When you like someone and want to be with them, but you don't know much about them, what should you do if your relationship is still new?
Utaha and Eriri had a simple idea.
The connection between them and Chisato came from a dream where they were married, had children, and lived happily together for the rest of their lives.
Although Chisato had a lot of missing memories about this dream, he still recalled some fragments.
Perhaps the relationship they had in the dream could evoke some nostalgia in him. If everything went smoothly, it might also help draw them closer.
Whether this approach would work was uncertain, but under Utaha's repeated persuasion, Eriri reluctantly went along with her.
Ever since they met, they had intentionally displayed a playful bickering that seemed like a quarrel.
They weren't sure how effective this would be, but so far, their plan to meet up with Chisato was going quite well.
"Auntie, don't worry. We'll go straight back to our room after dinner and won't wander around… Yes, yes… We'll lock the door and be safe."
After Utaha finished speaking, she handed the phone back to Eriri.
Eriri then whispered a few more words to her mom on the phone before hanging up.
"Did you sort it out?" Utaha asked.
"Yeah," Eriri sighed.
"I don't understand why my mom trusts you so much and insists on you answering the phone. At least I saw it coming."
"It's probably because you did something unreliable when you were younger, which left a bad impression on her."
"Plus, your grades have been an issue. If you could get the top score in every test and show her your self-discipline and hard work, she might ease up on you a bit, like my mom does with me."
"Okay, let's drop that topic."
Eriri's other subjects were acceptable, but her English was a perpetual pain for her. Her dad was British, and her mom had teased her about it countless times at home.
Utaha smiled but didn't say anything else. She leaned down in front of the large mirror above the sink to tidy up her hair.
"Do you really think this will work?" Eriri asked, referring to their plan.
"We won't know if it works until we try. Trying gives us a chance, which is better than doing nothing at all."
"True, but I think it would be better if we were more sincere with Chisato, like in the dream. Getting to know him slowly and gradually building our relationship sounds better."
"That's a good thought. But if something happens in the future and he leaves you for another woman, I hope you can stay calm and collected."
"Are you talking about that girl Chisato took home that day?" Eriri recalled.
"But they didn't do anything."
"Just because it looked like they didn't do anything doesn't mean they didn't. Don't forget we hadn't been able to reach him for a long time today."
"I didn't want him to see me as a nagging woman who had to know everything. So I didn't ask too many questions, but that doesn't mean what he said is the truth."
The two girls had different life experiences in their individual dreams.
Utaha, being a single mother, struggled while raising her daughter alone. The hardships of a single mom could make her more pessimistic and cautious in her thinking.
In contrast, Eriri had been loved and protected by Chisato her whole life, which shaped her perception of him to be softer and closer, making her less likely to have complicated doubts.
"You can't be serious… Are you suggesting that what Chisato told us back then was a lie?"
Utaha shrugged. "Who knows? Speculating doesn't help. Right now, I'm more concerned about his relationship with that girl."
"Everything else doesn't matter. We need to head back; we can't keep Chisato waiting."
"Okay."
The two of them exited the women's restroom together.
After walking a few steps and rounding a corner, they could see Chisato sitting at the table.
At that moment, Eriri suddenly leaned closer to Utaha.
"As we agreed earlier, we're in this together, right? I can trust you on that, can't I?"
Utaha turned to look at Eriri, who suddenly seemed like a different person, with a faint smile on her lips.
"With your intelligence, how could I ever deceive you?"
"Even if you did deceive me, it's fine."
Eriri returned the smile. "If you manage to trick me, I won't let it slide. First, I'll make a scene at your wedding, embarrassing you completely."
"Then, I'll haunt you like a ghost for the rest of your life, trying to seduce your husband and have his child. If you really want that to happen, go ahead and try."
Utaha sighed. "What a wicked threat! I can return the same to you."
"As long as you don't run away on your own, I won't do anything so low."
"Let's hope so."
"Just remember to cooperate with me later."
"What do you plan to do?"
"You'll find out when the time comes."
"Just don't be too pushy; we don't want Chisato to feel pressured. He's not a wealthy kid in real life."
"Do you think I'm a child? I don't need you to teach me."
After finishing their exchange, the two girls put on their usual annoyed expressions, creating some distance between them as they returned to the table.
Chisato didn't seem puzzled by their simultaneous return. It was normal for girls to go to the restroom together.
"Chisato, can I ask you a question?" Eriri began.
Huh? Are you being so direct right from the start? That's a bit too straightforward, don't you think?
Eriri glanced at Utaha, who didn't give her a look back. Instead, she smiled softly at Chisato, her gaze fixed on his face.
"Sure, what do you want to ask?" Chisato replied, placing a piece of beef in his mouth.
"When can you marry me?"
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