Ichiro found himself unexpectedly brought back to the main residence one night. The Takahashi household had been eagerly awaiting his return, driven by their own ulterior motives.
"Ichiro, we've all been waiting for you," Hiroshi forced a smile, attempting to appear welcoming as he approached Ichiro, patting him on the back while giving him an awkward hug.
'Well, this is awkward.' Feeling the awkwardness of the situation, Ichiro reciprocated with a forced smile. However, his intuition kicked in, and he sensed that something was amiss. Before he could voice his concerns, both Hiroshi and Tomoko exchanged awkward glances, realizing that their plans might have hit a snag.
"You—" Ichiro began, but both Hiroshi and Tomoko hastily interrupted him, speaking at the same time to divert his attention.
"Ichiro, someone is here to see you," Hiroshi declared.
"That's right, my niece and her family are here to finalize everything," Tomoko added, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Ichiro felt a wave of unease. Despite his instincts telling him to escape, he was immobilized as the door swung open, and Ayami ushered in the guests, leading them into the room.
Ichiro suppressed his irritation as he greeted Omori and her family. The forced pleasantries and superficial smiles made his skin crawl. Omori's beauty was apparent, but Ichiro could sense her silent rebellion through the disdain in her eyes. It was clear that she, too, was a victim of familial machinations.
"Ichiro, it's good to see you again," Omori's father greeted him with a seemingly warm smile. However, Ichiro saw through the facade. The man had ulterior motives—marrying his daughter to Ichiro meant securing a significant share of his wealth.
"Yeah," Ichiro responded tersely, unable to conceal his displeasure. His plans for a swift escape and avoiding this arranged marriage were foiled as they were evidently prepared for his return.
"Ah, Ichiro-kun, you look so handsome now that you're all grown up," Omori's mother chimed in, reaching to pinch his cheeks as if he were a child.
Internally seething, Ichiro mustered a forced smile, wondering how he ended up entangled in a web of family deceit and manipulation. The Takahashi family, seemingly concerned about appearances and wealth preservation, were using him as a pawn in their game. As the unwelcome engagement loomed, Ichiro plotted his escape, determined not to succumb to their designs.
Ichiro felt a mixture of anger and helplessness as he faced the unwelcome situation. Omori's family was playing their cards well, appearing friendly while harboring hidden motives. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being used as a pawn in their elaborate scheme.
"Thank you," Ichiro responded tersely to Omori's mother, pulling away from the unwarranted touch. His eyes darted around the room, assessing the situation. The atmosphere was suffocating, with everyone seemingly oblivious to his discomfort.
"Ichiro-kun, Omori-chan has been eagerly waiting to see you again," Omori's father mentioned, attempting to steer the conversation in a more positive direction.
"Is that so?" Ichiro replied, struggling to keep his tone neutral. He stole a glance at Omori, who maintained a reserved expression. It was clear she wasn't thrilled about the circumstances either.
As the awkward engagement gathering continued, Ichiro found himself caught in the middle of a forced interaction with Omori. The strained atmosphere was palpable, and Ichiro couldn't help but wonder about the ulterior motives behind this sudden engagement.
"He-he," Ichiro chuckled nervously, trying to conceal his discomfort. The friendly gestures from Omori's family seemed forced, and Ichiro couldn't shake the feeling that financial motivations were at play.
"How are you, Ichiro?" Omori asked, her voice tinged with unease.
"Hmm, how about you?" Ichiro replied vaguely, unsure of how to navigate the delicate situation. He sensed Omori's discomfort and decided to play along, silently contemplating a strategy for escaping the engagement.
Omori, too, was grappling with confusion. Her initial engagement had been abruptly canceled, and now she found herself betrothed to someone who seemed to be the target of mistreatment within the Takahashi family. The puzzle of why her father had agreed to this arrangement lingered in her mind. Money appeared to be a significant factor, but it failed to answer the crucial question: Why would Ichiro agree to an engagement that clearly made him unhappy?
