"Ah...at least my stomach isn't empty anymore." Miku slurped down a full bowl of ramen without a care for her image, then leaned against the wall by the bay window, patting her stomach contentedly as she said this.
Naga didn't eat quickly; there was still a little over half left in the bento box. This was partly because the convenience store bento tasted really bad, and partly because she had too many things on her mind, which affected her appetite.
"Uh... I'm glad you're full." He put down his spoon, decided to put the food aside, pushed the bento box aside to a seat by the window, leaned forward to Miku, and asked seriously, "Where have you been? I've been looking for you all day."
Miku turned her head to look out the window and calmly replied, "Ami looked for me. So I went to see her." She bent one leg and hugged her raised knee, continuing, "Actually, we don't need to hide anything anymore, do we? You should have already seen him, right?"
Naga knew who she was referring to, and simply nodded. "Yes, we met at noon."
Miku laughed, her forehead resting on her knees, her hair falling down to obscure her face, making it impossible for him to see her expression. "I originally planned to tell you on our wedding night. By then, I would already be the bride of the Yumeno family, I would have severed all ties with the Fujikawa surname, and my life would have been a fresh start, right?"
Naga reached out and covered her pale hand with his. "It's the same now. Nothing has changed, unless you regret not marrying me."
Miku probably already knows about Asumi's situation, which is a gamble for Naga as well. If Miku truly regrets it, to the point that even the Dream Eater's abilities can't undo the damage, everything will be utterly shattered.
"How could there be no change?" Miku raised her head and stared at Naga through her drooping hair. Her eyes were bloodshot, whether from the effects of being drunk or from physical exhaustion, it was hard to tell. "Will he not want you to marry into his family? Faced with such wealth, how could you not be tempted? What will I do if you end up with the Fujikawa surname? I hate this surname… I hate it to the core of my being."
"That day will never come. I will always be Yumeno Naga, my wife, and always the daughter-in-law of the Yumeno family." He said solemnly, naturally concealing the future deal he had made with Fujikawa Kengo.
According to his ideal plan, once he could appease Miku and smoothly continue their love story, he could use Miku's youth as an excuse to avoid pregnancy for a period of time after marriage. During this period, he only needed to find a way to get Ami pregnant and give birth to a son.
However, given Miku's dislike for Ami, appeasing her tonight will likely be fraught with difficulties.
"You didn't know that Ami was my sister before, right?" His answer seemed to ease Miku's emotions a little. She lowered her head and asked softly.
"Yes, I only found out this morning," Naga said carefully, choosing her words carefully.
"Why...why did you have that kind of relationship with her?" Miku's tone began to show uncontrollable grievance. "Those...those women who are like toys, I can try my best not to get angry, but...but why her of all? I've been so good to her since we were little, but she always tries to take everything from me. I've tried so hard to keep you from getting close to her, why...why did this still happen?"
Her voice gradually trembled with sobs, the suppressed emotions welling up from the alcohol. "From the moment she transferred you there, I knew something must have happened. I kept it all inside, pretending not to know, not trying to guess, not trying to think. I feel like I've become a completely different person, foolish and weak, as if I could abandon all principles and self-respect except for liking you. I resigned, I was prepared to become a foolish bride, like those thirty- or forty-year-old housewives, just focusing on my own life, turning a blind eye to everything my husband does outside the home. I've already made that decision, so why... why won't she let me go..."
His fingertips trembled slightly with regret and shame. Naihe lowered his head in remorse. He now clearly knew how precious that dream-devouring event had been to him, something that had remained loyal even after he had trampled on it.
"I'm sorry, really... I'm so sorry."
Miku leaned back against the wall, her eyes glistening with tears, but not a single one fell. Even with her heavy nasal voice, she didn't utter a single sob. "She showed me so many things. I can't believe that after seeing them, I didn't want to kill you. You must have cursed me, turning me into a foolish, despicable woman who loves you so devotedly."
Naga didn't know what to say. For a moment, he even had the urge to jump out of the window to atone for his sins, but he knew that doing so would only bring Miku even greater sorrow.
Ever since he devoured that dream of a woman in a wedding dress, Miku's happiness has been solely tied to him.
Why... did I only understand now? Or was it that I had actually realized it all along, but deliberately ignored it in order to indulge in those smooth, tender bodies? Naga lowered her head in self-reproach, unable to bear looking at Miku's expression.
"If... you can't forgive me, then I have no face to make amends. I... can leave and give you the opportunity to find other happiness." After a moment of silence, he said slowly. However, he wasn't too worried; this was a gamble he couldn't possibly lose.
Sure enough, Miku took a deep breath, pursed her lips, lowered her head, and remained silent for a while before whispering, "I only feel happy when I'm with you. I just didn't expect to have to pay such a high price."
"What exactly did Asumi do to you?" Naga looked at Miku with some concern, feeling a chill run down her spine at the shame in her eyes.
He was familiar with that look; he had seen it on Matsushima Kae, who was further away, and Mizuhara Yoshimi, who was closer.
"No... I don't want to talk about it." Miku shifted her position, her voice trembling slightly as if chilled by the night wind. "You'll find out sooner or later."
"Huh?" Naga stared at her in confusion, not quite understanding what she meant.
Miku didn't continue, but abruptly changed the subject, "By the way, I'll settle the bill with the renovation workers tomorrow. After that, let's sell this apartment."
"Then...where will we live from now on?" Naga asked, increasingly puzzled.
"I'll take you to a bigger place. I'll show you after get off work tomorrow." She looked around the room, which she had designed and decorated herself, with reluctance. "Although I really like it here, it's too small and can't accommodate too many people."
"Too many people?" Naga had no idea what she was talking about and suddenly felt like she didn't have enough brain cells.
Miku nodded. "It's no longer just your and my home. If I don't want to go to prison to hold a wedding ceremony with you, I'll have to agree to some things for her."
"You mean...Ashi?"
"Yes. She said that all she ever really wanted was me. But she was willing to give herself up to get me." Miku gave a bitter smile, as if she were saying something ridiculous but not funny. "Legally, this family consists of only you and me. But in reality, she wants all three of us to have each other."
"The Fujikawa family are all crazy," Miku whispered. "My father is, Ami is, and so am I."
"Don't say that, Miku, you..."
Miku interrupted him, saying self-deprecatingly, "If I weren't crazy, how could I agree to something so insane?" She jumped off the bay window and stood in the room, touching her exposed arms. "The thought that I will not only have to wait for my husband in the future, but also for my sister's possible intimacy at any time makes me... I feel cold all over."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry... It's all because of me." Naga followed Miku from behind, hugged her from behind with remorse, and apologized repeatedly.
Compared to a woman seeing her husband in bed with another man, a man seems much more accepting of seeing his wife entangled in bed with a beautiful woman, especially if that woman is willing to offer herself to him.
Of course, now is not the time to honestly show his excitement; what he needs to do is continue to apologize.
That night, Naga didn't go home. He and Miku hugged tightly on that small makeshift bed, one in pajamas and the other in a shirt. They did nothing else but feel each other's bodies, speak in soft voices, and gradually drift off to sleep.
"Ashi also said that she would be my bridesmaid at the wedding."