:
"But speaking of which, judging from current circumstances, Mr Luo Shu has passed Ayano's test, hasn't he? Shouldn't it be our turn to set challenges now?"
What did she mean by current circumstances? What exactly was the current situation?
While the trio remained bewildered, Yukari curiously asked Asuna:
"Asuna, how do you plan to test Mr Luo Shu?"
"Me?"
Asuna was completely caught off guard by the question, so flustered she nearly tripped over nothing before being steadied by the sharp-eyed Ayano. Regaining her balance, she answered dizzily:
"I don't think... I have anything particular to test him on?"
Yukari appeared surprised: "Don't you need to obtain your mother's approval?"
"Mother's approval?"
Asuna froze momentarily. If she truly had a chosen boyfriend or fiancé, she supposed she would want her parents' blessings.
But would her mother actually give them?
Wait... actually, she probably would?
Considering the candidate was an important figure from the mystic side that Ayano belonged to, and given Mother's ambitions for the Yuuki family's advancement, she might actually agree...
Instantly, Asuna fell silent.
For just a brief moment, she had indeed considered one possibility.
If Luo Shu were to propose to her mother, asking to marry her, her mother would probably happily send her off without hesitation...
After all, doing so would likely satisfy both her father, her brother, and her mother by gaining something they desired...
The mere thought of this terrifying possibility made Asuna Yuuki feel as though she'd been tied to a rock and sunk into the abyss, struggling to breathe...
Meanwhile, Nanase Kudō, oblivious to what Asuna was imagining, stared at the silent girl in bewilderment:
"No way... Asuna, are you actually seriously considering this? Am I the crazy one here, or are you?"
"It's not about being crazy. The possibility genuinely exists."
Yukari Shinomiya remained perfectly calm, even wearing a somewhat mischievous smile:
"After all, there's no way Ayano would be the only one getting married, right?"
"Even if it's not us, the Kannagi family would surely select a few suitable girls from their direct branch families."
"But if it's going to be those girls going with her, wouldn't it be better if we went instead?"
"Do you really want Ayano competing with a bunch of unfamiliar cousins for a man?"
Ayano Kannagi gaped at Yukari Shinomiya, finding her usually kind friend suddenly terrifying:
"I feel like you're plotting something horrifying here. And how did this conversation shift from discussing my arranged marriage to whether we should all get married together?"
"This isn't right."
"Of course it's not right. I'm just presenting a hypothetical."
Yukari smoothly backtracked to appease Ayano:
"But what's important now is clearing up the misunderstanding between you and Mr Luo Shu, right?"
"Do you need our help?"
"Well..." Ayano hesitated before cautiously asking her friends, "Would that be alright?"
"Of course it's alright."
Yukari shot a sly glance at the still conflicted Nanase and Asuna:
"It's just testing Ayano's prospective partner. I'm sure everyone would be willing to help, right?"
"If it's about testing Ayano's partner, I don't mind helping," Nanase scratched her cheek, feeling something was off but voicing her thoughts honestly.
"What about you, Asuna?"
"...If it's just helping out, I suppose I can manage."
Asuna sounded uncertain. Something about helping Ayano devise tests for her fiancé felt distinctly wrong.
Why did it seem like Yukari was deliberately making them all participate in evaluating someone?
Were they testing Ayano's fiancé... or her own?
"Then it's settled!!"
"Ayano, when's your next meeting with Mr Luo Shu?"
Still dazed, Ayano replied:
"...The day after tomorrow, I think. Father said I should report to the Hidden Management Department then."
"Then let's all gather the day after tomorrow?"
Yukari cheerfully grabbed Nanase and Asuna's hands, announcing:
"Thus, the Ayano Love Support Squad is hereby formed!!"
"Change that ridiculous name right now!!"
Ayano's furious roar pierced through the clouds.