As the engagement gathering unfolded, the tangled web of motives and relationships grew more complex, leaving both Ichiro and Omori in a state of uncertainty and discomfort.
Omori, though engaged to Ichiro, had her own plans and aspirations. She saw the engagement as a business deal, and her primary goal was to secure financial stability for herself. To achieve this, she needed to take control of the engagement and make sure she could live the life she desired.
In her mind, living with Ichiro's family would only lead to the depletion of the money she was set to receive. To safeguard her future and maximize her gains, she decided that they should not live with anyone, not even her own parents. In this harsh world, survival often meant being a bit greedy and selfish, traits she believed were essential for her well-being.
As the family gathered for dinner to discuss the engagement ceremony and its proceedings, Ichiro remained quiet. The family, oblivious to Ichiro's feelings, discussed the details of the engagement and came to the decision that Omori should start staying with Ichiro. Their reasoning was that someone had to take care of him.
The tension in the air was palpable as Ichiro listened to the decisions being made about his life. The engagement, which should have been a joyous occasion, felt more like a burden imposed on him by his family. Little did they know that Ichiro was silently plotting his escape from the constraints they were imposing upon him.
Amidst the cheerful chatter and festivities, Ichiro found himself immersed in a sea of conflicting thoughts and frustrations. He couldn't fathom the sudden concern for his well-being when, for the most part of his childhood, he had been left to fend for himself.
'What bullshit are they all spouting about? Take care of me, you didn't even bother when I was a kid. I'm basically an adult now, who do you think needs to be taken care of,' Ichiro mumbled and cursed in his thoughts, his frustration simmering beneath the surface. The familial warmth and welcome felt fake, a façade that grated on him.
'Fuck this, I don't understand what getting engaged will do at all. Akihiko said I'll still be able to live outside the house.' Questions swirled in Ichiro's mind like a turbulent storm. Why had the attempts on his life ceased? Why this sudden engagement? Shouldn't they be worried about the impending lawsuit instead?
He shot a brief glance at his uncle, unable to comprehend the motives behind the older man's actions. 'What are you thinking, old fart?' The frustration and confusion in Ichiro's mind deepened as he struggled to make sense of the inexplicable turn of events in his life.
Ichiro felt a newfound sense of freedom after spending time with Akihiko. It was as if being around someone who accepted him for who he was allowed Ichiro to express himself more openly. The weight of societal expectations seemed to lift, and he embraced this change in himself.
As the family dinner concluded, the lively conversations and chatter of relatives filled the air. Ichiro took advantage of the commotion to slip away, seeking solace in the quietude of his own space. Little did he know, Omori was discreetly trailing him.
With an intuition honed by the system, Ichiro sensed her presence without any prompting. His sixth sense, a skill acquired through the unique training regimen, alerted him to the fact that he wasn't alone.
As Ichiro began to pack his things after dinner, he couldn't shake off the feeling that Omori was following him. Despite her attempts to remain inconspicuous, Ichiro's sixth sense, honed by the mysterious system he possessed, alerted him to her presence.
He mumbled to himself, "I wonder what she wants," as he contemplated the reason behind her sudden interest in him. Looking at the pile of laundry that had accumulated during his stay in the laboratory for the past few days, he sighed, thinking, 'I should come back tomorrow and take care of all of this.'
Omori, however, decided to approach him directly, closing the distance between them. "Ichiro-kun," she called out, trying to get his attention.
Ichiro turned to face her, his expression a mix of curiosity and wariness. "What's up?" he asked, wondering why she had followed him.
Omori hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I wanted to talk to you about the engagement," she said, her voice soft but determined.
Ichiro raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her sudden seriousness. "Go on," he encouraged, waiting to hear what she had to say.
Omori took a deep breath, as if gathering her thoughts. "I know this engagement has been thrust upon both of us, and I understand your frustration. But, Ichiro-kun, there might be a way for us to navigate through this without causing more trouble for either of us."
Ichiro leaned against a table, folding his arms. "Oh? Do tell."